Mysore to Coimbatore Taxi

Route options compared

Via Chamarajanagar and Sathyamangalam

The shortest and most common route. You leave Mysore through Nanjangud, pass Chamarajanagar and climb through Hasanur into the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, then descend the Dhimbam ghat to Bannari and Sathyamangalam town. From there the road runs through Puliyampatti and Annur into Coimbatore. Most of the drive is on good, quiet roads.

Via Bandipur, Ooty and Mettupalayam

A slightly longer, much more scenic option that crosses Bandipur and Mudumalai, climbs into the Nilgiris and then descends the Coonoor ghat to Mettupalayam and Coimbatore. It suits travellers who want to see Ooty on the way, but it involves two ghat sections and the Bandipur night restrictions, so it takes longer.

Forest timings you need to know

The Hasanur to Dhimbam stretch passes through a tiger reserve, and night traffic restrictions apply. For several years, most vehicles have not been allowed through between evening and early morning, roughly from 6 pm to 6 am, though exact rules have been revised by courts and authorities over time. The safe plan is to leave Mysore by late morning so you clear the forest comfortably before dusk. If you must travel late, our drivers can take a longer route that avoids the reserve.

Driving the Dhimbam ghat

The Dhimbam ghat is known for its tight hairpins and steep gradient, and heavy trucks used to cause long jams here before restrictions were introduced. In a car it is a manageable, scenic descent with views over the plains of Erode district. Stops on the bends are not encouraged, but there are a few safe spots near the top for a quick look.

Interstate permit

As a Karnataka-registered vehicle entering Tamil Nadu, the cab needs an interstate permit. We sort this out before departure and list it separately from the base fare, along with tolls. You do not need to do anything at the border yourself.

Stops worth making

• Nanjangud's Srikanteshwara temple, just 25 km from Mysore.
• Chamarajanagar, with the Chamarajeshwara temple and the turn-off for Biligiri Rangana Hills.
• Bannari Amman temple at the foot of the Dhimbam ghat, one of the most visited temples in the region.
• Sathyamangalam town for lunch before the final leg.

In and around Coimbatore

Our drivers regularly drop travellers at Gandhipuram and Ukkadam bus terminals, the Coimbatore Junction railway station, the airport at Peelamedu, the hospitals along Avinashi Road, and the colleges and campuses around Saravanampatti and Kuniamuthur. Many travellers also head straight to the Isha Yoga Centre and the Adiyogi statue at Velliangiri foothills, which is on the far western side of the city; let us know at booking so the route can be planned. Marudamalai temple, the Perur Pateeswarar temple and the Kovai Kondattam area are other popular stops.

Who travels this route

We see a real mix: students joining colleges in Coimbatore, families visiting relatives, business travellers heading to the textile and pump industries, patients travelling to Coimbatore's hospitals, and pilgrims bound for Isha or Palani. For a single business traveller a sedan is enough; for families or patients who need space to recline, an Innova Crysta is far more comfortable.

Weather along the way

Coimbatore has a mild climate for the plains, thanks to the Palghat gap that funnels cool winds from Kerala. The drive is pleasant through most of the year. April and May are hot on the Sathyamangalam plains, so an AC vehicle and an early start help. During the north-east monsoon in October and November, the Dhimbam ghat can be wet and foggy at the top, and drivers take the hairpins more slowly. Wildlife sightings, mostly elephants and deer near Hasanur, are more common in the dry months when animals come closer to the road.

Returning to Mysore

For the return, the same forest timings apply in reverse, so a morning start from Coimbatore is best. Round trips with a night's stay are popular, and the driver allowance for overnight stays is factored into the round-trip fare.