[kala]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

https://goo.gl/maps/NZAB4

So was this the same route taken by you guys recently. Food I know is an issue on this stretch. Anything else to be concerned about

No, the route you have shown has several problems past Malavalli. The road from Malavalli to T.Narsipur via Kirugavalu is in very bad shape - please go via Talakad instead. Also the Nanjangud-Gundlupet stretch is undergoing roadwork, so from T.Narsipur it is better to go via Chamarajnagar instead of Nanjangud. The suggested route would be :

http://goo.gl/4ChvkU

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Ampere, how about this route. https://goo.gl/maps/U95LP
I dont want to go all around considering the distance. So was thinking why not take the Chamrajnagar-sathyamangalam-ooty route for the onwards journey. Any idea how this route is??? Will I be able to do it in say 6-7 hrs plus any idea on good food options between chamrajnagar and ooty on this route.

Not sure why you would want take this route for the onward journey - this is much longer than the route via Gundlupet-Masinagudi. People generally consider this route only for the return journey because of the problem of cops sometime not allowing you to descend using the Kalhatti - Masinagudi road and forcing you to take the Gudalur route (which is longer and has quite a few bad stretches) instead.

Couldn't figure out in which context Ampere had suggested a route via Manjoor-Mulli-Karamadai which is way too long and narrow. The route you've shown (via Coonoor-Mettupalayam) is much more straight forward and should be in better condition. The only alterations I would suggest are :

- You need not touch Sathyamangalam but can instead deviate towards Bhavanisagar (left turn about midway between Mettupalayam and Sathy) and reach Bannari from there - should save you some distance.

- From Chamarajanagar to Malavalli, follow the same route I suggested in the first link (T.Narsipur-Talakad-Purigaali-Malavalli) instead of the one you've shown.

[fundagenie]

Originally Posted by ampere

This is a perfectly valid route. I hope you have noted this route now avoids Kollegal because of closure of bridge on Cauvery.

The shortest of course is Mysore-Nanjangud-Gundlupet-Masinagudi-Ooty.

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

That is the route I took, however hope you are aware that bridge on NH209 over Kaveri near Mallavalli is closed and hence you will have to take a deviation.
Since you are starting early you can take NICE road to Mysore road and continue till Masinagudi.

Thanks guys. Actually I was not aware of the bridge problem. So by the looks of it I think the mysore route is the best bet for a tension free ride. Its just a 2 day trip and I just want to enjoy a good drive up and down.

Originally Posted by kala

Not sure why you would want take this route for the onward journey - this is much longer than the route via Gundlupet-Masinagudi. People generally consider this route only for the return journey because of the problem of cops sometime not allowing you to descend using the Kalhatti - Masinagudi road and forcing you to take the Gudalur route (which is longer and has quite a few bad stretches) instead.

Couldn't figure out in which context Ampere had suggested a route via Manjoor-Mulli-Karamadai which is way too long and narrow. The route you've shown (via Coonoor-Mettupalayam) is much more straight forward and should be in better condition. The only alterations I would suggest are :

- You need not touch Sathyamangalam but can instead deviate towards Bhavanisagar (left turn about midway between Mettupalayam and Sathy) and reach Bannari from there - should save you some distance.

- From Chamarajanagar to Malavalli, follow the same route I suggested in the first link (T.Narsipur-Talakad-Purigaali-Malavalli) instead of the one you've shown.

No particular reason kala.. Just wanted to take the route if it is scenic and has good roads. Just for the heck of it.

FundaG

[NPV]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Planning to drive to Ooty the coming week. Have been there almost a year back and accidentally took the chamrajnagar route. I am still not sure how I deviated into that route from the mysore road. Did based on my GPS instruction. However, as such I enjoyed this road comparing to the busy mysore-banglore stretch which I took on the way back.

If you're starting early (by 5am), you can even take the Mysore Road and stop for breakfast at Kamat Madhuvan near the Palace which is on the Nanjangud Road. Then Gundlupet-Masinagudi (36 hair pin bend route), which will be scenic and a quick climb up to Ooty

[kala]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Thanks guys. Actually I was not aware of the bridge problem. So by the looks of it I think the mysore route is the best bet for a tension free ride. Its just a 2 day trip and I just want to enjoy a good drive up and down.

