[narayans80]

Originally Posted by mogambo

Good day everyone - how is the Bangalore - Kollegala (Sathyamangalam) - Coimbatore route especially after recent rains?
Planning a trip this weekend and the inputs would be super helpful.

I would plan on (early morning) timings and drive in the plains than play poker with Dimbam ghat this holiday weekend. This is for Saturday.

Driving anywhere this Sunday is insanity. Monday could also be bad.

[TonyJames]

Did a Long Drive to Kerala and then halted in Coimbatore near Neelambur Yesterday.

During Return started from Coimbatore at 04:15 AM

Reached Salem around 06 AM and the roads where almost empty.

Instead of Kelamangalam route tried the Hosur route from Rayakottai.

Around 40 to 50% work completed but I felt its decent for a day trip and the shorter distance is added advantage.

Also last time out even Kelamangalam road had expansion works started to widen it to 4 Lane.

So I think direct Hosur route is the shortest and best bet during day.

Noted most Omni Bus and Government 3.33 buses from Salem also started using this route.

[rajeevsulu]

I drove from Erode to Bengaluru last night. Starting time was 12:05 am and reached Thindlu, Bengaluru at 5:45 am with a 15 minutes coffee break thrown in .

A lot of road work happening near Krishnagiri. Because of the time I travelled,there was minimal traffic. It should have been a pain during peak traffic time, I think.

Cheers

[sajiseb]

Originally Posted by swiftgeorge

Returned on Sunday evening to Pune from Thrissur. Took the following route as I had meet someone in Mysuru.

Thrissur > Sathyamangalam > Dhimbam > Chamarajanagar > Nanjangud > Mysuru > Srirangapatna > Bellur Cross > Huliyar > Hiriyur > Pune

"The last 20 kms of NH 150A before Hiriyur are a nightmare......... There are sections where complete paving has been removed and WBM roads are being laid from ground up. ............ all the joy of driving through the beautiful countryside evaporated into anger at myself for putting the car through this."

Any update on the road conditions, is the road work completed or has become worse ?
Carens is probably better than Civic for such roads, but still !!!
Thanks,

[DRIV3R]

A reminder for everyone not to stop at random places though the area is well lit with good vehicular traffic.

I was attempted to be attacked last night on Hosur ESI ring road around 10 45 PM, while I had pulled over to take a meeting. Thankfully the doors were locked, and I could escape on time. It was attempted by a gang of bikers who identified me as a target, with one guy passing by me couple minutes prior to the attempt, shutting off his bike right next to me diagonally just to make sure I am alone.

This applies to any highway or road in our country, not necessarily NH844.

[vsbabu]

I did a day trip on Friday 22/11/2024 from Coimbatore to Bangalore and back. Left at 4am, took Salem route and reached A2B Thoppur about 6:45am with sedate driving on empty roads. Took NH844 to Rayakottai and then the diversion to Kelamangalam and crossed TVS factory to reach Attibele (google maps). Got into NH844 at about 7:30am and reached Attibele at 9:00am. Post NH844 also, the road was really nice though for a while there were a lot of TATA Electronics buses on the road. Several small villages on the way have large speedbumps often hidden under shadows. Could still do 70-80kmph with windows rolled down. Reached Koramangala at 10:15am.

Returned back at 1pm. Wanted to take the same route, but was hungry. Since Google maps didn't show too much traffic on regular Krishnagiri route, had mandatory Star biriyani at Chinnar for lunch and got back to CBE at 7pm. According to on-board trip meter, overall 700km and 20.5kmpl mileage and driving time of 13 hours. 4 hours accounted for 100km between Hosur-Bangalore, within Bangalore and Coimbatore evening rush hour.

Few months back I had taken the Rayakottai to Hosur road with numerous diversions and landed up at ESI ring road - compared to that, Kelamangalam route was much nicer. I'm inclined to take NH844 unless food stops are needed - it is much more peaceful than Krishnagiri traffic.

For some reason, Google maps kept suggesting I go via Malavalli, Dimbam, Karamadai at 1pm from Koramangala - this is the second time I am seeing Google suggesting that route in either directions during day time though I can't imagine it to be quicker than the Salem route.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vsbabu

Few months back I had taken the Rayakottai to Hosur road with numerous diversions and landed up at ESI ring road - compared to that, Kelamangalam route was much nicer. I'm inclined to take NH844 unless food stops are needed - it is much more peaceful than Krishnagiri traffic.

Even for food stops it's not bad. Just hold till you come to Dharmapuri bypass and turn to A2B or Sai Sangeeth.

I would rather cross Thoppur and hope for a break. I just dread getting stuck in there!

[rajathv8]

Originally Posted by NPV

NH 844 update

Originally Posted by arun_josie

I will prefer this route when compared to the Rayakottai - Hosur route.

Originally Posted by ampere

Even for food stops it's not bad.

Thanks to above folks, I took the Attibele-Kelamangalam-Dharmapuri fork. What a lovely route!

