[NPV]

Originally Posted by B103

Anybody has information on the condition of Bangalore -> HD Kote -> Mananthavadi route? Road conditions were quite bad 3-4 years back and I am uncomfortable trying this again in a car with low ground clearance. The good thing about this route is that it is only 279 kms in Google maps.

The other route I consider is Bangalore -> Gundulpet -> Sulthan Bathery -> Mananthavadi. This road was in good condition an year back. Hopefully now also. It is a roundabout way compared to HD Kote route and involves an additional 60 kms (approx) from Google maps.

Seems like the Mananthavady road is good - See this post on another thread - here.
I don't expect the Sulthan Bathery road to be too bad now (due to monsoons), was excellent even 4 months ago.

[sandsun7]

Originally Posted by B103

Anybody has information on the condition of Bangalore -> HD Kote -> Mananthavadi route? Road conditions were quite bad 3-4 years back and I am uncomfortable trying this again in a car with low ground clearance.

HD Kote- Mananthavady stretch is good now, as per reports in an other forum: See the link where I had posted about the same: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3476148

Originally Posted by B103

The other route I consider is Bangalore -> Gundulpet -> Sulthan Bathery -> Mananthavadi. This road was in good condition an year back. Hopefully now also.

Had read in a local newspaper few days ago that the Beenachi-Panamaram section of the Sultan Bathery - Mananthavady road is in bad condition with lot of potholes.

[Geo]

I will be travelling from Bangalore to Thrissur this Thursday. My car is kind of new and not an offroader. So would like to travel by the smoothest way. I don't mind travelling a little bit extra if the roads are better.

1. Are the Bangalore-Salem and Salem-Coimbatore stretches good now? Or are they too patchy? How are the roads after rain?
2. Should I go via Pollachy route right from Salem, or can I go to Pollachy from Coimbatore? Which route has better roads?
3. Are there any deadly potholed or un-drivable sections if we take the pollachy way?

Could you guys help me in deciding between these 2 routes?

Coimbatore - Pollachi - Vadakkencherry

Salem - Perundurai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi-Vadakkencherry

Or

the one Ranjit mentioned just now -
Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakancheri-Thrissur

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by B103

Anybody has information on the condition of Bangalore -> HD Kote -> Mananthavadi route? Road conditions were quite bad 3-4 years back and I am uncomfortable trying this again in a car with low ground clearance. The good thing about this route is that it is only 279 kms in Google maps.

The other route I consider is Bangalore -> Gundulpet -> Sulthan Bathery -> Mananthavadi. This road was in good condition an year back. Hopefully now also. It is a roundabout way compared to HD Kote route and involves an additional 60 kms (approx) from Google maps.

Any advice/suggestions?

A friend did Nanjangud-HD Kote-Kabini-Nagarahole Checkpost-Bavali-Mananthavady in the last week of July and he told me that roads were excellent to drive on.This was the route he took

https://goo.gl/maps/9ajzh

Originally Posted by Geo

I will be travelling from Bangalore to Thrissur this Thursday. My car is kind of new and not an offroader. So would like to travel by the smoothest way. I don't mind travelling a little bit extra if the roads are better.

1. Are the Bangalore-Salem and Salem-Coimbatore stretches good now? Or are they too patchy? How are the roads after rain?
2. Should I go via Pollachy route right from Salem, or can I go to Pollachy from Coimbatore? Which route has better roads?
3. Are there any deadly potholed or un-drivable sections if we take the pollachy way?

Could you guys help me in deciding between these 2 routes?

Coimbatore - Pollachi - Vadakkencherry

Salem - Perundurai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi-Vadakkencherry

Or

the one Ranjit mentioned just now -
Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakancheri-Thrissur

I would stick to Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Kollengode-Pallassana-Alathur-Pazhayannur-Chelakara-Wadakancheri-Thrissur.

on the nh47 route after the L&T Bypass at CBE till Palakkad is bad to average to rough to patchy to good.Again road widening in progress between vadakkencheri to thrissur and hence I have been biased in my suggestions towards the alathur thrissur route.

[ranjitp1]

Heard from a friend that the AC road is almost submerged (Alappuzha-Changanacherry road)owing to the heavy rains in the region.

[Gokrish]

Originally Posted by Geo

1. Are the Bangalore-Salem and Salem-Coimbatore stretches good now? Or are they too patchy? How are the roads after rain?

Krishnagiri till Coimbatore- Route is in excellent condition. Can not comment on the other stretches as I have not traveled on these routes recently. Just after komarapalayam toll where Toll route ends, a stretch up to around 100 meters or so will be patchy. Better watch out for the same if you are reaching there after dusk.

