[SanjeevReddy]

I just completed Hyd-Coorg road trip. Ones who go to Porcupinecastle resort and others in Polibetta area ,please don't take Honsur-Gonikoppal road. Pls go by Periapattanam or KushalNagar even though it's little far.

[vikred]

Friends,

We (five of us from office) are planning to do Hyd-Coorg-Wayanad-Hyd trip next weekend in a 2013 Maruti Dzire Vxi. For Hyd to Coorg stretch, Google Maps shows this route:

Hyd-Kurnool-Anantapur-Chikballapur-Dodballapur-Nelamangala-Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arakalagud-Ramanathapura-Kushalnagar-Suntikoppa-Madikeri

How are the roads in the aforementioned route? Is it better or worse compared to the Mysore option suggested by Google (Blr-Mysore-Hunsur-Kushalnagar)? I personally know that Hyd-Chikballapur and Nelamangala-Channarayapatna stretches are good. What about the other parts? Is it advisable to do this during night? By the way, we're planning to start by 5 in the evening and arrive in Coorg by noon the next day.

• We have 3+ drivers in the car and we'll be taking turns at the wheel.
• Any good places to re-fuel en route?
• Are there any stretches which have little or no options for fuel or food?
• We've never driven on KA and KL. Are they any different? Any precautions?
• More suggestions from the members are appreciated!

Regards,
vikred

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by vikred

Friends,

We (five of us from office) are planning to do Hyd-Coorg-Wayanad-Hyd trip next weekend in a 2013 Maruti Dzire Vxi. For Hyd to Coorg stretch, Google Maps shows this route:

Hyd-Kurnool-Anantapur-Chikballapur-Dodballapur-Nelamangala-Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arakalagud-Ramanathapura-Kushalnagar-Suntikoppa-Madikeri

How are the roads in the aforementioned route? Is it better or worse compared to the Mysore option suggested by Google (Blr-Mysore-Hunsur-Kushalnagar)? I personally know that Hyd-Chikballapur and Nelamangala-Channarayapatna stretches are good. What about the other parts? Is it advisable to do this during night? By the way, we're planning to start by 5 in the evening and arrive in Coorg by noon the next day.

• We have 3+ drivers in the car and we'll be taking turns at the wheel.
• Any good places to re-fuel en route?
• Are there any stretches which have little or no options for fuel or food?
• We've never driven on KA and KL. Are they any different? Any precautions?
• More suggestions from the members are appreciated!

Regards,
vikred

With your proposed timings,its better to stick to the Mysore road-hunsur-madikeri one.Roads are good and fast.Facilities are plenty on this route.

Nothing to worry about driving KL/KA roads.

The only lonely stretch is the HYD-BLR with nil facilities in terms of food options.Fuel stations plenty.Budget for 7-8hrs to reach BLR,an hour to bypass BLR(at your times,its best to go via Hebbal-NICE Road-Mysore road) and get onto the Mysore road,1.5hr-2hr to reach the Hunsur road turning and from there another 2.5hrs to Madikeri.

Madikeri to Kalpetta (Wayanad),the best route is Madikeri-Kushalnagar-Periyapatna-Hunsur-Nagarhole-Kutta-Tholpetty-Kattikulam-Valiyoorkavu-Panamaram-Kalpetta.Would take you around 4-5hours http://goo.gl/maps/jNzO2 Traffic is banned between 6pm and 6am on this route.Roads are good.

The other option is to go via Gonikoppa,but roads are bad.http://goo.gl/maps/cPWQx Dont go by the difference in distance,the road conditions in those parts dictate the time taken and not the kilometres.

From Wayanad back to Hyd,the best and only route is Kalpetta-NH212-Muthanga-Gundlupet-Mysore-Bangalore-Hyd.There is an option to take the NH209 from Gundlupet and avoid Mysore and connect to Kanakpura and then NICE Road,but Mysore road has better wayside facilities.

Irrespective of 3 drivers driving,beware of fatigue setting in,especially with the glaring light hitting your eyes.In my opinion,and maybe I am biased towards day time driving,I would suggest,leave Hyd in the afternoon and stay the night at Bangalore and leave for Madikeri next day morning.Bangalore-Madikeri is a 5-6hr drive only.Carry original DL,Original RC,original PUC.

[vikred]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

With your proposed timings,its better to stick to the Mysore road-hunsur-madikeri one.Roads are good and fast.Facilities are plenty on this route.

Nothing to worry about driving KL/KA roads.

The only lonely stretch is the HYD-BLR with nil facilities in terms of food options.Fuel stations plenty.Budget for 7-8hrs to reach BLR,an hour to bypass BLR(at your times,its best to go via Hebbal-NICE Road-Mysore road) and get onto the Mysore road,1.5hr-2hr to reach the Hunsur road turning and from there another 2.5hrs to Madikeri.

Thanks a lot for the directions!

We chose to skip Wayanad this time. Here are the routes we took:

1. Hyderabad-Hebbal-Mekhri Circle-Yeshwantpur-Nelamangala-Channarayapatna-Holenarasipura-Arakalagudu-Mallipatna-Somwarpete-Madikeri: We chose not to take the Chikballapur-Doddballapur-Nelamangala stretch and instead continued towards Hebbal as city traffic would be very less at 2am. Even though we saw a 'take right to tumkur road' sign before Hebbal flyover, our right actually took us straight to the road towards Mekhri Circle . 2-3 kms before Arakalagudu was broken and was in a very bad shape.
2. Madikeri-Periyapatna-Hunsur-Mysore-Kengeri-Bangalore Univ-Yeshwantpur-Hebbal-Hyderabad: We missed the NICE road entrance and a bystander guided us to take a left on the Kengeri road and head straight!

We were shocked to see super heavy traffic (they didn't seem like highways) and lots of speed-breakers in our return journey. Compared to this, the Channarayapatna-Somwarpete stretch was very good [and short].

[TheWall]

Hi All,

I am planning a road trip from Hyderabad to Coorg. The route I am looking to take is Hyderabad->Anantapur->Tumkur->Coorg.
Can anyone comment on recent road conditions?
Is it safe and comfortable to travel with infants?
Are there any alternate faster routes?

Thanks
thewall

[hydtraveller]

TheWall, the best route in terms of road surface is : Anantapur - Devanahalli ( Nandi X Road) - Doddaballapur - Dobbaspet - Guddemanahalli - Kunigal - Bellur X - Channarayapattana - Holenarasipur - KR Nagar - Hunsur - Madikeri/Virajpeta.
Before you hit the Bangalore International Airport take a right at Nandi X Road towards Doddaballapur.
At Guddemanahalli you are on Bangalore - Mangalore Highway.
At Channarayapattana you go off the Highway towards Hunsur.
From Hunsur it depends on which part of Coorg you are travelling to. Roads from Hunsur are average to bad to all parts of Coorg.
If you go from Anantapur - Kalyandurg - Tumkur you will hit the Bangalore - Mangalore Highway at Kunigal and the distance is the same compared to the Devanahalli route.
Devanahalli ( Nandi X) is a preferred route as you are on a National Highway rather than a state Highway and the distance is almost the same and the eateries are much better.
With a 5 am start you can be around Bellur X for lunch and there are good food joints on the Mangalore Highway.
Drive safe.

[hydtraveller]

After you cross Nandi Upachar Udipi Hotel continue on the Bangalore road till you cross India Paratha Company and then take the next right towards Doddaballapur.
Do not go towards Nandi Hills at Nandi Upachar.