[pypkmsrikanth]

Considering that Musiri route is in a not so bad condition, if you do not want to get caught up too much with Trichy town traffic, you can join the NH45, take the bypass and opt to go into Trichy Jn. by taking the service road after Ponmalai Railway bridge. Going to Ramyas is pretty easy from the bypass. This is nevertheless a very roundabout way to reach Hotel Ramyas but good for somebody who does not know the city roads in Trichy. It is also easier to get out of Jn. and hop onto the Thanjavur Road through the bypass as well.

[Torque123]

Hi Guys! An update from my side.

Did the Bangalore (Yelahanka) - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Namakkal - Kulitalai - Manaparai - (NH 45)Trichy.

Total 405 KMS. Excellent roads throughout. The stretch between Namakkal - Kulitalai is not too good but manageable.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by Torque123

Hi Guys! An update from my side.


Total 405 KMS. Excellent roads throughout. The stretch between Namakkal - Kulitalai is not too good but manageable.

Did you go from Nammakal-Thottiyam and crossed over towards Kulithalai or
did you go via Musiri to Trichy.
From the last update the road from Thottiam-Musiri was bad but manageble.

[rajag]

I travelled between Bangalore and Trichy last week. Based on the reports, I took the Musiri route. I went on the 6th and guess due to Ayudha Pooja, the roads were devoid of trucks. The road conditions as many have stated are fairly good and we did it in good time.

However, when we took this route back on the 9th (Sunday), the truck traffic on this route was insane. We came across several hundred "sand lorries" in either direction and it turned out to be a very tiring drive. So, my summary is this. The road condition itself is great and it is a pleasant route with canals to your side, fields and so on. But if you hit a "sand mine day" (assuming what I came across is not a daily affair), that is the end. It is incredibly painful. I think next time I will try NH-7 -> Karur -> NH-67 route.

[csateesh]

Originally Posted by rajag

We came across several hundred "sand lorries" in either direction and it turned out to be a very tiring drive.

@rajag - I really hope that this was just a spike

Originally Posted by Torque123

Did the Bangalore (Yelahanka) - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Namakkal - Kulitalai - Manaparai - (NH 45)Trichy.

Total 405 KMS. Excellent roads throughout. The stretch between Namakkal - Kulitalai is not too good but manageable.

@Torque - Would you be able to comment on the start time and duration of travel.

Thanks

[ravib]

I am planning to drive to Trichy and then further to Kumbakonam, after Deepavali.

With the current road condition, which is better option to take after Namakkal.

Namakkal-Musiri-Trichy
or
Namakkal-Kulithalai-Trichy

We all knew Thottiyam-Musiri stretch is always not great. Last December, i did Thottiyam-Musiri-Trichy and it was pretty bad, but later on from other posts it seemed to improve. I don't know the current condition and not tried Thottiyam-Kulithalai-Trichy stretch - the road in other side of cauvery. Any idea how it is? Will it be better than going via Musiri-Gunaseelam-Trichy road?

If the 4 lane work is still going on from Karur-Trichy in NH67, do we know whether kulithalai-Trichy sector is completed or not?

I am traveling in my i20 with a month old infant and family, so would definitely like to avoid bad roads.

Suggestions are appreciated !

-Ravi

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ravib

I am planning to drive to Trichy and then further to Kumbakonam, after Deepavali.
With the current road condition, which is better option to take after Namakkal.

Namakkal-Musiri-Trichy
or
Namakkal-Kulithalai-Trichy

Ravi,

I think its worth while taking Musiri option. It also helps by-pass Trichy easily of you want to
go towards Tanjore/Kumbakonam.

[Torque123]

Originally Posted by csateesh

@
@Torque - Would you be able to comment on the start time and duration of travel.

Thanks

We started at around 6.30 AM from Yelahanka and reached Trichy by 3.30PM. Lot of stops during the journey. Thanks to my 18 months old daughter .

[csateesh]

Here is an update from my end.

Left Rajajinagar around 3:00pm and reached Trichy at around 10:30pm

Road conditions

Critical Updates

- Namakkal to Musri roads are excellent - Infact I could do good average speeds
- Musri after Periyaar Palam is really mixed bag - You will be presented with beautiful roads and when you have started clipping you will see a diversion - Heaven to hell kind of transition

Damn the toll prices have sky rocketed ..

Happy Holidays

[nfsfreak]

Yep. Me too did it yesterday night. Started from Indiranagar @ 11 PM and reached trichy by 5.30 AM

Originally Posted by csateesh

- Namakkal to Musri roads are excellent - Infact I could do good average speeds

+1 to that.

Originally Posted by csateesh

- Musri after Periyaar Palam is really mixed bag - You will be presented with beautiful roads and when you have started clipping you will see a diversion - Heaven to hell kind of transition

+1
Musiri-Nochiyam-Trichy stretch is pothole ridden. Even worse, when you are stuck with truck traffic.

It was better when I did 40 days back, I guess after recent rains now back to its original shape

Musiri-Kulithalai-Trichy is recommended but for one narrow single lane stretch opened for two-way traffic (just before entering Kulithalai) due to 4L work. There would be delay for about 5 mins max if traffic is high.
But the road condition overall is decent and much better compared to Musiri-Nochiyam-Trichy.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by nfsfreak

Musiri-Nochiyam-Trichy stretch is pothole ridden. Even worse, when you are stuck with truck traffic.

