[Horizon81]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Any possibility of sending a update or PM once you reach home. I am planning to travel on Saturday.
FundaG

I'll update here once I reach. Haven't got PM privileges, as I've joined TBHP recently. Anyone else going this route before 5th SEP?

Salem->Thirumangalam->Shenkottai->Aryankavu->Thenmala->Punalur?

[glenmz]

Originally Posted by Knight Rider

Just did Bangalore - cochin, Cochin Bangalore over the last 4 days, Took the much recommended Bangalore-Selam-Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Palakkad Trissur-Ernakulam while going to Kerala and the roads were a breeze.

However while coming back, took the walayar route, The roads are in pathetic condition bundled with heavy traffic and intense rain. So folks driving down on the weekend take the first route as mentioned in my post.

Hope this helps!

Driving tonight. Is anyone else doing the same today?
Plan to try the pollachi route even though its unfamiliar. I was thinking of taking the Shornur route after walayar, but since the roads after Wadakkencherry are pretty ok, Pollachi appeals more.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by glenmz

Driving tonight. Is anyone else doing the same today?
Plan to try the pollachi route even though its unfamiliar. I was thinking of taking the Shornur route after walayar, but since the roads after Wadakkencherry are pretty ok, Pollachi appeals more.

Take Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Vadakkancherry route. Its much recommended over NH47. You can try Kollengode-Alathur-Vadakkancherry or Kollengode-Nenmara-Vadakkancherry, both are good.

https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/11...572737!1m0!3e0

With a deviation from Avinashi, you can avoid many irritating humps till L&T.

[glenmz]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Take Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi-Vadakkancherry route. Its much recommended over NH47. You can try Kollengode-Alathur-Vadakkancherry or Kollengode-Nenmara-Vadakkancherry, both are good.

https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/11...572737!1m0!3e0

With a deviation from Avinashi, you can avoid many irritating humps till L&T.

Thanks coolclouds. Wpuld like to avoid lonely stretches. Dont have much company.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by glenmz

Driving tonight. Is anyone else doing the same today?
Plan to try the pollachi route even though its unfamiliar. I was thinking of taking the Shornur route after walayar, but since the roads after Wadakkencherry are pretty ok, Pollachi appeals more.

Originally Posted by glenmz

Thanks coolclouds. Wpuld like to avoid lonely stretches. Dont have much company.

Follow the suggestion given by coolclouds. Avinashi-Mangalam-Palladam-Pollachi is a straight road without any deviations. Pollachi-Nenmara-Vadakkenchery is also fairly straight, once you enter the SH. Don't worry about lonely stretches, it's as safe as the NHs.

Please avoid the stretch between Walayar and Vadakkenchery - not worth the pain.

[newway]

Wayanad-guruvayoor- Alleppey - Took the route as bindad suggested. We had many stop overs to meet friends so could not calulate time. Overall road conditions were good.

Last Saturday , I drove back from Alleppey to Wayanad.I took Alleppey-Edappally- Aluva-Mannuthy -Thrissur - Kunnamkulam -Calicut-Wayand route. Google map showed 6.37 hours to cover 350kms however it took 12 hours

Edappally to Lulu mall was a horror , 1.5 hours in traffic jam. The rest of the journey was not that different. Kerala highways have to cut across so many small towns and you have a small town/junction every 2 -3kilometers, and heavy rains throughout my journey. No more long drive through Kerala for sure.

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Believe that should be till Chengannur, right. Cos the MC road from Chengannur to TVM is usually in good condition at all times. Though its been 4-5 months since I drove in that stretch, still I dont think it would be that deteriorated.

FundaG

MC road, Tvm-Chengannur is still in good shape.
There are just three places where it is broken. Ayoor junction, Just before the Adoor bypass and one more place which I donot recollect now. Had some heavy traffic around these broken patches last weekend.

But once you cross Chengannur, its horrible, with huge potholes all around :(

[civic-sense]

Driving to Kollam tomorrow. Starting early morning. Which route is the best at this time? Through Coimbatore, Ernakulam? Or via Tenkasi? Or is it worth driving via Madurai, Nagarkoil, Trivandrum?

[bejoy]

Originally Posted by civic-sense

Driving to Kollam tomorrow. Starting early morning. Which route is the best at this time? Through Coimbatore, Ernakulam? Or via Tenkasi? Or is it worth driving via Madurai, Nagarkoil, Trivandrum?

Starting early morning means you will end up in peak hours right from Avinashi. A strict no for driving through NH47 as the roads are bad along with peak Onam traffic. All roads would be crowded. Take NH7 to have a peaceful drive.

