Team-BHP - All Roads to Kerala

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 4077496)

2. There is a Saravana Bhavan on right side (also has Sri Saai Stay Inn lodging on first floor of same building) at Reddypalayam. If you take the Omalur detour, when you merge back to NH47, this place is about 5Km there. Though you miss the Saravana Bhavan at Vaigundam, this one is an option for you.

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Originally Posted by treadmark (Post 4077567)

Can you share GPS coordinates alone?

It's the Sree Saravana Bhavan Classic that is already marked on google maps - here You can get the coordinates from gmaps.

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We usually reach Saravana Bhavan Vaikundam by 6:30 ~ 6:45 and wait until 7 for breakfast. If there are other options with good restroom will definitely give a try next week.

Not worth waiting at Vaigundam if the Saravana Bhavan isn't open, in about 15-20 minutes you should be able to reach the SSB Classic that I mentioned above with a gmaps link.

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Originally Posted by gadadhar (Post 4077645)

Nijaguna has a boutique hotel listed in their website in Gundulpet town. This is shown as not part of their new Bandipur resort and as a separate entity. Looking for feedback on the food and rooms in the boutiqe hotel and the Bandipur resort if anyone has used their service.

This is located almost next door to the Hotel Misty Rock (which has a DeShell restaurant inside) and almost diagonally opposite to the CCD at Gundlupet town. When driving from Nanjangud, CCD is on left and Nijanguna, Misty Rock on right. When coming from Chamrajanagar, you should turn right at Gundlupet towards the Nanjangud/Mysore direction to reach these places.
No personal experience at the Gundlupet Nijanguna so can't comment on rooms and food. However, I remember seeing some posts in the Bangalore-Ooty thread about the place (could be a comment no just the food there though).

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Originally Posted by gadadhar (Post 4077645)

I had stopped once at this hotel in Gundlepet town around the time it had opened. It looks quite fancy from the outside but felt it very ordinary inside. The restaurant was full of flies and the saunf placed at the reception had ants running all over it. Toilets were ok, but an ordinary set up in a corner.

Not sure if anything has changed now, but our thought when we came out was-If this is their state when new, wonder how they will be once the place is used a bit. Never stopped there again.

Edit: Link to my post on this. Was a year back though. Has a couple of pictures. Link

This is what I exactly had written

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Stopped at the newly opened Nijaguna at Gundlepet (couple of pictures below). Looked good from outside, but in spite of being very new, already looking a little run down inside. Food was average and the saunf served at the end of the meal had a bunch of ants running around. Rest rooms for now were clean(but Indian Style). Rest rooms pretty small, can cater to only 2-3 people at a time. Considering that this may become a popular halt for the Kerala/Ooty crowd, will be interesting to see how they handle the maintenance. Personally, will not be stopping here again. Would prefer CCD or Misty Rock.

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Originally Posted by pramodpk (Post 4077450)

It's better to go via Salem early in the morning. The other route might take 5 - 10 mins extra. There are a lot of eateries on the NH 47 these days. My regular stop for the past 6 years in Hotel Annalakshmi near Perundurai. Decent food, parking, fast service. Toilets are also OK. With 3:30 AM start, you will reach this place by 7:30 AM.

You can take Edappadi - Tharamangalam - Edappadi route while returning. I have been doing that for the past 1 year.

Thank you, I will try the route while returning. 7.30 is too late for me to have breakfast - I feel hungry very early when I drive and is usually one of the first few customers at SharavanaBhavan for Breakfast ;)

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Originally Posted by arjithin (Post 4077478)

I find that the alternative road is best enjoyed in the early morning time. With a 4 AM start from Whitefield I normally reach Omalur around 6:30-640 AM and join back NH after 45 minutes.

Valid point, and will try this one of these days.

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 4077496)

Anoop - I suggest you consider one of these places for breakfast:
1. Sai Sangeet -

2. There is a Saravana Bhavan on right side (also has Sri Saai Stay Inn lodging on first floor of same building) at Reddypalayam.

Thank you. Option 2 seems like a perfect for us. Will try this for sure if I am taking the Omalur route.

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Originally Posted by bejoy (Post 4077624)

We started this early and reached the Vaikundam Saravana bhavan too early, so made it only a bio break and had a late breakfast after Walayar at Malabar Restaurant. This place is around 10-11kms after the Walayar checkpost.

Wow, that was super fast - my tummy will never let me drive so late without having food ;)

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Originally Posted by motomaverick (Post 4077648)

Hey Anoop, we are also driving down to Kerala this saturday bbut starting at 6am only. I guess at that time taking the Omalur route makes more sense as breakfast can be finished at Thoppur itself.

