Team-BHP - Route to Madurai query

I plan to drive to Madurai via Mysore. Based on maps there seems to be two options (at least)

Mys-Njd-Chamrajnagar-Sathyamangalam-Gobichettipalyam-Erode-
Karur-Dindgul-Madurai.

The other seems shorter but not sure if it is a proper road that is. The TTK map shows practically no city/town enroute.

Mys-Kollegal-Bhavani-Erode.

Anyone tried this route or is it safer to stick to longer but better road?

Thanks !

Another one I found:

Mysore Nanjangud 23.91 Km
Nanjangud Kavalande 16 Km
Kavalande Chamarajnagar Ramasa 18.96 Km
Chamarajnagar Ramasa Talavadi 26.11 Km
Talavadi Binakauahalli 15.19 Km
Binakauahalli Dimbam 5.21 Km
Dimbam Koiramangalam 23.7 Km
Koiramangalam Bhavani Sagar 1.62 Km
Bhavani Sagar Punjaipuliyampatti 10.25 Km
Punjaipuliyampatti Sevur 10.62 Km
Sevur Avanaslu 12.01 Km
Avanaslu Tiruppur 11.52 Km
Tiruppur Avanaship 19.52 Km
Avanaship Suyanallur 20.03 Km
Suyanallur Dharapuram 5.99 Km
Dharapuram Kolinjivadi 1.86 Km
Kolinjivadi Kallimandayam 23.79 Km
Kallimandayam Tangachchiyammapatti 6.87 Km
Tangachchiyammapatti Pudu Chattram 10.86 Km
Pudu Chattram Sembatti 27.12 Km
Sembatti Ambatturai 2.99 Km
Ambatturai Karuppatti 16.51 Km
Karuppatti Cholavandam 10.41 Km
Cholavandam Madurai 20.33 Km

This Mysore to Madurai distance is 341.38 Km

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadu (Post 577139)

The first route is the best since you can get onto NH7 at Namakkal.

Your reproduction of the second route - there is a typo - "Avanaslu"is Avinashi - is along district roads and may be confusing for a first-timer on this route. Moreover, teh road from Dharapuram to Pudu chattram is a small one (alternative being to go via Palani to Pudu chattram).

I would take the first route if I were you - the roads via CH Nagar, Dimbam, Sathy, Gobi and Erode are apparently in good shape.

Try maps of india and their various route calculators, the problem will them is that to calculate shortest distance they will use any available road, they should stick to highways/ major roads only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traxter (Post 577184)

wow thanks for the research..sounds interesting passing thru practically unheard of place names...have you driven through them? Which map shows them? My IMS one for TN does not show most of these places.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traxter (Post 576952)

Ok what car do you have? Kollegal route is not recommended as of now. After the heavy rains. Mysore->Kollegal->Andiyur->Bhavani is a no no.

Take the Mysore->Nanjangud->Chamrajnagar->Sathy road. I've a thread on that route in reverse order. Its better.

TN roads are in a better condition. You would be travelling through state roads most of the time.

Avoid Avanashi->Tiruppur sector. Heavy traffic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blorebuddy (Post 577238)

I would suggest the following options from Sathy
Sathy - Avinashi - Tiruppur - Palladam - Dharapuram - Sembatti as the roads will be good.

Other option is Sathy - Gobi - Sengapalli- Uthukuli - Kangeyam - Dharapuram and the usual. - This is to by pass Avinashi - Tirupur heavy traffic and city traffic

Your second option is good. If you get stuck in the Avinashi->Tiruppur->Palladam sector during peak hours its highly irritating. too many buses and lorries.

Dharapuram->Otanchatharam->Sembatti->Kodai Road->Madurai is the route taken by buses from Coimbatore to Madurai. Just avoid night time driving.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traxter (Post 577184)

Yes I've driven through most of these except Uthukulli to Dharapuram, though at various points of time. Do not take the Kollegal route now unless you want to do some offroading and you have a Qualis/Scorpio. It passes through pretty thick forests (once upon a time Veerapan forests). Even Chamrajnagar->Assanur->Thimbam->Sathy passes through a lot of forests and early morning/late evening you could catch some wildlife.

Thimbam to Sathy is down a ghat section. Pretty steep. 27 hairpin bends in a 12 km span. Make sure you take it during the day time and enjoy the scenary as well as to drive safe.

// Mys-Kollegal-Bhavani-Erode.
//The TTK map shows practically no city/town enroute.

me too have the same TTk map..its interesting at times..:D
the route was decent in 2005..no recent update!
In 2006, i did the parallel route goes from kollegal to Mettur dam which can take you to salem shorter..similar scenic views..but good amount of bad roads around Kollegal.

btw, from chamrajnagar to kollegal is like going in opp direction..
so better go via chamrajnagar-satyamangalam..you wont regret it.

Thanks everyone, lots of useful advice. I think the Sathy - Kangeyam -Dharapuram route is what I will probably take because it avoids big cities like Karur and Erode. Avinashi/Tiruppur etc. are far too west. Thanks for advice on avoiding Kollegal/Bhavani sector. Shall do, though mine is a tough as nail Gamma.

Advice on ghat section is also very useful it is not apparent from maps unless you have been there. Hope is not as 'bad' as the road to Ooty from Mysore. Is there a steep climb up to Dimbam or just a descent only?

Shall post pics/updates on road condition after my trip..it is during Dasara.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blorebuddy (Post 600228)

Hi,
How was the road condition from kollegal - CH Nagar - Bannari?

I am planning to take Bangalore - Maddur - Malavalli - Kollegal route. Any info on road condition is appreciated

When I enquired in Chamrajnagar a couple of months back about taking the Chamrajnagar->Kollegal->Kanakapura->Bangalore road, I was advised against it as the road was not too good.

I was asked to take the chamrajnagar->Nanjangud->Mysore->Bangalore road.

However if you do take that route.. let me know.. I want to try the Bangalore->Kollegal->Anthiyur->Bhavani road !!!

Dont know about Kollegal/Ch. Nagar but Ch. Nagar to Bannari via Dimbum is quite decent except as it gets closer to Chamraj nagar.

It should be fun indeed to try the route to Bhavani - now that Veerappan is dead! Didnt want to try that alone with my kid. Also if road is bad, it can offset all distance advantages.