[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by jacs

Fingers crossed for my travel tomorrow! My plan is to drive via Gudalur in the evening once dark. Plan is to break in Nilambur, stay in a family friend's house and resume next day morn.

Try and drive thru the place after 9PM. 6-8PM is when people gather for shopping after day's work and the towns can get really crowded. This will force you to slow down and also gives the opportunity to form a mob.

[joecherian]

Originally Posted by kala

Yes I must travelled on NH209 to Gundlupet at least 15-20 times within the past 1.5 years. The road is still very good, so I never take SH17 these days.
.

Hi, do you still recommend Kanakpura route to reach Gundulpet ? One of my friends plans to travel to Calicut this sunday and hence was wondering whether it is better to avoid SH17 and travel through the Kanakpura route to reach Gundulpet ? How are the road conditions ?

[kala]

Originally Posted by joecherian

Hi, do you still recommend Kanakpura route to reach Gundulpet ? One of my friends plans to travel to Calicut this sunday and hence was wondering whether it is better to avoid SH17 and travel through the Kanakpura route to reach Gundulpet ? How are the road conditions ?

It depends on your outlook. In my case I'd always prefer a good 2 lane highway with very little traffic to a 4 laner with somewhat better surface, but heavy traffic. For me unruly traffic going in the same direction as you is a worse hazard than sparse traffic coming in the opposite direction. The innumerable speedbreakers on SH17 pushes the balance even further in favour of NH209. So if one likes to have a relaxed and peaceful drive, by all means choose Kanakapura Rd.

Also I don't care too much about plush restaurants with clean toilets etc. on a short drive which is only about 3 hours. (There are open fields in abundance on the way for any urgent bio-breaks that one may need ). For some this may be the most important factor and that might swing their choice in favour of SH17.

As long as the road surface remains decent as it is now, it is +1 to NH209 anyday as far as I'm concerned..

[joecherian]

Originally Posted by kala

It depends on your outlook. In my case I'd always prefer a good 2 lane highway with very little traffic to a 4 laner with somewhat better surface, but heavy traffic. For me unruly traffic going in the same direction as you is a worse hazard than sparse traffic coming in the opposite direction. The innumerable speedbreakers on SH17 pushes the balance even further in favour of NH209. So if one likes to have a relaxed and peaceful drive, by all means choose Kanakapura Rd.

Also I don't care too much about plush restaurants with clean toilets etc. on a short drive which is only about 3 hours. (There are open fields in abundance on the way for any urgent bio-breaks that one may need ). For some this may be the most important factor and that might swing their choice in favour of SH17.

As long as the road surface remains decent as it is now, it is +1 to NH209 anyday as far as I'm concerned..

Thanks mate. I think it is for people like you and me that the navigation software have the option "avoid highways" so that it gives us the option of beautiful country side routes..
I will definitively recommend this route to my friend.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Kozhikode side

Mysore-Gudalur-Nadugani route was blocked totally.

Hi HVK,

Any confirmed update on situation in Gudalur after yesterdays blockage? I am planning to hit Gundlupet by 6PM thereby reaching Gudalur around 7:30 - 8PM.

[sridharp77]

Has anyone travelled via Walayar route yesterday night. Would it be safer to travel via this route in the night and enter Kerala by around 2 - 3 AM in the morning.

I have a KA registration car.

[joommen]

Originally Posted by binaiks

There is a way - you'll have to go via Mysore-Hunsur-Gonikoppa-Kutta-Mananthavady-Kalpetta-Kozhikode. The road is bad in the Gonikoppa-Kutta section. I had done this route early in November this year - the road is inexistent in many places. There is hardly a single lane, and driving at night would be tough. This route is used by a lot of buses at night, and hence expect heavy traffic.

Thanks Binaiks, will check the update of today and decide which way. I wanted to try Thenmala route as NH7 was tempting and was good for night driving.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by sridharp77

Has anyone travelled via Walayar route yesterday night. Would it be safer to travel via this route in the night and enter Kerala by around 2 - 3 AM in the morning.

I have a KA registration car.

It should be safe in your case, since yours in a KA registered vehicle. Personally, I wouldn't recommend venturing around troubled areas at night, though. Especially if you would be traveling with family. More than agitation, stone-pelting is more of hooliganism. There are some people who use this as an opportunity for their sadistic pleasures.

Originally Posted by joommen

Thanks Binaiks, will check the update of today and decide which way. I wanted to try Thenmala route as NH7 was tempting and was good for night driving.

