Re: Route Queries - South India Road Trip in May 2011 NH4 till Dharwad.
Dharwad to Ankola take NH63.At Ankola take a left and you are now on NH17.NH17 is in excellent shape till Kundapur.After Kundapur,the road is in tatters at the moment all the way till Kasargod,due to 4 laning.From Kundapur,traffic density increases and progress will be slow all the way till Alleppey.
Stopover for the night at Kozhikode.Stay on NH17 till Edappally.At Edappally junction,you take a right and you are now on NH47.NH47 takes you to Alleppey.
Not sure if you really want to go to Kovalam,since you are seeing the same sea at Murudeshwar!(Arabian Sea).Alleppey to Kovalam is a long and exhaustive drive.In case you do want to go to Kovalam,continue on NH47 and it takes you there.
Also another point in question is,why would you want to do Alleppey and Kumarakom.Both are more or less part of the same backwater channel and there is really no clear distinction between the two places..Kumarakom being the more expensive option of the two as all the luxury resorts and houseboats originate from Kumarakom.
If you do want to go to K'kom,then retrace your path on NH47 from Kovalam back to K'kom.From there climb upto Munnar via two routes.Either take the NH49 and go via Muvvatupuzha or else drive via Kottayam-Pala.NH49 would be a better option.
Munnar-Sawantwadi,the route is Munnar to Eddapally and then onto NH17 all the way till Sawantwadi.You can do a stopover at at Udupi on Day 1 or at Turtle Bay Resort at Marvanthe and enjoy the sea front.
IMHO,it would be good if you can replan in the following manner:
Mumbai-Murudeshwar
Murudeshwar-Alleppey.This is going to be a very long drive for 1day.Suggest instead stopover at Kozhikode and continue onwards to Alleppey.
Alleppey-Kumarokom
Kumarakom-Kovalam
Kovalam-Munnar
Munnar-Udupi
Udupi-Sawantwadi |