Road Trip - Bangalore to Nellore - via Kolar, Chittor, Tirupathi, Naidupeta

Travelled on 20 Dec 2015.

This is just an extension of Tirupathi trip.

For Tirupathi, from Chandragiri, you have to take left. But if you go straight, you will pass through Srikalahasthi town, then towards Naidupeta. From Naidupeta, take left and enter into NH 5 (Chennai - Guntur highway)

From Naidupeta, there are two toll plazas

Toll - 35
Toll - 25
(Single trip for four wheeler)

Road Trip - Bangalore to Chidambaram via Salem, Veppur, Virudachalam

Travelled on 08 Oct 2015.

Route

Electronic city - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Salem - 80km through Salem-Chennai highway, then take right - then 100 kms through Veppur, Virudachalam bypass - Bhuvanagiri - Chidambaram


Toll

Attibele - Rs. 25
Krishnagiri - Rs. 60
Thoppur (before climbing down ghat road) - Rs. 86 
Omallur, Salem (Just before Periyar University) - Rs. 69 
Toll - 47
Toll - 49

From Salem, go straight on three roundabouts. After crossing third roundabout, you can see a overbridge go over the bridge and again go straight on the bridge, there is a deviation to right, which takes you to Madurai.

In the Salem-Chennai highway, there are unexpected two lanes are there, be careful with that. After few kilometres in two lane again four lane starts. 2 or 3 places are like this, be careful with two lane road in between.

There are two toll booth (both around Rs. 50) in the 80km stretch of Chennai highway, after around 2 kilometres from second toll booth you have to take the service road, go under the bridge and take right to Veppur, Virudachalam, Bhuvanagiri, Chidambaram stretch. The 100 kms after deviating from Salem-Chennai highway is in bad condition. Drive carefully through this.

Safe Drive !!!

Road Trip - Bangalore to Mangalore via Kunigal, Channarayapatana, Hassan

Last travelled on 5 Mar 2016.

The route is,

Bangalore - NICE road - Nelamangala - Take left from Nelamangala by pass to Mangalore road - Kunigal - Channarayapatana - Hassan - Sakleshpur - Uppinangadi - Bantwal - Mangalore

Total distance - 380kms

Bangalore till Hassan is four lane road and the road is in good condition. You can race along the road. From Hassan it is two lane road. After Sakleshpur, ghat road begins. Its a pretty long ghat road, about 30 kms. Besides ghat road there is a water fall, its a pretty great experience. Some curves in the ghat road are very huge and dangerous, be careful with that. Also, there is a heavy truck traffic along the road. As Mangalore has lot of oil & gas refineries, you can find lot of bullet tankers on the road.

Bullet tanker

After ghat road ends (Gundya), if we go straight on NH 48 or NH 75 for around, 20 kilometres, then there are clear sign boards to take right for Dharmasthala.

There is two lane road at Channarayapatana by pass. After travelling in 4 lane, sudden two lane is a bit surprise. After few kilometres again four lane starts.

Toll Plaza Details

Toll plaza	Rate
NICE road	Rs 155
Nelamangala	Rs 20 (double 30)
Toll	Rs 41 (double 62)
Toll	Rs 41 (double 62)
Toll	Rs 40
Toll	Rs 30 (double 55)
Toll (Bantwal)	Rs 20 (double 35)

The toll I mentioned here is for four wheeler.

Restaurants

Just after Channarayapatana bypass you can see A2B(Adyar Anandha Bhavan) and on the other side of the road, you can see Kamat. We had a break at A2B, its pretty big and nice food.

A2B after Channarayapatana byepass

Road Trip - Bangalore To Wynad

Travelled on 24 Jan 2016. Went through Route IV and returned through Route III

There are various routes are there from Bangalore to Wynad. Where you are heading to Wynad matters.  If it is to Kalpetta, SultanBattery, Pulpally, Panamvaram, Pookode lake, Edakkal caves, Vythiri, Chundale then it is better to take Route I . If travelling to Tirunelly temple, Kuruvadweep, Manathavady then any route other than "Route I" you can opt.

