Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Route / Travel Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/)

-   -   Bangalore - Chennai - Bangalore : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/22491-bangalore-chennai-bangalore-route-queries-220.html)

- Kolar/Chitoor for sure.
- And then get to Manimangalam-Tambaram SH. And then on to Meenambakkam (Link)

Please note getting a U turn at Gandhi Memorial is I think stopped. You may have to get into the town side and come back to Gandhi memorial

Thanks Amp! Is this route 4-laned all the way till Ranipet, where it joins the Krishnagiri highway? Also, what'd be the approx drive time? Any good breakfast stops enroute?

No its not fully 4-laned. Bangalore-Chitoor is 4-laned all the way. But please note after Mulbagal, 4-lane is more concrete based. So please drive accordingly. There are also humps on some of the sections.

Chitoor-Ranipet is not 4-laned. Its a regular 2-lane. But beyond that its again 4-lane. Bu truck traffic will catch-up. Chitoor has a bypass too.

Also Sriperumbur-Tambaram is not that easy if to drive through. Lot of blind turns and 2-lane traffic. So please have maps in handy and be cautious.

However it still is the best option of all.

Despite all this you'd still suggest this over Krishnagiri route? Why so?

Simply because you are in Whitfield. You can get on to the 4-lane so fast while it will easily 45 to a an hour (am guessing) minutes to go past Attibele toll all the way from Whitefield.

Its not that bad actually. See updates on the Bangalore-Tirupati thread.

But maps always tries to route me through the Sarjapur Attibele Road (or is it moonscape) and then past the e city toll

It’s never shown me the tin factory route as yet for my at least one trip a month Chennai to Whitefield

There can also be a crowd sourcing aspect of map. If more people start using the Old Madras road its quite possible Google may change its suggestion.

For example same happened for Bangalore-Pondicherry. Over time Google suggestion changed from Tiruvannamalai to Cheyyar/Vandavasi.

Many in Bangalore who stay in Whitefield/KR Puram (some of my acquaintances too) have always been using Chitoor option.

Thinking of taking the Chitoor route to Chennai the week after next. Is it better to stick to Chitoor - Ranipet route or can i take Chitoor - Arakkonam - Ponamalee.
Since the end point is Anna nagar, would it make sense to try Chitoor - Thiruttani - Thiruvallur - Anna nagar?
Usual 5 am start expected from North BLR.

For a 4 AM start I would recommend sticking to the krishnagiri route. Much faster drive until walajah and it wouldn't really take much time to cross attibele.

The other issue with the chittor route is the lack of proper places to have breakfast. There is only one-a food court along with a shell petrol bunk in Kolar which will definitely be closed that early. Post that you need to get to walajah for breakfast which might be a bit late.

Chittoor makes sense only if u start post 6 AM.

Please take the chitoor ranipet route only. You save lots of time. Especially when you are starting that early. Chitoor Arakkonam goes through lots of towns and consumes time. And arakkonam poonamalee via thakkolam and thandalam has few potholes and narrow stretches. Visited koovam last week and took the road from poonamalee to Koovam via this road.

Planning for a drive to electronics city from Tambaram on a Sunday early morning. Please suggest the best route in terms of safety and comfort since am travelling with the family.

Would be great if you could suggest some hygienic restaurants for breakfast. Also which is the best outlet to taste the famous Ambur Biriyani?

What would be the total toll for the route?

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post4703051

My usual stops are
1) https://goo.gl/maps/YnTGPBbjcUEY28J46
2) https://goo.gl/maps/1jFvgV1wxQX4FWbq5

https://goo.gl/maps/ik9h8YqVQkgdgKpDA based on recommendations. I am not a big fan of Biryani and hence never stopped here.

465-480 IIRC

Few good hotels (I've dined at) in increasing order of distance from Chennai:
1. Sangeetha's on right side at Thirumazhisai (this may not be an option if you drive to Sriperumbudur directly from Tambaram)

2. A2B on right side near Arcot

3. Murugan Idli on left side after Kanchipuram bypass

4. Sai Sangeet on right side at Chengulikuppam near Vaniyambadi

Ambur the original star biryani opposite the railway station is a safe bet. Park in the service road next to the railway station and cross the road on foot if Chennai to Bangalore.

Update on my return trip from Bangalore to Chennai yesterday.
Started from Whitefield at 1PM. As expected Gmaps showed heavy traffic around Vartur area, I guess due to Sunday market. Followed the alternative route suggested by maps which took me through some villages after taking right turn at Samethanahalli. Initial part of the route was narrow single laned with many speed breakers, but after some distance it joins a nice 2 laned road which took me directly to Sarjapur and then to Attibele.

There wasn't much traffic until Chennasamudram toll. Here the traffic had piled up for more than 500 meters. Took 15-20 minutes to get through. Good part was no one was being stopped for toll. Thereon the road conditions stated deteriorating until Sriperumbudur. Though patch work has been done to cover the large potholes, smaller ones were left as it is. Finally reached Medavakkam at 6:30PM through Mudichur - Tambaram route.

Absolutely no traffic. It was smooth drive until I jumped one unmarked speed breaker somewhere after Sarjapur. :Frustrati