Landslides? Updates on the road to The Nilgiris.

beejay · 13th December 2009, 20:33

Kotagiri- Mettupalayam-Coimbatore- 2 Hours Max.

If you want to enter Coonoor from Mettupalayam highway, there is a short cut from Aravenu. Will bring you straight to Bandishola, just 3 kms above Sims park.

pjay_in · 13th December 2009, 21:07

Thanks a lot, laluks and beejay. That was quick and perfect.

So I can start at 7 am and still reach Palghat before 4 pm. And I can drop Sims park from the list and save some good time too. I am not very keen on gardens, unless they have something more to offer.

laluks · 13th December 2009, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjay_in

Thanks a lot, laluks and beejay. That was quick and perfect.

So I can start at 7 am and still reach Palghat before 4 pm. And I can drop Sims park from the list and save some good time too. I am not very keen on gardens, unless they have something more to offer.

seems like that

If you have already visited the botanical garden in ooty, you can give sims park a miss.

manim · 15th December 2009, 18:37

Just back from a long drive: Tuticorin-Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ketti.
Covered 928 kms in less than two days. FE was 13.1 for the whole trip. Car is Civic-AT.
Too tired now to post, going to take a long sleep and will post again later

.

However here are some quick details:
Mettupalayam-Kothagiri-Coonoor - good roads.
But very-heavy traffic. Had to crawl with a huge convoy of vehicles many times (A lorry trying to overtaking another lorry will hold back miles of traffic following them for a long time!).

Coonoor-Ketti: Was diverted twice, first through mount-pleasant-road and then through a long dirt-track near cordite-factory (I think). But when coming back, regular route was open (One-way).

Overall the experience was good with no traffic-jams except for the heavy-traffic.

mogambo · 16th December 2009, 16:38

Hi - Great thread - thanks for the useful updates..

1) Any new updates on Metupalayam - Coonoor Road? Is the direct road accessible by cars for 2-way traffic?

2) I've never been to Coonoor - thinking of a day there en-route to Palakkad (from BLR) around Christmas day. Appreciate any pointers for a reasonably priced place to stay with family.

Thanks, all

manim · 16th December 2009, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogambo

Appreciate any pointers for a reasonably priced place to stay with family.

In Coonoor:
1. Velan Hotel - Good! - Rs.1,500/- - ph: 0423-2230084, 2230632, 2230784.
2. Vivek Hotel - budget - Rs.500/- to Rs.1,200/- ph:0423-2230658, 2231292.
3. Taj group - 5-star.

These are the ones I know.

beejay · 17th December 2009, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by mogambo

Hi - Great thread - thanks for the useful updates..

1) Any new updates on Metupalayam - Coonoor Road? Is the direct road accessible by cars for 2-way traffic?

The road is still not open for traffic.

Coimbatore- Mettupalyam-Kotagiri- Coonoor.

beejay · 5th January 2010, 22:18

Ooty- Coonoor road is now open.

hvkumar · 5th January 2010, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by beejay

Ooty- Coonoor road is now open.

The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Udhagamandalam News : Bus service resumes on Ooty- Coonoor highway

To add to what beejay said:

- Train services resumed today
- The Conoor-Mettupalayam road reopens on Jan 14

manim · 6th January 2010, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The Conoor-Mettupalayam road reopens on Jan 14

Let us hope so, I will be going to Coonoor on 23rd Jan for the school drop.
Going via Kothagiri to Coonoor adds around 22 kms more on the ghat road which is a pain.

beejay · 6th January 2010, 12:50

LMV are allowed from Mettupalyam to Coonoor on the highway. One way, only uphill till Jan 14.

Jan 14 traffic allowed both sides.

manim · 22nd January 2010, 19:16

I will be driving Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty in a few hours from now (school drop).

On Pongal (Jan-14th) it was put in the Newspapers that Buryilar road had been opened for one-way only, and within 10 days will be two-way.

It is now nearing 10 days and I hope my return will not be through Kothagiri.

Will post road conditions on my return.

beejay · 23rd January 2010, 10:27

Well. Its officially one way now. Uphill traffic is open Mettupalyam. Downhill is via Kotagiri.

And guys driving up, please be wary. Some cars bribe the cops and go downhill. So do not assume it is one way and go right on the corners.

manim · 25th January 2010, 20:17

Back from Ooty a few hours back.

Climbed up on 23rd via Burliyar which was one-way. So low-stress! and enjoyed the drive (There were many two-wheelers and few cars coming down anyway). After Coonoor it was two-way. There were only minor views regarding the landslides-damage. The Govt has done a good job rebuilding

. Road surface was excellent. (A few years back there were huge pot-holes).

Today morning started downhill at 5 am from Ooty on the Kothagiri road and reached Mettupalayam at 6:15 am. Near zero traffic, so enjoyed the drive. (Normally there is a continuous stream of lorries coming uphill this early, but today there were nearly none).

My car showed a low outside temperature reading as 4 deg Centigrade! (Civic-AT). When I came to my car to start it, ice had formed on my front and rear windshields

. I poured some warm water to clean it. I started very early to avoid traffic on the ghat-roads.

