[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by NPV

On Coimbatore-Walayar stretch, the L&T bypass is not great, bumpy due to multiple patch works (and narrow for the kind of traffic there).
Palladam-Pollachi-Vadakkencherry is excellent and from there you can continue on NH47 to Kochi.

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Chamarajnagar to Coimbatore (Annur) is excellent and scenic. Mysore-Chamarajnagar also should be fine.
Since you are traveling during day time, I suggest Chamarajnagar-Annur-Karumathampatti-Pollachi-Vadakkancherry-Ernakulam as the day traffic on all other routes will be higher.

Originally Posted by kala

The deviation from Annur to Karumathampatti is a State Highway (SH165), and while excellent till Karumathampatti it is a little bit messy around Somanur (about 4-5 kms further south) where a railway overbridge was under construction....
...(But looking at the general condition of the road from Annur till Karanampatti, it should hopefully be good).

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

The best option from Mysore to CBE is via Dhimbham ghats (27 hair pin bends). It is a bliss to drive on this stretch. I cannot think of a better option than this.

Thanks everyone.
Consolidating all suggestions, the best route would be:
Mysore- Chamrajanagar- Sathyamangalam- Annur- Karumathampatti- Somanur- Karanampettai- kamanaikanpalayam- Pollachi- Vadakkenchery- Thrissur- Kochi.

Am I right or is it better to route via Avinashi - Palladam instead?

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Thanks everyone.
Consolidating all suggestions, the best route would be:
Mysore- Chamrajanagar- Sathyamangalam- Annur- Karumathampatti- Somanur- Karanampettai- kamanaikanpalayam- Pollachi- Vadakkenchery- Thrissur- Kochi.

Am I right or is it better to route via Avinashi - Palladam instead?

I would suggest the former route that you have mentioned. But the unknown factor here seems to be the road condition of Karumathampatti- Somanur- Karanampettai- kamanaikanpalayam stretch.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Am I right or is it better to route via Avinashi - Palladam instead?

I just checked in Google. You do 15 km extra when going via Avinashi. If traffic is sparse and the road is good compared to Karumathampatti, I would say take the Avinashi route. It would be much cleaner and you would bypass CBE totally.

[kala]

Originally Posted by ampere

I just checked in Google. You do 15 km extra when going via Avinashi. If traffic is sparse and the road is good compared to Karumathampatti, I would say take the Avinashi route. It would be much cleaner and you would bypass CBE totally.

Can't be 15 kms more.

I just double checked.

Sathy-Puliampatty-Sevur-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi is 119 kms (http://goo.gl/maps/SoUVf) and Sathy-Annur-Karumathampatti-Kamanaikenpalyam-Pollachi (http://goo.gl/maps/9R4NX) is 118 kms, so it's more or less the same distance.

May be you were looking at Sathy-Annur-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kala

Can't be 15 kms more.
I just double checked.

I look at only the delta, assuming in both cases he drives till Annur and then changes route.

Option 1: Via Karumathampatty: Route Link

Option 2: Via Avinashi Route Link

[treadmark]

Originally Posted by kala

Can't be 15 kms more.



I just double checked.



Sathy-Puliampatty-Sevur-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi is 119 kms and Sathy-Annur-Karumathampatti-Kamanaikenpalyam-Pollachi is 118 kms, so it's more or less the same distance.



May be you were looking at Sathy-Annur-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi ?

Have you been through Sevur route?
If yes do you vouch for it over Annur.

Cheers!

[kala]

Originally Posted by treadmark

Have you been through Sevur route?
If yes do you vouch for it over Annur.

No, never travelled that way so far.

Have been planning to give it a try the next time I go towards Cochin side - but not sure when it's going to be.

