[ampere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Recent travelers, please update road conditions.

I think the route till Gundlupet from Bangalore (either ways) should not have changed much.
But the more important points are:

- How intense is the rain in Ooty (if it has started)
- Any landslides on either the Gudalur or Masinagudi route?

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Return: Ooty - Gundulpet - Chamarajanagar - Kollegal - Kanakpura - Bangalore.

Recent travelers, please update road conditions.

Thanks,

This Tuesday, I did Gundlupet-Chamarajanagar-Kollegal-Kanakpura-Bangalore. The road condition is very good and was super smooth to drive without much of traffic.

Masinagudi-Ooty should be good as always as they maintain this road very well. Not sure though.

[sureshurs]

I just came back from a trip to Bandipur. The route taken was Bangalore-Mandya-mysore-Nanjungud-Gundlupet-bandipur. Mysore-gundlupet in in very good condition. Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai road had been a newly laid surface and in excellent condition.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by sureshurs

I just came back from a trip to Bandipur. The route taken was Bangalore-Mandya-mysore-Nanjungud-Gundlupet-bandipur. Mysore-gundlupet in in very good condition. Gundlupet-Bandipur-Mudumalai road had been a newly laid surface and in excellent condition.

I did Bangalore - Mysore - Gundulpet - Kalhatty - Ooty today. The entire stretch is in great condition except for a small section before Masinagudi where it is slightly narrow/broken shoulders. I was doing this 36 hairpin route for the time and it is not that narrow for a four wheeler but steep.

[coolclouds]

Further to above, did return trip via Ooty-Gudalur-Gundlupet-Chamarajnagar-Kollegal-Kanakpura-Bangalore.

There are few potholes especially between Naduvattam and Gudalur else the entire stretch is excellent and scenic compared Kalhatty route.

Chamarajnagar - Bangalore NH209 is in excellent shape and tarring work was going on at Kollegal town area. I did this route yesterday night and signage, especially the big reflective ones across the road are too small and not easy to read, during night.

The last one km road to Doddabetta peak is in bad shape, same is the case with 1km stretch to Pykara TTDC boating point.

[CRV2010]

Is Tempo Traveler allowed in 36hair pin bends ?

[zoombiee]

I dont think any one stops you while climbing. While getting down there are cops who recommend certain things. I would certainly not climb kalhatty on a TT. The Gudalur road is a much better option.

[CRV2010]

thanks zoombiee,

any reason why you are not recommending TT in 36 hair pin bends?

[zoombiee]

Originally Posted by CRV2010

thanks zoombiee,

any reason why you are not recommending TT in 36 hair pin bends?

Its very steep and narrow road. We went on that road on a TT once and that car struggled a lot to do that climb. Old diesel cars struggle up that road.

[itwasntme]

Apart from this, the extremely tight hairpins induce a lot of nausea in high-CG vehicles. Anyone prone to motion-sickness (after they will feel better!) will want to throttle whoever chose that route.

[kannan666]

Originally Posted by CRV2010

Is Tempo Traveler allowed in 36hair pin bends ?

I did see a couple of them both coming up as well as going down when I was on this road last in the beginning of last month. With regards to whether it is advisable to use this route, it all depends on how much load the TT is carrying I suppose.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by CRV2010

Is Tempo Traveler allowed in 36hair pin bends ?

Last day I saw few RTC mini buses going down this route towards Masinagudi. TT can make it but be prepared for a steep hairpin bend.

Gudalur route is much more scenic but Kalhatty route is very short.

[polopm]

Hi
My holiday for Ooty is confirmed next week and will be spending next week there starting from Aug 15. Would like to know which are the places to visit around Ooty. I don't want to prioritize the usual crowded spots and would like to drive around. Masinagudi is definitely on the list and so is the safari at Mudumalai. I have 3 whole days for sightseeing. Kindly enlighten.

I will be driving my Vento and there will be two families.
Also required would be the info on the road from Sathyamangalam to Mettupalayam. Can I take that route ?
I am planning to drive down from Chennai via Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Thoppur, Mettur Dam, Sathy .

Thanks!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

I don't want to prioritize the usual crowded spots and would like to drive around. Masinagudi is definitely on the list and so is the safari at Mudumalai. I have 3 whole days for sightseeing. Kindly enlighten.

- 1 day for Ooty-Conoor train and Conoor sight seeing. (Leave the car in the hotel) Take a cab ask him to drop you at Ooty station. Take the train ride to Conoor. The cab drives down to Connor and waits for you. And then takes you around Conoor.

The train tickets can be booked on IRCTC. book the first class.

- 1 day to Avalanche and Emerald lakes, Troute fishing hatchery
- 1 day for Ooty sight seeing
- Half day to Pykara. Rest half rest/shopping
- 1 day Masinagudi

I will be driving my Vento and there will be two families.
Also required would be the info on the road from Sathyamangalam to Mettupalayam. Can I take that route ?
I am planning to drive down from Chennai via Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Thoppur, Mettur Dam, Sathy .

Instead of Sathy, I would suggest, take the regular 4-lane till Avinashi and then go via Annur to Mettupalayam. Its much faster. Truck traffic on Mettur roads is much higher than what it used to be.

Sathy-Mettupalayam road is typically good. But I dont know about current status.

[devrajman]

Originally Posted by ampere

- 1 day to Avalanche and Emerald lakes, Troute fishing hatchery
.

Hi ampere, I had been to Avalanche last time. But didnt explore Emerald Dam and Lake area. Can you please give us some more info on what to see, how to reach, permissions, etc.

What I had in my mind after looking at wikimapia is, we can drive all the way to emerald lake, light trek, come back. There are 2 areas, one road goes over a bridge or dam like thing and other just dead ends. Which one should I take?