[hvkumar]

A2B at Dharmapuri is a good place to take a break. After that, there are 2-3 restaurants after crossing Avinashi. Once you cross into Kerala, you have 2 places at Walayar - KTDC and Walayar Resorts.

Check out the following link - teh log book has the Bangalore-Salem-ERnakulam route details:
SOUTH INDIA, Nov 2009 - hvkumar | Google Groups
I found the 5 Star petrol pump after Hosur a good place to refuel - they also accept credit cards. You can also refuel at the BPCL pump + A2B further down the road

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Check out the following link - teh log book has the Bangalore-Salem-ERnakulam route details:
SOUTH INDIA, Nov 2009 - hvkumar | Google Groups
I found the 5 Star petrol pump after Hosur a good place to refuel - they also accept credit cards. You can also refuel at the BPCL pump + A2B further down the road

Just went through this log book and amazing data.
I'm wondering how you manage to record this much data on a quick drive

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Just went through this log book and amazing data.
I'm wondering how you manage to record this much data on a quick drive

Keep a (paper) notebook on your lap and scribble as you drive along. BTW, this trip you mentioned was done solo. I also click GPS points as I go along.

[mkuruvil]

I am planning on a second road trip this weekend. How much time will it take to drive from Bangalore-Mysore-Nilambur-Thrissur ? Max speed will be 110KMPH during day time.

[hvkumar]

Maximum of 8 hours driving time. Road goes down the ghats between Gudalur and Nilambur - also a wldlife zone, like the Bandipur-Gudalur road before it - but for the rest it is plains.

[jacs]

Thanks hvk, its very useful. I am planning to use the 5Star pump after Hosur to fill the fuel but it would be too early to take a break. Any good hotels near Bhavani, its about half my journey to take a 30 minutes break to have food.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by jacs

Thanks hvk, its very useful. I am planning to use the 5Star pump after Hosur to fill the fuel but it would be too early to take a break. Any good hotels near Bhavani, its about half my journey to take a 30 minutes break to have food.

I found 3 restaurants after Avinashi (please check my log book for coordinates), which may be the ideal break point. Of course, there are lots of trucker dhaabas too where you can get great "Barotta"

[TomRider]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I found 3 restaurants after Avinashi (please check my log book for coordinates), which may be the ideal break point. Of course, there are lots of trucker dhaabas too where you can get great "Barotta"

The best place I came across in Bhavani-CBE road is SriSaravana Bhavan (If i recall it correctly) which comes around 20 kms after the Toll road ends. It is on the right side, if you are travelling towards Coimbatore from Bhavani.

As many mentioned, the Mettur route is not really good as old days (I used that road during my last drive to Kochi in November, and found that in not so good condition). But one travelling in SUV can take that route with ease.

I am taking Salem route next weekend.

@HVK.
I appreciate your patience in taking down every detail of the drive. Thanks for your log.

[mkuruvil]

@HVK Thanks.
Also, I was trying to figure out how much time it would take till Nilambur from Bangalore.
If I am staying overnight, I have 3 options 1) Mysore 2) Bandipur 3) Nilambur

Since I am starting at 2pm, time is critical as I do not want to drive at night.

[hvkumar]

If you start at 2 pm from Bangalore, you could cross Mysore latest by 5 pm (assuming you do not get stuck in city traffic trying to get to Mysore road), and from there it is a 2 hour run to Gundulpet just before the gates close. Please bear in mind that there are check posts after Gudalur too for the Gudalur-Nilambur road although these are not closed at night. If you have a smooth drive, you could be in Nilambur by 10 pm - where you have hotels. But in case you do not want to drive that long or are delayed, maybe Mysore or Bandipur (book in advance) would be a better choice.

[NFS2024]

Originally Posted by ampere

@NFS,

Could not answer you. Just got back from a 1300km drive over the last week through Kerala! Road conditions mostly were good. Not any major issues.

Bangalore to Munnar: (Regular Route)
Bangalore -> Krishnagiri -> Salem -> Bhavani -> Perindurai -> Kangeyam -> Dharapuram -> Udumalpetai -> Chinnar -> Marayoor -> Munnar

Guys - with so many posts and updates on the routes am getting confused. Can you help me re-draw the route? Sorry for the trouble. thanks in advance.

Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Thoppur - Salem (Exit NH7 here?) – Bhavani (Join NH47?) – Perundurai (Exit NH47?) – Chennimalai – Kangayam – Dharapuram – Udumalaipettai – Marayoor – Munnar

[hvkumar]

Bangalore – Hosur 40 – Krishnagiri 55– Dharmapuri 40– Thoppur 30- Salem 45 (Exit NH7, Enter NH47 here) – Bhavani 60 – Perundurai 25 (Exit NH47) – Chennimalai 12– Kangayam 20– Dharapuram 30– Udumalaipettai 45– Marayoor 50– Munnar 40

[NFS2024]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Bangalore – Hosur 40 – Krishnagiri 55– Dharmapuri 40– Thoppur 30- Salem 45 (Exit NH7, Enter NH47 here) – Bhavani 60 – Perundurai 25 (Exit NH47) – Chennimalai 12– Kangayam 20– Dharapuram 30– Udumalaipettai 45– Marayoor 50– Munnar 40

Thanks hvk sir - apprecaite it.

[Wind]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Maximum of 8 hours driving time. Road goes down the ghats between Gudalur and Nilambur - also a wldlife zone, like the Bandipur-Gudalur road before it - but for the rest it is plains.

Which of the following is the best route from Nilambur, if we are traveling up to Kuttipuram. I heard the road conditions were pretty bad about six months back in the Angadipuram Valanchery sector. Not sure of the conditions now.

a) Nilambur-Wandoor-Pandikad-Angadipuam-Valanchey
b) Nilambur-Edavanna-Manjeri-Mangada-Angadipuram-Valanchery
c) Nilambur-Manjeri-Malapuram-Kottakal-Valanchery

-- Wind

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by Wind

Which of the following is the best route from Nilambur, if we are traveling up to Kuttipuram. I heard the road conditions were pretty bad about six months back in the Angadipuram Valanchery sector. Not sure of the conditions now.

a) Nilambur-Wandoor-Pandikad-Angadipuam-Valanchey
b) Nilambur-Edavanna-Manjeri-Mangada-Angadipuram-Valanchery
c) Nilambur-Manjeri-Malapuram-Kottakal-Valanchery

-- Wind

But why go to Valancherry at all? You can go directly to Pattambi/Shoranur and thereon to Trissur without coming to NH17.

In case you have to chose among the 3 routes above, I think the choice c) should be better. I was in that region last month (but not on the NIlambur-xxx route), I did not find any bad roads.