[jesrani]

Hi everyone. We are 2 couples planning to fly to Bangalore and go to Coorg for 4 nights in December, stay at Club Mahindra in Madikeri. I am thinking of taking a Zoom self-drive cab. Please let me know the route and the road conditions. It is worth a self-drive. I regularly drive on highway, 150+150 kms every week, to and fro. Don't mind driving 300kms as long as it is a pleasure to drive. Please advice.

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by jesrani

Hi everyone. We are 2 couples planning to fly to Bangalore and go to Coorg for 4 nights in December, stay at Club Mahindra in Madikeri. I am thinking of taking a Zoom self-drive cab. Please let me know the route and the road conditions. It is worth a self-drive. I regularly drive on highway, 150+150 kms every week, to and fro. Don't mind driving 300kms as long as it is a pleasure to drive. Please advice.

Yes it is worth a drive!
The route is pretty straight forward as you can read in this thread.

If you plan on renting from Zoom at the airport, this is the route to follow:

BLR Airport->Exit towards Bangalore City->Turn Right at Hebbal Junction in ORR->Turn right into Tumkur Road->Enter NICE Road->Exit at Mysore Road->Turn Right at Mysore ORR(Columbia Asia Hospital Junction)->Enter Hunsur /Madikeri Road->Madikeri.

Club Mahindra has directions posted to their property once you enter Madikeri town.

Good roads throughout.

[jesrani]

Originally Posted by luvurride

Yes it is worth a drive!
The route is pretty straight forward as you can read in this thread.

If you plan on renting from Zoom at the airport, this is the route to follow:

BLR Airport->Exit towards Bangalore City->Turn Right at Hebbal Junction in ORR->Turn right into Tumkur Road->Enter NICE Road->Exit at Mysore Road->Turn Right at Mysore ORR(Columbia Asia Hospital Junction)->Enter Hunsur /Madikeri Road->Madikeri.

Club Mahindra has directions posted to their property once you enter Madikeri town.

Good roads throughout.

How much time does it take to reach Coorg from Bangalore? Are there speed restrictions on Zoom cars?

[bsdbsd]

Originally Posted by jesrani

How much time does it take to reach Coorg from Bangalore? Are there speed restrictions on Zoom cars?

Between 5-6 hours for a relaxed drive. In fact, I slow down whenever I drive to Coorg because the drive gets over soon. Roads are good throughout.

Try Virajapet resort for a more modern setting. Madikeri resort is set in total jungle, fantastic as well. Carry your own tipple, as the resort bar is closed due to license issues (Dont want to encourage alchoholism, but just mentioned this as a matter of fact).

Originally Posted by luvurride

BLR Airport->Exit towards Bangalore City->Turn Right at Hebbal Junction in ORR->Turn right into Tumkur Road->Enter NICE Road->Exit at Mysore Road->Turn Right at Mysore ORR(Columbia Asia Hospital Junction)->Enter Hunsur /Madikeri Road->Madikeri.

luvurride's directions are perfect, and the most important step is to 'Turn Right at Mysore ORR(Columbia Asia Hospital Junction)'. There is a reason why he has mentioned this. The reason is, GPS' maps may try to direct you through a 'shortcut' at SriRangapattana. Ignore it, and just persist on the state highway until you hit Columbia Asia junCtion, and turn right, and then follow GPS.

[jesrani]

Originally Posted by bsdbsd

Between 5-6 hours for a relaxed drive. In fact, I slow down whenever I drive to Coorg because the drive gets over soon. Roads are good throughout.

Try Virajapet resort for a more modern setting. Madikeri resort is set in total jungle, fantastic as well. Carry your own tipple, as the resort bar is closed due to license issues (Dont want to encourage alchoholism, but just mentioned this as a matter of fact).



luvurride's directions are perfect, and the most important step is to 'Turn Right at Mysore ORR(Columbia Asia Hospital Junction)'. There is a reason why he has mentioned this. The reason is, GPS' maps may try to direct you through a 'shortcut' at SriRangapattana. Ignore it, and just persist on the state highway until you hit Columbia Asia junCtion, and turn right, and then follow GPS.

Well I am a teetotaler but my friend will definitely be interested in your advice

Thanks for the route advice, will keep it in mind.

[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by bsdbsd

luvurride's directions are perfect, and the most important step is to 'Turn Right at Mysore ORR(Columbia Asia Hospital Junction)'. There is a reason why he has mentioned this. The reason is, GPS' maps may try to direct you through a 'shortcut' at SriRangapattana. Ignore it, and just persist on the state highway until you hit Columbia Asia junCtion, and turn right, and then follow GPS.

Taking the SriRangapattana - Eliwala route is not a bad decision. I used to take this as its shorter by 8-10km, scenic, no traffic, and very less road humps. The only issue is a railway cross at the begining. The ORR is not fully done and there are deviations + numerous road humps. Some of them are really huge.

The SriRangapattana - Eliwala route is little rough and recently some patch work has done. I have taken this route last week.

[jesrani]

Originally Posted by RajeshK

Taking the SriRangapattana - Eliwala route is not a bad decision. I used to take this as its shorter by 8-10km, scenic, no traffic, and very less road humps. The only issue is a railway cross at the begining. The ORR is not fully done and there are deviations + numerous road humps. Some of them are really huge.

The SriRangapattana - Eliwala route is little rough and recently some patch work has done. I have taken this route last week.

What are the areas around Coorg worth visiting?

[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by jesrani

What are the areas around Coorg worth visiting?

I may not be the right person to answer this. Though I have crossed Coorg district numerous times, I hardly stops anywhere for sight seeing.
I think the main places of interests are Golden Temple @ Bylakuppe, Dubare Elephant camp, Raja Seat, Talacauvery (place that is generally considered to be the source of the river Kaveri), Irupu falls etc.

Thanks
Rajesh

[prasad14]

Hi,

I wanted to know the most scenic route from Madikeri-Nagarahole. Its a trip on Bullet, so I'm not looking at the best route, but the one that is more scenic. I see 2-3 options:
1.Madikeri-Virajpete-Gonikoppa-Nagarahole
2.Madikeri-Ammathi-Gonikoppa-Nagarahole
3.Madikeri-Siddapura-Gonikoppa-Nagarahole

Also, how is the road condition from Nagarahole-Hunasuru?

Prasad

[Pakman]

Originally Posted by jesrani

What are the areas around Coorg worth visiting?

Within Coorg:
Abbi Falls
Raja Seat
Omkareshwara Temple
Bhagamandala sangama
Talacauvery
Thadiyendamol Peak
Chelavara Falls

Around Coorg:
Bylakuppe Golden temple +Tibetan settlement
Dubare Elephant camp
Nisargadhama

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by prasad14

1.Madikeri-Virajpete-Gonikoppa-Nagarahole
2.Madikeri-Ammathi-Gonikoppa-Nagarahole
3.Madikeri-Siddapura-Gonikoppa-Nagarahole

Madikeri - Virajpet and Madikeri - Siddapura is almost similar scenary wise, I too have done the same route in bullet couple of years back. However I have not gone towards Gonikoppa hence can not comment on road conditions there.

Also, where in Nagarhole are you headed to, since safari entry is around here I guess. So riding via Hunsur side may be easier.

[prasad14]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Madikeri - Virajpet and Madikeri - Siddapura is almost similar scenary wise, I too have done the same route in bullet couple of years back. However I have not gone towards Gonikoppa hence can not comment on road conditions there.

Also, where in Nagarhole are you headed to, since safari entry is around here I guess. So riding via Hunsur side may be easier.

Thanks. Isn't the point you mentioned is on Manathawadi-Mysore Road? The safari close to this point would be the one in Kabini lodges, is my guess. Anyways, I'd be on a long ride, so no safaris etc., After entering Nagarahole from Coorg, I'll proceed to Hunasur, but on the other one.

Prasad

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by prasad14

Thanks. Isn't the point you mentioned is on Manathawadi-Mysore Road? The safari close to this point would be the one in Kabini lodges, is my guess.

Yes, that is while coming on Manthawadi - Mysore road. I have mentioned the approximate location based on sigh boards there, I am not able to recollect the exact safari start point since it was few years back.

Jungle lodges safari is on another side. They take you inside the forest around here . In satellite view you can see a high tension cable cutting across forest in this area, the jeep safari of Jungle lodges is along this cable.

[luvurride]

I had a dash to Coorg last weekend. Tried both routes - through Mysore/Hunsur on the way and ChannarayaPatna/Kunigal/Nelamangala on the return.

Onward took about 6.30 hours from Whitefield with final destination being Ammathi. Started@3.30pm and reached by 10pm with few sporadic stops totalling to 30 mins.

Return took the same time of 6.30 hours from Ammathi to Thanisandra. Add about 30 more mins to reach Whitefield. There were stops of about 45 mins in between.

The Madikeri-Somwarpet-Shanivarsanthe-Arakalgud-CPatna is fabulous now with negligible traffic.

So it makes sense to take this route if your origin is North Bangalore. If it is South, better to stick to Mysore road.

Frankly, for sheer driving pleasure, I loved the CPatna route with the innumerous speed bumps spoiling it all the way till Madikeri in the Mysore route.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by luvurride

The Madikeri-Somwarpet-Shanivarsanthe-Arakalgud-CPatna is fabulous now with negligible traffic.

Originally Posted by NPV

At Holenarasipura turn right, cross the railway track and then your're on the moon/mars for 2Km only mud and gravel bumpy ride till the Government Polytechnic. From here the surface magically improves.

NPV looks like you missed some road section. Contrasting views here.