[ampere]

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

A bigger pain is the bus stop on the flyover in Tindivanam, beat that now. Either ways this railway crossing aint a big problem as such, not crowded usually.

Riju, we should then try what Gopi and @itwasntme mentioned.
From Vandavasi drive to Soothupakkam and latch on to GQ.

[gopikb]

Originally Posted by ampere

Riju, we should then try what Gopi and @itwasntme mentioned.
From Vandavasi drive to Sothupakkam and latch on to GQ.

Ampere, Bang on!!! Try that route and you will not regret it. Check google maps on how to drive through the by pass without entering Arcot and Cheyyar. I am not sure of the traffic conditions inside these towns. But driving through bypass road is a breeze

[ampere]

Originally Posted by gopikb

Ampere, Bang on!!! Try that route and you will not regret it. Check google maps on how to drive through the by pass without entering Arcot and Cheyyar. I am not sure of the traffic conditions inside these towns. But driving through bypass road is a breeze

The other I can see is that now this route has opened up better alternatives for places south of Pondy.

For example:
- A new option to Cuddalore/Chidambaram etc.
- Drive to Tranquebaar was not worth due to roads. Now it is easier.

[babaops]

Thanks Ranjitp1, checked with them, they too are fully booked.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by gopikb

Check google maps on how to drive through the by pass without entering Arcot and Cheyyar. I am not sure of the traffic conditions inside these towns. But driving through bypass road is a breeze

Hi Gopi, was trying to make sense of GMaps and could not find any Arcot Bypass!

Can you recollect the NH46 landmark and whether the turnoff was clearly signposted or not?

arcot tamil nadu - Google Maps

[ampere]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Hi Gopi, was trying to make sense of GMaps and could not find any Arcot Bypass!

Can you recollect the NH46 landmark and whether the turnoff was clearly signposted or not?

arcot tamil nadu - Google Maps

The land mark is the bridge. If you hit the bridge, that means you have lost the turning.
Now having said that, I dont know how to take a right just before that bridge.
Getting into the town to take the SH is not worth it. (Or is it the only way?)

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Can you recollect the NH46 landmark and whether the turnoff was clearly signposted or not?

No signage is there indicating direction to Cheyyar/Vandavasi because right-turn is not allowed at that junction. That triangular spot is a dangerous accident prone-area. But, my MMI Lx130 navigator guided me to cross the bridge and then take a U-turn where there was no median opening! But, I did that in the next available median-opening! I feel this is better than navigating through Arcot/Melvisharam towns. Even MMI map shows the same route to go on Arcot BP:

[prabhuferrari]

Originally Posted by ampere

The land mark is the bridge. If you hit the bridge, that means you have lost the turning.
Now having said that, I dont know how to take a right just before that bridge.
Getting into the town to take the SH is not worth it. (Or is it the only way?)

Safest way is to go below the flyover after the bridge and take a U turn.

[ampere]

Thanks guys. That is what even I was thinking. But some how remembered a crossing.
I think that crossing is on the return path where there turn is.

[gopikb]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Hi Gopi, was trying to make sense of GMaps and could not find any Arcot Bypass!

Can you recollect the NH46 landmark and whether the turnoff was clearly signposted or not?

arcot tamil nadu - Google Maps

itwasntme, Please click the link below which gives the route that I followed

Directions to Sothupakkam, Tamil Nadu - Google Maps

You will need to zoom into Arcot section and Cheyyar section to locate the bypass. The key to getting off the 4-lane in the correct exit because there are multiple right turns to Arcot when driving from Bangalore. Follow directions from Ravi in the above post and it is perfect. After turning towards Arcot, make sure you just drive by the road adjacent to palar river. This is the by pass road.

In case of Cheyyar, you will have to watch out for Government arts college on the left as you are on the outskirts of Cheyyar and then take a right immediately after the college which is the by pass road.

You can PM me if you need more details

[itwasntme]

Amazing depth of information guys! I can almost visualise the actual landscape with your words and GMaps :-)

Many thanks for this and hope it helps other fellow TBHP-iians too.

[v-drive]

Is the traditional route through Krishnagiri, Tiruannamalai, Gingee absolute no no ? Reason I am asking is, that I am travelling with my 2 year old daughter and family is comfortable with travelling on a known route where facilities etc are tried and tested (It hasn't helped that in the past, i have got lost on new routes ). Feedback on this route would be appreciated.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by v-drive

Is the traditional route through Krishnagiri, Tiruannamalai, Gingee absolute no no ? Reason I am asking is, that I am travelling with my 2 year old daughter and family is comfortable with travelling on a known route where facilities etc are tried and tested (It hasn't helped that in the past, i have got lost on new routes ). Feedback on this route would be appreciated.

The problem is Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamalai, which is the biggest pain (~120km).

One way to avoid which has been mentioned before is some amount of deviation.

Krishnagiri-Bargur (on GQ) - Tirupattur - Singarapettai - Chengam - Tiruvannamalai.

National Highway 7 to NH 66 - Google Maps

But still expect at best decent roads on this sector. It much better beyond Tiruvannamalai.
The problem is with crater like potholes. They appear suddenly out of nowhere (and you would be driving 60-70 at that instant).
That is very detrimental to the car.

[Anandg]

Hi Team,
Kindly suggest the best route to pondy if one wants to travel with family via hatchback.
Thanks

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Anandg

Hi Team,
Kindly suggest the best route to pondy if one wants to travel with family via hatchback.
Thanks

Discussed elaborately in the last few pages as the best alternative to Tiruvannamalai.
Conditions were explained in detail by J Ravi and Gopikb. You can check with them for more details.


Hosur-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi-Sothupakkam-Tindivanam-Pondycherry.


Bengaluru, Karnataka to Puducherry, Pondicherry - Google Maps


Also note that at Arcot you need to cross the Palar bridge take a U and come back to latch on to the SH for Cheyyar.
Refer Ravi's post with the picture, which explains the situation at Arcot.