[kala]

Originally Posted by gongura

Although i haven't taken the Dundigal-Theni-Kumily route I am planning to explore taking that on my way back. I would recommend you take that one instead of this. You spend more time in the good roads in TN and only about 3 hours in narrow windy Kerala country roads.

Makes a lot of sense. Should save you at least 2 hours compared to the route you took while going.

[guruji]

Does it make sense to take the Blr - Mysore - Coimbatore - Palakkad - Trissur - Kochi - Alappuzha - Kollam route to avoid the rush at toll gates this week? Will be traveling tomorrow.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by guruji

Does it make sense to take the Blr - Mysore - Coimbatore - Palakkad - Trissur - Kochi - Alappuzha - Kollam route to avoid the rush at toll gates this week? Will be traveling tomorrow.

Definitely not. You should start early; say 3:30/4 and I think most booths should be fine.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by guruji

Does it make sense to take the Blr - Mysore - Coimbatore - Palakkad - Trissur - Kochi - Alappuzha - Kollam route to avoid the rush at toll gates this week? Will be traveling tomorrow.

Not at all. Stick to the usual Bangalore-Hosur-Salem-Coimbatore route. For this plan to leave Bangalore early say before 5 AM.

[sandeep3in]

Please suggest a route from Thrissur to Thrivulla based on the road conditions, the MC road is said to be under repair and is not motorable.

Traveling at the peak time around 9am to 10am.

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by guruji

Does it make sense to take the Blr - Mysore - Coimbatore - Palakkad - Trissur - Kochi - Alappuzha - Kollam route to avoid the rush at toll gates this week? Will be traveling tomorrow.

Dont expect any rush tomorrow, stick to the salem route, if possible start early and cross Salem before 8 AM.

Originally Posted by ampere

Definitely not. You should start early; say 3:30/4 and I think most booths should be fine.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Not at all. Stick to the usual Bangalore-Hosur-Salem-Coimbatore route. For this plan to leave Bangalore early say before 5 AM.

The experience was bad even for early starters on this year Diwali break . People who started at 4 AM from Bangalore on the long weekend also got 30+ minute queue at Krishnagiri and Attibele.

I expect similar traffic on 24th Dec morning as well.

[kuriancjohn]

Hello All,

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kottayam this weekend.
I have to go via Palakkad. So Dindigul-Theni route is not an option.
Since MC toad is not motorable, I was planning on taking the following route:

Bangalore->Salem->Coimbatore->Palakkad->Thrissur->Angamaly->Aluva->Kakkanad->Thiruvankulam->Thalayolaparambu->Manjoor->Kottayam

Or is there a better alternative?

[treadmark]

Originally Posted by NPV

Update from Palakkad trip:
Lots of new eateries have come up, here are some of them that I made a mental note of (All references based on Bangalore-Coimbatore/Palakkad direction)

3. The Rice Bowl (looked very nice from outside) - About 41Km after Neelambur L&T Coimbatore bypass toll. On left side, in the work in progress section of the road at a place called Vattapara about 2Km before Walayar toll plaza

My wife had tried this place in August. Heard good opinion from her and not sure whether they are maintaining the same standard now.

Cheers!

[vjjustin]

Any good places for lunch near Coimbatore or border (close to highway)? Traveling to Angamaly this Friday from Bangalore.

I want to start early but realistically do not think that will happen. So if I start around 8 AM (Bommassandra, E City), guess I will be close to L&T Coimbatore by around 1 PM and border around 2. Anything close to L&T should be fine. If anything close to border where I can get kerala meals would be even better.

I hate the white rice/tamil meals. So, last time I traveled, tried to get to Palakkad for lunch and that was a big mistake, totally messed up. I do not want that to happen again.

Originally Posted by NPV

FasTag helped me to quickly navigate through all tolls, had to use cash only at L&T Coimbatore bypass.

Any idea how long will it take to get one? I see an online application through ICICI; is it the best/fastest method to get one?

Originally Posted by NPV

2. Hotel Aryaas - About 31Km after Neelambur L&T Coimbatore bypass toll. On right side, in the work in progress section of the road

3. The Rice Bowl (looked very nice from outside) - About 41Km after Neelambur L&T Coimbatore bypass toll. On left side, in the work in progress section of the road at a place called Vattapara about 2Km before Walayar toll plaza

*Many other eateries like "Sre Saravana Bhavan" (2 outlets)

Originally Posted by treadmark

My wife had tried this place in August. Heard good opinion from her

Sorry, didn't see this before; Thanks. I guess Saravana Bhavan and Aryaas are chains and should be better overall? Also any places for Kerala meals?

