Team-BHP - All Roads to Kerala

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Originally Posted by RoadTripper (Post 2956628)

Hi folks
I'm doing Madras - CBE - Guruvayoor 3rd week of Nov, I stay in OMR Madras, will it make sense to go via Tambaram - Ulundurpet - Salem - Avinashi as I understand that the 6L work is happening in Vellore Krishnagiri stretch, I drove to BLR and back end Sep and it was quite slow.

Just answered this in another thread. Since you stay close to GST take the GST.

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Ulundurpet-Salem is a SH? How's the road quality, median? Salem - Vijaymangalam is again part of the GQ and guess this is okay, but need help to get from Vijaymangalam to Kovai Pudur - time and road quality perspective. And need advice on route from Kovai Pudur to Guruvayoor.

Its a NH and not SH. And its also a part of golden quadrilateral and is now a 4-lane road, with almost all bypasses completed.

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On the return leg, I'm heading to Ooty from Guruvayoor and Ooty to Madras directly. Kindly suggest on a fast route from Guruvayoor to Ooty, road quality takes precedence over "fast".

Ranjit already answered this for you.

Either go by Coimbatttor or go by Nilambur. If you want to see lot of scenery take GVR-Kunnamkulam-Pattambi-Perinthalmanna-Wandoor-Nilambur-Gudalur-Ooty.

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 2956257)

@Ranjith - Maybe the Walayar-L&T bye pass stretch is now in a manageable condition ? An earlier post on this page by @pariwar says this stretch just has few potholes (he travelled during last week of October).

Guys
I am slightly confused by the conflicting posts on the condition of roads from Avinashi to Walayar and then onwards to Palakkad

Could you guys please confirm if the Kangeyam - Palladam - Pollachi road is more advisable ? I anyway drive only between 80-100kmph in my humble i10.

also last in September, when i checked on the same, Ampere saab had advised the above route but i totally missed the deviation to Kangeyam when one is taking the Ullundur pettai - Salem stretch.

Would appreciate if esteemed members can tell me where i need to exit the NH to take the above route

many thanks

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Originally Posted by narayan (Post 2957300)

Would appreciate if esteemed members can tell me where i need to exit the NH to take the above route

many thanks

This is where you take the diversion.This is the easiest way to do it.Take a left after Perundurai town towards Hotel Chennis (SIPCOT area) and then take the road to Kangeyam

https://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr...sz=15&t=m&z=15

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Originally Posted by ranjitp1 (Post 2957315)

This is where you take the diversion.This is the easiest way to do it.Take a left after Perundurai town towards Hotel Chennis (SIPCOT area) and then take the road to Kangeyam

Ranjit,

After the bypass is completed I see that in general the road conditions
are better. So even if one takes the first exit to the town, its not that difficult to spot the Kangeyam road.

I am also driving to kerala from Bangalore today afternoon. Planning to start by 3.pm from silk board. Taking the normal highway until palakkad and then the ottapalam shornur route. Heard there was a truck breakdown at kuthiran a couple of days back and traffic was stalled for almost 12 hours!

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Originally Posted by coolclouds (Post 2957630)

I am planing to drive Bangalore-Cochin today evening, may be via Nilambur route, after finishing some work at Mysore. If I am able to enter first forest check post before 8pm, is there going to be issues at any other points?

No there shouldn't be any issues. You need to get in before 9PM, that is the only criteria. (Not sure if there are some time limits for exiting from the checkpost on the other side also - but even if it is present, I'm sure that would be fixed based on the time that would be taken by the slowest vehicles - may be 10:30 or 11 PM. For a car it shouldn't take more than about 45 minutes to cover the forest stretch)

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Originally Posted by coolclouds (Post 2957630)

There are some deep potholes in the Kerala side of Nadugani Ghats at the curves. Be careful especially if it rains. Nothing to worry.

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Originally Posted by jingaboysr (Post 2957672)

That is quite the norm now a days,a 6 hour minimum wait at Kuthiran is becoming a weekly once affair now.Stay off NH47 till they finish the so called 4 laning

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Originally Posted by coolclouds (Post 2957630)

As pramodpk said watch out for Potholes on the Nadugani stretch and also be prepared for some mist. Even during afternoons it is misty there.

I am driving the same stretch tomorrow. Planning a 5am start from here.

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Originally Posted by ranjitp1 (Post 2957315)

Thanks
just 1 query - will there be some markings in the NH for this diversion ? I missed it last time. When I check google maps, I see this is after the by pass ends. What should i look for in the NH where i take this left turn ?

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Originally Posted by lloydofcochin (Post 2958324)

I'm planning a start at around the same time on my way to Kottayam. Will take NH209 and then toss a coin at Chamarajnagar to decide if I'm taking the Nilambur route or the one via Coimbatore.

So if you're planning to take NH209 also, keep a lookout for my red Figo with a TBHP sticker on the rear bumper :)

Just did Chennai- Palakkad thru the Perundurai-Kangeyam-Palladam route. Initial 5-10kms from NH into Perundurai was a rough patch. Post that its good in general. Pollachi to TN border is terrible but surprisingly road is very good in the Kerala side ! Google says this route is about 20kms linger than the conventional Avinashi one. Also speeds will mostly be 80-100kms. And thankfully no rip off toll plazas !

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Originally Posted by narayan

Glad to know you managed to find the turn off!