[Proxima]

Hello all,

Most of us Chennaiites want to know what are the different possible destinations which are within a 1 day drive from Chennai, so I want to start a database on the various getaways from Chennai.

Please enter the route, Kms one way and road conditions.

1. One day drive - below 120 kms one way, it should be possible to go in the morning and be back at night.
2. 3+ days drive - below 800 kms one way. Should be able to make the journey comfortably in one day (one way).
   

Let me start with what I know.

1 day ride

1. Chennai - Pondicherry (125 Km one way) Route: Through ECR, great roads
2. Chennai - Mahaballipuram (45 Kms one way) Route: Through ECR, great roads
   

I do know that Bangalore, Ooty, Kodai, Yelagiri, Yearcaud and so on are 3+day rides, but I'm not sure about the route, hence not posting it.

Awaiting your inputs.

[BunnyPunia]

3 day ride

Option 1
Destination : ooty (udagamandalam)
Route: NH4 to Bangalore, Bangalore to Mysore, Mysore to Ooty via NH212.
Distance : 594-609kms
Chennai to Bangalore is 349kms, doable in 6hours.
Bangalore to Mysore is 130kms, doable in 2hrs.
Mysore to Ooty via NH212 : 130kms, shorter route via Masinagudi will be around 115kms, around 4hours. U pass thru Bandipur wild reserve on these routes.

option 2
Destination : Kodaikanal
Route : NH4 to Krishnagiri, NH7 to Dingidul, statehighway to Kodaikanal
Distance : 599 to 520 depending on route
Chennai to Salem via NH45 and NH68 is 332, doable in 7hrs
Salem to Dindigul is 177, doable in 4hrs.
Dindigul to Kodaikanal is 90, doable in 4hrs

Other route is from chennai head to Veppur via NH45. From veppur, bypass Salem by going thru NH45 itself till Dindigul. Roads may not be as good as NH7, but u save a lot of kms.

[nitrous]

Bunny, Chennai to Ooty is via Coimbatore.
The Kodai directions are correct,though

[BunnyPunia]

Originally Posted by nitrous

Bunny, Chennai to Ooty is via Coimbatore.
The Kodai directions are correct,though

u mean chennai-salem-coimbatore and then riding north to ooty? havnt been on this route. distance wise i believe both routes are the same.. time wise?

[Proxima]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

3 day ride

Option 1
Destination : ooty (udagamandalam)
Route: NH4 to Bangalore, Bangalore to Mysore, Mysore to Ooty via NH212.
Distance : 594-609kms
Chennai to Bangalore is 349kms, doable in 6hours.
Bangalore to Mysore is 130kms, doable in 2hrs.
Mysore to Ooty via NH212 : 130kms, shorter route via Masinagudi will be around 115kms, around 4hours. U pass thru Bandipur wild reserve on these routes.

option 2
Destination : Kodaikanal
Route : NH4 to Krishnagiri, NH7 to Dingidul, statehighway to Kodaikanal
Distance : 599 to 520 depending on route
Chennai to Salem via NH45 and NH68 is 332, doable in 7hrs
Salem to Dindigul is 177, doable in 4hrs.
Dindigul to Kodaikanal is 90, doable in 4hrs

Other route is from chennai head to Veppur via NH45. From veppur, bypass Salem by going thru NH45 itself till Dindigul. Roads may not be as good as NH7, but u save a lot of kms.

Thanks Bunny. I went to Kodai last week, but that was by train till Kodai Road. From Kodai Road we took an Innova to Kodai. The 90 Km drive is a fantastic peice of road.

[BunnyPunia]

3 day ride

option 3

Destination : Chikmagalur hill station
Route: NH4 to Bangalore, NH4 to Tumkur, NH206 to Kadur, state road to Chikmagalur
Distance: 606kms
Chennai to Tumkur via Blore is 428kms, doable in 7.5hours. Tumkur to Kadur, 141kms is doable in 3hours. From there, its a 37km drive to Chikmagalur.

option 4

Destination : Dhanushkodi
Route : NH45 to Tiruchirappali, NH210 to Ramanathapuram, NH49 to Dhanushkodi
Distance: 568kms
Chennai to Tiruchirappli is 317kms
Tiruchirappli to Ramanathapuram is 186kms
Ramanathapuram to Rameshwaram is 55kms, Dhanushkodi is another 12-15kms, dependin on how far you can ride into the se

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

u mean chennai-salem-coimbatore and then riding north to ooty? havnt been on this route. distance wise i believe both routes are the same.. time wise?