As of now no issues with Cauvery I hope.

Yes, if you are starting by 6 from Bangalore, it will make sense to take the Omalur route.

--Anoop

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Originally Posted by gadadhar (Post 4077645)

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Originally Posted by Rajeevraj (Post 4077930)

It looks quite fancy from the outside but felt it very ordinary inside. The restaurant was full of flies and the saunf placed at the reception had ants running all over it. Toilets were ok, but an ordinary set up in a corner.

I stopped at this place for a cup of coffee 2 weeks ago. Was surprised to see the place absolutely deserted at 5:30 in the evening (may be because it was a Thursday) and the impression about the restaurant was similar to what you felt - did seem to be quite ordinary even though it looked pretty fancy from outside. But the coffee they served was quite good.

I didn't use the toilets, but my wife did and her opinion was that it was quite badly maintained and not very clean.

So the overall impression about the place wasn't too good, doesn't seem worthy of a recommendation.

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Originally Posted by kala (Post 4078075)

So the overall impression about the place wasn't too good, doesn't seem worthy of a recommendation.

Looks like over years the geography and social climate of Gundlupet is changing. Thanks to steady increase (??) of traffic to Ooty and Kerala and more awareness about going by road (?). Multiple eating joints, development of 4-lane roads and the rise in usage of Chamarajanagar-Gundlupet road etc makes me think, many entities will start to come with good options for this town. Wont be surprised next in line will be a good hotel (or hotels) for overnight stay.

With the flyover construction work in progress at Salem, the westward deviation from NH7 at Omalur for Tharamangalam-Sankari route that leads to NH47 is an option for those heading towards Kerala to use in order to bypass Salem.

Is there a worthwhile eastward route option from Omalur to bypass Salem and head towards Namakkal, etc ? (To avoid the Salem flyover construction related traffic jams, especially during peak hours). Even if this is not very useful when traveling out of Bangalore, it may help on the return journey.

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 4078156)

Is there a worthwhile eastward route option from Omalur to bypass Salem and head towards Namakkal, etc ? (To avoid the Salem flyover construction related traffic jams, especially during peak hours). Even if this is not very useful when traveling out of Bangalore, it may help on the return journey.

There is an option by going via Omalur, Tharamangalam, Sankagiri, Tiruchengode to Namakkal.
If your objective is to proceed beyond Namakkal, then take the Tiruchengode-Paramathi route. By this you can avoid paying toll at Namakkal as well. I have driven on this route before. Very good 2 lane road to drive

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Originally Posted by Rajeevraj (Post 4077930)

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Originally Posted by kala (Post 4078075)

Thanks for that. I guess it is better to keep off from this place. In spite of having good properties, looks like maintenance is an issue with them. Even there old property in Chamrajnagar is below average on maintenance and food quality, but I still got here since the options on the route are very limited.

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 4077747)

It's the Sree Saravana Bhavan Classic that is already marked on google maps - here You can get the coordinates from gmaps.

This is located almost next door to the Hotel Misty Rock (which has a DeShell restaurant inside) and almost diagonally opposite to the CCD at Gundlupet town. When driving from Nanjangud, CCD is on left and Nijanguna, Misty Rock on right. When coming from Chamrajanagar, you should turn right at Gundlupet towards the Nanjangud/Mysore direction to reach these places.
No personal experience at the Gundlupet Nijanguna so can't comment on rooms and food. However, I remember seeing some posts in the Bangalore-Ooty thread about the place (could be a comment no just the food there though).

Thanks NPV. Going by other feedback, looks like not the place to go. JLR will enjoy the favorite spot position for some more time for sure.

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Originally Posted by gadadhar (Post 4078374)

Thanks NPV. Going by other feedback, looks like not the place to go. JLR will enjoy the favorite spot position for some more time for sure.

Oh, the Nijaguna at Gundlupet can in no way be compared to JLR!

However, the Nijaguna Resorts at Chamarajanagar seemed like a good location (probably the rooms are decent as well) and well maintained property, have tried the restaurant on a few occasions and found it to be decent. The advantage of the location is that if you stay there you can do day visits to K Gudi, BR Hills, MM Hills, etc as is it almost at the centre :)

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Originally Posted by NPV (Post 4078391)

I have also tried their restaurant in Chamrajnagar few times for breakfast and lunch. Service was slow, but food was ok. Room tariffs were not so expensive and they do have some Ayurvedic packages in tie-up with Kottackal (famous Ayurveda center from Kerala) and can be a weekend breakout for the Bangalore folks.