[Latheesh]

@gearedup -
1) There is no driving restriction - do not worry
2) There are few hotels in Iritty itself you can try that. I have no idea about hotel options in Irikkur town.

I started from Electronic city @ 2.45 PM yesterday and reached Kannur @ 10.30 PM (took 1 hr dinner+tea break). Potholes between Yelwal and Hunsur SH are repaired now, but did not see much improvement on pending road work between Hunsur-Gonikoppa stretch. But as others said you can manage with any vehicles.

Road is damaged at few places between Iritty and Mattanur, thanks to heavy rain.

[sivadas]

Came back from Kannur today. Onward journey (on 2nd October) was beautiful as I took the Kanakpura route(my new found love!)in the morning. In fact, at NICE road toll booth I had taken coupon for Mysore road. But seeing the huge number of cars already on the road (even at 5.30am), took the Kanakpura road exit. Only grouse with this route would be the lack of proper rest room/restaurant options. Nothing new on the bad stretch of Hunsur-Gonikoppal route. Unfortunately no work is happening now, do not know why :(
While returning (today), took Mysore road itself. Traffic was quite heavy (for an afternoon), but manageable. As a vegetarian, extremely happy to have A2B on this route now. I cannot tolerate the Adiga's, Kamats etc when it comes to Dosas, Sambar & Chutney..

[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by sivadas

Onward journey (on 2nd October) was beautiful as I took the Kanakpura route(my new found love!)in the morning. In fact, at NICE road toll booth I had taken coupon for Mysore road. But seeing the huge number of cars already on the road (even at 5.30am), took the Kanakpura road exit. Only grouse with this route would be the lack of proper rest room/restaurant options. Nothing new on the bad stretch of Hunsur-Gonikoppal route. Unfortunately no work is happening now, do not know why :(
While returning (today), took Mysore road itself. Traffic was quite heavy (for an afternoon), but manageable. As a vegetarian, extremely happy to have A2B on this route now. I cannot tolerate the Adiga's, Kamats etc when it comes to Dosas, Sambar & Chutney..

Sivadas, Hows the road condition Malavalli - Bannur - Mysore..? Have you taken this route? Earlier I heard that at Bannur, the road is small and not in good condition in the town limit.

Yes, A2B is a good choice now. It actually a food court and there are other options too.

[sivadas]

Originally Posted by RajeshK

Sivadas, Hows the road condition Malavalli - Bannur - Mysore..? Have you taken this route? Earlier I heard that at Bannur, the road is small and not in good condition in the town limit.

Yes, A2B is a good choice now. It actually a food court and there are other options too.

I went by Malavalli - Bannur - Mysore route only. Yes, post Malavalli, there are many humps and road surface is a bit rough at places. Inside Bannur town, road is not good and is quite narrow, but that is hardly for some 500 meters. What I feel is that this route is good only during morning times as villages become active and chaotic later (especially in the evening).

[DieselFan]

Planning to go to Kannur for a holiday during Deepavali. Any suggestions on the road conditions and route to be taken. Also planning to leave early in the morning need suggestion on breakfast (Hunsur or beyond) and Veg restaurants in Kannur (For Lunch and Dinner).

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DieselFan

Planning to go to Kannur for a holiday during Deepavali. Any suggestions on the road conditions and route to be taken. Also planning to leave early in the morning need suggestion on breakfast (Hunsur or beyond) and Veg restaurants in Kannur (For Lunch and Dinner).

- Kalyani : Mysore ORR
- Cafe coorg: Hunsur Bypass
- CCD : Periyapatna.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by DieselFan

Planning to go to Kannur for a holiday during Deepavali. Any suggestions on the road conditions and route to be taken. Also planning to leave early in the morning need suggestion on breakfast (Hunsur or beyond) and Veg restaurants in Kannur (For Lunch and Dinner).

Best route as of now is via Mandya-Mysore ORR-Hunsur-Thithimathi-Gonikoppal-Virajpet(bypass)-Makkuta ghat-Iritty-Mattannur-Kannur.
roads are in good condition throughout except around 7km between Hunsur and Gonikoppal, and a few patches between Mattannur and Kannur. The bad stretches are very much manageable, and you can easily do this stretch in 6-7 hours with sedate driving.

For breakfast, the best bet would be Cafe County, Hunsur if you leave Bangalore by , say 4.30 AM. If you plan to leave late, there are plenty of excellent restaurants between Bangalore and Mysore.
There are very few pure veg restaurants in Kannur - I can only think of a few like Dakshin, sree vaishnavi, Quality, Aquaris, Gowrishankar etc. Among them, Dakshin which is in south Bazaar is the better bet with parking etc. However all other major restaurants do serve pure veg food also and If you don't mind having veg food from a non veg restaurant, there are plenty of such hotels.

I will pm you my number. Feel free to call for any help.

Originally Posted by ampere

- Kalyani : Mysore ORR
- Cafe coorg: Hunsur Bypass
- CCD : Periyapatna.

Cafe coorg is now Cafe county. taken over by a Kannur based group and rebranded. No need to go to Periyapatna now that Hunsur-Gonikopal road is almost ok.

[Latheesh]

There is a new Cafe Coorg @ Gonikoppal (after crossing town) when you are going towards Kannur.

I am starting from Bangalore tomorrow evening

[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

There is a new Cafe Coorg @ Gonikoppal (after crossing town) when you are going towards Kannur.

I am starting from Bangalore tomorrow evening

Latheesh, its not new any more. This is operational atleast from last April'14. I took a break there during that time.

Thanks
Rajesh

[Latheesh]

Yes Rajesh, we too started taking break there since June'14.

I'll be starting @ 4PM from Bangalore and will take Mysore road. Hope to reach Srirangapatna in 3 hours. I am not familiar with Kanakapura-Malavalli route.

[sivadas]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Yes Rajesh, we too started taking break there since June'14.

I'll be starting @ 4PM from Bangalore and will take Mysore road. Hope to reach Srirangapatna in 3 hours. I am not familiar with Kanakapura-Malavalli route.

If you are starting in the evening, taking Kanakapura-Malavalli route is not good. It will be quite crowded with people, cattle, dogs and countless number of deadly two wheeler riders

[Latheesh]

Started from Ecity-Bangalore @ 3.15 PM and reached Kannur @ 10.45 PM (1 hour break). Bad stretch between Hunsur and Gonikoppal is almost same except metalling under progress in couple of kilometers, watch out for few new speed breakers.

Surprisingly Bangalore-Srirangapatna drive was smooth.

[igniteddriver]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

...Bad stretch between Hunsur and Gonikoppal is almost same except metalling under progress in couple of kilometers, watch out for few new speed breakers.

There are five speed breakers in total, two of them in pairs, near a school and a small village. Asphalting is going on in the remaining stretch with 6.5 kms left to be done.
I reached Payyanur in 8 hours, 1.5 hours break included.

[sandsun7]

Had done Bangalore-Kannur a week ago. work was going on in the 7 km stretch , but the pace seems to be slow. not much machinery was found. Around 4-5 km of the 7 km stretch has lot of loose stones and is dusty. remaining is leveled and smooth. Luckily no potholes. pics below:

The leveled surface:


The rough surface with loose stones:


rest of the stretch is in fantastic condition. As igniteddriver said, there are a few unmarked humps. I saw a brio coming at high speed 'fly' over one of them after he failed to notice it.

[Latheesh]

Did Bangalore-Kannur drive yesterday, started from Ecity at 2.30PM and reached Kannur at 10.30 PM (incl 1 hr break). Now the bad stretch is around 5 KM and work is going at a slow pace. It can be easily managed with any vehicles.