[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by ampere

Kumily-Vagamon-Thodupuzha-Muvattupuzha-Peumbavoor-Angamaly-Chalakudy-Valparai

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Thanks amp. How much time should I budget for this drive? Or am I better off going via Pollachi?

I would prefer Kumily-Peermade-Eerattupetta-Pala-Thodupuzha-Muvvattupuzha-Perumbavoor-Kalady-Angamaly-Chalakudy-Athirappilly route.

https://goo.gl/SY85Fx

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Thanks again, Amp. I am also toying with the idea of staying overnight at one of the resorts near Athirapally. Any recommendations?

To stay near Athirappilly,Kandamkulathy group has a resort and is pretty good.Its named Ayursoukhyam.If on the luxury side of things,then look no more ahead than Rainforest Boutique Resort.

[hyper-VTEC]

How will be the weather around 2nd week of September. Will it be raining continuously? I plan to travel from Chennai with my 15 month old infant. Plan to book one of the tea estate room.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by hyper-VTEC

How will be the weather around 2nd week of September. Will it be raining continuously? I plan to travel from Chennai with my 15 month old infant. Plan to book one of the tea estate room.

Just back from my trip, a travelogue in compilation ,

Weather is really unpredictable, it rained all three days but not heavily. September is expected to have sunny days mostly.

Green Hills is the only hotel as you call other than some homestays. All very basic and not ideal for a family getaway.

Estates are the way to go if you ask me. Certainly 2x or 3x costly but still worth the experience. I stayed in Monica Garden and Sirukundra Estate Bunglow for one night each. Leverage the online competition, I settled for Goibibo.

Roads are good almost everywhere except the route to Chinnakallar and Nirar. But the 40 hair pin bends would be bit heavy for an infant unless very used to travelling long distance.

[cool_dube]

Hi folks,

Am headed to Valparai (from Bangalore) soon and trying to decide b/w these options for the Salem-Pollachi stretch (rest of the route being standard):

1. Salem - Avinashi - Palladam - Pollachi
2. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi
3. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Dharapuram - Pollachi

Distance-wise all of these are within 10 km of each other. Which one would be least congested while traversing through towns?

Thanks in advance...

[ampere]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Hi folks,
Am headed to Valparai (from Bangalore) soon and trying to decide b/w these options for the Salem-Pollachi stretch (rest of the route being standard):

1. Salem - Avinashi - Palladam - Pollachi
2. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi
3. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Dharapuram - Pollachi

Strike out the third. First and Second are easy. Now between the two, I would chose one, as it allows me to be on 4-lane for longer.

But there is a caveat:
- You need to know the exit from the 4-lane at Avinashi bypass and get on to Mangalam road instead of Tiruppur road. The Mangalam road will take you to Palladam. Beyond Palladam is a fantastic 2-lane to Pollachi. Even Mangalam road is good, just that you need to be careful not to get diverted to Tiruppur by locals. Use GPS/Google to confirm.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

1. Salem - Avinashi - Palladam - Pollachi
2. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi
3. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Dharapuram - Pollachi

Choose between 1 or 2.
The exit for #1 is on the Avinashi bypass, on the median separating the highway from service road, there is a small board for Poppys Hotel, Tiruppur. There is also a smallish Saravana Bhavan (looks like a small house on the service road). Get on to the service road here and you will first reach below a flyover where the left turn will take you to Tiruppur. Ignore this and continue straight on the service road, turn left at the the next junction and that will take you to Mangalam, continue straight at all the junctions and you will reach the 4 road signal at Palladam. Continue straight and about 1-2Km later the right fork will go towards Pollachi (left is for Udumalaipet). At Pollachi, better to ask someone as there is a railway bridge being constructed so may be difficult to locate the road to Aliyar. After Aliyar the ghat road with about 30 hair pin bends takes you to Valparai. Drive Safe!

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Hi folks,

Am headed to Valparai (from Bangalore) soon and trying to decide b/w these options for the Salem-Pollachi stretch (rest of the route being standard):

1. Salem - Avinashi - Palladam - Pollachi
2. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi
3. Salem - Perundarai - Kangayam - Dharapuram - Pollachi

Distance-wise all of these are within 10 km of each other. Which one would be least congested while traversing through towns?

Thanks in advance...

I would suggest you to take Route No 2 if you wish to save some money on tolls. Else stick to Route 1.
If you wish to stay in Pollachi, then Sakthi Hotels is a good choice. The ghat road leading to Valparai has 40 hair pin bends.
If you are adventurous then you can also try the forest route from Valparai to Athirappally falls.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by ampere

Strike out the third. First and Second are easy

Originally Posted by NPV

Choose between 1 or 2

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

I would suggest you to take Route No 2 if you wish to save some money on tolls. Else stick to Route 1.

Thanks guys! I will stick to option #1. Any pointers to navigate through Pollachi town? This is what Google Maps recommends:

[ampere]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Thanks guys! I will stick to option #1. Any pointers to navigate through Pollachi town? This is what Google Maps recommends:

Thats not the route.

You arrive here:

Here (At the end of the route that I have marked).

From that point you move to start of this location I mention here

Between the two points you cannot see the route in regular mode, but only can see in satellite mode.

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats not the route. You arrive here

Thanks Amp. Am I correct in interpreting your directions as given below? Also, can I take the same route on my way back, or is there a one-way somewhere?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Thanks Amp. Am I correct in interpreting your directions as given below? Also, can I take the same route on my way back, or is there a one-way somewhere?

Yes thats the route! Have been here more than once and hence know this!

[cool_dube]

Originally Posted by ampere

Yes thats the route! Have been here more than once and hence know this!

Thanks again. Any decent pit stops enroute? The only one I am aware of is the cluster near Shoolagiri.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by cool_dube

Thanks again. Any decent pit stops enroute? The only one I am aware of is the cluster near Shoolagiri.

Oh you have the whole food court!

- Shoolagiri: A2B, etc
- Krishnagiri: Saravana Bhavan
- Thoppur : A2B
- Salem: Park Plaza, Grand Estancia
- Just After Salem: A2B Fine dining
- Sankari: Saravana Bhavan
- Perundurai Bypas: Annalakshmi
- Avinashi : Anandas, CCD

[cool_dube]

Back from Valparai yesterday. Took the Salem-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi route both ways. Stopped at Saravana Bhavan near Sankari Toll Booth, both to and fro - highly recommended as a stopover, given the excellent food, great service, ample parking space, nice play area for kids, and fairly clean restrooms.

Roads were good throughout except those inside the towns of Palladam and Pollachi. And I wish Pollachi was not as confusing to cross as it has always been The maze of one-ways in there is amazing!!

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by ampere

Oh you have the whole food court!

- Shoolagiri: A2B, etc
- Krishnagiri: Saravana Bhavan
- Thoppur : A2B
- Salem: Park Plaza, Grand Estancia
- Just After Salem: A2B Fine dining
- Sankari: Saravana Bhavan
- Perundurai Bypas: Annalakshmi
- Avinashi : Anandas, CCD

Add to it a brand new hotel just on one of the junctions of the Salem bye-pass road!