[Yatra Moksha]

Originally Posted by rider@55

Any thoughts to share??

Looks good.
I end up driving on NH48, so will not be able to offer any comments on your route. However, I'd suggest you look upon the route conditions up to Karwar & beyond, once you exit off NH48.

Safe Travels. Enjoy your drive!

[PradeepVKiger]

Sorry to sound selfish, but can you add your experience here once you complete this trip. I am planning to drive to Kochi in April end. The plan is drive till Benaulim, Goa and from there use the same route as yours, which i understand is NH66 to Kozhikode and then to Kochi. I plan to do Goa to Kozhikode in a single day. Your experience will be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

[Srikantkrishnan]

Dear all,

Just travelled from Mumbai to Thrissur. We were three of us and switched driving every three hours. We took the route of Mumbai - Pune - Kolhapur- Belgaum - Tumukur - Bangalore - Salem - Coimbatur - Pallakad - Thrissur. Barring a few patches where there were two lanes - most the roads were 4 lanes minimum.

We started on 26th March 2022 at 5.15 AM from Mumbai - got stuck in Lonavala ghat - there was a traffic issue and we lost some 45 minutes. May be an early start may have helped this. Barring this we had no traffic issues. We reached Kolhapur about 1 PM and then passed Bangalore around 9.30 PM (via NICE road to HOSUR and onwards to Salem). We reached Thrissur and home at 7 am the next day i.e. 27th March. We drove XUV 500 automatic, was a comfortable drive all through. Amazingly no major road issues - like potholes or unexpected speed breakers.

Happy to share more specific information like places we halted etc - if anyone wants to know.

[rider@55]

@PradeepVKiger, As you've understood, we took NH 48 and NH 66, both ways, while going to Bekal, Kerala and from Kodagu, Karnataka. Other than state highways where G-Maps routed us. The roads were pretty good, especially NH 48 in Karnataka.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by PradeepVKiger

Sorry to sound selfish, but can you add your experience here once you complete this trip. I am planning to drive to Kochi in April end. The plan is drive till Benaulim, Goa and from there use the same route as yours, which i understand is NH66 to Kozhikode and then to Kochi. I plan to do Goa to Kozhikode in a single day. Your experience will be very

Somebody I know did this in reverse direction. Kochi to Goa 3 weeks back. He started at 3 AM from Kochi and reached Goa by 7 PM. He crossed Kl - KA border by 12 noon. His initial plan was to stay overnight at Udupi.

Budget 4 hours for Kozhikode - Kochi.

HTH.

[PradeepVKiger]

I finally did this trip which was long on my bucket list. My route was as so - Mumbai to Goa via Kolhapur - Belgaum - Goa and then via NH 66 to Kochi, the latter part was the trip i was unsure of and was looking forward to.

I entered Kerala from the Talapady Toll Plaza and the entire stretch from Goa to Talapady wasn't that bad. There is plenty of material on the Mumbai - Goa route here so i will skip that. The roads from Goa are pretty decent, as i started early i.e 530am i didn't get much traffic. There are quite a few stretches along the NH66 that are under construction, however given that most of these are already converted to four lane you won't face any traffic snarls however the situation later in the day may be different. Karnataka has some really good roads and they bypass most major cities along the NH66 route. You can easily manage a speed of 80kmph and push it to 100, just mind the occasional trucks that love the fast lane.

We managed to reach Talapdy at 1pm and there begins the nightmare. Your average speed is cut by HALF 30-40kmph to be precise. Although the roads are smooth, they are two lanes with plenty of heavy vehicles and some serious overtaking and don't even dare challenge the buses. When I passed through Mahe which is a territory of Puducherry that sits within Kerala, couldn't believe i was still on a NH, except for the aforementioned buses people tend to follow lane discipline or you would be stuck there for an eternity. To give you some context the distance between Benaulim and Talapady is 350km and takes about 6.5hrs, the distance between Talapady and Kochi is 397kms and takes 10.5hrs. The only silver lining is work on four lane is currently in full swing with land acquisition almost completed until then please look for alternate entry and exit points for Kerala.

On my return i was driving solo and given my experience (or lack of it) I decided to start late, around 1130 (also i hate leaving my hometown, makes me sad). I decided i will cover the Kerala stretch till Kannur by EOD and cover the rest next day, I wanted to be done with all the frustration by Day1. So i started at 1130 and reached my hotel in Kannur by 730pm. The plan for the rest of the trip was Kannur to Udupi (Kapu) - Belgaum - Kolhapur - Satara – Mumbai and Skip Goa.

From Kochi to Kannur to Talapady the experience was pretty much the same. Once i cleared Talapady it was smooth sailing once again to Udupi. As i was meeting someone I stayed for the night and started my journey at 8AM from Udupi the next day. I was planning to drive to Kolhapur as G Maps said I would reach by 5pm. Yes i could've completed the full journey to Navi Mumbai the same day but i did not want to stretch being my first "cross country" and all.

