[kala]

Originally Posted by ravib

Another note: After taking left from SH17 towards Ring Road, the Ring road ends/joins in SH33, which is the road that comes from Malavalli/Bannur towards Mysore. So the moment you cross the two signals, you will see

1) Lalitha Mahal Palace on your left
2) Police Quarters on your left
3) Mysore Zoo compound wall on your right
4) Race Course on your left

-Ravi

I think these directions needs a little more clarity, ravi. (since the road signage on this stretch is pretty bad - esp. if you can't read signboards in Kannada, I used to get lost on this road all the time once upon a time )

1) Take a left at Columbia Asia junction. Go about 4 kms where you join SH33 coming from Bannur (a T junction).n Turn right here (towards Mysore)

2) Go about 1 km when you come to a junction (with signal lights ? not cent percent sure) with a fairly big road going to your left. There might be a signboard that is marked as "T.Narsipur / Ooty / Calicut" - or may be "Lalithmahal palace" ? not sure about this either). Make sure you take a left here. If you go straight, you'll land up in the city (Hardinge Circle).

3) Go about half a km on this road, and you'll see a wide road going to the right. You need to turn right there (Straight goes to T.Narsipur). Immediately after you have taken the right turn, you'd see Lalithmahal palace on your left (not very close, but at a fair distance), and the remaining landmarks that ravi has mentioned - the Police Quarters / Mysore race course etc on the left. Continue on this road and you should reach the Gundlupet highway in about 3-4 kms.

P.S. Agree with Ampere about skipping this if you're travelling in low traffic periods. Since I normally pass Mysore early in the morning (before 8), I prefer to take the straight road right through the city by the side of the bus-stand, it is faster . I travel to Wayanad at least once or twice a month, and I never ever touch Mysore on my way back these days because my return journey is always in the afternoon / evening and SH-17 is a big pain in the butt to traverse during that time. I always take NH-209 on the way back - so much more peaceful to drive !.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by kala

I think these directions needs a little more clarity, ravi. (since the road signage on this stretch is pretty bad - esp. if you can't read signboards in Kannada, I used to get lost on this road all the time once upon a time )

1) Take a left at Columbia Asia junction. Go about 4 kms where you join SH33 coming from Bannur (a T junction).n Turn right here (towards Mysore)

2) Go about 1 km when you come to a junction (with signal lights ? not cent percent sure) with a fairly big road going to your left. There might be a signboard that is marked as "T.Narsipur / Ooty / Calicut" - or may be "Lalithmahal palace" ? not sure about this either). Make sure you take a left here. If you go straight, you'll land up in the city (Hardinge Circle).

3) Go about half a km on this road, and you'll see a wide road going to the right. You need to turn right there (Straight goes to T.Narsipur). Immediately after you have taken the right turn, you'd see Lalithmahal palace on your left (not very close, but at a fair distance), and the remaining landmarks that ravi has mentioned - the Police Quarters / Mysore race course etc on the left. Continue on this road and you should reach the Gundlupet highway in about 3-4 kms.

P.S. Agree with Ampere about skipping this if you're travelling in low traffic periods. Since I normally pass Mysore early in the morning (before 8), I prefer to take the straight road right through the city by the side of the bus-stand, it is faster . I travel to Wayanad at least once or twice a month, and I never ever touch Mysore on my way back these days because my return journey is always in the afternoon / evening and SH-17 is a big pain in the butt to traverse during that time. I always take NH-209 on the way back - so much more peaceful to drive !.

Thanks a lot Kala, for elaborating the landmarks more precisely. Appreciate it

-Ravi

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by kala

. I always take NH-209 on the way back - so much more peaceful to drive !.

I will be travelling to Ooty on August 13th and coming back on August 15th. I plan to take the NH 209 on the way back. How is the condition of Gundlupet to Chamaraj Nagar? When I took the route in April, the condition was not great. Any update on the current road condition?

[prasad14]

Originally Posted by ravib

Thanks a lot Kala, for elaborating the landmarks more precisely. Appreciate it

-Ravi

Kala did a great job, but I still feel that the easiest way is to cut thru the city. For those coming in from BLR, Mysore traffic is nothing (except during Dasara ofcourse). The easiest way to cut thru the city is as follows:

1. From Columbia Asia junction, just go straight to bus stand. Easiest to do is to follow innumerable govt buses. Even if there is none, you'll get one in max of 2-3 mins.
2. After the bus-stand (once the buses take right), you continue on the same road even as it curves and goes to left (chatri mara or umbrella tree).
3. Take a right turn at the next immediate junction and continue straight at Hardinge circle (ask for palace/exhibition) and continue on the same road. You already are on Mysore-Ooty road.

Simple isn't it?

Prasad
PS: I was born and brought-up in Mysore!

[kala]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

I will be travelling to Ooty on August 13th and coming back on August 15th. I plan to take the NH 209 on the way back. How is the condition of Gundlupet to Chamaraj Nagar? When I took the route in April, the condition was not great. Any update on the current road condition?

I wouldn't call it a great road surface, but not too many surprise potholes - I can recall only one point where you have to brake in a hurry (a small untarred stretch of about 10 feet about 8-10 kms from Chamarajnagar). It is certainly not a high speed stretch, but I find it comfortable enough to drive at around 60 to 80 kmph, and there isn't too much of traffic anyway.

