[binand]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Did Calicut - Bangalore drive yesterday.

Did it the other way yesterday. Started from Bangalore after lunch. After some shopping etc., got off NICE Road at NH 948 (Kanakapura Road) exit at 3 PM. Chose to go through Malavally-Kollegala-Chamarajanagara route for old times' sake - but throughout, the road redevelopment works seem to have been abandoned so it was rather painful. Few short (none I think more than 500m) stretches of fully developed dual carriageway to show what could have been. The old, narrow Shivanasamudram bridge and surrounding areas will eventually get a new alignment and bridge, but right now all we have are the pillars. Chamarajanagara has only one section of the bypass completed, connecting Nanjangud and Gundlupete roads (come to think of it, this was done maybe 2 years ago).

6.30 PM at Gundlupete and around 7.30, Muthanga. Got stopped for checks four times - once in front of Ponkuzhi temple, once at the Muthanga checkposts cluster, once for RT-PCR verification near Kalloor and yet another at the inter-district border at Lakkidi. Apart from the third one, all they did was peek into the vehicle to see who all were with me ("oh, you're alone? please proceed"). Seemed as if they were on the lookout for certain individuals known to them.

Since Kerala has a mandatory lights-off rule for shops and establishments at 7 PM roads were more or less empty. Could maintain good speeds within the state and reached Calicut at 10 PM - 2.5 hours for approx. 110 km.

[mpksuhas]

Brother and couple of his friends did Bangalore - Calicut on Saturday.

They started from Bangalore around 03.30 PM and was stuck in city traffic for around an hour. Took Mysore road and reached Mysore around 07.00PM.

At Mysore, near Fountain circle (here) they were stopped by police and fined for Rs 1000 citing it was weekend curfew there.

They did mention that they were on way to Kerala and is an interstate travel, providing KL entry E Pass as proof. However, the police was not ready to listen and was threatening on seizing the vehicle (KL registration).

Also, only non KA vehicles were being stopped, so it was mostly a tactic to get money while everyone is heading to border before the 09.00 PM forest closure. After being stuck for a while, they paid the fine, collected the receipt and started. At the other side of the city, towards Mysore airport/ toll booth, they were collecting fine again. However, they were left off on showing the receipt collected earlier.

They crossed the border around 08.45 PM. At KL entry, they were let off after showing KL Epass.

So those planning weekend drives, do try to avoid the same.

[satnan]

Drove from Bangalore to Kozhikode yesterday.

Road conditions:

Nice road exit - Kanakpura: Except few hundred meters of good patches here and there, road condition is pretty bad (this is the main deal breaker for this route)

Kanakpura - Malavally: Mostly very good

Malavally - Mysore: Mostly OK.

Mysore - Gundulpet- Muthanga: Very Good

Muthanga - Bathery - Kalpetta - Thamarassery - Kunnamngalam: Mostly good. Churam road is in excellent condition.

[ccnarayanan]

Did a Bangalore-Calicut on 26th. Route: Bangalore - Nelamangala - Bellur Cross - Mysore Outer Ring Road - Gundlupet - Kalpetta Bypass - Calicut.

The flyover near Peenya is shut down for construction and the detour through service road took some time. The rest of road was ok except some bad patches on Kalpetta Bypass. The journey took about 9h45m including about a total of 45m breaks. The travel time between Bangalore and Mysore was about the same (or even less) compared to the Mandya route, but the biggest relief was the break from the dusty Bangalore - Mandya - Mysore road and the numerous detours.

[satnan]

Originally Posted by satnan

Drove from Bangalore to Kozhikode yesterday.

Nice road exit - Kanakpura: Except few hundred meters of good patches here and there, road condition is pretty bad (this is the main deal breaker for this route)

Drove back to Bangalore today. Took Mysore road this time and even with the umpteen number of diversions, felt this to be a better choice compared to Kanakpura road.

We were carrying RT-PCR results and the authorities did verify it for all passengers while entering Karnataka (Moolehole checkpost).

[ccnarayanan]

Did Calicut - Kalpetta - Sulthan Bathery - Gundlupet - Mysore - Mandya - Bangalore. There was strict checking of RT-PCR reports at KA border (which got done in 10 seconds). Mysore - Mandya - Bangalore was an ok experience due to low levels of traffic even in the middle of the day. The overall journey took about 9h15m including a total of about 30m stops.

[kibzu]

Wanted to do Bangalore(Hoskote) to Calicut during the on 24th Dec. The Google map route that showed by default did not have Mysore road. It showed a route via Nelamangala, it was longer but the time shown was lesser than the route via Mysore road. So we decided to take that route keeping in mind that Mysore road would be crowded due to the vacation and the work going on in Mysore road. The traffic signal just before the Nelamangala highway was bad as usual, but the roads after that till Srirangapattana was very good. From there we took the usual route via Wyanad.