Route Options

Route	Via
Route I	Bangalore - Mysore - Nanjangud - Gundlupet - Sulthan Bathery - Kalpetta (Closing time - 9 p.m - 6 a.m)
Route II	Bangalore - Srirangapatna - Hunsur - Nagarhole - Kutta - Tholpetty - Kattikulam - Manathavady (Closing time - 6 p.m - 6 a.m)
Route III	Bangalore - Mysore - H.D. Kote - Antharasanthe - Bavali - Kattikulam - Manathavady (Closing time - 6 p.m - 6 a.m) (For me, this is the best route in day time, condition of road is decent as well as shortest route. Use Mysore bypass road (outer ring road) and check for sign boards for HD Kote).
Route IV	Bangalore - Srirangapatna - Hunsur - Gonikoppa - Kutta - Tholpetty - Kattikulam - Manathavady (This route is open 24x7. All other routes are closed at night with different timing)

Here, in all these routes there is no toll, but while entering into Nagarhole route(Route II), you have to enter details about vehicle and passengers.

Also there is kanakapura, Malavalli, Gundlupet, Sultan Battery route is there. Take NICE road and exit through Kanakapura road and pass through Kanakapura, Malavalli, Gundlupet, then to Sultan Battery. Its a two lane road and till Kanakapura, heavy traffic you can expect. There are not many restaurants in this route. In Kanakapura and Malavalli, you can find a few.

Restaurants

Earlier there are not many restauarants are there in this route. But recently lot of new restaurants opened. Even A2B is opened recently. When coming from Mysore after Mandya and before Maddur you can see A2B. Then Hotel Empire, Kamat etc are there. In Mandya, you can see Hotel Amaravati. In Mysore Hotel Dasa Prakash is a good option. Then on Mysore - Gundlupet route you can see Hotel Kamat just after you cross Mysore city. Then in Gundlupet you can find CCD(Cafe Coffee Day).

Highway Robbery

There are reports of highway robbery in an around Hunsur mainly during night time (in Route IV). Now Hunsur police has nabbed the dacoits in a coveted operation, thumbs up to Hunsur Police.

Reference:
https://www.facebook.com/RepairHunsurGonikoppalRoad/posts/699302463536306:0
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/494330/gang-seven-highway-dacoits-arrested.html

Photos

Bavali Bridge

From here on it is Kerala state

The famous Y junction, when you go along through the kattikulam in the tholpetty route, after few kilometers, you can see this famous Y junction. Also you can also find famous "neyyappam" (Ghee appam) shop in the junction.

Kattikulam junction

Road Trip - Bangalore to Cochin via Salem Coimbatore

One of the most travelled route. Last travelled on 20 Jul 2016.

Recent Update Now almost the entire stretch from Bangalore to Cochin is four lane except few kilometres between Vadakkencherry and Mannuthy which includes Kuthiran ghat road and L&T Coimbatore bypass. Also four lane work is going on from Walayar to Coimbatore L&T toll road. Toll price increased from Rs. 80 to Rs. 85 for single trip and Rs. 120 to Rs. 125 for multiple for the recently opened toll between Neelambur and Avinashi

Route -

Route I used to take is,

Electronic City - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Thoppur - Salem - Coimbatore Bypass (Neelambur) - Palakkad Bypass (Chandra Nagar) - Thrissur Bypass (Mannuthy) - Cochin

Another alternative route -

Electronic City - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Thoppur - Mettur - Bhavani - Coimbatore Bypass - Palakkad (Chandra nagar) - Thrissur Bypass (Mannuthy) - Cochin

[ Pros :
You can save around 30 kms by travelling in this route. Not only this, also can skip two tolls (Rs. 69  & Rs. 54). Also if travelling in day time, nice view on both side of the road.
Cons :
It is a two lane road. You can't speed in this route]

Toll Plaza Details

Toll plaza	Rate
Attibele	Rs 25
Krishnagiri	Rs 60
Thoppur	Rs 86
Omalur	Rs 69
Kumarapalayam (After Hotel Saravan Bhavan)	Rs 54
Before Avinashi	Rs 49
After Avinashi (Updated the toll prices from April 2016, Rs. 80 to Rs. 85)	Rs 85
Coimbatore by pass (Neelambur) (L&T)	Rs 31 (same toll slip for six toll booths)
Walayar	Rs 55
Thrissur	Rs 65

Total toll now costs around 584 rupees. All are one side toll for four wheeler.

