[NPV]

Originally Posted by bejoy

Going towards Palakkad, taking Annur-Avinashi and then getting on to the unpredictable L&T bypass is what I want to avoid. But again, it depends on the timing. If I reach Coimbatore city by 7:30-8pm, on a busy weekend, cutting across the city and joining Madukkarai on Palakkad road make sense?

L&T bypass can be a pain and unpredictable but from my experience I would say bite the bullet and stick to that route, going inside the city could be a bigger gamble unless you’re following google maps which is recommending the city route based on the time and traffic conditions at that time.

[vsbabu]

Originally Posted by bejoy

. If I reach Coimbatore city by 7:30-8pm, on a busy weekend, cutting across the city and joining Madukkarai on Palakkad road make sense?

I was referring to Avinasi road flyover inside the city. Plus the Sai Baba colony flyover too in case Google directs to Mettupalayam Road and GN mills junction to Anaikkatti road.

7:30-8pm, cutting through city is not a problem. From Saravanampatti to Madukkarai NH takes about 45 minutes. Only choke point is some 500m in Ganapathy and may be few minutes extra near Town Hall. Make sure you take left ramp at Ukkadam bus stand to join flyover - if you miss that, then you have to suffer the old Ukkadam toll traffic.

There was a news item 4 weeks ago about works on railway underpass at Madukkarai - last week when I went to Palakkad, I took the detour there following the boards kept. However I could see many cars were just going through too - may be work is over.

I usually avoid LnT bypass other than early mornings - all the crossings are backlogged.

[bejoy]

Originally Posted by vsbabu

I was referring to Avinasi road flyover inside the city. Plus the Sai Baba colony flyover too in case Google directs to Mettupalayam Road and GN mills junction to Anaikkatti road.

7:30-8pm, cutting through city is not a problem. From Saravanampatti to Madukkarai NH takes about 45 minutes. Only choke point is some 500m in Ganapathy and may be few minutes extra near Town Hall. Make sure you take left ramp at Ukkadam bus stand to join flyover - if you miss that, then you have to suffer the old Ukkadam toll traffic.

There was a news item 4 weeks ago about works on railway underpass at Madukkarai - last week when I went to Palakkad, I took the detour there following the boards kept. However I could see many cars were just going through too - may be work is over.

I usually avoid LnT bypass other than early mornings - all the crossings are backlogged.

Thanks. I took the Dhimbham route last year April and went through Coimbatore city, but it was at 2pm. Followed Google and I took the Karamadai route to city and then to Madukkarai. From Bannari, it took 2.5 hours till the NH with a 30min lunch break at Cafe Udupi Ruchi (after Karamadai). (just checked the GPS logs). Do you think the Annur-Saravanampatti route would be faster?

[vsbabu]

Originally Posted by bejoy

Do you think the Annur-Saravanampatti route would be faster?

Nope, Karamadai will be faster and shorter. Just check for any red sections on Google map in Karamadai junction before you cross the right turn to Puliampatti on the road from Bannari - when there is any festival in the temple there, it really gets blocked for an hour minimum. Now the choke point is only the Sai Baba Colony flyover construction which usually have police directing traffic proactively. Karamadai - left at Y junction after Avinashalingam college - go past the next circle - stay on main road to go right at the circular flyover and then take left at ""Pollachi/Palakkad" board, navigate narrow roads to join Ukkadam, take left ramp (it is very small and easy to miss) to the flyover, keep to the right, the dug up road after that is all fixed up now, check Madukkarai railway underpass and that's it.

Before Ukkadam you will have traffic, but I've always seen it moving. However, on the way back, it gets stuck often from 3pm till 9pm from Ukkadam to Mettupalayam road.

I had taken Bannari to Karamadai road at night and it is way too deserted and dark - if you reach Bannari after 8pm, it is perhaps safer to ignore google and go into Sathy, then Puliampatti, Annur, Saravanampatti and city following main Sathy road.

