[Surprise]

I guess Velankanni is around 375 kms from Chennai. I know there are two ways to get to velankanni one via ECR through Pondy, kadalur, & chidambaram/ other via tindivanam, kumbakonam & thanjavur

But don't know the exact route and distance between places & also about the road conditions.

Which is the best route to Velankanni from Chennai?
Whats the distance?
How about the road conditions?

pls help

[rjstyles69]

Surprise I had done Pondy -Velankanni last April, have written a travelogue too on the same.

Route : Pondy –Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Seargazhi(Sirkali) –Karaikkal-Nagoor-Nagapattinam-Velankanni (Distance : 180 kms / Highway : NH45a)

Pondy to Chidambaram roads are superb. About 10kms from Chidambaram the road narrows down into a 6 feet wide road for a few kms.

Bad roads once again after crossing Nagapattinam. For about 5 kms there is virtually no roads towards Velankanni. Could have changed by now since the road work was on then.

So distance between Chennai and Pondy + 180 kms.

[PRADEEP KUMAR]

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

Surprise I had done Pondy -Velankanni last April, have written a travelogue too on the same.

Route : Pondy –Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Seargazhi(Sirkali) –Karaikkal-Nagoor-Nagapattinam-Velankanni (Distance : 180 kms / Highway : NH45a)

Pondy to Chidambaram roads are superb. About 10kms from Chidambaram the road narrows down into a 6 feet wide road for a few kms.

Bad roads once again after crossing Nagapattinam. For about 5 kms there is virtually no roads towards Velankanni. Could have changed by now since the road work was on then.

So distance between Chennai and Pondy + 180 kms.

Hi,
spot on.
After about a couple of kms from Sirkazhi you will find a left with a huge sign board directing to Velankanni. Take this route it will be shorter by 25 kms.And this is via Thirukaddiyur,nad karaikal,nagore as mentioned.
These are single roads with heavy tanker lorries operating from narimanam and genral village traffic. In thirukaddiyur be sure to take the right turn ,straight you hit poompuhar.

[ksethuram]

The route with better roads all the way is
Tambaram, Tindivanam, Pondichery, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Veilankanni.

[Surprise]

After about a couple of kms from Sirkazhi you will find a left with a huge sign board directing to Velankanni. Take this route it will be shorter by 25 kms.And this is via Thirukaddiyur,nad karaikal,nagore as mentioned

Straight goes to which place and how does it takes to velakanni

Originally Posted by ksethuram

The route with better roads all the way is
Tambaram, Tindivanam, Pondichery, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Veilankanni.

will we touch Sirkazhi in this route.

[rjstyles69]

Yes you will touch Sirkazi, its the next town/city after Chidambaram.

Surprise I would say go ahead and do the drive.Its simply a nice experience and quite a few places to stop by. I enjoyed every bit of my drive and will do it again in the near future.

[ksethuram]

If you are leaving city between 6-10 in the evening take ECR to pondy, same way if you are entering chennai between 6-9 AM on all days or 6-9 PM on sunday take ECR road as Thindivanam Tambaram road is known to have heavy traffic these times.

[rjstyles69]

Surprise all I can say is that nothing can outbeat the scenic beauty along ECR. Beyond that its your call, drive safe .

[nickatnite]

Do not miss driving through the rice fields of Thanjavur district!.I will post pics later to give you an idea.And, the roads are in good condition!.A surprise.

[neoranjit]

if you havent left yet, dont miss Point calimere past velankani. Awesome place. They say you can see the lights from SriLanka when it gets dark.

[mail4ajo]

I am planning to drive to Velankanni again in a few weeks. Last time we went, I reached Velankanni in 311kms.

Any info on the road conditions of late since we had some bad rains?

[ramkya1]

I will be taking the Tanjore, Velankanni, Pattukottai, Rameswaram route shortly. These posts are God-sent to know what to expect in and around Nagapattinam and Velankanni.

Has anyone travelled thro the East Cost Road to Rameswaram, Tuticorin, Terichendur recently? It would be a great help to know the conditions to plan timings etc.

--Ramky

[mail4ajo]

Any one taken this route recntly. Badly need the road condition update to choose between 2 cars Alto or Santro.

[csentil]

Originally Posted by ksethuram

The route with better roads all the way is
Tambaram, Tindivanam, Pondichery, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Veilankanni.

Nope... when you have the ECR why take Tindivanam route?

Easier to go to Pondy is the ECR. Its Chennai->Thirvanmayur->Mahabalipuram->Pondy....

[mail4ajo]

Driving from Pondicherry to Nagapattinam is a pain. After Chidambarram the roads get worst. Avoid night driving. Rains have worsened the road now.

Closer to Sirkali, a long stretch has a single vehicle road where you have to be extremely careful as there is deep edges on both sides of the road. If you are on a small car, stop for the other vehicle to pass as moving onto the edge is dangerous. I had a taste of it last week.