[ampere]

Originally Posted by Akhilash95

I am planning a group ride from Bangalore.
I or rather we wish to take this route
Bangalore -krishnagiri-dharmapuri-harur-pagoda point-yercaud-Salem-krishnagiri-Bangalore.

I want to know if dharmapuri-harur-yercaud roads are is in good condition?
Also any other suggests is welcome.

Its not Dharmapuri-Harur. You should do : Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur.

You exit the 4-lane at about 22km from Krishanagiri Chennai crossing. This the Karimangalam exit. You should see board for Morappur/Harur. At Harur, take the Harur bypass and there on the road to Salem.


Its an awesome road for biking. I was on this route last year and enjoyed every bit. However you need to spot the correct exit at Kuppanur. Its a very small exit with no markings. Hence keep your GPS (Phone/Garmin) handy. You might need it. On the ghats, be careful. Its a narrow road as compared to the Salem ghat road. Though very low of traffic you will see occasional vehicles coming down. The Harur-Kuppanur road via Kalrayan forests is also mesmerising. Though just about 10-15 km at most.

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

Why would you want to do Dharmapuri-Harur? You can very well drive down to Salem and take the Kuppanur route to Yercaud.

The only reason I can think is: Amazing road from biking. Brilliant 2-Lane SH of TN lined with trees on both sides, which is a rarity these days.

[Akhilash95]

Originally Posted by ampere

The only reason I can think is: Amazing road from biking. Brilliant 2-Lane SH of TN lined with trees on both sides, which is a rarity these days.

Yes it's a biker think. :-). Moreover the the highways will get too boring.
Thanks for the advising regarding the ghats will advice my fellow riders to take caution on the curves.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Akhilash95

Yes it's a biker think. :-). Moreover the the highways will get too boring.
Thanks for the advising regarding the ghats will advice my fellow riders to take caution on the curves.

Here is the route link : http://goo.gl/7lLqbc
Points to note :
- At Karimangalam you should get on the bypass.
- When you see the board to Morappur/Harur, exit the 4-lane. Go below the flyover and there on get to the SH to Harur via Morappur.
- Also note at Morappur, you will cut the Tirupattur-Dharmapuri SH. Don't take that road. The Harur SH there would feel very narrow compared to that road.
- Harur bypass is also indicated on the route link I sent.

[procrj]

Planning to drive to Yercaud next weekend and don't want to struggle through the slow traffic after Hosur. Hence thinking of taking this route:
http://goo.gl/maps/SZo3l
Bangalore > Hosur (U turn after the flyover and hit SH17) > Rayakottai (Continue on SH 17) > Dharmapuri (Join AH 43) > Salem > Yercaud

Have got some feedback on Hosur - Rayakottai road that it pretty much ok with some bad patches. No potholes (from Chennai - Bangalore Thread).
Need feedback on Rayakottai - Dharamapuri stretch of SH 17.

Thanks
Rj

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by procrj

Planning to drive to Yercaud next weekend and don't want to struggle through the slow traffic after Hosur. Hence thinking of taking this route:
http://goo.gl/maps/SZo3l
Bangalore > Hosur (U turn after the flyover and hit SH17) > Rayakottai (Continue on SH 17) > Dharmapuri (Join AH 43) > Salem > Yercaud

Have got some feedback on Hosur - Rayakottai road that it pretty much ok with some bad patches. No potholes (from Chennai - Bangalore Thread).
Need feedback on Rayakottai - Dharamapuri stretch of SH 17.

Thanks
Rj

Why dont you try this route?

http://goo.gl/maps/Abdts

This is very scenic. Most important aspect is you avoid going through salem. I have been on this stretch till Harur. From Harur, it is SH18 all the way till kuppanur.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by procrj

Have got some feedback on Hosur - Rayakottai road that it pretty much ok with some bad patches. No potholes (from Chennai - Bangalore Thread).
Need feedback on Rayakottai - Dharamapuri stretch of SH 17.

