coorg-ooty-kodaikanal in march

@srinivaspaim, do you mean to say that road condition between Mangalore and Madikeri has now improved and road is open

Velu is suggesting in Post #4 that "Avoid Getting to Mangalore for Coorg. Mangalore to Coorg Road is officially closed and any route we take needs travelling in pathetic for few 10's of kms."
Please update the current position as you are from Mangalore and you could do us a favor by checking at bus station whether the buses has started plying on the route.

@Prakaant,

Good Point. I checked the same and the answer is below:-

Half Finished Madikeri-Mangalore road is opened for traffic and buses are plying in that route (Reduced Frequency) but still few 10's of KMs are in Shambles. It is again slated for Closure to Finish the incomplete portion --> Not sure on this closure date.

Nothing official about it and I checked with my colleague who drives from Mysore to Manipal Via Madikeri-Mangalore quite frequently and got this information.

@Srinivas,

Your inputs on the same will really help us .

Regards
Velu

Hello all and thankyou for some very valuable information. I want to apologise to cause a little confusion by posting the same topic in diff forums on the same site.
As suggested by Stanley G i went through the blog about kutta. i have already posted a revised itinery. As suggested i am omiting ooty. here is the new plan:

6th march: leave mumbai by matstyagandha express to arrive at managalore next day

7th march: early morning arrival in Mangalore. transfer to Madikeri and check in at nearby budget accomodation. site seeing at abbey waterfalls, omkareshwara temple, fort, rajas seat, taal kavery.

Can we do all this in a day? could I and should I skip anything?

Could anyone suggest a good budget homestay/accomodation?

8th march: early moring visit to dubare camp. golden temple. afternoon safari at nagarhole np. stay at homestay near kutta.

about nagarhole i read about the morning and afternoon safari. which one to do. or should we do both?

9th march: day excursion and siteseeing at wayanad around kalpetta. back to kutta.

is this doable? is it worth it?

10th march: start for mysore. enroute visit nisargadhama.

we may have time for early morning safari at nagarhole. but should we do it? is one safari enough?

would we manage to reach mysore before 6 pm? if i have to spend a night in mysore it would add another day to our itinery. if its not too tough to reach before 6 then we would like to take the train to kodaikanal.

10th march: assuming we have to stay in mysore the previous night we would have until evening 6 for siteseeing in mysore. only the key sites that is. evening train to kodaikanal.

11th, 12th, 13th night at kodaikanal.

if we dont stay at mysore, it will be 10th, 11th and 12th night.

is there enough to do in kodaikanal for 3+ days?

14th march: depart fo madurai and take the evening flight back to mumbai.

please help me improvise on this. thanks to all for the help on previous posts.

I plan to book taxi seperately in karnataka and TN.

@Kalyanikol,


6th March:- Board Train to Mangalore
7th March:- 8'0 clock Train arrival at Mangalore. Get bus/cab to Madikeri.Now it's 1 pm. Take rest. Visit Raja's seat between 5 - 7:30 pm.In Madikeri,Hotel Chithra for Budget or Hotel Mayura Valley View (KSTDC )
8th march:- Visit Abbey Falls,Bhagamandala temple, Talacauvery .Stay at Kutta for night stay (No Recommendation but there are several homesstays near to iruppu falls and plantation stays at kutta--> Around 50 kms you will be in poor roads to get to kutta)
9th March:- Visit Iruppu Falls, Tholpetty WLS (Wayanad), Thirunelli Temple (wayanad), Kuruwadweep Island (wayanad),Nagarhole NP (Safari), Stay at Kutta for night
10th March:- Vacate kutta and drive to Mysore Via Dubare elephant camp,Cauvery nishagadhama and golden temple. Board overnight train for Dindugal/Kodaikanal Road (For Kodaikanal)
11th March:- Arrive at Kodaikanal around 12 pm. 1/2 day sight seeing
12,13 March:- Kodaikanal Exploration
14 March:- Vacate from Kodainkanal, reach Madurai. Explore Meenakshi amman temple + Thirumalai Naicker mahal
Fly/Board train back to Madurai.

Note:-

8,9,10 , cab is required.

For kodaikanal you may hire a local cab or join a tour package.
Hope this helps.

Regards
Velu

Interesting about this Mangalore or Mysore approach to Coorg; when some three years ago I went to Madikeri from Cochin over Mysore indeed (sort of in spring/early Indian summer), locals told me over Mangalore would have been much better. No idea, could be a seasonal thing, indeed.

Between the three destinations, I always wonder if it's not all gonna be a pretty similar experience, so why not rather concentrate on one and its area. (But, never to interfere with the poster's plans, really: Just mostly thinking out loud )

I've been to Kodaikanal and Coorg & Madikeri, not Ooty; one often hears the latter has indeed exploded into a pretty unappealing and overtouristed place by now. I obviously can't say.

Kodai I was in mid-winter in constant fog and drizzle and cold to boot, it won't have left the best of impressions with me. Found it pretty drab under those circumstances, but then arguably it may not be a very fair judgment. I also imagine it to be getting pretty touristy, is that correct? (I was there nearly two decades ago.)

