The Bandipur forest road closes to cars, buses and trucks from 9 PM to 6 AM, every night of the year. On a bike, your deadline is earlier: two-wheelers have been barred from 6 PM. And since May 2026, the famous Masinagudi–Kalhatti shortcut to Ooty is mostly off-limits to tourists. Here's how the rules on the Mysuru–Ooty and Mysuru–Wayanad roads work, checked on 10 October 2026.
Quick Summary:
- Cars, buses, trucks: The Bandipur stretches of NH 181 (Mysuru–Ooty) and NH 766 (Mysuru–Wayanad–Kozhikode) are closed from 9 PM to 6 AM. The ban dates to a 2009–2010 Karnataka High Court order and has survived every challenge since, including in the Supreme Court.
- Bikes: Two-wheelers have been barred on the Bandipur stretch from 6 PM to 6 AM since 2012, and current guides still give 6 PM as the cut-off. Clear the forest before 6 PM.
- Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu runs its own night ban through Mudumalai. If you're coming from Karnataka, Bandipur's cut-off arrives first.
- Kalhatti ghat to Ooty: Closed to tourists since 1 May 2026. A High Court-backed quota now lets 200 tourist vehicles a day through, and it's usually gone by 11 AM. Plan on the Gudalur road instead.
- Ooty e-pass: Every tourist vehicle entering the Nilgiris, bikes included, needs a free e-pass. See our Ooty and Kodaikanal e-pass guide.
Verified by MileMarked · Last verified: October 2026
Sources: Deccan Herald on the expert committee's status-quo report and on Tamil Nadu's Mudumalai ban; Onmanorama on the Kalhatti closure (2 May 2026) and the 200-vehicle quota (26 Sep 2026). Checked 10 Oct 2026.
When is the Bandipur road closed?
Every night from 9 PM to 6 AM, for cars, buses and trucks. Two national highways cross the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and both close:
- NH 181, the Mysuru–Gundlupet–Ooty road, through Bandipur to the Tamil Nadu border at Kakkanalla. The Karnataka check post on this road is at Melukamanahalli.
- NH 766, the Mysuru–Gundlupet–Sulthan Bathery road, through Bandipur into Wayanad in Kerala.
The ban started after a 2009 petition, when the Karnataka High Court ordered the night closure following repeated roadkill. It has been fought over ever since, mostly by Kerala and Wayanad, which lose their night link to Mysuru. An expert committee told the Supreme Court the situation didn't warrant any change. Karnataka's forest department has opposed every move to lift it.
Who still gets through at night: emergency vehicles, and a small number of state transport buses that are allowed to run during the restricted hours. Private vehicles, including yours, wait at the check post until 6 AM.
The bike rule: 6 PM, not 9 PM
Two-wheelers face a longer ban on the Bandipur stretch: 6 PM to 6 AM. Deccan Herald reported in 2012 that the ban was extended from 9 to 12 hours for two-wheelers. Every current guide we checked, and Bandipur's resorts, still give 6 PM as the cut-off for bikes. We couldn't find the rule on the tiger reserve's own website, but no source we found contradicts it.
What this means for your ride:
- Mysuru to Ooty or Wayanad: be through the Bandipur check post before 6 PM. It's roughly 80 km from Mysuru, so leaving after lunch is cutting it fine.
- Ooty to Mysuru via Gudalur: allow at least three hours to reach the Karnataka side, so leave Ooty by about 2:30 PM.
- Wayanad to Mysuru on NH 766: the same 6 PM cut-off applies where the road crosses Bandipur.
If you miss it, there's nothing to negotiate. Find a stay in Gundlupet, Gudalur or Sulthan Bathery and ride through after 6 AM, which is also when you're most likely to see elephants and gaur from the road.
Mudumalai and the Tamil Nadu side
Tamil Nadu has its own night ban through the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. The Nilgiris Collector's order covered the Theppakadu–Kakkanalla stretch of the old NH 67 (now NH 181) and the Kalhatti road. Current guides put the Tamil Nadu side's closure in line with Bandipur's 9 PM for cars.
For a rider, the Tamil Nadu timing rarely matters on its own. Coming from Karnataka, you pass Bandipur first, and its 6 PM bike cut-off comes before anything on the Mudumalai side. Coming from Ooty, plan around reaching Bandipur by 6 PM, and you'll be through Mudumalai in time.
