[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by ampere

@cool_dube, I remember there was TL from a member who's relative actually studied Engineering in Munnar!

Thanks ampere. I vaguely remember reading this travelogue sometime back. Devikulam - Idukki road is now on my to-do list

Originally Posted by ampere

Also as Ramesh mentioned, good to avoid Avinashi and go via Udumalpet-Dharapuram-Kangeyam-Perundurai-Salem-Bangalore.

Will keep that in mind - thanks again! How about connecting to NH7 south of Salem and driving north instead of coming via NH47? Any feasible options?

Couple of other queries:

* I see in Google Maps that while driving from Theni to Munnar on NH49 there is a road that goes right shortly after Bodi Mettu to Suryaneli/Chinnakanal. Any idea about this road? I am actually headed to Club Mahindra Resort in Chinnakanal.

* Anyone tried driving to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate of late? How are the road conditions?

Thanks in advance!

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

How about connecting to NH7 south of Salem and driving north instead of coming via NH47? Any feasible options?

Couple of other queries:

* I see in Google Maps that while driving from Theni to Munnar on NH49 there is a road that goes right shortly after Bodi Mettu to Suryaneli/Chinnakanal. Any idea about this road? I am actually headed to Club Mahindra Resort in Chinnakanal.

* Anyone tried driving to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate of late? How are the road conditions?

Thanks in advance!

If you want to come to Munnar without going the way to Dindigul/Theni, then you can also turn off NH7 immediately after the Kaveri Bridge (before Karur) at Pugalur and go via Kodumudi to Dharapuram & Udumalaipet. Lovely roads, I took this route from Munnar to Madras a couple of months ago.

The Bodi Medu-Suryanelli-Chinnakanal is the kind of road which even the local M&M Major 4WD drivers shudder at. It connects with Kolukkumalai too, always a 4WD track!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Thanks ampere. I vaguely remember reading this travelogue sometime back. Devikulam - Idukki road is now on my to-do list



Will keep that in mind - thanks again! How about connecting to NH7 south of Salem and driving north instead of coming via NH47? Any feasible options?

Couple of other queries:

* I see in Google Maps that while driving from Theni to Munnar on NH49 there is a road that goes right shortly after Bodi Mettu to Suryaneli/Chinnakanal. Any idea about this road? I am actually headed to Club Mahindra Resort in Chinnakanal.

* Anyone tried driving to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate of late? How are the road conditions?

Thanks in advance!

Here is a thread dedicated to it!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post1927888

Originally Posted by hvkumar

If you want to come to Munnar without going the way to Dindigul/Theni, then you can also turn off NH7 immediately after the Kaveri Bridge (before Karur) at Pugalur and go via Kodumudi to Dharapuram & Udumalaipet. Lovely roads, I took this route from Munnar to Madras a couple of months ago.

The Bodi Medu-Suryanelli-Chinnakanal is the kind of road which even the local M&M Major 4WD drivers shudder at. It connects with Kolukkumalai too, always a 4WD track!

On the usage of NH7 versus NH47. You dont gain much I would say. Perundurai/NH47 is equally good as NH7.
If you come down via Marayaoor/Chinnar, its equally good to take the Perundurai road also.

[kala]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

* I see in Google Maps that while driving from Theni to Munnar on NH49 there is a road that goes right shortly after Bodi Mettu to Suryaneli/Chinnakanal. Any idea about this road? I am actually headed to Club Mahindra Resort in Chinnakanal.

* Anyone tried driving to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate of late? How are the road conditions?

Originally Posted by ampere

Here is a thread dedicated to it!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post1927888

Ampere, the bridge mentioned in that thread is not on the Bodimettu-Suryanelli route nor on the Kolukkumalai route. It is further south - just off the Pooppara-Rajakkad-Adimali section (through which you can actually bypass Munnar if travelling from Theni to Cochin on NH-49).

To cool_dube : I drove on the road from Chinnakkanal to Suryanelli (and a few kms further to a friend's estate down that road) a couple of years back, and it is quite narrow and scary to drive on - especially in the monsoons. I'd think the road would probably be much worse from there to Bodimettu.

