[straightdrive]

Originally Posted by Dadi Bhote

...Intend to travel to Chennai via Ongole : Can someone who has taken the route recently - after the rains and floods- advise me on the road conditions specially on the NH5 before and after Ongole? Is road vis Nagarjuna sagar - Macherla, Pidugurlla, Chilakaluripet - intact or has rains and flloding affected it?........

A few posts down you will see a post from me on 6 Oct on the Chennai - Hyd route through Pidiguralla and Miriyalguda just after the floods. Don't know about the Macherla area though.

NH 5 from Chilakaluripet to Chennai is absolutely fine.

[Dadi Bhote]

Originally Posted by straightdrive

A few posts down you will see a post from me on 6 Oct on the Chennai - Hyd route through Pidiguralla and Miriyalguda just after the floods. Don't know about the Macherla area though.

NH 5 from Chilakaluripet to Chennai is absolutely fine.

Thank you. Glad to know most of the route is oK.

Dadi

[ssengo]

I am planning to do a weekend trip to Hyderabad from Chennai with my family with Kid. This is my first ride to AP in my new Maruti 800 which is 2 months old and driven 3500 odd kms far.

I would need help on the following details :

1. Shortest possible route with road conditions
2. Approximate Travel time
3. Pit stops on the way

Appreciate comments from the team.

[Harry1983]

Hi Vinodh,

I drove back from Chennai to Hyderabad in June and tool Chennai-Ongole-Pidiguralla-Narkatpally-Hyd route and it was good. I drive Zen Estilo and prefer smooth roads. As your's is a verna, you can choose few rough roads which can reduce the distance.

[gajadonga]

I driven this stretch 5 times.Hyderabad-Narketpally-Piduguralla-Addanki-Ongole is the best bet and the shortest possible time.The problem is between Hyderabad to Narketpally heavy traffic if you want to avoid this stretch then Ibrahimpatnam-Nagarjunasagar-Macherla-Dichipally-Piduguralla would be better.Piduguralla to Addanki road is average about 80kms.

[Dadi Bhote]

Hi,

We did this route last week : Hyd-Ibrahimpatnam-Nagarjunasagar-Macherla-Pidugurla-Narsaroapet-Chilkaluripet-Ongole- Nellore - Chennai.

The road is fairly good and this route has less traffic and that makes up for the road conditions in bits here and there. Did not take Adanki road as it is said to be very bad. Time taken with b'fast and lunch and tea stops was 10.5 hours.

Chilkaluripet to Chennai is a breeze on the NH . Watch out however for vehicles coming on the wrong side/ wrong way on this stretch.

On return, there is a very good stop for a meal : 280 Kms from Chennai on teh NH5 are a few local village ladies cooking dosas, idly vada etc fresh on the roadside in small carts . Excellent and clean too. There are also a couple of road side RELIANCE A1 style food stops on the NH which appeared nice. Not much else by way of dhabas.

Dadi Bhote

Originally Posted by gajadonga

I driven this stretch 5 times.Hyderabad-Narketpally-Piduguralla-Addanki-Ongole is the best bet and the shortest possible time.The problem is between Hyderabad to Narketpally heavy traffic if you want to avoid this stretch then Ibrahimpatnam-Nagarjunasagar-Macherla-Dichipally-Piduguralla would be better.Piduguralla to Addanki road is average about 80kms.

[gajadonga]

From Macherla which route did you take to Piduguralla was it through Karempudi or Dichipally

[Dhanasekaran]

Just follow this route;

Hyd-Ibrahimpatnam-Mallepalli-Sagar-Narsaraopet-Chilkaluripet-Ongole_Nellore-Chennai

Do not take any diversions after sagar to Pidigurala. There are heavy rim breakers and you will eventually loose lot of time.

Drive from Narsaraopet to Chilakluripet will be time killing, but it is worth crossing this section with little patience.

NH5 from Chilakluripet to Chennai will be a breeze. Only thing you should be prepared to pay a huge toll tax on the entire stretch.

Just wondering unlike NH4 stretch the toll taxes are not streamlined in NH5. They charge you money of any ODD like Rs.43, Rs.57, Rs.38 and so on.

