Highway through bandipur and MooleHole : Closed now for night traffic

hvkumar · 19th February 2009, 08:52

Anyway, I will know the reality since I am planning to drive through the Bandipur-Mudumalai-Gudalur-Nilambur road this weekend. In the meantime, if anyone has any further info on current status, please let me know so that I can change my route.

hellstar · 19th February 2009, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Anyway, I will know the reality since I am planning to drive through the Bandipur-Mudumalai-Gudalur-Nilambur road this weekend. In the meantime, if anyone has any further info on current status, please let me know so that I can change my route.

No need to worry i was travelling through this strech last week end and there are no restrictions, except for the fact that they have stepped up the rigour in checking at the check posts , while passing i saw a tourist sumo with all its baggage pulled out and under side of seats being checked . This was at the Tamilnadu check post.

As usual road conditions are pathetic from gundulpet to almost Bandipur but after that the roads have been patched up , the ride is still rough. The bright side is that most of the huge craters between Mudumalai and Gudalur were being patched up. And watch out of the rumbler strips between Mysore and Gundulpet they number about 25 some you may dismiss as a nuisance but some are real back breakers so what out , but i think tht would be applicable only if you are in a car it would be irrelavent in you scorpio :-)

mrajank · 23rd February 2009, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Anyway, I will know the reality since I am planning to drive through the Bandipur-Mudumalai-Gudalur-Nilambur road this weekend. In the meantime, if anyone has any further info on current status, please let me know so that I can change my route.

Dear Mr.Kumar
Hope you did get to do this route over the weekend.

I am planning to drive from Ooty to Mysore on the 28th and was wondering if my Civic will take this route, especially the stretches that are reported to be very bumpy and back breakers on the Gundalpet stretch.

Please advice

Regards
Rajan

hvkumar · 23rd February 2009, 20:22

No, unfortunately I had to cancel my trip.
But rest assured, the road is quite OK, despite the bad patches around Bandipur. Just go it slow and your car will be OK.

mrajank · 24th February 2009, 08:45

Thanks for the advice

Will revert with photo's of the stretch after i return

regards
Rajan

mrajank · 2nd March 2009, 14:42

Hi

Sadly, i had to cancel this trip as well.

Had planned for Waynad from Ooty and from there to Mysore but the forest fires have forced the closure of the Waynad sanctuary from y/day. Read the link with more details...

The Hindu : Kerala / Kalpetta News : Forest fires: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary closed

Rajan

nutmello · 8th June 2009, 18:49

hi all
it has become a Governament order. high way thro bandipur forest to go to Ooty and Gudalur and also high way thro Muthanga forest to Sultan bathery will be closed from 10th of this month between 9 pm till 6 am for all vehicles except for ambulances. so plan accordingly.

pranava999 · 8th June 2009, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutmello

hi all
it has become a Governament order. high way thro bandipur forest to go to Ooty and Gudalur and also high way thro Muthanga forest to Sultan bathery will be closed from 10th of this month between 9 pm till 6 am for all vehicles except for ambulances. so plan accordingly.

Any idea till when? That would also be very useful

ravibhat · 8th June 2009, 19:39

Untill order is taken back or some stay comes in road will be closed in night time as specified which is good move keeping Animal safety in mind.

There were lot of accidents involving animals and now govarnment has taken good decision.

I do agree traffic will be affected but this is government order. Also road improvement work in Karnataka's major roads is in full swing, So expect better Karnataka in 15 months If everything goes according to plan!

Regards,

Ravi.

maddy42 · 8th June 2009, 22:36

Good move that they made it 9pm rather than 6 pm. Well animals really need some breathing space but i doubt the agitations happening is from a lobby.
This is as i stay in a place which can be reached from mysore only after crossing forests unless i want to make a round trip which will make me travel 80 kms more. Does it make sense to anyone? Well doesnt atleast to me.
A bit OT the number of elephant death cases have increased. Any reasons why other than encroachments? No i guess!
Fact of matter is lots of new parts of the forests in and around nagarhole has teak planted which doesnt serve as food for the elephants. Thats the reason they enter estates. Last week itself there was a woman who was killed by one.
There are mistakes done but by everyone so please dont point fingers only at one section of them

Sportsmind · 8th June 2009, 23:03

When did this happen. Does this mean to only route to calicut gundulpet via s bathery/ kalpetta is closed from 9 p.m to 6 a.m. What happens to the entire line up tourist buses that depart blore at 9 p.m. Kindly confirm so i can make alternative plans when i do my next trip to calicut.

nutmello · 9th June 2009, 10:27

the rule will be enforced from 10th of this month. tourist and night buses will have to change the timings. KSRTC has already changed the timing of buses to ernakulam ( via mysore) and TVM and Calicut. So must plan journey like wise. mind you, no good lodges to stay near forest gate on both sides of high way. if late best to stay in mysore or other side of forest in kerala or tamilnadu.

hvkumar · 9th June 2009, 10:50

Any idea where the checkposts will be? I can imagine one will be after Gundulpet town till Suntan's Battery, the other till Kalhatti and Gudalur. Currently, teh Gudalur-Nilambur is open at night also, any news on that road?

Quite a blow for through-the-night Kerala travellers!

addyhemmige · 9th June 2009, 11:30

Its a good thing that they have closed the road at night. These 2 roads had so much bus and lorry traffic that no man could cross the road let alone an animal. This was affecting the animal movements in the area very badly. Most of the wild animals are mostly nocturnal and it was very bad for them with all the smoke, noise, idiotic drivers etc. I only hope that this order stays for some time. This kind of order should be replicated in all forested areas in the country. I won't say that this will save all wildlife, but it is atleast a step towards preserving whatever wildlife is left.

When the wildlife is forced to make compromises, why can't we??