Yesterday took the road from Ooty to Ketti (Laidlaw school) via Lovedale railway station. I was worried that this road may have been damaged by the recent landslides, but it was normal.

Overall a satisfying driving experience.
Will be going back in about six weeks time.

manim · 26th January 2010, 17:12

Here is a cute looking Nano next to my Civic, at Ooty, Hotel Preethi Classic.
So Nano with its tiny size and engine meant for the city can climb the ghats successfully!

13th December 2009, 20:33	#76
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Nilgiris Posts: 1,963 Thanked: 204 Times View My Garage	Kotagiri- Mettupalayam-Coimbatore- 2 Hours Max. If you want to enter Coonoor from Mettupalayam highway, there is a short cut from Aravenu. Will bring you straight to Bandishola, just 3 kms above Sims park.
	() Thanks

13th December 2009, 21:07	#77
pjay_in BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 396 Thanked: 20 Times	Thanks a lot, laluks and beejay. That was quick and perfect. So I can start at 7 am and still reach Palghat before 4 pm. And I can drop Sims park from the list and save some good time too. I am not very keen on gardens, unless they have something more to offer.
	() Thanks

15th December 2009, 18:37	#79
manim BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN69 Posts: 820 Thanked: 916 Times	Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ketti Just back from a long drive: Tuticorin-Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ketti. Covered 928 kms in less than two days. FE was 13.1 for the whole trip. Car is Civic-AT. Too tired now to post, going to take a long sleep and will post again later . However here are some quick details: Mettupalayam-Kothagiri-Coonoor - good roads. But very-heavy traffic. Had to crawl with a huge convoy of vehicles many times (A lorry trying to overtaking another lorry will hold back miles of traffic following them for a long time!). Coonoor-Ketti: Was diverted twice, first through mount-pleasant-road and then through a long dirt-track near cordite-factory (I think). But when coming back, regular route was open (One-way). Overall the experience was good with no traffic-jams except for the heavy-traffic.
	() Thanks

16th December 2009, 16:38	#80
mogambo BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 138 Thanked: 38 Times	Hi - Great thread - thanks for the useful updates.. 1) Any new updates on Metupalayam - Coonoor Road? Is the direct road accessible by cars for 2-way traffic? 2) I've never been to Coonoor - thinking of a day there en-route to Palakkad (from BLR) around Christmas day. Appreciate any pointers for a reasonably priced place to stay with family. Thanks, all
	() Thanks

5th January 2010, 22:18	#83
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Nilgiris Posts: 1,963 Thanked: 204 Times View My Garage	Ooty- Coonoor road is now open.
	() Thanks

6th January 2010, 12:50	#86
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Nilgiris Posts: 1,963 Thanked: 204 Times View My Garage	LMV are allowed from Mettupalyam to Coonoor on the highway. One way, only uphill till Jan 14. Jan 14 traffic allowed both sides. Last edited by beejay : 6th January 2010 at 13:04.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2010, 19:16	#87
manim BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN69 Posts: 820 Thanked: 916 Times	Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty I will be driving Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty in a few hours from now (school drop). On Pongal (Jan-14th) it was put in the Newspapers that Buryilar road had been opened for one-way only, and within 10 days will be two-way. It is now nearing 10 days and I hope my return will not be through Kothagiri. Will post road conditions on my return.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2010, 10:27	#88
beejay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Nilgiris Posts: 1,963 Thanked: 204 Times View My Garage	Well. Its officially one way now. Uphill traffic is open Mettupalyam. Downhill is via Kotagiri. And guys driving up, please be wary. Some cars bribe the cops and go downhill. So do not assume it is one way and go right on the corners. Last edited by beejay : 23rd January 2010 at 10:45.
	() Thanks

25th January 2010, 20:17	#89
manim BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN69 Posts: 820 Thanked: 916 Times	Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Ooty Back from Ooty a few hours back. Climbed up on 23rd via Burliyar which was one-way. So low-stress! and enjoyed the drive (There were many two-wheelers and few cars coming down anyway). After Coonoor it was two-way. There were only minor views regarding the landslides-damage. The Govt has done a good job rebuilding . Road surface was excellent. (A few years back there were huge pot-holes). Today morning started downhill at 5 am from Ooty on the Kothagiri road and reached Mettupalayam at 6:15 am. Near zero traffic, so enjoyed the drive. (Normally there is a continuous stream of lorries coming uphill this early, but today there were nearly none). My car showed a low outside temperature reading as 4 deg Centigrade! (Civic-AT). When I came to my car to start it, ice had formed on my front and rear windshields . I poured some warm water to clean it. I started very early to avoid traffic on the ghat-roads. Yesterday took the road from Ooty to Ketti (Laidlaw school) via Lovedale railway station. I was worried that this road may have been damaged by the recent landslides, but it was normal. Overall a satisfying driving experience. Will be going back in about six weeks time.
	() Thanks

26th January 2010, 17:12	#90
manim BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN69 Posts: 820 Thanked: 916 Times	Nano at Ooty Here is a cute looking Nano next to my Civic, at Ooty, Hotel Preethi Classic. So Nano with its tiny size and engine meant for the city can climb the ghats successfully! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks