[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Hope this image helps.

Thanks. I am aware of this section which you have shown in the map . Reason, I use this same route when I suspect Attibele toll booth to be clogged up. I was interested in the route between TVS Factor, Rayakottai, Palacode and Dharmapuri. So that I can avoid the nasty Krishnagiri toll as well.

Any way for this drive I may be proceeding towards Kozhikode Rural Dt., so the route would be via Kanakapura.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by sachinpk

Thanks. I am aware of this section which you have shown in the map . Reason, I use this same route when I suspect Attibele toll booth to be clogged up. I was interested in the route between TVS Factor, Rayakottai, Palacode and Dharmapuri. So that I can avoid the nasty Krishnagiri toll as well.

Any way for this drive I may be proceeding towards Kozhikode Rural Dt., so the route would be via Kanakapura.

Hope this helps. I have been on this route before. Rayakottai-krishnagiri road is a treat to drive. The first 1 km or so has narrow roads. Then you get good 2 lane roads to drive

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Hope this helps. I have been on this route before. Rayakottai-krishnagiri road is a treat to drive. The first 1 km or so has narrow roads. Then you get good 2 lane roads to drive

Attachment 1281152

Suresh, There is no point in taking Rayakottai-Krishnagiri route unless traveling to Chennai. Its a long detour and Krishnagiri toll will be crowded with both Chennai and Salem bound traffic.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Suresh, There is no point in taking Rayakottai-Krishnagiri route unless traveling to Chennai. Its a long detour and Krishnagiri toll will be crowded with both Chennai and Salem bound traffic.

I agree with what you have said. For people proceeding toward chennai, they can take the rayakottai-krishnagiri route.
For people proceeding towards salem and beyond, they can take the following 2 options

1. Go Via Rayakottai-Palacode and then touch Thoppur
2. Go Via Rayakottai-Krishnagiri route till you reach NH7. Then take a right turn to proceed towards Thoppur.

Time wise i guess both the routes should be the same. In the former, you get to drive on a major portion of 4 lane roads post krishnagiri toll while in the latter, you have to drive on 2 lane roads till Thoppur.

But the common point in both the routes is YOU AVOID PAYING TOLL AT KRISHNAGIRI.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

2. Go Via Rayakottai-Krishnagiri route till you reach NH7. Then take a right turn to proceed towards Thoppur.

Time wise i guess both the routes should be the same. In the former, you get to drive on a major portion of 4 lane roads post krishnagiri toll while in the latter, you have to drive on 2 lane roads till Thoppur.

But the common point in both the routes is YOU AVOID PAYING TOLL AT KRISHNAGIRI.

Rayakottai-Thoppur is 74 kms (50 kms two lane)
Rayakottai-Krishnagiri-Thoppur is 104 kms (30 kms two lane)

[narayan]

Originally Posted by ampere

Not necessarily. You can do Salem-Perundurai-Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Palakkad. You can take the 4-lane till Avinashi and then exit.

Palakkad-Ottapalam-Shornur-Trichur-Angamaly-Perumbavoor-MVPA-Thodupuzha-Vagamon.

Only question is how is traffic and condition on MC road.

Thanks. I hope the extra kms of around 25-30kms in each of the above routes will be worth it !

Originally Posted by binand

Angamaly-Perumbavur-Muvattupuzha was quite good when I was in this part of the world in April.

Any good veg restaurant options on route ? Say at Angamaly or Perumbavoor ?

Originally Posted by Edwardanto

Angamaly-Perumbavoor-Muvattupuzha-Thodupuzha was excellent except for the Kalady Bridge when I traveled two weeks back.

While driving from Thodupuzha to Wagamon, don't follow the default route google map provides. My brother took that route a few of months back and it was a painful drive. After the recent rains the road might have deteriorated further. From Thodupuzha head to Erattupetta via Muttom and drive to Wagamon from there. See the route link below.

Took note of your suggestion for diversion via Erattupetta. The google map shows a route via Arakulam and Vadakkekara which I presume you are suggesting to avoid ?