HVKUMAR can you pls clarify us on the conditions for arriving this toll tax and between 2 toll booths what should be the minimum/maximum distance???

Originally Posted by Dadi Bhote

Hi,

We did this route last week : Hyd-Ibrahimpatnam-Nagarjunasagar-Macherla-Pidugurla-Narsaroapet-Chilkaluripet-Ongole- Nellore - Chennai.

The road is fairly good and this route has less traffic and that makes up for the road conditions in bits here and there. Did not take Adanki road as it is said to be very bad. Time taken with b'fast and lunch and tea stops was 10.5 hours.

Chilkaluripet to Chennai is a breeze on the NH . Watch out however for vehicles coming on the wrong side/ wrong way on this stretch.

On return, there is a very good stop for a meal : 280 Kms from Chennai on teh NH5 are a few local village ladies cooking dosas, idly vada etc fresh on the roadside in small carts . Excellent and clean too. There are also a couple of road side RELIANCE A1 style food stops on the NH which appeared nice. Not much else by way of dhabas.

Dadi Bhote

[srikanthpotluri]

Hi,

Following to what Dhanasekaran said above - we are planning to go to hyderabad on Dec 02nd eary morning through this route - Hyd-Ibrahimpatnam-Mallepalli-Sagar-Narsaraopet-Chilkaluripet-Ongole_Nellore-Chennai.

Return would be on Dec 06th post noon. I am assuming by evening to reach Chilkaluripet and NH5 should be OK for the dark hours.

However I want to know is this stretch bad? "Drive from Narsaraopet to Chilakluripet will be time killing"

Please let me know if there are any more updates?

[srikanthpotluri]

Hi Team - Planning to go to hyd next wed Dec 02nd early morning.

Is this route OK? Chennai-Nellore-Ongole-Chilkaluripet-Narsaraopet-Mallepalli-Sagar-Ibrahimpatnam-Hyderabad.

Please let me know if the stretch is all smooth? where can we have lunch?

return would be through same route, and it will in the evening. planning to reach NH5 by 6 or 7, then I am assuming can reach Chennai by max 11:30.

Any updates or guidance is helpful.

Regards
Sri

[gajadonga]

Hi Srikanth I have travelled this route about 4-5 times I have always taken Ongole Piduguralla Narketpalli route.The road from Addanki to Pidugurala is average 70kms after that roads are ok.If you want to avoid Vijayawada highway traffic then after Piduguralla you have to go towards Sagar through Dichipally.I have seen in a post saying that Nagarjuna sagar - Macherla, Pidugurlla, Chilakaluripet this route is also good but have not tried.After Ongole you do not have any good eating places till Piduguralla.

[straightdrive]

Originally Posted by srikanthpotluri

....Is this route OK? Chennai-Nellore-Ongole-Chilkaluripet-Narsaraopet-Mallepalli-Sagar-Ibrahimpatnam-Hyderabad......return would be through same route, and it will in the evening. planning to reach NH5 by 6 or 7, then I am assuming can reach Chennai by max 11:30...

Have heard this route is fine too though I have only gone through Chilakaluripet- Pidiguralla - Narkatpalli.

For your return, you have said it will be in the evening. Hyderabad to Chennai will take 11 to 14 hours depending on your driving style and traffic conditions. So if you want to reach Chennai by 11.30 pm I suggest you leave not later than 12 noon.

[Ravveendrra]

The road via Nagarjuna Sagar is the best as the road condition is good.

[srikanthpotluri]

hi team - thanks for the response, is there a way to avoid Piduguralla? After Narasaraopet - is there no straight stretch to sagar?

and due to the issues in hyd, recently are there any road blocks? any updates are helpful.

[SDK]

Originally Posted by Ravveendrra

The road via Nagarjuna Sagar is the best as the road condition is good.

Am going to Chennai/Pondicherry on the 3rd of Dec.

Intend to take the Hyd-Sagar-Macherla-Pidiguralla-Narasaraopet-Chilakaluripet state highway and then NH5 all the way to Chennai.

Plan is to start around 2:30 AM from Hyderabad.
Is it safe to travel on the Sagar road before sunrise since I am traveling with my family ?
Also, any problems in this route due to the issues in/around Hyd since yesterday ?