[NPV]

Originally Posted by speed_edge

Wanted to start for Munnar on Wed. afternoon.

As others have mentioned, avoid night driving on this route beyond Theni.

Consider breaking journey at Dindigul, since Madurai and Theni are even further away.
This way, you can reach in about 6-7 hours, get a good night's rest and start fresh next day morning.

*This routing is fine since you're headed to Club Mahindra on the Chinnakanal side.

[bejoy]

Which route to take from Munnar (Chinnakanal) to Thekkadi? How is the road condition?

Originally Posted by speed_edge

NH44 till Dindigul -> Theni -> Munthal -> Munnar

Please update about the road conditions.

[speed_edge]

Originally Posted by bejoy

Please update about the road conditions.

On this route, road till around last 20km to Munnar are all good. Actually I traveled till Club Mahindra, and Google has shown some sharp right at around 14Km before club mahindra. That road is not good as mostly steep single lane with bad stretches - Best avoided. Instead travel till Poopara and then to club mahindra. This is ~10Km long but wide road however with few manageable bad stretches.

Also, Road connecting from power house(CM) to Munnar is still not open and need to take some internal long route. Google is not very accurate here and road quality of some of the stretches are really bad. Better to take local guide if traveling here.


Regards
SE

[sparks4077]

Hello friends,
I'm travelling to Munnar for a 4 day trip next weekend and wanted to get an idea on the route I should be taking. There are quite a lot of helpful posts before this, but still not getting a good idea of the route to be taken. I am staying at Tea Village, Chitirapuram. Google currently shows two routes -
1) Salem-Tiruppur-Udumalpet-Marayoor (shorter)
2) Salem-Dindigul-Theni (longer but almost the same time)

Thanks in advance
Satish

[aadyavinay]

Hi All,

I am planning for munnar in may end,Is it a good time or its just a no go season.I am planning to drive in my 4*4 Pajero and wanted to know if anyone tried driving to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate of late? How are the road conditions?Is It doable in pajero with the turning radius?.I have read couple of guys have done it in 4*4 duster with their small turning radius.I am planning to visit allepey during the drive for house boat experience.Is it open during last week of may?Will it be too hot and not worth the effort.Pls advise.

Thanks in advance!
AV

[vinu_h]

Did Bengaluru --> Munnar --> Bengaluru. It was a blast. Loved it.

Started early morning on 18th and took the highlighted route. Took me 9 hours, could have been 8 if the highways weren't hogged by heavy vehicles. Took the one on the extreme left, NH948, on the way back(21st). Took the SAME amount of time and hardly 10% of traffic that you'll see on NH44.

Salient points of this route
Pros:
Very very scenic
Deer sighted = many
Monkeys = Many (Car was loaded with delicacies. Dozen of them hitched a ride for a few meters )
Elephants sighted = 3
Toll = ZERO
Delight for veggie and fruit lovers. Goes thru towns & villages.
Traffic = Road is yours
Much better fuel efficiency in comparison

Cons:
40 km of small potholes, no major red flags
Hardly any restaurants
Forest route is open during day time only
Pray that your car doesn't breakdown
Mobile reception is very patchy. Store the route offline.

Note: Gmaps will constantly push you to take NH44. It changed the route TWICE without my consent. Keep an eye on the KM to go.

[bijuks]

Did anyone travel through Theni -> Bodinaykannur -> Pooppara route recently? Is there any checking for pass etc both ways at the KL-TN border?

Also, how are the road conditions from Dindigul?

[gadadhar]

Has anyone used the Chinnar -- Udumelpet route recently to enter TN from Kerala while traveling to Bangalore? Want to know about the Covid restriction related checks at the Chinnar border while entering TN. I am only passing through TN on way to Bangalore from Munnar and has taken the TN exit pass through Hosur border

[nagarjun]

I am also looking for some latest information/covid related restrictions on travelling from Tamilnadu to Munnari via Bodi and back as a part of Bangalore to Munnar and back trip.

Its really hard to find any information in the government websites. Tamilnadu entry and exit e-pass are the only thing I am thinking of taking as of now.

[nagarjun]

I just completed the Bangalore -> Munnar trip via Hosur -> Dindigul -> Theni and no Covid related checks in either direction.
However I had registered in the above portal for Kerala entry and also in the Tamilnadu e-pass registration for Karnataka to Tamilnadu entry.

[gadadhar]

Came from Bangalore through Hosur, Palloadom, Udumelpet, Chinnar, Marayur to Munnar on 18th Dec. There was no Covid related checks anywhere

[vivek.ks]

Hi, Has anyone travelled to Munnar recently from Bangalore?

I am travelling with young kids and planning to do a night halt along the route.

Which route is better at this time - via Erode, Tiruppur or via Dindigul

[devrawat]

Originally Posted by vivek.ks

Hi, Has anyone travelled to Munnar recently from Bangalore?

I am travelling with young kids and planning to do a night halt along the route.

Which route is better at this time - via Erode, Tiruppur or via Dindigul

I am also planning to travel later this month and was checking on some FB pages.

I read in some forums that Blr-Salem-Dindigul-Theni is best as there is broad highway till Theni. And while google map shows 10hr+, ppl have done this route in 8-9 hours.

Others with recent experiences can update ??

[vivek.ks]

Originally Posted by devrawat

Others with recent experiences can update ??

The roads are excellent all the way to Munnar City. The suggested route is Bangalore - Salem - Dindigul - Theni - Munnar

I was initially planning to stay in Dindigul for a break journey but didn't since the roads are excellent all the way and there was no fatigue, so continued on to Munnar.

You can easily do 100+ constant on the 6/4 lane highways till Theni. Post-Theni the road is a 2 lane but with a good surface. The ghat sections around Munnar are the best. I fell in love with the beauty of Munnar and the roads around it.

[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by vivek.ks

Hi, Has anyone travelled to Munnar recently from Bangalore?

I am travelling with young kids and planning to do a night halt along the route.

Which route is better at this time - via Erode, Tiruppur or via Dindigul

I always use the Udumal - Chinnar - Marayur - Munnar which is the fastest option, roads are good (and very scenic) except the Chinnar ghat section is narrow.

By the way, I do Bangalore Munnar very often and the purpose is not tourism, so I stick to the fastest option unless I am travelling during the night and want to avoid the naughty elephants of Chinnar