[sajiseb]

Originally Posted by buzzy_boy

I travel on this route every week between Coimbatore and Hasanur.

Hi,
We are planning to take this route on Thursday (Kottayam to Bangalore, should cross Coimbatore by 9:30 am).

Any update on this route ?
Where can be find some good restaurants / rest rooms between Coimbatore and Chamarajanagar ?

Last time, we took the Hosur road, trying for a more scenic drive this time.

Thanks in advance.

[buzzy_boy]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Hi,
We are planning to take this route on Thursday (Kottayam to Bangalore, should cross Coimbatore by 9:30 am).

Any update on this route ?
Where can be find some good restaurants / rest rooms between Coimbatore and Chamarajanagar ?

I reckon you would take the Coimbatore - Palakkad bypass, Karumathampatti - Annur - Bhavani Sagar - Bannari - Dhimbam route.

At the time you mentioned, on a weekday, you should face very little traffic.

Plan for breakfast on the Palakkad - Coimbatore highway; there are plenty of good veg (A2B, RHR) and non-veg options after the Walayar check post.

You could stop at the Raagam Bakery in Annur for a quick restroom break.

After Annur, Bhama in Hasanur is a decent option for lunch.

[sajiseb]

Originally Posted by buzzy_boy

I reckon you would take the Coimbatore - Palakkad bypass, Karumathampatti - Annur - Bhavani Sagar - Bannari - Dhimbam route.

At the time you mentioned, on a weekday, you should face very little traffic.

Plan for breakfast on the Palakkad - Coimbatore highway; there are plenty of good veg (A2B, RHR) and non-veg options after the Walayar check post.

You could stop at the Raagam Bakery in Annur for a quick restroom break.

After Annur, Bhama in Hasanur is a decent option for lunch.

Thanks once again.
Google maps shows SH15 from Annur to Bannari where as 948 is via Sathyamangalam (which is only slightly longer - 6 kms). Which road is better in terms of road condition and traffic ?

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Thanks once again.
Google maps shows SH15 from Annur to Bannari where as 948 is via Sathyamangalam (which is only slightly longer - 6 kms). Which road is better in terms of road condition and traffic ?

I have taken the route via Bannari 4 years back, it was a single lane road and road condition was not great (i am not sure about the current condition). The one via Sathyamangalam is a wide two lane road.

I prefer taking the Sathyamangalam route.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Thanks once again.
Google maps shows SH15 from Annur to Bannari where as 948 is via Sathyamangalam (which is only slightly longer - 6 kms). Which road is better in terms of road condition and traffic ?

I have in the past driven via the SH15 route - Bannur-Bhavani Sagar, join SH15 but then go to Karamadai and join NH 544 at Madukkarai after going through Coimbatore city. This was all good roads at that time except the pain of going through the city (this was about a year ago).

I have also driven Mettur-Anthiyur-Sathyamangalam-Annur. This was also totally fine, just what we expect from an internal Tamil Nadu road.

But no view on Annur to SH15, unfortunately. Given that the unknown section is only about 15km I'd still give it a try.

[kala]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Google maps shows SH15 from Annur to Bannari where as 948 is via Sathyamangalam (which is only slightly longer - 6 kms). Which road is better in terms of road condition and traffic ?

Originally Posted by arun_josie

I have taken the route via Bannari 4 years back, it was a single lane road and road condition was not great (i am not sure about the current condition). The one via Sathyamangalam is a wide two lane road.

I've taken both these routes multiple number of times in the recent past (including a two way trip last week through the current Google Maps recommendation via Bhavanisagar), and my observation has been that there's nothing much to choose between the two.

The route via Sathy is obviously the wider road (being a national highway), but has much higher traffic density, and passing the towns on the way (Puliampatti and Sathy) can be a pain - especially the latter which can sometimes take 10+ mins to cross. The Bhavanisagar route that GMaps suggests these days takes you through SH15 for only a few kms in the initial portion (which by the way has wonderful tarmac) and then deviates through Othimalai road to Annur. This is a straight road (of around 17 kms I think) the initial portion of about 3 or 4 kms till the turn-off to Othimalai temple being quite narrow, after which it becomes slightly wider. But considering that traffic is very sparse, and the overall road surface quite decent (though not great), it generally doesn't take you more than 20 minutes or so to traverse. So my preference these days has been this latter route.

The third option that @Binand mentioned - the one via Karamadai / Coimbatore town has great roads till the outskirts of Coimbatore, but then the last 10-12 kms has lots of construction work and traffic congestion, so that section alone can take you at least half an hour to an hour or more till you get to Ukkadam. So I wouldn't recommend it unless you need to go into Coimbatore town. (I tried it out on one of my recent trips just to avoid the horrible Coimbatore bypass, but found that the overall time taken was at least half an hour more than going the Karumathampatti way)

(Edit: Just noticed that the OP's query was for a journey towards Bangalore, and my description above is about the journey in the opposite direction i.e. when travelling from Bangalore to Kerala - please note)

[GeeTee TSI]

I had a trip to Coimbatore (Thondamuthur specifically) over last weekend. Owing to drives on back to back days, I chose the comfort and familiarity of Krishnagiri (NH44), Salem (NH544) with extensive cruise control usage.

