Team-BHP - Panvel - Bangalore - Bandipur - Madurai - Rameshwaram - Munnar

Hi,

My friend is planning a visit to Bandipur wildlife sanctuary and Rameshwaram via Madurai, then some tourist attractions in Kerala like Munnar - Alleppy. then back to Panvel.

He is doing such a long journey for the first time with family.

Planning to make the hotel bookings in advance. So please guide which are the descent hotels on the route.

Route decided looking at various posts from Team-BHP are as follows:

Panvel - Pune - Satara - Kolhapur - Belgaum - Hubli - Devengere - Tumkur - Bangalore.

Stay at Banglore.

Bangalore - Mandya - Mysore (may halt) - Gundelpet - Bandipur.

Stay at Bandipur.

Bandipur - Mesingudi - Ooty - Mettupalaiyam - Annur - Avinashi - Palladam - Dharapuram - Dindigul - Madurai

Stay at Madurai

Madurai - Rameshwaram - Dhanushkodi - Madurai (return)

Stay at Madurai.

Madurai - Munnar (3 Nights) - Alleppy (1 Night).

On return he is planning to take the NH-17 till Ankola and then come to Mumbai via Belgaum.

Please suggest the good / alternate route and restaurants.

Thanks Kumar sir and Abhi sir.

He is doing the trip in the month of January, but he want to book hotels in advance.

The input from Kumar sir on time estimates are valuable. All the trip parts seem doable.

Here are the dates on which he will be driving...
1. 16/01/2009 - Plan to leave to Kolhapur and stay overnight.
2. 17/01/2009 - Start early 5 AM from Kolhapur and reach Bangalore. Plan to visit Iskon temple.
3. 18/01/2009 - reach Mysore early morning. Visit Mysore Palace and evening visit Vrindavan garden. Also Shrirangapatanam if time permits.
4. 19/01/2009 - reach Bandipur / Mudumalai by around 12-1 PM. He was told that the forest office rest houses in Bandipur are not neatly maintained and rather go to Jungle Home which is after Mudumalai forest check post. Is that true?
5. 20/01/2009 - Reach Madurai. and stay. On map, Coimbatore to Madurai looks highway. Is that in good condition? OR the previous road is fine?
6. 21/01/2009 - Early morning start for Rameshwaram and take the darshan. Go to Dhanushkodi. Come back Madurai. [If reached early enough, take darshan.]
7. 22/01/2009 - Morning take the darshan in Madurai and leave for Munnar. Visit tea gardens.
8. 23/01/2009 - Stay at Munnar . visit Mettupatty dam and Top station.
9. 24/01/2009 - Start for Alleppy and take the houseboat overnight.
10. 25/01/2009 - Leave for Mangalore / Udapi / Murdeshwar. Stay not decided yet, any time estimates? Assuming, leaving Alleppy around 11 AM.
11. 26/01/2009 - Come back to Panvel via Belgaum.

So if the hotels need to be booked in advance in these places, he can do that. Can you please suggest some medium budget hotels?

Also the on-the-way restaurants stops would be a great help to know and have food.

Are any safety issues on any of the roads mentioned in previous post?

What is the Petrol stops availability? He has Maruti Suzuki Zen Vxi with tank of 32 liters [FE 17-18 kmpl on Highway and 15 kmpl in city] so approximately 450-500 km per tank full.

As a safety issue, are there any suggestions which things to carry along?

Though I agree, the route condition will differ over month; details of the route would be nice as the things wont change too drastically, hope so.

Anyone visited Bandipur / Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary and stayed there before?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudrah (Post 1070427)

4. 19/01/2009 - reach Bandipur / Mudumalai by around 12-1 PM. He was told that the forest office rest houses in Bandipur are not neatly maintained and rather go to Jungle Home which is after Mudumalai forest check post. Is that true?
5. 20/01/2009 - Reach Madurai. and stay. On map, Coimbatore to Madurai looks highway. Is that in good condition? OR the previous road is fine?
10. 25/01/2009 - Leave for Mangalore / Udapi / Murdeshwar. Stay not decided yet, any time estimates? Assuming, leaving Alleppy around 11 AM.

So if the hotels need to be booked in advance in these places, he can do that. Can you please suggest some medium budget hotels?

Are any safety issues on any of the roads mentioned in previous post?

What is the Petrol stops availability? He has Maruti Suzuki Zen Vxi with tank of 32 liters [FE 17-18 kmpl on Highway and 15 kmpl in city] so approximately 450-500 km per tank full.

As a safety issue, are there any suggestions which things to carry along?

