Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Did a small 600 KM to and fro trip to Coorg from Ooty. Route taken was Ooty > Gudalur > Sultan Bathery > Mananthavady > Karthikulam > Tholpetty > Kutta > Ponnampet > Gonigoppal > Coorg.


Ooty to Gudalur till mid Gudalur roads are okay, but bikers must be warned, roads are patchy due to roadwork and stone gravel is prominent on curves and can take one unexpectedly, slips very easily. Drivers especially driving at night taking extra caution would be a wise idea, especially the depth of these potholes and sudden camber changes.


From Gudalur to Sulthan Bathery very good roads and nice apart from crazy speed humps which can take you by surprise, the roads are very good.


Sulthan Bathery to Manathavady, very good stretch and can cruise comfortably.


Mananthavady to Kaatikulam, crossing Wayanad Sanctuary, excellent roads all the way to Bavali.


Kaatikulam to Kutta via Tholpetty. Fine for cars, but bikers need to be extra careful on stone gravel at unexpected corners.


Kutta Checkpost to Kutta. Dug up gravel roads with nothing but stones.


Kutta to Ponnampet. From Kutta to Ponnampet, roads are re-laid and is a welcome sight as they were pathetic from a previous ride. Roads are excellent, but again, bloody bad cambers on a flat pavement, so speedfreaks being a little diligent would be helpful. Careful while overtaking on these stretches, the bus drivers are always unpredictable, and they give no friggin respect for anything smaller!


Ponnampet to Gonikoppal okay-ish roads and hardly 5 Kms from Ponnampet.


Return leg took a another way via Panamaram, Kenchira, Benachi route. The route is less crowded, but there is a reason why. Right from Panamaram to Sulthan Bathery, the roads are way unpredictable, almost all cars were speeding no more than 40 KMPH. Very bad roads, sudden sunk in cambers in the roads, deep potholes. Drivers taking this route, riding at a steady pace would be a good both for them and their car's suspension.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Hi all,

I'm planning to do a ride to Ooty from Bangalore. I'm familiar with the road condition till Mysore. Can someone please provide the condition of the road from Mysore to Ooty. I'm taking my FZ1. Hence, I would really appreciate an update on the road conditions..

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Hi guys,

Me and TURISTA are all set for our trip to GOA , please let us know the conditions on the below routes.

Onward: Chennai-Bangalore-Tumkur-Shimoga-Honavar-Karvar-Calangute
Return: Goa-Karwar-Udipi-Manglore-Banglore-Chennai

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

The charmadi ghat road is super.. avoid sakleshpur ..but take the belthangadi-mudigere-belur route for crossing western ghats.


Sent from my Nexus 5

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Guys can any of you tell me about the road conditions between Gokarna to Mangalore/Udupi?

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Route Taken: Bangalore-Salem-Virudhachalam-Chidambaram-Karaikal-Velankani-Muthupet-Thondi-Ramanathapuram-Rameshwaram-Dhanushkodi-Tuticorin-Tirunalvelli-Kanyakumari-Virudhnagar-Madurai-Usilampatti-Andipatti-Oddaipatti-Meghamalai-Chinnamannur-Markayankottai-Bodi-Pooppara-Munnar-Marayoor-Chinnar-Udumalaipet-Palladam-Avinashi-Annur-Metupalayam-Kotagiri-Ooty-Masinagudi-Nanjangud-Hinkal-suntikoppa-madapur-Hattihole-Mandalpatti-Hunsur-Bangalore.

Bangalore-Salem-Virudhachalam-Chidambaram: Good four lane roads till Salem. Once you deviate towards Attur the roads become good two lane till you take diversion for Virudhachalam. Once you deviate, its average two lane roads all the way till Chidambaram, with odd potholes cropping up every now and then.

Chidambaram-Sirkazhi-Karaikal-Rameshwaram/Dhanushkodi: Good but very narrow roads for two lane traffic . Post Karaikal, its very good two lane roads all the way till Rameshwaram/Dhanushkodi. The Pambam Bridge was being patched up at some places, so you might expect some delay for some time during this season.

