[ravib]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

I am planning a Bangalore - Madurai - Karaikudi - Palani - Bangalore drive from Jan 26th to Jan 28th.

Which is the best route from Karaikudi to Palani. Plan is to start from Karaikudi at 2:00 PM on Jan 27th and drive to Palani and to return from Palani to Bangalore on Jan 28th.

How is the Palani - Perundurai road condition?

Thanks in advance.

I did a trip to Palani last year from Rameswaram-Madurai-Sembatti-Ottanchathiram-Palani and the roads were in good condition for 80 to 90% of the time. I hope it should be same, but i assume hserus update is more recent.

BTW, hope you are aware about upcoming Thai poosam festival. Watch out thousands and thousands of pedestrians walking to Palani in large groups in both sides of the road. Need to be extremely careful and this will slow down your speed for sure. And of course Palani temple will be very crowded too due to long weekend and Thai poosam festival and preparations.

From Palani to Bangalore, i didn't took Perundurai, but usually the traffic between Kangayem, Chennimalai, Perundurai is little high. Instead I can definetly suggest you to take Dharapuram route. Negligible traffic and roads are excellent via Mulanur, Kannivadi and you can join NH7 at Aravakurichi and drive back via Karur, Salem.

-Ravi

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by hserus

Close to Karaikudi on that road there's Pillayarpatti and Kundrakudi, so stop by there.

The closer you get to Palani the more horrible the road gets.

I am not aware of the Palani Perundurai road but the roads out of Palani in all directions are horrible for the first 30-40 km

Originally Posted by ravib

BTW, hope you are aware about upcoming Thai poosam festival. Watch out thousands and thousands of pedestrians walking to Palani in large groups in both sides of the road. Need to be extremely careful and this will slow down your speed for sure. And of course Palani temple will be very crowded too due to long weekend and Thai poosam festival and preparations.

Thank you so much for your inputs. I am cancelling my Palani trip this time. Will go at a later time when it is not crowded.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Thank you so much for your inputs. I am cancelling my Palani trip this time. Will go at a later time when it is not crowded.

Okay. Just so you know, even in oridinary days too Palani temple will be normally crowded as it is one of the arupadai veedu temples for Lord Murugan Of course, the festival season it will be super crowded.

Best is that you plan for ordinary days may be after a long weekend or when there is no festival.

-Ravi

[hserus]

I went over the new year weekend on a Friday which was a “special shashti” that apparently comes only once a year. So a huge crowd over and above Sabarimala pilgrims doing a tour of other temples on their way back home.

You can book darshan and golden chariot on the palani temple website and there are usually touts you can tip that will get you in through a back entrance if you’re in a hurry. Sad that they exist but well; when you are travelling with small kids, a chance to get in, have darshan and exit within ten minutes is a very attractive proposition.

[smnrock]

Originally Posted by ravib

Negligible traffic and roads are excellent via Mulanur, Kannivadi and you can join NH7 at Aravakurichi and drive back via Karur, Salem.

-Ravi

Is this still best route?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by smnrock

Is this still best route?

I dont know how Odanchatram has changed over years. If that part of the highway is good, then it may be worth trying to drive till Vedasandur and then head to Odanchatram.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by smnrock

Is this still best route?

Yes, For Bangalore (infact even for Madras) going via Aravakurichi-Kannivadi-Mulanur-Dharapuram is the peaceful route.

I did it just 2 weeks back, the first 5 kms out of Palani is a little busy beyond that its near empty roads where you can maintain 80-100. Watchout for unmarked speed breakers all through. They are very much spottable from a distance, so not a deal breaker.

Dindigul-Oddanchatram-Palani has gone down the drain from the last time I drove. There's lot of traffic + poorly managed diversions. It is doable, but when you have a better alternative, why take this route.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

I dont know how Odanchatram has changed over years. If that part of the highway is good, then it may be worth trying to drive till Vedasandur and then head to Odanchatram.

Not a recommended route for peace drive ampere. Its super busy and more pedestrians walking to Palani. For this case, the benefit of sticking to "highway" doesn't really help as it is more tiresome. We should look at the Perudurai or Dharapuram routes as best alternatives.

