[silversteed]

Are there any COCO fuel outlets between Pollachi and Salem? Or some reliable bunks that accept cards?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Are there any COCO fuel outlets between Pollachi and Salem? Or some reliable bunks that accept cards?

Pollachi has a good BP bunk. Dont know if its a COCO bunk though. And I think he accepts cards.

[SAPVEN]

Hi Friends,

Planning to drive to Ernakulam in a couple of weeks from Bangalore.
I would like an update on the Coimbatore -Walayar road condition ,
and whether it would be still advisable to route via Pollachi.

This time plan to have a night halt at Coimbatore en-route.

Regards,

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by SAPVEN

Hi Friends,

Planning to drive to Ernakulam in a couple of weeks from Bangalore.
I would like an update on the Coimbatore -Walayar road condition ,
and whether it would be still advisable to route via Pollachi.

This time plan to have a night halt at Coimbatore en-route.

Regards,

If you intend to go via palladam-pollachi route, then no need to stay in coimbatore. You can stay in Sakthi hotels in Pollachi

[SAPVEN]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

If you intend to go via palladam-pollachi route, then no need to stay in coimbatore. You can stay in Sakthi hotels in Pollachi

Thanks Suresh,

This is the first time I am planning a halt, since normally I drive through.
But fact remains that I would still like to know whether the road work
on the Walayar stretch is done, or its still a painful stretch.

Regards,

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by SAPVEN

Thanks Suresh,

This is the first time I am planning a halt, since normally I drive through.
But fact remains that I would still like to know whether the road work
on the Walayar stretch is done, or its still a painful stretch.

Regards,

Driven TCR- CBE via palakkad early Feb.
TCR- Vadakkumchery: Not much of road widening work, good surface and extremely high traffic
Vadakkumchery - Alathur : Lot of deviations and construction in full swing
Alathur - Walayar: Again lot of deviations, but you will find sections of well paved 4 lanes in between ( and expect every one driving on wrong side)
Walayar - CBE: Not much progress, patchy road.

Depending on the time you are reaching Avinashi you can take a call on which route to take. Early morning or night drives will be much stress free on Pollachi route.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by SAPVEN

I would like an update on the Coimbatore -Walayar road condition ,
and whether it would be still advisable to route via Pollachi.

This time plan to have a night halt at Coimbatore en-route.

CBE-Walayar remains the same - patchy roads, heavy traffic, idiots on 2-wheelers riding as though they'll die if they don't ride recklessly or they wear a helmet. You're lucky if you can engage the top gear in this stretch.

Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Kollengode-Vadakkenchery is smooth and relaxed, but need not be fast.

If you want, you can break at Salem/CBE/Pollachi. Or, drive straight - takes about 9-10hrs end to end for Bangalore-Kochi.

Originally Posted by arjithin

TCR- Vadakkumchery: Not much of road widening work, good surface and extremely high traffic
Vadakkumchery - Alathur : Lot of deviations and construction in full swing
Alathur - Walayar: Again lot of deviations, but you will find sections of well paved 4 lanes in between ( and expect every one driving on wrong side)

arjithin, it's "Vadakkenchery", not Vadakkumchery (which is a family name btw)

Alathur-Chandranagar is like you mentioned, with a lot of deviations, but Chandranagar-Walayar is more or less done completely - well marked roads, with both sides open for traffic. You'd hardly find anyone riding/driving on the wrong side. But be extra careful.

Early morning or night drives will be much stress free on Pollachi route.

+1

[sachinpk]

Gentlemen, did not want to derail this thread. But budget for this financial year has been passed in KL Assembly (amid huge chaos). One proposal is to collect road taxes from non-KL vehicles plying in the state.
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=530440 (Malayalam news report).
Suggested way to collect tax based on non-KL vehicle usage in KL:-
1. From one month till one year - Rs.200 for two wheeler, Rs.1500 for four wheeler.
2. From one year or more - life time tax as levied to a KL registered vehicle.

[tomchacks]

Originally Posted by SAPVEN

Hi Friends,

Planning to drive to Ernakulam in a couple of weeks from Bangalore.
I would like an update on the Coimbatore -Walayar road condition ,
and whether it would be still advisable to route via Pollachi.
This time plan to have a night halt at Coimbatore en-route.

