[joe]

Guys I will be traveling on this route in a few days, can somebody please provide updates?.

[deepv]

Originally Posted by karts

1.) Madurai - Dindigul - Vellakoil - palladam - Cpimbatore
2.) Madurai - Dindigul - Dharapuram - palladam - Coimbatore
...

Originally Posted by ampere

...
I think this is the cleanest of the lot. Dharapuram has a bypass too.
...

So as per second seems the best option. But the first one is also not bad. However I expect higher traffic on the first option especially you get off the four lane. Might be a good idea to check Dindigul-Dharapuram section with others as well. I faintly remember some one saying that this section was deteriorating.

Originally Posted by h14

Stick to no.2. I did it last month
...

Hi ppl,

I was looking for feedback on options between Palladam and Dindigul/Madurai. Here I got exactly that and option #2 through Dharapuram works better.

Doubt I have is - from Dharapuram I do have to take road towards Oddanchatram and then NH209, or should I be avoiding Oddanchatram, if so what are alternates?
I haven't seen good feedback on Dharapuram - Oddanchatram section.

[karts]

Originally Posted by deepv

Hi ppl,

I was looking for feedback on options between Palladam and Dindigul/Madurai. Here I got exactly that and option #2 through Dharapuram works better.

Doubt I have is - from Dharapuram I do have to take road towards Oddanchatram and then NH209, or should I be avoiding Oddanchatram, if so what are alternates?
I haven't seen good feedback on Dharapuram - Oddanchatram section.

Hi Deepv,

Roads just as you approach Dindigul are in real bad shape (10 kms before dindigul) Rest of the entire drive is very good.

[deepv]

Originally Posted by karts

Hi Deepv,

Roads just as you approach Dindigul are in real bad shape (10 kms before dindigul) Rest of the entire drive is very good.

Considering this is the most suitable overall route, I will stick to it unless by 'real bad' you think it could be damaging for the vehicle.

[karts]

Originally Posted by deepv

Considering this is the most suitable overall route, I will stick to it unless by 'real bad' you think it could be damaging for the vehicle.

No damage to vehicle, My Verna did not scrap anywhere, so hope that will act as a benchmark

[deepv]

Originally Posted by karts

No damage to vehicle, My Verna did not scrap anywhere, so hope that will act as a benchmark

Ooops .. your post was a little late

Considering your feedback, I took NH37 right turn after Oddanchatram on 2nd.
Thought it should not be worse than 'very bad', but that turned out to be a bad decision, particularly because movement was slowed at the town that passed in between and most of the later part on that stretch wasn't marked.
Road per se wasn't too bad with odd potholes and bad stretches, but it was got late in the evening delaying me getting on to NH7 (thus having to encounter totally unmarked road in dark).

In a nutshell, its a no go in dark, should be a decent option in daylight as on NH7 as well some sections are having diversions after Dindigul due to the repair work going on.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

All of the above is purely from Gmaps, and I have never driven any of the three stretches. MY ONLY CONCERN IS ROAD SURFACE (lowGC sedan, fully loaded). I am randomly leaning towards 1.3 + 2.0 + 3.1.

Though I've driven on parts of this route, I'm not an expert on this specific route, but I think 1.2 should be the preferred choice. I had a similar query for a relative few years ago and 1.2 was part of the recommended routing from @ampere and it was excellent was the feedback I got.

[venkyhere]

bumping up an old thead....

-----------------------------------------

Start : coimbatore (gandhipuram)
Destination : Ambasamudram (tirunelveli dist)

Stretch 1 : Coimbatore to NH7

1.1. CBE - pollachi - pazhani - oddachantram - dindigul bypass

1.2. CBE - palladam - avinashipalayam - dharapuram - oddanchantram - dindigul bypass join NH7

1.3. CBE - palladam - avinashipalayam - dharapuram - navamarathupatti - vedansandur join NH7

1.4. CBE - palladam - avinashipalayam - vellaikoil - karur bypass join NH7


Stretch 2 : NH7 all the way until reaching Tirunelveli outer
2.0 (no question here)


Stretch 3 : Tirunelveli outer to ambasamudram

3.1 exit NH7 near sankar cements cricket ground - thachanallur bypass - turn right after hitting "ambai/shenkottai road" and proceed along it - melapalayam roundana - subramanyapuram - kallidakurichi - ambasamudram

