[FlashMustang]

Hello BHPians,

I plan to drive from Hyderabad to north Coorg near Somwarpet (Oxyzone Homestay, to be precise) on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
I'm planning an early start (around 3 a.m.) from Hyderabad, to be able to reach the destination between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

I have a few queries on the recommended route.

1. Google Maps recommends exiting NH75 at Channarayapatna (to go via Holenarasipur, Arakalagud, Mallipatna, and Shanivarasanthe).
Is the route suggested by Google Maps better, or, would I be better off continuing till Hassan on NH75?


2. If I continue on NH75 till Hassan, I see two options being shown by Google Maps.
One continues till Ballupet on NH75 (Sakleshpur route) and then goes via Jammanahalli, Magalu, and Changadihalli (SH112). The other option goes via Hanumanthapura, Bommenahalli, Gorur (near Hemavathi Reservoir), Arakalagud, Mallipatna, and Shanivarasanthe (SH21 and SH8). Any suggestions on which of the two options might be better?


Based on the information from the last few pages, I gather that I would be better off sticking to NH75 till Hassan, and then take the route via Gorur and Arakalagud. Please correct me if anything has changed recently.

3. Near Bangalore, I can see two options. Google Maps recommends going all the way till Hebbal, to join NH75, going through Taj Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru, Nelamangala Town, and continue towards Hassan.
.
The alternative would be to exit NH44 near Devanahalli, to switch to NH648, and go via Doddaballapura, Dobbaspet, take NH948A to join NH75 near Gudemaranahalli.


Please help me with your recommendations.

I drive a 3rd generation Honda City, with its Achilles' heel being its low ground clearance, and being prone to bottoming out on bad craters and potholes and unscientific speed breakers. So, I would prefer smoother roads as much as possible, even if it's a slightly longer and circuitous route, over taking the shortest route that might go through bad road conditions.

Thank you for your patience with reading through my queries. Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

Cheers and happy driving!

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by FlashMustang

Hello BHPians,

I plan to drive from Hyderabad to north Coorg near Somwarpet ([

1. Google Maps recommends exiting NH75 at Channarayapatna (to go via Holenarasipur, Arakalagud, Mallipatna, and Shanivarasanthe).
Is the route suggested by Google Maps better, or, would I be better off continuing till Hassan on NH75?
[g!

This is a nice route. We used to use it when my folks were based in Somwarpet. Nice and scenic. You will pass Belur Golf Club and all en route Shanivarsanthe.

[WD-42]

Route Update:

Drove Bangalore -> Kushalnagar, 7th Feb, 2023

1. Bangalore - Mysore Expressway is complete about 95% of the way. There were ~5 diversions. All between Maddur & Mysore. The diversions are well paved too except for around Budanoor. Journey from Nice Road Bangalore to Manipal Hospital (erstwhile Columbia Asia) Mysore took ~1.5 hrs, on a Tuesday afternoon, 1125 hrs at Nice Road, 1253 hrs at Manipal Hospital Mysore.
2. Expressway doesn't have proper exit signage, missed the exit for Srirangapatna.
3. Mysore - Kushalnagar is well paved, except for a few spotty patches. Departed Mysore at around 11 a.m and reached Kushalnagar around 1 p.m on a Weekday (Wednesday). Random unscientific speedbreakers laid by villagers before and after villages enroute, the speedbreakers are quite high, ended up bottoming out my car on one or two of those.

Drove Kushalnagar -> Bangalore, 10th Feb, 2023

1. Departed Kushalnagar at 1430 hrs, reached Mysore ring road around 1600 hrs. Road as mentioned above.
2. Mysore Ring Road is well paved, but with lots of blockad/barriers at junctions for speed control. A few unmarked invisible speed breakers though, ended up hitting one at around 40kph, left me quite jolted, thankfully no damage.
3. Departed Manipal Hospital Mysore at 1635 hrs, reached NICE road junction Bangalore at 1845 hrs. Was stuck in traffic at Budanoor, took ~50 minutes to cross 1.2km. The service road/diversion is being paved at Budanoor so both directions have to use a single service road leading to absolute chaos. Expressway surface is good, speed limit of 100 kph, which can be maintained with ease.

Warning:

While the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway is smooth and well done for the most part

1. Watch out for village traffic which breaks through with breaks in the fencing
2. Signage is poor and in many places non-existant.
3. Google Maps confuses the service road with the Expressway at many places and might lead you astray.

[thirugata]

Has anyone recently driven the srirangapattana - yelwala section? Has it been fixed or is it better to drive through Mysore ring road?

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by thirugata

Has anyone recently driven the srirangapattana - yelwala section? Has it been fixed or is it better to drive through Mysore ring road?

As of 2-Feb, the work was almost close to completion except a few kms of bad stretches, but drivable. Not like how it was earlier. Probably by now, it may be better.

Unless it is a peak time where the Manipal (Columbia) hospital signal gets choked, it does not make sense to travel via KRS road if you have to connect to Hunsur road.

[thirugata]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

As of 2-Feb, the work was almost close to completion except a few kms of bad stretches, but drivable. Not like how it was earlier. Probably by now, it may be better.

Unless it is a peak time where the Manipal (Columbia) hospital signal gets choked, it does not make sense to travel via KRS road if you have to connect to Hunsur road.

Thanks for the update, will be driving next Saturday.
I prefer that route because of the greenery on that route. Have been avoiding it because of the road condition in last 1 year or so.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by thirugata

Has anyone recently driven the srirangapattana - yelwala section? Has it been fixed or is it better to drive through Mysore ring road?

That road is no fun. Teeth-chatteringly bad surface.
Best take Mysuru Ring Road to Yelwala.

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

As of 2-Feb, the work was almost close to completion except a few kms of bad stretches, but drivable.

Originally Posted by thirugata

I prefer that route because of the greenery on that route. Have been avoiding it because of the road condition in last 1 year or so.

The work on KRS road is now completeed.

[thirugata]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

The work on KRS road is now completeed.

I did travel today morning. But went to Mysore city as I wanted to have breakfast in Vinayaka Mylari.
Entered expressway at 6:20 am and was at hotel by 7:45am.
Will take KRS road next time around.
Thanks for the update.

[Silverfire]

We will be travelling to Somwarpet next week with our 3 month old baby. Planning to take the Expressway till Mysore.

What are some good pit stops on this route for food and toilet breaks? Ideally we would want to take 2 breaks before hitting Somwarpet.

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by Silverfire

We will be travelling to Somwarpet next week with our 3 month old baby. Planning to take the Expressway till Mysore.

What are some good pit stops on this route for food and toilet breaks? Ideally we would want to take 2 breaks before hitting Somwarpet.

Shivalli, Channapattana (Mysore road)

Unfortunately nothing to recommend on Mysore - Kushal Nagar road. Just give a try with whatever comes across.

[vsathyap]

Originally Posted by Silverfire

We will be travelling to Somwarpet next week with our 3 month old baby. Planning to take the Expressway till Mysore.

What are some good pit stops on this route for food and toilet breaks? Ideally we would want to take 2 breaks before hitting Somwarpet.

Why don't you travel via Hassan route? You can easily stop at any of the multiple places on nh4 before you turn off to the Hassan Mangalore highway for the first stop. The next stop can be some place like Swati delicacy or Mayura. From there head over to Arakalgudu and Shanivaarasanthe and Somwarpet.

The new expressway does make life easier but the road from hunsur onwards is a pain to drive on. Constant flow of 2 and 3w and slow diesel luggage autos make overtaking a nightmare.

If you still choose to do this, then shivalli is a good place to stop. The next stop can be somewhere near or after Hunsur.. there are good coffee shops with decent restrooms. I think there is a CCD at Piriyapatna as well

[Silverfire]

Originally Posted by vsathyap

Why don't you travel via Hassan route?

Thanks for the recommendations. We have done the Hassan route multiple times in the past. It’s a nice road.

This time we want to go through Mysore to 1) check out the new expressway 2) stop over at some good eating places in Mysore. Heard some really good things about SAPA Bakery. 3) our starting destination is Bellandur which makes the NICE road and subsequent jump onto the expressway slightly faster as a route.

[Livnletcarsliv]

Hi all, starting from Chennai to Madikeri (Capitol Village Resort to be precise) tomorrow morning.
As per google, taking Chennai --> Vellore --> Krishnagiri --> Hosur --> Attibele --> Bommasandra --> Enter Nice road --> Kengeri --> Bidadi (Outer) --> Ramanagara (Outer) --> Mandya (Outer) --> Hale Kesare --> Ring Road --> Exit before Basavanahalli --> Bilikere --> Hunsur --> Piriyapatna --> Kushalnagar --> Resort

Total time is approx. 11 hrs.

1. Is this the correct route or is there any other better route?
2. Is 11 hrs the correct estimate? How long does it actually take from Bangalore to Madikere/Resort?
3. Will I be doing the entire BLR-Mysore expressway?
4. Will be doing the breakfast before Krishnagiri itself. So is there any good place to do lunch between Hosur and Kushalnagar?
5. Anything else that is important that I should know?

[Nimz]

Hello Bhpians: Long weekend and time to drive.

To Coorg from Whitefield Bangalore: which is the optimal route? Via Hasan or via Mysore? GMaps indicates the Hasan route is shorter.

Just curious if the Expressway is worth choosing the Mysore route?

Planning to leave around 9 AM. Stop enroute for lunch and hit Coorg post lunch.

Thank you.