[NPV]

Originally Posted by Jazzybala

You could also take BLR-Rayakottai-Palacode-dharmapuri-Thiruvannamalai-Pondy route and avoid Krishnagiri completely.

Do note that this is a circuitous route and mostly on State highways but scenic in the monsoons.

If you’re referring to the new NH 844, the distance is actually about 20km less than the regular route via Krishnagiri, only fly in the ointment currently are diversions.

[ant_vas]

Did a Bangalore-Pondicherry-Bangalore from Friday to Sunday. started around 3 PM on friday and with an hour lunch break and a 15 mins tea break, reached Pondi around 9 PM. uneventful journey, no rains and good roads.

Word of Caution, around Tiruvannamalai, especially on the by-pass they have installed a whole number of those red road divider poles. The road isn't wide enough to easily over take a slow moving vehicle and these poles in the middle of the road make it more difficult leading to a convoy effect. I kinda wanted to break out of this slow moving convoy and tried to overtake once I saw a opening without the divider poles, but then all of a sudden I see a pole and narrowly missed hitting it.

Cyclone Fengal was predicted to cross around Pondicherry on saturday around noon to late afternoon, due to this the promenade beach is closed and access was sealed with barricades. we tried to get a glimpse of the waves from far and went back in the night to our rooms.

Next day we went on a drive on ECR to visit a friends beach house property near Ocean's spray resort. The rain has picked up and the water was flowing on the roads but nothing to block the traffic. We did get to go close to the beach near a fisherman village, but didn't venture out as it was pouring heavily with heavy winds and the waves were big and sea appear very choppy

Evening we had a family event at a hotel on Cuddalore road. We had a drop a nephew to catch his bus back by 11.15 and the rains were picking up intensity but it was still fine to drive around.

By the time we started back to our rooms, the situation was completely different. As soon as we come down the flyover towards the IG circle, there was water on the road close to 1.5 - 2 feet! few of the cars were able to wade through this and headed towards RG circle only to encounter more water this time almost 3 feet near the Govt women and children's hospital. couple of us took the wrong side of the route only to encounter a fallen tree. But then we saw a car coming from the opposite side and were able to get through that and reach the RG circle. Towards thindivanam there was a pile up of vehicles as there was several fallen trees, some how managed to take right side and left side an reach JIPMET campus only to find several uprooted trees making it difficult to reach the rooms. Managed to finally reach the room and safety of the room by squeezing besides a fallen tree etc.

Couple of cars returned back to the hotel where the event happened and stayed over night as their car was low ground clearance. One of our relative was not so lucky as he has started first and got stuck in the water between IG and RG circles. He initially abandoned his car as it stalled. But saw headlights were on and went to turn it off and decided to push it to more safer place. Then they tried to start the car and it started so they managed to reach the place were we were put up, but next day morning there was smoke when they tried to start the car so had to leave the car and come back to bangalore in another car.

It rained the whole of saturday night and sunday. we started back around 3PM to Bangalore and till thindivanam there was no problem. But at the junction where we take right to join the by-pass there was water on the road for almost 1.5 to 2 ft. some how managed to get through that and started towards Gingee thats when the sky turned really dark and rain was constant companion till Bangalore. Between Tindivanam and Thiruvanammalai there was so much water on both sides of road that it was scary and at several places this water was on the road. One of our car was ahead and they reached Thiruvannamalai only to find the by-pass closes, the route via city also closed due to flooding. Google maps showed route to Vellore to be open with a lot of yellow patches so they took that route and advices us also to take the route. The regular route via singarapattai was completely red on google maps.

The route towards vellore was fine and we could see most vehicles taking that but this route for first 40 - 50 km also has so much rain and water at a lot of places in the road. few time it was scary to drive through the water as it was flowing at a rapid pace. Plus it was dark and visibility was a challenge to gauge water level. we managed to get through by see the vehicles in front or the vehicles come from the opposite direction.

After reaching vellore there was no more flooding of the roads by the cyclone effect was at fullest around Krishnagiri. It was raining cats n dogs till Hosur. drove cautiously and reached home around 11.30, but man never had this adventerous experience with my travel to Pondicherry in the last 15+ years of travelling there.

Hope others stay safe and drive cautiously.

PS: I lost my car's front HSRP number plate some where even though it was riveted in place by the dealership

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ant_vas

Word of Caution, around Tiruvannamalai, especially on the by-pass they have installed a whole number of those red road divider poles. The road isn't wide enough to easily over take a slow moving vehicle and these poles in the middle of the road make it more difficult leading to a convoy effect. I kinda wanted to break out of this slow moving convoy and tried to overtake once I saw a opening without the divider poles, but then all of a sudden I see a pole and narrowly missed hitting it.

Yes. This is a real problem. One has to be vigilant especially when driving at night. Even during day time its dangerous.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by ant_vas

Did a Bangalore-Pondicherry-Bangalore from Friday to Sunday.

