[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by anupamsinha

What are some good places to have breakfast on the route?

No specific cuisine choice apart form that the food should be hygienic and the place has good food and clean bathrooms. Can compromise on food but clean bathrooms are a must.

You have multiple options till Krishnagiri. Mcdonald's, CCD, A2B, Sri Saravana Bhavan, Murugan Idli etc.

[pratiku]

Hi - We are planning to drive from Yeshwanthpur to Pondicherry. Wanted to check if Kolar Arcot Tindivanam Puducherry is the best route (quick + scenic) ? Or is this better to take the Hosum Ambur route reaching Tindivanam and then Puducherry? We plan to start early morning on weekday. Assuming there is no quarantine / test required both ways. Any help would be much appreciated!

[ankan.m.blr]

Has anybody recently been through this route? I have driven to Pondy multiple times but never tried this route. Want to try (with family) if the road condition is good.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Has anybody recently been through this route? I have driven to Pondy multiple times but never tried this route. Want to try (with family) if the road condition is good.

Attachment 2131365

Exact route was done by BHPian suresh_gs in Jan-2020. He has posted details as well as photos here (Bangalore - Thiruvannamalai : Route Queries).

Unfortunately it was one of his last posts, before he passed away in Feb 2020 .

[srvm]

Originally Posted by pratiku

Hi - We are planning to drive from Yeshwanthpur to Pondicherry. Wanted to check if Kolar Arcot Tindivanam Puducherry is the best route (quick + scenic) ? Or is this better to take the Hosum Ambur route reaching Tindivanam and then Puducherry? We plan to start early morning on weekday. Assuming there is no quarantine / test required both ways. Any help would be much appreciated!

What do you mean when you wrote Kolar-Arcot?
Do you mean Mulbagal-Chittoor bypass-Ranipet?
or Bethamangala- V Kota - Pernambut - Gudiyatham - Pallikonda?

[pratiku]

Originally Posted by srvm

What do you mean when you wrote Kolar-Arcot?
Do you mean Mulbagal-Chittoor bypass-Ranipet?
or Bethamangala- V Kota - Pernambut - Gudiyatham - Pallikonda?

I meant " Mulbagal-Chittoor bypass-Ranipet?". Actually we ended up taking this route. However, had to take the route via Katpadi (and not ranipet) to reach Arcot. This was possibly due to some construction work on those roads as cops not allowing cars there. Some major work on the chittoor bypass as well. - causing around 30-40 min of delay. Overall though a nice scenic route, with 4/6 tllane highways for most of the journey!

Now wondering if I should stick to the same route on the way back? Or risk coming through Krishnagiri, Hosur?

[manjubp]

Bethamangala- V Kota - Pernambut - Gudiyatham - Pallikonda route is scenic, but slow. Unless you have lot of time or want to drive on that route for a particular reason, I wouldn't recommend.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by manjubp

Bethamangala- V Kota - Pernambut - Gudiyatham - Pallikonda route is scenic, but slow. Unless you have lot of time or want to drive on that route for a particular reason, I wouldn't recommend.

I did this route last month since my destination was Virinchipuram.
Yes, it is slower than Chittoor route but quite scenic. Also, road laying and widening is happening in some stretches around VKota. Quite dusty and bumpy for few kms after VKota and progress is slowed down further. Once you enter forest area, it is very serene and scenic. Roads in TN are as usual smooth. Pernambut can be crossed in a jiffy. But roads in Gudiyattam were narrow with lots of traffic. Also, I took a wrong turn in Gudiyattam due to one-way roads and overbridge constructions.
Overall, not a recommended route. Unless you have lots of time and want to take an offbeat route.

[Rama Kumara]

I intend to travel to Pondy next month from Bangalore South (JP.Nagara)
Do i need to each mark each and every by_pass that @procj has narrated on the post 1751 (page 117)?
at Here (Bangalore - Pondicherry : Route Queries)

I do understand to take the tindivanam bypass to avoid navigating the crazy traffic in town!
ARen't bypasses at Cheyyar and Vandavasi still complete?

[Sidban85]

Did a trip from Whitefield. Roads are superb. Took 8 hours with breaks on way to Pondichery and 7 hours on way back. Even the undivided single lane highways have great surface.

Went via Arcot and came via Arani. Started around 11am both ways and travelled on weekday.

Couple of checks on the way because of Tamilnadu elections.

[vandemanw]

Bangalore to pondicherry via pallikonda-arni-tindivanam is currently a very good option. Did vellore-pondicherry roundtrip this weekend via arni-tindivanam. Excellent roads throughout with the roadwork around arni also completed recently. Took 2h 35 min each side with sedate driving, and a maximum of 85 kmph. Helped that it was an early morning start. The link road from pallikonda to the vellore arni road is very doable too (recently did this route too when coming from Bangalore)

[motorheart]

Hi

I have used the route Bangalore - Arani - Gingee - Tindivanam - Pondy route.

1) Bangalore - Ambur = The best strech in this journey.
2) Pallikonda - Arani = Ok stretch, Narrow roads, Traffic and small towns
3) Arani - Gingee = well laid road less traffic
4) Gingee - Tindivanam = Broken and uneven road
5) Tindivanam - Pondy = This becomes good once the 4 lane toll road starts....

But overall its a tiring journey as too many narrow roads and curves..

[m8002?]

Originally Posted by motorheart

Hi

I have used the route Bangalore - Arani - Gingee - Tindivanam - Pondy route.

1) Bangalore - Ambur = The best strech in this journey.
2) Pallikonda - Arani = Ok stretch, Narrow roads, Traffic and small towns
3) Arani - Gingee = well laid road less traffic
4) Gingee - Tindivanam = Broken and uneven road
5) Tindivanam - Pondy = This becomes good once the 4 lane toll road starts....

But overall its a tiring journey as too many narrow roads and curves..

+1 to this route. I used this in my last trip to Pondy and highly recommend this route. The only bottleneck is passing through Arani town. In fact, I loved driving on the 2 lane Arani-Gingee stretch. Good smooth surfaces supporting decent speeds. There is a toll booth coming up on that stretch but collections have not started yet.

Google maps doesnt even show the Krishnagiri-Chengam-Tiruvanamalai route as an option to Pondy now.

[sudhvenu]

Dear fellow travellers, I am planning to drive to Puducherry on the 22 July from Bengaluru. Can you help with the following questions:

1. Do I need to a COVID related e-pass for TN or Puducherry?
2. What is the best route? Google suggests Ambur-Arani-Gingee-Tindivanam. Is there a better route perhaps through Tiruvannamalai?

Thank you - Sudheer.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by sudhvenu

Dear fellow travellers, I am planning to drive to Puducherry on the 22 July from Bengaluru. Can you help with the following questions:

1. Do I need to a COVID related e-pass for TN or Puducherry?
2. What is the best route? Google suggests Ambur-Arani-Gingee-Tindivanam. Is there a better route perhaps through Tiruvannamalai?

Thank you - Sudheer.

1) You need an ePass to enter TN, but no covid related RT-PCR negative certificate. Although there are no checks in reality, but there are random checks, so you better keep TN ePass to keep it handy.
2) Don't go via Tiruvannamalai. Proven route is - Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Vandavasi-Tindivanam-Pondy.

-Ravi