All Roads to Kerala

abn · 17th August 2007, 11:37

Hi all,

I will be travelling to kerala next weekend,exactly to cochin. Can anybody give an update on how the road condition after mansoon. I think roads upto valayar will be ok, what about valayar to trissur? Or can i take any different route, which bypasses palakkad like a route through marayoor-munnar?
Thanks in advance.

Update:

A comprehensive listing of most of the important highway eateries on the NH7-NH47 (Bangalore - Salem - Thrissur) stretch as on May 2016 is attached in this post. Many thanks to member ranjitp1!

abhilashvk · 17th August 2007, 12:02

I was made to understand that roads to Kochi from Bangalore is BAD, but the road to calicut is fairly GOOD (I went 2 weeks back,Not as good before the rains). Why dont you take the road :
Bangalore - Mysore - Gundalpet - Sulthan Bathery - Kalpetta - Calicut - Edappal - Edapally - Kochi.

Bangalore Calicut drive time is 5.30 mts to 6 hrs (350 Kms), and another 3.30 mts to 4 hrs (210 Kms) will be Calicut - Kochi.

Time taken is almost same for both the routes.

s0uljah · 17th August 2007, 12:43

The route Abhilash has suggested via Calicut is a fun drive also (ghats).

Thanks Abhi.

I havent been through there in a while now, was worried the kerala rains would have ruined the roads. Was supposed to go this weekend, but I will be driving down on 22nd

hvkumar · 17th August 2007, 13:05

The direct road to Kochi via Palakkad is OK except for some bad stretches near Walayar.

Harrie · 17th August 2007, 13:14

walayar to palakkad is ok with just the usual potholes. palakkad to thrishur is a fast strech with potholes the size of craters! Be very careful on this strech. work is going on in this strech but it'll be some time before its fully done.

Knight Rider · 17th August 2007, 13:38

ABN, What are you driving? I drive an alto and find the palakkad route really bad compared to the calicut route.

benbsb29 · 17th August 2007, 13:51

My relative returned from Kerala last week via the Palakkad route, i think and his Alto is now a mini rattletrap.

aNiLdEv · 17th August 2007, 15:01

Hi guys,

I am also driving to Kerala (Cochin to be precise) on 23rd morning. Reports from recent travellers confirm that the road condition (Usual route, via Coimbatore) is really very bad. I think it would be wise to take the Calicut route even though there are reports of bad patches on the Calicut-Cochin route.

Let's hope the patch work being done by the PWD (or whoever) at least fills the deadly potholes.

Cheers,
Anil Dev

BMW-X5 · 17th August 2007, 16:05

Guys,

Why dont you try the following route...?

Bangalore - Mysore -Gundalpet - Bandipur- Gudallur-Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Trichur -Cochin

Bangalore - Perinthalmanna is 340 Kmts add up another 150 (Max) to Cochin.

Two months back this road was really good except the Bandipur -Gudallur (<30 Kmts)
and Wandoor Perinthanlmanna (30 Kmts).

This route is also known for itz scenic beauty.

You will never forget the journey thru the bandipur forest !! you could see lot of wild animals, from gudallur there are lotz of T-estates tooo...!!!

Jaggu · 17th August 2007, 16:11

last month is when i took the route and trust me after walayar its a huge mess till trichur.

mykal shoemaker · 17th August 2007, 16:32

Another alternative route is

Bangalore-->Mysore-->Thamarassery-->take left turn after the Ghat-->Areekkode-->manjeri-->Perinthalmanna-->Pattambi--->then either proceed to Trichur thru Shoranur or Kunnamkulam route-->From Trichur side u can take either NH 17 or NH47.

Its advisable to avoid Tamilnadu as entire Tamilnadu 4 lining works of National highways are on progress and hence some traffic issues.

--mykal

hellstar · 17th August 2007, 17:41

Hi BMWX5 th rains in the last two months can do a lot to the road s thats why i believe most members are looking for more recent updates....the scenic beauty is unparalled but bad roads has the potential to take your mind to a state where you cannot enjoy the scenery

abhilashvk · 17th August 2007, 17:58

Sounds the best route to take to Kochi is through Calicut. There are certain stretches on calicut - Kochi (I took this route 2 wks back) which are not good...I was told that the stretches from Walyar - palghat is very bad.

jkdas · 17th August 2007, 19:54

Good news. 150Cr handed over for fixing roads. Work started last day.

Funny part. They gonna give contract for road laying . 2000kms per year @ 25lac per kms. The road should hold for 5yrs even during heavy monsoon down pour.

Tourism development are in charge of some roads where tourist visit regularly like Varkala . They have spend 1cr per km from Paripally to varkala to Kallambalam. These roads are just awesome.

kuttapan · 17th August 2007, 20:05

The calicut route does not make any sense - because it ultimately lands u up in Thrissur, no matter what and the Thrissur-Cochin stretch has to be done(NH 17 is an option, though). For avoiding Walayar-Palghat-Thrissur stretch(70-80kms), you travel about 100 more KMS???? Till Coimbatore, the roads are Ok in TN, only the traffic is more.

My suggestion is to take the normal route and be prepared to drive slowly and carefully in the Walayar Stretch, take your time...

Unless you want to drive 100 more kms/enjoy scenic roads/ghats.

Now you decide.