-Ravi

[smnrock]

Originally Posted by ampere

I dont know how Odanchatram has changed over years. If that part of the highway is good, then it may be worth trying to drive till Vedasandur and then head to Odanchatram.

i've been travelling quite often between madurai and palani via dindigul, recently two weeks back. This route is always busy and especially ottanchatram to palani is very high in traffic.

Originally Posted by narayans80

Yes, For Bangalore (infact even for Madras) going via Aravakurichi-Kannivadi-Mulanur-Dharapuram is the peaceful route.

I did it just 2 weeks back, the first 5 kms out of Palani is a little busy beyond that its near empty roads where you can maintain 80-100. Watchout for unmarked speed breakers all through. They are very much spottable from a distance, so not a deal breaker.

Dindigul-Oddanchatram-Palani has gone down the drain from the last time I drove. There's lot of traffic + poorly managed diversions. It is doable, but when you have a better alternative, why take this route.

Thanks, even google also suggested the same route(Aravakurichi-dharapuram). Left sunday afternoon and back on Yesterday evening. It is indeed fast and empty road all through. Only difference is, now all the speed breakers are well marked and some parts between dharapuram - palani are very newly laid.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ravib

Best is that you plan for ordinary days may be after a long weekend or when there is no festival.

-Ravi

I am thinking of doing a Palani trip coming weekend. Would it be too hot?
Is it a good time to go?

Many thanks.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

I am thinking of doing a Palani trip coming weekend. Would it be too hot?
Is it a good time to go?

Many thanks.

Yes, it will be hot, no doubt as we are going from Bangalore.
It will become super hot for next 5 months, so better of to go this monrth itself or plan beyond September/October for more manageable weather.

Having said that, if it is important to fulfill a vow or wish to god, frankly IMPO any month doesn't/shouldn't matter.

-Ravi

[hserus]

Originally Posted by ravib

Having said that, if it is important to fulfill a vow or wish to god, frankly IMPO any month doesn't/shouldn't matter.

Stay indoors in an ac room and climb the hill late in the evening when it is cooler, the temple stays open till quite late at night.

New Palani Lodge is basic but decent + has excellent food. The temple is also within walking distance unlike other hotels near the railway station where you need an auto to come back. Park your car at the hotel rather than trying to find parking near the temple would be a good idea.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Is it a good time to go?

Schools aren't off yet for summer vacation. So now would be the time Infact do it on a weekday, its even better.

We were there on a Monday in February, took the cable car up at 700am and were down at Adivaram by 815 am, darshan was done in 20-25 mins rest was just going around the temple, buying panchamirtham etc.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Schools aren't off yet for summer vacation. So now would be the time.

Originally Posted by hserus

Stay indoors in an ac room and climb the hill late in the evening when it is cooler

Originally Posted by ravib

Yes, it will be hot, no doubt as we are going from Bangalore.

Thanks for the inputs. I have booked accommodation at Vel's Court Palani.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ravib

so better of to go this monrth itself or plan beyond September/October for more manageable weather.

Originally Posted by hserus

Stay indoors in an ac room and climb the hill late in the evening when it is cooler, t

Originally Posted by narayans80

Schools aren't off yet for summer vacation. So now would be the time Infact do it on a weekday, its even better.

Thanks a lot for your inputs. Completed my Palani trip successfully.

Started at 5:00 AM from Whitefield on Saturday and reached Hotel Vel's court, Palani at 12:00 noon with breaks of around 45 mins.

Stayed at the Hotel till 5:15 PM and walked to the temple. Started climbing at 5:30 PM via the Elephant path and reached top in 25 mins. Took the special darshan for Rs 200/- as the Rs 20/- one had a long queue. Spent around 1 hour and got down via the Elephant path. Took around 15 mins. Had dinner at another hotel near temple and went back to the hotel.

Started at 10:00 AM from Palani on Sunday and reached Whitefield at 4:30 PM with breaks of around 45 mins.

Distance one way - 405 KMS.

Route taken - Bangalore - Sarjapur - Salem - Karur -Aravakurichi-Kannivadi-Mulanur-Dharapuram

The drive on NH7 is spoiled by barricades at all cross roads. The Karur - Aravakurichi-Kannivadi-Mulanur-Dharapuram is excellent with minimal traffic. Could cover 80 KMS in 70 mins while coming back. This is the route suggeste by google maps also.

Had a hassle free Fastag experience at all toll booths.