[jaaz]

Originally Posted by Rajgir

Thanks for this update. I am planning to visit Mudumalai this weekend and stay at Labadhi Resort. Can you tell me if the elephant camp and the Jungle safari are impacted? Any pointers will be helpful.

Please call up to the Resort, as they are only about 10 kms away from the Elephant Camp. They should be the best persons to guide. Elephants are bathed in Moyar stream only, but stopped for the last 2 days. So it's very unlikely that the Elephant Camp will be open. The timings are only for half an hour in the morning and evening. For Jungle Safari, enquire with the Phone numbers available in the Mudumalai jungle safari website. Right now these are the numbers displayed:

For safari enquiries, please contact Thiru. Santhosh, Receptionist +91 908-046-6109


And as suggested by @rajeevsulu, do check on site. If the Rain stops, then the Water flow will come down. Lorries were still crossing when the overflow was less, but for passenger vehicles, never take a risk. You can still reach the Resort, by circumventing to ooty via gudalur and then to Masinagudi, but it may take around 3 hours, instead of 15 mins.

[gautam99]

I am travelling to Ooty from Bangalore - any new updates on route will be very useful. Thanks in advance. Any recommendation for brunch on the route also please.

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by jaaz

The culvert connecting to Masinagudi near Theppakadu in Mudumalai is overflowing, so vehicles have to take the Gudalur route to Ooty.

Is the Masinagudi route to Ooty open?
If so, do we still have to take the left before the main turn-off at Theppakadu (which was closed due to maintenance)?

[deepak_misra]

Originally Posted by MSAneesh

Is the Masinagudi route to Ooty open?
If so, do we still have to take the left before the main turn-off at Theppakadu (which was closed due to maintenance)?

The Theppakadu bridge is still closed and might remain so for the foreseeable future going by progress or lack thereof
You have to turn left and cross at the culvert. I dont know what happens if the bridge/culvert is submerged, so maybe better to find out before travel.
Masinagusi/Ooty is normally closed for return traffic unless your car is registered in Nilgiris

[bravo6]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

E pass is needed to enter Nilgiris dt up to 30th June. As far as I know soft copy is enough you don't need to carry a printout

ePass requirement is extended till 30th September (as of now) according to one gentleman at the Mettupalyam entry checkpost. They were cordial enough to let people know they are not being denying entry outright, and that visitors can apply online and get the ePass immediately.

I got mine approved at once and delivered in browser + PDF in mail + link in SMS. Soft copy will suffice.

Interestingly, the application asked for vehicle fuel type and manufacture year. Hope they don't blanket ban perfectly working older vehicles.

Leaving the link for reference: https://epass.tnega.org/login/within-india


Sidenote: I noticed a FasTag board at the entrance to Dodda Betta where one would usually pay by cash for the Entry/Parking fee.

[gautam99]

I just got back from ooty- the cops for some reason did not let me use the masinagudi shortcut either way, and had to take the longer route via Gudalur. Roads were mostly good throughout.

Originally Posted by akroy

Roads are good throughout except for a small stretch from nanjangud to hangala village before Bandipur.(I assume you will take the masinagudi route)
Pls read my recent travelogue for more details
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ty-mysore.html

Abhi

[NPV]

Originally Posted by deepak_misra

The Theppakadu bridge is still closed and might remain so for the foreseeable future going by progress or lack thereof
You have to turn left and cross at the culvert. I dont know what happens if the bridge/culvert is submerged, so maybe better to find out before travel.
Masinagusi/Ooty is normally closed for return traffic unless your car is registered in Nilgiris

Originally Posted by gautam99

I just got back from ooty- the cops for some reason did not let me use the masinagudi shortcut either way, and had to take the longer route via Gudalur. Roads were mostly good throughout.

Onward (uphill) may have been closed due to the Theppakadu bridge work (I’m guessing), as you can see from the above quoted (recent) post of @deepak_misra. Downhill traffic on this route from Ooty to Masinagudi is usually not allowed unless one is a Nilgiris local or travelling to one of the resorts/homestays.

On a lighter note, the post of @akroy which you quoted is from 2008

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by gautam99

I just got back from ooty- the cops for some reason did not let me use the masinagudi shortcut either way, and had to take the longer route via Gudalur. Roads were mostly good throughout.

Eeeks! Was this only temporary for that day / few hours or is the Masinagudi route fully closed both ways?

[shivkumar19]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Eeeks! Was this only temporary for that day / few hours or is the Masinagudi route fully closed both ways?

I just got back from Ooty yesterday, I had no issue going via Masanagudi but was not allowed to climb down and had to use the longer route.

The Niligiri pass was not asked anywhere. But the traffic jams in Ooty & Coonor are massive.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by shivkumar19

I just got back from Ooty yesterday, I had no issue going via Masanagudi but was not allowed to climb down and had to use the longer route.
But the traffic jams in Ooty & Coonor are massive.

Holy moly! Glad to hear about the upward route but not so much about the jams. Need to go to Coonoor (if at all); might take the Coimbatore - Mettupalayam route then.

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by NPV

Onward (uphill) may have been closed due to the Theppakadu bridge work (I’m guessing)

I had been to Ooty and back this long weekend. Drove to Ooty via Masinagudi on 15th Aug.

Have to take the culvert road at Theppakadu towards Masinagudi.
EPass checking done just before Masinagudi town. Those who didn't have ePass were directed to the adjacent parking ground to obtain one.
There was a steady flow of cars upwards, but not much of a traffic jam. There was some queue at the ePass check point.

Came back on 18th via the Gudalur route. Didn't notice any ePass checkpoint on that route for vehicles going upwards.

Ooty was beautiful with green all around, with the rainy season on. Was lucky not to get much rain for the 3 days in Ooty.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by MSAneesh

Ooty was beautiful with green all around, with the rainy season on.

@MSAneesh: how was the general traffic in Ooty and the Ooty Coonoor Road (if you went)?

I’m merely transiting Ooty towards Coonoor this week, hence asking.

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

@MSAneesh: how was the general traffic in Ooty and the Ooty Coonoor Road (if you went)?

I’m merely transiting Ooty towards Coonoor this week, hence asking.

Traffic was moderate in the Ooty main town area around the bus station. Had to wait for two cycles of green light in the evening. On other roads, it was sparse, never got stuck.

I didn't go to Coonoor, but went till Lovedale railway station. Minimal traffic on that route.

I think it would be even less this weekend compared to last. It is off season, so nothing to worry.

[naadopaasaka]

Originally Posted by bravo6

ePass requirement is extended till 30th September (as of now) according to one gentleman at the Mettupalyam entry checkpost.

Planning a drive to Kunda near Ooty to a friend's place on Wednesday. The epass website doesn't seem to permit a pass for any day other than today. I suppose the quoted post is the reason?

Does anybody have later/ better information?

Also, what's traffic like? Planning to do Mettupalayam - Kotagiri - Coonor - Kunda.

[250Nm]

Originally Posted by naadopaasaka

Planning a drive to Kunda near Ooty to a friend's place on Wednesday. The epass website doesn't seem to permit a pass for any day other than today. I suppose the quoted post is the reason?

Does anybody have later/ better information?

Also, what's traffic like? Planning to do Mettupalayam - Kotagiri - Coonor - Kunda.

I drove from CBE to Mudumalai this weekend via Burliyar-Conoor. There was no e-pass checking while entering ghat section, except for the green tax collection of ₹30 per car. Return journey was via Kotagiri and did not see any e-pass checkposts no that route either. Either way, just for precaution, please get the epass if its just an online entry form.