[vinodh_eee]

I am planning a trip to Chennai tomorrow. Starting at 6AM from Bangalore. I am inclined to take the old madras road via Chitoor.

Is there any good restaurant for breakfast (around 9AM)? Preferably with some play area for kids.

[binand]

Originally Posted by ampere

If you plan to head on radial ring road via Pallavaram, Manimangalam makes much more sense.

My destination (origin tomorrow) is Navallur. I usually take Sriperumbudur-Oragadam-Vandalur-Kelambakkam-Navallur.

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

Starting at 6AM from Bangalore. I am inclined to take the old madras road via Chitoor.

Is there any good restaurant for breakfast (around 9AM)? Preferably with some play area for kids.

With your timings, Woody's at Kolar might come too early. There is a restaurant I go just beyond Bangarupalya on the right (when going towards Chittoor). It is behind a petrol pump and perhaps less than a km after the bustle of the town. Forgot its name now; but it is quite spacious. Play area - nope.

Edit: Mind you, at your start time you'll end up in traffic pileups at all towns - Palamneru, Bangarupalya, Ranipet and Walajapet (Chittoor has a bypass). You might want to reconsider. The Walajapet one will be particularly tiresome.

[vinodh_eee]

Originally Posted by binand

Edit: Mind you, at your start time you'll end up in traffic pileups at all towns - Palamneru, Bangarupalya, Ranipet and Walajapet (Chittoor has a bypass). You might want to reconsider. The Walajapet one will be particularly tiresome.

I guessed about the traffic, but have no other options. Also, I thought there is a bypass for Walajapet. A right turn after Ranipet joins the BLR-Chennai highway earlier and bypasses Walajapet. I will check in GMaps. Thanks for the heads-up.

[binand]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

I guessed about the traffic, but have no other options. Also, I thought there is a bypass for Walajapet. A right turn after Ranipet joins the BLR-Chennai highway earlier and bypasses Walajapet. I will check in GMaps. Thanks for the heads-up.

You're right. I think you're talking of Ranipet-Arcot. It's a few kilometres longer though.

There's another road before Ranipet, even before you cross into TN, that joins GQ at Vellore. That might be more suitable as it avoids Ranipet and also a railway gate.

And then, there's Palamneru-Gudiyattam-Pallikonda.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

I am planning a trip to Chennai tomorrow. Starting at 6AM from Bangalore. I am inclined to take the old madras road via Chitoor.

Is there any good restaurant for breakfast (around 9AM)? Preferably with some play area for kids.

Originally Posted by binand

With your timings, Woody's at Kolar might come too early. There is a restaurant I go just beyond Bangarupalya on the right (when going towards Chittoor). It is behind a petrol pump and perhaps less than a km after the bustle of the town. Forgot its name now; but it is quite spacious. Play area - nope.

Edit: Mind you, at your start time you'll end up in traffic pileups at all towns - Palamneru, Bangarupalya, Ranipet and Walajapet (Chittoor has a bypass). You might want to reconsider. The Walajapet one will be particularly tiresome.

I went to Chennai 2 weeks back in this route. Starting around the same time as you. The restaurant binand is referring to is probably Nandi Food Plaza which is behind Reliance Petrol bunk just after Bangarupalayam town. Lots & lots of parking space. Food is average. kids will have space to just run around. no play area.
I took Ranipet-Walajahpet route. Road condition between Chitoor bypass and Walajahpet were superb (near BHEL township). It was bliss to drive. However be careful inside Ranipet & Walajahpet towns - add 15 minutes to your travel time. Road condition from Chennasamudram toll plaza to Chennai are very bumpy. Drive safe.

[vinodh_eee]

Managed to start only by 8 and stopped for breakfast at the new Mcdonald's. It is located just after Kolar, opposite to Adigas at 65km from KR puram.

Also took the Arakkonam, Sriperumpudhur, Mudichur route. It took 7 hours including a 45 min break.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

Also took the Arakkonam, Sriperumpudhur, Mudichur route. It took 7 hours including a 45 min break.

Is this worth it compared to standard route? (I meant Chittoor-Arakkonam-Sriperumbudur) Because anyway you chose to go with Mudichur 2-lane option as an entry to Chennai.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by vinodh_eee

Managed to start only by 8 and stopped for breakfast at the new Mcdonald's. It is located just after Kolar, opposite to Adigas at 65km from KR puram.

Also took the Arakkonam, Sriperumpudhur, Mudichur route. It took 7 hours including a 45 min break.