[LobsterB]

Originally Posted by civic-sense

Driving to Kollam tomorrow. Starting early morning. Which route is the best at this time? Through Coimbatore, Ernakulam? Or via Tenkasi? Or is it worth driving via Madurai, Nagarkoil, Trivandrum?

As Bejoy said, NH47 seems to be in pretty bad shape, even if it is not civic.
For the other two depends on what time you are starting. If you plan to cross over to Kerala after 8-9pm or before 7am consider Nagercoil, otherwise Tenkasi -Punalur is the best option now a days (did this one and NH47 a month back).

[Horizon81]

Originally Posted by civic-sense

Driving to Kollam tomorrow. Starting early morning. Which route is the best at this time? Through Coimbatore, Ernakulam? Or via Tenkasi? Or is it worth driving via Madurai, Nagarkoil, Trivandrum?

Definitely won't advise NH47. Also, isn't Madurai, Nagarkoil, TVM a lengthier route to Kollam?

I drove the Tenkasi route in July, and the roads were good. Advantage of this route is that you only need to drive ~60Kms on Kerala roads.

Could you please update on the road condition from Tenmala -> Punalur -> Kottarakkara if you finally choose to do the Tenkasi route? I'll be driving on Friday morning along the same route.

[Prodigy07]

Originally Posted by civic-sense

Driving to Kollam tomorrow. Starting early morning. Which route is the best at this time? Through Coimbatore, Ernakulam? Or via Tenkasi? Or is it worth driving via Madurai, Nagarkoil, Trivandrum?

Been to Karunagapally via Tenkasi/Punalur/Bharanikavu couple of weeks back. Roads are pretty good.

[civic-sense]

Originally Posted by bejoy

Starting early morning means you will end up in peak hours right from Avinashi. A strict no for driving through NH47 as the roads are bad along with peak Onam traffic. All roads would be crowded. Take NH7 to have a peaceful drive.

Last time I took the NH47 route on Onam eve, I was stuck on Thrissur - Ekm road.

Originally Posted by LobsterB

As Bejoy said, NH47 seems to be in pretty bad shape, even if it is not civic.
For the other two depends on what time you are starting. If you plan to cross over to Kerala after 8-9pm or before 7am consider Nagercoil, otherwise Tenkasi -Punalur is the best option now a days (did this one and NH47 a month back).

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Horizon81

Definitely won't advise NH47. Also, isn't Madurai, Nagarkoil, TVM a lengthier route to Kollam?

Lengthier, but would avoid the ghats and most of the drive would be on TN roads, which are good.

I drove the Tenkasi route in July, and the roads were good. Advantage of this route is that you only need to drive ~60Kms on Kerala roads.

Could you please update on the road condition from Tenmala -> Punalur -> Kottarakkara if you finally choose to do the Tenkasi route? I'll be driving on Friday morning along the same route.

Looks like I too would be driving on Friday morning only. Slight change in plans.

Originally Posted by Prodigy07

Been to Karunagapally via Tenkasi/Punalur/Bharanikavu couple of weeks back. Roads are pretty good.

Thanks. Just worried about the Tenkasi curve and jam at the border checkpost.

[jayeshgnath]

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to drive to Chennai from Thrissur, this Saturday (6th Sept.)

I will have my family in the i20 and planning to start by 2 in the afternoon (there is a wedding to attend to in the morning, so cannot start much earlier).

I have two routes in mind and need expert inputs to finalize on one:

Route 1: Via Salem -> Ulundurpet -> Villupuram -> Tindivanam.... Chennai

OR

Route 2: Via Salem -> Krishnagiri -> Vellore highway -> Arcot... Chennai

Kindly advise which route would be better in terms of road conditions. I do not mind driving few kilometers extra, as long as the road condition is good and traffic is less.

Also, how is the traffic at Walayar? Being Onam season, the freight traffic would be high i guess. Is there any option to avoid Walayar?

Regards,
Jayesh

[ampere]

Originally Posted by jayeshgnath

I have two routes in mind and need expert inputs to finalize on one:

Route 1: Via Salem -> Ulundurpet -> Villupuram -> Tindivanam.... Chennai

Its always this route to Chennai. Much lesser traffic beyond Salem.

Walayar? No way. You should do Kuthiran-Vadekkenchery-Kollengode-Pollachi-Palladam-Mangalam-Avinashi-Salem.

This would help cover distance much faster. Please chart out the map for Pollachi so as to not get lost in there. In case, you need help, ask for Palladam road.