[prashanthyr]

Planning a 3 day trip to Ooty via Mysore next weekend. Any idea of the road condition between Mysore and Ooty? We are planning to take the shorter ghat road (the one with the multiple hairpins) up to Ooty.

[akroy]

Originally Posted by prashanthyr

Planning a 3 day trip to Ooty via Mysore next weekend. Any idea of the road condition between Mysore and Ooty? We are planning to take the shorter ghat road (the one with the multiple hairpins) up to Ooty.

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

[prashanthyr]

Thanks Abhi! That is a nice travelogue!

[Prithvi]

Roads are great except a stretch from gudalpet to gudalore. Riddled with pot holes.

[jack33]

I had done a trip last month and i think the route is excellent barring a few kilometers of broken tarmac after Gundelpet.The roads through the bandipur forest are very good to unwind yourself.And to my surprise there are some good resorts at Masinagudi too.Have a nice trip,,,

[akroy]

Originally Posted by Prithvi

Roads are great except a stretch from gudalpet to gudalore. Riddled with pot holes.

He is not taking Gudalur route. he is taking the Masinagudi route. Gudalur route is pathetic as of now.

Originally Posted by jack33

And to my surprise there are some good resorts at Masinagudi too.Have a nice trip,,,

Ohh you didnt know. it is mainly flocked by the bangalore people and corporates. There are some indeed very good resorts there including Mithun da's monarch.

Abhi

[pmvelu]

Hi akroy,

I am planning for Mysore-ooty on Good Friday weekend. I am going to do the trip in my santro & I am afraid of the shorter route (it's too Steep) and even when I did that in a Tourist Van some time back I felt like, it's kind of stress testing on the Vehicle !!

I need to take Bandipur - Gudalur- ooty route only.. Is it too pathetic Or I can manage ?. Please advice !

[csentil]

Well, I'm not akroy, but I'll still answer your question pmvelu. :-)

The road is pathetic. Do not try it. Its the only road which buses, lorries and other heavy vehicles use. So forget the bad roads, you will have to face lot more vehicles on bad roads.

Road work was going on between Ooty and Pykara. Don't know if this is happening further on. This was update as of weekend.My friends went up on an M800 via Masanagudi. The Santro will not have any problem. Don't worry, your Santro will definitely be able to stand up to it.

Frankly, are you worried about the steep nature of the road or you are not confident on taking the climb. Please don't take it personally, just trying to help you out. My friend had the same apprehension when he went last week, but he said it wasn't a problem after the first bend.

[deepakhon]

Hi pmvelu,

Do not worry about the Masinagudi route. It might seem very steep, but I am sure you will make it. Believe me, that was my first experience of driving in the ghats and I had no problem. Go ahead with that route, you will enjoy it fine.

Cheers,

[akroy]

Originally Posted by pmvelu

I need to take Bandipur - Gudalur- ooty route only.. Is it too pathetic Or I can manage ?. Please advice !

Well if you try it while climbing, I am sure you will not be afraid of the steep Masinagudi decent.

2 of my team members went there last weekend in a Zen. While returning they were not allowed through masinagudi as it was past 6pm, they had to take the masinagudi road. They could only reach Bandipur after 3 hours battling with those roads. Road work just started from ooty and it is good for about 2-3km from Masinagudi turnoff only. it will take sometime to complete the stretch.

OT: Why afraid yaar? Keep a cool head and drive through masinagudi. My Alto took the climb with full load and luggage.

Good Luck
Abhi

[pmvelu]

@Senthil, Thanks a lot for your response & already I have read through several of your driving directions from bangalore to Coimbatore with even very small places name mentioned & too different routes like pennagaram etc to reach anthiyur ! . And back to my query, You got it right.. I don't have the required confidence to drive up . My Driving experience with a car (before that it's Hero Honda Splendour )is just 6 months and I am comfortable with Plain roads(I tried out Wayanad roads, Himavad gopalasamy betta,Shravanabelagola , Shivsamudra etc with ease) BUT Iam worried / Afraid about the Ghat roads with several U turns only !.. I am planning to take my wife(she does not know Driving) & 4 year kid & hence I thought of taking the normal route !

@Deepakhon,

Thanks for sharing your experience and words. Your words especially gives more confidence as Senthil & akroy (Bng-Kol) are Most experienced Drivers which I can't compare with my Driving Skills !

@akroy,
Yes you are right . I need to come out of the Nervousness whenever I even think of Ghat roads & this is the right time I think ...

And Ok Friends, I will take this short route and for sure post my experiences in our travelogue Section.

Thanks Again !

[prashanthyr]

I have myself done the steeper route in a 800 about 4 years back, and the road was ok. I am positive that our new generation cars will be able to handle the Masinagudi route. My only concern was the condition of the road, which has been answered

[suvi]

@pmvelu I am also coming to ooty in the long weekend (21-23 mar) from Bangalore in a silver M800. i am also a bit tensed (Tirumala is the only climb i have done so far and it is a cake walk with gentle slopes and one way traffic). let us have some fun and adventure

[Ketan]

@pmvelu,
Go to Nandi Hills this weekend and try the last hairpin band a couple of times - you have the confidence now,, most of the turns on Ooty ghat are similar... use horns (to make others aware) while at every hair-pin band, avoid crossing a vehicle (i'm sure you are not going to overtake one here)on a hair-pin band and you are good..

Its not difficult for sure.. do that in the day light and if you and Suvi are going together, that would be more comfy...almost all of the hair-pin bands can be done in 2nd gear and do the same thing while descending down - if you can find another vehicle going at moderate speed, simply follow it with 25 ft distance on ghat section...

I would like to do that ghat anytime of the day (liked better in night though )..
I went to Wayanad a fortnight back and from there only we decided to go to Ooty, we came all the way till Gudalur from Kalapetta and from there we took the Thepakaddu road (i.e. masinagudi route) but did not go Gudalur<> Ooty route, that road is in very bad conditions and you may take hours!! I found that the difference is only about extra 30 KMs (or even less) when you take masinagudi but thats a better route.. This time I have found that the roads in mudumalai forest have come to shape now - looks like that complete road in mudumalai WLS is redone - its still narrow though, but better than the road after masinagudi where you HAVE to go off the road to let oncoming vehicle cross and the edges on this piece of road is horrible as already explained by many here....

Its really a nice route - go for it..

[dadu]

Any engined car do any kind of motorable roads, no matter how steep.

You just need to be careful not to stall the engine on the climb and keep to your side ALWAYS, slow and steady.