It was better when I did 40 days back, I guess after recent rains now back to its original shape

Musiri-Kulithalai-Trichy is recommended but for one narrow single lane stretch opened for two-way traffic (just before entering Kulithalai) due to 4L work. There would be delay for about 5 mins max if traffic is high.
But the road condition overall is decent and much better compared to Musiri-Nochiyam-Trichy.

Thanks nfsfreak... I was looking for this update and your timely post helped. I'll take Musiri-Kulithalai-Trichy route instead of Musiri-Gunaseelam-Trichy route.

Couple of additional questions.
1) Are there too many diversions in Kulithalai-Trichy 4L stretch and is it with good tar roads.
2) Any idea how is Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy route?

Thanks
-Ravi

[prabhuferrari]

Originally Posted by ravib

Thanks nfsfreak... I was looking for this update and your timely post helped. I'll take Musiri-Kulithalai-Trichy route instead of Musiri-Gunaseelam-Trichy route.

Couple of additional questions.
1) Are there too many diversions in Kulithalai-Trichy 4L stretch and is it with good tar roads.
2) Any idea how is Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy route?

Thanks
-Ravi

I did the thuraiyur route in March. Bad stretches for around 2 kms. Otherwise pretty decent.

[nfsfreak]

Originally Posted by ravib

Couple of additional questions.
1) Are there too many diversions in Kulithalai-Trichy 4L stretch and is it with good tar roads.
2) Any idea how is Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy route?

Thanks
-Ravi

1) Not many. The overall stretch is not great but decent and much better comapared to Musiri-Gunaseelam-Trichy stretch.

2) Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy stretch was very good when I did two months back, except for 2-3 kms rough roads b/w Namakkal-Thuraiyur. The route is generally traffic free in the nights and good to drive but avoid this route on day time.
But I would still prefer Namakkal-Musiri-Kulithalai-Trichy instead of Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy as it takes less time.

[vrreddy]

I have travelled to Trichy twice in last 2 months, and in fact driving out today again.

Bangalore - Salem being the common route, I will avoid mentioning it below. We have these options -

1) Salem - Namakkal - Musiri - Trichy tollgate - Trichy
2) Salem - Namakkal - Kulithalai - Mukkombu - Trichy
3) Salem - Karur - Kulithalai - Mukkombu - Trichy
4) Salem - Namakkal - Kannanur - Pagalavadi - Trichy
5) Salem - Vazhappadi - Thammampatti - Thuraiyur - Trichy
6) Salem - Athur - Perambalur - Trichy

Let me elaborate.

Option #1: Salem - Namakkal - Musiri - Trichy tollgate - Trichy
========================================
The 90 KM stretch between Namakkal and Trichy can take about 2.5 - 3 hours by car. No kidding. Primarily due to the fact that there are sand laden trucks, one every 50 metres, on both direction, traveling at about 40kmph. You can't pass them easily, narrow roads and equally heavy traffic on opposite direction, not to mention scores of small vehicles. Plus, the roads are pothole ridden, thanks to the super busy sand trucks. I would recommend avoiding this road.

Option #2: Salem - Namakkal - Kulithalai - Mukkombu - Trichy
=======================================
You suffer from the same problems of #1 till Musiri. From Musiri, you go across the Cauvery bridge to Kulithalai and join the Karur - Trichy road. This road is under construction, so you have lots of deviations to contend with. The Musiri - Kulithalai (about 7 kms or so) is in very bad condition too.


Option #3 : Salem - Karur - Kulithalai - Mukkombu - Trichy
=====================================
One advantage is you get to cruise on NH7 till Karur. Then the road construction problems I mention in #2 hit you, albeit, for a longer direction.

Option #4 : Salem - Namakkal - Kannanur - Pagalavadi - Trichy
========================================
This avoids the infamous Musiri segment completely. Decent roads all through, little irritable traffic if you hit this road around 9 AM, where you see scores of auto rickshaws, two-wheelers - people heading to the nearest towns for work. Otherwise, it is a breeze.

This is what most people mention on this thread as "Namakkal - Thuraiyur - Trichy" segment. No, you dont *need* to drive till Thuraiyur town and come back roughly same way. about 8 KMs before reaching Thuraiyur town, you take a right turn after Kannanur town, and drive towards Pagalavadi. You save about 15 kms and 25 minutes. The village road (good condition - you can make about 60 KMPH) takes you to Thuraiyur - Trichy road.

By far, the best - and recommended.

Option #5 : Salem - Vazhappadi - Thammampatti - Thuraiyur - Trichy
============================================
I haven't tried the Thammampatti segment alone yet. Only issue would be Salem-Vazhappadi where, due to construction work, we will have to keep diverting. Btw, this offers good views of Kolli malai & Pacha malai. I hear there is a 10 kms segment where both mountains are just 2 kms apart, and the scenic drive passes in the middle, from a friend who hails from this region. I may try it on the way back in 3 days time.

Option #6 : Salem - Athur - Perambalur - Trichy
==============================
I tried this last year. The road construction till Athur makes us divert into one side of the road, driving against oncoming traffic. Otherwise Athur Perambalur is a peaceful segment, less traffic and decent roads. Once in Perambalur, you hit NH45 (Trichy-Chennai), which is a great road again. Longer than all other options.

Hope this helps.

I am planning to take Option #4 to Trichy & Option #5 on the way back - just for the fun of exploring the new roads.

Regards,
Vijayan

Originally Posted by vrreddy

Option #4 : Salem - Namakkal - Kannanur - Pagalavadi - Trichy

Thanks a lot, vrreddy, for suggesting this short-cut after Kannanur. I will try this route in my next Trichy trip.