[jacs]

Dear Friends,

We have a marriage function to attend in Trivandrum on Sunday 18th September 2011, two families with kids decided to make this trip on the Xylo .

My friend has a house in Kollam which will be our transit accomodation and hence planning to leave on Friday evening targetting to reach Kollam by Sunday morning. Take rest and visit Varkala beach on Saturday eve. Attend the wedding on Sunday and start back by Sunday evening back to Bangalore directly from Trivandrum.

I am confident on the route till Madurai via Dindigul but seeing many routes from there on. Please help chosing a comfortable but shorter route.

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Two main options:

1. Via Madurai/Thenmala
2. Via Dindigul/Theni/Kanjirapalli/Chengannur.

Depends on the conditions and rains.

[kavu75]

Onward journey you can consider the following route.
From Maduari bypass, get into NH 208. Then follow Rajapalayam - Thenkasi - Punalur - Kottarakara - Kollam.

On return, you can consider Trivandrum - Nagarcoil - then the regular NH7 route.

[sbkumar]

Return - Definitely TVM-NGL-MDU-SALEM-BGL would be my option.

Onwards, I have gone only upto TN border on both the routes ( Theni/Thenkasi), both are ( rather used to be ) in pretty much the same condition. You can take the shorter route I guess.

[jacs]

Thanks Ampere, kavu75 and sbkumar for the swift response.

To summarize I have the below routes to Kollam.

1) Bangalore -> Dindigul -> Madurai -> Tenkasi -> Punalur -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam = 671KMs

2) Bangalore -> Dindigul -> Theni -> Kumily -> Mundakkayam -> Erumely -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam = 654KMs

Second route is very familiar for me till Mundakkayam and only bad stretch I could recollect is from Kumily till Valady. But not sure of the route from Mundakkayam till Kollam.

Also any latest update on the route from Madurai till Kollam?

[jacs]

Thanks Ampere, kavu75 and sbkumar for the swift response.

To summarize I have the below routes to Kollam.

1) Bangalore -> Dindigul -> Madurai -> Tenkasi -> Punalur -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam = 671KMs

2) Bangalore -> Dindigul -> Theni -> Kumily -> Mundakkayam -> Erumely -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam = 654KMs

Second route is very familiar for me till Mundakkayam and only bad stretch I could recollect is from Kumily till Valady. But not sure of the route from Mundakkayam till Kollam.

Also any latest update on the route from Madurai till Kollam?

[kala]

Originally Posted by jacs

Thanks Ampere, kavu75 and sbkumar for the swift response.

To summarize I have the below routes to Kollam.

1) Bangalore -> Dindigul -> Madurai -> Tenkasi -> Punalur -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam = 671KMs

2) Bangalore -> Dindigul -> Theni -> Kumily -> Mundakkayam -> Erumely -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam = 654KMs

Second route is very familiar for me till Mundakkayam and only bad stretch I could recollect is from Kumily till Valady. But not sure of the route from Mundakkayam till Kollam.

Also any latest update on the route from Madurai till Kollam?

The last time I travelled on the Theni-Kottayam highway was prior to the current monsoons, so how much of this holds good now - nevertheless the road conditions were quite good then except for the stretch between Lower camp and Vandiperiyar. (i.e about 10 kms on either side of Kumily)

You need to deviate from the NH at Vazhoor (Pulickalkavala) and go on the road towards Changanacherry (The left fork at that junction). It's much shorter, and the road is in good condition as well.

MC Road between Changanacherry and Chengannur is not in great shape, but after than it's in excellent condition till Kottarakkara. Haven't travelled the Kottarakkara Kollam stretch, so not sure how good it is.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kala

MC Road between Changanacherry and Chengannur is not in great shape, but after than it's in excellent condition till Kottarakkara.

This is exactly what even I was doubting, but was not sure.
Jacs, looks like its worth taking the Thenmala route rather than Theni.

Thats because you cover larger part of the distance in TN, where roads may be better
and not effected by rains.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by kala

The last time I travelled on the Theni-Kottayam highway was prior to the current monsoons, so how much of this holds good now - nevertheless the road conditions were quite good then except for the stretch between Lower camp and Vandiperiyar. (i.e about 10 kms on either side of Kumily)

You need to deviate from the NH at Vazhoor (Pulickalkavala) and go on the road towards Changanacherry (The left fork at that junction). It's much shorter, and the road is in good condition as well.

MC Road between Changanacherry and Chengannur is not in great shape, but after than it's in excellent condition till Kottarakkara. Haven't travelled the Kottarakkara Kollam stretch, so not sure how good it is.

Originally Posted by ampere

This is exactly what even I was doubting, but was not sure.
Jacs, looks like its worth taking the Thenmala route rather than Theni.

Thats because you cover larger part of the distance in TN, where roads may be better
and not effected by rains.

We have decided to take tenmala route to reach Kollam, its more interesting to try new routes . Do keep me posted incase you get any updates on road condition. Thanks a lot.

[joecherian]

Originally Posted by kala

The last time I travelled on the Theni-Kottayam highway was prior to the current monsoons, so how much of this holds good now - nevertheless the road conditions were quite good then except for the stretch between Lower camp and Vandiperiyar. (i.e about 10 kms on either side of Kumily)

You need to deviate from the NH at Vazhoor (Pulickalkavala) and go on the road towards Changanacherry (The left fork at that junction). It's much shorter, and the road is in good condition as well.

