All Roads to Kerala

Jaggu · 19th November 2008, 12:20

Darn i thought they would have done up the road after monsoon with sabarimala season starting and all.

hvkumar · 19th November 2008, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Snowhite is lil bored and its time to take her for a deserving drive. Also i have to attend a function in Trivandrum next week, so thought of driving down this weekend. Roam around TVM for 3-4 days and return next week middle.

Need update and route info for:

Onward: Drive from BLR to TVM, since am planning on a 1 day drive thinking of taking TN roads instead of struggling with KL traffic. BLR - Salem - Madurai - Thirunelveli - TVM

So guide me from BLR to TVM, route with major stop over points suitable for break fast, lunch and toilet facilities please.

Plan is to leave early by 530-600 am from BLR.

Return: Onward journey experience will decide if i drive straight back the same route, or else i will take a break in Cochin and then drive back to BLR from there. So update on road condition from TVM to Bhavani via Palakad.

Please check out the attached file which has the route for Bangalore-Trivandrum via Madurai and Nagercoil.

You also have the option of going from Madurai-Tirumangalam via Rajapalayam, Tenkasi to Trivandrum. There has been some discussion on this in the forum before, you will get more info in other threads.

Facilities on the route via Madurai are good. No suggestions for eating places, don't know any.

pgginish · 19th November 2008, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepclutch

yesterday ,travelled from coimbatore to muvattupuzha.the palakkad-thrissur road is potholes infested ,even ksrtc(kerala) buses are struggling.But ,I hope experts can do it without damaging their vehicles.

Hi,

What is the status of Angamaly - Trichur 4 lining work?

Jaggu · 19th November 2008, 16:04

Thanks HVkumar excel is really helpful. And i would prefer to stick to the NH's and wouldnt want to explore alternate SH's.

deepclutch · 19th November 2008, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgginish

Hi,

What is the status of Angamaly - Trichur 4 lining work?

still going on.lot of bottle necks which needs waiting and as usual heavy traffic.but can be very much doable in 1 hour time.I will suggest a GO ,if else you have to go through NH17 narrow road but still lesser traffic =>thrissur-iringalakuda-kodungalloor-paravur-varappuzha-Ernakulam-towards chottanikkara or kottayam .for sabarimala ,you can continue from paravur-aluva-perumbavoor-muvattupuzha-thodupuzha-erattupettah-pampa(shorter route).

joecherian · 1st December 2008, 10:02

Thought of giving life to this thread once again as the next driving season is round the corner.. Requesting updates on current condition of NH 47 for Salem to Cochin travel

swathyd · 1st December 2008, 11:33

Recently heard from a firend that tvm-nagercoil route is in terrible shape with big potholes. It was reported before a week. And the surprising thing is that the roads are broken in tamilnadu and not in kerala !

Jaggu · 1st December 2008, 11:57

Quick update from my side.

If you are going TVM side please DONOT take the TN route, whatever you save till Tirunelveli is lost by the time till you reach Trivandrum. From Tirunelveli onwards the roads start deteriorating, which reaches the pinnacle around Nagercoil. There is no roads between Nagercoil and Marthandam, thats what i would say.

On the other hand the road inside Kerala is in much better shape, including CBE-Palghat which is almost completely repaired. Palghat - Trichur, apart from very small stretch, is in very good shape.

@joe: Salem to Bhavani has detours and road work, but otherwise ok. Bhavani to CBE similar but lesser chaos. CBE to Cochin is in pretty good shape, though beware of some pot holes here and there.

@swathy: You are right, dont even thread beyond Marthandam if you love your car

Will try to post a detailed log in the coming days.

pgginish · 2nd December 2008, 22:38

Which would be the prefered route for Bangalore - Cochin during Christmas vacation?

I have two routes in mind:

1. Bangalore - Mettur - CBE - Cochin
2. B'lore - Mysore - Nilambur - Cochin
I will be traveling on 20th. Please suggest

Jammy70 · 9th December 2008, 16:02

A relative of mine travelled from B'lore to Palakkad last week and he claimed the Salem - Avinashi stretch is in very poor state. It seems the 4-laning work has come to a standstill too. He apparently was not able to do speeds of more than 45-50km on this stretch.

Can any of you verify the current condition of this stretch? It seems the Mettur route isn't in good condition too; any updates?

Why I'm asking is coz my dad is driving down (with driver) next week to Cochin in his NHC; would like to give him the real picture of what to expect.

Cheers

hellstar · 9th December 2008, 17:30

Easiest and the latest information is to check with the Volvo drivers who ply daily between blore and TVM/ EKM just before you start your trip drive by Madiwala, stop at the kallada travels office and 90% of the time you will have drivers loiterring around , and are usually very helpful and talkative . Ask them and you get updates as a fresh as 12 hours back ....I usually confirm my route to home only after i check with the volvo / Kerala RTC drivers at Madiwala.

trrk · 10th December 2008, 14:06

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammy70

A relative of mine travelled from B'lore to Palakkad last week and he claimed the Salem - Avinashi stretch is in very poor state. It seems the 4-laning work has come to a standstill too. He apparently was not able to do speeds of more than 45-50km on this stretch.
Can any of you verify the current condition of this stretch? It seems the Mettur route isn't in good condition too; any updates?
Why I'm asking is coz my dad is driving down (with driver) next week to Cochin in his NHC; would like to give him the real picture of what to expect.
Cheers

I just did this stretch, but took a left to Erode after Sankari and via Perundurai back to the NH.

