[Mohan Mathew A]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoss

Welcome, Mohan...
BTW, by which route you returned from Pondicherry?

i returned via villupuram-trichy and the rest the same as onward journey. villupuram-trichy is again excellent road. return distance from pondicherry was around 560-570km

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Mohan Mathew A

i returned via villupuram-trichy and the rest the same as onward journey. villupuram-trichy is again excellent road. return distance from pondicherry was around 560-570km

How was the traffic and road condition from Pondicherry to Villupuram? Many people who want to visit Tiruvannamalai on the way to Bangalore prefer taking this option. Hence would be a useful data point.

[Mohan Mathew A]

Originally Posted by ampere

How was the traffic and road condition from Pondicherry to Villupuram? Many people who want to visit Tiruvannamalai on the way to Bangalore prefer taking this option. Hence would be a useful data point.

considering that i left by around 6 a.m. the traffic was not much, but the roads are narrow and it passes through built up areas for almost the entire stretch. Also the surfacing is broken in many places. during daytime i can imagine the progress to be slow but the distance is only 30 odd kilometers. from villupuram to trichy it is really nice roads, although there are a lot of LPG bullet trailers till the diversion to salem

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Mohan Mathew A

considering that i left by around 6 a.m. the traffic was not much, but the roads are narrow and it passes through built up areas for almost the entire stretch. Also the surfacing is broken in many places. during daytime i can imagine the progress to be slow but the distance is only 30 odd kilometers. from villupuram to trichy it is really nice roads, although there are a lot of LPG bullet trailers till the diversion to salem

Thanks. Was not aware that this road is quite narrow. Give the fact that the road to Tindivanam is a 4-lane, many may not want to take this option.

[Mohan Mathew A]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thanks. Was not aware that this road is quite narrow. Give the fact that the road to Tindivanam is a 4-lane, many may not want to take this option.

glad to be of help. it is definitely not 4 lane and i guess during peak hours progress could be slow

[jacs]

Guys,

Any latest update on road condition. Parents are planning a visit during Aug mid before the September festival.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by jacs

Guys,

Any latest update on road condition. Parents are planning a visit during Aug mid before the September festival.

Beyond Theni its beautiful as usual. Only on the Kerala border, you need to check on road conditions. And Tanjore to Velankanni has some rough patches I think.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by ampere

Beyond Theni its beautiful as usual. Only on the Kerala border, you need to check on road conditions. And Tanjore to Velankanni has some rough patches I think.

Thanks Ampere.

Also wanted to check on the Madurai - Pattukottai route.

[Mohan Mathew A]

Tanjore to Velankanni has rough patches, atleast had when i traveled in april, but it shouldn't be too much of a bother if you are covering it in the day time.

[jacs]

Yes Mohan, plan is to start little early in the morning. Below is my high-level plan.

Onward
3AM : Start from Kottayam
8AM : Breakfast @ Theni (165KMs - 5 hours considering mist in Idukki)
1PM : Lunch @ Trichy (175KMs - 3 hours)
5PM : Check-in @ Velankanni (150KMs - 3 hours)

Return
2PM : Start from Velankanni
5PM : Tea break @ Trichy
9PM : Dinner @ Dindigul
3AM : Reach Kottayam

[jacs]

Ampere - I would need help to choose the route from Tanjavur to Velankanni as two routes are visible. I prefer good roads over distance.

Route 1 : Tanjavur - Mannarguddi - Thiruthuraippoondi - Velankanni (100KMs)

Route 2 : Tanjavur - Nidamangalam - Thiruvarur - Manjakkollai - Pappakovil - Velankanni (95KMs)

Also Trichy to Tanjavur is recommended on Coimabtore - Nagapattinam highway right?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by jacs

Ampere - I would need help to choose the route from Tanjavur to Velankanni as two routes are visible. I prefer good roads over distance.

Route 1 : Tanjavur - Mannarguddi - Thiruthuraippoondi - Velankanni (100KMs)

Route 2 : Tanjavur - Nidamangalam - Thiruvarur - Manjakkollai - Pappakovil - Velankanni (95KMs)

I think Mannargudi is a better option. I have been hearing that NH67 is breaking up quite a bit.

Check this post :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3175170


Ravi mentioned, he took ECR all the way to Athirampatnam from Velankanni and made to Tanjore via Pattukotai. 45 minutes overall.
So while going the option suggested becomes:

Tanjore-Pattukottai-Athirampatnam-Velankanni

Also Trichy to Tanjavur is recommended on Coimabtore - Nagapattinam highway right?

Yes its NH67. And its a brilliant 4-lane.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by ampere

I think Mannargudi is a better option. I have been hearing that NH67 is breaking up quite a bit.

Check this post :

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3175170

This rings a bell in my mind. Why not the below route then as I have confirmation on Theni - Usalampatti - Madurai road is fine?

Kottayam - Kumily - Theni - Usalampatti - Madurai - Melur - Tiruppattur - Arantangi - Kattumvadi - Adirampattinam - Thiruthuraippoondi - Velankanni (491KMs)

or

Kottayam - Kumily - Theni - Usalampatti - Madurai - Melur - Tiruppattur - Arantangi - Pattukottai - Thiruthuraippoondi - Velankanni (503KMs)

First route is on ECR from Kattumvadi - Velankanni. Madurai to Kattumvadi road condition is to be confirmed though.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by jacs

This rings a bell in my mind. Why not the below route then as I have confirmation on Theni - Usalampatti - Madurai road is fine

I think roads south of Pudukottai are not all that great. Besides you get 4-lane from Dindigul to Tanjore. That alone I think should warrant this route to be taken.

[jacs]

Originally Posted by ampere

I think roads south of Pudukottai are not all that great. Besides you get 4-lane from Dindigul to Tanjore. That alone I think should warrant this route to be taken.

So I am keeping the below route for onward journey. If its not so good, I would try Madurai route for return. What say?

Kottayam - Dindigul - Trichy - Tanjavur - Mannarguddi - Thiruthuraipoondi - Velankanni