And as HVK said, the Kolukkumalai road is strictly 4WD territory based on reports from friends who live in that locality (I've never driven that way).

Originally Posted by ampere

On the usage of NH7 versus NH47. You dont gain much I would say. Perundurai/NH47 is equally good as NH7.
If you come down via Marayaoor/Chinnar, its equally good to take the Perundurai road also.

Actually going via NH7-Theni-Bodi-Pooppara-Chinnakkanal makes a lot of sense if your destination happens to be the Club Mahindra (which is on the Chinnakkanal-Suryanelli road). You can save yourselves the 18 kms drive from Munnar to Chinnakkanal which would be additional in case you're coming via Marayoor. Those hilly stretches can be very strenuous to drive when you're on the last leg of a long journey.

So if you do want to take the Marayoor-Chinnar route, it might be much better to do it on the way back from Munnar.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kala

Ampere, the bridge mentioned in that thread is not on the Bodimettu-Suryanelli route nor on the Kolukkumalai route. It is further south - just off the Pooppara-Rajakkad-Adimali section (through which you can actually bypass Munnar if travelling from Theni to Cochin on NH-49).

Thanks I mistook them the same.

Actually going via NH7-Theni-Bodi-Pooppara-Chinnakkanal makes a lot of sense if your destination happens to be the Club Mahindra (which is on the Chinnakkanal-Suryanelli road). You can save yourselves the 18 kms drive from Munnar to Chinnakkanal which would be additional in case you're coming via Marayoor. Those hilly stretches can be very strenuous to drive when you're on the last leg of a long journey.

So if you do want to take the Marayoor-Chinnar route, it might be much better to do it on the way back from Munnar.

I was commenting on other route which HVK mentioned about bypassing Theni. (Karur-Dharapuram-Udumalet). If one is at Chinnakanal, it does make to get down via Bodi. But you dont want to miss the drive via Chinnar one way or the other. In that case I was commenting it does not make much sense to still come back to NH7. Roads are good either way and are equidistant to Salem.

[xotiq]

Had driven down to Munnar and then Adimaly. Please refer the GPS track for waypoints/route.

Sports Tracker

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

you can also turn off NH7 immediately after the Kaveri Bridge (before Karur) at Pugalur and go via Kodumudi to Dharapuram & Udumalaipet

Thanks Kumar Sir. I will keep this as an option for my return leg via Udumalpet. For the onward run, I will take D'gul - Theni - Bodi route.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The Bodi Medu-Suryanelli-Chinnakanal is the kind of road which even the local M&M Major 4WD drivers shudder at. It connects with Kolukkumalai too, always a 4WD track!

Definitely sounds interesting AND tempting But not to be done towards the end stretch of an onward drive.

Originally Posted by ampere

On the usage of NH7 versus NH47. You dont gain much I would say. Perundurai/NH47 is equally good as NH7.

I have always found this stretch (Udumalpet - Dharapuram - Kangeyam - Perundurai) quite cumbersome in terms of getting through the intermediate towns! Hence, was looking at alternatives to hit the GQ ASAP. How about connecting to NH7 at Aravakurichi, just south of Karur?

Originally Posted by kala

I drove on the road from Chinnakkanal to Suryanelli (and a few kms further to a friend's estate down that road) a couple of years back, and it is quite narrow and scary to drive on - especially in the monsoons. I'd think the road would probably be much worse from there to Bodimettu.

The Bodi - Suryanelli stretch is definitely ruled out.

Originally Posted by kala

And as HVK said, the Kolukkumalai road is strictly 4WD territory based on reports from friends who live in that locality (I've never driven that way).

I have a 4WD so will try and do Suryanelli - Kolukkumalai to the maximum distance I can without taking undue risks (given that I'd have my 2-yr old on board).

Originally Posted by kala

Actually going via NH7-Theni-Bodi-Pooppara-Chinnakkanal makes a lot of sense if your destination happens to be the Club Mahindra (which is on the Chinnakkanal-Suryanelli road)

Correct - that is exactly what I am planning to do.

