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Did Bangalore - Cochin on Sep 1st and back on Sep 3rd through NH 47 - Walayar and Kuthiran. Roads are bad as mentioned in the thread, but time taken was close to 2hrs less than what I took 2 weeks back using Ottapalam - Pallakka - Pollachi - Perundurai route. Potholes are filled with mud and rubbles in TN side before Walayar, its fine to drive till it holds. No work is happening in Kuthiran, but with some patience and luck, you can manage without rubbing the belly of a sedan with even low GC

Going through Pollachi only adds to the time - it is seriously not worth the effort.

Its much better to stick to Thrissur-Ottapalam-Palakkad-Walayar. The Pattikad-Alathur section is more or less inexistent - I traveled in the route on a bus yesterday (sitting at the first seat in KSRTC). It was dark by the time the bus approached the ghats - and the driver did struggle a lot to avoid the "pits" (I'd call them "pits", not "potholes"). Took a couple of videos - will upload it later. The bus took close to three hours for Thrissur-Palakkad run (usual run time is only 2 hrs)

Hi All
I had travelled almost a year ago to kerala and the stretch from Selam to Coiambatore was under construction. I thought it would be over by now but by reading the posts in the previous 3 pages it seems that the work is still going on or rather stopped. PLease correct me if i am wrong

Work is done till Avinashi and from there to Coiambatore is in progress.

Work in progress is for about 25 kms before Coimbatore, rest is a smooth run from Salem.

Simple comparison: Chengapalli - Vadakkencherry via Coimbatore-Walayar took me almost 3 hrs and 15 min last weekend. On the way back, Vadakkencherry to Chengapalli via Kollengode-Pollachi-Palladam-Tirupur took me exactly 2 hrs and 15 min. There's no way someone can call this route a waste of time! Besides, it was a smooth run devoid of all the crazy bus drivers trying to force an oncoming overtaking move

Vadakkencherry to Pollachi will take one hour minimum with no traffic blocks in Nemmara and Kollengode. Pollachi to Tirupur another 1:15 hour(Palladam 45 minutes, Tirupur 15 minute) and Tirupur to Chengapalli another 20 minute.

You must have done some very high speeds to get this sort of timing in a 2 lane road or did you travel at late night?

Not terribly high speeds.. Stuck to 90 km/h throughout, the roads and the traffic conditions allowed me to safely drive at that speed. I covered Vadakkencherry-Pollachi in about 50 min, Pollachi-Tirupur again under 1 hour and Chengapalli in 15 min. Got stuck in Pollachi slow moving traffic, and lost about 10 min there, but no headache as such. I left at 745 am and reached at 10 am.

They have fixed up a lot of bad patches near Uthukuli and near the KL-TN border, since the last time I used this route in December 2011.

I don't mind if this route takes even half an hour or 45 minutes more, I'd still prefer this over the normal route, simply because it is easier to drive through, both for me and the car.

I think the route via Pollachi may not gain time in a big way, but more importantly, you
would rarely lose time than, what one would have accounted for.

Its mostly predictable (excluding crossing Pollachi). And also its nicer to drive through this section.
Not sure about uncertainties at Kollengode.

Completed the Palakkad-Masinagudi stretch as per route given by Srikanth. Roads are largely good except in and around Manjeri. Will be taking the Masinagui-Ooty-Cbe stretch tomorrow. Could you guys advise if Mettupalayam road into the city is in good shape ?

Oh lord, when will there ever be a smooth road all the way to Cochin and back. I drive to Cochin once a year for Christmas vacation and it is always a tiring drive. Close to 12 hours on the road and a day lost. Is it better to drive via Battery (Bathery) -Calicut? Should take the same time and be a more involving drive, dangerous too.

I drive to Vaikom 4 -5 times a year. By Christmas time, roads should be better.

Did a round trip from Bangalore to Cochin (N.Paravur) last week.

Onward Journey:
Route: Bangalore-> Mysore->Gudalur->Nilambur->Chavakkad->Kodungallur-> Paravur
Distance: 460kms
Road condition: Good all the way.
Started on 25th Aug early morning at 4AM from HSR Layout. Except for one, I could spot all the speed breakers in mysore road. (Next time, planning to try Kanakpura road). Reached Gundlupet for breakfast and we were at Nilambur by 10.30. And then the usual single lane kerala roads started. Adding to it the onam rush, it was around 2.30 PM by the time we reached home. The drive was very tiring and frustrating once you enter kerala roads.


Return Journey:
Route: N.Paravur -> Kodungallur -> irinjalakkuda -> thalore -> Mannuthy -> vadakkancherry -> pollachi -> tirupur -> chengapalli -> Bangalore
Distance: 520kms
Road condition: Bad between mannuthy and vadakkancherry, and good elsewhere. Kuthiran stretch is not as bad as I thought. (May be my perception of bad roads changed after I drove to Gavi from Pathanamthitta last week :D)

Stared on 2nd sept by around 1.30pm and reached bangalore by 11.pm. We were 3 cars driving together, and we took a lot of breaks. We also lost some time finding way inside Tirupur.

I'd prefer the normal route(SALEM-CBE-PALAKKAD-TRHISSUR) than any of these routes if you are looking for a shortest time.

We did the route ( Ernakulam - Thrissur - Kunnamkulam - Edappal - Valanchery - Kuttippuram - Kottakkal - Calicut bypass - Sulthan Bathery - Mysore - Bangalore) back in April. It takes time as there is traffic and one needs to stick to the speed limit. But if you're not in a hurry and bored with the usual CBE route, it is a very good drive.

Read more here. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post2752134

Another great drive will be the NH 209 to reach CBE and then the Ottapalam route to reach Thrissur. The NH 209 is a great drive and free of tolls.

Is this the Satyamangalam route to reach CBE? Always wanted to ride down this road as friends have only said good things about it.