[ampere]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Which is the best route to Kodaikanal from thrissur. Planning to do a family trip sometime next month. Also suggest if it is better to hire a local cab for sight seeing in Kodaikanal. I don't want to take own car if parking is a pain. I will be probably visiting during a weekend.

Thrissur-Vadakacherry-Pollachi-Udumalpettai-Palani-Kodai.
(This is if, Kuthiran section is good).

Else one can also do Shornur-Ottapalam-Palakkad-Pollachi and continue.
(This is about 25 km more)

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by ampere

This is if, Kuthiran section is good.

Any latest update on the Kuthiran section? I remember reading on this thread that it is motorable though not completely smooth. Is it advisable taking it by night??

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

I prefer the Perundurai-Kangayam-Palladam-Pollachi-Govindapuram-Kollengode-Pallasana-Pallavoor-Alathur-
http://goo.gl/maps/JBfdi

Thanks ranjitp1 for the prompt reply. A couple of doubts more:
1) Is the road from Perundurai via pollachi to Alathur a four lane road or is it two lane?
2) Are there enough street lights or would it be traversing through darkness??

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Thanks ranjitp1 for the prompt reply. A couple of doubts more:
1) Is the road from Perundurai via pollachi to Alathur a four lane road or is it two lane?
2) Are there enough street lights or would it be traversing through darkness??

Answering for Ranjith.

1. Its a 2-lane road but a VERY GOOD 2-lane.
Perundurai-Kangeyam is good,
Kangeyam-Palladam : Brilliant, (wide 2-lane)
Palladam-Pollachi is pretty much like Perundurai-Kangeyam but it is very scenic with huge windmills
Pollachi-Alathur : Not much idea on the road condition, but as per what I know, its a very good 2-lane.

2. Night Drive? I dont think worth it. Not because roads are bad, but more so because of risk of getting lost. Pollachi town is difficult to cross.
Rest (Perundurai exit @ NH47, Kangeyam road, Palladam road at Kangeyam and Pollachi exit at Palladam) are much easier to spot.
If you have a GPS device, that
would help to build confidence.

Also not sure in these small towns on the way, if you would get anything to eat. 4-lane is a different terrain.

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by ampere

Answering for Ranjith. Night Drive? I dont think worth it. Not because roads are bad, but more so because of risk of getting lost. Pollachi town is difficult to cross. Rest (Perundurai exit @ NH47, Kangeyam road, Palladam road at Kangeyam and Pollachi exit at Palladam) are much easier to spot. If you have a GPS device, that would help to build confidence.

Eating should not be a problem. I would have stocked up well. And yes, i do have a GPS. I dont want to travel through Avinashi- Coimbatore stretch by night. It was a horrible drive last time (I had told you). So, i was looking for alternates if available.

Help me decide. I would be crossing this area by around 10 PM. Should I or shouldn't I?

And, whats the latest on Kuthiran? I have done the detour from Alathur- vadakkanchery- thrissur. I am okay with it. But i was also considering that if the traffic at night is bleak, and if the roads are okay, I might as well go through NH 47 itself.

Whats your take please??

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

And, whats the latest on Kuthiran? I have done the detour from Alathur- vadakkanchery- thrissur. I am okay with it.

Crossing Pollachi is the only big problem (to find the Alathur road. )
But having said that, do note I have never taken these sections at night. Hence what I say may not give a right picture.

But i was also considering that if the traffic at night is bleak, and if the roads are okay, I might as well go through NH 47 itself.
Whats your take please??

This is the exact point which I even I was saying. If traffic is decent, nothing wrong taking the 4-lane.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Eating should not be a problem. I would have stocked up well. And yes, i do have a GPS. I dont want to travel through Avinashi- Coimbatore stretch by night. It was a horrible drive last time (I had told you). So, i was looking for alternates if available.

Help me decide. I would be crossing this area by around 10 PM. Should I or shouldn't I?

And, whats the latest on Kuthiran? I have done the detour from Alathur- vadakkanchery- thrissur. I am okay with it. But i was also considering that if the traffic at night is bleak, and if the roads are okay, I might as well go through NH 47 itself.

Whats your take please??

If you want to avoid Avinashi-Coimbatore,then this is the best alternative.No safety issues whatsoever have been heard of till now on this route.Getting onto Govindapuram-Meenkarai road from Palladam road at Pollachi is quite easy nothing that should bother you much.

via the NH47,Walayar is hit and miss with the jam at the CP,avinashi-cbe would be heavily trafficked.Somehow I am biased towards the Palladam route.The advantage with the NH47 is what Amp has mentioned-availability of eateries.Otherwise there is no reason why you should take this route.Even if you do take the NH47,my sincere advise would be to go via Shoranur-do not attempt NH47(Palakkad-TCR) after dark.The potholes have all more or less opened back(update as on Jan 1st week).

As for your query on 4 lane-no its 2 lane all the way from Perundurai till Alathur.

As for your query on street lights,I dont think any highway in India is lighted up and this is no different.

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Which is the best route to Kodaikanal from thrissur. Planning to do a family trip sometime next month. Also suggest if it is better to hire a local cab for sight seeing in Kodaikanal. I don't want to take own car if parking is a pain. I will be probably visiting during a weekend.

We did a Thrissur-Kodai-Hyd drive in Jan 1st week.Thrissur-Chelakara-Alathur-Pallasana-Kollengode-Meenkarai-Pollachi-Udumulpet-Palani-Kodai.Left home at Thrissur at 0930 and arrived at Kodai at 1430.Ghat sections are good,rough at some sections but overall good.This is the best route from Thrissur.