After reaching vellore there was no more flooding of the roads by the cyclone effect was at fullest around Krishnagiri. It was raining cats n dogs till Hosur. drove cautiously and reached home around 11.30, but man never had this adventerous experience with my travel to Pondicherry in the last 15+ years of travelling there.

Hope others stay safe and drive cautiously.

PS: I lost my car's front HSRP number plate some where even though it was riveted in place by the dealership

You were extremely lucky to have reached back Bangalore without any major issues. All the places you passed through saw some of its heaviest rains ever in known history.

[ant_vas]

You were extremely lucky to have reached back Bangalore without any major issues. All the places you passed through saw some of its heaviest rains ever in known history.

Indeed. Just saw this news article about the road near Uthangarai being washed away after 500mm of rain!

[cdmanju]

Originally Posted by ant_vas

After reaching vellore there was no more flooding of the roads by the cyclone effect was at fullest around Krishnagiri. It was raining cats n dogs till Hosur. drove cautiously and reached home around 11.30, but man never had this adventerous experience with my travel to Pondicherry in the last 15+ years of travelling there.

Glad to hear that you and the car are safe! I did a Bangalore-Mahabalipuram-Bangalore trip two days before the cyclone. On my way back, I took the Vellore-Chittoor-Hoskote route to return to Bangalore since I live near the Whitefield area. Things might have been much easier for you if you'd taken the Chittoor route on your way back to Bangalore. Did our beloved Google not recommend this route?

[ant_vas]

Did our beloved Google not recommend this route?

We didn't use the google maps initially as we weren't aware of the impact rain had on the route. once we reached Tiruvannamalai we used it and it suggested route via vellore which did have few yellow patches in the initial few kms, so took that and waded through the waterlogged patches of the road and made it safely back to south bangalore via vellore, Ambur and krishnagiri

[automonk]

I travelled through

Bangalore > Hosur > Krishnagiri > Tiruvannamalai > Tindivanam > Pondy.

Started my Journey at 5:15 PM BLR and reached Pondy at 11:30 PM with 20 mins stoppage in between.

The roads are amazing. There was some 20 mins congestion before Krishnagiri because of construction. After that it was a smooth ride.

At some places roads have plastic spring post barrier installed as dividers making the road single lane and little bit difficult to overtake but since I was travelling at night so I encountered very less traffic on the roads and I could drive in a relaxed manner. I could use cruise control in between as well.

Plenty of restaurants brands are there nearby Hosur and Before Pondicherry and some decent local restaurants at Tindivanam but not much at other places.

Road from Pondy > Kalapet > kalpakkam > Mahabalipuram which is 332A East Coast Road (ECR) is also smooth.

[narayans80]

What is the update on the Tindivanam-Krishnagiri stretch from the holiday? Exactly how bad is the damage from Fengal?

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by narayans80

What is the update on the Tindivanam-Krishnagiri stretch from the holiday? Exactly how bad is the damage from Fengal?

I drove to Pondicherry on Dec 25th from Bangalore. The road conditions are very good. It's a two lane National Highway.
Don't think the damage from the Cyclone affected the National Highway.

Only issue is the plastic bollards installed which makes overtaking a pain especially when stuck behind a slow moving vehicle.

[sandyrajsingh]

I need suggestions on the route I should take to drive from Bangalore to Pondicherry during Feb week 2. I am planning to leave with my family from HSR Layout at 7 am so which route is suitable traffic-wise?

Also, any suggestions on breakfast & lunch pitstops en route?

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by sandyrajsingh

I need suggestions on the route I should take to drive from Bangalore to Pondicherry during Feb week 2. I am planning to leave with my family from HSR Layout at 7 am so which route is suitable traffic-wise?

Also, any suggestions on breakfast & lunch pitstops en route?

No brainer. Bangalore - Hosur - Krishangiri - Tiruvannamalai - Tindivanam - Pondicherry. If you are starting around 7 AM at HSR you could stop for breakfast at Shoolagiri HP Coco Bunk which has McD, Krishna Inn. You should be able to reach Pondicherry by lunch time (around 1:30 PM) based on your driving style.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

No brainer. Bangalore - Hosur - Krishangiri - Tiruvannamalai - Tindivanam - Pondicherry. If you are starting around 7 AM at HSR you could stop for breakfast at Shoolagiri

How are the roadworks progressing between Hosur and beyond? My nightmare is to get stuck in one of the diversions due to any accident or breakdown.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

How are the roadworks progressing between Hosur and beyond? My nightmare is to get stuck in one of the diversions due to any accident or breakdown.

You will have diversions between Hosur & Krishnagiri. There are not many viable alternatives to this stretch considering you are staring from HSR layout and will be heading towards Tiruvannamalai. The Krishnagiri - Hosur stretch is about 50 kms which is the only bottleneck in about 300 kms

[adisan]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

How are the roadworks progressing between Hosur and beyond? My nightmare is to get stuck in one of the diversions due to any accident or breakdown.

Better to avoid travelling just before / at the start of a long weekend. The traffic density itself causes jams at the diversions and could overall add up to 30 minutes,