[binand]

Originally Posted by silversteed

There's an alternate route via T.Narsipur, from Malavalli to Chamarajnagar, along a SH.

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats the Bannur road which you take form Malavalli.

The Malavally-Bannur stretch is horrible (October '14), so I'm not sure if this is worthwhile. There is probably another option - you take the right turn at the bridge (just before the barricade; don't enter the bridge) and end up at Santhamarahalli junction via T. Narsipura. Again, not sure of conditions.

Originally Posted by zenren

In case it is unlikely that I'll reach the forest check-post in time, is there any other alternate routes available where I can reach Calicut on same day by 10-11pm or so?

It takes 2.5 hours (plus maybe 30 minutes) from any border town to Calicut (Mananthavady/Sulthan Bathery/Nilambur), so you are crossing the border at around 7-8 PM. Very unlikely, since the checkposts all close at 5 or 6 PM. You could try the Hunsur-Mananthavady all-night route, though.

[sayoojl]

Hi,
I am planning to drive down to thrissur tmrw. Going through the thread I could figure out that best route is bangalore- salem-avinashi- palladam-pollachi-kollengode-alathur(or nemmara??)-vadakkancherry-thrissur..After avinashi , how is the road? any speed breakers enroute to watch out for? (i have this bad habbit of spotting speed breakers very late or miss them completely!! ).
Also with a 6 am start , how much time will it take to reach thrissur?

thanks
Sayooj

[ampere]

Originally Posted by binand

There is probably another option - you take the right turn at the bridge (just before the barricade; don't enter the bridge) and end up at Santhamarahalli junction via T. Narsipura. Again, not sure of conditions.

Yes have seen that diversion. There is a board reading Talakkad. Since I was not aware of the road condition, did not want to suggest. But with all these developments, I now feel may be, in case of driving down to CBE, it may be better to stick to the 4-lane.

There is one more option:

Dont take the 209, but Mysore road. Start early and drive till Srirangapatna. Just before the first bridge, you would see a diversion to left. Thats again the SH to Bannur. Once at Bannur, take the Somnathpura road to T-Narasipura and there on to 209 via Muguru. Srirnagaptna-Bannur is a good SH.

Route Link

Originally Posted by sayoojl

Hi,
I am planning to drive down to thrissur tmrw. Going through the thread I could figure out that best route is bangalore- salem-avinashi- palladam-pollachi-kollengode-alathur(or nemmara??)-vadakkancherry-thrissur..After avinashi , how is the road? any speed breakers enroute to watch out for? (i have this bad habbit of spotting speed breakers very late or miss them completely!! ).
Also with a 6 am start , how much time will it take to reach thrissur?

Very good roads all the way. Dont go to Alathur. Take the road to Vaddakkenchery

[Twiny]

Originally Posted by sayoojl

After avinashi , how is the road? any speed breakers enroute to watch out for?
Also with a 6 am start , how much time will it take to reach thrissur?

About 8km after turn-off at Avinashi to Palladam, there are 2 speed breakers (places about 500m after the first one), then one more (small one) shortly afterwards. The signage for the first two is just few meters ahead of them!

Then nearing Palladam also there are 2 speed humps.

Other than humps, one need to considerably slow down for the speed breaker Barricades placed at so many places. (they are placed very closely to each other)
Kollengode and Nemmara towns also has speed humps in curvy sections.

Roads are good. For 6AM start, you may reach Thrissur by 3pm-4pm; considering Breakfast&Lunch stops. And go via Nemmara for Thrissur.

[kala]

Originally Posted by zenren

Need suggestions on the alternate route options from Hyderabad to Calicut. The route that I've driven in the past is the default route: Hyderabad-Bangalore-Mysore-Gundelpet-Wayanad-Calicut, which works well for the Calicut-Hyderabad trip but is a little complicated when going to Calicut.

The problem I faced with this route last time was that it was difficult reach the forest check-post before they closed if there are any additional time lost en route or in crossing Bangalore. This forced me to take a break in journey at Mysore last time, though I might not have the same luxury this time.

