[anantu2001]

Originally Posted by sandsun7

Oops, My bad! I read your name as Ananthu (not Anant U) which is a popular malayali name, in fact a kind of petname ! Anyways I do read those pages I mentioned on a regular basis everyday morning and will update you if there is anything to be careful about. When is your trip?

Thanks for that Will be waiting for your update.

I am planning to leave B'lore by 5 AM on saturday and be back on Sunday. Just for a day

[SAPVEN]

Originally Posted by anantu2001

Hi,

We are planning to go to Wayanad this weekend. What would be the best route in terms of distance and road quality??

The resort where we have booked has suggested this route:

From Bangalore > Mysore> Hunsur > Nagerhole > Pepper Green Resorts

Please suggest if this route is OK.

Regards,
Anant

Hi Anant,

This depends on where in Waynad u want to go. The route you have indicated is the best to enter Waynad from the North (Tholpetty/Thirunelli).
However, if you want to enter Waynad from the South, the Mysore-Guldulpet-Sulthan Battery road is the best . Shorter and faster too(forest is closed between 8.00 pm and 6.00 am) .

Simply put, if your final destination is north of Manathavady, take the Nagarhole route. If it is south of Manathavady, take the Sulthan Battery route !

Best of course, if you want to explore Waynad fully, enter from north and exit from south. Pure bliss !
Whatever u do, don't ever take the SH33

Venu

[dhanushmenon]

Will be starting from Mysore to kochi tomorrow. Initially I had planned to Come through gundlupet-gudalur-meppadi-thamarassery-calicut-kochi as advised by hvkumar. However going through the report of gypsy, the S Bathery - Ambalavayal - Vaduvanchal - Chundale - Calicut route looks coaxing enough. In double mind now

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Will be starting from Mysore to kochi tomorrow. Initially I had planned to Come through gundlupet-gudalur-meppadi-thamarassery-calicut-kochi as advised by hvkumar. However going through the report of gypsy, the S Bathery - Ambalavayal - Vaduvanchal - Chundale - Calicut route looks coaxing enough. In double mind now

If Kochy is the destination, why Calicut? Should'nt Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Trichur-Ernakulam would be a better option?

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

If Kochy is the destination, why Calicut? Should'nt Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Trichur-Ernakulam would be a better option?

Yes. This is better and shorter too.

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by ampere

If Kochy is the destination, why Calicut? Should'nt Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Trichur-Ernakulam would be a better option?

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Yes. This is better and shorter too.

I was told that the nadugaani road is bad. That was the reason why i diverted to the Sulthan Bathery road. If anyone has travelled via this road recently, the update will be of great help

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

I was told that the nadugaani road is bad. That was the reason why i diverted to the Sulthan Bathery road. If anyone has travelled via this road recently, the update will be of great help

Nadugani is bad. But I think its not that bad that you need to go via Calicut.
Its just 4-5km of bad stretch I think. Rest all are absolutely good roads.

Pramod can throw more light as he drove recently on that very stretch.

[noblecr]

I am traveling from Kazhakuttam to Karuvanchal near Thalipparambu, Kannur tomorrow night. Would like to know about the road condition. Planned to travel via

Kollam - Alleppey - Ekm - North Paravoor - Kodungallor - Chavakad - Kunnamkulam - Edappal - Kuttipuram - Valanchery - Kottakal - Calicut University - Ramanattukara byepass - Mahe - Thalassery - Kannur - Thalipparambu.

How is the current road condition from Kodungallor to Kannur. Is there any alternate way other than NH17. Heard that there is a new bridge opened near Ponnani which reduces the distance between Chavakad and Kozhikode.?

Saw some re tarring works happening in Kayamkulam - Haripad stretch last week when i came back to tvm from ekm.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by noblecr

Kollam - Alleppey - Ekm - North Paravoor - Kodungallor - Chavakad - Kunnamkulam - Edappal - Kuttipuram - Valanchery - Kottakal - Calicut University - Ramanattukara byepass - Mahe - Thalassery - Kannur - Thalipparambu.

