[sbraj]

Originally Posted by kj302

Sorry for boasting myself. I have done Blr-kavalkinar (exit from GQ to nagercoil) in 5 hr 42 minutes last thursday.

For me, it usually takes much more time to cover this stretch. I was really surprised with the sparse traffic on this stretch on Jan 1. Looks like most folks were busy celebrating New Year day. I was driving in a speed range of 100-120 kmph, not more than that.

BTW, the unbelievable word was more for me than for any one else. The timings were unbelievable for me, that is all.

[kala]

Originally Posted by kj302

Sorry for boasting myself. I have done Blr-kavalkinar (exit from GQ to nagercoil) in 5 hr 42 minutes last thursday.

Very much possible if the Dindigul-Nagercoil stretch is in the same condition as the Dindigul-Salem road. As per my GPS logs I managed to cover the 290 kms from Dindigul to Chinnar A2B (where I stopped for lunch) in 2 hrs 58 minutes this morning, and it included almost 10 minutes of slow traffic around Salem. An average of around 100 kmph is very much achievable on NH7 I think..

[sbraj]

Originally Posted by kala

if the Dindigul-Nagercoil stretch is in the same condition as the Dindigul-Salem road

Dindigul-Kavalkinaru stretch is excellent except for the Samayanallur overbridge where there is no road. Plus there is a diversion near Kayathar.

Kavalkinaru is the junction where the NH7 proceeds straight to Kanyakumari and NH47B starts towards Nagercoil via Aralvaimozhi-Mahendragiri-Thovalai. NH47B is a decent two lane road. But once in the Nagercoil town, the road quality is average. Near Vadassery, it is very bad, almost 4x4 stuff.

[kala]

Planning to drive to Trivandrum via Salem-Madurai-Nagercoil tomorrow early morning. Haven't driven on the new NH7 south of Dindigul so far- are there unusual diversions etc that one needs to be aware of (like for instance new bye-passes that aren't well marked and can be missed) ?

I'm aware that I need to deviate from NH7 to NH47B at Kavalkinar. Is this deviation properly marked ? Any other tips on things to watch out for on this route would be welcome too.

Since I'll be reaching Nagercoil sometime around noon, hoping that the traffic on NH47 wouldn't be too bad..

Thanks in advance.

[pramodpk]

Drove from Bangalore to Trivandrum on April 22nd. Details below

[ampere]

How is Hotel Annapoona? Is it on the by-pass or one needs to go into the town?

[pramodpk]

Hotel Annapoorna looks good from outside but not so great inside.
They also don't have toilet facility. When asked, we were directed to the toilet in a room. Food was Ok. Served in banana leaf.
It is on the bypass. No need to go into the city. Infact, I was looking for Hotel Aristo which is mentioned earlier in this thread but could not find it.

[Sunney]

From Tvm there is one more enjoyable route: Kayamkulam-Mavelikkara-Chengannur-Kozhencherry-Ranni-Kanjirappally-Mundakkayam-Kumily-Theni-Dindukkal-Trichy-Bangalore.
It is very scenic the Kanjirappally-Mundakkayam-Kumily-Theni stretch, with Tea gardens, good ghat roads of high altitude, a change from mundane TN route. Comparatively short too.

[ampere]

The route is scenic. But is it fast? Thats because I think you would spend time on the roads of Kerala and may get beaten by traffic.

But having said that, Kumily is amazing.

Originally Posted by Sunney

From Tvm there is one more enjoyable route: Kayamkulam-Mavelikkara-Chengannur-Kozhencherry-Ranni-Kanjirappally-Mundakkayam-Kumily-Theni-Dindukkal-Trichy-Bangalore.

Originally Posted by ampere

Kumily is amazing.

I travelled on this route on 24/25 April 2011 as suggested by Sunney from Kayamkulam to Bangalore. But, from Dindukkal, one can directly go to Bangalore on NH 7 without touching Trichy, unless otherwise, one wants to go there to visit temples or due to some work.

The route is picturesque and the roads are excellent all the way without much traffic. But, the road condition deteriorates on either side of Kumily and one should bear with this bad road to an extent of about 10 km.

Originally Posted by Sunney

Comparatively short too.

NH7/208 or NH7/47/47B routes are shorter than this route via Kumily.

[Sunney]

@The route is scenic. But is it fast? Thats because I think you would spend time on the roads of Kerala and may get beaten by traffic.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes. When you have to get out of Kerala, this stretch of 'Kerala' road is not busy hence fast.
And 'fast road' very relative. Lot of Indian roads are much faster than Kerala's. But no Indian road is near to Autobahn, or US freeways....

[pramodpk]

Drove from Trivandrum to Bangalore via Nagercoil. Updates on new eateries in the below post.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post2469264

[~~VinZ~~]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Drove from Bangalore to Trivandrum on April 22nd. Details below
Attachment 540668

Thanks. Short and detailed log.

This would really help me for my drive to TVM tomorrow early morning or tonight and back on Saturday Night.

So is this the FASTEST route to TVM from BLR now? I have heard from people that the route through SALEM and MADUREI is the fastest (4 lane) So I belive this is the one. But someone confirming would boost me up

Anyone else with better suggestions are allways WELCOME.

Driving: Myself
Wheels: Punto Em Pk MJD
People on board: 3 (230KG) + 50 KG luggage

Questions:
1) Should i be cautious/worried about anything in this route?
2) Any photogenic scenic places on the way?

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ~~VinZ~~

Thanks. Short and detailed log.

This would really help me for my drive to TVM tomorrow early morning or tonight and back on Saturday Night.

So is this the FASTEST route to TVM from BLR now? I have heard from people that the route through SALEM and MADUREI is the fastest (4 lane) So I belive this is the one. But someone confirming would boost me up

Anyone else with better suggestions are allways WELCOME.

Driving: Myself
Wheels: Punto Em Pk MJD
People on board: 3 (230KG) + 50 KG luggage

Questions:
1) Should i be cautious/worried about anything in this route?
2) Any photogenic scenic places on the way?

This would be the fastest route to Trivandrum from Bangalore.

Only disadvantage of this route is the drive from Nagercoil to Trivandrum which can take around 2-3 hours. Plan to cross this during off peak hours.
If you start at around 4:00 AM from Bangalore, you can reach Trivandrum by 2:00 PM and avoid peak hour traffic between Nagercoil and Trivandrum.

There are a lot of Windmills near Nagercoil (for photography).

[Tommie]

I drove back yesterday from Trivandrum to Bangalore.
Starting time: 5:45AM
Destination time: 3:45PM
Pit stops: Breakfast, Coffee, Lunch + 2 refueling (totally around 1.5hours)
Actual driving time: 8.5 hours

No of drivers: Single
Total toll paid: Rs. 494/-
Road condition: Excellent (not driven on better roads for 730 kms stretch in India). The Kerala road is too narrow and potential to cause real bad accidents.


Best practices:
1) Try to exit Trivandrum-Nagarcoil section before 7AM. Similarly after 10PM.
2) Do not enter Bangalore on a Sunday evening(or a long weekend). All the toll roads would be blocked.
3) Do not push yourself hard on Trivandrum-Nagarcoil road. Its too dangerous.


My onward journey was to Kottayam via Theni-Kumili. Even the road is good there till Kumili. The road from Kumili to Kottayam is pretty bad with too many pot holes and your average speed would be cut-down.