[GeeTee TSI]

I had a Bangalore - Trivandrum - Kanyakumari - Madurai drive last weekend with stay at each of these places
KTDC Mascot, Trivandrum
TTDC, Kanyakumari
Hotel Germanus, Madurai

All three places had excellent parking in a convenient location

Started at 04:30 from Yelahanka and ended the drive close to 19:00 at Trivandrum. The drive was fabulous overall with some not so great bits. Hosur Krishnagiri had numerous diversions (wonder what work is being undertaken on the 6 lane highway) halted for breakfast at Sree Saravana Bhavan just beyond Krishnagiri.

Knowing the stretch beyond Krishnagiri was just 4 lane, I tempered my expectation (and speed) and it was a steady progress including Thoppur. Lunch halt was Ponram Food Square, Dindigul. Light traffic and excellent roads ensured swift progress till Kavalkinaru with a confusing detour to Nagercoil.


The last of the great roads was the beautiful stretch along Ramco Wind farms till Nagercoil town.


All hell broke loose at Nagercoil with the narrow streets, lunar surface potholes and excruciating traffic. The final break of the journey was Hotel Gowrishankar, Nagercoil. A nondescript detour at Kaliyakkavilai joins the unfinished NH66 near Aayira where the excellent 4 laned NH66 brings one last hurrah till Trivandrum airport where one merges with the glory of city traffic.


Sense of accomplishment to reach the destination on a tankful


Lovely quaint flagship of KTDC


Drive to Kanyakumari had the forgettable Nagercoil stretch followed by the gem of NH44


which literally takes you to land's end!


Hail TTDC for its location!


Day 3 was also a short drive from Kanyakumari till Madurai, thanks to this (Bangalore - Madurai - Kanyakumari - Rameshwaram : Route Queries) post for the hotel recommendation. Monday evening darshan at the temple was also a (relatively) easy experience.

Day 4 started the home run with an early morning start from Madurai with halts at Sumathy Sweets at Karur and the Lovato point Krishnagiri for lunch. A tankful at Trivandrum took me till Bommasandra where I dared not push my luck any further!

[tatrahumvee]

Hi All,

Has anyone tried the Kovilpatti-Sankarankoil-Tenkasi route to Trivandrum recently. We are planning to try this route for the first time during the Onam weekend. Starting from Bangalore around 4PM on Friday13th Sep.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by tatrahumvee

Hi All,

Has anyone tried the Kovilpatti-Sankarankoil-Tenkasi route to Trivandrum recently. We are planning to try this route for the first time during the Onam weekend. Starting from Bangalore around 4PM on Friday13th Sep.

For a night drive it would be better to take the Nagercoil route than the one via Tenkasi. Kovilpatti-Sankarankoil-Tenkasi is a remote stretch.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by tatrahumvee

Kovilpatti-Sankarankoil-Tenkasi

We did in February this year and it is a slow route through towns. Some towns can be confusing too. Which is ok if you are doing a laid back drive, not when you want to get home in time.

Second what Arun said. For that start time, you'd be doing Nagercoil-Trivandrum like 1-3 am, why bother going via Tenkasi

[tatrahumvee]

Originally Posted by narayans80

We did in February this year and it is a slow route through towns. Some towns can be confusing too. Which is ok if you are doing a laid back drive, not when you want to get home in time.

Second what Arun said. For that start time, you'd be doing Nagercoil-Trivandrum like 1-3 am, why bother going via Tenkasi

Guess i ll take the Nagercoil route if i start by Friday evening or try the Tenkasi route if i start early in the morning on Saturday. Was curious about this route as it was quite scenic when i had travelled through this route very long back in 2015. But the road was full of potholes near the border.

Thanks for the response arunjosie and narayans80.

[Innysta]

Planning to do Chennai-Nagercoil (Thiruvattaru temple, Padma.palace) -Thirparappu on next Sat. Any hotel recommendation at Nagercoil and Marthandam? Pls comment about decent veg. restaurants too.

[rdeivan]

Dear All,

Planning to do trip from Tirunelveli to Trivandrum on Sunday morning. Is the NH66 fully operational or are there diversions along the way? Is it better to take the old Parasala / Balaramapuram route. Are there any nice restaurants on the way (preferrably after Nagercoil)?

On the return planning to take the Tenkasi route back to Tirunelveli. Are the roads good that route? Last time I went to Tenkasi / Shencottah, the road widening between Tirunelveli - Tenkasi was still in progress.