Originally Posted by kala

So if you do want to take the Marayoor-Chinnar route, it might be much better to do it on the way back from Munnar.

Again correct - that is exactly what I am planning to do

[karty_83]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Route Plan:
(D1) Bangalore-Hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Karur-Dindigul-Theni-Bodi-MUNNAR-(D3)Kothamangalam-Muvattupuzha-ERnakulam-ALAPUZHA-(D4)Kollam-Trivandrum-KANYAKUMARI-(D5)Tirunelveli-Madurai-Dindigula-Karur-Salem-Krishnagiri-Bangalore.

This was the suggested route plan earlier. We have dropped out allepey for now and ll be heading to Kanyakumari directly from Munnar. Can you please suggest the best route from munnar to kanyakumari.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by karty_83

This was the suggested route plan earlier. We have dropped out allepey for now and ll be heading to Kanyakumari directly from Munnar. Can you please suggest the best route from munnar to kanyakumari.

Munnar-Bodi-Theni-Madurai-Tirunelveli-KK

NH49 from Theni (via Usilampatti) would meet the NH7 by-pass. Take that to Tirumangalam and continue towards Tirunelveli.

[dinu2506]

I'm planning Bangalore to Marayur next weekend. Planning to take Bangalore Salem Bhavani Perundurai Tiruppur Udumalpettai Marayur. Can you please let me know the road conditions and if this is the best road to take. Car is a Verna CRDI.
Appreciate comments from latest travellers on this route.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dinu2506

I'm planning Bangalore to Marayur next weekend. Planning to take Bangalore Salem Bhavani Perundurai Tiruppur Udumalpettai Marayur. Can you please let me know the road conditions and if this is the best road to take. Car is a Verna CRDI.
Appreciate comments from latest travellers on this route.

You should not take the Tiruppur route, but go via Kangeyam/Dharapuram.

Salem-Bhavani-Perundurai-Kangeyam-Dharapuram-Udumalpet-Marayur.

Once you get out of 4L/GQ at Perudural, you would be greeted by very nice 2L SH all the way to Udumalpet. And then its very decent ghat roads.

[dinu2506]

Originally Posted by ampere

You should not take the Tiruppur route, but go via Kangeyam/Dharapuram.

Salem-Bhavani-Perundurai-Kangeyam-Dharapuram-Udumalpet-Marayur.

Once you get out of 4L/GQ at Perudural, you would be greeted by very nice 2L SH all the way to Udumalpet. And then its very decent ghat roads.

Planning to leave early morning tomorrow. Does anyone know if there is a good place for lunch maybe in Kangeyam or udumalpet?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dinu2506

Planning to leave early morning tomorrow. Does anyone know if there is a good place for lunch maybe in Kangeyam or udumalpet?

You have Arya Bhavan and Anna Lakshmi at Perundural by-pass.
These are much better as compared to ones at Kangeyam (which is only 40 minutes from there). But I doubt if you would be able to break there.

If you start by 5, you would be at Salem by 8. Add one hour for BF and then you would be at Perundurai by 11 max. So, some how that seems too early.



Udumalpet may be the right place, but there are are not any major hotels that I am aware of. There are some hotels that I have seen at the main Kangeyam circle (where Perundural - Dharapuram road meets NH67), where you get meals which can be packed and had somewhere on the road. But dont expect any thing fancy.

[dinu2506]

Originally Posted by ampere

You have Arya Bhavan and Anna Lakshmi at Perundural by-pass.
These are much better as compared to ones at Kangeyam (which is only 40 minutes from there). But I doubt if you would be able to break there.

If you start by 5, you would be at Salem by 8. Add one hour for BF and then you would be at Perundurai by 11 max. So, some how that seems too early.



Udumalpet may be the right place, but there are are not any major hotels that I am aware of. There are some hotels that I have seen at the main Kangeyam circle (where Perundural - Dharapuram road meets NH67), where you get meals which can be packed and had somewhere on the road. But dont expect any thing fancy.

How about Dharapuram?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dinu2506

How about Dharapuram?

I saw 2 simple road side hotels.
We had curd rice at one of them. We packed it and had it at road side on the Udumalpet road.