[rex_varghese]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Yes, there were such incidents in this stretch about 6 months back and the culprits were nabbed as per the reports from the newspapers. Off late, for the past 6 months, there were not any such reports of such incidents.

Originally Posted by sandsun7

There were a few incidences of mugging on that stretch. The culprits were caught later. All those incidents happened in the wee hours of the night, after 1 PM.

Thanks sandsun7 and balenoed_, for your useful posts. Appreciate it. I'll plan my trip accordingly.

Regards
Rex

[rex_varghese]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

Heard from few folks that the Hunsur - Gonikoppal - Virajpet - Iritty stretch is not safe for night driving as there were some unpleasant incidents. Anybody know the facts or how true these news are? I may have to make an evening/late evening trip over the weekend with family. So, wanted to be sure.

Did this trip over the weekend.

Onward journey was on Friday afternoon. Mysore Road is as usual a pain to survive, the metro work in the beginning has made it worse. Later part of Mysore road was relatively alright. The only positive side is Kamat Janapadaloka, for those who would like to try out the native Kannadiga fares on offer.

Yelawala stretch is partly done with excellent surface, but rest of the stretch compensates for the good roads. Some part of this bypass is really bad. You'll end up losing time and your car and your back will curse you at the end of it. Strongly recommend Mysore Ring Road route.

Road further is excellent with amazing surface, sparse traffic, and beautiful greenery all through. Ghat session never ceases to entice me. It was drizzling while we went down the ghats, there was fog on certain patches, mostly deserted, but the drive was excellent. Once you cross into Kerala, roads are not that great. There are pot holes and broken roads, especially on curves. So, better watch out.

Return trip was on Saturday afternoon. More or less uneventful journey. Ghat section was great as usual, with mild drizzle up in the hills. Took Mysore Ring Road to skip the Yelawala bypass. Taste of Neer dosa and Holige at Kamat Lokaruchi still lingering on the taste buds.

There was a lot of confusion and traffic pile up around Mysore Road metro station at around 8pm. We couldn't figure out what exactly was the cause.

Regards
Rex

[i20ian]

Hi.. Me and wife Planning to drive down from Kannur to Bangalore. Will start from Kannur at 12pm afternoon on Sunday and would like to reach Bangalore by 10.30pm. Please suggest different route options apart from regular Iritty gonikoppa Hunsur Mysore route.

[Superleggera]

Originally Posted by i20ian

Hi.. Me and wife Planning to drive down from Kannur to Bangalore. Will start from Kannur at 12pm afternoon on Sunday and would like to reach Bangalore by 10.30pm. Please suggest different route options apart from regular Iritty gonikoppa Hunsur Mysore route.

As you may already know, the road that you have suggested is the shortest anf you will reach on time.

Another options you can try is,

Kannur->Kanhangad->Bandadukka->Chamundikkunnu -> Balamthodu Rd, Bovikaanam-Mulleria Rd and Cherkala - Jalsoor - Sullia

There is a bypass road after Mavungal to Bandakukka, which bypass Poinachi and Karicheri and the roads are good till bandadukka.

A new road from Sullia to Bandadukka has been inaugurated, so its worth trying. Details here

PS: Mostly are rural roads, not sure about the conditions of the road.

[RajeshK]

Originally Posted by i20ian

Hi.. Me and wife Planning to drive down from Kannur to Bangalore. Will start from Kannur at 12pm afternoon on Sunday and would like to reach Bangalore by 10.30pm. Please suggest different route options apart from regular Iritty gonikoppa Hunsur Mysore route.

Originally Posted by Superleggera

As you may already know, the road that you have suggested is the shortest anf you will reach on time.

Another options you can try is,

Kannur->Kanhangad->Bandadukka->Chamundikkunnu -> Balamthodu Rd, Bovikaanam-Mulleria Rd and Cherkala - Jalsoor - Sullia

There is a bypass road after Mavungal to Bandakukka, which bypass Poinachi and Karicheri and the roads are good till bandadukka.

A new road from Sullia to Bandadukka has been inaugurated, so its worth trying. Details here

PS: Mostly are rural roads, not sure about the conditions of the road.

His requirement is starting by 12pm and reach Bangalore by 10:30pm. If he take this route, its hard to meet the time lines. Why not you come up to Hunsur and take the deviation as in https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/Go...12.9715987!3e0 This route is best for those who are staying near Yashwantpura side. Please note that past Hunsur, until you reach CR Patna, there is no hotels, but it is scenic..!!

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by i20ian

Hi.. Me and wife Planning to drive down from Kannur to Bangalore. Will start from Kannur at 12pm afternoon on Sunday and would like to reach Bangalore by 10.30pm. Please suggest different route options apart from regular Iritty gonikoppa Hunsur Mysore route.

The one mentioned by you is the shortest route from Kannur to B'lore and any other route that you take is going to be significantly longer.

Originally Posted by Superleggera

Kannur->Kanhangad->Bandadukka->Chamundikkunnu -> Balamthodu Rd

This will be a huge detour. Atleast 75kms extra and total travel time of minimum 12hrs.



Cherkala - Jalsoor route is further away.

Originally Posted by RajeshK

Why not you come up to Hunsur and take the deviation as in https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/Go...12.9715987!3e0 This route is best for those who are staying near Yashwantpura side. Please note that past Hunsur, until you reach CR Patna, there is no hotels, but it is scenic..!!

Agree, the Holenarsipur to CR Patna passes through some scenic stretches of Windmills, and good roads. and then you get the CR Patna-Blore 4 laned excellent highway. You can also get rid of the notorious Mysore road weekend evening traffic. May be you can think about this if you are badly in search of a road less traveled.

[i20ian]

Did Kannur Bangalore via mattannur- Iritty- Gonikoppa- Hunsur- KR nagara- Hole Narasipura- CR patna- Bangalore Mangalore highway- Yeshwanthpur couple of days back.

The road upto koottupuzha checkpost are bad esp Kannur mattannur stretch. Expect some huge potholes.

The Makkutta ghat section is narrow and good with an occasional pothole here and there to surprise you.

Makkutta Hunsur section is real good with Nice scenery of coffee plantations and tobacco fields on both sides.





Thanks to inputs from this forum.. The detour from Hunsur via KR nagara CR Patna was indeed worth the extra kms driven. Beautiful drive through lush green paddy fields and well laid properly marked roads was indeed sheer bliss. Also could escape from the mad weekend rush in BM road.

[sanjaykk]

Guys,
Planning for a Kannur trip tomorrow.
Considering the all-India strike, is it safe to start from Bangalore around noon or should I plan to leave only after 6pm?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by sanjaykk

Considering the all-India strike, is it safe to start from Bangalore around noon or should I plan to leave only after 6pm?

I think the strike is aimed for 6am-6pm, and expected to be adhered to especially in Kerala.

If you go via Bandipur-Muthanga you also need to consider the forest checkpost timings which is 9pm-6am.

[sanjaykk]

Originally Posted by NPV

I think the strike is aimed for 6am-6pm, and expected to be adhered to especially in Kerala.

If you go via Bandipur-Muthanga you also need to consider the forest checkpost timings which is 9pm-6am.

I wouldn't be touching Bandipur-Muthanga.

I will take the Hunsur > Virajpet route. I guess if I enter Kerala after 6pm I should be ok.

My worry is how safe it is leaving Bangalore during the strike timings.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by sanjaykk

I will take the Hunsur > Virajpet route. I guess if I enter Kerala after 6pm I should be ok.

My worry is how safe it is leaving Bangalore during the strike timings.

Yes, how the reaction would be in Bangalore is anyone's guess. I think it's safer to start post 6pm.

[MSAneesh]

Originally Posted by sanjaykk

I wouldn't be touching Bandipur-Muthanga.

I will take the Hunsur > Virajpet route. I guess if I enter Kerala after 6pm I should be ok.

My worry is how safe it is leaving Bangalore during the strike timings.

From the information so far, the strike is expected to be widespread. Plan to leave after 6 PM. But, be ready for the long weekend rush too.

Keep a good eye on the channels (especially Kannada channels) to see if it is safe before that. Even if Bangalore is safe, watch out for other smaller towns enroute.
Better after 6PM, be safe!

[MSAneesh]

Major blockades reported in Mandya and roads connecting Karnataka and Tamilnadu due to protests against Supreme Court ruling on Cauvery water issue.
Could be bandh like situation in Mandya district.
Also, reports claim that Karnataka RTC has taken off buses plying to TN and Kerala due to fear of violence in TN.
Please be cautious while driving/travelling on these routes.

[shefiu]

Hi guys,

Was planning to travel down to Kannur this weekend for Eid / Onam. This issue couldn't have come up at a more inopportune time...

I wanted to leave Saturday early morning but don't want to take big risks since my family will also be travelling.

Considering I would be travelling early morning and would want to pass Mysore around 6 A.M. is this feasible? or is would it better to travel via the Bangalore - Mangalore highway?

[sanjaykk]

Originally Posted by shefiu

Hi guys,

Was planning to travel down to Kannur this weekend for Eid / Onam. This issue couldn't have come up at a more inopportune time...

I wanted to leave Saturday early morning but don't want to take big risks since my family will also be travelling.

Considering I would be travelling early morning and would want to pass Mysore around 6 A.M. is this feasible? or is would it better to travel via the Bangalore - Mangalore highway?

I hear that Bangalore police have put up a deviation before Bidadi that will take you to Mysore through Kanakpura > Malavalli route. So you will avoid Mandya in any case.