Just keep in mind that there's road widening work in progress on NH212 between Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Not sure how bad it is or for what distance since I haven't travelled that way since the work started. Encountered part of that work on the stretch between Gundlupet and Forest entrance on the Calicut route (you won't be passing through that stretch since you're headed to Ooty) and it was pretty bad - About 9 kms on that 15 km stretch has been totally dug up and there's only gravel track present - a real rough ride and very dusty as well.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Thanks guys. Actually I was not aware of the bridge problem. So by the looks of it I think the mysore route is the best bet for a tension free ride. Its just a 2 day trip and I just want to enjoy a good drive up and down.

+1 to what Kala has mentioned below. If you have driven this route in the past, you will be disappointed to see how a nice relaxed drive on this stretch has become a dusty, bumpy ride for several stretches on the Nanjangud-Gundlepet section.

Here is a video I took when I travelled that route couple of weeks back. Considering the pace of work, must be a little worse now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EUnpmENovo

Originally Posted by kala

Just keep in mind that there's road widening work in progress on NH212 between Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Not sure how bad it is or for what distance since I haven't travelled that way since the work started. Encountered part of that work on the stretch between Gundlupet and Forest entrance on the Calicut route (you won't be passing through that stretch since you're headed to Ooty) and it was pretty bad - About 9 kms on that 15 km stretch has been totally dug up and there's only gravel track present - a real rough ride and very dusty as well.

It is as bad as the Gundlepet - Forest stretch. Actually a little more bothersome as traffic is a little more on the Nanjangud-Gundlepet stretch as opposed to Gundlepet-Forest stretch

[ampere]

So looks like its better to do the long 350+ 4-lane drive?

Bangalore-Salem-Avinashi-Annur-Mettupalayam-Ooty?

[kala]

Originally Posted by ampere

So looks like its better to do the long 350+ 4-lane drive?

Bangalore-Salem-Avinashi-Annur-Mettupalayam-Ooty?

Why would one want to drive about 400 kms instead of the 280 odd kms via NH209/Talakad ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kala

Why would one want to drive about 400 kms instead of the 280 odd kms via NH209/Talakad ?

If one goes via Sathyamangalam/Mettupalayam that would any way come close to 340/350km ? In that respect I meant why not the longer one? Any way even I would prefer the Mysore-Gundlupet option. But looks like many diversions on that road as well.

Originally Posted by NPV

I think Kala is saying one can take NH 209, go via Talakad to Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet and then to Theppakadu-Masinagudi-Ooty.

I realised that. I just hope these stretches to Chamarajanagar is easy for first timers to get to the right roads. For folks who are interested and know what they want, its perfect.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by ampere

If one goes via Sathyamangalam/Mettupalayam that would any way come close to 340/350km ? In that respect I meant why not the longer one? Any way even I would prefer the Mysore-Gundlupet option. But looks like many diversions on that road as well.

I think Kala is saying one can take NH 209, go via Talakad to Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet and then to Theppakadu-Masinagudi-Ooty.

[kala]

Originally Posted by NPV

I think Kala is saying one can take NH 209, go via Talakad to Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet and then to Theppakadu-Masinagudi-Ooty.

That's right. This route will add only about 10kms to the distance compared to the route via Mysore-Nanjangud, road conditions are excellent most of the way and has probably 10% of the traffic.

Originally Posted by ampere

I realised that. I just hope these stretches to Chamarajanagar is easy for first timers to get to the right roads. For folks who are interested and know what they want, its perfect.

Shouldn't be too difficult if you plan ahead using Google Maps and remember the key junctions where you need to choose from multiple paths. With GPS available on almost all mobile devices these days you may not even need to ask anyone on the way.

Of course one needs to remember to NOT trust navigation services such as Google and go blindly where it asks you to go. Google for instance will tell you to go via Kirugavalu /Sosale if you ask it to navigate from Malavalli to T.Narsipur. And you'll end up in miles and miles of gravel track.

