[meconi]

Folks - Planning a drive Bangalore to Alappuzha on 16th Wed and back on 21st Monday for a quick trip to meet my parents after a while. Usual Route - Salem, Coimbatore, Angamali & Kochi.

Anything to be concerned - RTPCR, Roads, etc. ?

Thanks and appreciate any help.

[denomathew]

I travelled from Bangalore to Kochi on 5th Feb. Took the usual route: salem, coimbatore, palakkad. There was no checking anywhere on this route.

[longhorn]

International arriving passengers are not longer required to bring a negative RTPCR test result. Full vaccination is good enough. Why in the world should they be checking at state borders any longer?

[UMe]

Originally Posted by longhorn

International arriving passengers are not longer required to bring a negative RTPCR test result. Full vaccination is good enough. Why in the world should they be checking at state borders any longer?

I think they heard you!

Passengers from Goa and Kerala no more required to produce RTPCR negative certificate, as per GoK notification.

[AshiqueS]

Originally Posted by doorspf1212

I stay near ITPL. Last time (December end) when I travelled back from KL to KA, I drove via Electronic City->Silkboard->Marathalli->Whitefield. It definitely helped that I was driving back on Jan 1st. Even if it was on a weekday, I might have taken this route though it is an extra 10km + additional toll + metro work going on in the ORR stretch. This extra effort is better than back breaking Attibele->Whitefield stretch. The saddest part is no one has any clue when/if this 30KM stretch will be repaired.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5209216 (On Bypassing Bangalore)

I stay near ITPL and tried the route in the link above (Hosur- bagalur- chikka tirupati- whitefield) and it was good while travelling from kochi- bangalore during mid Jan. This route will lead to Hopeform junction .

[ampere]

Originally Posted by AshiqueS

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5209216 (On Bypassing Bangalore)

I stay near ITPL and tried the route in the link above (Hosur- bagalur- chikka tirupati- whitefield) and it was good while travelling from kochi- bangalore during mid Jan. This route will lead to Hopeform junction .

There was a lot of construction on going near hope-farm junction and also along the NH207 (The New NH948) all the way up to Hosekote. Don't know how is it today. Looks you did not have any problems till Hopefarm.

[adutta2k]

Originally Posted by MSAneesh

The route you have mentioned is the best one. Be aware that Salem, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrissur cities are bypassed(Google will be usually routing you through the respective bypasses, so no worries).

For the last stretch Thrissur bypass - Cherai, I see a possibility that, google may route you through inner roads to save some kms, via Mala etc., but those are usually narrow and busy inner roads. If you are not familiar with this area, your best option is to stick to NH 544 all the way till Paravur Jn. at Aluva via Chalakkudy, Ankamaly. Take right turn from NH 544 at Aluva(known as Paravur Jn.), pass North Paravur town and reach Cherai.

travelled to Athirapally on 12th Feb, Athirapally to Cherai on 13th and back from Cherai to Bangalore on 16th Feb.

Took the usual - Bangalore - Hosur - Dharmapuri - Salem - Coimbatore - Palakkad - Thrissur - Cherai route. Google maps will show a diversion from NH544 at Kodakara but took bhpian MSAneesh's advice and continued on NH544 till Paravoor Jn and then took a right. This avoided the narrow internal roads.

There was no checking both during onward and return journey. I was carrying TN and KL e-pass and vaccination certificates for all to be on the safer side but didnt need them at any point.

One thing I noticed is that the truck traffic has significantly increased on this route compared to the last time I travelled when it was relatively empty (2 yrs back). It was a task overtaking these trucks as most of the time they drive on both the lanes and its tricky to sneak in and overtake.

[ranjith.rajaram]

Team,
Need help on route from Coimbatore to Kannur.

Google map shows 2 routes,
1. CBE - pallakad - mallapuram - Kozihikode - vatakara - kannur (270 Kms)
2. CBE - pallakad - kannamkulam - Tirur - Kozihikode - vatakara - kannur (320 Kms)

Can someone help me which route to choose. I looking for
1. 2 lane roads not single lane roads
2. Better roads without bumps and pothole, as I have passenger with bit of back pain.

Thanks for your help.

[binand]

Originally Posted by ranjith.rajaram

Team,
Need help on route from Coimbatore to Kannur.

1. CBE - pallakad - mallapuram - Kozihikode - vatakara - kannur (270 Kms)
2. CBE - pallakad - kannamkulam - Tirur - Kozihikode - vatakara - kannur (320 Kms)

How much travel time was Google showing for route #2?

Palakkad-Ramanattukara and Thrissur-Ramanattukara are both similar in terms of distance and time, so by taking route #2 you are simply adding the Palakkad-Thrissur travel (about 60 km) to your itinerary. Also, the route to Calicut diverges from the Thrissur-Kunnamkulam road at Eranellur and from there till Perumpilavu (about 10 km) it is the kind of road that you're desparate to avoid - bumpy and bad for people with backpain/motion sickness.