I had driven to Bangalore from Kochi on 24th Feb avoiding the NH on a trial basis as there was no time restriction.

The route taken was; Vyttila-Mannuthi-Vadakkancheri-Pollachi-Palladam-Kangayam-Perundurai-Bhavani-Mettur-Thoppur-Dharmapuri-Palacde-Hosur-Silkboard.

This was a relaxed drive with 3 food breaks, 2 shop stops and 2 photo stops. Left Vyttila by 0630 and Silkboard flyover by 1930, distance 537 kms. Had to pay 3 tolls (Rs 178). Roads generally good (meaning better than present L&T bye pass) all along except for small stretch along Dharmapuri- Palacode stretch. Another advantage was that you get to travel along tree covered cooler roads. Of course there are humps and villages to slow you down.

[sayoojl]

Hi, I am planning to do a munnar trip from bangalore. The route I have in mind (google suggested!) is Bangalore-Salem-Avinashi-Udumalplet-Marayoor-Munnar(or Perundurai-Kangayam-Dharapuram ?Which is better?) for onward journey and for return Munnar-Theni-Dindigul-Karur-Salem-Blore.
Any suggestions for good family restaurants enroute(for breakfast n lunch) in both the routes. Planning for a early start around 5-6 am from Blore.
Thanks

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by sayoojl

Hi, I am planning to do a munnar trip from bangalore.

There is a separate thread specifically on Munnar route, you can refer that for update.

Link

[motor_breathing]

Any updates on Dindugul, Theni, Kumily Chenganacherry route ?
I have to drive North Bangalore to Pandalam second week of April.

Or is it better to take CBE, Palakkad, Alapuzha route?
This route normally takes 14+ Hours door to door.

[kala]

Originally Posted by motor_breathing

Any updates on Dindugul, Theni, Kumily Chenganacherry route ?
I have to drive North Bangalore to Pandalam second week of April.

Or is it better to take CBE, Palakkad, Alapuzha route?
This route normally takes 14+ Hours door to door.

For destinations in Idikki/Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, the Dindigul-Theni route works out best. For Quilon district perhaps the Rajapalayam Punalur route may perhaps be slightly shorter. I wouldn't recommend the NH47 route for any place south of Cochin since the long stretch through Kerala will end up being much slower.

Since you're going to Pandalam, I think the ideal route may be Dindigul-Kumily-Mundakkayam-Erumely-Ranny-Pathanamthitta-Pandalam.

I travelled on the Dindigul-Theni-Kumily-Kottayam route twice in the last 3 months and the road conditions were quite good. (Excellent till Dindigul, and very good from thereon except for occasional short rough patches here and there). On both these occasions my drive time to Kottayam was almost the same as what I normally take between Cochin and Bangalore with an early morning start from Cochin (around 9.5 hours with breaks). So you should save at least an hour of driving time by going via Theni (if not more).

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by sayoojl

Hi, I am planning to do a munnar trip from bangalore. The route I have in mind (google suggested!) is Bangalore-Salem-Avinashi-Udumalplet-Marayoor-Munnar(or Perundurai-Kangayam-Dharapuram ?Which is better?) for onward journey and for return Munnar-Theni-Dindigul-Karur-Salem-Blore.
Any suggestions for good family restaurants enroute(for breakfast n lunch) in both the routes. Planning for a early start around 5-6 am from Blore.
Thanks

I would suggest the route via Perundurai,Kangeyam, Dharapuram and Udumalaipet. May be for the return you can come via Theni. The shorter route is via Kangeyam,Dharapuram.

[SAPVEN]

Originally Posted by tomchacks

I had driven to Bangalore from Kochi on 24th Feb avoiding the NH on a trial basis as there was no time restriction.

The route taken was; Vyttila-Mannuthi-Vadakkancheri-Pollachi-Palladam-Kangayam-Perundurai-Bhavani-Mettur-Thoppur-Dharmapuri-Palacde-Hosur-Silkboard.

Hi all,

Came to know recently of an alternate route from Coimbatore to Alathur,
via Velanthavalam, Chittur , Pudunagaram. Has anybody travelled recently on this route please ? From the map, it looks like a viable alternative to
Walayar-Palakkad.

Rgds,