The roads for about 10km from Attibele have potholes/traffic but it is nothing to be concerned about. Stick to lower speeds since the roads get much better later. Though traffic is heavy, it is smooth flowing. There are 2-3 large speed breakers in this section that sedans should keep an eye out for - these are easy to spot. My A-Star scraped the front bumper rubber flap on a couple of them.

The roads after this and till Rayakottai are a mix of good to great, mostly on the positive side. Few potholes that show up can be navigated easily since traffic is sparse.

Rayakottai is a busy area where speeds drop to 20kmph but it can be navigated comfortably.

Post Rayakottai roads get a lot better. The NH 844 is butter smooth and stress free to cover.

I stopped at A2B near Attibele for breakfast on the onward (good food, clean restrooms, good parking, higher than normal prices but convenient location) and Saisangeeth at Dharmapuri for lunch on the return (very good food, ok restrooms, good parking, well priced for the quality).

Thanks to cyclone Fengal, my AC usage dropped from the usual 100% to 30%. The return drive was fantastic with drizzles to occasional heavy rains being a constant all the way from Coimbatore to Bangalore.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by rajathv8

Thanks to cyclone Fengal, my AC usage dropped from the usual 100% to 30%. The return drive was fantastic with drizzles to occasional heavy rains being a constant all the way from Coimbatore to Bangalore.

Was there distruption in traffic between Thoppur and Omalur?

[rajathv8]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Was there distruption in traffic between Thoppur and Omalur?

Thoppur-Omalur:
There was a diversion due to construction which was slow during my return to Bangalore. It was due to a labouring truck. The diversion was waterlogged on both sides so vehicles were navigating single file through the center. Traffic was light so the slowdown did not create a major jam as i passed it. Nothing else to report on this stretch.

About the Thoppur ghat itself :
BLR to CBE :
There are barrels placed to separate the two lanes, with trucks mandated to take the left lane. One truck did not follow this and came onto the right lane, this slowed down all the passenger vehicles. During my return, I saw the truck lane had a long queue due to a cement trailer struggling while the passenger vehicle lane was smooth flowing.

CBE to BLR:
No barrels/lane separation. Traffic was as usual - slow and tough to navigate.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by rajathv8

Thoppur-Omalur

You travelled in the aftermath of Fengal? I heard a traffic disruption near Poosaripatti, so wanted to understand the extent of disruption.

[rajathv8]

Originally Posted by narayans80

You travelled in the aftermath of Fengal?

I travelled just as Fengal was showing up in that part of TN. It was swinging between drizzle and heavy downpours. I think I made it through before things got nasty.
The water logging in the diversions can really throw things out of gear.

[vigsom]

Introduction

This is quick route experience on the much spoken about alternate route from Dharmapuri to Bengaluru aka NH844. This update, and my experience will hopefully help potential users decide between this route and the regular route via Krishnagiri.

How I ended onto NH844

After a stop after the Thoppur toll, I had two options - use the conventional route via Krishnagiri or use the much discussed NH844 after Dharmapuri. Just short of the exit to NH844, I turned left and just wanted to see what this new route was all about. It was a mixed bag.

Exiting NH44 towards NH844




The tarmac and signages






Upcoming Toll Plaza near Palacode - will be a while before this is operational - twenty lanes per design




Beautiful looking bridge with the hill in the backdrop




HT lines crossing the highway at multiple points




The first refreshment stop seen on the highway about 20 mins after entering NH844

[vigsom]

NH844 to Rayakottai

First diversion in 25 mins of entering NH844


One more HT line crossing the highway


Diversion2


Diversion3


End of four lane


Entering Rayakottai town




Traffic hold up just ahead of Rayakottai Bus Stand at the T junction; enter the bus stand to bypass the hold up




Road from Rayakottai to Hosur/ Kelamangalam

[vigsom]

NH844 to SH85 to 948A

Left to Kelamangalam and right to Hosur - I turned left


Towards Kelamangalam


The first diversion after the fork


One more Nellore


Decent road with good greenery


First roundabout - Kelamangalam, keep going straight towards Mathigiri


New tarmac - most of the road is good save some places with stones n dust


Second roundabout at Mathigiri - go straight towards Attibele


Ever seen an autorickshaw driver don a helmet


TVS Motor Company


Summing it up

Roads are good for the most part with some dose of stones, dust, surface irregularities and craters thrown in

1. Time taken from NH844 entry at Dharmapuri end to Attibele exit back to NH44 - 01hr 50 mins ( approx. 40 mins from the NH844 entry to Rayakottai junction, then 30 mins from Rayakottai to Kelamangalam, 25 mins from Kelamangalam to TVS Motor Company, 15 mins from TVS Motor to Attibele).
2. Traffic hold up expected - around TVS Motor Company and at Rayakottai Bus Stand
3. Watch out for some unmarked speed breakers
4. Savings if NH844 and SH85 is taken: Distance 16km approx., Toll INR125 (Krishnagiri and Attibele avoided)
5. Which route would I prefer? Krishnagiri anyday even with the diversions unless it is a high traffic time when all of Bengaluru wants to head out of or head into town.