Originally Posted by sumeshmani (Post 3402384)

I plan a Banagalore-Trivandrum trip via Thenmala.
Please give me an update on the stretch from Thirumangalam-Rajapalayam-Thenmala-Kolathupuzha

Originally Posted by Gokrish (Post 3402512)

Did this route during late December and the route was pretty decent and good tarmac all through the route. Only bottleneck could be the famous 'S' bend depending on the time of the day. And this period of the year will be relatively free of regular Courtalam and Sabarimala traffic.

Originally Posted by pat2kin (Post 3402971)

I was planning to do the regular Bangalore-Hosur-Salem-Madurai-Tirunelveli-Nagercoil-Trivandrum route. Is this one better in terms of the road surface (especially when compared to Nagercoil - Trivandrum)? How much more time will this one take? I don't mind spending an extra hour on road if the surface is good. I will be traveling with my daughter (5 years old) and mom (60 years old). Anything else that I need to take into account if I chose this route? Are there good restaurants on the way?

Originally Posted by Gokrish (Post 3403415)

However, NH 7 will be a bliss and the road till Nagercoil is good. Even most part of Nagercoil-Kanyakumari was good though again two laned, but still manageable. I would always prefer this route to the Tenkasi route.

Originally Posted by pat2kin (Post 3402971)

Anything else that I need to take into account if I chose this route? Are there good restaurants on the way?

Originally Posted by ampere (Post 3403573)

Time your drive in such a way that you end up on the Nagaercoil-TVM during the least intrusive hour. That part of info you can get from seasoned TVM guys like @Pramodpk, @crazydriver etc.

Originally Posted by binaiks (Post 3401949)

A short update on my Drive from Bangalore to Kodungallur -
Left from Thrissur at 1325 and reached home by 1400hrs. .

Originally Posted by binand (Post 3396287)

It is a 4-day weekend, since 17/4 is election day in KA which would be declared a holiday. But I don't expect much crowds on KL roads between 11AM-4PM due to the summer weather. My expectation is that if I start from around 4 or 5 AM from Bangalore I should be comfortably home at Perumbavur before 5PM. Anyway, my reasons for not preferring dual carriageways are (in no particular order):

- I have had my fill of such roads over the past several years that I now prefer, in fact actively seek out single-carriageway roads wherever I go; and
- I am going to drive my f-i-l's Estillo which seems to suffer from personality disorders at speeds over 90 kmph and probably is best driven at a steady 70 kmph.

In fact, drives on single carriageway roads are a lot more leisurely and relaxed than on the dual carriageways, where everyone is in a hurry to get wherever they are off to.

Originally Posted by unni246 (Post 3403837)

Me too planning an Early start may be around 4am from Bangalore (KR Puram) on 17th.

Where would you commencing your trip from?

I have not driven down this Road yet and hence no idea on the Road / Traffic conditions.

Originally Posted by arjithin (Post 3403653)

TCR to Kodungallur in 35 minutes? it took almost 35 minutes for me to reach Irinjalakuda on a Sunday morning 3 weeks back.

Originally Posted by binand (Post 3403859)

I am starting on 18/4, since I need to vote on 17/4. My plan is to start around 6 AM. My trip starts from Marathahalli.

It would be good if you could PM/email/WhatsApp me anything that you feel I ought to know. If OK, I'll PM you the details.

Originally Posted by nitinbose (Post 3403926)

What do you have to say for an evening trip to Kerala, starting at about 1600hrs, via Kanakpura road, malavalli, Sathyamangalam, CBE?

Are there any safety concerns?

Originally Posted by nitinbose (Post 3403926)

What do you have to say for an evening trip to Kerala, starting at about 1600hrs, via Kanakpura road, malavalli, Sathyamangalam, CBE?

Are there any safety concerns?