[iamnarayang]

Originally Posted by MDED

Hello Friends!

Google map suggests this route, BLR-Krishnagiri-Salem-Namakkal-Karur-Dindigul-Theni-Kumbum (512 kms). Requesting valuable advice please.

This is the best route. I have done it couple of months back. Go by what Google map suggests for this route

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by MDED

I am planning to do a Bengaluru-Thekkady trip this September end. Was wondering whether it is advisable to travel to KL during this period.

Personal opinion : Aug - Sep - Oct is the best time to visit most of KL. Rainy season will be towards it's end/ ended, however it's still green all around and climate is pleasent.

Also, by Oct end / Diwali time, tourist season starts again and you beat the crowd by traveling earlier.

This year's rain has been tough to KL as such, that said by Sep end things would be normal.

You can see pics of Thekkady taken by me few years back in October first week, it was sunny most time with random drizzle once a while.

Pic

[rex_varghese]

This appears to be quite an old thread.

Checking to see if the route mentioned in the previous posts (Salem-Dindigul-Cumbum-Theni) is the best one to get to Thekkady.

Also, wanted to check how is the monsoon situation in and around Thekkady area. We are planning drive down mid next week.

Do we have any wild life sighting chances during the drive?

Regards
Rex

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

This appears to be quite an old thread.

Checking to see if the route mentioned in the previous posts (Salem-Dindigul-Cumbum-Theni) is the best one to get to Thekkady.

Also, wanted to check how is the monsoon situation in and around Thekkady area. We are planning drive down mid next week.

Do we have any wild life sighting chances during the drive?

Regards
Rex

Dindigul to lower camp has improved a lot with new bye passes. This remains the best route to Thekkady from Bangalore, there will be tolls down the line.

Monsoon always carries the risk of landslides and you should take inputs from someone local regarding road conditions, preferably from the property you've booked for your stay.

Wildlife sightings are rare on this route, I've only seen 1 nilgai in the last ten years of driving that route.

[rex_varghese]

We did this trip last week and it was an amazing experience, except for the rain that played spoil sport. Boating and all forest department managed treks/tours were cancelled due to rains. Apart from that, we had a good time. Not much of a rain in Thekkady/Kumali area, though it has been raining at other places of Idukki district.

Bangalore-Thekkadi route was amazing and we could cover the distance approximately in 8 hours with a breakfast and fuel stops. Roads were pretty good, except that Google maps took us through Periyakulam and Theni towns and we lost some time there. Theni bye-pass was blocked/not accessible.

We stayed for a night in KTDC Aranya Nivas, in the Tiger Reserve, and it was a heavenly experience. Excellent service. Since it was raining, property was running pretty lean in terms of occupancy. We had the whole forest around the property to wander around. Very pristine surroundings.

We took two trips from the resort where we stayed, one covering Sathram off-road drive including Parunthumpara and second one covering vegetable garden and vineyard visits in the plains, below the ghats. Both were interesting. No animal sightings from the off-road trip except for a wandering deer. Canal view (of water flowing down from the penstock pipes) and drive through unending vegetable gardens were a good experience.

Return to Bangalore too was a good drive.

Regards
Rex

[vw_passat]

Hi,

I am planning to do a Hyderabd-Bangalore-Thekkady road trip this weekend with my family. I will start early and spend the night in bangalore. I have done Hyd-Bangalore many times and I know the drive will be very comfortable. I was a little anxious about the Bangalore-Thekkady road condition but a little relieved after reading the posts in this thread. I will be driving in a sedan so curious to know about the road conditions. Do I have to deal with Ghat roads ?

Any inputs will be highly appreciated.

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by vw_passat

Hi,

I am planning to do a Hyderabd-Bangalore-Thekkady road trip this weekend with my family. I will start early and spend the night in bangalore. I have done Hyd-Bangalore many times and I know the drive will be very comfortable. I was a little anxious about the Bangalore-Thekkady road condition but a little relieved after reading the posts in this thread. I will be driving in a sedan so curious to know about the road conditions. Do I have to deal with Ghat roads ?

Any inputs will be highly appreciated.

The ghat road is only about 8km, the section between lower camp and Kumily check post. The irritating thing is that it's at the end a smooth straight drive. Road conditions are good in the ghats except for two or three turns.

[masterChief007]

Originally Posted by vw_passat

Hi,

I will start early and spend the night in bangalore ....
Do I have to deal with Ghat roads ?

Any inputs will be highly appreciated.

I would suggest your stay to be beyond bangalore, prefereably even beyond hosur. That way next day you can start the day relaxed else, the morning rush to exit bangalore will again be there.

Yes there will be ghat roads, please be careful if you have no experience in them, I would have suggested practicing a bit locally before the trip. At the fag end of the journey a new challenge of ghats is something to be careful about.

[vw_passat]

I did the Hyd- Bangalore - Thekkady drive two days back.
Hyd to Bangalore was a breeze as usual. It took me 8 hours. I stopped in Bangalore for dinner and headed towards Hosur so that I can save time the next day. Stayed at TGI grand fortuna, decent place to spend the night.

Started from bangalore at 9 AM and stopped for bf after Hosur, plenty of places to stop by for a good South Indian breakfast.

Google maps took me via Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Dindigul. Perfect road without a single pot hole. Luckily not much traffic.

From Dindigul we diverted to NH 183. We tend to slow down a bit as the road is a little narrow but the condition of the road is pretty decent.

The last 30-40 mins is ghat but manageable. We reached KUMILY at 4PM. So it took us 7 hours with leisurely driving and with stops for bf and lunch.

Heading to Alleppey from here tomorrow, will post more.

[sridhar24]

I'm planning to do Bangalore to Thekkady trip in the very near future.
If anyone has recently travelled this route, I wanted to know how the conditions are in this route now with the continuous rains that we are experiencing now.
Any advice or suggestions on the route is much appreciated.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by sridhar24

I'm planning to do Bangalore to Thekkady trip in the very near future.
If anyone has recently travelled this route, I wanted to know how the conditions are in this route now with the continuous rains that we are experiencing now.
Any advice or suggestions on the route is much appreciated.

I just travelled a month back and my friend about 4 days back.
Road conditions are excellent as always.
Rains don't affect the road conditions in this route. In fact it will be more green and scenic

Just take the usual Bangalore-Salem-Karur-Dindigul-Vathlagundu-Theni-Cumbum-Thekkady route and enjoy the trip.

-Ravi