[kala]

Originally Posted by guruji

Does it make sense to take the Blr - Mysore - Coimbatore - Palakkad - Trissur - Kochi - Alappuzha - Kollam route to avoid the rush at toll gates this week? Will be traveling tomorrow.

Originally Posted by ampere

Definitely not. You should start early; say 3:30/4 and I think most booths should be fine.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Not at all. Stick to the usual Bangalore-Hosur-Salem-Coimbatore route. For this plan to leave Bangalore early say before 5 AM.

Originally Posted by arjithin

The experience was bad even for early starters on this year Diwali break . People who started at 4 AM from Bangalore on the long weekend also got 30+ minute queue at Krishnagiri and Attibele.

I expect similar traffic on 24th Dec morning as well.

I almost always take the NH209 route to Coimbatore because I live close to Kanakapura Road and hence it takes me approximately the same amount of time whether I go on the 2 lane NH209 or the 4/6 lane NH7/NH47. On days when toll booths are expected to be crowded, I think NH209 will probably be faster, so it's not a 100% black and white choice to prefer the 4 lane route. (It consistently takes me about 4 hrs 45 minutes +/- 15 mins to get to Karumathampatti from my location near Metro Cash and Carry - timings would of course vary depending on where in Bangalore City you are).

To the OP - You don't need to go via Mysore, the NH209 route takes you via Kanakapura-Malavalli-Kollegal-CR Nagar-Dimbham-Bannari-Satyamangalam (or Bhavanisagar)-Puliampatti-Annur. From Annur it would be better to take the road to Karumathampatti (where you join NH47) which will allow you to skip Coimbatore city.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by vjjustin

Sorry, didn't see this before; Thanks. I guess Saravana Bhavan and Aryaas are chains and should be better overall? Also any places for Kerala meals?

Refer to this link for eateries on the NH7-NH47 section between Bangalore and Thrissur.

https://goo.gl/c0Xg0W

[vinucv]

Originally Posted by kuriancjohn

Hello All,

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kottayam this weekend.
I have to go via Palakkad. So Dindigul-Theni route is not an option.
Since MC toad is not motorable, I was planning on taking the following route:

Bangalore->Salem->Coimbatore->Palakkad->Thrissur->Angamaly->Aluva->Kakkanad->Thiruvankulam->Thalayolaparambu->Manjoor->Kottayam

Or is there a better alternative?

Checkout the below route. Last time when I travelled, it was okey but you may have to ask the locals here and there to get the exact directions

https://goo.gl/maps/dE5xBi6W7fr

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by kuriancjohn

Hello All,

I am planning to drive from Bangalore to Kottayam this weekend.
I have to go via Palakkad. So Dindigul-Theni route is not an option.
Since MC toad is not motorable, I was planning on taking the following route:

Bangalore->Salem->Coimbatore->Palakkad->Thrissur->Angamaly->Aluva->Kakkanad->Thiruvankulam->Thalayolaparambu->Manjoor->Kottayam

Or is there a better alternative?

You could take the Muvattupuzha-Pandapilly-Uzhavoor-Kuravilangad to avoid road widening works on MC road between Muvattupuzha and Kuravilangad.

[vinucv]

Originally Posted by sandeep3in

Please suggest a route from Thrissur to Thrivulla based on the road conditions, the MC road is said to be under repair and is not motorable.

Traveling at the peak time around 9am to 10am.

You may please try this route. Should be good based on my previous experience

https://goo.gl/maps/ExXREVCUYVr

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kala

It consistently takes me about 4 hrs 45 minutes +/- 15 mins to get to Karumathampatti from my location near Metro Cash and Carry - timings would of course vary depending on where in Bangalore City you are).

Some mentions :

- With fastag, timings should improve
- 209 for family is a bit tricky because only hotel point being at Chamarajanagar
- Twisty roads is unpleasant for some.
- Inspite of the extra disctance, some times highway on the planes is easier for family travel.

Not saying the above in strict sense, but it does make difference some times.