[TheDoctor]

Originally Posted by ampere

If you are heading to Pondicherry from Bangalore, its a big detour to go via Salem. The Arcot/Cheyyar option is definitely better. And given Vellore-Krishnagiri is a brilliant 6-lane, its even better!

I second that...btw I landed on the Salem route by mistake. Missed the deviation towards Krishnagiri and was misdirected towards 'Yercaud' on being asked the direction to 'Arcot'.

[coolclouds]

How is the Krishnagiri-Thiruvannamalai-Tindivanam-Pondicherry route compared to Vellore route?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

How is the Krishnagiri-Thiruvannamalai-Tindivanam-Pondicherry route compared to Vellore route?

There is no comparison. Fully broken and not worth taking. Even for Tiruvannamalai the better route is via Harur rather than the dread NH66.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

How is the Krishnagiri-Thiruvannamalai-Tindivanam-Pondicherry route compared to Vellore route?

Forget NH66 once for all. The preferred route will be via Hosur,Krishnagiri,Vellore,Polur and T V Malai.

One more option is Via Hosur,Krishnagiri,Kambainallur,Morappur,Harur,Than ipadi,TV Malai. In this route post Harur till T V Malai the drive is bit bump due to poor patchwork. Otherwise good to drive. I would vote for the latter.

[blue_pulsar]

Folks, any untoward incidents against KA registered cars?

Am planning a Pondi trip pretty soon

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by blue_pulsar

Folks, any untoward incidents against KA registered cars?

Am planning a Pondi trip pretty soon

Untoward incidents . Nothing of that kind. You are safe to travel in your KA registered car to Pondicherry.

[nssrini]

Planning Bangalore - Pondy - Chennai - Bangalore - starting Dec 25. Request suggestions on ideal route at current status. Also on suggested food breaks en-route.

I guess google maps does not show Cheyyar bye pass and Tindivanam bye pass...

I think the new Rajiv IT expressway (mamallapuram - Sardar Patel rd) is not fully complete (the full 45km) if I am not mistaken, so many not be worthwhile taking?

Thanks.

[carChef]

Mod Note : Please use the EDIT or MULTI-QUOTE buttons instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

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Originally Posted by nssrini

Planning Bangalore - Pondy - Chennai - Bangalore - starting Dec 25. Request suggestions on ideal route at current status. Also on suggested food breaks en-route.

I guess google maps does not show Cheyyar bye pass and Tindivanam bye pass...

I think the new Rajiv IT expressway (mamallapuram - Sardar Patel rd) is not fully complete (the full 45km) if I am not mistaken, so many not be worthwhile taking?

Thanks.

The best route I would say is Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi-Thellar-Tindivanam-Pondicherry. This road is the one I take and I can vouch that it's the best option available.

Roads are pretty good.

Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Vellor-Arcot : Laned highway
Arcot-Thindivanam- Single road, good road, and not much traffic.
Thindivanam-Pondy: 35 kms Laned highway


After taking the left at Krishangiri, hit straight to Vellore and then Arcot.

1. There is no need to get inside Arcot town. Right after Apollo hospitals in Arcot, there is a small junction with a high mast light. Your landmark shall be a SSS Arts and Science College on your left side. I guess its painted yellow in colour and hard to miss. Take the right into the junction and after 500 mts take a U-turn onto the road that is coming from Chennai, right before the bridge starts. And then immediately turn left. On that corner, you should see petrol pump(I guess its Bharat petroleum) on the right side..around 50 mts away.

2. Next would be Cheyyar. Right after you enter, there is a small bypass that lets you bypass Cheyyar. It would be on your right. There's a small tea-stall bang opposite to that right cut.

3. Next would be Vandavasi. Right before you are about to reach Vandavasi, there is a small fork. Take the right there. It looks like an awesome road laid out. Take that bypass and keep going until you hit a T dead end. Take the left and keep continuing until you see a bridge. Right before the bridge take the right.

4. Your next town should be Thindivanam. Again depending on the time of entering the city, you might find traffic and would add time to your journey. I would suggest bypassing it. Right before reaching Thindivanam, there's a left which says Chennai. Take it. Keep continuing on it for around 4kms and your should reach a T-end. On that T, take the right. Your are now on the Chennai-Thindivanam highway. Now on this road keep an eye for signs on the right. Right before a big flyover, take the service exit on your left. As you keep going this takes you to the Pondy-Thindivanam road. Its a 4-laned straight road all the way to Pondy!

