[dhuli]

Thanks sbkumar, ampere and rajshenoy. You all underscore the 'Cinderella' limit...leave before clock strikes three.

Originally Posted by ampere

What I have felt is one needs to be more careful driving in twilight rather than in full dark. Because our eyes dont get accustomed fully in mid level conditions...getting out of Whitefileld would be pain

Indeed, Ampere, your observation is interesting. By night one just has to adjust to different light, different people behaviour too :-) BTW, If I take the OMR from Krishnarajapuram towards Hoskote and Kolar, Whitefield is not in the route. But you mention Whitefield. Are you suggesting I could try Marathahalli>whitefield>Malur>kolar? Never done that.

Originally Posted by sbkumar

Try not to delay further than 3 PM as you might end up facing traffic with people leaving early on Friday...It takes around 3.30 hrs approximately with sedate driving to do this BLR-Walajah stretch.

Forewarned is forearmed. My ride is a comfortable Innova, and while on the 2 lane, I shall not undertake even 1 risky overtake. I will also plan to carry some snacks.

Now that Ampere mentioned eyes adjusting to changing light, I am reminded of this mad experience once while driving from Bangalore to Kovalam near Thiruvanthapuram/TVM. I had sadly left the NH to Kanyakumari towards Nagercoil just as the sun set. The chaos of a 2 lane road all the way seemed like a mysterious magic land of people, vehicles and tubelight lit shops all along buzzing with nocturnal activity. My saviour was a Blaupunkt Travelpilot Lucca with MMI that was a guide for the next 2.5hrs.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhuli

BTW, If I take the OMR from Krishnarajapuram towards Hoskote and Kolar, Whitefield is not in the route. But you mention Whitefield. Are you suggesting I could try Marathahalli>whitefield>Malur>kolar? Never done that.

How about the traffic at KR Puram itself? Indeed you wont touch Whitefield. Traffic would slowly start peaking at Indiranagar, BEML, KR puram section also.

So would be the case at Marthahalli, Kundanahalli Gate. It may not be that severe at 3PM.
But just a thought for precaution.

[rameshnanda]

Can someone suggest me a good stay around the NH itself? I would be driving beyond Bangalore from Chennai and wanted to halt in Bangalore but I don't want to get into the City.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

Can someone suggest me a good stay around the NH itself? I would be driving beyond Bangalore from Chennai and wanted to halt in Bangalore but I don't want to get into the City.

There are some in Hosur. Would you be OK with that?

In Bangalore there is Hotel keys very close to NICE road (Hosur road entry point).

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by ampere

There are some in Hosur. Would you be OK with that?

In Bangalore there is Hotel keys very close to NICE road (Hosur road entry point).

What are the hotels in hosur?
Is there any option if I take the Kolar route?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

What are the hotels in hosur?
Is there any option if I take the Kolar route?

Not that I am aware of anyplace around Kolar side of NH4.

In Hosur:

Rennaaissancce Sarovar Portico Hosur, Book 3 star hotels in Hosur: Sarovar Hotels & Resorts
Welcome to Sivaranjani Hotel - Contact us


Under the Budget options there is Hotel Tamil Nadu (Its a TTDC Hotel)
::: TTDC ONLINE :::

[dhuli]

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

Is there any option if I take the Kolar route?

You can try Guestline Attibele, just as you enter Karnataka. Hotel Guestline Attibele, Bangalore, Karnataka - Google Maps

I have had food here several times and it is not bad. It is in the range of 250 to 300 rs. for buffet I think. Never stayed here. But I am told lot of guests of TVS tend to stay here. Also, this comes on your left on the service road next to BSNL exchange at Attibele, as you enter Karnataka from Hosur side along NH.

There is even a connection to Kolar side via Malur from near here - Attibele, Karnataka to Kolar, Karnataka - Google Maps

[ampere]

Originally Posted by dhuli

There is even a connection to Kolar side via Malur from near here -

I think that route today is not functional thanks to a broken bridge at Baglur.
Its been like that for quite some time I think. But otherwise its a beautiful stretch to take.
4-5 km of very bad sand/gravel and another 4-5 km of rough surface. But the beautiful countryside drive makes up for all that!

