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-   -   Chennai to Velankanni : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/29647-chennai-velankanni-route-queries-2.html)

As a foreigner I was nervous about my first 'Highway' trip out of Chennai (I got used to the city driving and even enjoy it).

Now we have done the trip to Pondy twice, and the ECR that far is not only a good road, but it is also pretty free of commercial traffic.

Next we will venture as far as Chidambarram. And after that.....

Hi,
I am planning to drive to Nagoor this weekend.
Any info on the current road conditions since this has the latest update in Nov 2007?
rjstyles69 has suggested the below route
Pondy –Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Seargazhi(Sirkali) –Karaikkal-Nagoor I can take that route if it still the best choise.
Tried in google map and it gave me extra long driving directions via Kumbakonam...

I am not sure if this can be a new thread ...! (This is my first post ...any mistakes please excuse)

Thanks,
locoaman.

@ locoaman
Hi bro, i'm from karaikal. The route advised by rjstyles69 is correct. Unfortunately i read in a newspaper named 'Thina malar' few weeks ago that 2 highway bridges between chidambaram to pondy has weaken which forced vehicles to have 50km detour. Wish i knew the status of the bridges now or detour info. I'm yet to travel to chennai on first week next month. So i'm expecting someone here who has faced the bridges or detour who can provide valuable info.

P.S Google chooses routes which doesn't necessarily mean optimized when highway route is involved.

Roads nearing Chidambaram town in inside from chennai direction: road totally sucks due to poor and bad road patchs which acts like mini speedbreakers!!

Note from the Team-BHP Support Team : Please use the "edit" button if posting within 15 minutes of the first post, instead of creating another back-to-back post

Also use "Multi Quote" option for quoting Multiple posts.

Last I traveled in this route was on Dec'2008 & roads are good (or should I say not that bad :) )

As Mail4ajo pointed out closer to Sirgali, the single road to a stretch of approximately around 2 kms is pain (esp if there are heavy vehicles traffic as u need to follow them for the complete stretch)

The road from Seergazhi to Kaaraikkal is very narrow and be careful in case you have to get off the road to let the vehicles in the opposite pass. Also there are few unexpected curves in this route so maintain a relatively lower speed in this stretch.

I went through this stretch last month.

I must say this is the most scenic stretch all along 200kms drive to Velankanni, should be done during the monsoons. The road is well laid and narrow, but the shoulders of the road is a death trap and your car can take a sound beating.

Anyone who recently travelled between chidambaram and pondy, please update us with the bridges/route condition or detour info. Thanks in advance.

Mod- i'm so sorry for the multiple posts as i posted via opera mini browser on my mobile which didn't support edit option.

HI,
I just finished my trip from chennai Anna nagar to Nagaappattinam/Nagore/Velankanni a holy trip.
While going I took Thindivanam road (i had to meet someone)
Chennai to Tindivanam - Excellent Road
Tindivanam to Pondy - Very good road(except few bad patches)
Pondy to Kadalur Route 45A - Good Roads (2 lanes - One way each)
Kadalur to Chidambaram Route 45A- Good Roads (2 lanes - One way each)
Chidambaram to Sirkazhi Route 45A- Good Roads (1 lane most of the time)
Sirkazhi to Karaikkal Route 45A - Bad streach (1 lane, very narrow, so many curves, road shoulders broke in many places, had to be careful with the oncoming Govt buses)
Karaikkal to Nagapattinum Route 45A - Good Roads (2 lanes/1 lane)
Roads are very narrow and bi-way traffic inside Nagoor/Nagapattinum/Velankanni
We stop by Kollidam river bank for lunch ... nice place along the that streach for a small break.

While returning I took same route but took ECR instead of Thindivanam to chennai.
Close to Aakur a railway over-bridge is being constructed but that is not hindering the road traffic.

Thanks locoaman bro for your contribution about route information. My trip to chennai airport got delayed till 16th. Thanks once again. Bye..

Thanks to chevy_lover and locoaman's information on road conditions to Velankanni, i also completed my long awaited trip.

Route Taken

Anna Nagar (Round Tana) - ECR - Pondy - Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Karaikal - Nagapattinam - Velankanni

Distance - 328 kms, Time taken 8 hours onwards (3:30 am to 11:30 am), 9 hours return (7:15 am to 4:15 pm) with 1 and 1.5 hrs stoppage respectively.

Condition of Roads - Great 70% of times, good 25% of times, except for a 10km stretch between Sirkali and Karaikal where the road is so narrow that both passing vehicles have to go off-road and the borders are full of ditches. My expectations are pretty lenient when it comes to travelling on Indian roads.

Advice: Route can be done with 5.5 - 6 hours non stop with manageable traffic. Try to beat the traffic as expectedly in smaller towns and villages, people use the national highways for tractors, bullock carts, drying grains etc.

Overall Mileage: Getz 1.3 GLE (2006) - 15.5 kmpl with 50% AC
Best Stretch - Anna Nagar to Pondy (HP Petrol Bunk) - 148 kms on 8 litres of power, 10% AC, 2.5 hours flat at cruising speed of 80-90 kmph.

Does anyone have recent updates on this route. Read that couple of reservoirs were opened in Cuddalore district, any damages to the- Pondy - Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Karaikal - Nagapattinam - Velankanni

Surprise,

It is a surprise that there i no great damage to the Velankanni Road. A friend of mine came a couple of days back from Nagappattinam and was told that there is no problem of the road. But it was not a serious talk, but the answer was for the casual question how was the Road.

Hi guys, Its time for me to take another trip -
Chennai to Kottaipattinum (down south of TN) in the month of Jan 2010
and as usual need your valuable advices on the Best (really best) routes - would preferre NH. I will positively post my experiences after my trip.

Thanks,
Locoaman.

Chennai-Tindivanam- Super Smooth
Tindivanam-Pondy- Fine to Ok
Pondy-Cuddalore-Fine
Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Fine
Chidambram-Sirgali-Fine
Sirgali-Karikal-Ok
Karikal-Nagai-Fine
Nagai-Velankani-Bad for first 3-4 kms & them fine

Return via ECR- Beautiful winding roads. Takes solid 8 hrs (all inclusive) due to traffic and single roads

Hi,
I am driving from Chennai to Velankanni, on 24th January, 2010, taking ECR out of Chennai. I plan to travel by the route suggested in earlier posts, that is; Chennai (ECR) Puducheri, Kadalur, Chidambaram, Karaikkal, Seergazhi. Velankanni. I will be driving my daughter's Maruti Swift. I am a careful driver and have no intentions of driving fast or dangerously. I expect to get an average speed of 4 KM/Hr and finish the journey in 10 hours, setting aside time for breakfast, lunch and a few short stops for photography. I hope this is not too much to ask for. A few quick questions
1. I heard of a diversion between Puducherry and Chidambaram. Have the bridges been repaired?
2. I plan to start early from Chennai, say 5 am. Which is a good place to have breakfast? Veg Restaurant at Kalpakkam or the Midway?
3. What about lunch? Any suggestions?

On the way back I'd again start very early, say 5 am. We would like to see Pichavarm briefly and spend an hour or so at Nagoor. We have to reach chennai by 6 PM on 26th for my friends to catch an evening train to Kochi.