Lots of resorts further down from Bandipur/Mudumalai at Masinagudi.

Coimbatore-Madurai road is good, via Pollachi, Udumalaipet, Palani, Ottanchatram, Sembatti. Your original route is good enough.

If you leave Alapuzha at 11 am, it is going to be one long journey through congested Kerala during day. You will be very lucky to reach Mangalore by evening, although if you are able to maintain fast speeds, you can. Ideally, you may reach only Kannur. See if you can Alapuzha early in the morning to ensure that you reach Mangalore/udupi.

No safety issues, safe to drive at day or night. Please bear in mind that there are speed checks on Kerala highways. And avoid driving in ghat roads at night (say, Munnar area, Thekkady-Alapuzha).

Petrol pump facilities great. TN is cheaper than KA, so try to tank up at Hosur, after crossing over from Bangalore. Mahe between Calicutr and Kannur is a tax haven for petrol.

Budget hotels all over -
Madurai - near Railway Station, meenakshi Temple
Rameswaram - Hotel TN at rameswaram
Munnar - S N Tourist Home, near bus stand
Alapuzha - many choices near bus stand, ferry point
Udupi - Hotel Kediyoor, next to bus stand

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1070461)

Coimbatore-Madurai road is good, via Pollachi, Udumalaipet, Palani, Ottanchatram, Sembatti. Your original route is good enough.

Thanks, will take the original route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1070461)

If you leave Alapuzha at 11 am, it is going to be one long journey through congested Kerala during day. You will be very lucky to reach Mangalore by evening, although if you are able to maintain fast speeds, you can. Ideally, you may reach only Kannur. See if you can Alapuzha early in the morning to ensure that you reach Mangalore/udupi.

As the plan is for houseboat overnight stay, the houseboat comes back by 10 AM. So after that immediately can start for Mangalore.

Can I get the city-to-city distance guide, and the required rough time? Is it possible to get the hotel if reach late in Mangalore? Or the advance booking can be made?

Otherwise may be take a halt in Kasargod. And start early morning on 26/01.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akroy (Post 1070609)

If he is interested for Safari ride, better stay at Bandipur. MC Resorts is a decent budget hotel, I stayed there in my last visit. Better to get it booked. weekends are full always.

MC Resort looks like a good place to stay. Enquired on the 08229-233044. But was late, no one in the reception. Will call tomorrow morning by 11 to book.

Thanks,

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1070461)

Budget hotels all over -
Madurai - near Railway Station, meenakshi Temple
Rameswaram - Hotel TN at rameswaram
Munnar - S N Tourist Home, near bus stand
Alapuzha - many choices near bus stand, ferry point
Udupi - Hotel Kediyoor, next to bus stand

Found Madurai Residency for night stay in Madurai, which is near Meenakshi amman mandir. Any other cheaper and decent hotel suggestions? Will call up the hotel tomorrow.

Alapuzha - planning houseboat overnight.

Munnar-adimaly-muvattupuzha-thrippunithura-maradu-touching NH47 southwards to alleppey which is around 65kms from maradu.no need to touch Vyttila Bye-pass(cochin bye pass) .
you can also go to alleppey(alappuzha) touching kottayam city via Munnar-adimaly-Neriamangalam-Paingottoor-Thodupuzha-Pala-Kottayam-Alappuzha.This way is better if you got plan for kumarakom Vembanad Lake parts.
--
Is there any thing more apart from madhura meenakshi temple in Madhura?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgginish (Post 1071603)

The shortest route for Munnar to Alappuzha would be: Munnar - Adimaly - Neryamangalam - Oonnukal - Paingottoor - Thodupuzha - Koothattukulam - Vaikom - Thanneermukkom Bund - Alappuzha.

This road is like what you say as "connection" road and confusing.
Vaikom from Muvattupuzha is lesser in kms too(45kms compared to 65kms from thodupuzha.)
Munnar-adimaly-Neryamangalam-Kothamangalam-Muvattupuzha(NH49)-Piravom-peruva-vaikom-Bund-Allappuzha.
^I think there is some other bridge made to shorten the distance.
Roads are narrow and twisty and filled with potholes in some streches of vaikom road.

But best route is what I earlier told -ie ,take the Muvattupuzha-ernakulam nh49 highway and go upto maradu to connect to alappuzha -kilometers may be more ,but highway cruise is better you know:)

BTW ,do you guys know these "unknown" NH49 and its importance? it is a "international" highway from cochin(kochi) to Rameshwaram connecting to Srilanka(when the works are done).