Rameshwaram-Tuticorin-Tirunalvelli-KanyaKumari : good two lane roads till Tuticorin Bypass. Post that its ultra smooth four lanes till Kanyakumari.
Kanyakumari-Tirunalvelli-Madurai(Nagamalai Pudukottai) -Usilampatti-Andipatti-Osilapatti-Meghamalai : Till Madurai its very good four lane roads. Once you deviate towards Usilampatti from Madurai, its traffic infested two lane roads. Roads till Odipatti are good enough. From thenpalani Checkpost its bad roads after bad roads for the next 90 odd kms for climbing up and down Meghamalai.

Chinnamannur-Markayankottai-Bodi-Pooppara-Munnar-marayoor-Chinnar-udumalaipettai : Good roads throughout. The bad patches post Munnar towards Marayoor and Chinnar has been completely relaid/Patched up.

Udumalaipet-Palladam-Avinashi-Annur-Metupalayam: Good to very good Two lane roads, except for a small stretch around Avinashi.

Metupalayam-Kotagiri-ooty-Masinagudi-Bandipu-Gundlupet: Hope the Govt at least patches up the stretch between Ooty and Thalaikundah, rest is absolute Bliss.

Gundlupet-Mysore(Ring Road)-Hinkal-Hunsur: Decent roads till Mysore ring road. Ring road construction is yet to complete. There are few Diversions here and there.

Suntikoppa-Madapur-Hattihole-Mandalpatti : Average country roads till Hattihole, from there its bad roads. Surprisingly some sections has been asphalted/Concreted. Riding time was reduced by 30-40%

Suntikoppa-Ilavala-Mandya-Bangalore : Same old story, overall good roads, traffic increases exponentially on weekends. Kindly look out for odd Road humps in the entire stretch. You can always expect an idiot driving in the middle of the road speaking on his mobile Phone , even if there are some 1000 vehicles honking their lungs out behind him/her or a dude on his splendor tries to do a stoppie in front of a Speeding SUV.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Came back from Bangalore-Kanyakumari trip.

The road is pretty bad as construction is going on near Hosur, after the Mc donalds though, the road becomes buttery smooth up until near Salem, where one has to be careful since the road is hilly and there are WEIRD markings on road(to increase grip maybe), but on my ZMR's stock tyres, it was a bit difficult.
After Salem up until Kanyakumari it a smooth properly laid out highway.

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Hyd > Bangalore - No idea, never travelled in that stretch
Bangalore > Salem - Good roads, except for a few construction work in Hosur, it's a proper highway with divider and 4 lanes
I had been to trivandrum a few days earlier but I took the Salem > Madurai > Tenkasi > Varkala > Trivandrum route.
This would be too lengthy for you, I guess Taking madurai > kovilpatti > tirunelvalli route would be better for cruising non-stop as the road is vary wide and nicely laid out.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Hi Umesh. Just wanted to ask if you made the ride, and what road conditions were like. Doing the same stretch from Bangalore to Ooty in about 2 week's time. Any update would be great.

thanks
byker

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

passsing through tenkasi, thanmala dam, towards trivandrum?? im available at thenmala dam...

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Shiradi ghat is patched up and is now motorable.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Route Taken: Bangalore-Kolar-Chittoor-Tirupathi-Srikalahasti-Sullurpet –Sriharikota-Venadu Island-Arambakkam-Chennai-Vellore-Yelagiri-Hosur-Bangalore.

Bangalore-Kolar-Palamner: Four lanes all the way till Mulbagal. Post that its messy two lane traffic/road. Till some distance post AP border. Heavy fog encountered throughout the route.

Palmner-Chitoor by pass-Tirupathi: good two lane roads throughout.

Tirupathi-Kalahasthi-Sullurpet-Sri harikota: It can be a bit confusing around Srikalahasti as there aren’t many boards around. Kalahasti Sullurpet is a narrow road(Good Condition). You can find cattle, sheep etc what not but surely enjoyable relaxed route. Not recommended if you are driving/riding alone after dark. No help available. Post Sullurpet very lonely roads to Sriharikota.