Thanks in advance.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by rdeivan

Dear All,

Planning to do trip from Tirunelveli to Trivandrum on Sunday morning. Is the NH66 fully operational or are there diversions along the way? Is it better to take the old Parasala / Balaramapuram route. Are there any nice restaurants on the way (preferrably after Nagercoil)?

Last week the Marthandam flyover was closed for some work, I am not sure on whether it is re-opened for traffic. If not, then you may see some traffic here.

Instead of Parasala, you can take the NH66 which is a 4L all through.

For breakfast you can check the below options which comes after Parvathipuram flyover,
Sai Cafe
Hotel Sri Gowri Shankar

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by rdeivan

Is the NH66 fully operational or are there diversions along the way? Is it better to take the old Parasala / Balaramapuram route. Are there any nice restaurants on the way (preferrably after Nagercoil)?

On the return planning to take the Tenkasi route back to Tirunelveli. Are the roads good that route?

Your bottleneck will be mostly on the TN side. Nagercoil to Kaliyakkavilai is a chore to drive on with narrow roads and non stop traffic.

But once you get to the concrete highway on the KL side, it's a bliss to drive on. But minor works were going on couple of weeks back, so stay alert for signs.

Breakfast after Nagercoil, Gowri Shankar is a safe choice, Udupi is a bit ahead which is also good.

Haven't taken the Tenkasi route in ages, so can't offer advice on that route

[rdeivan]

Originally Posted by rdeivan

Dear All,

Planning to do trip from Tirunelveli to Trivandrum on Sunday morning. Is the NH66 fully operational or are there diversions along the way? Is it better to take the old Parasala / Balaramapuram route. Are there any nice restaurants on the way (preferrably after Nagercoil)?

On the return planning to take the Tenkasi route back to Tirunelveli. Are the roads good that route? Last time I went to Tenkasi / Shencottah, the road widening between Tirunelveli - Tenkasi was still in progress.

Thanks in advance.

Went from Tirunelvei to Trivandrum / Varkala on 13-Oct via Nagercoil and returned via Tenkasi route on 14-Oct. Marthandam flyover was closed for traffic towards Trivandrum, however appears to have been open from Trivandrum to another exit (not Nagercoil). Had breakfast at Gowrisankar - and it was fine. The road from Nagercoil all the way till NH66 is very patchy and slows us down a lot.

Return via Tenkasi (after visiting Jatayu earth center) also was mostly good, except for the patches before & after entering TN, before Shengottah and the traffic during evening hours in Tenkasi. The 4-way lane from Tenkasi to Tirunelveli is almost ready with some diversions, the only thing that seems pending is the overbridge construction in Pavoorchathiram. Tolls aren't collected yet.

[bharathrk]

Planning to go to Bangalore from TVM during the last week of Nov. For a change, planning to split it over the weekend with a stay over somewhere along the way. Intention is to have a very relaxing drive. Any recommendation for places to stay (good food, great rooms being the priority) ?

[Accent Martin]

Hi.. Similar question to above one..

Any good restaurants for breakfast near thirunalveli which is not far off from the highway, apart from the capsi drive?

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by Accent Martin

Hi.. Similar question to above one..

Any good restaurants for breakfast near thirunalveli which is not far off from the highway, apart from the capsi drive?

There's a new Saravana Bhavan right on the junction below the flyover where highway splits to turn into Thoothukudi.

Had dinner there couple of nights ago and it was good. Ample parking and clean restrooms as well.

Location:

Hotel Nellai Saravana Bhava, KTC Nagar

https://g.co/kgs/pSKeiZh

Edit: Just realized it's "Bhava" and not "Bhavan". Interesting how the mind automatically fills up the missing letter

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

There's a new Saravana Bhavan right on the junction below the flyover where highway splits to turn into Thoothukudi.

Had dinner there couple of nights ago and it was good. Ample parking and clean restrooms as well.

Location:

Hotel Nellai Saravana Bhava, KTC Nagar

https://g.co/kgs/pSKeiZh

Edit: Just realized it's "Bhava" and not "Bhavan". Interesting how the mind automatically fills up the missing letter

Aryaas Grand is good as well, this is around the same location.
https://g.co/kgs/nvfZPYq

[Jaguar]

Has anyone taken the Madurai - Thenkasi - Thenmala route to TVM recently? How is the road condition? And are there any good eateries? I want to avoid the Nagercoil Martandum stretch which is a pain at any given time.