All Roads to Kerala

FuelInjector · 6th September 2016, 12:06

Just back from a trip to Achan Kovil - Aryan Kavu - Kulathupuzha.
Excellent roads all the way. NH 744 (it was marked 208 on milestones) is excellent. The TN and KL stretches are very good (and safe). Enough shoulders on the roads.
In some places closer to Tenmala, they are building railway tracks and the bridges are humongous. Lorry traffic is high on NH 744.

KL stretch to Achan kovil is good. Small roads, really lonely and very few hamlets on the way. No fuel stops for a stretch of about 50 - 60 kms. Better to take the TN entry point from Shenkottai i felt.

haria · 6th September 2016, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuelInjector

KL stretch to Achan kovil is good. Small roads, really lonely and very few hamlets on the way. No fuel stops for a stretch of about 50 - 60 kms. Better to take the TN entry point from Shenkottai i felt.

Advice caution/careful driving on the Shenkottai - achankovil stretch.
The roads ARE really narrow and if a bus comes opposite, you HAVE to move to a shoulder. In many places, you will not have proper shoulder space and you will be left no option, but to reverse till you find one. Since the bus frequency is very less - Only 2 or 3 trips in a day, if you are lucky you will not have a bus "crossing"

.

Last Jan when I was returning from achankovil in a bus, the bus (KSRTC) hit a M-800 while coming down on a blind curve. There was no shoulder space and the car almost fell off. Luckily no injuries to anybody.

JohnnyBoss · 6th September 2016, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuelInjector

Just back from a trip to Achan Kovil - Aryan Kavu - Kulathupuzha.

From which point you entered Achankovil road in KL side? Piravanthur?

FuelInjector · 6th September 2016, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by haria

Advice caution/careful driving on the Shenkottai - achankovil stretch.

absolutely. Some stretches have dangerous blind turns. With the monsoons and the side growth increasing, it was a very cautious drive. But i felt this route was still better than the entry from KL side. The road was definitely 3 feet narrower and in some stretches it was only gravel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoss

From which point you entered Achankovil road in KL side? Piravanthur?

Punalur. There is a village road through pathupara that joins the road from Piravanthur. you save about 10 kms.

motorsan · 8th September 2016, 10:10

I am planning a trip from Bangalore to Kerala on Saturday via the regular Hosur Salem Coimbatore route. Is there any problem in driving a KA registered car in TN nowadays because of Kaveri dispute? Thanks.

suresh_gs · 8th September 2016, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorsan

I am planning a trip from Bangalore to Kerala on Saturday via the regular Hosur Salem Coimbatore route. Is there any problem in driving a KA registered car in TN nowadays because of Kaveri dispute? Thanks.

Avoid travelling on Friday in the interest of your safety. There was news that a KSRTC bus was torched in Salem. In all probability KA registered cars should not face any issues and now that you are travelling on Saturday, there should not be any problem
But still keep yourself updated on the latest situation and then take a call.

PatienceWins · 9th September 2016, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorsan

I am planning a trip from Bangalore to Kerala on Saturday via the regular Hosur Salem Coimbatore route. Is there any problem in driving a KA registered car in TN nowadays because of Kaveri dispute? Thanks.

I am also travelling to Kerala on Saturday in a KA registered car. The situation seems to be in control as of now.

Planning to start very early, after midnight, and take the Begalur road to Hosur. Any idea if the route is safe at that time?

gadadhar · 9th September 2016, 11:25

I drove on Thursday night from Bangalore to Ernakulam through Hosur Salem and everything was fine. Even KSRTC was playing in Hosur

MinivanDriver · 9th September 2016, 23:47

I would advise to stick to the regular route via electronics city, Attibele at night for safety. I don't think you would be saving much by taking the Bagalur route at night anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatienceWins

I am also travelling to Kerala on Saturday in a KA registered car. The situation seems to be in control as of now.

Planning to start very early, after midnight, and take the Begalur road to Hosur. Any idea if the route is safe at that time?

JohnyRider · 10th September 2016, 14:53

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Pathanamthitta today around 4:30 PM. My route will be Bangalore - Salem- Dindigul - Theni- Kumily- Pathanamthitta. Is there any problem traveling such long distance within Tamilnadu in my KA registered car beacuse of the Kavery dispute.

binand · 12th September 2016, 13:59

The Hindu reports that KA's borders to TN in Chamarajanagar district have been sealed as a precautionary measure. The article says:

Quote:

"We have sealed the borders and not allowing any vehicle to pass through" said Superintendent of Chamarajanagar district police Kuldeep Kumar Jain.

