[surechim]

I'm planning a trip in this long week-end Bangalore(Madivala) to Palani during this long week-end with family (children)

1) Is the Krishnagiri-Dharmapuri-Thoppur-mettur-Bhavani-perundurai-Dharapuram route worth taking ,saves a lot of distance 362KM

(or)

2) Still the SALEM-Namakal-avalkurchi-Dharapuram is the preferred one? 395km

What all the vegetarian food options en-route?

How will be the crowd at Palani at this time?

Any suggestions on Good Hotels for a overnight stay appreciated

Thanks

[hserus]

1. Of course Palani will be crowded - long weekends are always like that. Book online

2. Most highway restaurants only serve veg food, finding quality non veg on highways is a bit of a challenge in TN at least.

3. New Palani Lodge is good. Very basic but close to the foot of the hill and has excellent meals in its restaurant.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by surechim

2) Still the SALEM-Namakal-avalkurchi-Dharapuram is the preferred one? 395km
What all the vegetarian food options en-route?
Any suggestions on Good Hotels for a overnight stay appreciated

I would recommend you to go via 2nd option - Salem-Namakkal-Karur-Aravakurichi-Dharapuram-Palani. Much peaceful route over, almost empty roads beyond Namakkal and less stressful.

As hserus mentioned, no doubt crowd will be heavy in Palani. If you are leaving on Nov 1st morning, even in restaurants on the way and toll traffic will be very high.

There are plenty of vegetarian hotels on the way till Karur or till you exit NH7. Between Aravakurichi/Dharapuram/Palani, there are no good stop over points until you reach palani. Since you are travelling with family, there is nothing to worry in this route.

Regarding hotels to stay, not sure about your budget, but Vels Court is a good place to stay for families or Hotel Subam Palani is also fine.

Have a good darshan

-Ravi

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by ravib

I would recommend you to go via 2nd option - Salem-Namakkal-Karur-Aravakurichi-Dharapuram-Palani. Much peaceful route over, almost empty roads beyond Namakkal and less stressful.

As hserus mentioned, no doubt crowd will be heavy in Palani. If you are leaving on Nov 1st morning, even in restaurants on the way and toll traffic will be very high.

Great route! Lovely roads. Thanks for the pointer!

[prsnck]

Team,

We plans to go Palani by end of Oct. Its been sometime anyone update the recent road condition and the best route to Palani from Bangalore. Can someone post the current best route with less traffic and breakers. 10-15 km in addition can be considered for tolerance to accept good roads. But of course would like to avoid bad roads, diversions, constructions etc. Please suggest.

Start time will be 5am and plans to return the next day. is that doable with family and 1 kid. Me and my father can drive and its Innova mostly.

Once we go will update this thread so that it helps rest of my fellow members.

Regards
Prsn

[hserus]

The roads are good till you reach Palani. After which once you climb the hill towards Palani the traffic gets denser and the roads are dug up in many places.

The road a couple of posts above is as good as any.

Originally Posted by prsnck

We plans to go Palani by end of Oct. Its been sometime anyone update the recent road condition and the best route to Palani from Bangalore. Can someone post the current best route with less traffic and breakers. 10-15 km in addition can be considered for tolerance to accept good roads. But of course would like to avoid bad roads, diversions, constructions etc. Please suggest.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by prsnck

Palani from Bangalore

Same route that's been recommended in the previous page. Bangalore-Salem-Karur-Aravakurichi-Kannivadi-Dharapuram bypass-Palani.

Avoid Dindigul-Palani like plague.

[prsnck]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Same route that's been recommended in the previous page. Bangalore-Salem-Karur-Aravakurichi-Kannivadi-Dharapuram bypass-Palani.

Avoid Dindigul-Palani like plague.

Thanks Narayan, will stick to this route.

[sunsivj]

Planning a trip to Palani in a week's time. Google map's preferred route is Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Aravakuruchi - Kallimandayam - Palani.

I have earlier travelled a few years before on the below route and found it good and was also Google map's prefer option at that time.
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Aravakuruchi - Vedasandur - Oddanchatram - Palani.

If someone recently travelled or knows of the road condition, kindly update.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by sunsivj

I have earlier travelled a few years before on the below route and found it good and was also Google map's prefer option at that time.
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Aravakuruchi - Vedasandur - Oddanchatram - Palani.

I traveled twice in the past three years - the last time being January 2020. The road is excellent upto the last 30-40 km which is in its usual indifferent state whenever I’ve traveled there.

Of course drive cautiously through the Thoppur ghat area.

[jkrishnakj]

Friends - Does the route Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Avarakuruchi - Dharapuram - Palani still make sense?

A sudden trip coming up in the next couple of hours. Will appreciate the inputs. It’s been 2 years that i hadn’t visited Palani and thought it best to check before departing.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Friends - Does the route Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Avarakuruchi - Dharapuram - Palani still make sense?

A sudden trip coming up in the next couple of hours. Will appreciate the inputs. It’s been 2 years that i hadn’t visited Palani and thought it best to check before departing.

Oddanchatram is the way point before Palani from this side. Unless you want to visit Dharapuram for some reason. Roads are in A+ condition all the way to Kanyakumari dt, you will cover distance in very less time. Please do recharge the fastag.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Friends - Does the route Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Avarakuruchi - Dharapuram - Palani still make sense?

Yes. Its a much peaceful route than going via Dindigul-Oddanchatram. Traffic is minimal via Dharapuram-Kannivadi-Aravakurichi.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Yes. Its a much peaceful route than going via Dindigul-Oddanchatram. Traffic is minimal via Dharapuram-Kannivadi-Aravakurichi.

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Friends - Does the route Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Avarakuruchi - Dharapuram - Palani still make sense?

+1 absolutely. 200% agree. Much peaceful route with almost minimal/no traffic.
Dindigul-Ottanchatram-Palani is heavy in traffic, so you are better off to take dharapuram route, when going from Bangalore.

-Ravi

[jkrishnakj]

I did finish my trip that evening. The Darshan time was pathetic, with huge crowds.

I’m the route, I made it in good time all the way near Oddanchattiram. Somehow gmaps was forcing me towards the Dharapuram side post Namakkal and I kept going ahead towards Dindigul. At one point, the gmaps was confused (around Vedasantur I guess). It routed me through some really narrow and deserted Village Road for about 4KM before I found the SH to Oddanchatram.

There were 3 places where work is going on at the Oddanchatram-Palani stretch that saw jams. Railway crossing saw some TN state buses occupy all parts of the road leading to a time delay post the gate opening.

Barring this, roads were super good.