Originally Posted by pramodpk (Post 2996563)

Thanks Ranjit. What are the important land marks that I should look for in this route? I looked for sign boards to Kochi in August and ended up in Mannuthy.

Originally Posted by ranjitp1 (Post 2996591)

Coming from Shoranur,you would cross the Viyyur Prison,followed by Power House,then a temple to your left and a church to your right,then Viyyur Bridge,and around 500-700mts from the bridge you would see a fork road with Hotel Kovilakam to the left.Take the left fork.The road ends in a circle with NexT Showroom to your right.Take a left at the circle and follow the road.The road curves to the right, up an incline followed by a left turn followed by a right turn(at this point there is a road going to the left as well-ignore).Following the natural right turn at this point,300mts,you would encounter another small circle (diagonally to your right you would see the Town Hall and to your immediate right you would see KSFE and Bal Bhavan).Take a left at the circle and keep straight,you would cross the Zoo to your right,keep on the road,the road takes a natural right,following which you would cross the Bishop Palace on your left,and St Clare's convent to your right,keep going straight and you would come to a traffic circle(East Fort junction) with a lot of vegetable shops and meat shops to your left.At the traffic circle-go straight(left would take you to Mannuthy,right would take you to Thrissur Swaraj Round).Go straight,you would now run along the Jubilee Mission Medical College' compound wall to your left.Follow the road and the road curves to the left(just keep following Jubilee's compound wall).Keep on the road and head straight around 2-3 kms ahead,you would again come to a slight fork road,take the right fork and the road ends up on NH47 under a flyover.Go under the flyover and take a right and you are right at the toll gate.

From Kovilakam to NH47 shouldnt take you more than 20mins.

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon (Post 2996653)

My god. Do you have google maps installed in your head???

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon (Post 2996468)

Not at all worthy. Be advised. DO NOT use that route. The drive would not be so pleasant with the number of hairpin bends. The progress would be slow as there would still be traffic (slow moving trucks) to negotiate. But most important of all, the road is not at all good after you cross Top Slip. The road from Top Slip till Athirappally is very bad and would not be an under statement if i say that it is non existent. If you are looking for a jungle 4 X 4 drive, then go ahead. There's scenery aplenty and at one stretch you even get to drive through thick fog at the middle of the day.

I would personally still avoid it

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj (Post 2996843)

Which would be a good place to stop for a break after Muthanga Checkpost and before exiting Sultan Bathery? Requirements are good restrooms and comfortable parking (Not too concerned about food since at max we'll have a cup of tea).

I normally stop at CCD at Gundlepet, but was thinking to push forward to try to cross the checkpost as early as possible and then stop.
.

Originally Posted by ranjitp1 (Post 2996591)

From Kovilakam to NH47 shouldnt take you more than 20mins.

Originally Posted by cooljai (Post 2996874)

Travelled this route yesterday, but think lost my way inside Thrissur, but finally ended up right before the toll gate.
It would be great if you can post a google map link of this route.

Originally Posted by arjithin (Post 2996851)

There are few good hotels in Bathery town. I stopped couple of times at a hotel just before the pvt bus stand and on the right hand side of road (towards CLT). Sorry don't remember the name.

Originally Posted by cooljai (Post 2996874)

Travelled this route yesterday, but think lost my way inside Thrissur, but finally ended up right before the toll gate.
It would be great if you can post a google map link of this route.

Originally Posted by arjithin (Post 2996878)

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by kala (Post 2996879)

Was it Mintflower ? I also recall another one called Prince (I think) on the RHS of the road before you get to the Pvt bus stand junction.

There are a couple of places after you cross that junction also. Jubilee which is on the left hand side about 500 meters after the junction has adequate parking and a decent restroom. There's another hotel named "The Resort" slightly off the highway, and the turnoff to that is about 200 meters from that junction.

Originally Posted by lloydofcochin (Post 2996785)

Dhanush, The road from Valparai to Athirappilly is not that bad as you said. I drove this route in October and the only bad/rough stretch is 14kms starting from Malakkappara CP. After that it is good roads all the way till Chalakudy. And I drove a hatch and it is easily doable with any Car provided it is driven carefully. There are potholes but they are not deep.

I'm driving this route tomorrow, will be starting from Bangalore tonight.

Originally Posted by denver85 (Post 2996884)

I hope this is the route mentioned by ranjithp1 : http://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr=...a=1,2&t=m&z=12

Originally Posted by cooljai (Post 2996874)

Travelled this route yesterday, but think lost my way inside Thrissur, but finally ended up right before the toll gate.
It would be great if you can post a google map link of this route.

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon (Post 2996653)

My god. Do you have google maps installed in your head???

Originally Posted by ranjitp1 (Post 2996937)

Yes,this indeed is the route.Thanks for posting this.:thumbs up

The one posted by Denver85 is the one I was referring to.

Well more or less you hit the nail on the head!With all the driving around and making route plans for people,I kind of have begun to see google maps in my dreams as welllol: