[GentleGiant]

I am planning a road-trip to Coimbatore for a social occasion. I will be leaving on 12th to return on 19th. I will be driving my Innova and will be accompanied by the wife and two children (Boy of 9 and Girl of 4). I have to be at Coimbatore for the 16th and 17th.

I wanted some advice as to what are the best places that I could visit on route and some specific advice that I have listed below. I am interested in some forest experience (for the kids), some nice peaceful places to put our feet up and relax with the wife, some places of worship (if they fall in the way) and whatever "shouldn’t miss" places that fall in the way.

From my research here and from an advisor at HolidayIQ, I am looking at Kabini and Wayanad. My tentative plan is like this:

• 12th Night: At relative's in Bangalore - I don't mind suggestions where I could stay in an alternative place between Hyderabad and Bangalore and get more mileage from the vacation;
• 13 Morning: Drive to Kabini - I have made tentative bookings for JLR Kabini for the 13th night - Need advise if it is enough to stay here for a day or I will need two (if it is going to be two days that I would be staying, I might even consider Cicada/Orange County as the prices difference does not seem to be much for a two night stay);
• 14th and 15th: At Vythri in Wayanad - I was impressed with what Samurai mentioned about the place in his Travelogue however I was uncertain how it will be for the two children with no TV or fun activities - need advice;
• 16th morning: Drive to Coimbatore - Need advice on the route to be taken and what I can accomplish on route;
• 16th and 17th: Coimbatore;
• 18th: Drive from Coimbatore to Blore;
• 19th: Blore to Hyderabad.

I am very open to suggestions at this stage and I will deeply appreciate them from folks who have done these routes. I have been through all the relevant threads here.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

I

12th Night: At relative's in Bangalore - I don't mind suggestions where I could stay in an alternative place between Hyderabad and Bangalore and get more mileage from the vacation;

No place to stay in between Hyd & Blr,the drive should not take more than 8hours(Shamshabad to Hebbal flyover).

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

13 Morning: Drive to Kabini - I have made tentative bookings for JLR Kabini for the 13th night - Need advise if it is enough to stay here for a day or I will need two (if it is going to be two days that I would be staying, I might even consider Cicada/Orange County as the prices difference does not seem to be much for a two night stay);

Place would be hot at the moment as the rains havent yet begun.Wildlife sightings will happen only very early in the mornings.If you leave Blore early around 5am you would be in Kabini for lunch.You can leave for Vythiri after lunch the next day.All 3 are equally good and equally expensive.

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

14th and 15th: At Vythri in Wayanad - I was impressed with what Samurai mentioned about the place in his Travelogue however I was uncertain how it will be for the two children with no TV or fun activities - need advice.)

Vythiri & Kabini in the same trip would be no fun IMO,either do Vythiri or do Kabini,or else it would be an overdose of forests.

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

16th morning: Drive to Coimbatore - Need advice on the route to be taken and what I can accomplish on route;.

From Wayanad take the Gudalur-Ooty-Coonoor-Mettupalayam-CBE route,nothing much to see enroute,except Pykara dam(which is also nothing great).If you are planning to come back via Ooty,then you could go down to Mettupalayam by taking the Kothagiri route and while coming back to Ooty you could take the Coonoor route.

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

18th: Drive from Coimbatore to Blore,;.

if you havent been to Ooty you could stay a night or two at Ooty or Coonoor and then drive to Blore.Ooty-Blore is 5hours.Check out Sherlock at Ooty,amazing place to be staying.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

From Wayanad take the Gudalur-Ooty-Coonoor-Mettupalayam-CBE route,nothing much to see enroute,except Pykara dam(which is also nothing great).If you are planning to come back via Ooty,then you could go down to Mettupalayam by taking the Kothagiri route and while coming back to Ooty you could take the Coonoor route.
if you havent been to Ooty you could stay a night or two at Ooty or Coonoor and then drive to Blore.Ooty-Blore is 5hours.Check out Sherlock at Ooty,amazing place to be staying.

That would be what I would say too. If you have not seen Ooty then plan a visit. It fits you like a T to your travel plans. Driving to Ooty is very easy and then CBE is very close too.

If you are inclined to wildlife, I would say drop Waynad. Go to Kabini and then there onwards proceed to CBE via Ooty.
1N would enough but very hectic. Would suggest 2N at Kabini. If you plan to ditch Kabini too, then 2-3 days at Ooty would be ideal. But you would need to watch for the rain status. That can wreck havoc in these regions during Monsoons (I mean Ooty section).

[mobike008]

Sanjeev, thats a nice trip that your planning.

I too would recommend including coonor to your trip to round off the social occasion into a vacation.

Drive Safe and Have Fun !

[GentleGiant]

Thanks Guys!

I have an update. I have been forced to booking JLR Kabini. So that is no longer a variable.

@Ranjit: I checked the Sherlock site. I wasn’t that impressed. I guess I am looking for something different from what you get to see in a regular hotel and one of the reasons I took just one night at Kabini was because I didn’t want the jungle overkill that you are cautioning against. But I take your point and see if I can stay at Ooty on my return trip;

@ ampere: I am really concerned about the rains. It is going to be a big factor. The problem is that the hotels/lodges want me to book in advance by paying and if I do that and am unable to make it to the places planned in time (God forbid), I will be in trouble. Would somebody have any practical suggestions?

@Avi: Thanks! Will keep you posted with the developments.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

@Ranjit: I checked the Sherlock site. I wasn’t that impressed. I guess I am looking for something different from what you get to see in a regular hotel and one of the reasons I took just one night at Kabini was because I didn’t want the jungle overkill that you are cautioning against. But I take your point and see if I can stay at Ooty on my return trip;

@ ampere: I am really concerned about the rains. It is going to be a big factor. The problem is that the hotels/lodges want me to book in advance by paying and if I do that and am unable to make it to the places planned in time (God forbid), I will be in trouble. Would somebody have any practical suggestions?[/COLOR]

@Avi: Thanks! Will keep you posted with the developments.

Hi,

I am not sure why you were not impressed with Sherlock. I am not trying to market them,
but even I was very much impressed by the place.
A good standard hotel in a not so standard place! Thats what I would call them.

Please check out the snaps that I clicked when I was there three weeks back.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post1904605

You will need to book in advance, which you cannot avoid. The chance of heavy rains causing road blocks is more in
Ooty-Conoor rather than Kabini. But if you want to go to CBE from Kabini you will still need to take the Ooty road.

There are two roads to CBE:

1. Mysore/Nanjangud/Chamrajnagar/Sathyamangalam through Dimbam ghats (this would avoid Ooty)

2. Mysore/Nanjangud/Gundlupet/Bandiput/Masinagudi/Ooty/CBE


I will let HVK / others comment on which is geographically safer route during rains. I felt Dimbam ghats may be safer
(though you wont find many hotels/toilets etc on this route).

[hvkumar]

None of teh sectors will suffer any serious problems during rains.

ampere, the Ooty-Conoor-Mettupalayam landlside problems were exceptional, does not recur every year. I hope by now they have stabilised that one bad stretch near Barliar on the Conoor-Mettupalayam road. IN any case, the alternative route via Kotagiri always remains open.

[GentleGiant]

@Ampere: I have booked at Sherlock. Thanks for taking time out for the advise. I will let you know how the trip went;
@Kumar: Thanks!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

@Ampere: I have booked at Sherlock. Thanks for taking time out for the advise. I will let you know how the trip went;
@Kumar: Thanks!

Have a safe drive. Do share some of good the moments.

