Team-BHP - Bangalore - Pondicherry : Route Queries

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudhvenu (Post 5104423)

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.

You can use the Ambur-Arani-Gingee-Tindivanam route. I travelled in that route 3 weeks back and the roads are good throughout.
You will have to manage the traffic in Arani though...typical small town narrow busy market road with lots of 2 wheelers and goods vehicles. The route via Cheyyar-Vandavasi has bypasses to avoid the small town traffic.

Hi all - I know this may not be the ideal place to post this query so please suggest/re-route to other thread if applicable.

We (family of 6 adults + 2 kids) are planning to visit Pondicherry sometime in December this year for about 4-5 days or so. We will be taking a flight from Pune/Mumbai.
Can you please suggest some good options to stay? Preferred category maybe a 3-star type accommodation, with good access to tourist hotpots nearby.
Also, I am going through the thread to shortlist some sight-seeing options, however if there are any must-see options, please do let know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshMachine (Post 5123172)

It is too open ended for any answers. I would suggest you shortlist some options based on your likes like Hotel in city center or beach resort or home stay. Then you should get good response.

Check out Ocean Spray or Dunes if you like that kind.

We just did the Bangalore - Pondy - Bangalore drive last weekend via the following route both ways.

Bangalore - Kolar - Mulbagal - Chittoor - Ranipet - Cheyyar - Vandavasi - Tindivanam - Pondy

Here is the brief status of the roads and associated information.

Bangalore - Mulbagal : Breeze with decent roads and no covid related checks at the border as well.

Mulbagal - Chittoor : 4 lane highway work is complete, but very bumpy especially at the bridges. Be watchful while doing high speeds here in taller vehicles. One of the bad 4 lane highways I have driven so far.

Chittoor - Ranipet : 4 Lane work stopped midway up to TN border. Decent two lane highway once you get into TN. No covid related check at the border.

Ranipet - Cheyyar - Vandavasi - Tindivanam : 2 lane highway, good in parts, uneven in the rest. But no broken roads etc. Be watchful of the cops trying book outstation cars for mask and other covid related inspections. I was stopped twice and we were wearing a mask, so was let off at the first check point. At the second inspite of wearing the mask, the cop tried to pull a fast one claiming only 3 allowed per car and demanded 200Rs which is actually the fine for 'no-mask'. I asked him to show the notification and after brief discussion we were allowed to proceed without paying any fine. I guess he was desperate to make some bookings :Frustrati

Tindivanam - Pondy : Good 4 lane highway with nice markings etc.

Overall it took around 6hrs with 20min breakfast break. Maiyas after Kolar is too bad and please avoid if possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CANPUSH (Post 5132404)

via Krishnagiri -Chengan - Thiruvanamalai - Vilupuram.

Has been in the state of disrepair over a decade.

Quote:

Vellore - Vandavasi - Tindivanam

Not exactly Vellore. But Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi-Tindivanam has been the standard route in this thread (which even hotel owners suggest).

Arcot-Arani-Gingee-Tindivanam is also good. Except for the fact that crossing Arcot town is a pain. The road until Gingee is an absolute beauty.

For Pondy as a destination, never go via Villupuram. Tindivanam-Pondy is fully 4-laned. Villupuram-Pondy is a high traffic 2-laner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by narayans80 (Post 5132545)

Has been in the state of disrepair over a decade.

Not exactly Vellore. But Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi-Tindivanam has been the standard route in this thread (which even hotel owners suggest).

Arcot-Arani-Gingee-Tindivanam is also good. Except for the fact that crossing Arcot town is a pain. The road until Gingee is an absolute beauty.

For Pondy as a destination, never go via Villupuram. Tindivanam-Pondy is fully 4-laned. Villupuram-Pondy is a high traffic 2-laner.

Thank you for detailed suggestion!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagarjun (Post 5132109)

Be watchful of the cops trying book outstation cars for mask and other covid related inspections. I was stopped twice and we were wearing a mask, so was let off at the first check point. At the second inspite of wearing the mask, the cop tried to pull a fast one claiming only 3 allowed per car and demanded 200Rs which is actually the fine for 'no-mask'. I asked him to show the notification and after brief discussion we were allowed to proceed without paying any fine. I guess he was desperate to make some bookings :Frustrati

Thanks Nagarjun. Can you confirm, where exactly the covid related inspections are happening? I haven't seen any till now in highways.

-Ravi

Quote:

Originally Posted by narayans80 (Post 5132545)

Someone mentions that Arcot Cheyyar Vandavasi road is not so good. Will Arani Gingee be better? If yes, how about going to Arani directly from Vellore avoiding Arcot?

Any idea?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CANPUSH (Post 5137614)

Arani Gingee be better? If yes, how about going to Arani directly from Vellore avoiding Arcot?

I already mentioned Arani-Gingee is in fantastic condition. Had driven Arcot-Arani-Gingee-Villupuram last October. I have no idea on how roads leading to Arani from the western side is.

I plan to travel to Pondicherry this friday from Bangalore and be back by sunday evening.

Will most probably be taking the Krishnagiri-Arcot-Arni-Gingee-Thindivanam-Pondicherry route as i find the road to be really good even though have to go via the towns as there are no by-pass for Arni.

Any COVID related protocols to be followed or any checks for out of state cars?

No covid related entry checks when I last travelled 10 days back on the NHs. The checks were for masks and I came across couple of them in the "Ranipet - Cheyyar - Vandavasi - Tindivanam" section.

They were just trying for some easy targets to collect money. Inter state cars were targeted while the locals were let go.