[pramodpk]

I drove from Bangalore to Vaikom on Jan 21st and back on Jan 29th. Took the NH 7 - NH 47 route. While coming back took the Attibele - Sarjapur - Varthur route to Brookefield (saves 10 kms and time). Trip sheets below.

Bangalore - Vaikom



Vaikom - Bangalore



The worst stretch is between Wayalar and Coimbatore bypass but this is only 14 kms. I would recommend the NH 7 NH 47 route.

I also noticed the newly opened Saravana Bhavan after Salem. It is accesible from both sides. It is approximately 25 KMs from the NH 47 ramp at Salem on the LHS while going to Coimbatore.

[DieselLover]

All,
I am planning Kochi - Chennai trip next weekend. Starting from Kochi early morning on Saturday and try to reach chennai by late evening.
Planning to take NH47 upto Salem but google maps is giving multiple options after Salem.

Salem-Dharmapuri-Vellore-Chennai
Salem-Attur-Villupuram-Chennai
Salem-Harur-Singarapettai-Melvisharam-Kanchipuram-Chennai

The total distance on all these routes are more or less same (as per google). Which is the best route in terms of traffic, road conditions etc.
Also, is it wise to byepass Walayar by taking Wadakanchery-Kollengode-Pollachi route?

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Which is the best route in terms of traffic, road conditions etc.
Also, is it wise to byepass Walayar by taking Wadakanchery-Kollengode-Pollachi route?

Salem-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Chennai would be an no-nonsense route. Excellent 4-lane roads all the way - there would be moderate-to-heavy traffic after Poonamalle bypass.

There is no need to bypass Walayar - if your scare is only about road condition. I did Perundurai-Thrissur bypass in less than 4 hours - driving at around 70kmph all the time (I was leading a convoy - so not much scope of speeding), including two breaks (each 10-15 minutes). Left Perundurai (Hotel Annalakshmi) around 1830, and I was at Mannuthy before 2200hrs. This was on a working day (Last Thursday)

[DieselLover]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Salem-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Chennai would be an no-nonsense route. Excellent 4-lane roads all the way - there would be moderate-to-heavy traffic after Poonamalle bypass.

There is no need to bypass Walayar - if your scare is only about road condition. I did Perundurai-Thrissur bypass in less than 4 hours - driving at around 70kmph all the time (I was leading a convoy - so not much scope of speeding), including two breaks (each 10-15 minutes). Left Perundurai (Hotel Annalakshmi) around 1830, and I was at Mannuthy before 2200hrs. This was on a working day (Last Thursday)

Thanks binaiks. I am worried about traffic block at Walayar. Had a bad experience while driving to Bangalore couple of months back. We were held up at for around 2hrs near the border and the stretch betweem Walayar and Coimbatore bypass was pretty bad.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Thanks binaiks. I am worried about traffic block at Walayar. Had a bad experience while driving to Bangalore couple of months back. We were held up at for around 2hrs near the border and the stretch betweem Walayar and Coimbatore bypass was pretty bad.

If that is the case, then you can take the Pollachi-Palldam-Kangeyam-Perundurai option.
That would bypass both Walayar and CBE.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

Thanks binaiks. I am worried about traffic block at Walayar. Had a bad experience while driving to Bangalore couple of months back. We were held up at for around 2hrs near the border and the stretch betweem Walayar and Coimbatore bypass was pretty bad.

Stretch between Walayar - Coimbatore is bad. Drove from Blore last weekend. But no traffic at the checkpost. Watch out for the TN cops. They are checking some cars just after Walayar check post. Not stopping all cars but stopped mine. Might be because I have dark tints on the windshield and thought I might be trying to smuggle something.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Watch out for the TN cops. They are checking some cars just after Walayar check post. Not stopping all cars but stopped mine. Might be because I have dark tints on the windshield and thought I might be trying to smuggle something.

They checked my car several times, especially during night here. I hope this is the place with both male and lady constables.

[joecherian]

Got a live update from my friend who, is on the way to kottayam right now through the kumily route. Seems lot of diversions from dindigul till kl border for road widening. Strongly recommended not to take this route atleast for the next couple of months.

[DieselLover]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Salem-Krishnagiri-Vellore-Chennai would be an no-nonsense route. Excellent 4-lane roads all the way - there would be moderate-to-heavy traffic after Poonamalle bypass.

There is no need to bypass Walayar - if your scare is only about road condition. I did Perundurai-Thrissur bypass in less than 4 hours - driving at around 70kmph all the time (I was leading a convoy - so not much scope of speeding), including two breaks (each 10-15 minutes). Left Perundurai (Hotel Annalakshmi) around 1830, and I was at Mannuthy before 2200hrs. This was on a working day (Last Thursday)

What is the approx. total time required for Kochi-Chennai on this route? Can we make it in around 12-13 hrs? We will be driving a Swift D

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

They checked my car several times, especially during night here. I hope this is the place with both male and lady constables.

Yes, that's the place. It's got barricades too.

[RIC.BURNS]

Im planning for a trip from Chennai to Kattapana may be next week or after. Thinking of hitting chennai-tiruchirappalli-dindigal-kattapana which would clock around 561 per Gmaps, are there any other better routes?

Most importantly are the Dam rampages over at TN/Kerala borders?

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by DieselLover

What is the approx. total time required for Kochi-Chennai on this route? Can we make it in around 12-13 hrs? We will be driving a Swift D

Easily in 12-13 hours. I recently traveled from Kochi (Woodlands Jn, MG Road) to Chennai (Koyambedu CMBT) in KPN's Volvo B9R - he did the distance in exactly 13 hours (2030hrs dep, 0930hrs arrival). This included three long breaks, and heavy traffic from Poonamalle bypass onwards.

SO I am sure one can match the timings (if not better) with a car.

[naveen.raju]

Here are few hotels that I checked out during my recent drives to Blore

All distance calculated from EC (Blore). It shows the Odometer reading.
1) 65 kms - McDonalds, CCD and a veg restaurant (think it's name is Sreenivasa Inn)
2) 161 kms - A2B
3) 242 kms - Saravana Bhavan
4) 295 kms - Aryaas (Right side)

[NPV]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Here are few hotels that I checked out during my recent drives to Blore

All distance calculated from EC (Blore). It shows the Odometer reading.
1) 65 kms - McDonalds, CCD and a veg restaurant (think it's name is Sreenivasa Inn)
2) 161 kms - A2B
3) 242 kms - Saravana Bhavan
4) 295 kms - Aryaas (Right side)

The veg. restaurant (in the same campus where McD and CCD are located) is called Krishna Inn - This is in Shoolagiri
About 5-7 Km later on the left hand side there's a Bharat Petroleum campus that has Adayar Ananda Bhavan (A2B) - This is in Chinnar.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by RIC.BURNS

Im planning for a trip from Chennai to Kattapana may be next week or after. Thinking of hitting chennai-tiruchirappalli-dindigal-kattapana which would clock around 561 per Gmaps, are there any other better routes?

Most importantly are the Dam rampages over at TN/Kerala borders?

That is the best possible option. Just that do check out on how latch on to Dindigul highway at Trichy. You can also use Theni bypass.

I read there were some diversions near Kumily. Good to confirm.
I think traffic has become normal nowadays.