[nfsfreak]

Friends,

Planning to drive from Trichy-Tirupati and back this weekend.

There would be two elders with me in this trip and hence should go via smooth roads all the way till Tirupati.
Planning to start by Friday night from Trichy (onward would be a night drive) and for return, we would start by Sunday morning.

Car: Punto.

I need your help in finalizing the best possible route.

Search in Google Maps suggested below two routes:

A) Trichy - Perambalur - Asanur - Tirukovilur - Vellore - Chitoor - Tirupati : 377 KMs https://goo.gl/maps/GVyBg

It's NH45 4L till Asanur. Then I think it's 2L all the way till Tirupati. Not sure about the road conditions from Asanur.

B) Trichy - Melmaruvathur - Kanchipuram - Tirutani - Puttur - Tirupati : 397 KMs https://goo.gl/maps/3k1Tu

It's NH45 4L till Melmaruvathur. Not sure about the rest of the stretch.

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Thanks in advance.

The best route is :

Trichy-Villupuram-Tindivanam-Vandavasi-Cheyyar-Arcot-Ranipet-Chitoor-Chandragiri-Tirupathi. Its about 425km but good roads all the way.


Route Link

Originally Posted by aargee

With the roads being laid good at Tiruvallur - Tiruthani - Nagari, I would prefer...
Trichy - Ulundurpettai - Villupuram - Tindivanam - Achirapakkam - Uttaraimerur - Kanchipuram - Arakkonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Puttur - Tirupati. Works out less than 400 Kms & good roads except for good two lane from Kanchipuram to Tiruthani

Long time argee!

Two problems I see with that route:

1. How do you take GST to Kanchi? If via Chengalpet, then the road is bad. I see you mentioned: Uttaraimerur. So are you referring to Melmaruvathur exit?
2. Bigger problem is actually crossing Kanchi town itself. (But yes @nfs can plan seeing one more temple !)


Kanchi-Arkkonam-Nagari is indeed a good option but otherwise.

[aargee]

With the roads being laid good at Tiruvallur - Tiruthani - Nagari, I would prefer...
Trichy - Ulundurpettai - Villupuram - Tindivanam - Achirapakkam - Uttaraimerur - Kanchipuram - Arakkonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Puttur - Tirupati. Works out less than 400 Kms & good roads except for good two lane from Kanchipuram to Tiruthani

[nfsfreak]

Originally Posted by aargee

Trichy - Ulundurpettai - Villupuram - Tindivanam - Achirapakkam - Uttaraimerur - Kanchipuram - Arakkonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Puttur - Tirupati. Works out less than 400 Kms & good roads except for good two lane from Kanchipuram to Tiruthani

Thanks Aargee. So, it is this route https://goo.gl/maps/3k1Tu
It's 4 lane roads till Kanchipuram, 2 lane roads from Kanchipuram-Tirutani & 4 lane roads from Tirutani-Tirupati. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Originally Posted by ampere

The best route is :

Trichy-Villupuram-Tindivanam-Vandavasi-Cheyyar-Arcot-Ranipet-Chitoor-Chandragiri-Tirupathi. Its about 425km but good roads all the way.

Thanks Ampere. If I'm not wrong, it's 2 lane roads from Tinidivanam till Tirupati. So, how good it is compared to above route via Arakkonam & Tirutani?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Thanks Ampere. If I'm not wrong, it's 2 lane roads from Tinidivanam till Tirupati. So, how good it is compared to above route via Arakkonam & Tirutani?

Similar route conditions, but passing through small towns is easier. Tindivanam-Arcot is the Bangalore default route to Pondicherry and hence many many folks take that route.

[narayans80]

Since you are doing a night drive onward, why not do Trichy-Vandalur-Outer Ring Road-Nazarathpettai-Tiruvallur-Tiruttani-Tirupati? Roads are brilliant all through. Works out 30 km above other roads, but at night (assuming you are leaving ahead of the omni bus trail) you should munch miles pretty fast at sane speeds. NH45 will be near empty till Melmaruvathur. Post that traffic will build up, but you can still maintain about 80-100 easily till Vandalur.

You can experiment the routes on return (since you are returning in daytime).

[ampere]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Planning to start by Friday night from Trichy (onward would be a night drive) and for return, we would start by Sunday morning.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Since you are doing a night drive onward, why not do Trichy-Vandalur-Outer Ring Road-Nazarathpettai-Tiruvallur-Tiruttani-Tirupati? Roads are brilliant all through. Works out 30 km above other roads, but at night (assuming you are leaving ahead of the omni bus trail) you should munch miles pretty fast at sane speeds. NH45 will be near empty till Melmaruvathur.

Sorry I did not realize you said night drive. I would then surely go with what Narayan says. I would avoid any 2-lane, esp if you have to cross small towns. The same advantage during day time, becomes a disadvantage at night. Surely then drive on the GST till Vandalur. Take ring road and go till NH4 cross and then go with the usual Tirupathi road. (Tiruttani/Nagari).

Originally Posted by aargee

Better than coming all the way to Chennai bypass & munching miles, here's another easier option...
(

Only question I had was : Are these good for night drives? Thats the only concern.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by ampere

Long time argee!

Long time sir

Better than coming all the way to Chennai bypass & munching miles, here's another easier option...

