Bandadka village near Poinachi

Bandadka is a village in Kasaragod district in the province of Kerala, India. It is near Karnataka border and a new road has come in 2016 connecting the village directly to Sullia in Karnataka province.  The village depends upon agriculture for their livelihood and generally the people are very prosperous.  I visited a small tea-shop frequented by farm workers and people were having a breakfast of rice cakes, eggs and meat dishes.  The population of the village is 7,740.  

The road to Bandadka begins from Poinachi junction in Kasaragod.  The villages of Kundamkuzhy, Bedadka, Munnad, Kuttikkol, Anakkallu and Padappu come in this route.  There is an MBA college in Munnad. The distance is 42 kilometers. 

Hosangadi , Vittala and Uppala

Driving from Hosangadi to Uppala takes you through scenic Karnataka and Kerala villages like Kadamber, Marthane, Kaliyur, Vorkadyh and Sugandhakatte.  There is a Dargah at Poyyath Bail near Majirfpalla.  After Khajanagar and Kaje village comes Govedapadappu village and two  hair pin bends on the road.  Next comes hilly villages like Anekkallu and the checkpost dividing Karnataka from Kerala.  You can enter Kerala province without any hassle at the checkpost and Vijayadkka is the first Kerala village to see.  Then comes the cenic Anekkalllu bridge and Vijaydkka village before ending up in Vittala Town. 

After Vittala town, you have to turn right at Ukkuda junction.  Villages like Byhrikatte, Kanyana are on the way.  There is a church here called Delanthe Bettu Church.  Two Muslim places of worship called Kanyana Juma Masjidh and Masjidh Bukhari make you feel very green.  The next villages are Mandiyoor, Odiyoor and Peruvaroad.  There is a reputed temple here called Bayar Shri Panchalingeshwara Temple .  The next villages are Muligadde, Bayarpadavu and Karakkatta.  Lalbaugh has a sales Tax checkpost and Paivalike town is the next.  Then comes Baikatte, Attengoli and Jodukallu.  There is government highschool at Bekur and also one Rifaiyya Masjidh.  Villages like Sonkal and Mannam Kuzhi come next.  Kaikumba junction comes just before Uppala town.  Uppala is a fairly big town with many boutiques like ‘London Lady’ and restaurants with equally fancy names!

Driving Kanhangad to Payyanur

Driving from Kanhangad to Payyannur is a delightful experience because the roads are not crowded as in the  Mangalore-Kanhangad stretch.  Kanhangad has an alternative name called ‘Hosdurg’ which is not widely used now.  But the southern side of the town is still called Hosdurg by the locals. The next towns are Kovvalpally, Moothappanar and Aingoth.  There is a forest temple at Moothappanar and a Nalla Idayan Church at Aingoth.  The next landmark is a flyover at padanakkad village followed by Nehru Arts and Science College on your right.  You can try your resistance to spices at the ‘Pacha Mulaku Restaurant’ as Pacha Mulaku means green chilli in Malayalam language.  The government is also running a restaurant here called DTPC Green Park.  You can also visit Nileshwar Palace on the way. For the well heeled travellers, there is the Nalands Resort at Nileshwar bridge.  Nileshwar is popular for the cheap Parippu Vada snacks they offer and the crowds who stop here to buy them.  Nileshwar also has a reputation as the center of V.S.group of communists and they are maintaining a separate V.S.Achuthanandan Auto Stand here.  This is a kind of open challenge to mainstream Communist Party of India Marxist group which is very powerful in the whole state. The vast campus of Kerala Agricultural University catches your attention on either side of the road.  Very soon you cross the Pallikkara road overbridge followed by Mayicha Kadavu. This scenic village has a temple called Shri Vayalkkara Devi temple.  The Taste Buds Restaurant at Mayicha is also quite popular. After RTO Checkpost you have to turn left and reach Paduvalam, Kalikkadavu and Anoormukku villages.  Shri Vishnu Murthy Temple and Karivelllur Raktha Sakshi Nagar attracts visitors.  The next towns are Onakkunnu, Vellur and Kottancherry. Kottancherry Maha Kshethrm is a famous place of worship in Vellur town. There is a language institute at Kandoth village called Malayala Bhasha Padana Shala and after that comes Kothayi Mukku Junctin and the Grand Dubai Restaurant, Kandoth.  The next landmarks are the NCC Office and the architecturally important Iruttan Tharavad House and Aramana Palace House. The majestic white structuare of Kandoth Juma Masjidh catches your eyes on the right side and Payyannur is just three kilometre if you turn right.  Don’t turn right, go straight to Perumba village another 500 meters and relax your limbs before coming back to crowded and noisy Payyannur town and accommodate yourself in one of the many hotels available cheaply near the old bus station.  On the next day, you can visit scenic villages like Kavvayi, Ramanthali and Trikaripur which are all in five kilometre range from the railway station.  The railway staion itself is an attraction as there is commercial development here but only paddy fields and coconut farms. 

Driving from Mangalore to Kasaragod

When you drive from Mangalore to Kasaragod the main towns on the way are Manjeshwar and Kumbla. 

After Manjeshwar, look for a beautiful hill Dargah on your right side close to the railway track. Hosangadi and Uppala are the next towns. Then comes Vittal road, Kaikamba, Nayabazar, Bandiyod, Muttam,  Arikkady Temple and Kumbla.

After Kumbla, the road becomes very crowded as there is a lot of traffic on the way and many buildings appear on both sides of the road.  There is a Caffe Coffee Day outlet one and a half km after Kumbla on the right side and you can quench your thirst there.  The next towns are called Mogral, Mogralputhur, Chowki and Eriyal.  Nationally important agricultural research station CPCRI is on your right side.  Kasaragod town begins from the Karandakkatt Circle from where a right turn takes you to the beach and railway station.  Going straight takes you to the restaurants and hotels and the hilly villages. 

Kasragod to Mysore

Driving from Kasaragod to Mysore is quite exciting as the roads are not crowded and there is a long stretch of forest in the middle.  Take care of elephants on the way.  You begin your trip on the Jalsoor road and reaches Jalsoor or Sullia in one hour.  The next major town is Madikeri from where you have to take a turn right.  Other towns in the route are Sundikuppe, Kushal Nagar, Periyapatanam, Hunsur and Yelwala.  You can reach Mysore in four hours if you drive fast.  Buses are more comfortable if you can spare six hours.