[bdutta]

Unable to edit my last post (don't see the option). Mods, kindly help merge the answer if possible.

@iamnarayang sir, I was mistaken, the overall difference with the detour (as per Google maps) is:

Krishnagiri > Tirupattur > Singarapettai : 102 mins (82.2 Kms)
Krishnagiri > Singarapettai : 70 mins (58.6 Kms)

and not just 2kms as I'd mentioned in last post. I checked the google-maps live-traffic status on both routes (at highest level of zoom), and it appears that there is about 0.5km of deep red on shorter route, and 1km of orange. On the longer route, there is about 0.2km of deep red and 0.5km of orange. Given this, the shorter route doesn't seem so bad.

Anything that I missed ? I won't mind slowing down in small sections. Do you think it is really worse than that ?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by bdutta

Given this, the shorter route doesn't seem so bad.

Anything that I missed ?

The shorter route is the NH 77 which was very bad till recently (and one of the reasons why the Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi route was preferred for Pondicherry as well as being instrumental for the huge number of posts on this thread).
So, the Arcot route is still the best since you get NH 48 (the Chennai route) till Arcot and after that the roads are good and towns have bypasses.

Bargur-Tirupattur-Singarapettai is also an option (slower though compared to the Arcot route) via smaller roads.

The direct route via NH 77 was work in progress for a long time but much better now - it's still patchy in some places and stretches where the road narrows down suddenly from wider sections. This is what @iamnarayang also mentioned in his post. If you plan to try this route, look up earlier posts 2-3 pages back, some say it is good (though it can be relative to how it was earlier).
If you decide to try this route, better would be for onward journey from Bangalore if you start early morning.

[Safety is Param]

Originally Posted by bdutta

Unable to edit my last post (don't see the option). Mods, kindly help merge the answer if possible.
Krishnagiri > Tirupattur > Singarapettai : 102 mins (82.2 Kms)
Krishnagiri > Singarapettai : 70 mins (58.6 Kms)

Sharing my perspective, hope it helps.

I have made 7 trips from Bangalore in the past 4 years, with all kinds of company - pregnant wife, 6 months' infant and senior citizens. Everytime I took the route below -

Krishnagiri - Ambur - Vellore - Arcot - Cheyyar (bypass) - Vandavasi (bypass) - Tindivanam (bypass)

Cheyyar bypass was 3rd class once upon a time, which is now 1st class - the only bottleneck on this route, which has been taken care of.

You have excellent options to break between Krishnagiri and Arcot, with the last one being A2B at Arcot, before you take SH5 towards rural TN.

Given the priorities you have for your passengers, and going by the very few updates here on the alternative route, I would stick to the tried & tested route no matter how many extra kms. it takes, because I am confident it won't take a toll on driving, in addition to the pleasant rural drive on SH5.

Yes, it's good to try alternate routes, but you can do that some other time, or while driving back to Bangalore.

My last trip in that direction was in May 3rd week this year.

P.S. you cannot edit your post on your own after 30 mins. of posting. Need to report it to the Moderators if a change in the post is needed.

Thank you.

[bdutta]

Originally Posted by ampere

I think you missed the bypass: Route Link


Its pretty much seamless to use it.

Perhaps because Google Maps doesn't include it in the default Route. Tried just now, and manually added.

[virgopal]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Your ideal route is via Hosur, Krishnagiri, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Vellore, Arcot, Cheyyar, Vandavasi and Tindivanam. Post Vellore you have to drive on 2 lane roads. Between Hosur and Vellore you have multiple options to break for food. I would suggest you to take break for food at Sai Sangeet near Vaniyambadi for the onward journey.

@suresh_gs: This route is time tested and suggested over here in Team BHP.I wanted to add: Sometime back I took the same route via Kolar-Mulbagal-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Vandavasi,Tindivanam,Pondy. At that time we were living in Nort Bangalore and I proceeded via Old Madras Rd onwards.

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by bdutta

Finally, does anyone know if there are some light-weight, portable wheelchairs that can be rented in Bangalore for 3-4 days ?

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ShivKumar:080-665-08324
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HomeAddress:BTM Layout, 1st Stage
Near Gangotri Circle and Sairam Medical Bangalore India

[bdutta]

Currently in Pondy. Drove my Lodgy via the shortest route, because it was day time and I wanted to see take this route because of nostalgic reasons. We started from near HSR layout at 5:02am after rushing everyone since 4am. We reached Nala Residency, Tiruvannamalai as our first pitstop at 7:58am. We started back at 9:02am (yeah, we had a hearty lazy breakfast - especially after surprising ourselves with how soon we seemed to have reached mid point). We continued and reached White town, Pondy next to Mahatma Gandhi's statue by 11:01am... Absolutely surprised. Not a minute of exaggeration, and I think I drove reasonably safe. That is 5hrs if driven non-stop. Note that I did not attempt to take the better route via Tirupattur, to reach Singarpettai...the absolute shortest route. I didn't take the bypass at Tindivannam either, and traffic through city at 9:50am on Saturday was not at all crowded, though there is a tricky diversion (that Google Maps wasn't aware of).

