[kavu75]

Originally Posted by kavu75

Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Dindigul - Periyakulam - Theni - Cumbum - Kumily - Mundakkayam - Erumely - Plachery - Ranni - Pathanamthitta - pandalam

Had taken this route on last Saturday. All i can say is, this is one of the best drivei had ever been to Kerala.
Started from Bangalore ( Marthahalli outer ring road) at Saturday 4.30 am, took the Silkboard - Electronic city route. I didn't take elevated highway. I had a fantastic drive till Dindigul keeping an average of 100 kmh. Took the turn at Dindigul and followed Theni, Kambam, Kumily. Roads are very good till Kambam. But little rough before and after Kumily. But easily drivable. Took a turn at Mundakkayam and followed Erumely - Plachery - Ranni - Pathanamthitta - pandalam route. Reached home by 4.30 pm, exactly 12 hours including 2 hours break.
Tomorrow i am driving back to Bangalore in the same route.

[hvkumar]

What a coincidence - one of my friends - Viju Nair - had driven from Bombay on the same route to Konni (just beyond Pathanamtitta), leaving from Bombay on Thursday afternoon, staying at Belgaum on Night 1, reaching Salem the next night and onto Konni by late afternoon. He also had a great driving time.

[TomRider]

I will be driving to Kannur this weekend. This is my first drive to that side and need some suggestions on the road conditions.

I may either take route 1 or 2.

R1: Bangalore-Mysore-HDKote-Bavali-Kattikulam-Mananthavady
R2: Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangud-Gundelpet-SulthanBathery-Mananthavady

R1 is 50 km shorter than R2 is what I heard. Any input on the road conditions can be really helpful.

PS: I am planning to start early in the morning (probably at 4 or 5 AM).

Thanks in Advance.

[ampere]

R2 is clean all the way till Bathery. Very fresh and nice. Recommend you take that road.

[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by gypsyFreak

any good hotels on mysore - hd kote - bavali - tholpatty - thirunelly route?

You won't find any until you reach Tholpatty, in Tholpatty you will see the typical Kerala style small hotels with good simple Kerala food. You have similar places in Tirunelly also

[TomRider]

Originally Posted by ampere

R2 is clean all the way till Bathery. Very fresh and nice. Recommend you take that road.

Thanks.

Anyone with info on R1?

[kala]

Originally Posted by TomRider

Thanks.

Anyone with info on R1?

Check out this thread :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...fo-needed.html

By the way I'd second Ampere on the recommendation of R1 over R2 because the roads are way better. A slightly shorter route (than R1) would be Srirangapatna-Hunsur-Nagarahole-Kutta-Kattikulam-Mananthavadi, and as per the thread I quoted above, the bad stretches of road around Kutta are being redone now, so that would also be an option to consider.

[maddy42]

Slight update: The Makutta road may be opened before the monsoons. Will keep you all posted

[carlover98]

Any idea about the road condition to Madurai via Nedumangad-Thenmala-Shencotta-Madurai? I am planning a trip to Kodi this week.

[hvkumar]

Condition of the road is most;y good, although the first 100 kms to Schecottah from TVM is on curvy and - till you cross Palode - congested roads.

[carlover98]

Thanks HVK. But what about potholes both in Kerala part as well as Tamilnadu part?

[TomRider]

Originally Posted by TomRider

I will be driving to Kannur this weekend. This is my first drive to that side and need some suggestions on the road conditions.

I may either take route 1 or 2.

R1: Bangalore-Mysore-HDKote-Bavali-Kattikulam-Mananthavady
R2: Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangud-Gundelpet-SulthanBathery-Mananthavady

R1 is 50 km shorter than R2 is what I heard. Any input on the road conditions can be really helpful.

PS: I am planning to start early in the morning (probably at 4 or 5 AM).

Thanks in Advance.

Took Route3 and it was a scenic drive with lot of driving thru forest.

Route: Bangalore-Srirangapattana-Yelvala-Hunsur-Nagarhole-Kutta-Kattikkulam-Mananthavady-Iritty-Irikkur-Mayyil-Parassinikkadav.

It took only 7 hrs including the breakfast stop at Cafe Coorg (Hunsur). Most part of the route is decent, if not great. Total distance from Whitefield to NH17 (Kannur University) is 388 kms.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by carlover98

But what about potholes both in Kerala part as well as Tamilnadu part?

None about a month back. But I did it from Alleppey.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by TomRider

Took Route3 and it was a scenic drive with lot of driving thru forest.

Route: Bangalore-Srirangapattana-Yelvala-Hunsur-Nagarhole-Kutta-Kattikkulam-Mananthavady-Iritty-Irikkur-Mayyil-Parassinikkadav.

It took only 7 hrs including the breakfast stop at Cafe Coorg (Hunsur). Most part of the route is decent, if not great. Total distance from Whitefield to NH17 (Kannur University) is 388 kms.

How does the texture of this route change with Monsoon?

[TomRider]

Originally Posted by ampere

How does the texture of this route change with Monsoon?

There are some small bad stretches.
Srirangapattana-KRS Junction (8 kms) - max speed was 90 kmph and min being 50 kmph.
Hunsur to Nagarhole Gate (around 25 kms) - average speed of 60-70 kmph with an occasional 100.
Kutta Police station - Tolpatty Forest Check Post (4 kms) - average speed of 40-50 kmph.
The road in Nagarhole forest is not really smooth but no potholes. Can maintain a good 60 kmph. And I dont complain the slow section 'coz of the beautiful forest / wildlife.

The rest of this route is really good.