Chennai to Madurai By Road - Current Road Conditions?

[independence]

guys,
We are planning to drive down to madurai this Deepavali from Chennai; (We will be celebrating with crackers after a gap of almost 6 years.... more on that later)
Has any BHPian done this route of late - what are your current experiences?
Plan to use my Xylo E8 - & intend to leave Chennai very early in the morning...
All advices solicited

[mjothi]

Chennai to Trichy is all along a wonderful drive. With almost 5 - 6 tolls. Crossing Tiruchy is still a pain. Then the roads are excellent till the outskirts of Madurai, with just small stretches of construction happening. This was around 6 months back. Hopefully this construction would have been done.

btw, you just search on this forum and you will get many & regular updates in here...

[gajadonga]

Chennai to Trichy is breeze after you cross Vandalur zoo.The traffic is sparse till Chengalpet bypass.After Chengalpet it is pleasure driving this stretch.Trichy bypass is the only hitch.Trichy to Madurai is again 4 lane.7.30 hrs is a comfortable drive.Happy driving.I did this highway last Sunday.

[Surprise]

You are right MJothi- Till Trichy from Chennai there are 5 tolls costing Rs.150.00 Athur(Rs.20-)Paranur(Rs.20)-Vikravandi(50)-Ulundurpet(Rs.30)-Tholdur (Rs.30)....Roads are in good state..expect lorry traffic before Trichy town, though it depends on the time you hit there.

Be careful on Govt buses taking wrong sides (especially after you cross Chengulpattu bypass road and before you reach Pukkathurai junction) /Parked lorries/Villagers walking across the roads at their will

[anainar]

Search on this forum. CSenthil is an expert in this part of the country. Search for posts by him. I have not driven in this stretch but from Bangalore to Madurai via Salem-Karur-Dindigul etc. The four laning is in progress and I belive upto Trichy it is completed. You can easily average 80-85 km/h.

Be prepared to pay toll at the rate of @60 paise per kilometer on the completed roads.

Nainar

[independence]

Thanks folks!!!!

Any tips on good pit stops on the way for breakfast & lunch - (Clean toilets?? do they exist??)

How is the Trichy to Madurai road?- is the viralimalai rute better than the Dindigul one?

[mukaan]

Hi,

I drove from Chennai to Nagercoil on the 26th of September. I drove in my Optra Magnum.It was a day drive and most part of the roads are complete and is a delight to drive.Except for a very few sections. Please be aware of the morons who come in the opposite sides (The Govt Buses and tractors).

The Viralimalai route is the one to take after Trichy.
I have attached a small trip-sheet

You can have a good breakfast at the Highway foods motel which will come on your left side while driving towards Dindivanam. Most of the HP petrol pumps along the way have clean toilets and courteous staff.

If you start early like around 6.00AM you can have lunch in Madurai

Drive safe and have a blast of a Diwali

[Archish]

IF u plan to take off really early, then Breakfast at Tindivanam will be too early. If u need the morning filter coffee before breakfast u can depend upon the Ganapathy Vilas just after Acharapakkam. U can have ur breakfast either at Villupuram, Opposite to the new bus stand, Arthi or Archana. But u have to enter Villupuram, Or otherwise u can have breakfast in motels before Ulundurpet bye pass starts.

If u start at 5, u can have ur breakfast at Trichy. I have done it many a times. U will reach trichy say by 10.

As suggested by others, the road till trichy is really great. I just made a trip to Sivakasi. But u have to watch out for maniacs on the coming on the wrong side of the road. Take The Trichy bye pass and Madurai from trichy is only 120kms (2 hrs) via Viralimalai - Mellur. While Dindugal Route i guess is about 50kms more.

Without break this trip can be done in 6.30 hrs.

Chennai - Tindivanam - 1.5 hrs
Tindivanam - Villupuram - .5 hrs
Villupuram - Ulundupet - .5 hrs
Ulundupet - Trichy - 2 Hrs
Trichy - Madurai - 2 Hrs