Bangalore - Cochin in my Ikon

sanju.sreekumar · 20th November 2007, 20:17

Planning to go for a trip to Cochin in my Ikon from Bangalore on Friday/Saturday (23rd/24th).Not yet decided when i am planning to start. May be early morning on Saturday or late afternoon on Friday. Distance is approx 550 km and intended route is Bangalore-Hosur-Dharmapuri-Mettur-Bhavani-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Cochin. Heard that the roads are really bad after Palakkad. Has anyone got something different to add reg that? Estimated time is 10 hours including breaks in between. I am really excited an looking forward to this drive. The only thing is i might be all alone which would be really boring.
Have driven this route 5-6 times hence dont think it would be much of an issue but this is the first time i am going to write my experiences here.
Any suggestions, please go ahead.

Experiences after i am back!!

SS

rex_varghese · 21st November 2007, 10:16

We drove back from Cochin to Bangalore in late October and the roads were horrible. I have no idea about the state of the roads now. But the way things are going on in Kerala, I've no reason to be hopeful about it.

Given current situation, Bangalore-Salem-Cbe-Cochin is the right one you can take.

Otherwise, our preferred route is Bangalore-Mysore-Gudalore-Nilambur-Shornur-Trichur-Cochin. Shortest and decent drive.

Regards
Rex

sanju.sreekumar · 21st November 2007, 19:27

Heard that roads between Palakkad and Trichur are better now.

hvkumar · 21st November 2007, 22:11

NH47 between Cochin and Trissur are repaired

Jaggu · 21st November 2007, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanju.sreekumar

Heard that roads between Palakkad and Trichur are better now.

Till October 29th roads were bad, dont know if re laid since then. Better take the shornur ottapalam route.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 21st November 2007, 22:27

Did this TVM- bangalore trip three weeks back

Details are here.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...life-easy.html

hvkumar · 21st November 2007, 22:32

Repairs on NH47 happened during the Diwali week.

govigov · 21st November 2007, 23:08

I can vouch for tcr - ekm, the roads are ok, sans a big dip infront of TELK. dont know the status of plkd-tcr.

csentil · 21st November 2007, 23:16

Shorter and better route is Bangalore - Mysore - Nanjangud - Chamrajnagar - Sathyamangalam - Coimbatore - Cochin

CrAzY dRiVeR · 22nd November 2007, 08:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by csentil

Shorter and better route is Bangalore - Mysore - Nanjangud - Chamrajnagar - Sathyamangalam - Coimbatore - Cochin

Yes.

BUT. The narrow roads at sathy are a bit risky if the conditions are bad. Also, as i found out, one break-down somewhere inside the forests, and they will close down the road for one- two hours.

Steeroid · 22nd November 2007, 09:39

Just drove down Bangalore-Mysore-Sultan's Battery-Kalpetta-Calicut-Edappal-Ponnani-Chavakkad-Paravur-Vypin-Marine Drive yesterday. Excellent roads except for some minor patches on the Gundlepet-Kerala Border stretch.

wheeler · 22nd November 2007, 10:10

The last time I went to Trichur was in July and at that time, the highway from Coimbatore to Palakkad was in a poor state and Palakkad to Trichur was supposedly very bad too. We had no other option than to suffer the highway from Coimbatore to Palakkad. But from Palakkad to Trichur, we took an alternate route and not the highway.

From Palakkad, we went towards Ottapalam. But before reaching Ottapalam, there's a place called Lakkidi. From the highway, at Lakkidi, we took a left turn towards Thiruvallama. From Thiruvallama, we followed the road signs to Trichur. I do not recollect the towns we passed through.

The stretch from Palakkad to Ottapalam is awesome, the roads being absolutely heaven to drive. Also the road from Lakkidi till Trichur were pretty good with quite a few ups and downs and bends thrown in. A scenic drive through quite a few small towns and villages.

sanju.sreekumar · 22nd November 2007, 20:07

I am still planning to go on my tried and tested route via Mettur-Coimbatore-Thrichur-Cochin. May be on the way back i might try the Sultan Battery route. Leaving tomorrow.

aby.sam · 22nd November 2007, 20:27

I 'm planning a trip around christmas time. Still searching for a better route, that 'll let me push the accelerator hard for a long time.. Heard the Nilambur road being closed. Anyone travelled through that road recently?
How's the state of NH 47 in kerala..
Can someone give me an approx time I 'll take from B'lore to Alappuzha and the best road to choose..<br />
Though this is my 4th post on this forum, never introduced myself. I love travelling and have biked all the way to my home (683 km B'lore to Haripad via Mysore, Calicut) on my pulsar, non stop (except bf, lunch, tea breaks). Love cars and drives a Wagon R in Bangalore. Tries to be patient with the fellow drivers on the road.. but at times lose control...

hvkumar · 22nd November 2007, 23:27

NH47 is more or less OK now, and should be great by the time you travel. The fastest route is NH47, although you may cut some time and distance travelling on the Mysore-Sathy route.

