This route is interesting and fun to drive when compared to Salem route.
BHPian arun_josie recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Starter Motor Issue:
Recently while starting the car, I was getting a squeaking/grinding noise at the end. The noise was a bit bad. So, I took it to PPS motors and they immediately confirmed that its an issue with the starter motor. They asked me to leave the car at the service center as this issue can damage the flywheel too. Plan was to remove the starter motor and send it to the vendor to check and repair if possible. After a day they updated me that starter motor has been overhauled and the issue is fixed. Next day I went and took the delivery and observed that all is fine.
This service costed me 14K as against 58K which is the cost of the starter motor for Compass 4×4. The starter motor is cheaper for the 4×2 variants.
Drive from Bangalore to Coimbatore Via Ooty:
I was bored of the Salem – Coimbatore route as I have taken this route umpteen times. So, for this drive I decided to take a different one. The best alternate is to take the Mysore – Chamarajanagar – Dhimbham OR Mysore – Kanakapura – Kollegal – Germalam – Dhimbham route and I decided to do the one via Mysore. Its long time since I took the Dhimbham route.
As planned, I started at 4am with less traffic on the NICE road and then on the Mysore expressway, too. With no traffic around, it is really a challenge to maintain 100Kmph speed on this road. When I got closer to Mysore, I changed my plan and decided to take the Mysore – Gundlupete – Masinagudi – Kalhatty – Ooty route as Kalhatty ghats was in my to-do list since long.
There was not much traffic on the Gundlupete route too however there were random bad patches/speed breakers which slowed me down. The first traffic that I encountered was at the TN check-post. It was a long queue as they were checking all the vehicles. When it came to my chance, they asked me for hotel booking details in Ooty. Since my destination was Coimbatore, I didn’t have any booking. They checked the complete vehicle before letting me go.
The forest route was scenic but dry due to hot weather. This route will be awesome during monsoon season. I loved the Kalhatty ghat section. It is very steep and super fun to drive.
I spotted many wild animals including elephants and deer at multiple locations but couldn’t click proper pics as I was driving solo.
Ooty:
I reached Ooty by 8:30 am, it took only 4 hours and 30 mins despite the long wait at the border. So, Ooty has come more closer to Bangalore after the Mysore Expressway
Ooty really didn’t give me any feel of a mountain location. The sun was out early and the weather was warm. It kind of looked like a concrete jungle to me.
Drive details till Ooty.
I didn’t do any sight seeing, I just crossed the town and stopped at a bakery for breakfast. After having some hot delicious puffs, I got some varkey for home and started driving towards Coimbatore. From here the traffic was heavier and I reached Coimbatore around 11:30am.
Overall, it took me 7 hours and 30mins including the stop at the border and the breakfast stop. This route is interesting and fun to drive when compared to Salem route. Dhimbham route is 40Kms shorter and another good alternate route to Coimbatore.
My return to Bangalore was via the boring Salem route.
I didn’t take any pics of Scarlett during the Ooty drive. Here are two pics taken during a drive to Kasargod.
I have started seeing more EVs on the highway these days, 3 EVs in one click.
Meanwhile the ODO has crossed 1,70,000 Kms 
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