[shankar.balan]

bangy-bidadi-maddur-mandya-srirangapatnam-mysore
use the NICE road. Best.

Originally Posted by manavdotcom

Am more concerned about route between Bangy-Mysore.

[kaushik_s]

Hey guys, how is the road condition from Mysore to Gundlupet and then to Gopalaswamy Betta? Have anyone recently been on that road?

[ampere]

The Gopalswamy betta turning is after Gundlupet on the way to Bandipur. There is an arch on the way, from where one needs to turn. I heard about quite some back from @Jacs that the road was decent (ie after the turning). You can check with him once again.

EDIT:

I think this was the thread:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ip-so-far.html

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

Hey guys, how is the road condition from Mysore to Gundlupet and then to Gopalaswamy Betta? Have anyone recently been on that road?

Mysore to Gundelpet is decent, except for a 20 kms stretch from Mysore till Najangud. Well, it is also patched up, but not of great quality.

After Gundelpet the 10 kms till the diversion for Gopalaswamy Betta is also decent. But then afterwards, the roads get narrow, and are in OK..OK condition.

If you are planning to go up the ghats, then the best time would be in the morning at about 7AM or in the evening ~ 4-5PM. Awesome view! The climate change felt while going up the ghats is superb. You might even spot some elephants, but at a distance, so they might look like buffaloes.

[kaushik_s]

Thanks Ampere and Dhanus, I've been to Gopalaswamy betta twice before. But haven't been on that road for quite some time. And then the roads from the Gundlupet-Ooty diversion was very very bad and even the diversion to G.Betta was not in great condition (but was quite ok), so thought of asking. Yup, the Sunsets are awesome there and the place turns magical if there is fog.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

Thanks Ampere and Dhanus, I've been to Gopalaswamy betta twice before. But haven't been on that road for quite some time. And then the roads from the Gundlupet-Ooty diversion was very very bad and even the diversion to G.Betta was not in great condition (but was quite ok), so thought of asking. Yup, the Sunsets are awesome there and the place turns magical if there is fog.

Gundlupet-Bandipur is in very good shape. Yes I also remember, quite some time, it was in a horrible shape when they were repairing it. Now NH67 (as the road is called) is very very good as all folks driving to Ooty would vouch for it.

[kala]

Originally Posted by manavdotcom

From Bangalore to Mysore towards ooty, which one is easier to drive. NH209+sh33 or SH17 ? Not hearing any good about SH17 on this forum.

If you're just concerned with ease of driving I'd strongly recommend taking NH209 upto Chamarajanagar and then going to Gundlupet from there (SH-85 I think). The NH209+SH33 may not be such a great idea because from the last reports seen here about 10-15 kms in the Malavalli-Bannur-Mysore stretch is pothole-ridden. (and you still have to contend with the heavy traffic between Mysore and Nanjangud). The Kanakapura-Malavalli-Kollegal-Chamarajnagar-Gundlupet has pretty good roads almost all through (except stretches near the towns where you have to go slow anyway) and very sparse traffic, so it is absolutely stress-free driving all the way.

As a bonus you might even save some time also (compared to the SH17 - Nanjangud route) as I found out in my drive through these two routes last week. (I've reported on that in one of the threads that discusses these routes, forgot which one - could even be this itself )

The only negative of the NH209 route is paucity of good restaurants on the way. I did find a couple of tolerable ones - one each in Chamarajnagar and Kollegal, but nothing comparable with what you get on SH17.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by kala

If you're just concerned with ease of driving I'd strongly recommend taking NH209 upto Chamarajanagar and then going to Gundlupet from there (SH-85 I think). The NH209+SH33 may not be such a great idea because from the last reports seen here about 10-15 kms in the Malavalli-Bannur-Mysore stretch is pothole-ridden. (and you still have to contend with the heavy traffic between Mysore and Nanjangud). The Kanakapura-Malavalli-Kollegal-Chamarajnagar-Gundlupet has pretty good roads almost all through (except stretches near the towns where you have to go slow anyway) and very sparse traffic, so it is absolutely stress-free driving all the way.

As a bonus you might even save some time also (compared to the SH17 - Nanjangud route) as I found out in my drive through these two routes last week. (I've reported on that in one of the threads that discusses these routes, forgot which one - could even be this itself )

The only negative of the NH209 route is paucity of good restaurants on the way. I did find a couple of tolerable ones - one each in Chamarajnagar and Kollegal, but nothing comparable with what you get on SH17.

. NH 209 is a breeze. Trick is to leave bangalore early so that you cover Bangalore - Kanakapura before traffic picks up. The route is also greener and pleasant than Mysore road.