If you are going in April-May,parking can be a big problem,but in other months,parking is not a major issue.Check with your hotel if parking is availabe and you can accordingly decide.We stayed at The Ferncreek and parking is not a problem there.

[dhanushmenon]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

If you want to avoid Avinashi-Coimbatore,then this is the best alternative.No safety issues whatsoever have been heard of till now on this route.Getting onto Govindapuram-Meenkarai road from Palladam road at Pollachi is quite easy nothing that should bother you much.

via the NH47,Walayar is hit and miss with the jam at the CP,avinashi-cbe would be heavily trafficked.Somehow I am biased towards the Palladam route.The advantage with the NH47 is what Amp has mentioned-availability of eateries.Otherwise there is no reason why you should take this route.Even if you do take the NH47,my sincere advise would be to go via Shoranur-do not attempt NH47(Palakkad-TCR) after dark.The potholes have all more or less opened back(update as on Jan 1st week).

As for your query on 4 lane-no its 2 lane all the way from Perundurai till Alathur.

As for your query on street lights,I dont think any highway in India is lighted up and this is no different.

Thanks a lot. I think I'll follow the route as suggested by you and am gonna right away feed the waypoints onto my GPS. Instead if going via shoranur, I reckon it would be better to stick with alathur-vadakkancheri- Thrissur. Ain't so? ( as you have shown in the planning map). I have gone through both roads recently. The only re consideration factor will be the night fall though

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Thanks a lot. I think I'll follow the route as suggested by you and am gonna right away feed the waypoints onto my GPS. Instead if going via shoranur, I reckon it would be better to stick with alathur-vadakkancheri- Thrissur. Ain't so? ( as you have shown in the planning map). I have gone through both roads recently. The only re consideration factor will be the night fall though

From Pollachi if you take the Palakkad route,then take the palakkad-ottapalam-shoranur-wadakancheri-thrissur route to kochi

From Pollachi if you take the Govindapuram route to Kollengode-Alathur then stick to Alathur-Pazhayannur-Wadakancheri-Thrissur route to Kochi.

In terms of traffic and people on the road,expect to see no people or traffic on the govindapuram route after Zamin Uthukuli all the way till Wadakancheri after 10pm.

If you want to see population on the road post 10pm take pollachi palakkad shoranur route.

No safety issues on either options.

[coolclouds]

Did Bangalore-Ernakulam-Kayamkulam-Bangalore and back in Bangalore today.

Palakkad-Vadakkancherry : Nothing to worry, widening work started

Vadakkancherry-Kuthiran : Few bad stretches, not too bad

Kuthiran-Mannuthy :Few potholes opened up, still can be considered for a faster day drive. May have to be really slow at two places, else fine.

Bangalore-Kanakpura-Satyamangalam-Coimbatore : Breeze! Ghat section in smooth shape

Bhavani-Edappadi-Omallur : Good road, looks like more trucks on this stretch to save two tolls. Ideal for those traveling at ~80 kmph.

[M35]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Did Bangalore-Ernakulam-Kayamkulam-Bangalore and back in Bangalore today.

Bangalore-Kanakpura-Satyamangalam-Coimbatore : Breeze! Ghat section in smooth shape

Is there any specific reason for this route ? Are there any issues with the Salem route? I will be travelling to Palakkad from Bangalore on friday and thinking of the usual Salem-L&T-Pkd route.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by M35

Is there any specific reason for this route ? Are there any issues with the Salem route? I will be travelling to Palakkad from Bangalore on friday and thinking of the usual Salem-L&T-Pkd route.

No reason to avoid the usual Salem route. There are many diversions thanks to the ongoing widening project. Roads are pretty good throughout though it might be confusing if you drive at night. Coim-Palghat a bit bumpy again due to widening work. Just watch out for huge dips/bumps on bridges on these 4 lane construction zone.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by M35

Is there any specific reason for this route ? Are there any issues with the Salem route? I will be travelling to Palakkad from Bangalore on friday and thinking of the usual Salem-L&T-Pkd route.

Kanakpura-Satyamangalam-Coimbatore route is scenic with very little traffic. Of course, the road surface is in great shape with no tolls. The route is ideal for those who drive at 80-100 kmph.

Hosur-Salem-Coimbatore 4 lane route is ideal for high speeds.

Regarding Edappadi-Omallur route, it is scenic, two lane, shorter by few kms and saves two tolls. Ideal for off peak hours, not recommended for anyone in a hurry.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Kanakpura-Satyamangalam-Coimbatore route is scenic with very little traffic. Of course, the road surface is in great shape with no tolls. The route is ideal for those who drive at 80-100 kmph.

Need to be careful at Dimbam though, because many a times, trucks break-down on the hairpin bends and you can get stuck for a couple of hours easily.
(But thats our luck! Otherwise its a good route. Need to be careful though)

[coolclouds]

Trichur (Mannuthy) - Palakkad update:

Overall, ok for a day drive as potholes can be negotiated easily. No worries between Vadakkancherry and Palakkad. It took one hour 20 minutes during Friday evening to do this stretch with a max speed of 85kmph in a WagonR (6.15pm Palakkad, 7.35pm Mannuthy).


Here are few pics taken between Mannuthy and Palakkad, during our return journey (20 Jan). There are no big potholes other than this.

Update on NH 209 Bangalore-Satyamangalam-Coimbatore here

Kayamkulam (NTPC) - Ernakulam : No bad patches, in good condition
Walayar - L&T : Patched up, good condition, few diversions.
L&T-Avinashi-Chengampally: Road surface is in good condition, watch for uneven joints/bumps on overbridges, lack of light during night. Be more careful towards Coimbatore side.

[coolclouds]

Few more pics attached: