Team-BHP - Trivandrum to Bangalore : Route Queries

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Originally Posted by Jaguar (Post 5895545)

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.

I too seek the same information. Any recent update please ?

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Originally Posted by JayG (Post 5898859)

I too seek the same information. Any recent update please ?

Drive via the Kovilpatti - Shankarankoil - Senkottai route to TVM. Kovilpatti to Senkottai road surface is slightly damaged. I was in a crossover and at 80ish speeds, could glide over them without any issue. There was a bit of Sabarimala traffic post Senkottai, but nothing too bad.

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Originally Posted by Jaguar (Post 5899749)

Thank you so much for the timely recommendation.
I have a Trivandrum - Bangalore (Vajarahalli) drive lined up this weekend and return next weekend with family. This is after a gap of two years. Would you suggest Krishnagiri or Rayakottai route ? Google map suggests Rayakottai onward and Krishnagiri while return ! My previous drives were when NH44 did not have much construction works going on and pre NH844 widening.
May be able to start after dawn only, in either directions.
Thank you in advance.

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Originally Posted by JayG (Post 5899856)

Would you suggest Krishnagiri or Rayakottai route ? Google map suggests Rayakottai onward and Krishnagiri while return !

I'd say, listen to Google. My return is not yet decided. But when I did TVM - BLR around sep, I had taken the Rayakottai route. It was not complete in many sections and passes through small towns and villages. As long as you are not crossing them during peak times or at night, you should be ok.

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Originally Posted by Jaguar (Post 5900002)

when I did TVM - BLR around sep, It was not complete in many sections and passes through small towns and villages. As long as you are not crossing them during peak times or at night, you should be ok.

Thanks again ! The last time I had been through this stretch was more than a decade ago when Hosur sector was having heavy construction. Then we had to go to Bellandur for which we tried to check out Rayakottai - Kelamangalam - Attibele and crossed the NH there to enter Sarjapur road with the aid of maps. It was a calmer drive throughout till Attibele. But as you say, it is better not to experiment after dusk !

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Originally Posted by JayG (Post 5899856)

Hi,
Both routes are OK, you can indeed follow Google map directions.

While going to Bangalore, I took the Krishnagiri route - flyover constructions are going on at several locations (with some haphazard driving involving trucks & many impatient drivers in the temporary bypass sections).

Took the Rayakottai route on the way back - the road was almost empty. However, had to take some diversions through villages. Look out for signs and avoid taking this route while it is dark.

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Originally Posted by rdeivan (Post 5859370)

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.

Hi, we have plans to come from Varkala to Bangalore and planning to start from Varkala by 12PM.

What would you suggest be the best route for hassle free driving and best roads? Maps shows, Varkala - Tenkasi- Rajapalyam- Madurai - Salem- Bangalore. Your thoughts please?

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Originally Posted by sajiseb (Post 5901788)

Travelled to BLR on 28th December, 7 am start from Nalanchira, TVM. Took the regular route via NH (Thiruvallom), Kaliyikkavila Nagercoil. Could reach SAV transport fuels before Panakudi in 2 hours thanks to the low traffic. The Kaliyikkavilai- Kumaracoil road surface is not as bad as it usually gets, but is not the best that a regular traveller would have experienced along this route to date.
As we reached Thoppur by 430 only, we took the route via Krishnagiri. The construction work around Salem and the one at Attibele added almost an hour to the drive, but being the mid holiday season, there was no hold up at Electronic City. The other flyover construction sectors were more permissive, but are potential choke points when regular traffic commences. Totally we took 13 hours and 15 minutes to reach Silk Institute along NICE road, almost an hour more than our routine drive that includes 3 fuel-loo breaks and a couple of short 15 min halts for having packed lunch and for coffee. Not decided yet about the return route later this week.

Quick update on the drive from Varkala/TVM to Bangalore.

Varkala-Tenkasi: Brilliant KL roads and sparse traffic. Can do 70-90 in most of the times.
Tenkasi- Tirunelveli: 4 lane roads with few barricades around all the small towns. Can do 80-90 comfortable but not beyond 100 as a lot of two wheeler use it.
Tirunelveli - Salem- Krishnagiri - Bangalore: NH44 all the way and the raod in butter smooth till Salem. Can just set the cruise control at 110 for most of the times. Crossed Salem at 830PM and didn't encounter much traffic (got lucky!) and all the deviation didn't take up much time. I did Salem flyover to EC city toll in just 2 hours 10 mins.

My travel date was Jan 15th and the roads were surprisingly empty( Makar Sankranti?), I felt like there's lockdown like in 2020 times.

Thoroughly enjoyed the drive and very surprised seeing how good KL roads, the towns were so clean, and drivers are much more matured. Driven in most of the states in India, guess KL would easily be in one of the top.

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Originally Posted by SideView (Post 5934097)

Hi Folks,

I usually take the Nagercoil route to Tvm (was a pain last time)

Whats the thoughts on the below route:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XfegPuBWaasZAbbB7?g_st=ic

Nagercoil will be quicker for sure. Its just about managing the 35 Kms 2L stretch from Nagercoil till Kaliyakkavilai. If possible avoid peak hours to cover this stretch.

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Originally Posted by Thanos-VV (Post 5934214)

Any recent update on the road condition/ Road work between Aryankaavu and Madurai via Rajapalayam for an early morning drive.
....

There are still some diversions between Madurai (Tirumangalam) and KrishnanKoil (about 10kms before Srivilliputhur). From Krishnankoil till Rajapalayam it's a greenfield road, not open for public. But Madurai to Krishnankoil is generally more manageable now as some stretches within this 50+kms were fully completed. Definitely usable in day time.

Alternately you can also proceed in 4-track till Virudhunagar & take the right turn to Sivakasi. There is a Sivakasi bye pass (a little narrow) that leads to Srivilliputhur. This way you can completely avoid any road work diversions.