[deathwalkr]

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?

Suggest you check with the resort people in Vagamon for latest news.

[Akhil Atreya]

Originally Posted by Aviator_guy

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

As on today. The road between gundlupet and sultan battery has been opened for traffic.

[raiuday]

Hello, I am planning on a road trip to Kerala from Hyderabad, during the 3rd week of August and considering travel via the Athirappilly - Valparai scenic forest route with small waterfalls on the sides. Google maps shows only 1 route (enclosed below) and it goes all the way around. I’m not sure if it’s the same scenic one everyone mentions of on YouTube, and don’t want to miss it. Could someone help me track this scenic route if I’m making sense?

Thanks alot!

[binand]

Originally Posted by raiuday

Athirappilly - Valparai scenic forest route... Google maps shows only 1 route and it goes all the way around. I’m not sure if it’s the same scenic one everyone mentions on YouTube

That's not the scenic route. I think the scenic route is closed for traffic - remember seeing this in the Malayalam press.

[raiuday]

Originally Posted by binand

That's not the scenic route. I think the scenic route is closed for traffic - remember seeing this in the Malayalam press.

Thanks for the quick info!

Is there any tentative date for the route to be open again? I’m expecting to do this route on 11th August. If there’s none as of yet, I would plan the itinerary differently.

[binand]

Originally Posted by raiuday

Thanks for the quick info!

Is there any tentative date for the route to be open again? I’m expecting to do this route on 11th August. If there’s none as of yet, I would plan the itinerary differently.

I looked this up. It seems they are banning travel two/three days at a time. Right now there is a ban till today (4/8).

https://www-asianetnews-com.translat..._x_tr_pto=wapp

[rx100]

Originally Posted by raiuday

Hello, I am planning on a road trip to Kerala from Hyderabad, during the 3rd week of August and considering travel via the Athirappilly - Valparai scenic forest route with small waterfalls on the sides. Google maps shows only 1 route (enclosed below) and it goes all the way around. I’m not sure if it’s the same scenic one everyone mentions of on YouTube, and don’t want to miss it. Could someone help me track this scenic route if I’m making sense?

Thanks alot!

The scenic route is through Malakappara, which is showing with road closed icon in your Google Maps image. I don’t know the reason for closure(most probably due to the heavy rains last week) or when it will be opened. There were road works were happening in many stretches during my travel in December last year.

But remember the road travel is allowed only between 6 AM to 6 PM and once you take entry permit from Vazhachal checkpost, you have to reach Malakkapara checkpost within 2 hours.

[nitinkbhaskar]

Any update on the road conditions and general travel / tourism to Wayanad ?
Planning to travel from Bangalore on 14th Aug.

Location : https://maps.app.goo.gl/FnuLAjXW5QgpDoNk7

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by nitinkbhaskar

Any update on the road conditions and general travel / tourism to Wayanad ?
Planning to travel from Bangalore on 14th Aug.

Location : https://maps.app.goo.gl/FnuLAjXW5QgpDoNk7

This is not really Wayanad. Seems more closer to Gudalur/Nadugani and you will go via Mysore-Gundlepet- Gudalur. Road conditions were great atleast as of early July.

Having said that, if you plan to head into Wayanad from here, would suggest not to as you would enter Wayanad via Meppadi which is the area where the landslides and devastation occurred. There are still more than 100-200 people missing and different kinds of rescue operations and searches stilll happening with base as Meppadi. So I guess tourist inflow will be a hindrance and personally think we should avoid that area till things settle down for the local population.

[nitinkbhaskar]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

This is not really Wayanad. Seems more closer to Gudalur/Nadugani and you will go via Mysore-Gundlepet- Gudalur. Road conditions were great atleast as of early July.

Having said that, if you plan to head into Wayanad from here, would suggest not to as you would enter Wayanad via Meppadi which is the area where the landslides and devastation occurred. There are still more than 100-200 people missing and different kinds of rescue operations and searches stilll happening with base as Meppadi. So I guess tourist inflow will be a hindrance and personally think we should avoid that area till things settle down for the local population.

My bad.
Somehow posted the wrong location pin.

Any thoughts on the below one please ?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/obj9FefFBkVYYMm16

[SaNdY_AR]

Hi Folks

Any idea on the route from Bangalore to Kochin. Has anyone travelled recently?
Any roadblocks due to the recent heavy rains? Planning to take the regular road route from Whitefield to Ernakulam this weekend. Kindly let me know

Regards
Sandy

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by nitinkbhaskar

My bad.
Somehow posted the wrong location pin.

Any thoughts on the below one please ?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/obj9FefFBkVYYMm16

For this you can either take Mysore-Hand Post-Bavalli-Manathavady or Mysore-Bathery-Panamaram.

The 2nd route is definitely in good condition. For the first one, not sure about the section inside the Nagarhole forest, but otherwise should be in good condition throughout.

Having said that, rains are starting up again in Kerala and it is expected to become heavy by the weekend. Considering the rivers and dams are already full, heavy rain again can cause disruptions on both these routes. So would suggest to follow the latest weather updates to make sure there is no last minute blocks.

[Desperadoxx]

Planning on a trip from Trivandrum to Pondicherry this week. Does anyone know how the Punalur-Shenkottai-Madurai road conditions are? Thinking of taking this instead of Nagarcoil route. Are the roads good in this route?

[BunnyPunia]

Hello
I plan to drive from Kochi to Mumbai later this week.
Google keeps showing Kochi - Coimbatore - bypass Mysore totally - Cross Expressway - Maddur - Join highway at Tumkur. Is this ok?

Or shall i take direct route to BLR from Kochi and then to Pune / Mumbai?

[binand]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

Hello
I plan to drive from Kochi to Mumbai later this week.
Google keeps showing Kochi - Coimbatore - bypass Mysore totally - Cross Expressway - Maddur - Join highway at Tumkur. Is this ok?

Just took a look. Google is taking you from Coimbatore to Maddur via Dhimbam ghat, Chamarajanagar and Malavally; and then onwards to Tumkur via Kunigal. That's an unnecessary detour - you save about 100 km (in a 1500 km journey) with no appreciable time saving. Stick to the backbone highway would be my recommendation. Take the NICE Road to bypass Bangalore.