[ampere]

Originally Posted by Added_flavor

Hey Guys! Been reading this thread and I'm aware of the most common route to Pondicherry via Vellore and Arcot. However, has the below route been tried by anyone? If yes, any feedback on this would be helpful. I'm travelling to Pondi tomorrow morning.

The route via Harur has been tried quite a few times. Some pointers:

- The exit from NH7 at Karimangalam is about 15-20km from Krishnagiri fly -over
- At Morappur if you ask people for the route to Tiruvannamalai, chances are ripe that they may ask you to go to Chengam.
- So you should ask for route Tiruvannamalai via Harur. (At Morappur ask for Harur)
- Typically roads are narrow but very decent. However you will need to slow down at all passing villages.

- Now I am told that Tiruvannamalai-Tindivanam section (via Gingee) has been deteriorating.
- So do watch out for the same if you specifically want to take this option.

[dhuli]

Originally Posted by ampere

- Now I am told that Tiruvannamalai-Tindivanam section (via Gingee) has been deteriorating.

Indeed exasperating that the Krishnagiri - Tindivanam stretch via Tiruvannamalai seems to be a non starter and just getting worser still!

Was checking NHAI website - under Phase 3, the tender seems to have gone to Transstroy-OJSC consortium, no start date and naturally no end date too.

2-Laning of Krishnagiri-Tindivanam (Approved Length 170 Km.)
Stretch: Km. 37.6 to Km. 214.11
Tamil Nadu
Funding: Annuity (BOT)
NH66
Length: 176.51km
Supervision consultant: Transstroy (I) Ltd. - Corporation (India) + OJSC Consortium (Russian).

See here their listing as undergoing projects apparently at a cost of Rs.624.20 Crores. It also mentions present configuration as 2 lane. The upgrade will be 2 lane with paved shoulder. Wonder when this will see the light...till then via Harur seems best bet...and for folks like me in East Bangalore, via Kolar-Ranipet-Wallajah-Tindivanam-Pondicherry.

On the other side, the same NHAI site indicates Dec 2013 as completion date for Hosur-Krishnagiri-Vellore 6 laning.

[dhuli]

Adding to my previous post, for those interested in the future of short route between Bangalore via Krishnagiri - Tiruvannamala- Gingee-Tinidivanam- Pondicherry, here is a Reuters news item http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...LA968120120703 rating the project! The project seems stuck in financing...no mention of when it is likely to start, when it will end!

[akas_chauhan]

Guys avoid this thiruvanmalai road. I just travelled on this horrible section last night and it was horrible experience. Too many pot holes and some stretches road does not even exist.

Not sure how the road via vellore will be , but guessing it should be better than this road. Did someone know status of Vellore to Gingee?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by akas_chauhan

Guys avoid this thiruvanmalai road. I just travelled on this horrible section last night and it was horrible experience. Too many pot holes and some stretches road does not even exist.

Not sure how the road via vellore will be , but guessing it should be better than this road. Did someone know status of Vellore to Gingee?

Are you in Tiruvannamala and want to come back to Bangalore?

If yes : Take TV Malai-Harur-Morappur-Karimangalam (join NH7) - Krishnagiri-Bangalore.

[Added_flavor]

I took the route to Pondicherry via Vellore and Arcot last week (26th Oct) and have to say the roads were quite good and it is probably the best route available. Despite the few extra kms, the journey time was 6 hrs including a half hour break.

A colleague went up to thiruvanamalai on the same weekend and was cursing the pathetic road conditions there.

Thank you all you wonderful bhpians and special thanks to raveesh_k's detailed description (carried a print out of your post). Cheers!

[akas_chauhan]

Originally Posted by ampere

Are you in Tiruvannamala and want to come back to Bangalore?

If yes : Take TV Malai-Harur-Morappur-Karimangalam (join NH7) - Krishnagiri-Bangalore.

Thanks ampere for the route info. Now i'm back in blore.

[Geo]

Thanks guys for all the inputs. I am planning to travel this weekend.

So I should be continuing on the Chennai high way from Krishnagiri, to reach Vellore. What is the route from there? Should I touch Kanchipuram? Or head towards Tindivanam from Vellore?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by Geo

Thanks guys for all the inputs. I am planning to travel this weekend.

So I should be continuing on the Chennai high way from Krishnagiri, to reach Vellore. What is the route from there? Should I touch Kanchipuram? Or head towards Tindivanam from Vellore?

Vellore Arcot Vandavasi Tindivanam Pondy.You dont have to go to Kanchipuram.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Geo

Thanks guys for all the inputs. I am planning to travel this weekend.

So I should be continuing on the Chennai high way from Krishnagiri, to reach Vellore. What is the route from there?
Should I touch Kanchipuram? Or head towards Tindivanam from Vellore?

Drive beyond Vellore to reach Arcot. Cross the bridge on river Palar. Take a U cross the river back. At the first signal take
a left to get on to road which would go and join SH5. This is the SH to Vandavas/Tindivanam.

Route Pointer

[Geo]

Thanks Guys.
So the overall route will be this? Bangalore - Pondy

[Geo]

denver85 has given the exact route. Per him it is better to go via Melmaruvathur.

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by denver85

The best route currently is the one which is mentioned by NPV below

The details of this route has been given below:
Bangalore-Hosur-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi-Melmaruvathur-Tindivanam-Pondicherry (Total -395 kms)
Major deviations:

• Bangalore to Krishnagiri in NH7
• Turn left at Krishnagiri to Chennai Route
• After crossing the Arcot bridge, take a U-turn, again cross the bridge and take left to Vandavasi
• Cheyyar- Cross the main intersection and go straight
• Vandavasi- Cross the main intersection continue straight towards Melmaruvathur
• Melmaruvathur- Take a right and join the Chennai - Trichy highway
• Tindivanam Bypass- Take left in the Tindivanam bypass to Pondicherry. Do not miss the signboard to Pondicherry/Puducherry. The excellent road directly goes go Puducherry town.

The google map link is here: MAP_link
Have a nice time there

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Geo

denver85 has given the exact route. Per him it is better to go via Melmaruvathur.

You can do that or even take the regular route to Tindivanam. There is a good bypass available. You can use that as well.

[ArunV]

Any suggestion on the road to Chennai - Velachery? I plan to go to Chennai this friday and to Pondi on Saturday morning.
Need to go to Chennai as I need to pick my friend as well in Chennai.

Thanks,
Arun

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ArunV

Any suggestion on the road to Chennai - Velachery?

I think the easiest is to come via Ponamallee/Porur road all the way up to Kathipara.
Take Gundy route exit; come back after U. Exit out on at Race course, latch on to five furlongs
road and there on to Velachery bypass road.

Route link