We went by this road last month to BR Hills. Taking this road tomorrow to Wayanad.

[Fauji]

Posting from Wayanad. Travelled via Mysore - Najangud - Gundlupet as folks wanted to have breakfast in Kadambam. The road between Mysore and Nanjangud is relaid nicely and no issues. The compelet drive till Kalpetta was good and nice roads through out.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by kala

If you're just concerned with ease of driving I'd strongly recommend taking NH209 upto Chamarajanagar and then going to Gundlupet from there (SH-85 I think). The NH209+SH33 may not be such a great idea because from the last reports seen here about 10-15 kms in the Malavalli-Bannur-Mysore stretch is pothole-ridden. (and you still have to contend with the heavy traffic between Mysore and Nanjangud). The Kanakapura-Malavalli-Kollegal-Chamarajnagar-Gundlupet has pretty good roads almost all through (except stretches near the towns where you have to go slow anyway) and very sparse traffic, so it is absolutely stress-free driving all the way.

As a bonus you might even save some time also (compared to the SH17 - Nanjangud route) as I found out in my drive through these two routes last week. (I've reported on that in one of the threads that discusses these routes, forgot which one - could even be this itself )

The only negative of the NH209 route is paucity of good restaurants on the way. I did find a couple of tolerable ones - one each in Chamarajnagar and Kollegal, but nothing comparable with what you get on SH17.

Just returned from weekend road trip to Wyayanad. While coming back we took Gundlupet - Chamarajanagar - Bangalore route. This is a superb alternative to anyone who is travelling either from Ooty or Wayand if they want to avoid Bangalore - Mysore road specially on Sundays. The road from Gundlupet to Chamarajanagar, distance of 28 KMs is state highway and is decent though bumpy at paces. After Chamarajanagr, NH 209 is a breeze. Even the stretch of five KM after Halagur which was being relaid last month is complete. There is hardly any traffic on the road and surroundings are serene. We also found an excellent retaurant in Kollegala - Hotel Annapurna - where we had a decent South Indian Veg thali.

Some stats - we left Banasura Hill Resort at 9.30 AM and we were in Bngalore at 4.30 PM with tea and halwa purchase break in Sultan Bathery (20 mins) and lunch break in Kollegala (30 mins)

[prasad14]

Originally Posted by Fauji

After Chamarajanagr, NH 209 is a breeze. Even the stretch of five KM after Halagur which was being relaid last month is complete. There is hardly any traffic on the road and surroundings are serene.

I returned this noon after a trip to BR Hills/Talakad/T.Narasipura. The only minor irritant is the no.of bikes around towns in Kollegala, Malavalli, Halagur etc., Almost no one wears a helmet and are oblivious to the fact that its an NH. Overtaking at times became a bit tricky. But, its a great alternative to taking the Bangalore-Mysore road (just took 2hrs to reach Kollegala from JP Nagar) and more so on a weekend.

Prasad

[nilanjanray]

Good to see increasing support for the NH 209 route :-)

Avoid Gopalaswammy Betta during late mornings and afternoons in an weekend, as buses jam the narrow road. It is a pain scraping through when the road is full of huge buses who shouldn't be in such a narrow road in the first place.

[manavdotcom]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Just returned from weekend road trip to Wyayanad. While coming back we took Gundlupet - Chamarajanagar - Bangalore route. This is a superb alternative to anyone who is travelling either from Ooty or Wayand if they want to avoid Bangalore - Mysore road specially on Sundays. The road from Gundlupet to Chamarajanagar, distance of 28 KMs is state highway and is decent though bumpy at paces. After Chamarajanagr, NH 209 is a breeze.

Advice came at right time when I was about to start from Ooty. I took this route and have no hesitation to say that this is the best route from Bangalore to ooty/Wayanad.

[recker_us]

I am heading to Ooty on thursday. I heard about some timing restrictions in Ooty on the way back. On the return, i plan to leave Ooty in the evening. Someone told that some gate is closed after 8PM and people are not allowed to proceed.

Any ideas if this is true and which is this gate?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by recker_us

I am heading to Ooty on thursday. I heard about some timing restrictions in Ooty on the way back. On the return, i plan to leave Ooty in the evening. Someone told that some gate is closed after 8PM and people are not allowed to proceed.

Any ideas if this is true and which is this gate?

The Bandipur forest gates have specific timings on the Karnataka side.

The timings are 6am-9pm.

This is the case for both forest checkposts after Gundlupet (on the road that goes straight towards Gudalur in TN and the other on the road that goes right towards Sulthan Bathery in Kerala).