17th August 2007, 11:37	#1
abn Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 8 Thanked: 0 Times	All Roads to Kerala Hi all, I will be travelling to kerala next weekend,exactly to cochin. Can anybody give an update on how the road condition after mansoon. I think roads upto valayar will be ok, what about valayar to trissur? Or can i take any different route, which bypasses palakkad like a route through marayoor-munnar? Thanks in advance. Update: A comprehensive listing of most of the important highway eateries on the NH7-NH47 (Bangalore - Salem - Thrissur) stretch as on May 2016 is attached in this post. Many thanks to member ranjitp1! Last edited by Gannu_1 : 9th May 2016 at 07:59. Reason: Update on eateries posted.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 12:02	#2
abhilashvk BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore/Calic Posts: 367 Thanked: 32 Times View My Garage	I was made to understand that roads to Kochi from Bangalore is BAD, but the road to calicut is fairly GOOD (I went 2 weeks back,Not as good before the rains). Why dont you take the road : Bangalore - Mysore - Gundalpet - Sulthan Bathery - Kalpetta - Calicut - Edappal - Edapally - Kochi. Bangalore Calicut drive time is 5.30 mts to 6 hrs (350 Kms), and another 3.30 mts to 4 hrs (210 Kms) will be Calicut - Kochi. Time taken is almost same for both the routes.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 12:43	#3
s0uljah Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 2,222 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	The route Abhilash has suggested via Calicut is a fun drive also (ghats). Thanks Abhi. I havent been through there in a while now, was worried the kerala rains would have ruined the roads. Was supposed to go this weekend, but I will be driving down on 22nd
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 13:05	#4
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,464 Times	The direct road to Kochi via Palakkad is OK except for some bad stretches near Walayar.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 13:14	#5
Harrie BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: KA 03, KL 12, TN 38 Posts: 701 Thanked: 36 Times View My Garage	walayar to palakkad is ok with just the usual potholes. palakkad to thrishur is a fast strech with potholes the size of craters! Be very careful on this strech. work is going on in this strech but it'll be some time before its fully done.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 13:38	#6
Knight Rider BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 283 Thanked: 28 Times	ABN, What are you driving? I drive an alto and find the palakkad route really bad compared to the calicut route.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 13:51	#7
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 10,041 Thanked: 13,709 Times View My Garage	My relative returned from Kerala last week via the Palakkad route, i think and his Alto is now a mini rattletrap.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 15:01	#8
aNiLdEv Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kochi/Bangalore Posts: 17 Thanked: 12 Times	Hi guys, I am also driving to Kerala (Cochin to be precise) on 23rd morning. Reports from recent travellers confirm that the road condition (Usual route, via Coimbatore) is really very bad. I think it would be wise to take the Calicut route even though there are reports of bad patches on the Calicut-Cochin route. Let's hope the patch work being done by the PWD (or whoever) at least fills the deadly potholes. Cheers, Anil Dev
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 16:05	#9
BMW-X5 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 188 Thanked: 10 Times	Guys, Why dont you try the following route...? Bangalore - Mysore -Gundalpet - Bandipur- Gudallur-Nilambur-Perinthalmanna-Pattambi-Trichur -Cochin Bangalore - Perinthalmanna is 340 Kmts add up another 150 (Max) to Cochin. Two months back this road was really good except the Bandipur -Gudallur (<30 Kmts) and Wandoor Perinthanlmanna (30 Kmts). This route is also known for itz scenic beauty. You will never forget the journey thru the bandipur forest !! you could see lot of wild animals, from gudallur there are lotz of T-estates tooo...!!!
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 16:11	#10
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,371 Thanked: 16,864 Times	last month is when i took the route and trust me after walayar its a huge mess till trichur.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 16:32	#11
mykal shoemaker BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 255 Thanked: 58 Times	Another alternative route is Bangalore-->Mysore-->Thamarassery-->take left turn after the Ghat-->Areekkode-->manjeri-->Perinthalmanna-->Pattambi--->then either proceed to Trichur thru Shoranur or Kunnamkulam route-->From Trichur side u can take either NH 17 or NH47. Its advisable to avoid Tamilnadu as entire Tamilnadu 4 lining works of National highways are on progress and hence some traffic issues. --mykal
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 17:41	#12
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,073 Thanked: 44 Times	Hi BMWX5 th rains in the last two months can do a lot to the road s thats why i believe most members are looking for more recent updates....the scenic beauty is unparalled but bad roads has the potential to take your mind to a state where you cannot enjoy the scenery
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 17:58	#13
abhilashvk BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore/Calic Posts: 367 Thanked: 32 Times View My Garage	Sounds the best route to take to Kochi is through Calicut. There are certain stretches on calicut - Kochi (I took this route 2 wks back) which are not good...I was told that the stretches from Walyar - palghat is very bad.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 19:54	#14
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,493 Times View My Garage	Good news. 150Cr handed over for fixing roads. Work started last day. Funny part. They gonna give contract for road laying . 2000kms per year @ 25lac per kms. The road should hold for 5yrs even during heavy monsoon down pour. Tourism development are in charge of some roads where tourist visit regularly like Varkala . They have spend 1cr per km from Paripally to varkala to Kallambalam. These roads are just awesome.
	() Thanks

17th August 2007, 20:05	#15
kuttapan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,155 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	The calicut route does not make any sense - because it ultimately lands u up in Thrissur, no matter what and the Thrissur-Cochin stretch has to be done(NH 17 is an option, though). For avoiding Walayar-Palghat-Thrissur stretch(70-80kms), you travel about 100 more KMS???? Till Coimbatore, the roads are Ok in TN, only the traffic is more. My suggestion is to take the normal route and be prepared to drive slowly and carefully in the Walayar Stretch, take your time... Unless you want to drive 100 more kms/enjoy scenic roads/ghats. Now you decide.
	() Thanks