If one is very particular about voice guidance / navigation, I would recommend Osmand - Create a GPX file with the route you intend to take and ask Osmand to navigate following the track, and it will tell you where exactly to turn. (The only crib I have with Osmand is that it gives too many directions - will tell you even to go "slightly left" when the road takes a natural bend to the left !! ). If anyone wants a GPX file for this route, please feel free to ask. (Only upto Gundlupet - most of my mapped trips continue towards Wayanad from Gundlupet)

[fundagenie]

Originally Posted by kala

That's right. This route will add only about 10kms to the distance compared to the route via Mysore-Nanjangud, road conditions are excellent most of the way and has probably 10% of the traffic.

Have plotted the following route in google maps, based on Kala's suggestions.
https://goo.gl/maps/2A5sZ

The only doubt now being the bridge issue before Malavalli (which I believe is between Nadakalapura and Halaguru). So any idea on where deviation needs to be taken to overcome this bridge issue and continue on this route.

FundaG

[kala]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Have plotted the following route in google maps, based on Kala's suggestions.
https://goo.gl/maps/2A5sZ

The only doubt now being the bridge issue before Malavalli (which I believe is between Nadakalapura and Halaguru). So any idea on where deviation needs to be taken to overcome this bridge issue and continue on this route.

There's no issue with the bridge you're referring to (the one between Halaguru and Nadakalapura), it was very much open when I passed through a couple of days ago and didn't see any indications of roadwork there. The bridge that has been closed on NH209 is the one across Cauvery near Shivanasamudra (between Malavalli and Kollegala), and you're anyway bypassing it by going via Talakad.

Two corrections to the route you've shown in the link above :

1) Your maps link shows a left turn at the T junction in Malavalli and then the deviation towards Talakad 2 kms south of Malavalli. That road is also OK, but the last 3 kms before you hit the Belakavadi-Saraguru road is broken and a little bit uncomfortable to drive. It is better if you take a right at the Malavalli T junction and take the next immediate left turn (Within 30-40 meters, don't go further towards Malavalli Town or you'll end up in the broken Bannur road), pass by the side of Marehalli lake and reach Purigaali where you take an acute left turn towards Saraguru. May add another 1 or 2 kms to the distance, but it is a much better road.

2) Since you asked GM the route via Chamarajanagar, it shows the route taking a left turn at the traffic signal at co-ordinates 11.926963, 76.940078 and coming back to NH209 through some town roads. This is because the point "Chamarajanagar" as per GM is not alongside NH209, so it's suggesting all those diversions in order to touch that point. You need not take this left turn, just continue straight at that junction and you'll reach the right turn towards Gundlupet about 1 km further down.

Both these are shown correctly on the map link that I had posted - i.e http://goo.gl/4ChvkU .

A GPX file for the same route mapped during a recent trip of mine available here : http://gpxroutes.tk/routes/blr-gundlupet.gpx

[Rajeevraj]

Could not find a better thread to post this. I just received a traffic fine ticket from Mysore Traffic Police for Rs300. Reason indicated was over speeding on Bannur Road. I was at the area mentioned at the time mentioned in the ticket. Don't recall over speeding in any manner. Specifically remember this since I was stuck behind a big truck till I turned off towards the Ring Road from Bannur Road. But I may have been marginally above the speed limit (Which I think is 50 kmph within Mysore).

Question is how do I pay the fine? I don't see any option for online payment. Do I need to go to Mysore to pay this? Any pointers?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Question is how do I pay the fine? I don't see any option for online payment. Do I need to go to Mysore to pay this? Any pointers?

I think a similar question about traffic ticket from Mysore Police and where to pay it was asked on another thread very recently and from what I remember, the conclusion was that one needs to go to Mysore to pay it.
Please search the forum, meantime I will also try to locate the relevant posts.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by NPV

I think a similar question about traffic ticket from Mysore Police and where to pay it was asked on another thread very recently and from what I remember, the conclusion was that one needs to go to Mysore to pay it.
Please search the forum, meantime I will also try to locate the relevant posts.

Thanks NPV. After this post, did some digging online and came across the Mysore City Police FB Page. As per a post there by someone else who encountered a similar issue, once can send a Money Order for the fine amount. I have put in a post there to reconfirm this.