Kodaikanal travel, road conditions

floyd · 7th December 2009, 14:22

@neeraj_125: Hey, I would personally not really recommend Villa Retreat. I think Kodai International/Carlton offers much better amenities & service for similar price range. I was charged around 2.5K per night for 2 persons, no food or sightseeing included. Not even breakfast. These guys charge a premium just because it is located on Coaker's walk, and there is a valley view. Predictably, the place has mostly firangis staying. For us Indians, paisa-vasool & value-for-money is more important

. You can see my travelogue posted here.

@gopikb: The scenic part is between Palani & Kodai. Rest of the roads dont have much to see. I guess even the Batlagundu to Kodai stretch should be scenic. Considering this, I think we could definitely try the Salem-Dindigul route. On the way back, I was kind of guessing that the Salem route must be better, since the roads were 4 laned. But I stuck to the TBHP route.

gopikb · 7th December 2009, 15:20

Hi floyd, Thanks for your advise here. I was planning to visit the Palani temple enroute to Kodai which was one of the motivation is driving the Mettur - Palani route to kodai. Now I am reworking the strategy to drive upto Vedasandur in 4-lane and take a right at NH207 to Palani. Let me see how it works.

By the way, I need your advise on the Palani temple visit. How crowded was the temple and is it ok if I assume just 2 hours for the complete darshan. I know it depends a lot on the day and festivals. I am planning to visit on 24th Dec which is a working day and hence I guess the crowd should be normal.

mohan41 · 19th September 2010, 22:53

Hi,

I am planning a trip to Kodaikanal (from Bangalore) sometime in October. I would like to know whether it is a good time to visit there, will it be too cold? How are the road conditions? I am planning to do the Hosur-Salem-Dharapuram-Palani route as it seems the shortest route.

thanks,
Mohan.

ampere · 20th September 2010, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mohan41

Hi,

I am planning a trip to Kodaikanal (from Bangalore) sometime in October. I would like to know whether it is a good time to visit there, will it be too cold? How are the road conditions? I am planning to do the Hosur-Salem-Dharapuram-Palani route as it seems the shortest route.

thanks,
Mohan.

If you are used to Bangalore weather, it should be fine. Dont take the Palani route. Drive on NH7 till Dindigul and then divert to Batlagundu.
Its much easier to do it that way

jkrishnakj · 20th September 2010, 09:20

My colleague just came back from Kodai yesterday night. The weather is very pleasant, not too cold is what he says. October should remain more or less the same and hopefully, shouldnt be raining that time.

Agree with Ampere - dont take the Palani route. Dindigul-Vathlagundu-Kodai is a better road.

pypkmsrikanth · 20th September 2010, 10:39

My brother did Bangalore - Dindigul in about 5 1/2 hours with very decent speeds with no stress, and the road condition from then on to Kodai is also good.

luvurride · 20th September 2010, 15:16

The Dindigul route will be atleast about 50km longer than the Palani route if you are traveling from Bangalore. Plus the roads, though 2 laned, are pretty decent throughout the Perundurai-Kangeyam-Dharapuram-Palani stretch. And Palani-Kodaikanal is newly laid after last year's monsoon and excellent.

mohan41 · 20th September 2010, 22:19

Thank you guys for your inputs. Can you also suggest some good hotels along NH7 for lunch/breakfast?

ampere · 21st September 2010, 07:50

Before Krishnagiri, a host of hotels of your side of the highway, while going towards Salem. A2B. Kamat, Coffee Day Meenakshi Bhavan etc.
Just that you may hit them too soon. Only CCD is 24X7.

Near Thoppur on the opposite side of the road is A2B. (This is before the Mettur road crossing).

At Salem you have to get into the city to get a hotel. Close to the bus stand there is Sarava Bhavan (Not the famous one.
This is different one. No parking though. You need to park in front of the hotel)

Beyond Salem not much on the Highway all the way till Dindigul. Not aware of the recent status.

bijuks · 21st September 2010, 09:44

@ampere has listed down all options available till Salem -

At Salem, you have one hotel in the circle that comes after NH47 (Palakkad) turn-off/ramp. It's on the right hand side on hitting the circle. Decent food. This is the place where I have seen so many KA registration cars parked.

