[ArunV]

How is the road through Kolar - Chittoor - Arcot - Thindivanam - Pondy?
Or is krishnagiri - Vellore -Arcot better?

there is a difference of 20Kms between these roads

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ArunV

How is the road through Kolar - Chittoor - Arcot - Thindivanam - Pondy?
Or is krishnagiri - Vellore -Arcot better?

there is a difference of 20Kms between these roads

If you stay close to OMR, I would say take the Chitoor road.
So you do Chitoor-Ranipet-Arcot-Cheyyar.

You save on toll as well as no diversions. Chitoor-Ranipet has city traffic.

[ArunV]

Thanks Ampere, I stay close to 80ft Road, Indiranagar.
Is this a 4 lane road? or it is a 2 lane road all the way till Arcot?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ArunV

Thanks Ampere, I stay close to 80ft Road, Indiranagar.
Is this a 4 lane road? or it is a 2 lane road all the way till Arcot?

4-lane till Mulbagal. And then till Arcot its two lane. But I would say its still better than the 4-lane on the Krishnagiri stretch.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by ArunV

Thanks Ampere, I stay close to 80ft Road, Indiranagar.
Is this a 4 lane road? or it is a 2 lane road all the way till Arcot?

Take Old Madras Road towards KR Puram - it is 4 laned all the way upto Mulbagal (few Km beyond Kolar). From there it is 2 lane undivided road with the first 15 Km or so patchy but still driveable. Once you reach the Andhra Pradesh side, the roads are very good. At Chittoor there is a Coffee Day on right side and just after that turn right (you will see signage for Vellore, Chennai).

[livyodream]

Does anyone have any update on road condition of Krishnagiri - Thiruvanamalai - Tindivanam stretch? It was non-existant the last time i went through that stretch .
Will be leaving to Pondy from bangalore.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by livyodream

Does anyone have any update on road condition of Krishnagiri - Thiruvanamalai - Tindivanam stretch? It was non-existant the last time i went through that stretch .
Will be leaving to Pondy from bangalore.

K'giri-TV Malai is a horror story even now.


Option 1:BLR-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Vandavasi-Tindivanam-Pondy

6 laning in progress between Hosur and Vellore

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=h...ra=ls&t=m&z=10

Option 2:(to avoid 6 laning of K'giri-Vellore) (very bad section between TV Malai and Tindivanam)

Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Theerthamalai-Thanipadi-Thiruvanamalai-Tindivanam-Pondy

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=B...&via=1&t=m&z=8

[livyodream]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

K'giri-TV Malai is a horror story even now.


Option 1:BLR-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Vandavasi-Tindivanam-Pondy

6 laning in progress between Hosur and Vellore

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=h...ra=ls&t=m&z=10

So how bad is this road widening thing?

Option 2:(to avoid 6 laning of K'giri-Vellore) (very bad section between TV Malai and Tindivanam)

Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Theerthamalai-Thanipadi-Thiruvanamalai-Tindivanam-Pondy

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=B...&via=1&t=m&z=8

I have never taken this route. Is this good enough as it looks like a SH.

So which one is better and faster to reach ?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by livyodream

So how bad is this road widening thing?



I have never taken this route. Is this good enough as it looks like a SH.

So which one is better and faster to reach ?

Going to take you around 7hours irrespective of the route.If you are not ok going through state roads,then stick to option1.Better wayside facilities.

[vivek.ks]

How is this route for Travel ?

I stay on 80ft feet road, Indiranagar and planning to take

80ft road - Hoskote - Kolar - Mulbagal - Chittoor - Vallajah - Vandavasi - Tindivanam (bypass) - Pondicherry

Any idea on road conditions ?

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=8...ia=2,3&t=m&z=9

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vivek.ks

How is this route for Travel ?

I stay on 80ft feet road, Indiranagar and planning to take

80ft road - Hoskote - Kolar - Mulbagal - Chittoor - Vallajah - Vandavasi - Tindivanam (bypass) - Pondicherry

This route is perfectly fine. Just that after Chitoor slowly as you approach Ranipet/Wallajah city traffic builds up. That would slow you down a bit.

Overall that should not be a problem. In fact this is the perfect option.

Few negatives:

- Mulbagal bypass has lots of potholes. Need to be careful
- Some portions beyond Mulbagal on the NH4 also are rough
- Chitoor bypass (not the Tirupati side but Chennai side bypass) again is not all that great. But very doable

[NPV]

Originally Posted by vivek.ks

How is this route for Travel ?

I stay on 80ft feet road, Indiranagar and planning to take

80ft road - Hoskote - Kolar - Mulbagal - Chittoor - Vallajah - Vandavasi - Tindivanam (bypass) - Pondicherry

Any idea on road conditions ?

As Amp has mentioned, few small potholes (scattered) after Mulbagal about 15-20km till you reach Andhra side. After that it's smooth. This should not be an issue in less traffic if you're driving early morning.
Take a right turn about 0.5 Km after the Chittoor coffee day (right side) - this is the Chittoor bypass to chennai, there is signage no worries.
From here, follow directions to Ranipet/Chennai (ignore Vellore deviations).
I don't think you need to go till Wallajah - at Ranipet there is a large junction with high-mast lights installed in the middle of the road. Here make a right turn (marked for Vellore). You can ask someone here how to join the Arcot Road.

EDIT: Seems like Mulbagal stretch has been patched up - link

[kamal_parashar]

Hey Ampere,
A special request for you specifically as you seem to have a great knowledge of this route.
I plan to go to Pondicherry with my Wife on 18th and plan to have a great time driving and this is my first long drive with her and would love to make it memorable...
Hope i would get enough help as to which route i should take. Also let me know about the food joints along the way... I plan to leave around 8 in the morning on 18th and I stay near ISKCON...

Thanks in advance as I know I could rely on Ampere's advice....

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kamal_parashar

Thanks in advance as I know I could rely on Ampere's advice....

My best bet is : Take the Chennai road rather than the one via Tiruvannamalai.
This is because, its your first long drive and I think you would be more comfortable on 4-lane rather than 2-lane roads through villages.


- Go through the city on to Hosur road.
- Take the Chennai highway all the way till Arcot. The instant you cross the bridge on the river Palar, take a U turn and come back.
- After you cross the bridge again you should see an exit. This is the SH to Cheyyar/Vandavasi on to Tindivanam Route Link


- For bypassing Tindivanam, use this excellent post by J Ravi.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post2673152

As regards to eat outs:
- Standard A2B at Shoolagiri along with CCD and McD.
- There is also a Kamat. But all within 70km from Bangalore
- If you need another break, there is another CCD about 5.5km from Pallokonda toll booth. But note this is on the other side of the highway, when you are driving towards Chennai.

Hope this helps. Drive safe and have a nice vacation.

[gopikb]

kamal, Ampere is correct. Drove to melmaruvathur last week. Follow Ampere's route in the above post and you will be fine and the roads are in pretty good condition. Definitely avoid the Kirshnagiri- Tindivanam NH-66. Not worth it.