Started on Saturday 05:00 from Yelahanka and reached the destination (Ananya's Nani Nani) at 13:30. I probably got lucky at the highway construction detours near Hosur and Krishnagiri, due to the early start. Apart from the blistering highway temperatures, it was a pleasant drive (including Thoppur ghats)

Return from Thondamuthur was at 10:00 and I chose the same route (with no mood for experimentation). All was well including the Thoppur ghat climb but came to a grinding halt past Krishnagiri toll plaza (specifically after Lovato Lounge) at the construction detour. Progress till Attibele was slow but surprisingly smooth from there on, reaching Yelahanka by 19:25

[printh]

Hello guys, I am planning a drive to Coimbatore (Thudiyalur) from Bangalore (Brookfield) tomorrow and return the next day. I have been contemplating on taking the Malavalli - Dhimbham - bannari route after going through the thread. I am pushing for an early start around 6 am from Bangalore. Any updates/advice on the route as it would be my first time trying this route. Is there any particular timings or nuances in routes to follow to avoid truck traffic? Is Satyamangalam roads better or Bhavanisagar is decent enough for driving? Shortage of eateries and rest stops may not be relevant for me. Thanks in advance.

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by printh

Hello guys, I am planning a drive to Coimbatore (Thudiyalur) from Bangalore (Brookfield) tomorrow and return the next day. I have been contemplating on taking the Malavalli - Dhimbham - bannari route after going through the thread. I am pushing for an early start around 6 am from Bangalore. Any updates/advice on the route as it would be my first time trying this route. Is there any particular timings or nuances in routes to follow to avoid truck traffic? Is Satyamangalam roads better or Bhavanisagar is decent enough for driving? Shortage of eateries and rest stops may not be relevant for me. Thanks in advance.

Just drove back to Bangalore on this route last Sunday. Roads are in good to very good condition, I took the Bhavanisagar route and while it's a little narrow, nothing of concern. I didn't face much traffic on the ghats.

[whitewing]

Originally Posted by printh

Hello guys, I am planning a drive to Coimbatore (Thudiyalur) from Bangalore (Brookfield) ... Is there any particular timings or nuances in routes to follow to avoid truck traffic?

Since you are starting early in the morning.
Note that the check post at punjur (i think it is forest dept one) probably will have a long line of backed up trucks - stuck & waiting to clear the check post.
Private vehicles are permitted to pass through. But since the road is narrow and one lane will be chock full of lorries, you'd have to commit the sin of getting onto the opposite lane and squeeze through. Note that early mornings, the traffic in the opposite lane is minimal.

[Capri89]

Hi friends,

There is an upcoming trip to Thrissur/Guruvayur next week mid week from Bangalore.

Of the following routes which one is recommended. Peaceful drive, good food and bio break stops are key factors. Passengers are four adults (2 seniors).

1. Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem (via Thoppur) onwards.

2. Attibele - Rayakottai - Pennagaram - Mecheri onwards as suggested by @bejoy

3. 2 above with modifications as suggested by @mayukh42

Kindly advise.

[deadguy25]

@Capri89:

I did Bangalore - Avinashi:
Bangalore - Hosur - Rayakottai/Palacode - Thoppur - Sankari (by-pass) - Perundurai - Avinashi.

The food stop on this route is only A2B (I think), and then the Sankari Saravana Bhavan.

Elsewhere near Avinashi, there is Annapoorna.

You can cover the distance quickly in this route, the traffic is comparatively lesser than the traditional route.

For ample food stops, the traditional route is the best.

[SAPVEN]

Hi Friends ,

Planning a trip from Bangalore to Kotagiri, via Kanakapura-Dhimbham (mainly for a more scenic route, and also to avoid the toll queues on the Mysore expressway ). An early start (5.00 Am) is planned .

Would appreciate a feedback ;

A) On the route in general and any pain points
B) Decent food stops for BF ( maybe in Kanakapura area)

Thanks !!!

[mrpotato]

Planning to take the Dhimbam route from Bengaluru to Coimbatore. Want suggestion on clean restraunt for Breakfast in this route. Wife has high OCD for cleanliness.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by mrpotato

Planning to take the Dhimbam route from Bengaluru to Coimbatore. Want suggestion on clean restraunt for Breakfast in this route. Wife has high OCD for cleanliness.

You can look at Nijaguna at Chamarajanagar

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YucvLtgr3Y7ziMpV8