To go to Chennai from Pondy you can go via ECR or come back to Thindivanam and then to Chennai. I prefer the latter because its a laned highway. But it also has a good traffic as well. I have never tried ECR but as far as I know its a single lane road. And its a very beautiful ride considering that it runs parallel to the coast. But take into account your point of entry into Chennai and your final destination.

AH-45 Chennai to Bangalore via Vellore one straight road and awesome condition(I last travelled in August.) The other road is via Chittoor. I have heard that road is good as well but is single lane in couple of stretches but traffic is much less.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Untoward incidents . Nothing of that kind. You are safe to travel in your KA registered car to Pondicherry.

Vouch for that. I have travelled multiple times.
No issues at all!

Originally Posted by carChef

After taking the right at Krishangiri, hit straight to Vellore and then Arcot.

Just saw the post and realised the mistake. At Krishnagiri take LEFT towards Chennai to reach Vellore.

Mod note: Post edited to correct the above mention of direction

[nssrini]

Originally Posted by carChef

The best route I would say is Bangalore-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi-Thellar-Tindivanam-Pondicherry. This road is the one I take and I can vouch that it's the best option available.

Just saw the post and realised the mistake. At Krishnagiri take LEFT towards Chennai to reach Vellore.

@carChef, thank you. Any suggestions on hotels en route for food...

[NPV]

Originally Posted by nssrini

@carChef, thank you. Any suggestions on hotels en route for food...

Plenty of options on both sides of the highway between Bangalore-Krishnagiri (NH 7)-Vellore (NH 46). Not sure of options beyond that.
Some of them are:
Shoolagiri (on left side) - Krishna Inn, McDonalds (inside IOC fuel station campus)
A2B (inside BP fuel station campus)
Kaveripattinam bypass (left side) - Sree Saravana Inn
Aaryaas
Vellore- Saravana Bhavan

[Juggy]

Originally Posted by nssrini

@carChef, thank you. Any suggestions on hotels en route for food...

Driving down from Bangalore tomorrow, and saw this article, calling for a bandh today. Anybody know more about this, and how I can bypass town, if I'm heading towards le pondy on the Arcot, Chesham route.
http://m.thehindu.com/news/cities/pu...le6704257.ece/

[asinghal]

Originally Posted by NPV

Plenty of options on both sides of the highway between Bangalore-Krishnagiri (NH 7)-Vellore (NH 46). Not sure of options beyond that.
Some of them are:
Shoolagiri (on left side) - Krishna Inn, McDonalds (inside IOC fuel station campus)
A2B (inside BP fuel station campus)
Kaveripattinam bypass (left side) - Sree Saravana Inn
Aaryaas
Vellore- Saravana Bhavan

If leaving early from Bangalore, Aaryas works out timing wise. Quality is average. Sarvana Bhavan requires you to enter the city.

[zombiedriver]

Originally Posted by Juggy

Driving down from Bangalore tomorrow, and saw this article, calling for a bandh today. Anybody know more about this, and how I can bypass town, if I'm heading towards le pondy on the Arcot, Chesham route.
http://m.thehindu.com/news/cities/pu...le6704257.ece/

If you're heading to le pondy I would suggest you take the Salem-kallakuruchi-ulundurpet-cuddalore route. It's a lot quicker and pretty much the same distance. Le pondy is on the pondicherry cuddalore road

[Juggy]

Originally Posted by zombiedriver

If you're heading to le pondy I would suggest you take the Salem-kallakuruchi-ulundurpet-cuddalore route. It's a lot quicker and pretty much the same distance. Le pondy is on the pondicherry cuddalore road

Thanks. The drive was smooth, esp the last stretch on NH66. The Cheyyam byepass has atleast 25 speedbreakers, which may seem familiar to Bangaloreans. Going back is via Salem.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by zombiedriver

If you're heading to le pondy I would suggest you take the Salem-kallakuruchi-ulundurpet-cuddalore route. It's a lot quicker and pretty much the same distance. Le pondy is on the pondicherry cuddalore road

Originally Posted by Juggy

Thanks. The drive was smooth, esp the last stretch on NH66. The Cheyyam byepass has atleast 25 speedbreakers, which may seem familiar to Bangaloreans. Going back is via Salem.

Its a huge detour going via Salem. Though the roads are good, I would not advice taking the Salem option. Its still better going via Cheyyar/Vandavasi. Roads are decent too.