So after continuing on NH66 till Hosur and slightly beyond there was slight deviation after the Gangavali River Bridge via a single lane road. This road passes through small villages and connects to Karwar Hubli Road, the said route is pretty decent for your regular country side road and apart from the occasion rickshaws and four wheelers there is no heavy traffic movement. The Karwar - Hubli road was also pretty okay with exception of some stretches where the Tar had come off exposing gravel. I was following the route laid out by G Maps at start of the journey and avoided any better route option suggestions and stuck to the original route. On my way I passed the Arbail Ghat and forest areas around Yellapur and connected to NH48 at Kittur I was making good time and after lunch at the famous Goa Vess I made it to Kolhapur by 430pm I thought I could push it to Pune but started feeling drowsy at Karad so called it a day and stayed at Karad and continues my onward journey the next day.

Despite the summer heat I really enjoyed the overall trip. Kiger really lived up to my expectations the average I got was 15.4kmpl, I could have gotten 18 hadn’t it been for the Kerala stretch, hope things improve soon.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by PradeepVKiger

So after continuing on NH66 till Hosur and slightly beyond there was slight deviation after the Gangavali River Bridge

Hosur?

Please confirm.

As to the condition of highways, I prefer to call them notional highways. And you really don't be have much alternative roads within Kerala.

Did you notice that you did not notice the private buses operating Mangalore - Udupi - Kollur? You'll see them between Kundapura and Mangalore. They are as worse as the Kerala private buses, but lost their sting with the four laning.

[PradeepVKiger]

Hosur?

Please confirm.

See Map, i should have mentioned after Hosur.

Did you notice that you did not notice the private buses operating Mangalore - Udupi - Kollur? You'll see them between Kundapura and Mangalore. They are as worse as the Kerala private buses, but lost their sting with the four laning.

I did notice them i guess they didn't seem that intimidating because of the reason you mentioned; in KL buses' presence is amplified thanks to the narrow roads

[sandeepsc]

I have planned a road trip to Arookutty near Kochi and Ashtmudi in next week. This will be my first road trip to deep down south. I am completely unaware about roads leading to these two places in Kerala. The trip will start Sunday 15th May and planning to reach resort at Arookutty on 16th May. The return travel will start on 23rd May.

Guys need your help in planning the route from Mumbai. Also want help for en route eateries and places to visit there. It will be two day drive for first destination and will be driving in my Hexa.

[JohnnyBoss]

Originally Posted by sandeepsc

I have planned a road trip to Arookutty near Kochi and Ashtmudi in next week. This will be my first road trip to deep down south. I am completely unaware about roads leading to these two places in Kerala.

Arookutty is about 5 kms off Aroor Jn. on Kochi - Alleppey sector of NH66. Ashtamudi is further around 125 kms down in Kollam and both places are around 3 hours drive apart. Both places are well connected with NH66 and Gmaps will easily navigate you. Also there is the tried and tested method of asking locals and they will happily guide you to your destination.

[sandeepsc]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoss

Arookutty is about 5 kms off Aroor Jn. on Kochi - Alleppey sector of NH66. Ashtamudi is further around 125 kms down in Kollam and both places are around 3 hours drive apart. Both places are well connected with NH66 and Gmaps will easily navigate you. Also there is the tried and tested method of asking locals and they will happily guide you to your destination.

Thanks Johnnyboss for quick reply. As yourself from Kochi just want to ask how is the weather this time around. Is it very hot and humid out there? Which are the places to explore during 3 days of stay at Arookutty?

Since I am coming from Mumbai, which route should I take so that I can reach comfortably without much surprises?

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by sandeepsc

The trip will start Sunday 15th May and planning to reach resort at Arookutty on 16th May. The return travel will start on 23rd May.
Guys need your help in planning the route from Mumbai. Also want help for en route eateries and places to visit there.

Originally Posted by sandeepsc

Thanks Johnnyboss for quick reply. As yourself from Kochi just want to ask how is the weather this time around. Is it very hot and humid out there? Which are the places to explore during 3 days of stay at Arookutty?

Since I am coming from Mumbai, which route should I take so that I can reach comfortably without much surprises?

Mumbai - (no idea) - Goa - (7-8 hours) - Mangalore / Talappady - (10 hrs) - Arookutty.

You'll pay a ₹ 45 toll at Aroor, and almost immediately get on to a bridge, turn left at a signal on a 3 way junction, and at the signal about one km from here, enter what would seem so like a gali. Your resort would be 5 km from here.

You can visit

* the Mattancherry Jew town, Dutch Palace, etc and then go to Fort Kochi. Buy fish from Chinese nets at Fort Kochi, and give to a stall to fry for you, (they likely won't apply any salt or masala. ,- so check first) total time to spend will be 3-5 hours. There is also an acquarium here, near INS Dronacharya.