MC Road between Changanacherry and Chengannur is not in great shape, but after than it's in excellent condition till Kottarakkara. Haven't travelled the Kottarakkara Kollam stretch, so not sure how good it is.

A better option is to deviate for Erumely from Mundakkayam, on to Placherry (where in the road meets Punalur Moovattupuzha Highway SH8). Take a left here , which will take you to Ranni. Continue straight for pathanamthitta, where in you can either head for Punalur on to Kollam or drive to Adoor, kottarakkara on to Kollam

[jacs]

Hi All,
We reached back safe, updates from my side.


Onward Journey : Bangalore -> Salem -> Madurai -> Tenkasi -> Tenmala -> Kottarakkara -> Kollam
Total Distance : 690KMs
Travel Time : 12.5 hours (including 1.5 hour break all put together)
Maximum Speed : 120KMPH

Started around 9:30PM on Friday, covered first 400KMs (till NH7 exit after Madurai) by 3PM with few bio & fuel breaks. NH7 is just awesome all 4 lane except for a very small stretch were work is going. Exit from NH7 is little tricky. After you find directions to Madurai town, proceed staright for about 10-15KMs until you find a direction to service road for Rajapalayam. This service road will take you to NH208 which is being over bridged across by NH7. Take a right under the NH7 over bridge (Kollam is also mentioned in the board). Road is just awesome though 2 lane with very sparse traffic. Reached hairpin after Tenkasi by morning 6AM. There are few turns but not at all confusing. Roads after Thenmala was not so good, but very much drivable. However, last 70KM strch inside Kerala was time taking and took atleast 3 hours with lot of traffic. Reached Kollam by 9:30AM after breakfast.


Return Journey : Trivandrum -> Marthandam -> Nagarcoil -> Madurai -> salem -> Bangalore
Total Distance : 730KMs
Travel Time : 13.5 hours (including 2.5 hour break all put together)
Maximum Speed : 120KMPH

Started around 4PM, heavy traffic in Kanyakumari road and hence reached Nagarcoil around 7:30PM only including a tea and bio break. It is slightly confusing until you hit NH7 but GPS helped. Next 400KMs approx till Salem was a breeze, averaged 80KMPH. Had dinner before Madurai and reached Salem by 2AM. From Salem, traffic was there and drive was not so fast like on Madurai route. Took a power nap for 40Mins after Dharmapuri and resumed. Reached home by 5:30AM.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by jacs

Started around 4PM, heavy traffic in Kanyakumari road and hence reached Nagarcoil around 7:30PM only including a tea and bio break. It is slightly confusing until you hit NH7 but GPS helped. Next 400KMs approx till Salem was a breeze, averaged 80KMPH. Had dinner before Madurai and reached Salem by 2AM. From Salem, traffic was there and drive was not so fast like on Madurai route. Took a power nap for 40Mins after Dharmapuri and resumed. Reached home by 5:30AM.

Jacs, where did you have dinner ? While on a day drive I found nothing much between Madurai and Tirunelveli,

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Jacs, where did you have dinner ? While on a day drive I found nothing much between Madurai and Tirunelveli,

There is a newly opened Capsi Family Restaurant between Madurai and Tirunelveli. I had lunch there on Aug 15th on my way from Trivandrum to Bangalore. It is around 88 KMs from Kavalkinar on the RHS while coming from Trivandrum. The place is decent with good rest rooms. Meal for 3 costed Rs 418.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by ampere

Jacs, where did you have dinner ? While on a day drive I found nothing much between Madurai and Tirunelveli,

Originally Posted by pramodpk

There is a newly opened Capsi Family Restaurant between Madurai and Tirunelveli. I had lunch there on Aug 15th on my way from Trivandrum to Bangalore. It is around 88 KMs from Kavalkinar on the RHS while coming from Trivandrum. The place is decent with good rest rooms. Meal for 3 costed Rs 418.

+1 to what pramodpk recommended. Capsi isprobably the most decent place seen in this route but we couldn't get in there being on opposite side and no U turns nearby. If you are driving towards nagarcoil, its the best option.

We had in Sree Krishna (not great but simple tasty veg) which is after Virudhanagar while driving to Salem from Nagarcoil. They dont have a well light hoarding or anything, bit difficult to notice if you are driving fast. Also found 2-3 other restaurants after that which looked ok.

[sbkumar]

Originally Posted by jacs

+1 to what pramodpk recommended. Capsi isprobably the most decent place seen in this route but we couldn't get in there being on opposite side and no U turns nearby. If you are driving towards nagarcoil, its the best option.

We had in Sree Krishna (not great but simple tasty veg) which is after Virudhanagar while driving to Salem from Nagarcoil. They dont have a well light hoarding or anything, bit difficult to notice if you are driving fast. Also found 2-3 other restaurants after that which looked ok.

I remember a newly opened veg restaurant ( arya bhavan or some name like that) on the LHS while driving from TVM- Madurai. It was somewhere around sattur, on the highway. The place looked neat, I just had a coffee though. Not able to recollect the exact name and location . My drive was around 6 months back.