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Ramavilas at Sathy may be an option but I don't know their timings.

One reference here on the Coimbatore thread:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3064643

Also, if you're traveling via Pollachi, there are some good options (one of them very close to bus stand) but I don't remember the name :Frustrati

I would vote for Thenkasi-Punalur. That road was in pretty decent shape last month.

Just back from a round trip from Kochi to Bangalore. The route taken was Coimbatore- Salem- Krishnagiri- Hosur- Bangalore. Happy to report that the roads are shipshape excepting the flyover works happening in Hosur. The Trichur Palakkad stretch is freshly laid but considering the heavy traffic, best tackled early in the morning or late at night.
Had breakfast while going and lunch while coming from Saravana Bhavan between Salem and Erode. Good place with excellent food and good toilet facilities. For the purely n-veg's there is a fried chicken outlet in the same compound!

How did you get this route? IMO, It should be

Bangalore > Salem > Dindigul > Cumbum > Theni > Kumily > Kanjirappally > Changanasseri > Pandalam.

Again this route can be refined further by reaching Tiruvalla directly from Thengana and NOT going thru Changanasseri. Please let me know if you finalise this route - I shall provide the details.

The route till Dindigul is top class and then till Kumily, stretches are being worked for 2 lane conversion. Kumily to Vandiperiyar may NOT be in the best condition owing to monsoons, but rest should be pretty good.

How is the Bhavani - Mettur - Thoppur shortcut? Have NOT been in good shape in the last 3-4 years I guess. Any changes now?

It's the most common route, I just skipped the places between salem-aluva and aluva-alappuzha, so what the route will actually look like is:

Salem > Trissur > Aluva > Aroor > Chertala > Alappuzha > Changanasseri > Pandalam

I prefer to stick to National/State Highways rather than take shortcuts, especially through the high ranges. I'm one of those who prefer the more faster/straighter option than the shorter harder option.

Besides, I'm very much drawn to do the first option of going through Thenkasi. Should be a straight forward option.

I don't think it's gotten any better so better to stick to the 4 lane tolled road, unless you want a slower, but scenic drive and don't mind some not so good stretches.

Its almost a route for trucks. Guys who dont want to pay toll. Many use the Old Dharmapuri highway from Hosur. At Dharmapuri they go to Pennagaram (on the Hogenakkal side) and take the road to Mecheri (on the Thoppur-Mettur road). And continue from there to Bhavani. That saves them quite some toll. But for us I think its lots of truck traffic.

Thanks ranjit for the information. It will help me for sure. Will be leaving Nagpur tomorrow around 8 AM and drive straight to Bangalore.

Oh Ok. Could you tell me what will be the distance till Changanasseri from Salem or Bangalore?

Well, the route that I mentioned is NOT a shortcut, but NH220 (at least from Kumily). But as you said, there are lots of twists in that route.

Salem > Changanasseri via Thrissur is 424Km vs Changanasseri via Theni is 420Km

Use maps.google.com to find the other distances you are looking for.

yeah, too many curves and sabarimala season rush are not exactly a good recipie.

You Could try this variation for the tenkasi Route
Bangalore > Salem> Madurai > Kovilpatti> Puliyangudi>Thenkasi > Punalur > Kottarakkara > Pandalam
This way you get to avoid driving on the town roads with traffic. This would be longer by a 30 Kms but IMO it is the fastest. The road between Kovilpatti to Tenkasi is 2 lane but again in pretty good condition and not too much traffic.
If you leave Bangalore even By 4:00 AM you will reach Madurai by 9 or 10 AM and will be going into the towns during high traffic time. This would actually eat up into your travel time

Also, Please post an update on the route whichever route you take

There is a hotel in Annur (veg though) in the lines of Saravana Bhavans of TN. Had been there last week on the way from Blr to Cbe. Not sure of the name, sorry for that. I think it is this one http://goo.gl/kkdlpx A decent one and a new one, looks like.
After that the one I have tried is Nijaguna at Chamrajanagar. Pretty decent for families. I've not tried anything in Sathy yet.

I think the above one is perfect if you prefer highways. One point is - once you enter Kerala your average speed will dip as there will be lots of traffic, and frequent signals even in 4-Lanes. This applies for Thrisuur-Aluva-Aroor-Chertala stretch as well. If it is a 2-Lane then it will get worse.

How I wish there was road from Tvm till Kasaragod which is like say, NH4.

Planning to do Bangalore to Cherthala tomorrow via NH 47. Start by 5 - 5:30 pm. Hope the construction qorks won't cause a lot of delays.

Expect traffic till Bommanahalli and Hosur town. Walayar should not be a problem.

I have finalized on Hyd > Blr > Salem > Madurai > Tirunelveli > Tenkasi > Punalur > Kottarakkar > Pandlam.

It this route, although it might add another 150odd kilometers, barely adds another hour, thanks to the 2 lane all the way upto Tirunelveli. Should keep me away from all town traffic. It is only the stretch from Tirunelveli upto Kottarakkara that will be slower and single lane. From Kottarakkara to Pandalam should be smooth sailing on some of the best road so far in Kerala:D

Yup, very true, I want to totally avoid this road because I know the horror of traffic on this route. But kept it as an option because it is the most familiar and common one.