Thenmala route is very trouble stricken - incidences of stone-pelting are reported more often these days. The Nagercoil route is fairly safe as per my friend (who's dad traveled through the route this morning).

[hvkumar]

Yesterday night, the NH47 between Palakkad & Coimbatore was open but due to the long line of waiting vehicles, traffic was moving very slow.

Today morning, the Gudalur-Sultan's Battery/Nilambur road is open, but most KL vehicles are missing (including the jeep taxis), mostly only KA vehicles are seen and the town has downed all shop shutters as part of the hartal in TN. Petrol pumps are open though. Life is at a standstill.

[LobsterB]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Today morning, the Gudalur-Sultan's Battery/Nilambur road is open, but most KL vehicles are missing (including the jeep taxis), mostly only KA vehicles are seen and the town has downed all shop shutters as part of the hartal in TN. Petrol pumps are open though. Life is at a standstill.

Yesterday night around 8pm I tried crossing over (by mistake) from Chulliyode side in KL to TN and the TN CP guys didn't bother to open. I had originally crossed over from KA side to Sultan Battery and was following the default Google Maps Navigation route to Thrissur - had not realized that this was through TN till I reached the CP. So turned back and went via Kalpetta-Calicut.

The Thamaraserry ghat section took around 2hours to cross at 10PM yesterday night. Except for big craters on the hairpins, the surface on the ghat section was not very bad.

Really wonder which is the best/safe route for someone travelling to TVM side from Bangalore

[joommen]

[quote=hvkumar;2618745]Yesterday night, the NH47 between Palakkad & Coimbatore was open but due to the long line of waiting vehicles, traffic was moving very slow.

Thanks for the update.

Spoke to Kallada travels in Kottayam and Bangalore, they seemed to have a smooth ride. Believe things are getting back to normal.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by LobsterB

Really wonder which is the best/safe route for someone travelling to TVM side from Bangalore

To go to TVM, stick to the 2 most popular routes - NH47 via Coimbatore to Palakkad or NH47 via Nagercoil to Trivandrum. Both these being trunk routes, there is heavy police protection and convoy driving. So unless there is some major outbreak of hostilities, you should make it OK. But nothing can be ruled out, one of our friends reported that around Coimbatore city, some cars were being stopped by general public, who were spitting on windshields and such like.

To feel totally safe, I would avoid TN totally and go via Mysore & Kozhikode (through Sultan's Battery).

I would avoid all less-travelled routes like Valparai-Chalakudy or Gudalur-Nilambur.

There are no incidents of TN-registered private vehicles being damaged anywhere in Kerala in the last 2 days, although there are a few such instances on the TN side involving KL-registered vehicles. The KL State Govt has been reiterating again and again over the press the need to exercise restraint and requesting general public not to damage or harm outsiders.

[coolclouds]

I think this is the Sulthan Bathery route is the `safest route' at present at least till central Kerala.

Edit: I am taking usual NH47 route via Palghat on 24th evening if there is no serious issues reported.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by jacs

Hi HVK,

Any confirmed update on situation in Gudalur after yesterdays blockage? I am planning to hit Gundlupet by 6PM thereby reaching Gudalur around 7:30 - 8PM.

Hi All,

Quick update. Started from EC @ 2:30PM via Kanakpura - Chamrajnagar - Gundlupet - Bandipur - Gudalur - Nilambur. Now halting in a family friend's home in Wandoor. Peaceful drive. Travel time 7 hours.

Gudalur border had blockages in the morning but Nilgiri Police assume
d command and things are under control. Day drive not that recommended especially for KL guys.

Another praiseworthy thing. A long line of KL vehicles lead by Nilgiri police was ahead of us. After escorting us out to border and you know what? They waved us good bye making it a very easy feel. Hats off to Nilgiri Police.

[ortopilot]

Hi All,

I'm driving down to Ernakulam on 24th early morning(3A.M.) with family, the only thing left to decide is the route

The only option I see that's safe is

Bangalore (3am) -> Mysore (7am) -> Gundlupet (8.30 am) -> Vythiri (10.30 am) -> Calicut (11.30 am) -> usual -> Ernakulam (5-6 pm)

Is the best choice we have right now, or am I missing something; any and all suggestions welcome.

Which among the following

1) Instead of Vythiri -> Calicut -> Ernakulam (250 KM's)
2) Vythiri -> SH 34 (Koodathai, Mukkam, Manjeri, Patambi, Wadakanchery, Angamali)-> Ernakulam (240 KM's)

Which among 1 and 2 should I be choosing?

P.S. In retrospect miss Salem, Coimbatore, Palakkad

Nanni
OrtoPilot