In case it is unlikely that I'll reach the forest check-post in time, is there any other alternate routes available where I can reach Calicut on same day by 10-11pm or so?

If you're targetting to reach Calicut by midnight or earlier, I don't think you'd have a problem with the checkpost getting closed on NH212. It takes at least 3.5 to 4 hours to get from Gundlupet to Calicut, so you'd be entering the forest stretch at 8:30 PM worst case which is fine - the closing time is 9PM on that road. (The other routes via the Nagarahole sanctuary close early - at 6PM)

[zenren]

Originally Posted by kala

If you're targetting to reach Calicut by midnight or earlier, I don't think you'd have a problem with the checkpost getting closed on NH212. It takes at least 3.5 to 4 hours to get from Gundlupet to Calicut, so you'd be entering the forest stretch at 8:30 PM worst case which is fine - the closing time is 9PM on that road. (The other routes via the Nagarahole sanctuary close early - at 6PM)

Thanks, I thought they close at 6pm. Just to confirm, this is the route via Bathery right?

Has it always been 9pm for this route?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by zenren

Thanks, I thought they close at 6pm. Just to confirm, this is the route via Bathery right?

Has it always been 9pm for this route?

Yes it's been 9pm always from what I can remember.
Last time we started from Bangalore around 1.30pm and reached the check post on Karnataka side around 7.30pm with a 30-40 minute break at Nijaguna, Chamrajanagar.

[ajaypjayaraj]

Originally Posted by zenren

Need suggestions on the alternate route options from Hyderabad to Calicut. The route that I've driven in the past is the default route: Hyderabad-Bangalore-Mysore-Gundelpet-Wayanad-Calicut, which works well for the Calicut-Hyderabad trip but is a little complicated when going to Calicut.



The problem I faced with this route last time was that it was difficult reach the forest check-post before they closed if there are any additional time lost en route or in crossing Bangalore. This forced me to take a break in journey at Mysore last time, though I might not have the same luxury this time.



In case it is unlikely that I'll reach the forest check-post in time, is there any other alternate routes available where I can reach Calicut on same day by 10-11pm or so?

I have always used the Gundalpet route between Kozhikode and Mysore. A friend recently went via Mananthavady - Mysore to Bangalore and recommended this route over the Gundalpet route. He said road is normal 2 lane but surface is really good and comparatively much lesser traffic. I haven't been to Bangalore since and hence this info. is what I've got from a friend. Someone who has been on this route can give a better idea. Anyways one other advantage is you won't have time constraints.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by NPV

Yes it's been 9pm always from what I can remember.
Last time we started from Bangalore around 1.30pm and reached the check post on Karnataka side around 7.30pm with a 30-40 minute break at Nijaguna, Chamrajanagar.

Thanks NPV. This info really helps.

Assuming an average case situation, by what time should I be reaching Hebbal to cross Bangalore and reach the Karnataka side by 7.30 including 1 hour for breaks?

Also, is NICE road the best option to cross Bangalore?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by zenren

Assuming an average case situation, by what time should I be reaching Hebbal to cross Bangalore and reach the Karnataka side by 7.30 including 1 hour for breaks?

Also, is NICE road the best option to cross Bangalore?

On weekdays I think you can cross Hebbal by 1pm to be at checkpost by 7.30pm.
I had taken Kanakapura NH 209 route but heard about the bridge near shivanasamudra being closed recently in which case you are left with Mysore road option.
NICE road is good from south Bangalore but from hebbal it may be easier to take the route through the city.
Or you can take NH 207 for devanahalli to dobbaspet and then take NH48 to reach Srirangapatna. This will bypass Bangalore completely. Look for Ampere's earlier posts on this maybe in the On Bypassing Bangalore thread.

[binand]

Originally Posted by zenren

Thanks NPV. This info really helps.

