[kousik]

Originally Posted by motomaverick

Well I am starting today evening, so I should be having an update on the route. I am taking the following route.

Blore - Krishnagiri - Vellore - Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Tindivanam - Pondy

Got a twitter a/c? I'd follow you then for live updates.

Originally Posted by dish

Thanks for the updates. I will be doing Bangalore - Pondy trip on 24th. Will be taking Bangalore - Vellore - Kanchipuram - Pondy route. This seems to be the least pot holed route !!

/me too will follow the same route, starting early morning (6) tomorrow. Got a T-BHP sticker I can look for?

Or we can be on Waze too :-)

[motomaverick]

Originally Posted by kousik

Got a twitter a/c? I'd follow you then for live updates.

/me too will follow the same route, starting early morning (6) tomorrow. Got a T-BHP sticker I can look for?

Or we can be on Waze too :-)

tbhp sticker also there on my car "I Drive Safe"

I got a twitter account "hirakdas" but i doubt i can update it so fast.

It would be better to track me on Google Latitude you can add me as a friend. Google account "hirak.das@gmail.com"

[madhukar_n]

I am leaving tomorrow and gng on the same route.
I will be on a tjet so can be recognised easily.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by prabhuferrari

There is Arya's in Vellore on the highway itself. Its below one of the bridges on the left side when coming from Bangalore and on the right when coming from Chennai. It is extremely good. Another choice is Motel deepam highway just before pallikonda tollgate. Their spellings might be hilarious(gopi fry) but food is tasty and does not cause any after effects

Thats the issue with Hotel Arya. Though its visible, but by the time you approach you are going past. Unless you dont know about the place, you wont out of the highway.

[atulmuley]

Originally Posted by ranarula

How much time it took for you on this route ?

Total time taken from Pondicherry to Bangalore was 9 hours.

7.5 hours driving + 1 hour Mahabalipuram sightseeing + 1/2 hour for Snacks, tea, etc.

[ajithbr]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats the issue with Hotel Arya. Though its visible, but by the time you approach you are going past. Unless you dont know about the place, you wont out of the highway.

I guess that is the exit to Katpadi town, the directions for which are clearly marked in both directions. Can anyone confirm?

[Torque123]

Hi Guys, Just back from Chidambaram and Pondy trip.

While going from Bangalore to Chidambaram took the following route:-

Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Bargur-Tirpattur-Chengam-Tiruvannamalai-Tirkoyilur-Panruti-Vadalur-Chidambaram.

The Chengam to Tiruvannamalai is horrible. Tiruvannamalai-Tirkoyilur is a breeze and again after that its a mixed bag. Over all my opinion is that this route should be avoided.

On the way back took the Chidambaram-Cuddalore-Pondy-Kalpakkam -Chengalpet-Kanchipuram-Vellore-Krishnagiri-Bangalore route. It is around 430 kms. But this is the best route to travel though we travel around 80 kms more. This route is anyday better than

Very few bad stretches with a lot of speed breakers between Kalpakkam-Chengalpet-Kanchipuram. Overall its a pleasure to drive on this route.

Hope this helps

[motomaverick]

hey folks a quick update from pondy. Reached early morning 2am after starting at 6pm from blore.

Route taken was kanchi, chengalpattu, tindivanam, pondy. Overall a pretty decent and fast route. Actual drive time of 6.5hrs for 430kms. Just the kanchi-chengallpattu section we need to slow down due to sudden potholes and bad roads. GPS works great in this section. I was using nokia ovi.

[modthomas]

Slight change in plans - bypassed Pondi and leaving direct for Chidambaram tomorrow. Based on inputs from this forum planning to route as under :
Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Bargur - Tirupattur - Singarapettai - Chengam - Tiruvannamalai - Tirukkoyilur - Panruti - Anaivari - Chidambaram.

Would appreciate any feedback on latest road conditions esp Bargur - Singarapettai and Panruti - Chidambaram.

[motomaverick]

Came back yesterday from my Pondi trip. Took the following route both the ways:

Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Vellore - Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Tindivanam - Pondi

Road Conditions:

1. Banglaore - Kanchipuram: This is part of the golden quadrilateral and hence superb road conditions. However, post Krishnagiri there is no proper eating joint if travelling with family.

2. Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu: This 35kms is a state highway which is not maintained properly. From Kanchi to Wajalabad is bad with sudden potholes and speed breakers that have pot holes on either of its side

From Wajalabad to Chengalpattu NH45 the condition improves and you can maintain 60kph at night or 70-80kph in day.

3. Chengalpattu NH45 to Tindivanam: Good old NH45, nicely maintained but the main problem is traffic, too much traffic in day and moderate traffic during night.

4. Tindivanam to Pondi NH66: Need to be slightly careful when approaching Tindivanam as you need to get off the NH45 New Bypass and then take a left at the next circle. This part of the NH66 is 95% complete but slight sections outskirts of Tindivanam & Pondy not made. Beware of the layers on the road.