Sriharikota-venadu-Arambakkam: Sriharikota(Forest office Junction) to Venadu is a very lonely dusty Trail. Tarmac lovers, better avoid it, off roaders jump on to it. No help available here as well. The closest help available was the Bird Sanctuary office, where there is an old Mechanic who repairs Bikes. For Cars the closest help was Sullurpet IIRC. Sullurpet-Arambakam is a walk in the park for any vehicle. Very good roads. You can get on to the Salt lake, just like in Rann Of Kutch, of course depending on the Dampness. Also you can find a large variety of birds, mostly Migratory AFAIK.

Arambakam-Redhills-Chennai(Porur): Lot of construction at many places. Took the Bypass from Red hills to Porur ,good roads.

Chennai(Porur) -Vellore-Vaniyambadi-Krishnagiri: The imperfections on the roads till Sriperambadur makes it difficult to maneuver the bike comfortably. God Know when will they rectify it. IIRC there was only one bridge near Vaniyambadi which was under construction. Apart from that all others till Krishnagiri is opened.

Krishnagiri-Hosur-Bangalore: work still under progress around Hosur, apart from that, rest is fine.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Route Taken : Bangalore-Tumkur-Arasikere-Shimoga-Thalaguppa-Siddapur-Sirsi-Yellapur-Ankola-Manjaguni Jetty-Gokarna-Honnavar-Koteshwar-Halady-Agumbe-Sringeri-Balehonnur-Chikmagalur-Hassan-Bnagalore.


Bangalore-Tumkur(By pass): Four lanes, part of GQ. Good roads but traffic prone. Once you deviate from NH4 its very average roads with potholes at regular intervals.


Tumkur-Shimoga-Thalaguppa: Good Two lane roads throughout.


Thalaguppa-Siddapur-Sirsi: Thalaguppa-Siddapur is very average roads, speeds drop down to 40s and 50s. Siddapur to Sirsi, good roads.


Sirsi-Yellapur-Ankola: Two words to describe the roads, mind-blowing. Awesome stretch of Tarmac.


Ankola-Manjaguni Ferry - Gokarna-Kundapur : Beautiful roads, complete contrast to what it was few years back. Most parts have been relaid. The very bad stretches around Kundapur has been patched up. Manjaguni ferry only takes two wheelers, that too its a dangerous deal. its an old wooden boat hardly the width of my bike, the rear fender was outside the boat and that too the distance to cross is hardly 100 mtrs. Going through the road is a better option.


Kundapur-Koteshwar-Halady : Decent roads, once you deviate from NH17 the roads become very narrow, but the condition is good enough. Very small patches where the asphalt has worn/not laid properly.


Halady-Someshwar-Aagumbe: Overall beautiful stretch. Most parts, including the ghats are freshly laid.


Agumbe-Sringeri: road work underway. Most parts the work is completed and very good. But there are still some parts which tel you the old story.


Sringeri-Jayapur-Chikmagalur: Some parts are good, some parts are bad and some are very deceptive. The camouflaged potholes under the shade of trees around and bend your rims for sure, if you run into either of them at good speed. And some of the potholes are deep enough to sink half the wheel into them. I was serious about the comparison.


Chikmagalur-Belur-Hassan: Except for 2 turns(IIRC) there are road humps on almost all corners on this stretch. And 90% of them are invisible. And whoever genius designed it has put it just 2/3 meters from the start of the curve. The fun of riding on this stretch no more exists.


Hassan-Bangalore: Good roads good roads good roads.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Hey guyz anybody tried the stretch Salem --> Bhavani --> Coimbatore --> Palakkad
I might go on bike from Bangalore to my hometown Guruvayoor.
I know till Salem the roads are awesome and can maintain good speed.
Also from Palakkad to Guruvayoor I know the road conditions.
Please let me know the above stretch[marked bold] current situation.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Salem Bhavani Coimbatore: Good roads throughout. Small congestion around Avinashi(because of the road work), which i heard is sorted now.
Coimbatore Palakkad : Bad roads, will kill time. This update is about an year old. And very unlikely that any changes are made post that.

Re: Updates On Road Conditions in South India

Thanks buddy for the reply. That coimbatore - palakkad stretch is some 50 km odd distance.
So hopefully it wont take too much of my time. Im thinking if everything fine cover this 500km(Bangalore-Guruvayoor) stretch in 7~8 hours.
In that the last 140km starting right from coimbatore are almost the same road condition with traffic.
Thats possible right?