[deepclutch]

Media is reporting Kalady bridge(MC road) is closed after a small portion of concrete slabs broken down. It is not clear which part has fallen down. It is complete chaos in Angamaly-Perumbavoor route. Many are reporting bridge is weak and when heavy vehicles pass through, tremors can be clearly felt.
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=485753 (Malayalam source)

Alternate route for heavy vehicles will be through Angamaly-Aluva-Perumbavoor-Muvattupuzha which is extra 17kms or so.
for Kottayam vehicles, it is better to take SA road and Thrippunithura-Kanjiramattom-Thalayolaparambe-Kottayam?
small vehicles, will take the route through Kaladi-Kanjoor-Sri Sankara bridge-Marampally-Perumbavoor. for CIAL(Airport) bound vehicles also.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Today radio reports that Kalady bridge is closed except for two wheelers.

[naveen.raju]

1. Cochin - Perumbavoor - Neriamangalam - Adimali - Munnar
2. Munnar - Adimali - Polinjapalam - Murickassery - Thropamkudy - Thankamani - Erattayar - Kattapana
3. Kattapana - Idukki - Vannapuram - Muvattupuzha - Cochin

The stretch between Kakkanad and Perumbavoor is not good.
Neraimangalam - Munnar is excellent.
Adimali - Kattapana via thropamkudy is patched and not very smooth but no traffic and can cover the distance in a short time.
Kattapana to Cochin via vannapuram is also a bit bumpy but no traffic.

Cochin to Trivandrum

Surprised to see the roads all the way to trivandrum in excellent condition (except for few patched sections between alleppey and Ambalapuzha). But traffic was horrible near and in Kollam.

Eatouts:
1) Motel Araam near Kollam
Good food, ample parking and clean toilets

2) Hotel Mehfil, Attingal
Decent food, ample parking, not so great toilet.

[glenmz]

Did Kochi - Bangalore yesterday. Took the recommended Pollachi route. This time instead of Alathur, took the Nenmara - Kollengode - Pollachi - Palladam - Mangalam - Avinashi route. Took the Vadakkancherry - Pollachu SH near the chips shops. The roads were good, not much traffic. I find this route to be better than the alathur route. Started at 6 PM from Lulu Edapally and reached Bellandur by about 3:30 AM. Had taken a 45 minute break before Salem as I was driving alone.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by deepclutch

Media is reporting Kalady bridge(MC road) is closed after a small portion of concrete slabs broken down. It is not clear which part has fallen down. It is complete chaos in Angamaly-Perumbavoor route. Many are reporting bridge is weak and when heavy vehicles pass through, tremors can be clearly felt.

Alternate route for heavy vehicles will be through Angamaly-Aluva-Perumbavoor-Muvattupuzha which is extra 17kms or so.
.

I traveled from Sabarimala to Guruvayoor on Saturday.
Once we reached Perumbavoor was diverted via Aluva.
Aluva town traffic and roads difficult to pass through but no options.

Aluva-Angamally
Signals are the main problem with huge pile up of vehicles.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by glenmz

Did Kochi - Bangalore yesterday. Took the recommended Pollachi route. This time instead of Alathur, took the Nenmara - Kollengode - Pollachi - Palladam - Mangalam - Avinashi route. Took the Vadakkancherry - Pollachu SH near the chips shops. The roads were good, not much traffic. I find this route to be better than the alathur route.

I drove this route yesterday from Guruvayoor to Avinashi enroute to Hyderabad.
This is good route the roads are narrow occasionally on the Kerala side but once you enter
into Tamilnadu the roads are wide.
As I was travelling early morning took the route via Trichur so do not know the
conditions via Alathur

[binand]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Once we reached Perumbavoor was diverted via Aluva.
Aluva town traffic and roads difficult to pass through but no options.

Isn't there a bridge across the Periyar near the Thiruvairanikulam temple?

Then there is the promised Malayattur-Kodanad bridge which might or might not be built in my lifetime. :-(

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by binand

Isn't there a bridge across the Periyar near the Thiruvairanikulam temple?

There was a report about the Kalady bridge. The concreting on the bridge broke off, and there is a real big hole on the bridge. So now they have closed the bridge for vehicle movement. Alternate routes have been identified. So are you talking about this bridge?
The Hindu report on bridge repairs