Thats a pretty decent SH. You will see trucks who take this road to avoid tolls on the 4-lane. But then you get no decent place to break. Break at A2B at Thoppur in the case.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats a pretty decent SH. You will see trucks who take this road to avoid tolls on the 4-lane. But then you get no decent place to break. Break at A2B at Thoppur in the case.

Now that might be a problem as I am traveling with family and planning to leave Bangalore at 5.30 am. Would ideally like a stop at 7 or 7.30 am, which means A2B Thoppur is still some distance away. Any stops around Rayakottai??
Also wanted to check if Hosur - Rayakottai is better than the Attibele - Rayakottai route?

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by procrj

Now that might be a problem as I am traveling with family and planning to leave Bangalore at 5.30 am. Would ideally like a stop at 7 or 7.30 am, which means A2B Thoppur is still some distance away. Any stops around Rayakottai??
Also wanted to check if Hosur - Rayakottai is better than the Attibele - Rayakottai route?

I would suggest stick to Hosur Rayakottai road despite the constructions going on. Attibele-Rayakottai road has not been in good shape for quite some time.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by procrj

Any stops around Rayakottai??

Not that I am aware of. You wont find any places, till you hit the 4-lane. On the other hand, even if you take 4-lane from Bangalore, and like clock work you are able to leave Bangalore by 5:30, then I am sure even Shoolagiri A2B will open only by 6:30/7AM. And you would past by 6:30. In that case I would suggest take the regular 4-lane and by 7 you should be at Krishnagiri and you can break at Saravana Bhavan just after the Chennai crossing.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by ampere

Shoolagiri A2B will open only by 6:30/7AM

Yep. Will stick to the 4 lane and do the boring drive down to Salem. Guess I have to live with the bad stretch between Hosur - Shoolagiri

[ampere]

Originally Posted by procrj

Yep. Will stick to the 4 lane and do the boring drive down to Salem. Guess I have to live with the bad stretch between Hosur - Shoolagiri

Please check with others too about opening time of A2B. If its 6 I may be wrong. But in spite of that you can break past Krishnagiri. Its good leave bad road behind and take a break. And instead of the boring 4-lane can you also do : Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud.

Route Link

[500ContyCruiser]

Couple of weeks back we had been to Yercaud and stayed at Heavens Ledge.

Resort is at the edge of 300+ ft clip and it has nice view. At night, due to city lights, we could see Selam on left and Dharmapuri on right. Morning while returning we thought of avoiding Selam and head directly to Dharmapuri. Locals mentioned it can save travel time by 2 hours. However the road is not great, but drivable [mud road].

But it had different story, there was no road at all and big rocks. Some the villages enroute were stinking to the core with human waste.

As a gift, got some under-body scratches on my car and few scratches on side body of my colleagues car [brand new Punto]

Posting some pics.

Route taken while returning: http://goo.gl/maps/3dz9i

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by 500ContyCruiser

Couple of weeks back we had been to Yercaud and stayed at Heavens Ledge.
===========
Route taken while returning: http://goo.gl/maps/3dz9i

You have taken the dharmapuri main road that passes through kadathur (my father's home town). Instead you should have taken the harur road. This is very scenic.
From Harur you can rejoin the NH by going via Morappur and Kambainallur.

[500ContyCruiser]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

You have taken the dharmapuri main road that passes through kadathur (my father's home town). Instead you should have taken the harur road. This is very scenic.
From Harur you can rejoin the NH by going via Morappur and Kambainallur.

Yes, I have done Harur road last year while going to Pondy. We did it in night and even during that time it was beautiful. Have some special memories attached to it

Will try Bangalore - Harur - Yercaud some time.

[procrj]

Originally Posted by ampere

Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

You have taken the dharmapuri main road that passes through kadathur (my father's home town). Instead you should have taken the harur road. This is very scenic.
From Harur you can rejoin the NH by going via Morappur and Kambainallur.

After all your inputs and Video I think I will take Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud route