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Originally Posted by ravib Here is my 2 cents in general, though i didn't travel exactly in same route, but part of it few months back.
In general, till you reach TN border, roads in KA side are not good, especially in remote areas/village rural , except for very few good stretches but not for good distance. So that you are mentally prepared to drive up in slow speed with potholes.
I would recommend you to take Anthiyur route more than MM Hills, Mettur-Omalur route for 2 reasons.
1) TN Border to Anthiyur to Bhavani and all the way till Namakkal and beyond to SriRangam ( via Thuraiyur route ) should be good. Its more scenic too. Don't take Musiri route towards SriRangam from Namakkal. Look up to Bangalore-Trichy thread for more latest updates.
2) Mettur to Mecheri to NH7 road widening work was going on to add shoulders, hope it would have been complete by now, but not sure. However, once you reach Omalur to Salem is painful to drive due to bridge diversions and irritating traffic (particularly 2W). So in net effect, KA side bad roads, and then road widening work and then heavy traffic will make you more tired and hence its only a 2nd choice.
-Ravi |
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Originally Posted by ampere I would any day suggest MM Hills/Mettur option. It’s a known route but goes up and down the MM Hills. But post Salem you can do Thiuraiyur route, which would lead you directly to toll gate.
I had driven on MM Hills to Mettur long back. It’s usually 2-lane decent roads with with minimal traffic till MM hills. Beyond that it’s very less till Mettur. And there on its the usual TN traffic. No idea how the roads have changed these days. |
An update on the route and road condition.
Did the Tri Ranga Darshana yesterday and in short very happy to report that i did not possibly have a single bad patch in the entire route i took
Yes, you read this right, read along for more info.
After my first message and revert from ravib, i was confused of the route to take and also changed my choice of car from Jetta to Rexton, in hindsight regret making this change as i now want to do this loop on the Jetta
This is the route taken (I have edited some of the roads to show the route i have taken and hopefully this link captures what i have edited).
1. Bangalore to Srirangapattana - Mysore highway, nothing more to talk about.
2. Srigangapattana to Shivanasamudra - via Bannur, Malavalli - Road condition is good
3. Shivanasamudra to Sriragam - I will break this down, since this has different kinds of roads
a. Shivanasamudra to Chamarajanagar 55kms - Single Road, condition is good, nothing to complain, may expect some traffic since it passes via Kollagala & Yelandur.
b.Chamarajanagar to Punajanur 33kms - Single road, mostly forest route which is part of the larger BR Hills forest. Road condition is great, could spot some deer's, which is an icing on the cake in otherwise a temple run.
c. Punajanur to Sathyamangalam (Sathy) 44kms - Single road, again, consists of forest route, but this time on the Tamil Nadu side and enter the Dhimbam ghat & hairpin bends, this was a pleasure to drive, good roads and bends. I took the Rexton on the ghat road for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by its turning capabilities, body rolls were contained very well. I was wishing I had chosen Jetta here.
d. Sathy upto Karur by pass road 122kms - Passing via Kodiveri Waterfalls, Kolappalur, Thingalur, Perundurai by pass and proceeding towards Karur by pass which further merges with NH81. This is the most unexpected and highlight of the drive with most of the route single road (and scenic too) and butter smooth. Really enjoyed driving this route and this is where I thought changing my route was well worth it despite a little higher distance and also missed my Jetta the second time. I would dare to say this piece was more enjoyable than the Anchetty loop i have driven/ ridden which most Bangalore drivers/ riders here can relate to.
e. Karur by pass to Srirangam temple 85kms - NH81, nothing more to say. Even the single road further is good, may find traffic of trucks, quite a lot.
I will take this route again if i am doing this loop, unless I know that it has gone bad.
KK