Assuming an average case situation, by what time should I be reaching Hebbal to cross Bangalore and reach the Karnataka side by 7.30 including 1 hour for breaks?

Also, is NICE road the best option to cross Bangalore?

Coming from Hyderabad, you needn't take the anti-clockwise NICE Road. You will take a small section of NICE Road clockwise (though the toll would seem very high).

The distance from NICE Road junction to forest entry checkpost after Gundlupet is approximately 240 km. You can maintain driving average of 55-60 kmph on this road, but you should factor in 5 hours to be on the safe side. So, assuming 8:30 PM at the checkpost you are looking at 3:30 PM at the NICE junction.

At that time on weekdays you can cross from Hebbal till Silk Board in 60-90 minutes and another 30 minutes from Silk Board to the NH 209-NICE Road junction, for a total 2 hour crossing of Bangalore. That is, plan to be at Hebbal by 1:30 PM.

I reckon 4:30 AM latest departure from Hyderabad should do it (Shamshabad ORR/NH7 interchange). You should be in Calicut before midnight.

PS: in an earlier post I indicated that all checkposts close down at 6 PM. This is not true; the Gundlupet-Bathery route is open till 9 PM.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by ajaypjayaraj

I have always used the Gundalpet route between Kozhikode and Mysore. A friend recently went via Mananthavady - Mysore to Bangalore and recommended this route over the Gundalpet route. He said road is normal 2 lane but surface is really good and comparatively much lesser traffic. I haven't been to Bangalore since and hence this info. is what I've got from a friend. Someone who has been on this route can give a better idea. Anyways one other advantage is you won't have time constraints.
Attachment 1313735

This route is an excellent alternative to the Gundlupet-Mysore route. Road conditions are pretty good and there are fewer towns to cross, but please do note that the forest stretch between HD kote (udur forest gate) and Kerala border at Bavali remains closed from 6PM to 6 AM.

[ajaypjayaraj]

Originally Posted by sandsun7

This route is an excellent alternative to the Gundlupet-Mysore route. Road conditions are pretty good and there are fewer towns to cross, but please do note that the forest stretch between HD kote (udur forest gate) and Kerala border at Bavali remains closed from 6PM to 6 AM.

Even this one remains closed overnight huh. Then the advantage of time is not there even for this route. Traffic and road wise this seems good however. Should try it out on the next Bangalore drive.

[binand]

Originally Posted by ajaypjayaraj

A friend recently went via Mananthavady - Mysore to Bangalore and recommended this route over the Gundalpet route.

Originally Posted by sandsun7

the forest stretch between HD kote (udur forest gate) and Kerala border at Bavali remains closed from 6PM to 6 AM.

Originally Posted by ajaypjayaraj

Even this one remains closed overnight huh. Then the advantage of time is not there even for this route.

I have been taking this route for the past several months (ditching the Bathery route completely). I post trip reports on the Bangalore-Calicut thread usually. There are two points to note:

- I don't take the mapped route via Kuttiady (which I understand is bad) between Mananthavady and Calicut; I prefer Calicut-Kalpetta-Mananthavady which is in excellent condition.

- I take Mysore-Handpost-Mananthavady which is the one with forest closure between 6PM and 6AM. There is another, a bit longer (about 30 km) Mysore-Hunsur-Gonikoppal-Mananthavady route which is open all night. In fact this is the route taken by overnight buses.

- The end-to-end distance for me from Bangalore to Calicut via both routes is the same.

[SAPVEN]

Hi Friends,

Travelling from Bangalore to Calicut and then from there to Ekm, in a couple of
weeks. The first stretch is fine (done it many times and no issues on the route,
thanks to the excellent regular feedback from this forum ).

The issue is the Calicut - Ekm stretch. The regular one via Kuttypuram -Edappal-Kunnamkulam-Tricjur is good, but the Trichur town crossing is a pain .
The other route via Ponnani (NH 17) is not very good upto Ponnani.

Is there a good route to bypass Trichur ?

Thanks.