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-   -   Bangalore - Mysore - Ooty : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/36388-bangalore-mysore-ooty-route-queries-98.html)

Query about route within Bangalore (heading to Mysore) : I am planning to drive from Bangalore Cantonment railway station to Mysore.
Google maps tells me "Cantonment railway station - Queens road - Balekundri circle - Dr.Ambedkar road - KR Circle - Nrupathunga road - Corporation Circle (Hudson Memorial Church) - Mysore road (I guess this is the elevated road all the way to city outskirts?)"

Hope this route is correct....any tips on things to watch out for....one-ways? restricted access road etc, or any other better route?


Thanks in advance!

This is the best route during non peak hours. During peak hours, Nrupatunga road, KR circle and the stretch after the flyover on Mysore road is going to have heavy traffic and hence a pain to drive through.

The other option is Cant -Yeshwantpur - ORR - Mysore road, which is longer but faster during peak hours.

Hi all, I have a quick short trip coming up to Ooty next week. The issue is that the earliest I can start from Bangalore (near Electronic City) is around 1.30 pm and I need to reach Ooty by 8.30 pm. Is this enough time to reach Ooty? I believe though the Bandipur route is shorter, it takes more driving time due to the terrain while the Salem route, though longer, takes lesser driving time due to the straight wide roads. Should I take the Mysore-Bandipur route or the Salem-Avinashi-Metupalayam route? This will be my first drive to Ooty.

@Sandy28 - You will have to leave earlier than 1:30 to reach Ooty by 8:30. If you are taking the Masinagudi route, you will have to reach the Bandipur forest checkpost before 6:00 pm (I think). The road condition is pretty good, but it took me around 8 hours from Bangalore to Ooty last week. If you are taking the Salem route, I guess it would take longer than 8 hours.

Do note that the forest gates of Bandipur close from 6 PM to 6 AM. So plan accordingly considering the unpredictable Bangalore traffic. You have to go through Bandipur and Mudumalai forests. Then you have the option of going via Gudalur town instead of Masinagudi wherein you have to negotiate 36 hair pin bends.

Oh it takes more than 8 hours :eek:. I usually drive to my native in Kerala comfortably within 7-8 hours including a break. So I thought 8 hrs would be sufficient to make it to Ooty. I know the route till Avinashi / Metupalayam is excellent and I can keep a steady good speed. Post Metupalayam, I would slow down due to the hilly terrain.

You should be just able to make it with minimal breaks via the masinagudi route and assuming you do not get stuck anywhere. But it will be close. Suggest you leave an hour earlier to be safe. The other challenge is that you will be doing the masinagudi ooty climb after sunset(assuming it is allowed- note below), which may not be advisable considering it is your first trip to Ooty. Taking the gudalur route should be possible and safer, but then reaching in 7 hours is doubtful.

With the Salem route, although longer, has no uncertainties of route closure. In addition mettupalayam Coonoor climb is easier. Again as with the Gudalur route, reaching inside 7 hrs is tough.

Bandipur closure is 9pm -6am. Only the nagarhole route is closed 6-6. Is there a closure at theppakadu or masinagudi towards ooty from 6?

I am not aware if there is closure after 6 PM at either Theppakadu or Masinagudi.

In case you wish to avoid going via Bandipur, then the other option is to go via
Hosur, Rayakottai,Palacode, Thoppur, Mecheri, Mettur, Ammapettai, Sathyamangalam, Metupalayam and Kotagiri or Via

Hosur, Krishangiri, Thoppur, Mecheri, Mettur, Ammapettai, Sathyamangalam, Metupalayam and Kotagiri.

Sandy , u should be able to reach ooty comfortable by 8.30pm , take the mysore - nanjangud - gundulpet - bandipur , masinagudi , ooty route . Gate at bandipur closes at sharp 9pm ( opens morning 6am ) . I did this last week .

Hows the Rayakottai-Palacode route? I believe its a narrow 2-lane country stretch. Will it slow down the drive?

I had taken the Thoppur-Mettur-Bhavani few months back on my way from Kerala. It was in quite a bad shape and I remember telling my wife that it was a bad idea to take this route. Any update on the current status of this route?

I had been on the Thoppur-Mecheri-Mettur route to Coimbatore in the last week of March 2016. My office colleague went on the above said route in April. The road conditions are very good.
Infact while returning to Bangalore by the above route, I saw the Mecheri-Thoppur road being relaid. It was 90% complete. My friend said that the entire road was tarred fresh.

8 hours to Ooty is a gross over estimate. You can easily do it in under 7 hours without going above 90 kmph at any time.

My suggestion would be to take NH209 via Kanakapura-Kollegal to Gundlupet and then Bandipur-Theppekkadu-Masinagudi-Ooty. In my experience driving time on NH209 is much more predictable than the Bangalore-Mysore highway because of the low traffic density. My normal driving time from NICE road/NH209 intersection to Gundlupet is 3 hours, and it never varies by more than 10 to 15 minutes plus/minus. Since you're starting from E-City, Add another half an hour, and you should be in Gundlupet between 5 and 5:30.

From there to Theppekkadu would be about 1 hour maximum - Another 1 to 1.5 hours to Ooty via Kalhatty - so you should be in Ooty by about 8PM or so. Add another half an hour if you choose to go via Gudalur.

Totally Agree with @kala. I think this should be comfortably doable.
In March, i was at NICE Road Toll at 3 pm and Reached Ooty lake at 8.30 pm. Took NH209 via Kanakapura road and was at Gundlupet at 6 pm. After 30 minutes break at Gundlupet, reached ooty by 8.30 pm via Theppakadu & Masinagudi 36 hair pin bends driving after dusk.

Just watch out for animals crossing roads inside Bandipur/Mudumalai/Theppakadu/Masinagudi. forest areas

Only thing that may slow you down is the traffic inside Ooty. If you are reaching outskirts, that should not be a problem.

-Ravi

Thanks Kala and Ravib. That is very encouraging. 3 pm at NICE toll to 8.30 pm at Ooty is amazing.