[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by ampere

You can look at Nijaguna at Chamarajanagar

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YucvLtgr3Y7ziMpV8

I am looking for recent feedback on this place, the Google reviews aren't very positive. I had been to this place for lunch a couple of times, but it was a long time ago and the feedback was mixed. I'm planning to stop here for breakfast while traveling with my family, and my main concerns are clean washrooms and prompt service. Additionally, are there any other places with clean washrooms, including fuel stations on this route?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

I am looking for recent feedback on this place, the Google reviews aren't very positive. I had been to this place for lunch a couple of times, but it was a long time ago and the feedback was mixed. I'm planning to stop here for breakfast while traveling with my family, and my main concerns are clean washrooms and prompt service. Additionally, are there any other places with clean washrooms, including fuel stations on this route?

Thats the only place am aware which comes close to being decent. There is nothing else on the way.

[binand]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

I am looking for recent feedback on this place, the Google reviews aren't very positive.

I have also never liked Nijaguna's food. But as @ampere says (below), it is practically the only option when taking the NH 948.

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats the only place am aware which comes close to being decent. There is nothing else on the way.

Having said that, I have a couple of other places bookmarked. But those have now been bypassed so not very easy to access. One in Kollegala is King's Gardenia: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z2uzwnTbd3WpCC28A

[guruji]

Has anyone travelled via Malavalli - Garkekandi forest check post - Oosimalai - Burgu - Thamarakkarai RF - Anthiyur - Gobichettipalayam - Coimbatore? How is the road conditions?

The map link : https://maps.app.goo.gl/U5v26YDeNawiv5mQ8

[ampere]

Originally Posted by guruji

Has anyone travelled via Malavalli - Garkekandi forest check post - Oosimalai - Burgu - Thamarakkarai RF - Anthiyur - Gobichettipalayam - Coimbatore? How is the road conditions?

Link shows the regular route via Chamarajanagar.

I guess you are referring to Kollegal-Hanur-Anthiyur.

That route was in shambles a year on the KA side of the ghats. Not worth it. But once you cross to TN, its very good single lane road.

If you are asking if it can be taken: I would say no. Use the regular route via Chamarajanagar.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

Additionally, are there any other places with clean washrooms, including fuel stations on this route?

If you’re taking Mysore-Gundlupet-Chamarajanagar or Maddur-Malavalli-Chamarajanagar then Maddur Tiffany’s on the expressway service road is an option (it is signaged as the New Maddur Tiffany’s branch).
Then, you have at least 2 branches of Hari Govinda’s on the Mysore ring road after you turn left at Columbia Asia junction.
There is also another Nijaguna (seemed shut down last time I saw) and couple more decent looking restaurants Grand JP inn and Udupi Veg (haven’t tried them) in Gundlupet.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

I am looking for recent feedback on this place, the Google reviews aren't very positive. I had been to this place for lunch a couple of times, but it was a long time ago and the feedback was mixed. I'm planning to stop here for breakfast while traveling with my family, and my main concerns are clean washrooms and prompt service. Additionally, are there any other places with clean washrooms, including fuel stations on this route?

From a clean washroom peespecrive , Once you are out of Mysore urban area, there is just Ashirwad Grand before the toll, afterwards you are off the busy route , the next stop is Macaw near chamarajnagar, they do not open early morning so that's one thing to keep in mind.

We usually reach the either side of the checkpost at 6:00 AM, so Macaw is closed at that time for us.

In other words, after Mysore we stop only in Saravana Bhavan of some kind on the NH.

I do like stopping at Bannari & the small restaurant in front of Bannari temple for Dosa , Vada, Coffee etc, its very nice.

[guruji]

Originally Posted by ampere

Link shows the regular route via Chamarajanagar.

I guess you are referring to Kollegal-Hanur-Anthiyur.

That route was in shambles a year on the KA side of the ghats. Not worth it. But once you cross to TN, its very good single lane road.

If you are asking if it can be taken: I would say no. Use the regular route via Chamarajanagar.

Thanks. I was referring to the Kollegal - Hanur - Anthiyur route. Probably, i didn't add enough points in the map and it routed via regular route.

[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats the only place am aware which comes close to being decent. There is nothing else on the way.

Originally Posted by binand

I have also never liked Nijaguna's food. But as @ampere says (below), it is practically the only option when taking the NH 948.



Having said that, I have a couple of other places bookmarked. But those have now been bypassed so not very easy to access. One in Kollegala is King's Gardenia: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z2uzwnTbd3WpCC28A

Originally Posted by NPV

If you’re taking Mysore-Gundlupet-Chamarajanagar or Maddur-Malavalli-Chamarajanagar then Maddur Tiffany’s on the expressway service road is an option (it is signaged as the New Maddur Tiffany’s branch).

