The usual route
From Bangalore, take the highway to Mysuru, then continue south through Gundlupet and the Bandipur forest into Kerala. On the Kerala side the road reaches Sulthan Bathery; from there drive towards Kalpetta and on to Meppadi, about 12 km beyond Kalpetta.
The full trip is roughly 280 to 310 km depending on where in Bangalore you start, and takes about six to seven and a half hours with normal traffic.
The night closure at Bandipur
The road through the Bandipur forest is closed to traffic from 9 PM to 6 AM to protect wildlife. If you reach the forest gate after 9 PM, you will wait until morning. Leave Bangalore early enough to be through the forest well before dark, and check the current timings before you set off, as rules can change.
Tips for the drive
- Start early. Mornings out of Bangalore are quicker, and you arrive with daylight left.
- Eat in Mysuru or Gundlupet. Food stops thin out inside the forest.
- Carry water, some cash and your ID. Mobile signal drops in patches.
- Keep a FASTag on the car for the toll plazas.
- In the monsoon, expect slower driving and wet roads in the hills.
Arriving at Maison Claire
The villa has keypad self check-in, so you let yourselves in when you arrive. Tell us your arrival time when you book. Restaurants are about 200 m from the villa for a late first dinner.
