Originally Posted by kavu75

If you are directly going to Pandalam its better to avoid NH47 in its present condition. Nowadays i am sticking to
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Dindigul - Periyakulam - Theni - Cumbum - Kumily - Mundakkayam - Erumely - Ranni - Pathanamthitta – pandalam.

I heard about this route before, couldn't get any details about the road condition.
How long it takes to reach pandalam? total distance? road condition?
Next time i want to try this route

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by Twiny

Please see inline the revised ones as on 13/Sep. Now its 273

Its a steep hike at Omallur & Thoppur

[ArunV]

I will be travelling to trivandrum from perumbavoor in october. Does anyone know the current condition of roads - NH and MC road? Which is a better option?

[aargee]

^^^ From the forum, I understand that, NH is bad in some stretches like Sherthala. MC road, though is twisty & not excellent, it is managable to do in 6-7 hours.

[kavu75]

Originally Posted by nisam76

I heard about this route before, couldn't get any details about the road condition.
How long it takes to reach pandalam? total distance? road condition?
Next time i want to try this route

I take detour from KK Road at Mundakayam and follow Erumely-ranni-pathanamthitta route.
Erumeli - Ranni - pathanamthitta route was in bad shape when i'd taken this route on mid August. Anyway, another Sabarimala season is coming up, hope they will do some repair / patchup soon.
The distance((Kumily-Pandalam) will be around 115km and you can cover this in 2 1/2 hrs.

[ArunV]

Originally Posted by aargee

^^^ From the forum, I understand that, NH is bad in some stretches like Sherthala. MC road, though is twisty & not excellent, it is managable to do in 6-7 hours.

Thanks aargee. But 6-7 hrs , that is too much of a time.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by ArunV

Thanks aargee. But 6-7 hrs , that is too much of a time.

Well...Google says 4 hours approx as they don't know the road conditions. With good breaks & sane drivings you should be able to do it in 6 hours approx. After Kottayam upto Muvattupuzha you cannot keep up your speeds due to lots of turns. You might even experience 1 or 2 broad hair pins. After Muvattupuzha to Perumbavoor, its a nice breezy road, you can finish it off in 20-25 minutes flat.

[Twiny]

Is the Tvm-Kottarakkara stretch 4Lane completed. My last drive to Tvm was in 2007 end, at that time work was going on. Also Is this extended after Kottarakkara also.

Originally Posted by Twiny

Is the Tvm-Kottarakkara stretch 4Lane completed. My last drive to Tvm was in 2007 end, at that time work was going on. Also Is this extended after Kottarakkara also.

Completed till Chengannur.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by nisam76

Completed till Chengannur.

it's not a 4 lane road. Just two lanes.

[jaisha8]

Last week I had been to Krishnagiri from Trichur. While going it took me 2.15 hrs to just reach palakkad as the Trichur Palakkad road is really bad. So on my return we took the route via Ottapalam, Shornur, Vadakanchery to Trichur. This route though a bit longer, the road and the scenery is really good. We enjoyed our return trip. Also stopped at a roadside tea kada for a good tea.

[ananth_iy]

Originally Posted by jaisha8

Last week I had been to Krishnagiri from Trichur. While going it took me 2.15 hrs to just reach palakkad as the Trichur Palakkad road is really bad...

That is a bit surprising. It has always taken me only 1 hr to do the distance. I just travelled 2 weeks back and the road was not great but so bad that it would take 2+ hrs. Not sure if something that drastic has changed in 2 weeks or if it was just a matter of heavier traffic.

[jaisha8]

Originally Posted by ananth_iy

That is a bit surprising. It has always taken me only 1 hr to do the distance. I just travelled 2 weeks back and the road was not great but so bad that it would take 2+ hrs. Not sure if something that drastic has changed in 2 weeks or if it was just a matter of heavier traffic.

There are some big pot holes that is at different spots. Once we hit badly on one of them and after that we slowed down and drove very cautiously as I was in my Linea. They have patched up in lot of places but not all pot holes are covered.

[ampere]

Just saw in a program that the road through Nagarhole has been blocked for public (Mananthvady road). This may be old news, but just wanted to know is this the route to Kutta which is marked as SH17D (In MMI Maps)?

Or this is some other road? However the program said there is a diversion route to the forest.

EDIT: The maps shows its some route through the heart of the forest ending in Kutta.

[sbkumar]

Originally Posted by jaisha8

Last week I had been to Krishnagiri from Trichur. While going it took me 2.15 hrs to just reach palakkad as the Trichur Palakkad road is really bad. So on my return we took the route via Ottapalam, Shornur, Vadakanchery to Trichur. This route though a bit longer, the road and the scenery is really good. We enjoyed our return trip. Also stopped at a roadside tea kada for a good tea.

Can you let me know how and where to take this road if I am coming from Cbe to thrissur?