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

the next stop is Macaw near chamarajnagar, they do not open early morning so that's one thing to keep in mind.


I do like stopping at Bannari & the small restaurant in front of Bannari temple for Dosa , Vada, Coffee etc, its very nice.

Thanks, everyone. I forgot to mention that my starting point is in Bangalore, and I'll be taking Kanakpura Road. Given that, the only options seem to be Nijaguna or the small shop near Bannari Amman, as Kollegal might be too early and a detour. Bannari Amman sounds like a good option if I can find a fuel station with clean washrooms nearby. Alternatively, does the hotel have manageable washrooms?

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

Thanks, everyone. I forgot to mention that my starting point is in Bangalore, and I'll be taking Kanakpura Road. Given that, the only options seem to be Nijaguna ...

Even Nijaguna would be a detour, if you're following Google Maps. We made that mistake a few months ago, in the opposite direction - most of towns on the route after Coimbatore have bypasses (WIP or completed) that Google would happily route you through, and there are virtually no decent places for food and refreshment.

[unni246]

A fantastic Detour

Well I have been looking forward to a drive through Sathyamangalam and got more eager reading multiple posts here on the awesome roads through the stretch

So on 9th of April myself & Mrs had planned to drive down to Tirur (Kerala) from Bangalore and this time kids were not joining us as they already travelled to KL. Hence this was a good and rare opportunity to try the Dhimbam ghats as Kids are very sensitive to Ghats and high on motion sickness.
Couple of my friends (including cyclists) also confirmed that the Kollegal, Malavalli stretch is great now.

Hence plan was made: Aavalahalli (near OMR) -> City -> Bannerghatta Rd -> Kanakpura Rd -> Malavalli -> Chamarajnagar -> Sathyamangalam Forest -> Annur -> Palakkad -> Tirur

Initial plan was to start by 5, but eventually started by 5.45 from home.

Did encounter some traffic all the way until Dairy Circle even though it was school holidays and a casual week day morning. Roads too were in shambles all the way until Silk Institute with multiple speed breakers on Kanakpura Road.

Post the Nice Road Junction its great Tarmac and minimal traffic

We had our first stop for breakfast at some Udupi Garden restaurant opp to the Art of Living center. Could reach there in almost an hour.
The restuarant was great with a nice outdoor seating and I could enjoy the car with the breakfast and a nice coffee. Food though was ok, nothing great to speak about.

Resumed Journey at around 7.30 from here and could maintain a decent cruising speed of 90-100kmph on this route all the way until Thalavady from where the forest area starts.

Did take some quick stops ONLY near Villages for a few quick snaps

The roads were super fun to drive plus the forest was much more greener though it was peak summer.

Word of caution: Do watchout for some rogue truck drivers in the stretch as few tend to come closer in great speeds to make us run off road on the narrow winding roads in the forest.

Our Next break was at the famous Bhama Hotel which was suggested by many here in their posts. Reached here before 10:30ish.
Has great chai and snacks (only which we had) as we mainly stopped here for a loo break and I did wanted to try the chai here.

Resumed around 10:45 from here and encountered the magical Dhimbam ghats which I was waiting for.
Though its a drivers paradise it is equally challenging due to high heavy vehicle movements.
Do keep extreme caution on all the 27 hairpin bends and honk well to mark your presence

We could spot mists even at 11am across the valley, however weather conditions were fine on the road.
Was fun driving down the Ghat section


Short juice break at Bhavnisagar close to 11:45 and off we went via Annur and encountered our first toll at Chengapalli (before CBE city). The Roads were little narrow until Annur, however minimal traffic.

Next breakt was at RiceBowl restaurant at Walayar around 13:45 and we enjoyed a great lunch there.

From then on it was little bit of traffic past Palakkad all the way up till Kuttippuram and multiple road works and diversions. This part was tiring as it took us close to 3 hours from Walayar.

However if we compare the regular Salem / Mysore Exp way routes, Sathyamangalam does stand on top of my favourite routes as of today.
You save both on toll rates and boredom
Will definitely try this route again once I get another chance.

Much recommended (however not if you have a family who's got motion sickness)

It seemed like Hexa was meant for these routes, it did perform well and gave me about 14kmpl BLR -> CBE which I calculated.

Now some pics to do the talking. The one with Bhavanisagar Dam on the backdrop is one of my personal favourites.

[gadadhar]

Originally Posted by silversteed

Even Nijaguna would be a detour, if you're following Google Maps. We made that mistake a few months ago, in the opposite direction - most of towns on the route after Coimbatore have bypasses (WIP or completed) that Google would happily route you through, and there are virtually no decent places for food and refreshment.

I recall Nijaguna being less than a 500-meter detour from the usual route. However, as you mentioned, the new bypasses might be taking us further away, which I didn't notice during my last few trips when I didn't visit Nijaguna. Thanks for the tip!