Originally Posted by prasad14

Kala did a great job, but I still feel that the easiest way is to cut thru the city. For those coming in from BLR, Mysore traffic is nothing (except during Dasara ofcourse).

Having tried all the alternate routes a few times (including the one no one seems to have discussed here - where you turn left at Fountain circle and instead of going towards the bus-stand, go towards Mysore Zoo and get on to NH212 from there), I find myself going right through the city all the time.

Originally Posted by prasad14

3. Take a right turn at the next immediate junction and continue straight at Hardinge circle (ask for palace/exhibition) and continue on the same road. You already are on Mysore-Ooty road.

Simple isn't it?

Prasad
PS: I was born and brought-up in Mysore!

Many people miss the last left fork in front of the palace gun house (the small one way stretch that connects to the beginning of the Ooty road) even though it is clearly marked - mainly because that road seems too narrow to be a highway - especially when compared to the wide straight road that goes to the circle in front of the palace !!

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

How is the condition of Gundlupet to Chamaraj Nagar?

A week before the road was fine. It is quite narrow, and the journey average cant be maintained in towns. But no real hazards. Except for some 10feet stretched like kala mentioned, the road is good, but narrow.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

I will be travelling to Ooty on August 13th and coming back on August 15th. I plan to take the NH 209 on the way back. How is the condition of Gundlupet to Chamaraj Nagar? When I took the route in April, the condition was not great. Any update on the current road condition?

I strongly recommend you to come via NH 209 as Mysore - Bangalore road will be choc-a -bloc due to holiday crowd. Gundlupet - Chamarajnagar is a small strectch of 29 KMs. It is a single lane road wide enough with hardly any traffic. At some parts the road is broken as they are asphalting it fresh but manageable.

But for this stretch, the remaining part from Chamrajanagar to Bangalore is a breeze. Notice beautiful ficus trees on the road side on this stretch and imagine yourself how many of our highways in Old mysore state was once upon a time!

Originally Posted by dhanushs

A week before the road was fine. It is quite narrow, and the journey average cant be maintained in towns. But no real hazards. Except for some 10feet stretched like kala mentioned, the road is good, but narrow.

Agreed. It is a single lane but not narrow and can be comfortably done except for small patches.

[kala]

Originally Posted by Fauji

I strongly recommend you to come via NH 209 as Mysore - Bangalore road will be choc-a -bloc due to holiday crowd. Gundlupet - Chamarajnagar is a small strectch of 29 KMs. It is a single lane road wide enough with hardly any traffic. At some parts the road is broken as they are asphalting it fresh but manageable. .

Don't recall seeing any road work in progress when I passed by at the beginning of July - Is this update more recent than that ?

Planning to take the same route this weekend - will report on the latest status when I return on Monday.

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by kala

Don't recall seeing any road work in progress when I passed by at the beginning of July - Is this update more recent than that ?

Planning to take the same route this weekend - will report on the latest status when I return on Monday.

Thanks Kala. Sorry, got confused with road work being done on Mysore - Bannur road in June end. They must have completed it by now Looking forward to your update
(sent from my blackberry) .

[rjstyles69]

Originally Posted by Fauji

Thanks Kala. Sorry, got confused with road work being done on Mysore - Bannur road in June end. They must have completed it by now Looking forward to your update

I don't think the work has been completed yet. Priorities have changed now and they are keen on widening the ORR in Mysore.

[ethanhunt123]

I took the GQ route to go to Coonoor - Blr-Hosur-Salem-Avinashi-Mettupalyam-Coonoor. Came upto about 400km one way, and the roads were super excellent throughout. On the GQ stretch (Blr-Avinashi), its very easy to cruise at 120-130kmph+. Avinashi to Mettupalyam is a 2 lane SH road, well maintained though. Did 80kmph+ here. Once the ghats start from MTP, its a crawl though due to the numerous trucks and tankers. Still i would think this is a much better and faster route to Coonoor from Blr than going through Ooty especially because roads from Blr-Mysore are jam packed on weekends.

[nishad.hameed]

Planning for Mysore - Ooty on 31st. Since I have taken Gudallur - Mysore last week worry is only about the mudumalai - masinagudi - ooty stretch. Any recent travelers? and hows the Gudallur - Ooty road?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by nishad.hameed

Planning for Mysore - Ooty on 31st. Since I have taken Gudallur - Mysore last week worry is only about the mudumalai - masinagudi - ooty stretch. Any recent travelers? and hows the Gudallur - Ooty road?

Typically Oooty-Gudalur secton is pretty good (NH67). Though I have no idea of latest updates.
Its the Masinagudi stretch which is more landslide prone.

But since you are driving from Mysore, you may take the Gudalur option, as
it won't be that long from Mysore. Its also safer.

[nishad.hameed]

Thanks buddy. Thought of taking a different route this time. The masinagudi stretch is treated as no entry on the way back. Anyone taken this road recently?

[kirantp]

Originally Posted by nishad.hameed

Thanks buddy. Thought of taking a different route this time. The masinagudi stretch is treated as no entry on the way back. Anyone taken this road recently?

@nishad.hameed: I had done BLR-Ooty-Kotagiri via Masinagudi in June. Please visit ANHC - Weekend Getaway to Kotagiri for detailed travelogue and places to visit.