Bangalore - Yercaud Queries. EDIT: Avoid the Danishpet route!

spiler · 11th November 2016, 14:50

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Originally Posted by suresh_gs

For the return journey, try to come via Kuppanur, Harur, Morappur, Kambainallur, Krishnagiri and the regular NH to Bangalore. By this you avoid Salem completely.

Thank you. Will try this route

spiler · 17th November 2016, 12:12

Thank you everyone for sharing information on the B'lore Yercaud route. Did the trip last weekend. Started from Home at around 7:45 AM and reached Lake forest Hotel in Yercaud by 12:45 with 1 break near Krishnagiri. Took the Salem route while going and also for return. For the return trip, started from Yercaud at around 2 PM and reached home by 6PM with 1 break. Traffic was low and add to that no tolls. Roads were also good throughout.

gautamal · 12th March 2017, 18:15

Just back from a weekend Trip to Yercaud. Used the recommended road via Hosur-Salem-Yercaud. There is some flyover construction work ongoing on Sarada college road within Salem city, and hence had to take a detour which wasted around half an hour. Other than that the roads are very good all the way to Yercaud ,and enjoyed driving through the 20 hairpin bends..actually there are a couple of more bends too. Seems landslides are quite common in this area and at some places there is construction of retaining walls ongoing.
The loop road is quite an adventure in itself, and very narrow at some places. Be careful to negotiate the turns and rest assured you will enjoy the wonderful experience.

yatin · 21st March 2017, 12:57

I went to Yercaud earlier this month. I was busy before the trip & couldn't consult t-bhp, and ended up taking a rarely-used route. Salient points ...

* Blindly followed Google - the Danishpet route.
Mine was the only car in those ghats, exactly 1 Splendor bike for company half the way! Ghat roads are fairly steep, 2 cars wide, broken, but motorable. Nature is on view in splendid isolation. Small villages every few kilometres, no facilities at all. 4.5 hours drive with a half-hour stop at the very good eatery behind the Reliance bunk after Krishnagiri.

* Yercaud has nothing much to offer in terms of tourism
But if you are coming off an overworked period of time, you can rest, read and spend quality time with your family :-)

* Returned via the Salem route
Ghat roads are very well-laid, so it isn't as interesting to drive as the Danishpet route ;-) Sarada college flyover work still going on in Salem, deviation necessary. Took 5.5 hours this time, mainly wasted time in toll booths

* a 8+year old Palio Stile 1.1 did well as usual
Took the Danishpet ghats in its stride, rarely needing 1st gear.
While driving around Yercaud, realized too late & went 50 feet down a 30-degree incline on the estate road leading to the waterfall. Thankfully, there was enough road width, and reversing and climbing back was possible.
While driving down to Salem, I was feeling a little sad that I was going to replace this little gem of a car sometime soon & the replacement wouldn't have the same kind of suspension & stability

ampere · 24th March 2017, 07:23

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Originally Posted by yatin

Mine was the only car in those ghats, exactly 1 Splendor bike for company half the way! Ghat roads are fairly steep, 2 cars wide, broken, but motorable. Nature is on view in splendid isolation. Small villages every few kilometres, no facilities at all. 4.5 hours drive with a half-hour stop at the very good eatery behind the Reliance bunk after Krishnagiri.

If the roads are good, this looks like a fairly nice option. Given the fact one does not have to drive all the way down to Salem! Hopefully when it rains and if the roads are decent, this should make a nice weekend end drive.

procrj · 24th March 2017, 08:44

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Originally Posted by yatin

* Blindly followed Google - the Danishpet route.

Is this the Danishpet route. I remember someone mentioning that this was not all that great in 2015 but I do see posts from 2014 on this thread that mention this route. Please do confirm the route taken yatin as I would love to drive up this road during/after the rains.

ampere · 24th March 2017, 08:57

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Originally Posted by procrj

I remember someone mentioning that this was not all that great in 2015 but I do see posts from 2014 on this thread that mention this route. Please do confirm the route taken yatin as I would love to drive up this road during/after the rains.

Yes this is the route in question. It was quite bad earlier. Looks it has seen quite an improvement.

I also remember it was earlier referred only as an AWD route!

yatin · 27th March 2017, 00:55

I considered the Danishpet ghat road quite motorable; it has lost some of the paving, but there are no potholes worth speaking of. In terms of steepness & curves, it was very similar to Masinagudi route near Ooty. The imperfections do mean that you need a car with a good suspension.

Whether the route needs AWD? A 57-bhp FWD did it, mate!

But I wouldn't do it again. I had my wife & my infant daughter on board, and felt very neglectful of them for taking that road (and a bit guilty for enjoying the twisties).

ampere · 27th March 2017, 08:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by yatin

I considered the Danishpet ghat road quite motorable; it has lost some of the paving, but there are no potholes worth speaking of.

It was not like that before.
See this : https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post3374991

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In terms of steepness & curves, it was very similar to Masinagudi route near Ooty. The imperfections do mean that you need a car with a good suspension.

Wow! That says a lot!

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Whether the route needs AWD? A 57-bhp FWD did it, mate!

See the earlier link. It was an AWD territory!

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But I wouldn't do it again. I had my wife & my infant daughter on board, and felt very neglectful of them for taking that road (and a bit guilty for enjoying the twisties).

Totally agree. You should not even have gone through that route in the first place with family.

But all said and done, its great to note that the route has been laid (And not relaid looks like!).

This was a 2014 post, where the route update was mentioned:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post3384407

jphukan · 9th June 2017, 15:24

Is Yercaud doable in a day from Bangalore (Electronic City)? I know that it does not really have much, but our main agenda is to go for a nice long drive for a day and then come back to home by night.

The other option is Horseley Hills in AP. Which one do you suggest? I aim to take it steady.

pramodpk · 9th June 2017, 16:02

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