[BunnyPunia]

Originally Posted by binand

Just took a look. Google is taking you from Coimbatore to Maddur via Dhimbam ghat, Chamarajanagar and Malavally; and then onwards to Tumkur via Kunigal. That's an unnecessary detour - you save about 100 km (in a 1500 km journey) with no appreciable time saving. Stick to the backbone highway would be my recommendation. Take the NICE Road to bypass Bangalore.

Sorted. And then I take Solapur route to avoid Belgaum - Satara message

[sknair]

Hello,
I am planning to visit Kerala (Near Chengannur, Pandalam) during Onam time. Considering the bad state of roads between Kochi and Alapuzha (elevated flyover construction), I am thinking of coming through Thekkady (staying for a night) and continuing to Chengannur the next day. Please let me know the state of road conditions and the monsoon effect if it would be safe to travel through there during Sept mid. Which road is in better condition to reach Changennur from Thekkady?

Option 1. Mundakayam -> Mallapally -> Chengannur
Option 2. Mundakayam -> Kozhenchery -> Chengannur

Also, any advice for the Bangalore to Thekkady route including good breakfast options (starting from Silkboard around 6 am).

Thanks.

[binand]

I returned from Kerala yesterday, and since Google was showing a big pile-up just after Krishnagiri toll (+15 mins) I chose to take the newly rebuilt NH 844 from Dharmapuri. Briefly:

Some sections are fully built, some are half-built (ie, either one carriageway or one service road is built through which all traffic goes through) and some of course are unbuilt.

In a total journey time of 70 mins from Dharmapuri to Hosur, I drove for about 27 minutes on fully built roads. A quick BotE calculation tells me that this number converts to about 55% of the road being actually fully built.

And we have not even looked at the Hosur-Bangalore part.

Hopefully this helps someone. I see that different threads have differing information about this road in terms of completion. Please be aware that the incomplete or untouched sections are not for the faint of heart. See the Dashcam grab here:

https://youtu.be/fuYc_F1LdsM

[bejoy]

Originally Posted by binand

newly rebuilt NH 844 from Dharmapuri

I took this road on Monday afternoon, exited NH44 at Dharmapuri to join NH844 at 3:20PM and joined NH44 before Hosur at 4:50PM, via ESI ring road. More traffic compared to night, otherwise it was smooth roads all the way - the old SH is in good condition. BTW, almost all private overnight buses take this route nowadays.

Drive during the day:

https://youtu.be/zwUIHAeBOXM

[ashenoy]

I am planning a trip to Kannur late next month. Google maps advises me to take the Blr, Mysore, Hunsur, Iritty route. Does anyone on this forum have a update on the condition of roads from Bangalore to Kannur ?

[binand]

Originally Posted by ashenoy

I am planning a trip to Kannur late next month. Google maps advises me to take the Blr, Mysore, Hunsur, Iritty route. Does anyone on this forum have a update on the condition of roads from Bangalore to Kannur ?

It is good all they way till Mattannur at least. No reason to doubt the quality of the road beyond that either.

There's a dedicated thread for Bangalore-Kannur. You might want to check there for latest updates: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...e-queries.html (Bangalore - Kannur : Route Queries)

[mygodbole]

I am planning a 'Route 66' trip, the Kochi-Panvel 'highway' some time in November.

I intend sticking to NH66 from Kanyakumari all the way up to Mangaon (Maharashtra).

Need advice on the drive from Kanyakumari to Mangalore on NH66, with no deviations. No problem if there is road-widening works in Kerala that may be ongoing.

Just trying to figure out the drive time before adding stopovers for friends, 'tourism', 'sight-seeing' and breakdowns.

Google is a guide that says walk the path; I rely on, not blindly trust, Google Maps.

So asking for information on any (and every) impediment I may face on 'Route 66' from Kanyakumari, at least up to Mangalore.

Please help.

[binand]

Originally Posted by mygodbole

Need advice on the drive from Kanyakumari to Mangalore on NH66, with no deviations. No problem if there is road-widening works in Kerala that may be ongoing.

Just trying to figure out the drive time before adding stopovers for friends, 'tourism', 'sight-seeing' and breakdowns.

If you really want to take NH66 through Kerala (and the urban sprawls that extend into the adjacent states at both ends) I'd suggest you budget two full days of exhausting driving. Day 1 from Kanyakumari till Kochi, and day 2 from there till Mangalore. Add time for breaks, unwinding, sightseeing etc. to this. Night driving might save some time but not much (you'll still need about two nights).

[Kottayamkaran]

Originally Posted by mygodbole

So asking for information on any (and every) impediment I may face on 'Route 66' from Kanyakumari, at least up to Mangalore.

Please help.

I would strongly advise against this. Loads of road widening activities are happening in NH66 in Kerala. Drive from Trivandrum to Kochi can be hell with lot of potholes big enough to swallow an entire bus and lots of construction works. Most people travelling from Trivandrum to Thrissur is sticking with MC Road. Also, drive from Kochi to Mangalore through NH66 can also be tiring due to construction activities.

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by mygodbole

I am planning a 'Route 66' trip, the Kochi-Panvel 'highway' some time in November.

As others have advised, I would also advise against this. Driving within KL is a horrendous affair these days and it's only gotten worse thanks to the road works that are going on.

Even if you are willing taking it on like an adventure, it gets bad real fast.

Another reason why trains are running packed with commuters fainting even :(

Suggest you drive on the TN side and skip KL. If point to point is your plan.

[mygodbole]

Thank you friends for the advise and information.

Recalibrating and rerouting my journey via TN and KA.

[Bibin]

Any inputs on MC road congestions between Kottayam and Trivandrum (technopark) by regular travelers in the route?

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by mygodbole

So asking for information on any (and every) impediment I may face on 'Route 66' from Kanyakumari, at least up to Mangalore.
Please help.

As others have mentioned, you will pretty much face only impediments as 6 laning is in brisk progress across the stretch. I see it is around 700km to Mangalore and you will be able to cover max 30-35km/hour.

Between Chavakkad-Near Guruvayoor and Calicut, there enough small portions of the 6 lane open-Maybe 10% to make some difference. Not enough to make this drive if you have another alternative.

If you ask this question next year this time, I hope the answer will change. I personally think maybe 60-70% of the 6 Lane stretch between Kasargod and Kochi will open up by then. The whole dynamics of road travel in Kerala will change over the next 2 years as the 6 laning completes.

[Repsol]

Quick query:

I am planning to travel to Alleppey from BLR (E-City). My usual route is BLR > Krishnagiri > Dharmapuri > Salem > Coimbatore > Walayar > Palakkad > Thrissur > Ernakulam > Cherthala > Alleppey

But this time when I check in GMaps, it tells me to take 844 from Hosur and reach Dharmapuri. Its not even showing the NH44 via Krishnagiri.

Should I stick to my normal route only (NH44)?

By the way, I plan to start from BLR at 8 AM

[binand]

Originally Posted by Repsol

But this time when I check in GMaps, it tells me to take 844 from Hosur and reach Dharmapuri. Its not even showing the NH44 via Krishnagiri.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5844476 (All Roads to Kerala)

Dashcam video of NH 844.

I think it takes similar amount of time (a bit more, maybe), less toll and has about half the length redeveloped. Personally - I'd take it only if there is a reason (like in the above case, traffic pileup at Krishnagiri).