* take a boat from resort itself (ask them to arrange for you) and go to Kumarakom (1-2 hrs) or Alleppey (Pathiramanal - 5-7 hours minimum). Some boats prepare food on board, some allow you to buy from the "hot drinks" stores on shore. Sometimes, you can buy inland fish and ask the boat people to cook. I guess rentals will be around 2 k per boat per hour. Spend the whole day for this. Take your DSLR and polarised filters along. boat rentals vary with size and quality of the boat. Carry headache medicine with you. It will be hot and humid. Try to get a kettuvallom, these are more expensive, to buy have facilities like toilets on board. You'll also get smaller boats - like the ones powered by Ashok Leyland in board engines. These will be faster, offer better view but protection from heat will be less. No onboard facilities, including cooking on these.

* Spend less than 1 hour at the Andhakaranazhi Beach, about15 km from the resort. not a spectacular beach, basically a fishing village.

* Athirappally waterfalls - budget 5 - 6 hour start to return from resort. It is midway between resort and Trichur.

Use the forum "search thread titled" function to search travelogues to places in bold. Note that the boating covers what most people cover in 2 trips. Booking through resort hopefully ensures good quality boats.

There is a thread on eating out in Kochi. I'm veg only, so my favorites are

Sarovaram @ Kundannoor Bypass. Adjacent to Porsche showroom.

* Brindhavan on NH bye pass, near Ernakulam medical center.

* Gokul oottupura near Palarivattom bridge.

Below are ones in City.
* Shree Krishna Inn near Lotus Club.

* BTH near Durbar Art Gallery.

Weather is hot and humid with rainy late evenings and hotter nights if it is not raining.

[sandeepsc]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

Mumbai - (no idea) - Goa - (7-8 hours) - Mangalore / Talappady - (10 hrs) - Arookutty.

Is this a fastest route to reach Arookutty? However google maps showing different route. The google suggested route is as follows:

Mumbai(Sion)-Kolhapur-Hubli-Davangere-Tumkuru-Chamarajnagar-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Thrissur-Arookutty.


Will this route be ok or any other route which is faster to reach preferably 4 lane highways? Also where should I break my journey and any recommendation for good hotel for overnight halt considering family of four adults and one child? Early suggestions are welcomed as this will be my first road trip to Kerala.

[PradeepVKiger]

This route looks good.. if you can push it to 14hrs including breaks i would recommend Davangere as first pit stop, there are pretty decent hotels here depending in which part of the town you are. For example in the vicinity of Bapuji Dental Hospital there are many good accommodation, i stayed at Mango Hotel, although the basement parking wasn;t that great.

Roads till Davangere are pretty good i used them on my trip to Mysore. But not sure of roads beyond. From what i have heard NHs passing through KA are generally pretty decent.

When i did my Mysore-Coorg trip i started my trip from Pune staying at my relative's place. That way i could get to Davangare early and start my onwards journey without feeling too tired and get in some sight seeing as well.

Travelling through Kerala will be very frustrating so would recommend starting as early possible would recommend another break somewhere around Coimbatore. Thrissur is pretty crowded as well. I would suggest looking at these Maps during the day so you'll get a general idea how traffic during rush hour would be.

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by sandeepsc

Is this a fastest route to reach Arookutty?However google maps showing different route. The google suggested route is as follows:

Mumbai(Sion)-Kolhapur-Hubli-Davangere-Tumkuru-Chamarajnagar-Coimbatore-Palakkad-Thrissur-Arookutty.

Will this route be ok or any other route which is faster to reach preferably 4 lane highways? Also where should I break my journey and any recommendation for good hotel for overnight halt considering family of four adults and one child? Early suggestions are welcomed as this will be my first road trip to Kerala.

Well honestly, irrespective of time, purely from safety point of view, I will avoid the roads in Kerala as much as possible. After Talappady (KA - KL border) you'll be mostly a part of a "procession of ants", following a slow vehicle, with long continuous flow of traffic in either direction preventing overtaking. Also, Google maps keeps rerouting the route depending on its estimation of traffic conditions ahead when you reach a place. If you think the Google suggestion is feasible, follow it, purely from driving pleasure, fatigue and safety point of view. I think Google suggested is mostly part of Bangalore-Mumbai GQ?

When I searched here, travel time on the Goa - Mangalore route is varying between 25-29 hours. Adding NICE road, Bangalore adds around 200 km but driving time decreases and becomes 25 hours. So you understand what I mean.

For current conditions of roads entering Kerala, check the last 3-5 pages of "All roads to Kerala (All Roads to Kerala)" thread. There are similar threads on Bangalore - Mumbai / Goa (Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai : Route updates & Eateries) travel.

Please put an acceptable map on your home screen or share it. Else, this rerouting thing can become a pain.