[NPV]

Originally Posted by binaiks

I did Kodungallur (Thrissur) - Bangalore last weekend. IMO, except the stretch from Walayar to Madukkarai, there are no problems elsewhere. Neelambur to Avinashi Bypass - there aren't any diversions - one side of the 4-lane alignment is opened for traffic all the way - all the ROBs are open as well. The only headache is Perumanallur - that IMHO is better than driving from Perundurai to Alathur in a 2-lane road.

Thanks for the update.
By taking Thrissur-Shoranur-Ottapalam-Palakkad route, you avoided the Kuthiran-Alathur-Palakkad stretch which is not very good overall and is 2 lane as well.

Also, Perundurai-Kangeyam-Palladam-Pollachi has extremely good 2 lane roads, so I would prefer to take this route and then Pollachi-Alathur-Pazhayannur route (if starting early morning from Bangalore).

[binand]

Originally Posted by kala

Did you do this trip ? What was the condition of the stretch that you were worried about ?

Aren't you a bit late to the party? :-) I posted this after I reached Calicut:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3172026

The return journey was yesterday. Started at 4AM and the Churam climb at around 5AM. Was quite scary, with rain, fog and the black exhaust smoke causing thick smog everytime I crossed a downhill truck. Several times I had to stop on the road with my hazards on waiting for this smog to clear, since visibility was zero. This 12-km nightmare lasted for about 30 minutes. I do wish they put up decent reflectors on the churam (there is one small stretch with bright red ones) and perhaps street lighting at least at the hairpin bends.

Reached my regular tea-stop at Chamarajanagar at 8 AM and the NICE Road toll booth at 11 AM. Home took a further hour, and office, another 2.

It did not rain at all while I was in KA, but it was incessant all the time I was in KL.

[kala]

Originally Posted by binand

Aren't you a bit late to the party? :-) I posted this after I reached Calicut:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3172026

Oops, sorry about that. Missed that one - may be because that was the last post on that page and I might have checked only the next (new) page.

[ranjitp1]

AC Road (Alappuzha-Changanacherry) is flooded again as per somebody who stays in the region.Its been raining continuously over the past two days there.

[ranjitp1]

Looks like heavy rainfall for the next couple of days.Kerala has apparently declared holidays for all schools for the next couple of days

[tharian]

I'll be doing a round trip to Kerala in the first week of August. Hopefully the rains reduce by then although I am sure the road conditions will worsen if not remain the same as it is now.
I already banged up the under carriage of my car on recent trip to Hampi due to a wrong turn adviced to me by brilliant Googlemaps.

The route is Blore-Calicut-Kottayam-Blore.
The last I did Blore- Calicut was Dec last and the roads were amazing except for a small patch in Waynad. And thinking of rest of the trip in Kerala, I wish I had a SUV.
Regards

[ranjitp1]

Palakkad-CBE status today around Walayar(courtesy a friend who travelled the route today morning).Photo credit to the original owner.

[nitinbose]

Originally Posted by JoeMichael

Well I was fined by "the interceptor" just after Walayar a few months back (KA registered). I was doing 79 and the traffic inspector regretingly informing that speed limit is 70, and he has strict instruction to fine all vehicles doing above 75. The best part , he indicated locations where interceptors could be expected till Trichur.

I'm surprised if you can do above 45kph on those roads, owing to their pathetic conditions. You can speed on the Palghat-Shornur-Trichur road but again, it has so many bends.

[IronH4WK]

planning a road trip to Kerala (Trivandrum and back) via Madurai. anybody know the route and the current condition? Google gives three routes and the the shortest is 731kms.

any alternates?

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by IronH4WK

planning a road trip to Kerala (Trivandrum and back) via Madurai. anybody know the route and the current condition? Google gives three routes and the the shortest is 731kms.
any alternates?

IronH4WK, you can check in the more active thread for a updated information : Current road condition to Kerala

[NPV]

Originally Posted by IronH4WK

planning a road trip to Kerala (Trivandrum and back) via Madurai. anybody know the route and the current condition? Google gives three routes and the the shortest is 731kms.

any alternates?

Krishnagiri-Salem-Madurai-Kanyakumari on NH7 is excellent all the way There is road widening work on Hosur-Krishnagiri stretch so time your drive on this stretch.
Expect narrow roads, slow moving traffic on the Nagercoil-Trivandrum route (NH47). If you intend visiting Kanyakumari, then better to take Nagercoil route, possibly a late night drive may not have that bad traffic, but I'm not sure.
Also, I'd suggest visits to the Suchindram Temple and/or Padmanabhapuram Palace at Thuckalay which is on the way to Trivandrum from Nagercoil.
From Trivandrum if you're going towards Trichur, then you can also plan for Valparai and then take Pollachi-Palladam-Kangeyam-Perundurai (NH47)-Salem-Bangalore for your return journey.

[IronH4WK]

Thanks a lot! That is really helpful

[sansvk]

I am doing Bangalore-Pondicherry next week and would be proceeding to Palakkad from Pondy. Any suggestions on good routes without touching NH47?
https://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr...t=m&z=10&via=1
From google maps figured out this route Pondy-Karur-Kangayam-Palladam-Pollachi-Palakkad. I have done the Kangayam-Palakkad in the past coming from Bangalore. Can some one comment on the conditions between Pondy-karur?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by sansvk

I am doing Bangalore-Pondicherry next week and would be proceeding to Palakkad from Pondy. Any suggestions on good routes without touching NH47?

My recco would be:

Pondy-Ulundurpet-Attur-Salem-Perundurai-Kangayam-Palladam-Pollachi-Palakkad
http://goo.gl/maps/yOQtZ

[IronH4WK]

Kanyakumari to Trivandrum, the road is downright pathetic! Potholes so deep, if you're not careful, you could lose a tyre! It gives a good workout for the suspension I drove from Kanyakumari to Trivandrum this afternoon and I would say 75% of the distance covered is pathetic roads; the rest 25% is good.