How is the current road condition from Kodungallor to Kannur. Is there any alternate way other than NH17. Heard that there is a new bridge opened near Ponnani which reduces the distance between Chavakad and Kozhikode.?

Guess this would be the best route currently except that from Ernakulam, It would be good to go via Ankamaly, Thrissur and join Kunnamkulam instead of going via N paravoor-Kodungallur. Roads are good except for few patches here and there. Ernakulam-Thrissur stretch is arguably the best national highway in the state currently with 4 lane all the way and with bypasses for most towns.
The new bridge is the Chamravattom bridge, but I strongly advice you to avoid that route as the roads are in bad condition near Ponnani. Repair work is being done, but not yet completed. Moreover, the stretch from Ponnani to Edappally (EKM) is narrow and you would find heavy traffic during daytime.

[DieselLover]

Originally Posted by ampere

Nadugani is bad. But I think its not that bad that you need to go via Calicut.
Its just 4-5km of bad stretch I think. Rest all are absolutely good roads.

Pramod can throw more light as he drove recently on that very stretch.

I took this route last week. Nadugani is bad but driveable. can make it easily with some careful driving.

[anantu2001]

Originally Posted by SAPVEN

Hi Anant,

This depends on where in Waynad u want to go. The route you have indicated is the best to enter Waynad from the North (Tholpetty/Thirunelli).
However, if you want to enter Waynad from the South, the Mysore-Guldulpet-Sulthan Battery road is the best . Shorter and faster too(forest is closed between 8.00 pm and 6.00 am) .

Simply put, if your final destination is north of Manathavady, take the Nagarhole route. If it is south of Manathavady, take the Sulthan Battery route !

Best of course, if you want to explore Waynad fully, enter from north and exit from south. Pure bliss !
Whatever u do, don't ever take the SH33

Venu

Thanks Venu for the suggestions. As you have mentioned I'll be staying in http://peppergreenresorts.com/index.html. This resort is very near to Kuruva Island and is best entered from the north via Nagarhole.

In fact, there is a change in plan. We would be leaving to Mysore today and staying overnight. Tomorrow morning would leave from Mysore towards the resort. On the way, we plan to go to Irupu falls which is very close to Kutta. Any idea if there is any entry timings to visit Irupu falls?

Regards,
Anant

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Nadugani is bad. But I think its not that bad that you need to go via Calicut.
Its just 4-5km of bad stretch I think. Rest all are absolutely good roads.

Pramod can throw more light as he drove recently on that very stretch.

Nadugani had some craters along the curves but those can be easily negotiated. I recommend this route. This will be much shorter than the Calicut route.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by anantu2001

On the way, we plan to go to Irupu falls which is very close to Kutta. Any idea if there is any entry timings to visit Irupu falls?

Iruppu falls plan is a very good one! Had been there on 13th November. Sorry, but don't remember the entry timings. Let me check my photos and see if any of the boards have it. One has to do a bit of climbing (steps) to reach the falls. Nothing very difficult, but aged people might find it tiring. If you enjoy taking a bath under a waterfall, this is the perfect place!
When you start from Mysore, plan in a such a way that you are at the forest entry gate by 6 - 6.30 AM, that is almost immediately after it opens. This would give you loads of wildlife sightings!

[anantu2001]

Originally Posted by sandsun7

When you start from Mysore, plan in a such a way that you are at the forest entry gate by 6 - 6.30 AM, that is almost immediately after it opens. This would give you loads of wildlife sightings!

This is a great suggestion. But my only concern is if there is any entry timing for the Irupu falls, I will be reaching there in advance. Its my first time on this route, so just for my understanding - How long will it take from Mysore to Irupu falls? The distance is 108 kms. 2.5 hrs?

Regards,
Anant

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by psvinay

Thanks for this input. Do we have any decent restaurant on this way?

For restaurants, you do have many options in Tripunithura. But I have no idea about the service or the food. Tripunithura to Ponkunam will take you just under 2 hours on road.