Generally most people would take route #1. But Google always routes via Mundur-Cherpulassery-Perinthalmanna and not strictly via NH 966. This is not bad as such; just that it is very narrow (1.5 buses at certain places) and if you are not comfortable you should avoid it. Note that NH 966 itself is very narrow between Perinthalmanna and Malappuram, and again between Kondotty and Ramanattukara (and probably sections north of Calicut) so this should be the least of your worries.

[ranjith.rajaram]

Originally Posted by binand

How much travel time was Google showing for route #2?

Palakkad-Ramanattukara and Thrissur-Ramanattukara are both similar in terms of distance and time, so by taking route #2 you are simply adding the Palakkad-Thrissur travel (about 60 km) to your itinerary. Also, the route to Calicut diverges from the Thrissur-Kunnamkulam road at Eranellur and from there till Perumpilavu (about 10 km) it is the kind of road that you're desparate to avoid - bumpy and bad for people with backpain/motion sickness.

Generally most people would take route #1. But Google always routes via Mundur-Cherpulassery-Perinthalmanna and not strictly via NH 966. This is not bad as such; just that it is very narrow (1.5 buses at certain places) and if you are not comfortable you should avoid it. Note that NH 966 itself is very narrow between Perinthalmanna and Malappuram, and again between Kondotty and Ramanattukara (and probably sections north of Calicut) so this should be the least of your worries.

Thanks for your reply, it add about 40 mins more via Thrissur

[ranjith.rajaram]

Originally Posted by binand

How much travel time was Google showing for route #2?

Palakkad-Ramanattukara and Thrissur-Ramanattukara are both similar in terms of distance and time, so by taking route #2 you are simply adding the Palakkad-Thrissur travel (about 60 km) to your itinerary. Also, the route to Calicut diverges from the Thrissur-Kunnamkulam road at Eranellur and from there till Perumpilavu (about 10 km) it is the kind of road that you're desparate to avoid - bumpy and bad for people with backpain/motion sickness.

Generally most people would take route #1. But Google always routes via Mundur-Cherpulassery-Perinthalmanna and not strictly via NH 966. This is not bad as such; just that it is very narrow (1.5 buses at certain places) and if you are not comfortable you should avoid it. Note that NH 966 itself is very narrow between Perinthalmanna and Malappuram, and again between Kondotty and Ramanattukara (and probably sections north of Calicut) so this should be the least of your worries.

Can you confirm if NH544 and NH 66 are 4 lane roads?

I have taken route 1 couple of times about 5 years back. It was bit narrow and bumpy as you mentioned. So checking even it it takes 45 mins more with 4 lanes it should be a smoother travel

[binand]

Originally Posted by ranjith.rajaram

Can you confirm if NH544 and NH 66 are 4 lane roads?

NH 544 from Walayar border till the turnoff to Thrissur city is dual-carriageway, 4/6 lanes. Beyond that the road leading out of Thrissur towards Kunnamkulam/Guruvayur is dual carriageway but with just a single layer of bricks for median (and heavily encroached shoulders). Everywhere else you have a single carriageway with typical Kerala-style roads and traffic.

If you do take this route, Google Maps might tell you of a shorter route between Kuttipuram & Puthanathani via Tirunavaya (leaving NH 66 for this section). Don't take it - it is the kind of road you want to avoid. Stick to the NH as much as possible.

[Rajeevraj]

So crossed the Moolehole Kerala - Karnataka border on the Bathery Gundlepet route without an RTPCR and showing the vaccination certificate as per the latest guidelines. Was a little worried if there would still be a problem and whether they would ask anything for my daughter. But was smooth.

Originally Posted by ranjith.rajaram

Thanks for your reply, it add about 40 mins more via Thrissur

I did Palakkad-Kozhikode last week and did it via Ottapalam-Pattambi-Koppam-Valanchery-Ramanaturaka. This also maybe worth considering

Palakkad Ottapalam- Kulappully(Shornur) is fairly wide 2 lane road, so I have found it more relaxed to drive this route. Kulappully-Pattambi-Koppam is a regular Kerala 2 Lane Road. Koppom-Valanchery is a little narrow is some stretches, but traffic is not extremely high. From Valanchery, you hit NH 66 and although that is heavy on traffic, its been relaid and in most sections till Ramanattukara, it is almost 3.5 lanes wide.

[MithunSathianat]

Any one travelled from Kerala to Bandipur via Nilambur and Gudalur recently?
Is RT-PCR being asked at Tamilnadu or Karnataka check post?

[amods]

Hi Team,

Planning drive Bangalore-Madurai-Nagercoil-Trivandrum and back the same route around 13th march <-> 20th march.

Is there any sort of RTPCR/State pass requirement for TN and KL or back to KA from KL?

Thanks in advance.