[bijuks]

Originally Posted by ravibhat

unfortunately on that day road was blocked for repair.

That was bad luck. But, the checkpost folks would have allowed the cars, if tried again.

Two years ago, the road was very narrow. But, now, the road is wide enough and they can easily do the work on one lane keeping the other one open.

[reignofchaos]

Can someone tell me which road to take from Karur to reach Munnar. I see way too many roads branching off. I'm doing the trip this long weekend.

[hondadude]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Can someone tell me which road to take from Karur to reach Munnar. I see way too many roads branching off. I'm doing the trip this long weekend.

On NH-7, I believe the preferred route to take is Salem-Karur-Dindigul-Vattalgundu-Kodai. I am traveling to Kodai as well this weekend and initially I was thinking of taking the Mettur-Bhavani-Palani route but after reading vid's update on Ajmat's trip, I am thinking of taking the NH-7 route while going.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

Can someone tell me which road to take from Karur to reach Munnar. I see way too many roads branching off.

To reach Munnar from Karur, you have to go through one of the following:
1. Karur-Dindigul-Vattalgundu-Theni-Bodinaykannur-Pooppara-Munnar (around 230Km) - 4.5Hrs
2. Karur-Dharapuram-Udumalpettai-Marayoor-Munnar (around 208Km) 5.0Hrs

Karur-Dindigul is NH7, then Theni till Munnar is NH49. The timings mentioned are approximate ones. . The comparison between timing between both route may stand good.

Also note that Bodinaykannur-Poopara route is closed from 7:00am to 7:00pm till 9th Apr 2009. See the below link for details.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post1250144

[rockyb]

I am off to Munnar too this weekend I was planning Thoppur-Mettur-Bhavani-Perundurai-Dharapuram-Udumallaipetai-Munnar

Which stretch is bad/closed?

Originally Posted by hondadude

On NH-7, I believe the preferred route to take is Salem-Karur-Dindigul-Vattalgundu-Kodai. I am traveling to Kodai as well this weekend and initially I was thinking of taking the Mettur-Bhavani-Palani route but after reading vid's update on Ajmat's trip, I am thinking of taking the NH-7 route while going.

[rockyb]

Just curious - is the famous Kodai - Munnar (via Berijam lake) road still open to use?

[akroy]

Originally Posted by bijuks

To reach Munnar from Karur, you have to go through one of the following:
1. Karur-Dindigul-Vattalgundu-Theni-Bodinaykannur-Pooppara-Munnar (around 230Km) - 4.5Hrs
2. Karur-Dharapuram-Udumalpettai-Marayoor-Munnar (around 208Km) 5.0Hrs

I would still prefer Route2. Dont know but I feel Route2 would be faster.

ROC, Any specific reasons for going to karur? Suggession might vary If we know your exact plan?

Abhi

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by rockyb

I am off to Munnar too this weekend I was planning Thoppur-Mettur-Bhavani-Perundurai-Dharapuram-Udumallaipetai-Munnar

Which stretch is bad/closed?

This route is good. I have travelled two weeks ago.

Note that traffic is not allowed in the forest area through Chinnar sanctury in the night after 6:00pm. This stretch starts little after Udumalpettai.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by akroy

I would still prefer Route2. Dont know but I feel Route2 would be faster.

Abhi

Abhi, the Karur-Udumalpettai-Munnar route has around 90Kms of ghat roads. Whereas the Karur-Theni-Munnar route would have only 70Kms. Also, the Theni route is NH (majority) - Roads are nicely done and smooth.

The above factors play a role when we consider time.

But, if we consider all those stops in between to enjoy the scenery, the time difference between both route may be negligible.

[rockyb]

Thanks for the tip - So I have to enter it anyhow before 6pm? Exit timing towards Munnar should not be a problem I hope? Or better to reach this area by 4 - 5 pm I guess. What is the approx time needed from Udumalpettai to Munnar via this route? Does not look very long in the online map

Originally Posted by bijuks

This route is good. I have travelled two weeks ago.

Note that traffic is not allowed in the forest area through Chinnar sanctury in the night after 6:00pm. This stretch starts little after Udumalpettai.

[reignofchaos]

Originally Posted by akroy

I would still prefer Route2. Dont know but I feel Route2 would be faster.

ROC, Any specific reasons for going to karur? Suggession might vary If we know your exact plan?

Abhi

I just need to reach Munnar the fastest way possible. Read that Ajmat went via Karur and did it in 7.5 hours. Hence was wondering what route he took. I'm planning to leave at 4am on Friday. Would ideally want to be at munnar before lunchtime.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by rockyb

What is the approx time needed from Udumalpettai to Munnar via this route? Does not look very long in the online map

Udumalpettai-Munnar is around 90Kms. It will take 2.5 to 3.5Hrs, depending on your driving. Be very careful, because roads are very narrow and oncoming local vehicles will be driving very fast.

There are many checkposts in between and everywhere, you will have to get down and sign in the register. Most of the guards will ask for Rs.10/- at each checkpost also.

[bijuks]

Originally Posted by reignofchaos

I just need to reach Munnar the fastest way possible. Read that Ajmat went via Karur and did it in 7.5 hours. Hence was wondering what route he took. I'm planning to leave at 4am on Friday. Would ideally want to be at munnar before lunchtime.

Please note that Ajmat went to Kodaikanal from Bangalore - and did in 7.5Hrs. Your destimation is Munnar. Munnar will take little longer.

If you are starting from Bangalore, going by Ajmat's timing in Salem-Namakkal-Karur-Dindigul-Vattalgundu route, you can reach Vattalgundu in approximately 6 to 6.5Hrs. From there, it would take minimum 3.5Hrs to Munnar through Theni-Bodinaykannur-Pooppara route. That would be a total of 11Hrs, including some 1Hr break.

The other route - BLR-Mettur-Bhavani-udumalpettai, you can reach Munnar in 10Hrs with 1.5 o 2Hr break.

[reignofchaos]

Thanks for clearing the confusion. So the Mettur-Bhavani-Udumalpettai route sounds like the best. Shall take that.

[ravibhat]

reignofchaos I travelled in Alto from Munnar to Bangalore last week end Thursday - Friday.

Thursday 4PM left Munnar and reached UdumalPet by 7PM (90km travel). We stopped in many many places to take photos and see Elephants, check post. Roads are narrow, patchy, there is road work in progress in few places. But still its better than Karnataka roads.

Friday morning we started UdumalPet at 6:50AM and had 30 min. breakfast break in Dharapuram and left Dharapuram at 8AM and reached Kangeyam - Perundurai - Bhavani - Mettur - Thoppur - Hosur by 1:30AM.

Between Kangayam - Perundurai we took wrong route and drove in Tirupur route for 10 km to realize the mistake and then took right turn towards Perundurai and reached national highway (definately lost 20min in that). Took 10min break in Bhavani and 20min break in Mettur, 20min break in Thoppur. My driver is slow guy, decent speeds (max. 90kmph even in 4 lane highway).

So I feel If you leave Bangalore at 4AM and you can easily reach Bhavani (230km from Bangalore) for breakfast at 8AM and Udumalpet (125km from Bhavani) by 10:30AM and Munnar (90km from Udumalpet) by 2PM.

Only bottleneck I see is in Udumalpet railway crossing which might take time if there is traffic JAM.

One more info. We travelled bangalore - Kodaikanal. In this we took Bangalore (left at 6:15am)- thoppur - Mettur - Bhavani-Dharapuram (reached at 2:15pm) with 2 hours break. Hope this helps you.

You can think about taking theni - Dindgul route while coming from Munnar just for a change.

Regards,

Ravi.