Sathyamangalam-Dimbham route update

I took the Satyamangalam-Kollegal-Kanakapura route today while coming from Kochi to Bangalore. Just wanted to try a different route than the regular route and to avoid the potential traffic at toll booths.

Started at 7 from N. Paravur and I took the left turn (at 10:20AM) towards Annur from NH47 before Avinashi. But this comes just after the new toll booth at Chengappalli(Rs 80). So to avoid this toll we need to take a turn much before, but not sure about the road or traffic.

The roads are good all the way. The Dimbham ghat is in good condition. I made a mistake of entering the SH after Dimbham towards Kollegal. (Instead of going towards Chamarajanagar). The road surface becomes bad once you enter Karnataka. Kollegal - Malavalli - Kanakapura is in very good condition. Took a lunch break at somewhere near Kollegal (packed lunch). With a 45min lunch break, I reached home in HSR layout at 4:30. The Chamarajnagar route must have been faster. The traffic was light and there were hardly any trucks.

BTW, the total toll till Kochi from Bangalore (excluding the elevated highway) stands at 564, with the two new tolls added, one at Walayar (45) and the one at Chengapalli(80).

A Friday night drive and a Monday daytime return

On 22nd May 2015, Friday I started by 3PM from Bangalore and there were horrible traffic jams at Attibelle, Krishnagiri toll booths. Lost 15-20 minutes each. Took the Omalur-Sankari detour and I am sure would have saved time at the two toll booths that got skipped. It was a breeze after Sankari, only to be bogged down at Kuthiran and inside Kochi due to the Metro work. Reached home at 11:30PM.

While coming back I took the Sankari-Omalur detour as well as the Palacode-Rayakkotai-Kedamangalam-Attibelle route. The Rayakkotai-Kedamangalam-Attibelle route is excellent throughout except for a few rough stretches, which is manageable. Started at 7:30AM from N Paravur and reached E.City at 4:30PM. Had a relaxed drive, skipped 4 tolls and got a better FE.


The Sankari-Omalur detour, starts with a deviation from Sankari Byepass and gets on to the Sankari-Tharamangalam State Highway. This connecting road is a narrow single lane road with lots of twists and turns and deserted.

Kochi-Bengaluru Latest Update

Kochi-Bengaluru Drive - 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zAF6S9VFuSQs.k1heaLWKVCZs

The regular NH7-NH47 route is becoming more faster owing to the new 4-lane stretches from Avinashi-Coimbatore and from Walayar to Palakkad. Also the Palakkad Thrissur stretch is being 4 laned. Total drive time is less than 7:30 hrs now, with avg speed of 72kmph.