Madikeri and Coorg I just happen to love, so I guess my vote would be obvious Note when staying in Madikeri itself, many here describe it in those same terms of being another pretty dumpy and congested little hillstation bursting out of its seams; I suppose staying right in its little center, where there are a bunch of hotels, it can indeed be just like that. One can stay in homestays and guesthouses etc. a little (or of course further) away from that center though, where it can be very peaceful, and it's nice to walk around; I stayed just a 7-minute walk away from that center, in a friendly simple little homestay, where it was sheer bliss & quiet, indeed. That town center now handy for some shopping and a bite and a drink.

Then of course one can stay in homestays or hotels all over Coorg. I'm sure the many travel agents by Madikeri's central bus stands can help one out in such and other arrangements. One also hears Coorg attracts its fair share of domestic tourists in season, and ever-increasing, however I reckon the area is large enough to still disappear into the woods if so desired.

@ kalyanikol,pmvelu >mangalore madikeri road is not officially opened nor is it closed.4 laning in progress and certain stretches is bad to very bad but since the journey is by bus it should b ok.many vehicles are plying so there should be no problem

@ pmvelu ..> Re you the same pmvelu of teambhp?

No Srinivas, it was officially closed for 6 months and got opened only around July or August 2011 with pending work. I am sure on this part. Thanks for the update on the current conditions.

Yes I am also in Team-Bhp but more active over here.

Regards
Velu

Thanks all again. srinivaspaim: extremely valuable info about the current road conditions. since the plan is for march i am hoping things would improve further by then. pmvelu: thankyou very much for the new itinery. i realised mine had some mistakes around the dates 10th-11th. machadinha: coorg is my dad's idea and kodai is my plan. mumbai-mangalore train journey takes half the time as compared to mumbai-mysore or mum-coimbtore. still a few clarifications:

1)as per the suggested plan for 9th march: is it possible to do wayanad and nagarhole np the same day?
2)should we take the morning or afternoon safari at nagarhole or both?
3)is wayanad really worth the extra day? could you also provide an alternative plan for 9th?

Regards,
kalyani

Just one input:
If you take Mumbai - Mangalore train journey, you would crossing through Western Ghat by famous Konkan Railway. I love ride on this route and it's an experience in itself.
Given option to go to that region, I would opt for train journey by Konkan Railway!

if you reach on time take the evening safari and proceed to next destination early morning or else take the next day morning safari.once is enough unless one is a true blue wildlife enthusiast.

Thanks all once again. I am also a foodie. Any suggestions about budget homestays with gr8 food? also good food joints?

wah re wah...good to know that..
which are the towns you plan to visit?if i have the details I will be glad to be of assistance

thanks srinivaspaim. here is the list. i guess we will be having breakfast near mangalore station. hope to be in madikeri for lunch. liked the location and reviews of palace estate. if it is accessible and affordable wud like to stay there. Had thought of honey valley but i am not sure about whats the deal with the last 3 kms. There is also tanya home stay which accommodates 8 ppl on entire floor. or as suggested hotel maurya. food spots near or on the way to coorg attractions would be helpful. where to eat what. may stay at chilligeri homestay(looks affordable). may have a day in mysore. 3 days in kodai and half a day in madurai before we take the flight back home. any accessible off the beaten track suggestions? Thanks again and best regards.

You call them ahead to book; now call again sooner to the date to confirm; now call again on arrival, and they'll pick you up in their jeep. (If you have your own vehicle, only 4WD's can make it up there, and even then on their website they caution against trying to drive it yourself. I'm sure they will tell you where to safely park it, or perhaps they can show you the way to take it along.) I guess call early, they're said to easily book out.

A popular place to eat also with locals in Madikeri is the Hotel East End, at indeed its eastern end Not sure if the "hotel" here means they have rooms; nor about its "foodie" factor, though I ate well here. Prices very moderate. You'll need to drive here from town, I think.

A few places nearer the center advertize their "real Coorg" cuisine, just ask around there. (There's one or two such if you head up the road from the center to the police station and the former fort, now the municipal headquarters I think, it's just a short walk. Or there were, some three years ago.)

I guess one might try (for lunch or so) the KSTDC Hotel Mayura Valley View, a short way to the right of Raja's Seat; it's a godawful ugly concrete building, however its bar & restaurant terrace does offer great views over the valleys below. Nor sure about food quality here, had just some snacks I think. Could well be on the mediocre side.

Kodaikanal is known for its Tibetan eateries btw I think and if I recall, so you might sample some of that (it's not my favorite cuisine, find it pretty bland). Ah, and its chocolate, I believe

@Mach,

Hotel Mayura Valley View was Constructed newly around 2007. The older Dilipidated buildings were just there but not in use. Entire complex is brand new and was well maintained and the food was good (Even though the varieities are less). From your description, I think you might have visited sometime before.

Cheers
Velu