How is the road condition of Arakkonam-Sriperumbudur stretch? Once I came via Tiruvallur-Tiruthanni-Nagari-Pallipettu-Chittoor to Bangalore. Excellent roads all the way

[procrj]

Saw this posted on FB and hence sharing. Not sure if this has been implemented. Chennai folks please confirm.

Tamil to English Translation:
All roads leading to Chennai, administered by the NHAI have been installed with a laser speed camera. Exceeding speeds of 100km will attract a fine of Rs. 400 for the first offence and Rs. 1000 for a repeat offence. Fines collected in the consecutive toll booths, post violation.

Source: HVK group facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

[vinodh_eee]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is this worth it compared to standard route? (I meant Chittoor-Arakkonam-Sriperumbudur) Because anyway you chose to go with Mudichur 2-lane option as an entry to Chennai.

Mainly I wanted to avoid the poor quality GQ road and traffic between Ranipet and Sriperumbudur. That purpose was served. Besides the difference in distance is less than 5km.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

How is the road condition of Arakkonam-Sriperumbudur stretch? Once I came via Tiruvallur-Tiruthanni-Nagari-Pallipettu-Chittoor to Bangalore. Excellent roads all the way

Road from Chitoor to Arakkonam is very good with very less traffic (more scenic too, compared to the GQ). The traffic between Arakkonam and Sriperumbudur is considerably more. The roads are also good except for a 5km stretch, where road widening is ongoing.

The route I took went through Chitoor, Ponnai, Sholingur, Arakkonam, Sriperumbudur, Mudichur and Tambaram.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Typically I do a morning evening return routine between Chennai - Hoskote whenever I visit our factory. It started becoming serious pain doing the Karnataka Border - Chittoor stretch with all the slow moving lorry traffic and local traffic as well. On the way to Hoskote it is still manageable but the return routine is horribly bad with traffic

Starting later than 7:30 PM solved the problem with lesser traffic while I reach Palamaner but meant reaching Chennai around midnight which was tiring after a long day.

Off late I have started using Palamaner - Gudiyatham - Pallikonda route while coming back from Bangalore in the evening. Except for the stretch between Gudiyatham & Pallikonda which has traffic and some rough roads, super roads all the way and much faster than the regular route between Palamaner & Ranipet. Only downside is the toll one needs to pay at Pallikonda.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Off late I have started using Palamaner - Gudiyatham - Pallikonda route while coming back from Bangalore in the evening. Except for the stretch between Gudiyatham & Pallikonda which has traffic and some rough roads, super roads all the way and much faster than the regular route between Palamaner & Ranipet. Only downside is the toll one needs to pay at Pallikonda.

Is it comfortable to drive on this stretch at night? Did you feel the need for GPS?

[binand]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is it comfortable to drive on this stretch at night? Did you feel the need for GPS?

I had taken this route a few times in the past. Palamneru-Gudiyattam is very light on traffic; but is quite reasonably populated. There are houses and shops all throughout (except perhaps a short ghat section). You won't notice the interstate border unless you are looking for it - not much truck traffic either. It is one straight route till Gudiyattam where at a crossroads you simply go straight to Pallikonda (left is GQ near Vellore via Katpadi; not sure of road conditions). I didn't think there is anything particularly unsafe about this route - still, it is not one I'd take with family.

Gudiyattam-Pallikonda is a bit of a mess; but it is a short stretch.

[4Runner]

Hi All, I live on Hosur Road near silkboard and need to reach Keelkatalai near Velachery tomorrow. Google maps suggests the shortest route Ambur- Vellore- Ranipet - Sriperumbudur - Chrompet- Keelkatalai as the shortest route. Is this the correct one or should I think of any alternate routes? I want to drive peacefully on the smoothest of roads with minimum possible traffic. Don't we all?

Please help. Thanks.

[vinodh_eee]

Originally Posted by vasant.guru@gma

Hi All, I live on Hosur Road near silkboard and need to reach Keelkatalai near Velachery tomorrow. Google maps suggests the shortest route Ambur- Vellore- Ranipet - Sriperumbudur - Chrompet- Keelkatalai as the shortest route. Is this the correct one or should I think of any alternate routes? I want to drive peacefully on the smoothest of roads with minimum possible traffic. Don't we all?

Please help. Thanks.

What time are you starting? I did go through Mudichur, Tambaram GST road up to Pallavaram, 200 ft road on to Keelkatalai.

Roads are good. A bit narrow near Mudichur. Traffic depends on time if travel.