[binand]

Originally Posted by NPV

1.Forest checkpost after Gundlupet, Karnataka side - timings are 6am-9pm, has this changed ?
2.Forest checkpost at Muthanga, Kerala side - any timings for this ?
3.How late can I start from Bangalore in the afternoon so I can cross the Forest check posts before closing time and possibly reach Kalpetta before 10pm?
4.Suggestions for Hotels at Kalpetta - decent, with car parking, nothing extravagant, will be with family. Woodlands, Issac Regency, any others ?

1. No.

2. Not sure what you mean. Same timings as the above one, isn't it?

3. Bangalore to forest edge is about 240 km. You should plan based on the speed you can achieve - I think 5 hours is sufficient.

4. Calicut is 70 km further down the road and can be reached in about 1.5 hours from Kalpetta. I suggest you continue instead of breaking the journey.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by NPV

Planning a weekday drive to Calicut, starting in the afternoon and staying overnight at Kalpetta and proceeding to Calicut from there next morning. Some questions/clarifications:

1.Forest checkpost after Gundlupet, Karnataka side - timings are 6am-9pm, has this changed ?
2.Forest checkpost at Muthanga, Kerala side - any timings for this ?
3.How late can I start from Bangalore in the afternoon so I can cross the Forest check posts before closing time and possibly reach Kalpetta before 10pm?
4.Suggestions for Hotels at Kalpetta - decent, with car parking, nothing extravagant, will be with family. Woodlands, Issac Regency, any others ?

1. No change, traffic is open from 6 AM to 9 PM
2. No restrictions at this check post
3. budget a minimum of 4-4.5 hours drive to Maddur check post (checkpost after Gundlupet) to be on the safer side after you exit Bangalore city.
4. Issacs regency is in Sulthan Bathery I presume. If you are looking to stay at Bathery, near to Issacs on the opposite side of the road, there is a hotel- Green Palace residency. Had stayed there a few days ago. Neat budget hotel (double non ac rooms in the range of 1000-1100 with basement car parking.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by binand

1. No.

2. Not sure what you mean. Same timings as the above one, isn't it?

3. Bangalore to forest edge is about 240 km. You should plan based on the speed you can achieve - I think 5 hours is sufficient.

4. Calicut is 70 km further down the road and can be reached in about 1.5 hours from Kalpetta. I suggest you continue instead of breaking the journey.

Thanks.
#2.If I cross the KA side checkpost by 9, I will be allowed to cross the other checkpost also, correct ?
#3.Want to reach directly for a function early morning in Calicut, so planning stay at Kalpetta.

*I've always driven to calicut starting early morning from Bangalore and never stayed enroute, hence the questions

Originally Posted by sandsun7

4. Issacs regency is in Sulthan Bathery I presume. If you are looking to stay at Bathery, near to Issacs on the opposite side of the road, there is a hotel- Green Palace residency. Had stayed there a few days ago. Neat budget hotel (double non ac rooms in the range of 1000-1100 with basement car parking.

Thanks. I would prefer to stay at Kalpetta so that I can reach Calicut faster in the morning. Yes, now that you mention I also remember Issac's at Bathery, stopped for lunch there once. Any other suggestions for Kalpetta ?

[foby.sebastian]

Originally Posted by avi@98

We still take the MC road till Changanassery nd then to Allepey via AC road in order to go to Kochi from Trivandrum. Is this still the best route or is the NH47 via Kollam better?

The best route from Kochi - Trivandrum is NH47 (Trivandrum-Kollam-Aleppy-Ernakulam) The road is in good shape but watch out for speed cameras

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by NPV

1.Forest checkpost after Gundlupet, Karnataka side - timings are 6am-9pm, has this changed ?

No, the timings remain the same.

2.Forest checkpost at Muthanga, Kerala side - any timings for this ?

Timings same as that of KA side. However if you cross KA side at say 09.00 PM and reach KL side at 09.40 PM they will let you through. The timings is only for entry in to forest.

3.How late can I start from Bangalore in the afternoon so I can cross the Forest check posts before closing time and possibly reach Kalpetta before 10pm?

Factor around 1 hour from KL checkpost to Kalpetta.
Time of start from Bangalore depends on your route. If you are starting from CV Raman nagar and taking Mysore road (via NICE Hosur entry) 3 PM should be your cut off. This way you would be reaching check post around 08:15 PM, factoring a small break in between.

