[ampere]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

The best route to go is Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Salem-Bhavani-Avinashi-Palladam-Udumalpettai-Munnar. Have been on this numerous times and with current road conditions this is the best.

There are two routes to go from Avinashi to Palladam. One goes thru Tirupur, one bypasses it. The latter easily saves half an hour.

Last time I did Blore-Munnar in 7 odd hours following the above route. Cheers!

Hey thanks for confirming that. Most folks on this forum take the Dharapuram route.
Hence after Praful took off, I thought why not Avinashi. That is when I realized that this may also be a good option.
This also is the same route for Valparai (via Pollachi).

[praful]

Originally Posted by ampere

I went at least 3 km ahead and had to come back! I was saved because I had marked Perindurai in my Garmin. Hence I knew for sure, that I had gone past.

The rain-radius seems to be apt.

"Get into the ring, enjoy the climate and come out!"
Perfect ! Because its that radius which is the most stunning.

Meanwhile I also did one more homework. The Perindurai/Dharapuram route was favoured, as the 4L was not complete.
Now that it is so, would it not be more logical to go all the way till Avinashi, then go via Tiruppur, Palladam, Gudimangalam and to Udumalpettai. Have folks tried this option?

Here is the google link:

Bengaluru, Karnataka to Munnar, Kerala - Google Maps

Actually time taken should nearly be the same right as the post Avinashi its going to be the same single lane highway??

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

The best route to go is Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Salem-Bhavani-Avinashi-Palladam-Udumalpettai-Munnar. Have been on this numerous times and with current road conditions this is the best.

There are two routes to go from Avinashi to Palladam. One goes thru Tirupur, one bypasses it. The latter easily saves half an hour.

Last time I did Blore-Munnar in 7 odd hours following the above route. Cheers!

7 Hours!!! Where you flying or driving?

Damn! I'm slow.

Psst: I spotted some vehicle from Toyota being tested on the Dharapuram stretch. Looked like a new Innova, when I tried to catch up they just flew off. Easily doing speeds more than 150!

[ampere]

Guys I just checked. Perindurai to Udumalpet distance is almost the same (110Km) either way (Take Avinashi or via Kangeyam). Its just that one drives 40Km more on GQ, which may reduce the travel time a bit.

How is the road from Avinashi to Uduamlpet? The Kangeyam/Dharapuram stretch is very good. Also any decent hotels between Avinashi to Udumalpet? You will hit the luch hour in that stretch for sure. (As is the case with Kangeyam/Dharapuram stretch, where you dont have good hotels)

[reignofchaos]

Originally Posted by ampere

Guys I just checked. Perindurai to Udumalpet distance is almost the same (110Km) either way (Take Avinashi or via Kangeyam). Its just that one drives 40Km more on GQ, which may reduce the travel time a bit.

How is the road from Avinashi to Uduamlpet? The Kangeyam/Dharapuram stretch is very good. Also any decent hotels between Avinashi to Udumalpet? You will hit the luch hour in that stretch for sure. (As is the case with Kangeyam/Dharapuram stretch, where you dont have good hotels)

Lovely road - it was brand new when I traveled in april this year and had amazing scenery - windmill farms. Most of that stretch I was doing 130'ish speeds. There aren't any nice food places between Avinashi and Udumalpettai. Its best to reach Udumalpettai which has some reasonable eating places.

@Praful : I was doing 150+ almost the entire distance between Avinashi and Krishnagiri. Roads are mostly empty and absolutely flat with 2km+ visibility.

Before people crucify me for the speeds, let me tell you in these conditions and my car - a cedia with ad07, 150 is not dangerous. If I were in an indica with stock tires, I'd dare not do more than 80-90.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Lovely road - it was brand new when I traveled in april this year and had amazing scenery - windmill farms. Most of that stretch I was doing 130'ish speeds. There aren't any nice food places between Avinashi and Udumalpettai. Its best to reach Udumalpettai which has some reasonable eating places.

You mean to say, one can do speed>100 on the Avinashi/Udumalpet road?
That really speaks high about its conditions. Wow!

How about my hotel question? Any places to eat?

[reignofchaos]

Its a single lane road but super wide and butter smooth.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Its a single lane road but super wide and butter smooth.

Will try it the next time we go there. Thanks for the update.

[xotiq]

Originally Posted by ampere

Will try it the next time we go there. Thanks for the update.

Had to attend a marriage at Adimaly (28kms from Munnar), so it was a hectic drive. ECity to Munnar drive details below-

1> ECity to Munnar- 6hrs28mts- Non Stop-410.1km
2> Munnar to Adimaly- 0hrs46mts-

Thro Kangeyam-Dharapuram-Udumalpettai.

I had tracked the route by GPS while going to Munnar, below link shows info abt the drive / route / places where you can maintain speeds above 80 etc.

Nokia Sports Tracker Beta

[ampere]

Originally Posted by xotiq

Had to attend a marriage at Adimaly (28kms from Munnar), so it was a hectic drive. ECity to Munnar drive details below-

1> ECity to Munnar- 6hrs28mts- Non Stop-410.1km
2> Munnar to Adimaly- 0hrs46mts-

The distance of 410 seems very low. It should be in the range of 480-490.
Is it not? 6.5 hours, is exceptional timing! You were flying with speeds no less than 120!!

[xotiq]

Originally Posted by ampere

The distance of 410 seems very low. It should be in the range of 480-490.
Is it not? 6.5 hours, is exceptional timing! You were flying with speeds no less than 120!!

From Blr proper to Munnar, its not a km more than 445 by the route i took. I have clearly mentioned that i started tracking from Electronic City.

Have a look at the attached GPS track to find answers for your question. I dont think i can fix the satellites.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by xotiq

From Blr proper to Munnar, its not a km more than 445 by the route i took. I have clearly mentioned that i started tracking from Electronic City.

Have a look at the attached GPS track to find answers for your question. I dont think i can fix the satellites.

I think the issue Metur Vs. Salem. Salem route would add another 40Km extra.

[xotiq]

Originally Posted by ampere

I think the issue Metur Vs. Salem. Salem route would add another 40Km extra.

Possible, thats one reason i avoided salem. We hardly encountered any traffic on the mettur route..(around 4-5 am..) and could easily maintain consistent speeds without putting ourselves or others on the road at risk..!!

[reignofchaos]

Have they redone the mettur road or is it still in a potholed state?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Have they redone the mettur road or is it still in a potholed state?

That is why I always thought its better to take GQ all the way (either till Perindurai or Avinashi) before deviating for Valparai/Munnar.

Mettur route was taken only because either one wants change of road or visit the dam or NH47 four-laning was not complete.

[xotiq]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Have they redone the mettur road or is it still in a potholed state?

I traveled around 2 months back on this route, and we were maintaining avg of 70+ on this route till bhavani.