[BunnyPunia]

Hi fellas,

Im off to Kodaikanal in less than a fornight from Pune.
The plan.

1. Pune - Davanagere: App 565km. Known roads, not much of an issue. Looking at leaving at 4am, arriving at 12noon.

2. Davanagere - Kodaikanal
Now, again known roads to Bangalore, 265km, doable in 4.5hrs. But what after that?
Shall I take NH7 to Dindigul and then state roads to Kodaikanal?
Blore - Dindigul is 378km. How are the road conditions? Possible in 6hrs on a premium hatch?
Dindigul to Kodaikanal? 125km? 3hrs?

On the way back, i wish to do:
Kodaikanal - Ooty : Whats the route and distance?

And from Ooty, I wish to proceed to Davanagere without touching Bangalore. How to do it?
Is it Ooty - Mysore - Nagarnangla - Nittur - Sira (NH4) ?

This trip will approx be a 2600km round trip. Any particular things to keep in mind from the route point of view?

[hvkumar]

Why halt at Davangere at noon? makes sense to go on to Bangalore. Makes your Day 2 very difficult.

From Bangalore, NH7 is in a mess after Krishnagiri and you are going to be slowed down recahing Salem. From Salem onwards road is decent, but still not fast enough. AS you mentioned, you can go on NH7 via Karur and Dindigul to Vathalagundu and reach Kodai. It should take you at least 5-6 hours from Salem to reach Kodai.

A shorter route would be to turn off NH7 at Toppur (after Dharmapuri, but before Salem) and go via Mettur, Bhavani, Perundurai, Chennimalai, Gangayam, Dharapuram to Palnai and Kodai. Road conditions are good throughout.

Kodaikanal to Ooty is as follows: Kodai-Palani 65 kms, Palani-Udumalaipet-Pollachi-Coimbatore 100 kms, Metturpalayam 35 kms, Conoor 30 kms, Ooty 20 kms. Road is good but could be congested. Assume journey time of 8-9 hours. You hav eto go through Coimbatore City.

You can go to Davangere from ooty without touching Bangalore on teh following route:

Ooty-Bandipur-Gundulpet-Mysore-Srirangapatna-K R Pet-Channarayapatna-Arsikere-Tarikere-Bhadravathi-Shimoga-Honnali-Davangere. I have to refer my log books for teh exact distance, but if you leave Ooty early, you can easily reach davangere by night. Road conditions are moderate.

Please PM me in case you want log books on all these routes.

[spadival]

Man.. this is gonna be one long journey !! All the best.

[BunnyPunia]

Thanks for the detailed reply hv

1. Davanagere : My wife is studyin her masters there. And hence the halt
I may not make it a night start. May leave Pune at 4am, in DVG by 12 noon, take a 2hr break and continue for Blore for the night.

2. My plan now looks like this

8th morning. 4am departure, DVG by 12noon.
2pm depart, Blore by 7pm

9th morning. 6am departure, Kodaikanal by 3pm

9th, 10th nights in Kodai.

11th noon. Leave Kodai by 11am, be in Blore by 10pm

12th noon. Leave early morning, DVG by early noon, Pune by night

I may skip ooty now. Will not skip ooty if i leave Pune by 7th nights instead of 8th morning

Thanks again!

[Surprise]

Dindigul to Vathalakundu roads are good (30 mins travel). Single road without any potholes (may be not even one). From there kodai is around 60 kms (15 kms on plains and 45 kms hills)


Hmm counting 13 more days, 12..........

Waiting for your travelogue

[akroy]

Bunny,
To go to Kodai from Pune is all through NH7 till Dindigul.

Regarding Kodai to Ooty stretch,if you want to avoid rush of main highway and coimbatore, there is one nice stretch:

Udumalpet - Palladam - just before Sulur take right for Somanur - Somanur - Karumattampatti - Annur - Mettupalayam - Ooty

From Palladam take the Coimbatore road, this is NH67 and just before Sulur IAF base (about 3-4km) there is a right turn for Somanur, you will hit NH47 at Karumattampatti signal, you need to just crossover and then go towards Annur

Abhi

[BunnyPunia]

thanks fellas
little change of plans. due to sudden official meetings, i may just be doing pune-davanagere-pune, and may be a drive around davanagere (shimoga may be)
shall update this thread before leaving.
thanks again

[BunnyPunia]

update : leaving on friday night (8pmish) or sat morning ( 5amish) for davanagere, which will be my base.
shall roam around, visit shimoga / jog falls on sunday

[Technocrat]

Bunny, Are you riding or driving down ?

[BunnyPunia]

Driving, for a change :P

[BunnyPunia]

I leave tonight for Davanagere.
We are most probably heading to kemmannugundi from Davanagere.
I need help on the route and stay options at kemmannugundi.

From Davanagere, we will head to Shimoga, but what after that?

[akroy]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

I leave tonight for Davanagere.
We are most probably heading to kemmannugundi from Davanagere.
I need help on the route and stay options at kemmannugundi.

From Davanagere, we will head to Shimoga, but what after that?

Route: Davangere - Chitradurga - Kadur - Birur - Lingadahalli - Kemmanagundi

There are poor lodging facilities in kemmanagundi. I am PMed you the information about Ranger Camp.

If you dont get any then come down to Chikamagalur for further lodging. Infact from Chikamagalur, you can move up via Kudremukh, Sringeri, Tirthahalli, Jog Falls, Shimoga and return.

or you can return back to NH206 from Chikmagalur / Kemmanagundi and proceed towards JogFalls. Although I would suggest the above route via Agumbe, Sringeri etc and enjoy the beauty of Karnataka.

Abhi

[BunnyPunia]

Thanks a lot pal. Saved the number, shall give a call soon
Route wise, wont the route u have mentioned be longer?
I mean what if i take
Davanagere-Harihar-Shimoga-Tarikere-Ligadahalli-Kemmannugundi?

[hvkumar]

I prefer the Shimoga route which is the most direct route from Davnagere to Kemmanangudi.

[condor]

I second @hvkumar here. The Davangere-Harihar-Malebennur-Shimoga road is good.

Sorry, but not aware of the road beyond Shimoga.