After Salem - next option is Vattalgundu. Once you enter the town, there is a signal and you need to take right towards Kodai/Theni. Just some 50 meters ahead, you have one Saravana Bhavan on the right side. Keep watching closely or you may miss it. It's a small hotel with limited parking space in front. Had breakfast there last saturday. Quality is ok. Restrooms - not very neat.

I started @ 4:30 last saturday from BLR and reached Vattalgundu at 9:30am. On return, started from Vattalgundu at 6:30pm and reached Marathahalli at 12:00 midnight. Kodai turn-off is around 5 Kms from Vattalgundu town towards right.

Lightening-Fast · 21st September 2010, 10:39

I had done Bangalore Kodai last month(I know a travelogue is still pending!!!). I could this entire stretch in 8 hours stretch door to door. Take the NH7 till Dindigul and then onto Batlangudu and a right that leads to Ghat roads. Roads are good all the way till Kodai. As ampere said, there are limited options after salem till Dindigul. Except the speed thrills, there is really nothing to see or experience on NH7.

mykal shoemaker · 22nd September 2010, 21:45

I'd also suggest the Bangalore-Salem-Dindigul-Vatalagundu(batalgundu)-Kodaikkanal route.

I did a Bangalore--Ooty--Kodai trip recently and did many trips on Bangalore -Madurai stretch.

Detailed travalogue :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...oon-rains.html

Its very smooth road and it is always safe to go through good highway than going through short cuts. On long journeys the facilities NHs provide,won't be available everywhere.

As the roads are in good condition, a 5 hour journey will take you to Dindigul.

mohan41 · 16th October 2010, 11:40

Thanks to your inputs again. I took the Dindigul route from Bangalore to Kodai last weekend. It was indeed very convenient and I didnt feel tired. I reached Dindigul in 6 hours and then it took nearly 1 hour 45 min to reach Kodai from there. Total toll paid along the NH7 is about Rs.250 (one way), which i think is really worth it. I will try to post a detailed travelogue soon.

7th December 2009, 14:22	#16
floyd BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 182 Thanked: 90 Times	@neeraj_125: Hey, I would personally not really recommend Villa Retreat. I think Kodai International/Carlton offers much better amenities & service for similar price range. I was charged around 2.5K per night for 2 persons, no food or sightseeing included. Not even breakfast. These guys charge a premium just because it is located on Coaker's walk, and there is a valley view. Predictably, the place has mostly firangis staying. For us Indians, paisa-vasool & value-for-money is more important . You can see my travelogue posted here. @gopikb: The scenic part is between Palani & Kodai. Rest of the roads dont have much to see. I guess even the Batlagundu to Kodai stretch should be scenic. Considering this, I think we could definitely try the Salem-Dindigul route. On the way back, I was kind of guessing that the Salem route must be better, since the roads were 4 laned. But I stuck to the TBHP route. Last edited by floyd : 7th December 2009 at 14:33.
	() Thanks

7th December 2009, 15:20	#17
gopikb BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 554 Thanked: 390 Times	Hi floyd, Thanks for your advise here. I was planning to visit the Palani temple enroute to Kodai which was one of the motivation is driving the Mettur - Palani route to kodai. Now I am reworking the strategy to drive upto Vedasandur in 4-lane and take a right at NH207 to Palani. Let me see how it works. By the way, I need your advise on the Palani temple visit. How crowded was the temple and is it ok if I assume just 2 hours for the complete darshan. I know it depends a lot on the day and festivals. I am planning to visit on 24th Dec which is a working day and hence I guess the crowd should be normal.
	() Thanks

19th September 2010, 22:53	#18
mohan41 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 527 Thanked: 217 Times	Hi, I am planning a trip to Kodaikanal (from Bangalore) sometime in October. I would like to know whether it is a good time to visit there, will it be too cold? How are the road conditions? I am planning to do the Hosur-Salem-Dharapuram-Palani route as it seems the shortest route. thanks, Mohan.
	() Thanks

20th September 2010, 09:20	#20
jkrishnakj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,667 Thanked: 4,139 Times	My colleague just came back from Kodai yesterday night. The weather is very pleasant, not too cold is what he says. October should remain more or less the same and hopefully, shouldnt be raining that time. Agree with Ampere - dont take the Palani route. Dindigul-Vathlagundu-Kodai is a better road.
	() Thanks