Through Mettur route

Thoppur-Bhavani through mettur route is 80kms. The first stretch from Thoppur to Mettur is bad stretch and the distance is 40kms. The next 40kms from Mettur to Bhavani is comparatively good stretch two lane road but has lot of speed breakers. For me the 80km stretch from Thoppur to Bhavni took 105 minutes. (Travelled on 21 OCT 2015)

Restaurants

If you are starting from Bangalore, then after around 30 kms from Hosur, you can see McDonald's & CCD (Cafe Coffee Day) besides). If you go further around 10 kms A2B (Adyar Anandha Bhavan). and Saravana Bhavan. Just before you climb down to Thoppur, you can see A2B on the other side of the road.

Around 5-10 kms from Salem, you can see A2B and go further around 20 kms from salem you can see Saravan Bhavan. After second L&T toll gate in Coimbatore bypass you will reach a junction, just around 20 meters to your left, you can see another Saravan Bhavan. Then In Chandranagar (Palakkad) there is Aryas (Restroom and food are not that great but ok). Now a new A2B opened in Perundurai. (Earlier it was Aryaas)

Walayar

When you are travelling in this route, you can't miss Walayar. Walayar is the entry point to Kerala state, which has RTO check post, sales tax check post side by side. So of course traffic jam is quite common here. If you get to know about traffic jam in Walayar by enquiring with truck or taxi drivers, you can choose alternative route through Velavanthavalam. You have to take left from K.K. Chavady (after Sona Bakery).

Safe Journey

Road Trip - Bangalore to Tirupathi through Hoskote, Kolar

Last travelled on 18 Feb 2017.

Morning around 3.30 am started from electronic city and around 8.00 a.m reached Tirupathi rather Alipiri security check point. Another 30 minutes from Alipiri to Tirumala (24 kms).

Route

The route I opted is

Electronic city - OMR (Old Madras road) - KR Puram - Hoskote - Kolar - Mulbagal - Chittor - Tiripathi.
Its four lane till Karnataka border, from then on two lane with varying width. The condition of the road in this entire stretch is pretty decent.

(Distance around 280 kms from Tirumala to electronic city)

From Electronic city take elevated and go till KR Puram, then go through the hanging bridge and you will enter into Bangalore-Tirupathi highway, from then toll road starts. On the way you cross Hoskote, Kolar, Mulbagal, then enter into Andra state. Then pass through Palamaner after few kilometers you can see sign boards to Tirupathi. Take left to enter into chittor by pass road and go straight till bypass ends, then take left to tirupathi. Go further for around 15 kilometers and you will see signboards to take right for Tirupathi.

Speed Breakers

Some unexpected speed breakers are there in few cross roads. Be careful with that. Normally the immediate cross road after toll plaza has speed breakers

Toll Plaza Details

Toll plaza	Rate
Hoskote	Rs 20
After Kolar	Rs 66
Just before the four lane ends	Rs 20

The toll I mentioned here is for four wheeler.
Then from Tirupathi to Tirumala there is Rs. 15 which includes return trip.

Restaurants

Not much restaurants are there in this route. One Vasudev Adiga near Kolar. Because this is the only decent restaurant in this highway most of the time, it is crowded. So it is better to carry food if possible.

Tirupathi - Tirumala

From Tirupathi to Tirumala is a pleasure drive with lots of stopping points. In this 24 km stretch (one way) two restrooms are there one after around 5-8 kms from Alipiri and last one around 10 kms before Tirumala. Both are pretty clean.

Special Entry Darshan (Rs. 300)

I booked special entry Rs. 300 darshan and timing was 11.00. Actually I reached little early. Then had breakfast. After that around 11 we reached SMC- 211 that is the entry point and by 12.30 had darshan and came out. As soon as you exit from temple take left and walk little you can see the laddu counter. Separate queue for plastic cover (Rs. 2) and laddu.

How to reach SMC 211 special entry darshan

If your are coming from Tirupathi, first there is a right turn which will take you to car parking area, dont take that. If you go further you will see a roundabout, take left from roundabout, then if you go straight you will see car parking area on your left side, little further you will see the SMC 211 board and counter.

Return Journey

While returning immediately after the Alipiri, there is a right turn and I took that and reached Chandragiri. From there take a right and get into the Chittor - Tirupathi road.

While returning from Palamaner we stopped at Mr & Mrs Idly Veg restaurant. Not great food. But ok. Restrooms are pretty decent. The restaurant is on the other side of the road. After entered into 4 lane road, saw Vasudeva Adiga in our side.

Note. From Palamaner till Chittor bypass its a two lane road and width of the road is comparatively less. So be careful while driving in this stretch. I saw two accidents on this stretch.

Safe Journey

Photos

Alipiri Security gate