[fazalaliadil]

Gentle Giant,
Between Banglore and Ooty, halt at Bandipur and book yourself at JLR Bandipur. There are big cats here and chances of Panther sightings here are better than at Kabini.
Proceed to Masinagudi and you may encounter tuskers here as there are two regulars who make it to Masinagudi dam regularly in evenings.
Proceed as per your programe to Coaimbatore and how ever it suits you before or after stay at JLR Kabini, the service is 5 star and you may sight tiger/ s here if monsoon does not hit this place before you do.
You will have an array of wildlife and different parks , lodges and have a great time. Share your experiences.
Regards,

[Dinesh Chengalp]

Dear Team-BHPians,

Four of us are planning for a trip to Coimbatore in early February. The tentative
plan is to start on a Thursday. I can start on a Thursday only after 3PM(to minimize
leaves to take). I'd like to be in Coimbatore next day by lunch time or early
afternoon. I'll be driving my Jetta TDI and the wife will be along and can share
the driving a bit. I have a couple of queries :
a) Which is the best route (hopefully avoiding Bengaluru & its traffic)
-> Shortlisted
Hyd..NH7.. Chikballapur.. Devanahalli.. Hoskote.. Malur.. Hosur.. Salem.. Coimbatore
(or)
Hyd.. NH7.. Chikballapur.. Skirt Bengaluru.. Mysore.. Coimbatore
Or is there any other route to make faster time.

b) Which is a reasonable place for a short layover (preferably after
crossing Bengaluru) so that I can reach Coimbatore reasonably fresh.

I did it once earlier but had gone through Chamarajanagar and couldnt find any
place to stay so thought I'll ask the fellow Bhpians :-)

Thanks in advance for your suggestions...

Dinesh

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Dinesh Chengalp

Four of us are planning for a trip to Coimbatore in early February. ...

If you start at 3pm from Hyderabad, you will reach Bangalore around 10-11pm so its better to proceed on the NH 7 itself upto Hebbal and turn left onto Outer Ring Road after Columbia Asia Hospital. Proceed on the ORR all the way upto Silk Board junction where it merges to Hosur Road. Turn left and you're on your way to Hosur and then Coimbatore
By short layover, you mean an overnight stay ?
If so, maybe some hotel on Hosur Road (near Chandapura, Bangalore) or even in Hosur are some options.

[mpksuhas]

^^ Second what NPV mentioned above.
Also, since your travel is on a Thursday (weekday) you dont have to worry much about the rush at toll booths. It is best you stick to NH 7 / NH 47 combination all way.

Mysore road - Too much of speed breakers and traffic, not worth it.

Chamarajnagar route (NH 209) - Not best suited when driving down late in night since few sections can be isolated. Also, with bridge closure between Mallavalli / Kollegal the deviation will be a pain.

As NPV mentioned it is best to break Bangalore so that you dont waste your time the next day.
Ideal option would be to cross Bangalore in the night and start next day early morning to Coimbatore.

Budget ~ 6.5 hours from Shamshabad - Hebbal drive time (excluding break) & 6.5 hours from Silk-board junction Bangalore to Coimbatore bye-pass start for a leisurely drive.

Hebbal to Silkboard section, provided you are taking the same will take anything from 45 mins to 1.5 hours based on the time of drive.

Another (isolated ) route devoid of traffic is to take NH 207 from Devanahalli - Hosur. This is the best option to bye-pass Bangalore.

Be wary of speed breakers once you cross in to KA, also road is bit uneven around Avinashi on fly-overs.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Dinesh Chengalp

Thanks in advance for your suggestions...

4-lane is the best possible option. (Hyd-BLR-Salem-Coimbattore)

If possible take a break here: Hotel Presidency

You wont need to enter the city late in the evening. If you start next day again dont go via Bangalore and do this:

Devanahalli-Hosur via NH207

In other words the next day drive back to Devananahalli from the hotel and latch on to NH207. Keeps Google maps in handy. Because 207 has quite many curves around Hoskote-Sarjapur. Once in Hosur you are back on the 4-lane and have bypassed Bangalore totally.

Also note: No need to go to Malur. Hoskote-Sarjapur-Baglur-Hosur

The route via Malur is much more straighter. But I dont know the road conditions from Hoskote-Malur-Bagalur. While NH207 though has quite many curves, but is quite good in terms of road conditions.