Btw, I heard that only govt buses and vehicles of emergency services (police, ambulance etc) are allowed during those times.

pypkmsrikanth · 9th June 2009, 14:23

Hopefully it is implemented like the Nagarhole - Kutta road rather than the Masinagudi - Kalhatti road which opens up with some note in hand.

I read in DC today that the road in the Tamil Nadu side would not be closed, meaning you would be able to go up to Kakkanalla, imagine vehicles lined up on the road all the way from Kakkanalla border waiting until 6 AM, instead of encroaching by driving through the forests we would be encroaching the forests by getting vehicles spend all along the night bang in the middle of the forsest. What a sham that would be considering the stretch near the border is prime migratory path for animals.

19th February 2009, 08:52	#16
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Anyway, I will know the reality since I am planning to drive through the Bandipur-Mudumalai-Gudalur-Nilambur road this weekend. In the meantime, if anyone has any further info on current status, please let me know so that I can change my route.
	() Thanks

23rd February 2009, 20:22	#19
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	No, unfortunately I had to cancel my trip. But rest assured, the road is quite OK, despite the bad patches around Bandipur. Just go it slow and your car will be OK.
	() Thanks

24th February 2009, 08:45	#20
mrajank Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 8 Thanked: 0 Times	Thanks for the advice Will revert with photo's of the stretch after i return regards Rajan
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 14:42	#21
mrajank Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 8 Thanked: 0 Times	Waynad sector closed Hi Sadly, i had to cancel this trip as well. Had planned for Waynad from Ooty and from there to Mysore but the forest fires have forced the closure of the Waynad sanctuary from y/day. Read the link with more details... The Hindu : Kerala / Kalpetta News : Forest fires: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary closed Rajan
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 18:49	#22
nutmello BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mysore Posts: 102 Thanked: 175 Times	high way to ooty and waynad to be closed from 10th of june for night traffic hi all it has become a Governament order. high way thro bandipur forest to go to Ooty and Gudalur and also high way thro Muthanga forest to Sultan bathery will be closed from 10th of this month between 9 pm till 6 am for all vehicles except for ambulances. so plan accordingly.
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 19:39	#24
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	Untill order is taken back or some stay comes in road will be closed in night time as specified which is good move keeping Animal safety in mind. There were lot of accidents involving animals and now govarnment has taken good decision. I do agree traffic will be affected but this is government order. Also road improvement work in Karnataka's major roads is in full swing, So expect better Karnataka in 15 months If everything goes according to plan! Regards, Ravi.
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 22:36	#25
maddy42 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Coorg Posts: 2,131 Thanked: 1,328 Times View My Garage	Good move that they made it 9pm rather than 6 pm. Well animals really need some breathing space but i doubt the agitations happening is from a lobby. This is as i stay in a place which can be reached from mysore only after crossing forests unless i want to make a round trip which will make me travel 80 kms more. Does it make sense to anyone? Well doesnt atleast to me. A bit OT the number of elephant death cases have increased. Any reasons why other than encroachments? No i guess! Fact of matter is lots of new parts of the forests in and around nagarhole has teak planted which doesnt serve as food for the elephants. Thats the reason they enter estates. Last week itself there was a woman who was killed by one. There are mistakes done but by everyone so please dont point fingers only at one section of them
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 23:03	#26
Sportsmind BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 399 Thanked: 32 Times View My Garage	When did this happen. Does this mean to only route to calicut gundulpet via s bathery/ kalpetta is closed from 9 p.m to 6 a.m. What happens to the entire line up tourist buses that depart blore at 9 p.m. Kindly confirm so i can make alternative plans when i do my next trip to calicut.
	() Thanks

9th June 2009, 10:27	#27
nutmello BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: mysore Posts: 102 Thanked: 175 Times	the rule will be enforced from 10th of this month. tourist and night buses will have to change the timings. KSRTC has already changed the timing of buses to ernakulam ( via mysore) and TVM and Calicut. So must plan journey like wise. mind you, no good lodges to stay near forest gate on both sides of high way. if late best to stay in mysore or other side of forest in kerala or tamilnadu.
	() Thanks

9th June 2009, 10:50	#28
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Any idea where the checkposts will be? I can imagine one will be after Gundulpet town till Suntan's Battery, the other till Kalhatti and Gudalur. Currently, teh Gudalur-Nilambur is open at night also, any news on that road? Quite a blow for through-the-night Kerala travellers!
	() Thanks

9th June 2009, 11:30	#29
addyhemmige Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore/Hassan Posts: 1,527 Thanked: 487 Times View My Garage	Its a good thing that they have closed the road at night. These 2 roads had so much bus and lorry traffic that no man could cross the road let alone an animal. This was affecting the animal movements in the area very badly. Most of the wild animals are mostly nocturnal and it was very bad for them with all the smoke, noise, idiotic drivers etc. I only hope that this order stays for some time. This kind of order should be replicated in all forested areas in the country. I won't say that this will save all wildlife, but it is atleast a step towards preserving whatever wildlife is left. When the wildlife is forced to make compromises, why can't we?? Btw, I heard that only govt buses and vehicles of emergency services (police, ambulance etc) are allowed during those times.
	() Thanks

9th June 2009, 14:23	#30
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	Hopefully it is implemented like the Nagarhole - Kutta road rather than the Masinagudi - Kalhatti road which opens up with some note in hand. I read in DC today that the road in the Tamil Nadu side would not be closed, meaning you would be able to go up to Kakkanalla, imagine vehicles lined up on the road all the way from Kakkanalla border waiting until 6 AM, instead of encroaching by driving through the forests we would be encroaching the forests by getting vehicles spend all along the night bang in the middle of the forsest. What a sham that would be considering the stretch near the border is prime migratory path for animals.
	() Thanks