Chennai to Velankanni

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

Hi
I am planning to visit Rameswaram and Thiruchendur next month from Chennai and would like to take the ECR from Pondy/Cuddalore. How is the state of ECR these days.
Some questions
1. I plan to start early and drive straight to Rameswaram by evening or so - is it feasible ?
2 Spend next day there visiting all the holy spots.
3. Start early next day to Thiruchendur, visit temple, have lunch and head to Madurai and check into a hotel.Visit Meenakshi temple ( next day early morning)
4. Start back next day to Chennai

Please suggest the optimal ECR route too !

Thanks !

Before mentioning about ECR:

I would say the fastest is the 4-lane.

Chennai-Trichy-Melur-Sivagangai-llayangudi-Paramagudi-Ramnad-Rameshwaram
(Route Link)

Now if you specifically want to go via ECR, you have keep two points in mind:
Till Nagapatnam it is very slow. So your progress would be hampered.
Secondly as per what I hear, on ECR, dont expect any major hotels or break areas.
(Though roads are good south of Nagapattnam)

So if you want enjoy ECR as well as take the fast road, I would suggest go till Trichy, take the Tanjore 4-lane go till Vallam and then take
the road to Adirampattinam. You catch the ECR and then you go all way till Ramnad via Devipattnam and there on to Rameshwaram.
(Route Link)


For a single day drive to reach Rameshwaram, I would recommend the Trichy/Melur route.

[Harshavarthan]

Originally Posted by polopm

Hi
I am planning to visit Rameswaram and Thiruchendur next month from Chennai and would like to take the ECR from Pondy/Cuddalore. How is the state of ECR these days.
Some questions
1. I plan to start early and drive straight to Rameswaram by evening or so - is it feasible ?
2 Spend next day there visiting all the holy spots.
3. Start early next day to Thiruchendur, visit temple, have lunch and head to Madurai and check into a hotel.Visit Meenakshi temple ( next day early morning)
4. Start back next day to Chennai

Please suggest the optimal ECR route too !

Thanks !

Day 1: Very much possible. Chennai - Pondy is approximately 2 hrs depending on where you start from. Pondy - Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Karaikal - Ramnad - Rameswaram takes 6 hrs non-stop. So you can start early and reach Pondy by 9 am, have breakfast there and then reach Chidambaram by 11am, visit Temple and also have lunch, start by 1.30 pm max and reach Rameswaram by 7 or 8 pm.

Day 2: Can finish entire Rameswaram

Day 3: Rameswaram - Thiruchendur is 3-4 hrs drive. Thiruchendur - Madurai is 4-5 hrs drive. So can be easily done.

Day 4: Again an easy drive.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by polopm

Please suggest the optimal ECR route too !!

My personal preference is to join ECR at/south of Nagapattinam where it is great drive all the way to Ramnad. The only gripe is there are no/minimal facilities in that section. So either stock up/eat at Karaikal/Nagapattinam or drive all the way to Ramnad.

Harshavarthan is a better person to talk about routes to Rameswaram as he is a regular commuter.

Tirunallar is just 10 km off ECR from Karaikal. Vedaranyam is attemptable too.

Originally Posted by Harshavarthan

Day 3: Rameswaram - Thiruchendur is 3-4 hrs drive. Thiruchendur - Madurai is 4-5 hrs drive. So can be easily done.

You would be looking more like 3-4 hrs for Tiruchendur-Madurai. Am not sure of Tiruchendur-Tuticorin, but Tuticorin-Madurai is 90 min for 136 km drive, you can expect similar drive time for Tirunelveli bypass-Madrai.

Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli would take 40-50 min if you do in daytime. It would be tricky if pilgrims walk towards Tiruchendur, mid-day afternoon drive would be ideal that case. Additionally you can have lunch at HSB in Punnai Nagar if you take this route. Its a 5km detour that points to Vanatirupathi.

If you are taking Melur route from Madurai, stay at the north end of Madurai (for example: Hotel Metropole which is near Madurai court) and take an auto to the temple. This will give you easy exit out of Madurai and you don't have to raise your BP levels driving in Madurai traffic

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ampere

Before mentioning about ECR:

I would say the fastest is the 4-lane.

Chennai-Trichy-Melur-Sivagangai-llayangudi-Paramagudi-Ramnad-Rameshwaram
(Route Link)


For a single day drive to reach Rameshwaram, I would recommend the Trichy/Melur route.

Originally Posted by Harshavarthan

Day 1: Very much possible. Chennai - Pondy is approximately 2 hrs depending on where you start from. Pondy - Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Karaikal - Ramnad - Rameswaram takes 6 hrs non-stop. So you can start early and reach Pondy by 9 am, have breakfast there and then reach Chidambaram by 11am, visit Temple and also have lunch, start by 1.30 pm max and reach Rameswaram by 7 or 8 pm.

Originally Posted by narayans80

My personal preference is to join ECR at/south of Nagapattinam where it is great drive all the way to Ramnad. The only gripe is there are no/minimal facilities in that section. So either stock up/eat at Karaikal/Nagapattinam or drive all the way to Ramnad.

Harshavarthan is a better person to talk about routes to Rameswaram as he is a regular commuter.

Tirunallar is just 10 km off ECR from Karaikal. Vedaranyam is attemptable too.

Thanks Amp, Harsha and Narayan !
Spl thanks to Narayan for reminding me of HSB at Punnai Nagar ( I have seen their ads in their hotel about the temple which the owner had built)
Now I will need to apply for leave and hope the boss approves it

[Marlon]

Originally Posted by narayans80

You would be looking more like 3-4 hrs for Tiruchendur-Madurai. Am not sure of Tiruchendur-Tuticorin, but Tuticorin-Madurai is 90 min for 136 km drive, you can expect similar drive time for Tirunelveli bypass-Madrai.

Tiruchendur-Tuticorin is around 45 - 50 kms and would take approx 45 mins drive.