Nilambur road was closed a few days ago (thanks to the late rains in Wayanad area 2-3 weeks ago), but that should be ok by now. Google search for a hotel in Nilambur and call them up to enquire the status.

20th November 2007, 20:17	#1
sanju.sreekumar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 165 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Bangalore - Cochin in my Ikon Planning to go for a trip to Cochin in my Ikon from Bangalore on Friday/Saturday (23rd/24th).Not yet decided when i am planning to start. May be early morning on Saturday or late afternoon on Friday. Distance is approx 550 km and intended route is Bangalore-Hosur-Dharmapuri-Mettur-Bhavani-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Cochin. Heard that the roads are really bad after Palakkad. Has anyone got something different to add reg that? Estimated time is 10 hours including breaks in between. I am really excited an looking forward to this drive. The only thing is i might be all alone which would be really boring. Have driven this route 5-6 times hence dont think it would be much of an issue but this is the first time i am going to write my experiences here. Any suggestions, please go ahead. Experiences after i am back!! SS
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 10:16	#2
rex_varghese BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Marlborough, MA/Bangalore Posts: 345 Thanked: 59 Times View My Garage	We drove back from Cochin to Bangalore in late October and the roads were horrible. I have no idea about the state of the roads now. But the way things are going on in Kerala, I've no reason to be hopeful about it. Given current situation, Bangalore-Salem-Cbe-Cochin is the right one you can take. Otherwise, our preferred route is Bangalore-Mysore-Gudalore-Nilambur-Shornur-Trichur-Cochin. Shortest and decent drive. Regards Rex
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 19:27	#3
sanju.sreekumar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 165 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Heard that roads between Palakkad and Trichur are better now.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 22:11	#4
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	NH47 between Cochin and Trissur are repaired
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 22:27	#6
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 17,181 Thanked: 73,508 Times View My Garage	Did this TVM- bangalore trip three weeks back Details are here. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...life-easy.html
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 22:32	#7
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Repairs on NH47 happened during the Diwali week.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 23:08	#8
govigov Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cochin!!!!! Posts: 1,690 Thanked: 1,092 Times View My Garage	I can vouch for tcr - ekm, the roads are ok, sans a big dip infront of TELK. dont know the status of plkd-tcr.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 23:16	#9
csentil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,349 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	Shorter and better route is Bangalore - Mysore - Nanjangud - Chamrajnagar - Sathyamangalam - Coimbatore - Cochin
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 09:39	#11
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	Just drove down Bangalore-Mysore-Sultan's Battery-Kalpetta-Calicut-Edappal-Ponnani-Chavakkad-Paravur-Vypin-Marine Drive yesterday. Excellent roads except for some minor patches on the Gundlepet-Kerala Border stretch.
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 10:10	#12
wheeler BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: DXB Posts: 261 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	The last time I went to Trichur was in July and at that time, the highway from Coimbatore to Palakkad was in a poor state and Palakkad to Trichur was supposedly very bad too. We had no other option than to suffer the highway from Coimbatore to Palakkad. But from Palakkad to Trichur, we took an alternate route and not the highway. From Palakkad, we went towards Ottapalam. But before reaching Ottapalam, there's a place called Lakkidi. From the highway, at Lakkidi, we took a left turn towards Thiruvallama. From Thiruvallama, we followed the road signs to Trichur. I do not recollect the towns we passed through. The stretch from Palakkad to Ottapalam is awesome, the roads being absolutely heaven to drive. Also the road from Lakkidi till Trichur were pretty good with quite a few ups and downs and bends thrown in. A scenic drive through quite a few small towns and villages.
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 20:07	#13
sanju.sreekumar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 165 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	I am still planning to go on my tried and tested route via Mettur-Coimbatore-Thrichur-Cochin. May be on the way back i might try the Sultan Battery route. Leaving tomorrow.
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 20:27	#14
aby.sam BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 48 Thanked: 17 Times	Me too planning a trip during christmas time.. I 'm planning a trip around christmas time. Still searching for a better route, that 'll let me push the accelerator hard for a long time.. Heard the Nilambur road being closed. Anyone travelled through that road recently? How's the state of NH 47 in kerala.. Can someone give me an approx time I 'll take from B'lore to Alappuzha and the best road to choose..<br /> Though this is my 4th post on this forum, never introduced myself. I love travelling and have biked all the way to my home (683 km B'lore to Haripad via Mysore, Calicut) on my pulsar, non stop (except bf, lunch, tea breaks). Love cars and drives a Wagon R in Bangalore. Tries to be patient with the fellow drivers on the road.. but at times lose control...
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 23:27	#15
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	NH47 is more or less OK now, and should be great by the time you travel. The fastest route is NH47, although you may cut some time and distance travelling on the Mysore-Sathy route. Nilambur road was closed a few days ago (thanks to the late rains in Wayanad area 2-3 weeks ago), but that should be ok by now. Google search for a hotel in Nilambur and call them up to enquire the status.
	() Thanks