20th September 2010, 10:39	#21
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	My brother did Bangalore - Dindigul in about 5 1/2 hours with very decent speeds with no stress, and the road condition from then on to Kodai is also good.
	() Thanks

20th September 2010, 15:16	#22
luvurride BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 661 Thanked: 578 Times View My Garage	The Dindigul route will be atleast about 50km longer than the Palani route if you are traveling from Bangalore. Plus the roads, though 2 laned, are pretty decent throughout the Perundurai-Kangeyam-Dharapuram-Palani stretch. And Palani-Kodaikanal is newly laid after last year's monsoon and excellent.
	() Thanks

20th September 2010, 22:19	#23
mohan41 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 527 Thanked: 217 Times	Thank you guys for your inputs. Can you also suggest some good hotels along NH7 for lunch/breakfast?
	() Thanks

21st September 2010, 07:50	#24
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,952 Thanked: 12,944 Times View My Garage	Before Krishnagiri, a host of hotels of your side of the highway, while going towards Salem. A2B. Kamat, Coffee Day Meenakshi Bhavan etc. Just that you may hit them too soon. Only CCD is 24X7. Near Thoppur on the opposite side of the road is A2B. (This is before the Mettur road crossing). At Salem you have to get into the city to get a hotel. Close to the bus stand there is Sarava Bhavan (Not the famous one. This is different one. No parking though. You need to park in front of the hotel) Beyond Salem not much on the Highway all the way till Dindigul. Not aware of the recent status.
	() Thanks

21st September 2010, 09:44	#25
bijuks BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 215 Thanked: 109 Times	@ampere has listed down all options available till Salem - At Salem, you have one hotel in the circle that comes after NH47 (Palakkad) turn-off/ramp. It's on the right hand side on hitting the circle. Decent food. This is the place where I have seen so many KA registration cars parked. After Salem - next option is Vattalgundu. Once you enter the town, there is a signal and you need to take right towards Kodai/Theni. Just some 50 meters ahead, you have one Saravana Bhavan on the right side. Keep watching closely or you may miss it. It's a small hotel with limited parking space in front. Had breakfast there last saturday. Quality is ok. Restrooms - not very neat. I started @ 4:30 last saturday from BLR and reached Vattalgundu at 9:30am. On return, started from Vattalgundu at 6:30pm and reached Marathahalli at 12:00 midnight. Kodai turn-off is around 5 Kms from Vattalgundu town towards right.
	() Thanks

21st September 2010, 10:39	#26
Lightening-Fast BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 251 Thanked: 11 Times	I had done Bangalore Kodai last month(I know a travelogue is still pending!!!). I could this entire stretch in 8 hours stretch door to door. Take the NH7 till Dindigul and then onto Batlangudu and a right that leads to Ghat roads. Roads are good all the way till Kodai. As ampere said, there are limited options after salem till Dindigul. Except the speed thrills, there is really nothing to see or experience on NH7.
	() Thanks

22nd September 2010, 21:45	#27
mykal shoemaker BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 255 Thanked: 58 Times	I'd also suggest the Bangalore-Salem-Dindigul-Vatalagundu(batalgundu)-Kodaikkanal route. I did a Bangalore--Ooty--Kodai trip recently and did many trips on Bangalore -Madurai stretch. Detailed travalogue : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...oon-rains.html Its very smooth road and it is always safe to go through good highway than going through short cuts. On long journeys the facilities NHs provide,won't be available everywhere. As the roads are in good condition, a 5 hour journey will take you to Dindigul.
	() Thanks

16th October 2010, 11:40	#28
mohan41 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 527 Thanked: 217 Times	Thanks to your inputs again. I took the Dindigul route from Bangalore to Kodai last weekend. It was indeed very convenient and I didnt feel tired. I reached Dindigul in 6 hours and then it took nearly 1 hour 45 min to reach Kodai from there. Total toll paid along the NH7 is about Rs.250 (one way), which i think is really worth it. I will try to post a detailed travelogue soon.
	() Thanks