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**gokulvarmank** · 03-07-2011, 09:27 AM

Hi, I am planning on a two day photography ride with a friend of mine along this route.

Day One.
Cochin - Chalakudi - Athirapalli - Valparai - Pollachi

Day Two

Pollachi - Udumalpettai - Marayur - Munnar - Kothamangalam - Cochin

I know the road conditions are good till Athirapalli and execrable until the Sholayar Penstock. Could someone tell me the condition of the rest of the planned route?

Google Map Route Link

**pabi** · 03-08-2011, 12:24 PM

had a hyd-bang-mysore-ooty ride on mach 4-7 :

hyd-bang: super smooth 4 lanes [small bad patch after hyd airport and bang traffic sucks big time]

bang-mysore: good 4 lane high way , watch for speed humps [no sign boards at some places ]
mysore-ooty [via masinagudu]: after mysore till nanjanguda avg roads then till masinagudu and gudalur junction good roads. From junction to 36 hairpin ghat avg roads .

interior ooty[ooty-kotagiri-conoor-ooty ]: good

ooty-gudalur :good roads , had fun making twists @ high speeds enjoyable route

**phanikar** · 03-08-2011, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by pabi View Post

had a hyd-bang-mysore-ooty ride on mach 4-7 :

hyd-bang: super smooth 4 lanes [small bad patch after hyd airport and bang traffic sucks big time]

bang-mysore: good 4 lane high way , watch for speed humps [no sign boards at some places ]
mysore-ooty [via masinagudu]: after mysore till nanjanguda avg roads then till masinagudu and gudalur junction good roads. From junction to 36 hairpin ghat avg roads .

interior ooty[ooty-kotagiri-conoor-ooty ]: good

ooty-gudalur :good roads , had fun making twists @ high speeds enjoyable route

Didnt you do Wayanad buddy?????I guess it was on your list right?

**pabi** · 03-08-2011, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by phanikar View Post

Didnt you do Wayanad buddy?????I guess it was on your list right?

no my friend had to attend office on monday at any cost, it was a bit disappointing to miss wayanad will try next time to wayanad and munnar

**phanikar** · 03-14-2011, 05:37 PM

Updates as on 13/03/2011:
Bangalore-Mysore:As usual, good with some occasional odd road humps

Mysore-Nanjangud: THE ROADS ARE FRESHLY LAID,not the complete stretch but around 90% of it,it makes a huge difference(probably after a centuary).80-90s easily doable ,depending on the traffic.

Nanjangud-Madhumalai:Good single lanes.

Madhumalai-Gudalur-Ooty: Heavenly,(reason: Been there on a weekday,not infested with tourists) Tarmac quality is good for a hilly highway.

Ooty-coonoor-Coimbatore: Till metupalayam,the roads are good hill side roads,post that,you will be wondering why did God even create this road.If you try to avoid a bus coming at you at 80ks,there will be a oldie on a TVS XL(white and white costume)who would be riding at his own pace,crossing the road.On top of it it is very dusty.Anyone with dusty allergy,please avoid this road.

Coimbatore-Pollachi-Udmalpet:No questions asked about the quality of roads in TN.Its like playing roadrash riding on this road.Even if you go slow,some one will hit you if you are not careful.

Udmalpet-Chinnar-Marayoor-Munnar: Occasional road upgradation work in progress(I said the same last time as well)

Munnar-Top station:Race track

No doubts whatso ever.Climbed almost 3times in a day

Metupalayam-Ooty-Masinagudi: Road quality is good,look out for buses,trucks and over enthusiastic drivers coming downhill.

**melbin** · 03-16-2011, 12:12 AM

Hai friends,
anybody knows about the updated road condition of kodaikanal palani road??

**MadMax46** · 03-16-2011, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by melbin View Post

Hai friends,
anybody knows about the updated road condition of kodaikanal palani road??

Are you referring to the Palani Ghat road ??? , which is like a detour from perumal malai. (Please avoid this road, Infact most of this stretch is badly damaged due to landslides etc and is closed down)

The only option you are left with is to go down from Kodaikkanal via the Kodai ghat road and reach NH45 and get to Dindigul and from there take NH 209 to Palani.

Was on this stretch pretty recently. Road condition is ok, with occassional bad stretches. the road tend to get crowded as you approach Palani with Devotees scatterred all over the road walking to Palani.

**phanikar** · 03-16-2011, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by MadMax46 View Post

Are you referring to the Palani Ghat road ??? , which is like a detour from perumal malai. (Please avoid this road, Infact most of this stretch is badly damaged due to landslides etc and is closed down)

The only option you are left with is to go down from Kodaikkanal via the Kodai ghat road and reach NH45 and get to Dindigul and from there take NH 209 to Palani.

Was on this stretch pretty recently. Road condition is ok, with occassional bad stretches. the road tend to get crowded as you approach Palani with Devotees scatterred all over the road walking to Palani.

@Madmax:When did they close down the road which goes from the back side of Palani temple to Kodai via Perumalmalai??????I had been there in August 2010,the roads were awsome to ride..It was freshly asphalted with cement blocks used for the roads at most corners.It was one of the finest ghat roads that i rode till date.Here are a few pics from that road:

**SriramEfunds** · 03-16-2011, 12:12 PM

NH 47 Thrissur - Palakkad

The first 10 or so kms of land will not keep you in seat intact. So bad that old cars and bikes might get dismantled without any effort from mechanics.

