[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by jacs

Isn't this our good old Mettur route? Not tried in recent past at all.

What is the overall feedback in terms of traffic & roads? Worth trying in my upcoming drive?

Yes Jacs, its a part of our old Mettur road. Traffic was sparse and road condition is good SH/village type roads. Sankari-Omallur route would be better option, if you would like to try something different.

Originally Posted by ampere

Nice one. Where did you exit the 4-lane beyond Bhavani? Was it Sankari? Good one in the sense it also avoids Mettur totally.

To totally avoid the 4-lane you can also do :

Mecheri-Pennagaram and the come towards Dharmapuri and latch on the Palacode road to Hosur.

Thanks Ampere for the tip. I took a part of that road while going to Hogenekal sometime back.

I exited four lane just after the first Saravana Bhavan (on our left towards Salem).

[neo45007]

Hi,

I am travelling to Wayanad this weekend and then to Kannur/Kappad resort side. Need advice on following planned routes :-

BLR - Wayanad : Via Kanakpura - Chamarajnagar - Gundalpeth - Sulthan Btry - Kallapetta (Staying nearby)

Kalapetta - Kannur : Which route & condition?

Kannur - BLR : Via Iritty - Virajpeth - Gonikoppal - Periyapatana - Hunsur - Mysore - BLR

I am travelling with family and driving Ritz, so good roads all-around preferred.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by neo45007

Kalapetta - Kannur : Which route & condition?

Based on the time you are starting best route from Kalpetta to Kannur is Kalpetta - Thamaraserry - Kozhikode Byepass - Elathur - Koyilandy - Vadakara byepass - Kannur - NH 212/ NH 17 route -(For early start).

Or Kalpetta - Thamaraserry - Ballaserry- Ulliyeri- Koyilandy- Vadakkara byepass - Kannur- NH 212 - SH 34- NH 17 route (For a late start)

There is a third option to Kalpetta - Kutiyadi road also, however I guess if you are travelling the first time it may be confusing. Also I am not sure of the latest road condition.

[kala]

Originally Posted by neo45007

Kalapetta - Kannur : Which route & condition?

Kannur - BLR : Via Iritty - Virajpeth - Gonikoppal - Periyapatana - Hunsur - Mysore - BLR

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Based on the time you are starting best route from Kalpetta to Kannur is Kalpetta - Thamaraserry - Kozhikode Byepass - Elathur - Koyilandy - Vadakara byepass - Kannur - NH 212/ NH 17 route -(For early start).

Or Kalpetta - Thamaraserry - Ballaserry- Ulliyeri- Koyilandy- Vadakkara byepass - Kannur- NH 212 - SH 34- NH 17 route (For a late start)

There is a third option to Kalpetta - Kutiyadi road also, however I guess if you are travelling the first time it may be confusing. Also I am not sure of the latest road condition.

A lower traffic option would be Kalpetta - Mananthavadi - BoysTown - Palchuram - Kottiyoor - Peravoor - Mattannur - Kannur. Generally good roads, though the Mananthavadi - Boystown section was a little bumpy around the Talappoya area when I travelled last (about 6 months ago)

For Kannur - Bangalore, I think Virajpet-Ammathi - Siddhapura-Periyapatna may be preferable compared to Virajpet-Gonikoppal-Periyapatna for better roads overall in spite of a bad 10 kms section just before Periyapatna.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by neo45007

Hi,

I am travelling to Wayanad this weekend and then to Kannur/Kappad resort side. Need advice on following planned routes :-
BLR - Wayanad : Via Kanakpura - Chamarajnagar - Gundalpeth - Sulthan Btry - Kallapetta (Staying nearby)
Kalapetta - Kannur : Which route & condition?
Kannur - BLR : Via Iritty - Virajpeth - Gonikoppal - Periyapatana - Hunsur - Mysore - BLR

+1 to what Babu Sir recommended if your destination is Kannur town from Kalpetta:
Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Boys town- Adakkathodu-Kottiyoor-Kelakam-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur.
Or Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Perya ghats-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur

If your destination is Kappad, then I suggest you take the route which Suhas recommended : Kalpetta -Thamarassery - Balusherry- Ullyeri- Atholi-Kappad.
Another option would be Kalpetta-Padinjharethara-Tharuvana-Vellamunda-Korome-Kuttyadi ghat (pakranthalam)-Kuttyadi-Perambra-Ulliyeri-Atholi-Kappad

On your return journey, If you are starting from Kannur, do not even think about going via Gonikoppal. Roads are almost non existent from Gonikoppal to Hunsur. Instead, go via Iritty-Virajpet town-Siddapura-Maldare forest-Periyapatna-Hunsur-Mysore.

[neo45007]

Thanks all.

"Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Boys town- Adakkathodu-Kottiyoor-Kelakam-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur.
Or Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Perya ghats-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur"

This option looks good; but are you sure ROADS are good ?
It doesn't look like NH/SH on google maps. Must be a scenic route though.

+ I will be staying near Meenmutty falls, so I assume from there till Kalpetta should be good roads.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by neo45007

Thanks all.

"Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Boys town- Adakkathodu-Kottiyoor-Kelakam-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur.
Or Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Perya ghats-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur"

This option looks good; but are you sure ROADS are good ?
It doesn't look like NH/SH on google maps. Must be a scenic route though.

Have seen reports in another forum that this route is in decent condition:

Kalpetta-Kainatty jn-Mananthavady-Perya ghats-Nidumpoil-Kuthuparamba-Kannur

Yes, it is very scenic, just like any other road in Wayanad.

[Added_flavor]

Dear All,

I have to go from Bangalore to Karur, Tamilnadu next week and from Karur to Thalassery, Kerala. Shall be going to Karur via Salem.

