[binand]

Originally Posted by NPV

This query is for a friend who is planning to travel to Wayanad from Chennai this week/next week.
Is it a good time to visit ? Concerned about heavy rains.

Next week is too far out, but this week is expected to be very bad.

https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kera...pdate.amp.html

[vinodh_eee]

For Bangalore to Calicut has anyone recently taken any alternative route than the one that goes through Bandipur? I have an evening start from Bangalore and might not make it to Bandipur before the 9PM gate closing time.

Some of the buses go through Mananthavady. Is that a good route at night?

[binand]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

For Bangalore to Calicut has anyone recently taken any alternative route than the one that goes through Bandipur?

I do this frequently and I always take the Salem-Palakkad route. Usually 4-ish start from Bangalore and midnight + minutes in Calicut.

[vinodh_eee]

Originally Posted by binand

I do this frequently and I always take the Salem-Palakkad route. Usually 4-ish start from Bangalore and midnight + minutes in Calicut.

Google map is showing 540 KM and 11 hr 15 mins. Is it doable in 8 hrs?
I start from Bangalore east. My home to Hosur take almost 1.5 hrs.

Palakkad to CLT is about 130 KM on the one hand. Bathery to CLT is about 95 KM on the other hand, which takes about 3 hrs for me. Can Palakkad to CLT be covered in 3 hrs too. i have no idea about the traffic or road conditions.

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

Google map is showing 540 KM and 11 hr 15 mins. Is it doable in 8 hrs?

I travelled from Yelahanka to Calicut via Salem route last weekend. Reasons being I was not adequately informed about the Bandipur route for access/detours (coincided with PM's Wayanad visit too) and moreover, I started pretty late from Bangalore well past 3pm.

I had no choice but to break the journey at Salem and resume early morning the next day. Overall driving hours for me was close to 14 hours spread over two days (enjoyed the roads though)

For my return I am contemplating Iritty route if not Kalpetta as the delta is simply too big with respect to Salem route. Appreciate if anyone has advice on either of these routes for a travel in a couple of days

[binand]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

Google map is showing 540 KM and 11 hr 15 mins. Is it doable in 8 hrs?

I mixed this up. "Midnight + minutes" is if I take the Wayanad route. Salem route then used to be 10 hours give or take a few minutes. But now with all the detours and flyover constructions it is significantly longer.

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

Bathery to CLT is about 95 KM on the other hand, which takes about 3 hrs for me. Can Palakkad to CLT be covered in 3 hrs too.

Not during daytime - when it could be easily 4.5 hours. But after 9 PM very much possible to do this in 2.5-3 hours. The trick is to avoid NH966 which would have heavy movement of trucks, and the typical Malayalee practice of a whole village going to send off/receive their "gulfkarans".

Originally Posted by GeeTee TSI

For my return I am contemplating Iritty route if not Kalpetta as the delta is simply too big with respect to Salem route.

Getting to Iritty from Calicut is the problem part. The NH66 is getting redeveloped and the inner roads are terrible (mostly while you are within Calicut district). Everything is great once you hit the Thalassery-Mysore highway.

Alternately, you could consider Calicut-Nilambur-Gudalur-Mysore and back to Bangalore.

[vinodh_eee]

Originally Posted by binand

I mixed this up. "Midnight + minutes" is if I take the Wayanad route. Salem route then used to be 10 hours give or take a few minutes. But now with all the detours and flyover constructions it is significantly longer.

I did end up taking the Salem route. 8 hours came and went with us still far from CLT.
We were speculating on what kind of supercar you were driving!!