The Usual Route
Bangalore to Mysore, Mysore to Gundlupet, then down through Bandipur and Mudumalai to Masinagudi. It is the standard weekend run and the road is good for most of it.
The Night Closure
The highways through Bandipur and Mudumalai close to traffic overnight to protect wildlife, and it is the one thing worth building your day around. Leave Bangalore in good time and it never comes up; leave late and you will be waiting at a barrier rather than settling in. Tell us your departure time and we will do the arithmetic with you.
Timing the Drive
Give yourself a comfortable daylight margin rather than a theoretical arrival time. Traffic out of Bangalore, the stretch through Mysore and any road work will all add up. Confirm current travel time and closure timings before you set out.
Where to Stop
Mysore makes the natural break, with plenty of good places to eat. After Gundlupet you are into forest, so stretch your legs and top up before you get there rather than once you are inside it.
Driving Through the Reserve
Speed limits inside the reserves are enforced, and they exist because elephants cross without warning. Please keep moving rather than stopping for photographs, stay in the car, and never offer food. It is a lovely stretch of road — enjoy it at twenty kilometres an hour.
The Last Stretch
Coming off the highway to Masinagudi puts you on smaller roads. It is slower than the map suggests. Both properties will talk you in if you call ahead.