3.2 take the huge semicircle via tirunelveli bypass and go all the way south until exiting at just before the end of bypass near IRT polytechnic - head north and immediately take left at jothipuram bus stop - hit "ambai/shenkottai road" at araikulam - rest same as 3.1

------------------------

All of the above is purely from Gmaps, and I have never driven any of the three stretches. MY ONLY CONCERN IS ROAD SURFACE (lowGC sedan, fully loaded). I am randomly leaning towards 1.3 + 2.0 + 3.1. Kindly help.

-------------------------

Also need guidance about which roads to use, to go for a temple visit to Sankarankovil from ambasamudram and back at ambasamudram.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

bumping up an old thead....

My suggestion: Use Arvakurichi-Tirunelveli section of 4-lane.

Palladam-Kangeyam-Aravakurichi - 4-lane.

Originally Posted by NPV

Though I've driven on parts of this route, I'm not an expert on this specific route, but I think 1.2 should be the preferred choice. I had a similar query for a relative few years ago and 1.2 was part of the recommended routing from @ampere and it was excellent was the feedback I got.

I remember some time back update stating roads around Odanchatram were bad. So better to use the 4-lane as much as a possible. (Hence suggesting getting on at Arvakurichi)

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

Stretch 1 : Coimbatore to NH7

None of the above

CBE-Palladam-Dharapuram-Kannivadi-Aravakurichi.

Roads were in great shape. Minimal traffic. Just watch out for speed breakers.

Avoid Palani-Oddanchatram-Dindigul. Its an absolute pain to navigate

No idea on Nellai to Ambai

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Palladam-Kangeyam-Aravakurichi - 4-lane.

Which 4 lane is that?

[ph03n!x]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

...
Start : coimbatore (gandhipuram)
Destination : Ambasamudram (tirunelveli dist)

Stretch 1 : Coimbatore to NH7

1.1. CBE - pollachi - pazhani - oddachantram - dindigul bypass

1.2. CBE - palladam - avinashipalayam - dharapuram - oddanchantram - dindigul bypass join NH7

1.3. CBE - palladam - avinashipalayam - dharapuram - navamarathupatti - vedansandur join NH7

1.4. CBE - palladam - avinashipalayam - vellaikoil - karur bypass join NH7
...
...

I'm driving from CBE to KK Dist. tomorrow - usually do this couple of times a year.

Sulur - Palladam - Pongalur (right) - Dharapuram - Oddanchatram - Dindugul (bypass) is the route I've taken, and roads are good.

I can post an update tomorrow evening once I reach...

Originally Posted by ampere

...
I remember some time back update stating roads around Odanchatram were bad. So better to use the 4-lane as much as a possible. (Hence suggesting getting on at Arvakurichi)

They'd laid these roads, and last year when I did this in summer, most of the works were done (minor diversions for pending work). Let me check tomorrow

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Which 4 lane is that?

The regular Salem-Kanyakumari 4-lane. I meant extend driving distance on this section compared to driving interiors.

Originally Posted by ph03n!x

They'd laid these roads, and last year when I did this in summer, most of the works were done (minor diversions for pending work). Let me check tomorrow

Very nice to hear this! So one can enjoy nice interior 2-lanes and join at Dindigul.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by narayans80

None of the above

CBE-Palladam-Dharapuram-Kannivadi-Aravakurichi.

Roads were in great shape. Minimal traffic. Just watch out for speed breakers.

Avoid Palani-Oddanchatram-Dindigul. Its an absolute pain to navigate

No idea on Nellai to Ambai

+1 Agree with narayan.

Nellai to Ambai is also good wide 2L stretch, but some sections are narrow so watch out for that. Otherwise, no major complaints.

And don't forget to buy appalams in Kalladaikurichi

-Ravi

[venkyhere]

Thank you @narayans80 @ravib
When I look closer, a few more possibilities open up - 1.6, 1.7, 1.8.
Currently sticking to 1.6 as you recommended, but are 1.7 and 1.8 also equally good (asking because 1.7, 1.8 allow for a longer share of the distance on the NH81) ?