[deetjohn]

I did Ernakulam - Valparai on the weekend. The roads are in very good shape through out except for a 5KM bit in the middle after Sholayar.

Apparently, two contractors started from either side in Kerala and they never met. We started back early in the morning and a forest officer joined us and he told us this.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by Geo

I will be travelling from Bangalore to Thrissur this Thursday. My car is kind of new and not an offroader. So would like to travel by the smoothest way. I don't mind travelling a little bit extra if the roads are better.

1. Are the Bangalore-Salem and Salem-Coimbatore stretches good now? Or are they too patchy? How are the roads after rain?
2. Should I go via Pollachy route right from Salem, or can I go to Pollachy from Coimbatore? Which route has better roads?
3. Are there any deadly potholed or un-drivable sections if we take the pollachy way?

Could you guys help me in deciding between these 2 routes?

Coimbatore - Pollachi - Vadakkencherry

Salem - Perundurai - Kangayam - Palladam - Pollachi-Vadakkencherry

Or

the one Ranjit mentioned just now -
Pollachi-Kollengode-Alathur-Wadakancheri-Thrissur

Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Salem-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi-Vadakkanchery-Mannuthy-Trichur is smooth surface except for few humps and small towns.

[SAPVEN]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoss

How is Coimbatore - Pollachi strech? Is it safe to drive after dark to Vadakkenchery from Pollachi?

Quite safe IMO. I drove with family last month , and crossed the Pollachi -Vadakkenchery after 8.00 PM.

[naveen.raju]

Here's how Alleppey - changanacherry looks like .

"A tourist who was swimming in the backwaters realized at the last moment that he had gone too far and was swimming on the road".

Was lucky to avoid the bus.

PS - Dont know whether it's a joke but the road is like a pool now.

[binand]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Here's how Alleppey - changanacherry looks like

PS - Dont know whether it's a joke but the road is like a pool now.

The road apparently was waterlogged in yesterday's rains (2 ft water). Most vernacular newspapers are reporting that this road has been closed for traffic since this morning.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by Geo

I will be travelling from Bangalore to Thrissur this Thursday. My car is kind of new and not an offroader. So would like to travel by the smoothest way. I don't mind travelling a little bit extra if the roads are better.

1. Are the Bangalore-Salem and Salem-Coimbatore stretches good now? Or are they too patchy? How are the roads after rain?
2. Should I go via Pollachy route right from Salem, or can I go to Pollachy from Coimbatore? Which route has better roads?
3. Are there any deadly potholed or un-drivable sections if we take the pollachy way?

Could you guys help me in deciding between these 2 routes?

I would suggest you to take deviation from Salem towards Perundurai,Kangeyam,Palldam and Pollachi. You have very good 2L roads. In case you wish to take a break, you can drop in at Sakthi Hotels Pollachi.

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Heard from a friend that the AC road is almost submerged (Alappuzha-Changanacherry road)owing to the heavy rains in the region.

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

"A tourist who was swimming in the backwaters realized at the last moment that he had gone too far and was swimming on the road".

Was lucky to avoid the bus.

PS - Dont know whether it's a joke but the road is like a pool now.

Originally Posted by binand

The road apparently was waterlogged in yesterday's rains

Here is the video version of the above picture .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41nml3cwAz8

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by Geo

I will be travelling from Bangalore to Thrissur this Thursday...

I would go with the options recommended by coolclouds and ranjitp1. You really don't have to go via Wadakkanchery, as the NH-47 between Vadakkenchery and Mannuthy is good these days.

There's a rather rough patch of probably 100 metres just after the Chengapally bypass toll-road ends, towards Avinashi. While you may find the trucks and buses driving over it without any drama, smaller vehicles may end up with some serious suspension damage at their normal highway speeds. I've seen many spiritedly driven cars screeching to a slow pace on seeing this unexpected patch of bad road. So, watch out.

Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi-Vadakkanchery is excellent 2-lane road.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

...take deviation from Salem towards Perundurai,Kangeyam,Palldam and Pollachi.

IMO, not necessary now, because the Mangalam ROB is open, and the Perundurai-Kangeyam-Palladam detour takes longer, especially the Chennimalai area can slow you down because of the town traffic and twists and turns.

[Geo]

Thanks all for your directions. Really appreciate the help.

Originally Posted by silversteed

You really don't have to go via Wadakkanchery, as the NH-47 between Vadakkenchery and Mannuthy is good these days.

Silversteed, Thanks. So, is this what you suggest for the last leg?
https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/Th...3!2d10.6572737