I have seen the roads better in the past. The NH work does make you criss cross the lanes, but it is driveable.

I wanted to try the Mettur road this time, but the first kilometre did not look encouraging and so turned back and used the NH.

swathyd · 10th December 2008, 14:14

Any idea on the condition of kuttipuram road ( ekm-cal route) it was a real hell before 2 months.

Peace · 12th December 2008, 10:23

Hi All,

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Cochin (Krishnagiri --> Dharmapuri --> CBE -....) . On route I wanted to identify places with clean toilet facilities. Can someone help me.

jkdas · 12th December 2008, 11:00

Cochin-Shertalla-Alapuzha: Good
Alapuzha-Kayamkulam-Kollam: Careful coz you have potholes on straight wide stretches; thats where you do 3 digit speeds easily and hence need extra care.
Oachira-Kollam-Tvm: Good.

They have started patching up and Tvm-Kollam has already been patched and they are now marking the road(the centre and sides).

19th November 2008, 12:20	#391
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Darn i thought they would have done up the road after monsoon with sabarimala season starting and all.
	() Thanks

19th November 2008, 16:04	#394
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Thanks HVkumar excel is really helpful. And i would prefer to stick to the NH's and wouldnt want to explore alternate SH's.
	() Thanks

1st December 2008, 10:02	#396
joecherian BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Almhult,Sweden Posts: 550 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	Thought of giving life to this thread once again as the next driving season is round the corner.. Requesting updates on current condition of NH 47 for Salem to Cochin travel
	() Thanks

1st December 2008, 11:33	#397
swathyd BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: thiruvananthapuram Posts: 774 Thanked: 25 Times	Recently heard from a firend that tvm-nagercoil route is in terrible shape with big potholes. It was reported before a week. And the surprising thing is that the roads are broken in tamilnadu and not in kerala !
	() Thanks

1st December 2008, 11:57	#398
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Quick update from my side. If you are going TVM side please DONOT take the TN route, whatever you save till Tirunelveli is lost by the time till you reach Trivandrum. From Tirunelveli onwards the roads start deteriorating, which reaches the pinnacle around Nagercoil. There is no roads between Nagercoil and Marthandam, thats what i would say. On the other hand the road inside Kerala is in much better shape, including CBE-Palghat which is almost completely repaired. Palghat - Trichur, apart from very small stretch, is in very good shape. @joe: Salem to Bhavani has detours and road work, but otherwise ok. Bhavani to CBE similar but lesser chaos. CBE to Cochin is in pretty good shape, though beware of some pot holes here and there. @swathy: You are right, dont even thread beyond Marthandam if you love your car Will try to post a detailed log in the coming days.
	() Thanks

2nd December 2008, 22:38	#399
pgginish BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 89 Thanked: 10 Times	Bangalore - Cochin Which would be the prefered route for Bangalore - Cochin during Christmas vacation? I have two routes in mind: 1. Bangalore - Mettur - CBE - Cochin 2. B'lore - Mysore - Nilambur - Cochin I will be traveling on 20th. Please suggest
	() Thanks

9th December 2008, 16:02	#400
Jammy70 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 164 Thanked: 143 Times	Salem - CBE status A relative of mine travelled from B'lore to Palakkad last week and he claimed the Salem - Avinashi stretch is in very poor state. It seems the 4-laning work has come to a standstill too. He apparently was not able to do speeds of more than 45-50km on this stretch. Can any of you verify the current condition of this stretch? It seems the Mettur route isn't in good condition too; any updates? Why I'm asking is coz my dad is driving down (with driver) next week to Cochin in his NHC; would like to give him the real picture of what to expect. Cheers
	() Thanks

9th December 2008, 17:30	#401
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,072 Thanked: 44 Times	Easiest and the latest information is to check with the Volvo drivers who ply daily between blore and TVM/ EKM just before you start your trip drive by Madiwala, stop at the kallada travels office and 90% of the time you will have drivers loiterring around , and are usually very helpful and talkative . Ask them and you get updates as a fresh as 12 hours back ....I usually confirm my route to home only after i check with the volvo / Kerala RTC drivers at Madiwala. Last edited by hellstar : 9th December 2008 at 17:33. Reason: typos...
	() Thanks

10th December 2008, 14:14	#403
swathyd BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: thiruvananthapuram Posts: 774 Thanked: 25 Times	Any idea on the condition of kuttipuram road ( ekm-cal route) it was a real hell before 2 months.
	() Thanks

12th December 2008, 10:23	#404
Peace Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2 Thanked: 0 Times	Hi All, I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Cochin (Krishnagiri --> Dharmapuri --> CBE -....) . On route I wanted to identify places with clean toilet facilities. Can someone help me.
	() Thanks

12th December 2008, 11:00	#405
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Cochin-Shertalla-Alapuzha: Good Alapuzha-Kayamkulam-Kollam: Careful coz you have potholes on straight wide stretches; thats where you do 3 digit speeds easily and hence need extra care. Oachira-Kollam-Tvm: Good. They have started patching up and Tvm-Kollam has already been patched and they are now marking the road(the centre and sides).
	() Thanks