[ramzsys]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Guess this is now a weekly matter.

If one is approaching from TN side, you can deviate via Athani and Mettur, there cannot be any delay.

But if one is coming from KA side, then there is no other go. Is there any other way other than to proceed via Ooty(to CBE)?

[ramzsys]

Planning for yet another BLR-CBE round trip. I prefer NH209, but am worried about fog, as i start by 3 AM tomorrow. Any suggestions?

[luvurride]

I made another round trip to Coimbatore for Diwali. Onward, took the NH209 and was smiling throughout. Fantastic roads, scenery and sparse traffic. Delighted!

I tried Nijaguna Residency in Chamarajnagar for lunch. It is just after the town. They have did a good job on the ambience. The setting was good and had a play area for children which my daughter loved. Service was average. For the food, I would suggest to stick to the basics, not to try any fancy stuff. I had just the rotis and dal, which was good. My wife ordered Kashmiri Pulao, which was not that great. Their Manchow soup was tasting strange. Overall, it is still a decent place to eat as there aren't any in the route. I remember reading a bad experience few posts ago, but I was probably lucky. Oh and they have rooms as well, will check out next time how good they are.

Return, drove through the NH7. Past Krishnagiri, it gets really fiesty. The road works are slowing you down, with all the morons in their cars trying to cut you off. There is ZERO ETHICS ON-ROAD! I don't mind to be a loser in this rat race, but these idiots come way too close to cut you and piss you off! It is definitely dangerous! I wish I had a ultra strong bull bar fitted in the front to just nudge them off! God help our country!

[B103]

I went from Bangalore to Kovai last weekend. Started from Bellandur on Sunday morning at 9:30. Was in two minds initially whether to take NH 7 or 209.

Finally took NH 209 via the NICE road -> Kanakapura -> Kollegal -> Chamarajanagara -> Sathyamangalam -> Annur -> Kovai. Reached Kovai at 4 in the evening with a half hour lunch break.

It is possible to drive around 80 kmph for the most part. The road becomes narrow occasionally before Yelandur and there are a few patches/gutters on the road as well there. Finding continuation of NH209 in small villages is a bit confusing factor too.

The 27 Hair pin curves (descend) at Sathyamangalam is quite scenic. Sathy road from Satyamangalam till Annur is very good too. Overall, nice experience. NICE road toll is the only one to pay.

Came back via Salem route from Walayar. Construction work is ongoing till Avinashi. Again, there are diversions near Krishnagiri. Roads are quite uneven around Hosur too. I took almost the same time both ways. The advantage of NH7 are the many eateries and petrol pumps available on this road wherein good restaurants are lacking on NH209.

[decode]

I had taken the same route two days before. I started at around 7:30 PM and reached Kovai in 5 hours. The roads were good , but I was lonely most of the time till Annur and it was a little adventurous. There was very less traffic and Dhimbam was ok with 3- 4 few short stops to let the trucks that were climbing the hairpins (27 of them)

[coolclouds]

Bangalore-Kanakpura-Chamarajnagar-Satyamangalam-Annur-Karumathampatti-Avinashi Road-Coimbatore-to Kochi. (18 Jan 2013)

Overall, very good condition, no potholes at all. Ideal for speeds below 100.

We say scenic route, narrow stretch at few villages/towns, ghat section etc... here is some snaps I took on my cell, for those who wish to try. The narrow stretches are for very short distance.

[coolclouds]

Few more pics attached

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Few more pics attached

I used to drive part of this route often - From Mysore to Chamarajnagar - Sathyamangalam - Coimbatore - Palakkad. Scenic and mostly devoid of traffic till you are in the vicinity of Coimbatore, as long as you peak day time travel. I used to get to my office in Mysore by 10 AM after starting from palakkad at around 5. A lot of the stretches in Karnataka between the border and Nanjangud were constantly under repair. However that wouldn't impact the drive towards Bangalore as it takes a different route from Ch Nagar. Biggest dampener for me in those trips - the invisible speed breakers in the small villages, uff!

[kala]

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

Biggest dampener for me in those trips - the invisible speed breakers in the small villages, uff!

Which speedbreakers ? Can't recall any big ones on NH209, at least in the last 1 to 2 years timeframe. So either they must have been on the Chamarajnagar-Nanjangud stretch or else they have been removed from good since a long time ago..

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by kala

Which speedbreakers ? Can't recall any big ones on NH209, at least in the last 1 to 2 years timeframe. So either they must have been on the Chamarajnagar-Nanjangud stretch or else they have been removed from good since a long time ago..

Yes, they are on the Ch Nagar Nanjangud stretch. It is part of state highway I suppose. The last I drove was maybe 3-4 years back, so I maybe outdated with the information. The road would get resurfaced, speeds will increase and duly you will have an all black speed breaker that can send you flying if you are doing the typical 80-100 speeds.

[Recallers]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Bangalore-Kanakpura-Chamarajnagar-Satyamangalam-Annur-Karumathampatti-Avinashi Road-Coimbatore-to Kochi. (18 Jan 2013)

Overall, very good condition, no potholes at all. Ideal for speeds below 100.

We say scenic route, narrow stretch at few villages/towns, ghat section etc... here is some snaps I took on my cell, for those who wish to try. The narrow stretches are for very short distance.

Thanks for the details. What are the decent eateries in this route? Is it better to go via Coimbatore town or join Avinashi road for those who traveling towards Kerala?

[kala]

Originally Posted by Recallers

Thanks for the details. What are the decent eateries in this route? Is it better to go via Coimbatore town or join Avinashi road for those who traveling towards Kerala?

Discussions on eateries on NH209 available in this thread :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...y-road-29.html

Two options for joining NH47 when travelling from Bangalore towards Kerala.

a) Take a left at Annur (an acute left turn) towards Avinashi and a right turn after about 2 kms on this road. Will take you to Karumathampatty - about 10 kms before the start of the L&T CBE byepass at Neelambur.

b) Continue another 15 kms or so from Annur towards Coimbatore till a village called Kurumbapalayam. Take a left turn here into a road marked as "Coimbatore airport". The road forks into two in about 50 meters of you entering it - take the right fork - takes you to the 6 lane road between the L&T byepass road start and Coimbatore city. (The old NH47). Take a left there and go about 5 kms to reach the L&T byepass start where you take an acute right turn to get to the byepass.

(Not mentioning the route through Coimbatore city since it will take you longer than either of the two options above)

I used to take option (b) when the road between Karumathampatti and Neelambur was in shambles due to construction activity. These days I prefer option (a) because the road from Karumathampatty is sort of OK.

[vineethvazhayil]

Originally Posted by kala

(Not mentioning the route through Coimbatore city since it will take you longer than either of the two options above)

If you are travelling early in the day or late in the evening (I used to go past CBE at 6-630 AM or 9 PM odd..), it is significantly faster through Coimbatore. However, if you are going through during peak hours, avoid the city. The options mentioned by kala are highly recommended.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Recallers

Thanks for the details. What are the decent eateries in this route? Is it better to go via Coimbatore town or join Avinashi road for those who traveling towards Kerala?

http://www.nijagunaresidency.com

at Chamarajanagar. Thanks to Karthik for finding this.

[kala]

Originally Posted by vineethvazhayil

If you are travelling early in the day or late in the evening (I used to go past CBE at 6-630 AM or 9 PM odd..), it is significantly faster through Coimbatore. However, if you are going through during peak hours, avoid the city. The options mentioned by kala are highly recommended.

Yes - that's true. the route through the city is shorter by at least 15-20 kms and so would definitely be faster if you're passing through between say 9 or 10PM and 7AM.