The reports about road conditions are quite accurate. The 4 lane does become 2 lane suddenly, and there are some bad patches, but thanks to the generous and accurate reports from other kind members, I kept my eyes peeled and drove very cautiously in that section... Trying to keep speed between 50-60kmph, not more. It does pass through villages where one needs to slow down, buy 70% of the route, one can drive at 90+ kmph. One does need to be careful because at 2 places, the state roadways bus made some scary manuevers, and lack of divider was instantly felt. Definitely, definitely not a route to take if driving is involved in low or poor lighting, certainly not at night.

OTOH, no dearth of reasonably decent pitstops.

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by Safety is Param

...
I have made 7 trips from Bangalore in the past 4 years, with all kinds of company - pregnant wife, 6 months' infant and senior citizens. Everytime I took the route below -

Krishnagiri - Ambur - Vellore - Arcot - Cheyyar (bypass) - Vandavasi (bypass) - Tindivanam (bypass)
...

About a month ago, I did Blore-TVMalai-Blore where I assessed 2 route options (see http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post4390445)

Last weekend I did Blore-Pudicherry-Blore, where onward I did via Krishnagiri, Mathur, Uthangarai, Chengam, TVMalai, Tindivanam, and return I did as suggested mostly in this forum, viz. via Tindivanam, Arcot, Vellore, Ambur, Krishnagiri.

After having done all 3 variants, I would strongly recommend:

Blore, Krishnagiri, Karimangalam (on Salem Hwy), Morappur, Harur, Teerthamalai, Chinniyampettai, TVMalai, Gingee, Tindivanam, Puducherry.

And do the reverse in the return.

The Karimangalam - TVMalai stretch, though 2-laned, has sparse traffic and is very scenic, and has good roads, and good, constant speeds can be maintained.

[ns94]

Hi all,

Did a Hosur - Pondicherry drive last weekend.
Took the Kariamangalam - Harur - Tiruvannamalai - Tindivanam route.
Started at 7.15 AM and reached at 1.45 PM

A couple of observations:

1. Kariamangalam - Tiruvannamalai: Decent road conditions throughout. Harur town was crowded and had to wade through a little traffic. Quite a few ups, downs and curves throughout this stretch. Very sparse traffic though

2. Tiruvannamalai - Tindivanam: Decent road surface throughout except for sudden narrow stretches (where the old highway has still not been relaid)

Overall this route looks good for a day journey and best avoided for late evening/night drives

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ns94

1. Kariamangalam - Tiruvannamalai: Decent road conditions throughout. Harur town was crowded and had to wade through a little traffic. Quite a few ups, downs and curves throughout this stretch. Very sparse traffic though

Did you not try the Harur Bypass ? Or is it that the bypass itself is crowded?

2. Tiruvannamalai - Tindivanam: Decent road surface throughout except for sudden narrow stretches (where the old highway has still not been relaid)

Overall this route looks good for a day journey and best avoided for late evening/night drives

I agree. Some how even I dont like facing changes in road conditions suddenly. Would rather drive during the day.

[ankan.m.blr]

Is there any decent food stop between Arcot and Pondicherry with wash room facility. I am travelling with parents, wife and kid and all of them may need to use restroom on this stretch.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Is there any decent food stop between Arcot and Pondicherry with wash room facility. I am travelling with parents, wife and kid and all of them may need to use restroom on this stretch.

I'm not too sure about any good options after you turn off at Arcot.
One option before you turn off is the A2B on the service road at Arcot.

[ankan.m.blr]

Did anyone visit Pichaviram Mangrove forest? Is it worth a visit in the monsoon considering the distance from Pondicherry?

[procrj]

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Is there any decent food stop between Arcot and Pondicherry with wash room facility

if you take the tindivanam bypass, you will find a lot of "bhavans", which are decent options. Eg. https://maps.google.com/?cid=17386295985676041679

Originally Posted by ankan.m.blr

Did anyone visit pitchavaram

east coast rainy season starts November but given the rainfall in ghats this year, you might want to check with locals before heading out. If you are in pondy for a couple of days, would suggest you don't include pitchavaram in the plan.

[mashmash]

This is going to be my first drive to Pondicherry. Google suggests the below route, is this the preferred route being discussed here ?

MaSh