Overall Kms: 430
Driving Time: 6.5hrs Night time; 7.5hrs Day Time (I would prefer night )
Total Toll Booths: 5

[ravib]

Originally Posted by motomaverick

1. Banglaore - Kanchipuram: This is part of the golden quadrilateral and hence superb road conditions. However, post Krishnagiri there is no proper eating joint if travelling with family.

After Krishnagiri/Chinnar A2B, the next best eat out place is only in Vellore. Vellore has good number of restaurants and options, so don't have to wait until you reach Kanchipuram.

-Ravi

[modthomas]

Originally Posted by modthomas

Slight change in plans - bypassed Pondi and leaving direct for Chidambaram tomorrow. Based on inputs from this forum planning to route as under :
Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Bargur - Tirupattur - Singarapettai - Chengam - Tiruvannamalai - Tirukkoyilur - Panruti - Anaivari - Chidambaram.

Would appreciate any feedback on latest road conditions esp Bargur - Singarapettai and Panruti - Chidambaram.

Did the route today. Road conditions pretty much as expected thanks to feedback on the forum. Bangalore - Bargur - foggy but good, Bargur - Singarapettai, first half average, second half better - Singarapettai - TVM - terrible, TVM town abysmal, scraped the i20 a couple of times in the ruts, and got front ended by a clown in Piaggio 3 wheeler who was unable to climb onto a motherless speed breaker and blithely reversed without looking back. Was stuck with an ST bus behind me, so honked and yelled to glory, but to no avail. Neat crack on the front bumper with the front fog light dislocated. TVM to Tirukkolyilur was the only good stretch of state highway that we saw, thereafter Panruti and all the way to Chidambaram was only barely okay.
The recent rains seem to have played havoc with all the small roads in TN. Will have to carefully plan my route back from Kumbakonam, am inclined to wend my way to NH7 and get back from there.

[motomaverick]

Originally Posted by modthomas

Did the route today. Road conditions pretty much as expected thanks to feedback on the forum. Bangalore - Bargur - foggy but good, Bargur - Singarapettai, first half average, second half better - Singarapettai - TVM - terrible, TVM town abysmal, scraped the i20 a couple of times in the ruts, and got front ended by a clown in Piaggio 3 wheeler who was unable to climb onto a motherless speed breaker and blithely reversed without looking back. Was stuck with an ST bus behind me, so honked and yelled to glory, but to no avail. Neat crack on the front bumper with the front fog light dislocated. TVM to Tirukkolyilur was the only good stretch of state highway that we saw, thereafter Panruti and all the way to Chidambaram was only barely okay.
The recent rains seem to have played havoc with all the small roads in TN. Will have to carefully plan my route back from Kumbakonam, am inclined to wend my way to NH7 and get back from there.

Its best sticking with these expressways such as NH7 or 45 or 46, even though traffic you will avoid hurting the car.

[sridhar_setty]

Originally Posted by modthomas

Did the route today. Road conditions pretty much as expected thanks to feedback on the forum. Bangalore - Bargur - foggy but good, Bargur - Singarapettai, first half average, second half better - Singarapettai - TVM - terrible, TVM town abysmal, scraped the i20 a couple of times in the ruts, and got front ended by a clown in Piaggio 3 wheeler who was unable to climb onto a motherless speed breaker and blithely reversed without looking back. Was stuck with an ST bus behind me, so honked and yelled to glory, but to no avail. Neat crack on the front bumper with the front fog light dislocated. TVM to Tirukkolyilur was the only good stretch of state highway that we saw, thereafter Panruti and all the way to Chidambaram was only barely okay.
The recent rains seem to have played havoc with all the small roads in TN. Will have to carefully plan my route back from Kumbakonam, am inclined to wend my way to NH7 and get back from there.

Sad to hear the damage. TVM is pure offroading experience

You should definitely look at NH7

[ampere]

Originally Posted by modthomas

Did the route today. Road conditions pretty much as expected thanks to feedback on the forum. Bangalore - Bargur - foggy but good, Bargur - Singarapettai, first half average, second half better - Singarapettai - TVM - terrible, TVM town abysmal, scraped the i20 a couple of times in the ruts, and got front ended by a clown in Piaggio 3 wheeler who was unable to climb onto a motherless speed breaker and blithely reversed without looking back. Was stuck with an ST bus behind me, so honked and yelled to glory, but to no avail. Neat crack on the front bumper with the front fog light dislocated. TVM to Tirukkolyilur was the only good stretch of state highway that we saw, thereafter Panruti and all the way to Chidambaram was only barely okay.
The recent rains seem to have played havoc with all the small roads in TN. Will have to carefully plan my route back from Kumbakonam, am inclined to wend my way to NH7 and get back from there.

I think there is no Tirukkolyilur by-pass. The girivalam path I think is only for NH66 by-pass. For Tirukkolyilur you need to get into the town, which is a sorry experience.