Masinagudi–Kalhatti to Ooty: mostly closed to tourists in 2026
The 36-hairpin Kalhatti ghat from Masinagudi up to Ooty was the shortcut most Mysuru riders took. In 2026 it isn't, for most of us:
- From 1 May 2026, authorities closed the route to tourist vehicles, citing its 36 hairpins and steep slopes. Local residents' vehicles can still use it (Onmanorama, 2 May 2026).
- A quota since: a High Court order first banned all traffic on the accident-prone ghat. After local protests about livelihoods, a quota of 200 tourist vehicles a day was allowed. It's typically used up by 11 AM, and later arrivals are turned back at the Mavanahalla check point. A notice board at Theppakadu tells tourists the route is barred (Onmanorama, 26 Sep 2026).
We couldn't confirm whether bikes count against the same 200-vehicle quota. Unless you're at Masinagudi early on a quiet weekday, plan on the alternative.
The alternative: stay on NH 181 from Theppakadu to Gudalur, then climb to Ooty via Naduvattam. It's longer than the Kalhatti shortcut but open to everyone, and it's a fine ride in daylight. Heading down towards Coimbatore, the authorities' suggested route is Ooty–Kothagiri–Mettupalayam.
Our Mysuru to Ooty route now takes the Gudalur road for the climb to Ooty because of these restrictions.
Your timing plan, by route
| Route | Forest stretch | Cars | Bikes | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mysuru → Ooty (NH 181) | Bandipur, then Mudumalai | Through by 9 PM | Through Bandipur by 6 PM | Leave Mysuru by late morning; climb to Ooty via Gudalur in daylight |
| Ooty → Mysuru | Mudumalai, then Bandipur | Bandipur by 9 PM | Bandipur by 6 PM | Leave Ooty by about 2:30 PM on a bike |
| Mysuru → Wayanad (NH 766) | Bandipur, then Wayanad | Through by 9 PM | Through by 6 PM | Same cut-offs on the way back |
These routes on MileMarked cross the Bandipur forest: Kozhikode to Bandipur, Ooty to Bangalore via Wayanad and Mysuru, and Mysuru to Ooty via Masinagudi. For the wider picture, read our Mysore–Ooty bike route guide and our biker's guide to India's national parks.
📋 Complete Ooty to Bangalore Itinerary on MileMarked This route crosses Bandipur on NH 766 and has a verified day-by-day plan, fuel stops and a packing checklist. Visit the Ooty to Bangalore via Wayanad and Mysore trip page on MileMarked to download the complete planning kit.
Riding through the forest
- No stopping inside the reserve. It's a tiger reserve, not a viewpoint. Keep moving and keep your distance from elephants on the road.
- Don't honk, feed animals or litter. The reserve's own rules make feeding wildlife punishable by law.
- Watch your speed. Expect speed breakers, and animals crossing without warning, especially early in the morning.
- Fuel up before the forest. Fill in Gundlupet heading south, or in Gudalur or Sulthan Bathery heading north.
These rules change with court orders and seasons. If you've ridden through recently and something here is out of date, tell us. We re-check this page every 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Bandipur road timings?
The Bandipur forest stretches of NH 181 (Mysuru–Ooty) and NH 766 (Mysuru–Wayanad) are closed to cars, buses and trucks from 9 PM to 6 AM every day. Emergency vehicles and a limited number of state buses are allowed through at night.
Can bikes go through Bandipur after 6 PM?
No. Two-wheelers have been barred from the Bandipur stretch from 6 PM to 6 AM since 2012, three hours longer than cars, and current guides still give 6 PM as the bike cut-off. Plan to be through the Bandipur check post before 6 PM.
What are the Mudumalai check post timings?
Tamil Nadu runs its own night ban through Mudumalai on the Theppakadu–Kakkanalla stretch, and current guides put it in line with Bandipur's 9 PM for cars. On a bike coming from Karnataka, Bandipur's 6 PM cut-off is the one that matters.
Is the Masinagudi to Ooty road open for tourists?
Mostly not. From 1 May 2026, the Masinagudi–Kalhatti ghat to Ooty was closed to tourist vehicles. A High Court-backed quota now allows 200 tourist vehicles a day, usually used up by 11 AM, and later arrivals are turned back at Mavanahalla. Use the Gudalur road instead.
Do I need an e-pass to ride to Ooty?
Yes. Every tourist vehicle entering the Nilgiris, including two-wheelers, needs a free e-pass from the Tamil Nadu e-pass portal. Our Ooty and Kodaikanal e-pass guide explains how to apply.