PS: Mettupalayam road has one Annapoorna 1.5km after Thudiyalur on right side, an Aryabhavan on left side about 1km from the first flyover and then old Annapoorna (very limited parking) on left side some 5km further down. On Sathy road, there is an Annapoorna on left side just before Ganapathy. There is a newish Annapoorna on Palakkad road few km after Ukkadam flyover (use Google maps since their board is very hidden till you go past the entrance). Sharing my usual food spots while beginning to travel, if it helps

[vigsom]

Status as of 45 mins back

I had to do a trip to Salem early today and avoided driving, because of another driver's input. Happy I didn't drive. Expect at least 45mins delay between Thoppur Toll Plaza and the end of the incline because of some road works going on at the foot of the ghat - one lane closed. Guess where the backup is till? As soon as you pass the Thoppur Toll Plaza after paying a fat fee. I expect this to be the new normal for the near future until the roadworks is done.

Red all the way till the top


Traffic traffic traffic


One lane closed at the foot of the ghat - leading to the huge backup

[itwasntme]

This has started looks like. 3 year timeline.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp...ork-at-thoppur

[ampere]

Thoppur is a now a routine hit or miss story. I can only think of one option. Take the 844. Before you cross Palacode, check the status of Thoppur. If it's bad head out to Pennagaram and on to Tharamangalam via Macheri. There you get to the 4-lane to Sankagiri and back on the Coimbatore road.

[sajiseb]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thoppur is a now a routine hit or miss story. I can only think of one option. Take the 844. Before you cross Palacode, check the status of Thoppur. If it's bad head out to Pennagaram and on to Tharamangalam via Macheri. There you get to the 4-lane to Sankagiri and back on the Coimbatore road.

Thanks.
Is there a problem with Thoppur route both ways or only towards Salem ?
Planning to travel in mid June. (As per google maps, Pannagaram-Tharamgangalm route takes almost 80 minutes more compared to the Thoppur route . Presume this is when the traffic is smooth at Thoppur)
hanks.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Thanks.
Is there a problem with Thoppur route both ways or only towards Salem ?
Planning to travel in mid June. (As per google maps, Pannagaram-Tharamgangalm route takes almost 80 minutes more compared to the Thoppur route . Presume this is when the traffic is smooth at Thoppur)
hanks.

Usually the the choke happens on the road towards Salem. But to clear that jam many a times authorities steal a lane from the oncoming side.

[ultroyster]

I am traveling from Bangalore to Coimbatore by car on June 20, starting early in the morning. I am confused between NH844 and NH44 for Hosur-Dharmapuri. Any suggestions on which route to take?

[rajeevsulu]

Originally Posted by ultroyster

I am traveling from Bangalore to Coimbatore by car on June 20, starting early in the morning. I am confused between NH844 and NH44 for Hosur-Dharmapuri. Any suggestions on which route to take?

I drove Erode to Bengaluru on 16 th and back on 17 th June. There is a little work happening in Thoppur and Krishnagiri but otherwise it is very good. I started from Erode at 12:30 am and reached Bengaluru at 5 am with a coffee stop in between.

The return leg, I started at 5 am and reached Erode at 9:45 with a breakfast break at Murugan Idli, Krishnagiri. The normal highway is good enough with these two small congestions. I was fearing the Thoppur ghat stretch because of the work happening there but it was a breeze.

Cheers

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by ultroyster

I am traveling from Bangalore to Coimbatore by car on June 20, starting early in the morning. I am confused between NH844 and NH44 for Hosur-Dharmapuri. Any suggestions on which route to take?

If google maps shows any long red, then you can think of NH844, otherwise NH44 via Krishnagiri should be fine. I prefer to to take NH844 only during day time, that too during the return journey towards bangalore.

[ns94]

Hi all

Requesting your inputs on Mysore - Dhondeling - Germalam - Dhimbham - Sathy - Coimbatore route - would like to visit the monastery.
Any inputs on the road conditions, lonely/forest stretches that we need to be careful of would be really appreciated as we will be travelling with a toddler.

TIA!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ns94

Hi all

Requesting your inputs on Mysore - Dhondeling - Germalam - Dhimbham - Sathy - Coimbatore route - would like to visit the monastery.
Any inputs on the road conditions, lonely/forest stretches that we need to be careful of would be really appreciated as we will be travelling with a toddler.

TIA!

KA side of the Kollegal-Germalem was in tatters a year back. Once you cross the KA-TN border it usually improves.

[ns94]

Originally Posted by ampere

KA side of the Kollegal-Germalem was in tatters a year back. Once you cross the KA-TN border it usually improves.

I was under the impression that the KA side of Kollegal to Anthiyur/Burger was in such bad state - looks like the other one is also not good