Trichy - Ariyaloor - Ulundurpet - Tindivanam - Melmaruvathur - Chengalpet - Walajah - Kanchipuram - Arakonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Tirupathi

Its still GOOD 2 lane which will be empty all the way from Chengalpet to Kanchipuram to Arakkonam

NfsFreak - sorry to keep adding more route options & confusing :(

[nfsfreak]

Originally Posted by aargee

Trichy - Ariyaloor - Ulundurpet - Tindivanam - Melmaruvathur - Chengalpet - Walajah - Kanchipuram - Arakonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Tirupathi

NfsFreak - sorry to keep adding more route options & confusing :(

Thanks Aargee. That's a good option.

Actually, I welcome multiple route suggestions as I would like to keep myself updated about the various options for a route.

Originally Posted by ampere

Only question I had was : Are these good for night drives? Thats the only concern.

Thanks Ampere & +1 to the concern.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Since you are doing a night drive onward, why not do Trichy-Vandalur-Outer Ring Road-Nazarathpettai-Tiruvallur-Tiruttani-Tirupati?

I hope you are referring to this route (https://goo.gl/maps/oVsQD). Looks good to me for night drive.

Aargee's latest suggestion via kanchi is shorter than this by 20 Kms though I am not sure about how busy the roads would be in Chengalpet-Tiruttani stretch during night. If it's busy, then I would try that route while return during day time.

I am comfortable driving in 2 lane roads (in fact, love them over boring 4 lanes). But considering the fact that I have 2 elders on board & to cover good distance at sedate pace, I am looking for mostly 4 lanes & relatively empty 2 lanes for this trip.

[aargee]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

I am not sure about how busy the roads would be in Chengalpet-Tiruttani stretch during night. If it's busy, then I would try that route while return during day time.

If its after 9 PM, be assured to find no one on the roads

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Actually, I welcome multiple route suggestions as I would like to keep myself updated about the various options for a route.

I don't intend to confuse you. But, if you want drive on 4-laned divided highway mostly without bothering the distance, here is an option: NH 45>Chennai bypass>NH5>Periyapalayam>Uthukottai>Nagalapuram>Pu ttur>Renigunta>Tirupati. Recently, I rode from Chennai to Renigunta on this route. Nice 4-laned NH 5 upto Karanodai. Then onwards, very good SH with intermittent 4 lanes upto Uthukottai. Excellent 4-laned road from Puttur to Renigunta, and perhaps, all the way to Tirupati. I took another SH to Kadapa from Renigunta bypass.

[nfsfreak]

Originally Posted by aargee

If its after 9 PM, be assured to find no one on the roads

Thanks Aargee. If I start by 9 PM from Trichy, I would be there by around 1 AM I guess.
Then, I think would pick your option as it is shorter compared to other options.

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Nice 4-laned NH 5 upto Karanodai.
Then onwards, very good SH with intermittent 4 lanes upto Uthukottai.
Excellent 4-laned road from Puttur to Renigunta, and perhaps, all the way to Tirupati.

Thanks Ravi. Looks a good option.

Decided to take following route for onward as of now.
Trichy - Ariyaloor - Ulundurpet - Tindivanam - Melmaruvathur - Chengalpet - Walajah - Kanchipuram - Arakonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Tirupathi

But for return, I may take the route you've suggested as I could visit my relatives in Chennai on the way.


As an alternative, I am trying for Tatkal (Trichy-Tirupati & Tirupati-Trichy sector) so that I could avoid going to Trichy just to pick/drop them.
Chances are bleak, considering I need two lower berths. But if I get the tickets in train, I could drive from Bangalore and join them directly in Tirupaty.

Will keep this thread updated.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

I hope you are referring to this route (https://goo.gl/maps/oVsQD).

I mentioned this. More or less similar. You get 4-lanes Nazarathpettai. Thereon it is wide 2-lane for Thirumazhisai-Tiruvallur-Tirupati.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by aargee

Trichy - Ulundurpet - Tindivanam - Melmaruvathur - Chengalpet - Walajah - Kanchipuram - Arakonam - Tiruthani - Nagari - Tirupathi

Its still GOOD 2 lane which will be empty all the way from Chengalpet to Kanchipuram to Arakkonam

I had traveled this route about a year back during the day.
The route is good but the road from Chengalpet to Kanchipuram heavy traffic.

Kanchipuram town traffic during the day has to be taken into consideration.


Arakonam town has narrow roads and takes time to cross the town.

[nfsfreak]

Thanks for all the suggestions & sorry for the delayed update.

Went ahead with the trip. I went to Tirupati from Bangalore by car. My relatives came to Tirupati directly from Trichy by Train.

Did return leg 'Tirupati - Trichy' in car via the suggested route https://goo.gl/maps/3kT59.

Tirupati - Tiruttani - Mixture of 4 lane & 2 lane roads. But the roads are in good shape.

Tiruttani - Tiruvallur - Thirumazhisai - some bad stretches in and around Thiruvallur. Other than this, the roads are good. Overall, easily doable & not much of an issue.

From Thirumazhisai, took a detour and went to Velacheri to meet my sister. So, could not comment on Thirumazhisai-Vandalur stretch.

Overall, the Road conditions are very good except near Tiruvallur (in and around). I would recommend this route for those who travel Trichy-Tirupati leg and looking for maximum 4 lane options.