[ajithbr]

Hi,

Planning a Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty-Kozhikode-Bangalore drive during Vishu, and so need some inputs from people who travelled in these stretches recently.

How is the condition of following stretches now?
1) Gundlupet - Gudalur
2) Gudalur - Ooty
3) Gudalur - Nilambur
4) Gudalur - Vythiri/Kalpetta

Between 3 and 4, what are the pros and cons for a Ooty - Kozhikode drive?
Which route has better road conditions now?

What are some good food and toilet break options at Gudalur for a family trip ?

[ajithbr]

Hi,

How is the condition of following stretches now?
1) Gundlupet - Gudalur
2) Gudalur - Ooty
3) Gudalur - Nilambur
4) Gudalur - Vythiri/Kalpetta

Between 3 and 4, what are the pros and cons for a Ooty - Kozhikode drive?
Which route has better road conditions now?

What are some good food and toilet break options at Gudalur for a family trip ?

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by ajithbr

Hi,

How is the condition of following stretches now?
1) Gundlupet - Gudalur
2) Gudalur - Ooty
3) Gudalur - Nilambur
4) Gudalur - Vythiri/Kalpetta

Between 3 and 4, what are the pros and cons for a Ooty - Kozhikode drive?
Which route has better road conditions now?

What are some good food and toilet break options at Gudalur for a family trip ?

Based on info in the Bangalore-Ooty thread, Gundlepet-Gudalur-Ooty is in good condition. Gudalur-Nilambur also should be in good condition as the nadugani ghat was relaid not too long back.

On Guldalur-Calicut, would recommend the Nilambur route. I think it will be faster and you are done with the ghats in one go. Via Wayanad, the hilly sections would be longer. Traffic wise, the Nilambur route may be worse. Would suggest to take a call using maps on the day/time of travel.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Based on info in the Bangalore-Ooty thread, Gundlepet-Gudalur-Ooty is in good condition. Gudalur-Nilambur also should be in good condition as the nadugani ghat was relaid not too long back.

Rajeev, someone had reported a month ago that the TN section of Nadugani all the way up to Gudalur was not in good condition.

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

On Guldalur-Calicut, would recommend the Nilambur route. I think it will be faster and you are done with the ghats in one go. Via Wayanad, the hilly sections would be longer.

True, the Wayanad route has a lot more curvy roads, but the route is very very scenic, with tea gardens on either side all the way up to Meppadi!

[binand]

Drove back from Calicut after Vishu/Easter break yesterday (Sunday 17/4).

We had a plan to have lunch at Wilton @ Bathery, so left the city by around 11.30 and reached the restaurant by 1.45. Bummer - no at-table service, only takeaway, that too with a lead time of up to 30 minutes. Since we were all looking forward to the place we decided to stay put and pass time with some fresh juices from the store across the street. And was it worth the wait! Amazingly delicious food. We put up the liftgate and made a picnic out of it.

Left the place at 2.45 and reached NICE junction with Kanakapura road at around 8.00 (250km in 5 hours). There was heavy traffic for the most part except perhaps the Malavalli-Kanakapura section.

Points to note:

1. If your timing allows it, try going through Kalpetta city. The bypass is in pretty bad shape.

2. Tolls are (one-way): Rs. 30 (Kannegala) + Rs. 55 (KN Hundy) and then Rs. 70 for NICE. Fastags accepted everywhere including NICE.

[Sandy28]

Hi all, what is the ideal route for Bangalore to Kalpetta? Google map shows Srirangapatnam-Hunsur-Gonikoppa-Kutta-Mananthwady route. I thought Mysore-Gundlupet-Sultan Bathery via Muthanga was the ideal route. Any suggestions pl on which route and road conditions?

[binand]

Originally Posted by Sandy28

Hi all, what is the ideal route for Bangalore to Kalpetta?

Bangalore-Kanakapura-Malavally-Bannur-Mysore-Gundlupete-Sulthan Bathery-Kalpetta is probably the best route given today's conditions.

Bangalore-Ramanagara-Mandya-Mysore is discouraged due to expressway construction.

The Gonikoppa-Kutta route is suggested by Google if it detects your travel window to overlap with the forest road closure times.

[ajithbr]

Originally Posted by Sandy28

Hi all, what is the ideal route for Bangalore to Kalpetta? Google map shows Srirangapatnam-Hunsur-Gonikoppa-Kutta-Mananthwady route. I thought Mysore-Gundlupet-Sultan Bathery via Muthanga was the ideal route. Any suggestions pl on which route and road conditions?

Depends on your time of travel.. for timings between 9pm and 6am (as well as timings just before or after this period), it will not show forest route as even an option since it will be closed .. same case for Bangalore-Gudalur-Nilambur-Kozhikode route.

Where are you starting from in Bangalore? Depending on that, your Bangalore-Mysore route will also be different based on timings and traffic conditions during your travel time