NH 47 - Coimbatore - Avinashi
Stretch on NH47 after bordering Coimbatore till Avinashi is under construction. Lot of traffic and watch out for overspeeding vehicles from opposite on your lane.

**melbin** · 03-16-2011, 11:14 PM

Originally posted by MadMax46 View Post

Are you referring to the Palani Ghat road ??? , which is like a detour from perumal malai. (Please avoid this road, Infact most of this stretch is badly damaged due to landslides etc and is closed down)

The only option you are left with is to go down from Kodaikkanal via the Kodai ghat road and reach NH45 and get to Dindigul and from there take NH 209 to Palani.

Was on this stretch pretty recently. Road condition is ok, with occassional bad stretches. the road tend to get crowded as you approach Palani with Devotees scatterred all over the road walking to Palani.

Yes i mentioned abt the shortest route between palani and kodai,,I heared frm some of the tourist bus drivers that it should be opened only by april 11

Originally posted by phanikar View Post

@Madmax:When did they close down the road which goes from the back side of Palani temple to Kodai via Perumalmalai??????I had been there in August 2010,the roads were awsome to ride..It was freshly asphalted with cement blocks used for the roads at most corners.It was one of the finest ghat roads that i rode till date.Here are a few pics from that road:

[

I think this stretch is damaged after aug 10,,anyway Which is the shortest route to kodaikanal frm Kochi

**MadMax46** · 03-17-2011, 12:37 AM

Originally posted by phanikar View Post

@Madmax:When did they close down the road which goes from the back side of Palani temple to Kodai via Perumalmalai??????I had been there in August 2010,the roads were awsome to ride..It was freshly asphalted with cement blocks used for the roads at most corners.It was one of the finest ghat roads that i rode till date.Here are a few pics from that road:

I was there During Jan 2011 ending and the road has been officially closed down as its too dangerous for vehicles.

Originally posted by SriramEfunds View Post

NH 47 Thrissur - Palakkad

The first 10 or so kms of land will not keep you in seat intact. So bad that old cars and bikes might get dismantled without any effort from mechanics.

NH 47 - Coimbatore - Avinashi
Stretch on NH47 after bordering Coimbatore till Avinashi is under construction. Lot of traffic and watch out for overspeeding vehicles from opposite on your lane.

Was there in November. Sad to hear that things havent improved much at all

. Thrissur - Palakkad stretch is one of the most horrible stretch of roads in Kerala for sure.

Originally posted by melbin View Post

Yes i mentioned abt the shortest route between palani and kodai,,I heared frm some of the tourist bus drivers that it should be opened only by april 11

I think this stretch is damaged after aug 10,,anyway Which is the shortest route to kodaikanal frm Kochi

I think NH 49 till Theni then Nh 45 untill you reach the start of Kodai Ghat road. or there might be another route from Munnar but I havent been on that road personally so cant comment or advise.

**phanikar** · 03-17-2011, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by MadMax46 View Post

I was there During Jan 2011 ending and the road has been officially closed down as its too dangerous for vehicles.

I think NH 49 till Theni then Nh 45 untill you reach the start of Kodai Ghat road. or there might be another route from Munnar but I havent been on that road personally so cant comment or advise.

@Ridermax46:Oh i wasn't aware of this.Are they planning to widen it or something?????Anyways thanks for the update buddy.

@Melbin: In that case ,this is the best alternative:Keep looking at your left after devadhanapatti on Dindugal-Theni Road.There is a small board which indicates Left for Kodai.If you miss this you would have to go till bathalagund and turn back.The road going from Munnar to Kodai is maintained by the forest department (A 4WD jeep path).The last time I enquired the forest officials denied permission for civilian usage.Don,t know about its status now.

**melbin** · 03-17-2011, 07:29 PM

Originally posted by phanikar View Post

@Melbin: In that case ,this is the best alternative:Keep looking at your left after devadhanapatti on Dindugal-Theni Road.There is a small board which indicates Left for Kodai.If you miss this you would have to go till bathalagund and turn back.The road going from Munnar to Kodai is maintained by the forest department (A 4WD jeep path).The last time I enquired the forest officials denied permission for civilian usage.Don,t know about its status now.

Thank you for your info
I attached a route here ,,Is it possible,what about the road condition in between adimaly & theni,all other part is superb

Originally posted by MadMax46 View Post

I was there During Jan 2011 ending and the road has been officially closed down as its too dangerous for vehicles.

Was there in November. Sad to hear that things havent improved much at all

. Thrissur - Palakkad stretch is one of the most horrible stretch of roads in Kerala for sure.

I think NH 49 till Theni then Nh 45 untill you reach the start of Kodai Ghat road. or there might be another route from Munnar but I havent been on that road personally so cant comment or advise.

The munnar kodai ghat road is not opened for public

**phanikar** · 03-18-2011, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by melbin View Post

Thank you for your info
I attached a route here ,,Is it possible,what about the road condition in between adimaly & theni,all other part is superb

The munnar kodai ghat road is not opened for public

Dont know from adimalai,but from thekkady its decent single lane all the way till kodai with occasional average patches in ghats.Not aware of the present day conditions.Get in touch with "Bikerfas" he is back from south solo ride.He would be the best guide to let you know the details.

**melbin** · 03-19-2011, 01:44 AM

Originally posted by phanikar View Post

Dont know from adimalai,but from thekkady its decent single lane all the way till kodai with occasional average patches in ghats.Not aware of the present day conditions.Get in touch with "Bikerfas" he is back from south solo ride.He would be the best guide to let you know the details.

thankful for ur valuable sugg,

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