I need your assistance on the route from Karur to Thalassery.

Google maps gives me the route through Kangayam-Palladam-Palakkad-Perinthalmanna-Malapurram-Ramanattukara-Mahe-Thalassery.

Map Link

Is this the best route? Can you please update me on road conditions?

Also from Thalassery to Bangalore, is the route via Iritty-Gonikappa-Hunsur-Bangalore the best route?

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

Map Link

Is this the best route? Can you please update me on road conditions?

Karur-Dharapuram-Pollachi-Palakkad-Malappuram-Calicut bypass- And NH17 there on.

Also from Thalassery to Bangalore, is the route via Iritty-Gonikappa-Hunsur-Bangalore the best route?

I would say Irritty-Virajpet-Siddapura-Periyapatna-Hunsur.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

Also from Thalassery to Bangalore, is the route via Iritty-Gonikappa-Hunsur-Bangalore the best route?

As ampere points out, best route would be Telicherry-Kuthuparamba-Iritty-Virajpet (town)-Ammathi-Siddapura-Maldare-Periyapatna-Hunsur-Mysore ORR-Bangalore. Last 15 kms or so as you approach periyapatna is bad, rest all is in good condition.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

route from Karur to Thalassery.

Google maps gives me the route through Kangayam-Palladam-Palakkad-Perinthalmanna-Malapurram-Ramanattukara-Mahe-Thalassery.

Originally Posted by ampere

Karur-Dharapuram-Pollachi-Palakkad-Malappuram-Calicut bypass- And NH17 there on.

Between Palakkad and Ramanattukara (entry to Kozhikkode bypass), a better (though 10km longer) route would be:
Palakkad-Ottapalam-Kulappully-Pattambi-Koppam-Valanchery-Kottakkal-Chelari-Ramanattukara. From Valanchery onwards, it's NH-17. Excellent roads all along, and not as busy as Palakkad-Mannarkad-Perinthalmanna stretch.

[treadmark]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Between Palakkad and Ramanattukara (entry to Kozhikkode bypass), a better (though 10km longer) route would be:
Palakkad-Ottapalam-Kulappully-Pattambi-Koppam-Valanchery-Kottakkal-Chelari-Ramanattukara. From Valanchery onwards, it's NH-17. Excellent roads all along, and not as busy as Palakkad-Mannarkad-Perinthalmanna stretch.

I did Palakkad ~ Valanchery through Ottapalam, Pattambi during the week of Christmas having the same impression as yours, but to my surprise the road was crowded all along.
Hence in my opinion Palakkad - Mannarkad - Perinthalamnna will be ideal as there is nothing to complain about on the road surface barring the traffic and charging Pallakkad - Calicut private busses.

Cheers!

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by treadmark

I did Palakkad ~ Valanchery through Ottapalam, Pattambi during the week of Christmas having the same impression as yours, but to my surprise the road was crowded all along.
Hence in my opinion Palakkad - Mannarkad - Perinthalamnna will be ideal as there is nothing to complain about on the road surface barring the traffic and charging Pallakkad - Calicut private busses.

Maybe, I got lucky every time I took the Pattambi-Valanchery route to Kozhikkode! On the Mannarkad route, apart from the raging private buses, I have also been bullied by auto-rickshaws and Sumo-Xylo-Innova type taxis - mostly on the small-towns such as Kalladikode, and also on the congested roads in Mannarkad and Perinthalmanna towns.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

Dear All,

I need your assistance on the route from Karur to Thalassery.

Google maps gives me the route through Kangayam-Palladam-Palakkad-Perinthalmanna-Malapurram-Ramanattukara-Mahe-Thalassery.

Map Link

Is this the best route? Can you please update me on road conditions?


Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by silversteed

Between Palakkad and Ramanattukara (entry to Kozhikkode bypass), a better (though 10km longer) route would be:
Palakkad-Ottapalam-Kulappully-Pattambi-Koppam-Valanchery-Kottakkal-Chelari-Ramanattukara. From Valanchery onwards, it's NH-17. Excellent roads all along, and not as busy as Palakkad-Mannarkad-Perinthalmanna stretch.

For the above route, You can also look at the below variation from Pollachi

Pollachi-Thathamangalam-Koduvayur-Kuzhalmannam-Kottayi-Mankara- Ottapalam (and as mentioned by silversteed above)

Google Link to the route http://goo.gl/maps/8H8PZ

Some great views of the Palakkad country-side also

This will help completely bypass Palakkad and its surroundings. Roads are great and traffic is minimal. I had driven from Thathamangalam to Tirur via this route during December. Google Navigator is aware of these roads (but needs to be fed in sections like Pollachi-Kuzhalmannam-Ottapalam and the Ottapalam-Valanchery-Calicut.

Koppam-Valanchery is a little rough in some places.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by treadmark

I did Palakkad ~ Valanchery through Ottapalam, Pattambi during the week of Christmas having the same impression as yours, but to my surprise the road was crowded all along.
Hence in my opinion Palakkad - Mannarkad - Perinthalamnna will be ideal as there is nothing to complain about on the road surface barring the traffic and charging Pallakkad - Calicut private busses.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by silversteed

Maybe, I got lucky every time I took the Pattambi-Valanchery route to Kozhikkode! On the Mannarkad route, apart from the raging private buses, I have also been bullied by auto-rickshaws and Sumo-Xylo-Innova type taxis - mostly on the small-towns such as Kalladikode, and also on the congested roads in Mannarkad and Perinthalmanna towns.

How about Palakkad-Ottapalam-Churukara-Angadipuram-Malappuram

That bypasses Perinthalmanna and gets you on NH213 again. How are the roads around Pattambi-Perinthalmanna these days? No idea on that.