Best route is chennai-vellore-krishnagiri-dharmapuri-salem-coimbatore-ooty

Bangalore-mysore route is good if you are planning to visit a few places along the way like mysore, bangalore etc.

[csentil]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Best route is chennai-vellore-krishnagiri-dharmapuri-salem-coimbatore-ooty

Bangalore-mysore route is good if you are planning to visit a few places along the way like mysore, bangalore etc.

This route is more scenic and more enjoyable. If you want to miss the highway construction from Dharmapuri to Coimbatore try this route out.

Chennai - Vellore - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Thoppur - Mettur - Ammapettai - Anthiyur - Sathyamangalam - Mettupalayam - Ooty.

Also:

Hassan, Belur & Halebid

Route: Chennai - Bangalore ( either the GQ or NH4) ->Neelamangala (take left here towards Mangalore)->Hassan. From there to Belur, Halebidu. YOu can also visit Shravanabelagola which is on the way.
Distance: 450 kms (approx)

Once you come to Bangalore there are many options. Mysore, Mangalore, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary, Coorg etc.

[akroy]

Originally Posted by BunnyPunia

u mean chennai-salem-coimbatore and then riding north to ooty? havnt been on this route. distance wise i believe both routes are the same.. time wise?

I feel the best route for Ooty should be

Chennai - Krishnagiri - Mettur - Avinashi (immediately after 10km there is a right turn for Annur) - Annur - Mettupalyam - Ooty

I feel going to Bangalore up north and then again drive south to Mysore - ooty doesnt make much sense.... Plus u will heel lot of time from Hosur past bangalore....

Abhi

[headers]

Both routes are good..The very scenic route from Mysore to Ooty via Mudumalai forests is great..17Kms only,,and mostly 2nd gear only..steep climb..I do not advise weak cars to do this..

Have done the descent in my V2 Indica 02 with family..while our veerappan was alive..was fun..

BTW..there are a lot of checkposts along the way too to guide one in case we get lost..

[akroy]

Originally Posted by headers

Both routes are good..The very scenic route from Mysore to Ooty via Mudumalai forests is great..17Kms only,,and mostly 2nd gear only..steep climb..I do not advise weak cars to do this..

THat is the route via Masinagudi...and dont worry Alto easily climbs it.... I dont there is a weaker car than 800/Alto...

Abhi

[neoranjit]

Have any of you done the route from Trichy to Ramanathpuram ? Is the road good ?
How long do you think this shud take ? Can you please let me know ?
I was planning to goto Dhanushkodi for a long time. One beautiful place to take pics.

[Proxima]

Guys - Request that we stick to routes from Chennai, lets not hijack this thread. Thanks.

[neoranjit]

@Proxima ok.. I hear you..

Another 3 day trip ( assuming you spend good time everywhere )

Chennai - Pondy - Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Nagore - Nagapatinam - Velankani - Point Calimere.

The roads are not that bad then.Not sure abt current status. The forest officer at Point Calimere was telling us that we can see the lights from Sri Lanka from the lighthouse at Point Calimere.
Apparently, Point Calimere was the place where Lord Ram wanted to attack Sri Lanka first but then Hanuman suggested Rameshwaram.

[BunnyPunia]

Originally Posted by neoranjit

Have any of you done the route from Trichy to Ramanathpuram ? Is the road good ?
How long do you think this shud take ? Can you please let me know ?
I was planning to goto Dhanushkodi for a long time. One beautiful place to take pics.

see The Great Indian Roadtrip » Day 72 : 9th Nov : Rameshwaram to Trichy and The Great Indian Roadtrip » Day 71 – Nov 8 – Tirunelveli – Rameshwaram – Dhanushkodi