[SujineRaj]

Originally Posted by ampere

I think that route today is not functional thanks to a broken bridge at Baglur.
Its been like that for quite some time I think. But otherwise its a beautiful stretch to take.
4-5 km of very bad sand/gravel and another 4-5 km of rough surface. But the beautiful countryside drive makes up for all that!

The broken bridge near bagalur is constructed and open to traffic.The 4-5kms of bad stretch is also repaired, although the rough surface beyond that still exists.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by SujineRaj

The broken bridge near bagalur is constructed and open to traffic.The 4-5kms of bad stretch is also repaired, although the rough surface beyond that still exists.

Thanks for that update. That is good news indeed! So looks like the smooth roads are back.
I really enjoyed driving on that stretch all the way to Kolar.

[binand]

My monthly Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore trip is due this weekend (and return, the next). Thinking of taking the GQ outbound and NH4 return. What is the status of road widening works, anyone knows? Planning to start at 5AM on Saturday.

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by binand

My monthly Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore trip is due this weekend (and return, the next). Thinking of taking the GQ outbound and NH4 return. What is the status of road widening works, anyone knows? Planning to start at 5AM on Saturday.

Did it last weekend on the GQ. There are quite a number of diversions which still thankfully have 2 lanes either ways. So they aren't a problem. But there are a couple of 4-5 km stretches between Krishnagiri and Ambur which are single-laned and you are most certainly bound to be struck behind a truck and crawl. That being said, i still would prefer taking the GQ over Kolar route for 4 lanes throughout, eateries, safety, etc.
A word of caution though - There are a few stretches where the third lane is open for traffic without the lane marker. It is better not to take it as you can never predict where they end and hence might be a shocker if you tend to overtake on this lane on full throttle.

Slightly , Chennai was horrible with the metro work in progress. It took me 2.5 hours from Porur to T.Nagar via Vadapalani on Saturday evening. On return, took the Anna Salai-kathipara-Porur on Monday evening and managed to do it in 1.5 hours. Decided and hired a cab for local commute, which definitely was worth the buck!

[binand]

Originally Posted by luvurride

Chennai was horrible with the metro work in progress. It took me 2.5 hours from Porur to T.Nagar via Vadapalani on Saturday evening. On return, took the Anna Salai-kathipara-Porur on Monday evening and managed to do it in 1.5 hours.

Mine's Porur-Guindy-OMR-Thiruvanmiyur-ECR. Then local commute is Besant Nagar-Adyar-RA Puram-Alwarpet-Cathedral Road, and also Sholinganallur-Kelambakkam. Hopefully I'm out of the metro's reach

[luvurride]

Originally Posted by binand

Mine's Porur-Guindy-OMR-Thiruvanmiyur-ECR. Then local commute is Besant Nagar-Adyar-RA Puram-Alwarpet-Cathedral Road, and also Sholinganallur-Kelambakkam. Hopefully I'm out of the metro's reach

Hah, you lucky you!

I guess the Metro work has created a lot of one-ways which otherwise was flowing decent. This has choked the traffic in many areas. For instance, it took me 30 minutes to get to GRT Grand from Globus signal, a mere stone throw distance!

So the general word of advice for all doing Blr-Chennai and vice-versa: factor in the extra time you might take if you are getting into/out of the city around any of the metro construction areas.
But the good part is everyone seems to understand the delay in traffic and hence forms a nice excuse if you are late for a meeting!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by luvurride

Slightly , Chennai was horrible with the metro work in progress. It took me 2.5 hours from Porur to T.Nagar via Vadapalani on Saturday evening. On return, took the Anna Salai-kathipara-Porur on Monday evening and managed to do it in 1.5 hours. Decided and hired a cab for local commute, which definitely was worth the buck!

In spite of heavy traffic I always found commute via Kathipara to be the fastest.
May be I have traveled during the peak time yet. At least over weekends, even when traffic is high, it takes a max of 40-45 minutes form Ponamallee to Kathipara.