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Dear BHPiians

Please advise on road conditions and tips for a Coimbatore to Alleppey road trip. Planning to start by 6 AM from Coimbatore and take the Pallakkad-Thrissur-Ernakulam-Alleppey route.

Questions-
1. How's the road condition throughout? I am told the road until Ernakulam is a good 4-lane road whereas the Ernakulam-Alleppey is a narrow stretch due to the ongoing NH66 construction
2. Would like to stop for breakfast by around 8 AM. What are some good pit stops en route for family with decent rest room facilities?
3. What would be an approx travel time considering I'll be sedately driving a 2014 Wagon R
4. Tips if any and things to watch out for, if any

Regards

From my very limited experience (drove both ways in Nov), the Coimbatore L&T bypass section is very frustrating. It is a two way road with many people people trying to overtake /cut in.
We entered Kerala by 7 pm. The Palakkad Angamaly section had some diversions due to road constructions. MC road had less traffic after Muvattupuzha.

I am planning to take the Dindigul route for my next trip planned by end Jan.

Hopefully, you will get some input from experienced BHPians.

I took the Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Salem - Dindigul -Theni - Kumily route. There are stretches in Salem area which are undergoing construction due to which there are a few diversions. There was a surge in traffic owing to Sabarimala season. Rest everything else was good !

Just wanted to check if you travelled already, I have an upcoming drive to Rameswaram via Madurai early next week from Thrissur.

Hi All

Not the right thread for this query but seems like the closest one we have.

I need to travel to Palakkad with my family. I wanted to check for the best route to travel given the current road conditions (construction, monsoon damage, rest stops for ladies etc.).

I see Google proposing two routes:

1. Kannur - Vatakara - Ramanatukarra - Kondotty - Perinthalmanna - Tirukad - Palakkad
I guess this is the usual route but I am worried about the NH 66 expansion work. I do remember using this route to go to Calicut a few months back and it was fine. Also, it would have more rest stops.

2. Kannur - Vatakara - Perambara - Balussery - Mukkam - Manjeri - Mannarkkad - Palakkad

Don't think I have used this route before. But I was wondering if this would be less crowded. My observation is that in KL you spend a lot of time stuck inside town local traffic and behind some slow moving truck/goods auto (unless you do some crazy overtakes).

Even if the rest stops on the route are less but if the road quality is good then it might be the better option.

Anyone who has travelled on either of these two routes please advise.

Folks - query about Amabalapuzha Sree Krishnan temple (I’ve never been there):
1. Is it easy to reach the temple from the NH 66?
2. Parking ?
3. How does one get tokens for the famous paal payasam?

Yes. Take a left from NH66 (opposite to KSRTC bus station) while coming from EKM and 2/3KMs. That’s it.
Ample parking is there.
About payasam token, Not very sure. Sorry. We got payasam but not sure if we took token or not.

Reached Kochi yesterday night from Madurai. Took the Theni, Bodi, Poopara, Rajakkad, Pambla, Neriyamanglam route. Good roads through out except a small area where construction is ongoing.

Never been there but from what I understand for the Payasam, you need either an advance booking (2 or 3 days before) or be in a queue for about 1 hour to get on the same day . This queue is around the Guruvayur Nada area and you need to be here at least by 12 pm (based on info gathered from a Malayalam youtube video)

Any recommendations for a vegetarian breakfast place between Kochi and Alappuzha, say after an hours drive from kochi? Preferably something on the service road or close to the NH 66 highway will be good.

Would need a similar recommendation for a breakfast place between Kochi and Alathur on the NH 544 again an hours drive from Kochi.

Around Cherthala, there are couple of “Indian Coffeee houses” but they are not pure veg restaurants. These are decent ones. There are 2 good vegetarian restaurants near alapuzha bypass (towards the end while coming from kochi) Annapoorna and Madras Veg Tables.

Once you cross Kochi, finding a decent restaurant towards Cherthala is bit of challenge unlike Kochi - Palghat mainly due to the NH construction. The main pitstop for me is Aryaas which is just after Cherthala. This is on the NH but on the other side (Cherthala - Kochi direction).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YKpcuXrxXn6uU25b6

We stopped yesterday for breakfast at Diva Kitchen, a little before Cherthala on the way to Alappuzha. It's on the left side of the highway with good parking space, quick service and clean washrooms. There is also an AC section. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DKJpdWYY8zWvJubK9

Pai's tea shop, Thuravur

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJQvcEKKT4gDCZwH7

This is an old established place but may have limited seating. Not sure about parking on the road these days due to the NH construction. In case you are planning to visit the Narasimha/Sudarshana temple in Thuravur, this is close by.

Any Aryaas, multiple versions of Saravana Bhavan would be veg. Indan coffee house is a non veg hotel and the menu may have beef listed. Noting down just in case people are sensitive about this, especially since you are going on a temple visit.

Do update if you got the Ambalapuzha payasam on same day.

The KTDC Aaram outside of Alappuzha is no longer on the usual route? Used to be a good place to take a break with decent food.