For Kanakpura/ NH 209 route factor 03.30 hours from NICE road EXIT at Kanakpura road to reach Gundulpet.

4.Suggestions for Hotels at Kalpetta - decent, with car parking, nothing extravagant, will be with family. Woodlands, Issac Regency, any others ?

As per my friend from Kalpetta hotel Affas is the best currently.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by NPV

1.Forest checkpost after Gundlupet, Karnataka side - timings are 6am-9pm, has this changed ?
2.Forest checkpost at Muthanga, Kerala side - any timings for this ?

afaik Still the same.

Originally Posted by NPV

3.How late can I start from Bangalore in the afternoon so I can cross the Forest check posts before closing time and possibly reach Kalpetta before 10pm?

You should cross Mysore by about 530pm to be on the safer side.

Originally Posted by NPV

4.Suggestions for Hotels at Kalpetta - decent, with car parking, nothing extravagant, will be with family. Woodlands, Issac Regency, any others ?

Green Gates,

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by NPV

Thanks.
#2.If I cross the KA side checkpost by 9, I will be allowed to cross the other checkpost also, correct ?

They would allow, unless they feel you have taken unusually long time to cover the stretch from the entry to the exit. The entry checkpost on Karnataka side is at Maddur and the checkpost at the exit (karnataka/Kerala state border) is called Moolaholle. The place called 'Muthanga' is still another 5 km ahead, that is why I replied that there are no restrictions on the muthanga checkpost.

Originally Posted by NPV

Thanks. I would prefer to stay at Kalpetta so that I can reach Calicut faster in the morning. Yes, now that you mention I also remember Issac's at Bathery, stopped for lunch there once. Any other suggestions for Kalpetta ?

I am sorry,don't have much idea. For me, staying at a hotel in Wayanad is rare, because I have a lot of relatives all around Wayanad. Had stayed in Green palace residency last week when I went there with a few friends.

[Gokrish]

Originally Posted by binand

2. Not sure what you mean. Same timings as the above one, isn't it?

Muthanga timing was 6 am to 6 pm when I visited during end 2011. Not sure about present status though.

[sandeep3in]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Any reason for going via Salem - Thrissur? Isn't Dindigul - Theni route better?

The passenger's accompanying me in this trip is prone to motion sickness ,hence don't want to take the ghat section.

But looks like i have to take the muvatupuzha section .

[coolclouds]

In addition to what others mentioned, I think Kanakpura road would be a safe bet during evening hours. Traffic on Mysore-Nanjangod will be mad in addition to Mysore road mess. If you take Mysore road, take city route which may be faster than ring road.

Once I exited NICE road/Mysore road junction at 5 pm and could reach check post by 8.45pm via Mysore in an Innova. Certainly it was a rash drive. Bhpian Lloyed suggested me some alternate routes that day as a backup.

[deepclutch]

Originally Posted by binand

There is now a road via Edappal-Chamravattom-Tirur-Parappanangadi-Chelari-Ramanattukara that is shorter by a few km, instead of the pure NH 17 route.

Google maps shows this as a alternate option and shorter by 5-6 kms when coming from Thrissur. how is the road conditions and is it recommended to take this route?

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by deepclutch

Google maps shows this as a alternate option and shorter by 5-6 kms when coming from Thrissur. how is the road conditions and is it recommended to take this route?

Nah! The route via Chamravattom will not save any time - it might save kms. the road is in fairly good shape (except a short stretch around Chamravattom). The road is two-laned througout and except good traffic in Tirur, Tanur, Parappanangadi towns, and a level cross near Tanur.

[binand]

Originally Posted by binaiks

... and a level cross near Tanur.

The overbridge here looked nearing completion last time I went this way (November). It ought to be done by now - but given that this is Kerala, no guarantees!

[Wind]

Originally Posted by binand

The overbridge here looked nearing completion last time I went this way (November). It ought to be done by now - but given that this is Kerala, no guarantees!

I read in the newspaper this week that this overbridge has been completed.

-- Wind

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by binand

The overbridge here looked nearing completion last time I went this way (November). It ought to be done by now - but given that this is Kerala, no guarantees!

If you are referring to Devdar railway gate, the work seems to be over, but is still not open. Formal inauguration is scheduled on February 14th. Right now, traffic is allowed on the road underneath the over bridge, across the railway gate. I am typing this today sitting a km away from there, at my wife's home.