[rakesh_r]

Word of caution to people travelling to and out of Kerala using Walayar-Cochin highway, due to extremely heavy rainfall, certain sections in Palakkad is experiencing extreme waterlogging, some parts of the highway (Erimayur-Alathur-vadakancherry stretch) is under water. Please proceed with extreme caution.

[binand]

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Word of caution to people travelling to and out of Kerala...

Adding to this - Thamarassery ghat road is closed for all traffic except those involved in rescue / relief work in Wayanad. Please reconsider your plan if it involves travelling through Wayanad.

[Akhil Atreya]

Guys.. I'm planning to do Bangalore - Valparai - Mananthavady (via Chalakudy) - Horanadu - Bangalore in August. Do you think the roads and route is safe from rains/floods ?

[bijims]

Originally Posted by Akhil Atreya

Guys.. I'm planning to do Bangalore - Valparai - Mananthavady (via Chalakudy) - Horanadu - Bangalore in August. Do you think the roads and route is safe from rains/floods ?

It will depend on when you are making the trip. At the moment, its ok, can't say in a few days if the rains are like they have been over the past day or so.

[Akhil Atreya]

Originally Posted by bijims

It will depend on when you are making the trip. At the moment, its ok, can't say in a few days if the rains are like they have been over the past day or so.

Looking at riding those places around 15th August.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by Akhil Atreya

Looking at riding those places around 15th August.

Its too early to predict the situation then. However, in the current situation, the route you mentioned does not have any landslides or any issues that can be a cause of concern 2 weeks from now. Though parts of Wayanad (Thamarassery ghats) currently have restriction for non essential travel related to current rain prediction.

However, maybe somewhere around 12 or 13 of Aug, you will have a better picture.

[Akhil Atreya]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

However, maybe somewhere around 12 or 13 of Aug, you will have a better picture.

Thank you. Will have to take a call by 8th August. Beyond this date no free cancellation on the resorts booked.

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by binand

Right now, due to the Shirur landslide there's a detour in UK district that adds some extra to the travel time. Not to mention the serious redevelopment NH 66 is undergoing within Kerala.

Thanks. As my trip is a good couple months away, I hope the weather gods change their minds by then.

I've only travelled a part of NH66 before. This is my understanding of the roads, please correct me if I'm wrong:
1. Edapally-Guruvayur: widening work was going on to make them 4 lane. Roads were average.
2. Guruvayur-Ponani- Calicut: 2 lane, good traffic but 4 lane once I reach Calicut. Average roads.
3. Calicut - Kannur - Kasargod: very unfamiliar. Are they 2 lane or 4? How are the roads and traffic?
4. Kasargod - Mangalore: read that it's wide and good roads - 4/6 lane

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by Auto_guy_101

Thanks. As my trip is a good couple months away, I hope the weather gods change their minds by then.

I've only travelled a part of NH66 before. This is my understanding of the roads, please correct me if I'm wrong:
1. Edapally-Guruvayur: widening work was going on to make them 4 lane. Roads were average.
2. Guruvayur-Ponani- Calicut: 2 lane, good traffic but 4 lane once I reach Calicut. Average roads.
3. Calicut - Kannur - Kasargod: very unfamiliar. Are they 2 lane or 4? How are the roads and traffic?
4. Kasargod - Mangalore: read that it's wide and good roads - 4/6 lane

Pretty much the whole section is under construction. 4 lane completion is only done in negligible patches.

1. Roads are ok. Construction work all through. Maybe 4-5 km in total 4 lane has been temporarily opened.

2. Guruvayoor-Ponnani: Roads are good. Maybe 10-12km of 4 laned sections.

3. Ponnani Calicut: Via Tirur Parappanangadi, good roads, narrow, high traffic, no construction.via kuttipuram - construction all through. Single lane on both ends sides of the construction.

4 Calicut bypass- 6 lane in patches.

5.Calicut-Kannur-Kasargod- Again construction all through.Extremely high traffic.

Overall will not be a very pleasant drive. You will probably crawl at 25-30kmph all through

[bijims]

I am planning a road trip from Thrissur to Trivandrum in the coming days, is it a safe time to travel now, and how are the roads? I am planning to go around Independence Day, but wanted to know if I should take my car for the trip or not, I am open to going by train and have gone a couple of times as well. The last time I went on a trip to Trivandrum was over 13 years ago, so a little help as regards the route would be great too. If the roads aren't great, I might as well go on the train this time, please let me know. Thanks.

[Jebs]

Is it safe to travel to Alleppey (house boats) and followed by Vagamon by this weekend? We've booked the train tickets and resorts from Chennai. Any word of caution?

[Vasuki]

Originally Posted by Jebs

Is it safe to travel to Alleppey (house boats) and followed by Vagamon by this weekend? We've booked the train tickets and resorts from Chennai. Any word of caution?

Alappuzha(Alleppey) should not be a issue. But Vagamon being hill station in Idukki region is bit dicey due to current rain storm due to low depression.

As of now, there is no issue in these regions, I believe you may be able to visit Vagamon.

Hindsight, just google Vagamon weather, the first search thows up this :

Although Vagamon is an all-season destination, it is better to avoid visiting this city during monsoons as heavy rainfall makes the traveling tough. Hence, the best time to visit Vagamon is during the dry seasons i.e summers (March to May) or winter (December to February).

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by bijims

I am planning to go around Independence Day, but wanted to know if I should take my car for the trip or not, I am open to going by train and have gone a couple of times as well. If the roads aren't great, I might as well go on the train this time, please let me know. Thanks.

For routes you have either the MC road (Thrissur - Angamaly - Muvattupuzha - Kottayam - Kollam - TVM) or the coastal route via Alleppey (Thrissur - Ernakulam - Alleppey - Kollam - TVM). Both roads are generally in decent condition, but the MC road has twists and turns, with KSRTC busses. You can expect moderate to high traffic all along the route, with 2 lanes most of the way (MC road is 2 lane from Angamaly, Alleppey road is two lane from Aroor), so it will involve lot of overtaking.

If the Thrissur railway station is not too far for you and you have limited travels in Trivandrum, I'd suggest taking the Vande Bharat or Satabti trains.

[Auto_guy_101]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Overall will not be a very pleasant drive. You will probably crawl at 25-30kmph all through

Thanks a lot for the route update!

I think I should avoid this route or plan my trip differently then. Even for shorter trips I might make upto Calicut, I'll much rather take the train then crawl through.

[Aviator_guy]

Is it true that Mysore Wayanad national highway has been deeply impacted and may be shut due to recent landslides?