[Edwardanto]

Originally Posted by narayan

Took note of your suggestion for diversion via Erattupetta. The google map shows a route via Arakulam and Vadakkekara which I presume you are suggesting to avoid ?

Yes, that route is the one I am suggesting to avoid. The route via Erattupetta is the standard route to Vagamon. Till Muttom you get smooth wide roads. After Muttom, the road narrows a bit, but pretty much okay.

[sachinpk]

Originally Posted by binand

Bangalore-Kanakapura-Kollegal - Good roads, sparse traffic.
Kollegal-Ch. Nagar - Goes through some small villages where the road is barely 1 bus wide. Otherwise good.
Ch. Nagar-Gundlupet - Rough road, advisable to stay below 60 kmph.

Any good petrol pumps in this route which also has good toilet facilities? The usual pit stop for us was at Nijaguna Residency in Chamrajanagar. But this time we may cross that point before they open up for breakfast.

[Knight Rider]

Just did Bangalore - cochin, Cochin Bangalore over the last 4 days, Took the much recommended Bangalore-Selam-Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Palakkad Trissur-Ernakulam while going to Kerala and the roads were a breeze.

However while coming back, took the walayar route, The roads are in pathetic condition bundled with heavy traffic and intense rain. So folks driving down on the weekend take the first route as mentioned in my post.

Hope this helps!

[fundagenie]

Has anyone travelled on this route recently like say in the past 1-2 months.

Bangalore -> Salem -> Madurai -> Tenkasi ->Thenmala-> Punalur

I have done this route multiple times and love it for the drive and the scenery. But would like to know the road condition post the rains. Especially the Thenmala stretch. Am planning to drive the coming week.

FundaG

[Horizon81]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Has anyone travelled on this route recently like say in the past 1-2 months.

Bangalore -> Salem -> Madurai -> Tenkasi ->Thenmala-> Punalur

I have done this route multiple times and love it for the drive and the scenery. But would like to know the road condition post the rains. Especially the Thenmala stretch. Am planning to drive the coming week.

FundaG

That's my usual route too, driving to Kollam. I drove on the last week of July. Roads were good then. Its been raining heavily after that, and I'm expecting roads to be bad in the Aryankavu-Punalur-Kottarakkara stretch (not confirmed though). I also will be driving on Friday along the same route.

[dhanushmenon]

Quick update:

Drove to Kottayam from Kochi on two consecutive days.
On the first day, I took MC Road from and I regretted it later.

The next day, I went through Cherthala- Kumarakom- Kottayam.
This was a much sensible route though bit narrow in patches near Kumarakom area.

However, the roads are in good shape.


MC road, I heard is best avoided all through due to the craters bestowed by monsoons

[fundagenie]

Originally Posted by Horizon81

That's my usual route too, driving to Kollam. I drove on the last week of July. Roads were good then. Its been raining heavily after that, and I'm expecting roads to be bad in the Aryankavu-Punalur-Kottarakkara stretch (not confirmed though). I also will be driving on Friday along the same route.

Any possibility of sending a update or PM once you reach home. I am planning to travel on Saturday.

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

MC road, I heard is best avoided all through due to the craters bestowed by monsoons

Believe that should be till Chengannur, right. Cos the MC road from Chengannur to TVM is usually in good condition at all times. Though its been 4-5 months since I drove in that stretch, still I dont think it would be that deteriorated.

FundaG

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by dhanushmenon

Quick update:

Drove to Kottayam from Kochi on two consecutive days.
On the first day, I took MC Road from and I regretted it later.

Dhanush, MC road from where?

[tomraven99]

MC road from Muvattupuzha to Kottayam is completely damaged. I guess conditions will be similar from Kottayam to Chengannur.

Take the route from via Uzhavoor - Kidangoor to Kottayam. From Kottayam take the Puthupally-Thengana-Tiruvalla route. These routes will completely bypass Ettumanoor,Kottayam and Changanasserry towns which are major traffic bottlenecks.