The district police have set up checkposts on the seven roads leading to Tamil Nadu from Chamarajanagar district.

Ref: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle9099423.ece

So Chamarajanagar-Satyamangalam and Gundlupet-Gudalur/Masinagudi are surely out of reckoning for this Onam's Kerala drive. The others are less-travelled routes I guess (Kollegal-Hasanur etc.).

sachinpk · 12th September 2016, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by binand

The Hindu reports that KA's borders to TN in Chamarajanagar district have been sealed as a precautionary measure.

Was planning to reach Thrissur on 14th Sep. I am familiar with the Bangalore to Bathery route (all combos; Chamrajanagar, Mysore etc. etc.). But from Bathery what would be the easiest way to reach Thrissur?

binand · 12th September 2016, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachinpk

from Bathery what would be the easiest way to reach Thrissur?

Easiest (ie, mostly wider national highways) would be to take NH 212 till Calicut, take the bypass to Ramanattukara, NH 17 to Kuttipuram and then state roads to Thrissur via Edappal and Perumpilavu.

Alternately, from Thamarassery you can take state roads via Arekkode, Manjeri, Perinthalmanna, Pattambi, Thrissur. These would be narrower state roads and heavy on traffic.

Adventurous could be Bathery-Nadugani-Nilambur-Perinthalmanna and the route above.

Bathery-Calicut is about 95 km and Calicut-Thrissur is about 135; that could be your benchmark.

rajeev k · 12th September 2016, 16:35

Found an interesting road sign.
This is to warn motorists of potholes.
Kerala PWD's novel way to address potholes.

unni246 · 12th September 2016, 17:08

Guys in lieu of the on going Cauvery issues in Bangalore and parts of TN, would it be advisable to have an early morning start from Bangalore to Kerala (planning to leave tomorrow - obviously had this planned long back for Onam).
Anyone who's traveled or planning to travel tonight / tomorrow? Hopefully looking out for updates. My ride would be KL registered.

6th September 2016, 12:06	#9736
FuelInjector BHPian Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TN38,KA03 Posts: 411 Thanked: 317 Times View My Garage	Re: All Roads to Kerala Just back from a trip to Achan Kovil - Aryan Kavu - Kulathupuzha. Excellent roads all the way. NH 744 (it was marked 208 on milestones) is excellent. The TN and KL stretches are very good (and safe). Enough shoulders on the roads. In some places closer to Tenmala, they are building railway tracks and the bridges are humongous. Lorry traffic is high on NH 744. KL stretch to Achan kovil is good. Small roads, really lonely and very few hamlets on the way. No fuel stops for a stretch of about 50 - 60 kms. Better to take the TN entry point from Shenkottai i felt.
	(2) Thanks

8th September 2016, 10:10	#9740
motorsan BHPian Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Bangalore Posts: 109 Thanked: 149 Times	Re: All Roads to Kerala I am planning a trip from Bangalore to Kerala on Saturday via the regular Hosur Salem Coimbatore route. Is there any problem in driving a KA registered car in TN nowadays because of Kaveri dispute? Thanks.
	() Thanks

9th September 2016, 11:25	#9743
gadadhar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,393 Thanked: 1,185 Times View My Garage	Re: All Roads to Kerala I drove on Thursday night from Bangalore to Ernakulam through Hosur Salem and everything was fine. Even KSRTC was playing in Hosur
	(1) Thanks

10th September 2016, 14:53	#9745
JohnyRider BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Bangalore Posts: 71 Thanked: 89 Times	Re: All Roads to Kerala I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Pathanamthitta today around 4:30 PM. My route will be Bangalore - Salem- Dindigul - Theni- Kumily- Pathanamthitta. Is there any problem traveling such long distance within Tamilnadu in my KA registered car beacuse of the Kavery dispute.
	() Thanks

12th September 2016, 16:35	#9749
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,351 Thanked: 1,955 Times	Re: All Roads to Kerala Found an interesting road sign. This is to warn motorists of potholes. Kerala PWD's novel way to address potholes. Attached Thumbnails
	(1) Thanks

12th September 2016, 17:08	#9750
unni246 BHPian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: KA-53 / KL-08 Posts: 217 Thanked: 252 Times	Re: All Roads to Kerala Guys in lieu of the on going Cauvery issues in Bangalore and parts of TN, would it be advisable to have an early morning start from Bangalore to Kerala (planning to leave tomorrow - obviously had this planned long back for Onam). Anyone who's traveled or planning to travel tonight / tomorrow? Hopefully looking out for updates. My ride would be KL registered.
	() Thanks