Bangalore - Chennai: Route Guide Bangalore - Chennai Road Trip for newbies
After having done over 12 trips on this route, I have provided information that will be useful for future travelers. I have provided info on the Bangalore-Chennai route - the same directions in reverse will hold for the return trip.
Route Options:
1) NH7-NH46-NH4: Hosur, Krishnagiri, Ambur, Vellore, Sriperumbudur
2) NH4: Kolar, Chittoor (bypass), Ranipet, Sriperumbudur
Option 1 is highly recommended. The entire route is a 4 lane divided highway and the road surface is excellent - so driving comfort and safety levels are higher. You should be to do the trip (door to door) in under 6 hours with a reasonable break for about 30-45 minutes. If you time your trip right, 5-5.5 hrs is possible with sane driving and a reasonable stop.
Option 2 is a 2 lane undivided highway all the way upto Ranipet. Road surface is quite good, but overtaking will be more difficult and driving a little more stressful
After doing option 2 twice, we always take Option 1. Stretch 1: Silk Board (Bangalore) to Krishnagiri - 90 kms, 1.5 hours
From silk board, you can take the elevated toll road (if you are driving anytime between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM, to avoid the local traffic and intersections)
Continue on NH7 through a few toll booths all the way upto Krishnagiri.
Stops: There are 2 great options - a HP bunk with Krishna Inn and a Cafe Coffee Day and a BP bunk with a Adyar Ananda Bhavan
I would recommend the first stop - table service available, relatively less crowded than the Ananda Bhavan.
The first stop comes about 20 kms about Hosur and the second one about 10 kms after the HP bunk. You will see enough sign-boards for both (esp. the BP bunk) Stretch 2: Krishnagiri to Ranipet (via Vellore) - 150 kms, 2-2.5 hours
After the Krishnagiri toll booth, you need to climb the first flyover and then take the left onto NH46 (The sign-board showing the route to Chennai is small) - so watch out - don't get onto the second flyover.
Once you take NH46, the road is fabulous all the way to Ranipet (you will also zip through Vellore town on multiple flyovers), except for the stretch through Ambur town (which can get quite crowded in peak hours). Watch and slow down whenever you drive through any towns. I am noticing increasing local traffic and accidents over the last few months.
Stops: Chola restaurants (after one of the toll booths) - signs clearly marked. Deepam Motel highway (on the right after the pallikonda toll booth - with easy access from the left side too through a proper opening on the highway).
Deepam has become our default stop as it is midway and takes us 2.5 to 3 hrs from home. Enough petrol bunks all along the way. As you enter Vellore, you will see a lot os sign boards for saravana Bhavan, but it is a pain to get into this place as you will need to drive into the town quite a bit.There is a Aryas just off the highway, but again I would stop at deepam (about 20 kms before Vellore) - easy off-easy on from the highway Stretch 3: Ranipet to Sriperumbudur (via Kanchi) - 80 kms, 1-1.5 hrs
This stretch is again quite good, but the number of towns in-between significantly increases, thus impacting your average driving speed.
Stops: Sakthi restaurant just after Kanchipuram on the right. Stretch 4: Sriperumbudur to Poonamallee flyover - 30 kms, 45 minutes
The stretch is a high traffic stretch and the road surface has deteriorated over the last year or so (not broken, but uneven).
Stops: cafe Coffee Day on the right (quite convenient) Stretch 5: Ponnamallee Flyover to Chennai
Depending on where you need to go to Chennai, you will need to plan your route.
For Chennai city: Go through the Poonamallee Bypass - Don't take the Poonamallee flyover. Continue on NH4, after the first flyover, get onto the right lane (you will notice a flyover only for the opposite side). Take a right (sign-boards will direct you) and you can avoid Poonamallee town traffic.
From then on, you will get stuck a little at the Porur signal and drive you city traffic all the way upto Guindy (Kathipara)
For Tambaram and the airport: Drive further on NH4 almost upt Maduravoyal and take the Chennai Bypass toll road to Tambaram. You will see some signs for this road (ask someone for directions if required)
For Koyambedu, Vadapalani, Annanagar: Continue to NH4 all the way upto Koyambedu through Maduravoyal and ask for directions.
Last edited by JLN : 3rd October 2010 at 19:30.
|