[narayans80]

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Toll gate - Nochiyam - Manchanallur Bypass - Pagalvadi - Kannanur

I took this route partly visiting Thiruvellarai from Gunaseelam. From Pagalavadi went towards Thuraiyur and Perambalur.

Atleast till Thuraiyur I don't find much difference in terms of traffic. There is a fair amount of 2-wheeler and some big vehicle traffic all along, which isn't any bit different from Tollgate-Musiri stretch.

Thuraiyur-Perambalur on the other hand was minimal traffic-wide roads and a pleasure to drive.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by narayans80

I took this route partly visiting Thiruvellarai from Gunaseelam. From Pagalavadi went towards Thuraiyur and Perambalur.

Atleast till Thuraiyur I don't find much difference in terms of traffic. There is a fair amount of 2-wheeler and some big vehicle traffic all along, which isn't any bit different from Tollgate-Musiri stretch.

Nochiyam to Namakkal has more bus and lorry traffic and between Nochiyam to Musiri is twisty roads and have to drive with caution especially overtaking.

Nochiyam- Pagalvadi - Sendamangalam - Budan sandai The bus traffic is less and more or less straight roads but speed breakers near villages that is there even in Musiri Thottiyam route.

As a long distance drive to Hyderabad Pagalvadi route saves close to 30 to 40 mins in running time and eliminates Namakkal town traffic.

[selva2306]

Any stay recommendations for Trichy? Planning to visit with family and kids. Mainly two places to target: Samayapuram and Srirangam.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by selva2306

Any stay recommendations for Trichy? Planning to visit with family and kids. Mainly two places to target: Samayapuram and Srirangam.

Try the SRM hotel. Nice place to stay and huge parking space.

[BIL2_HGi10]

Originally Posted by selva2306

Any stay recommendations for Trichy? Planning to visit with family and kids. Mainly two places to target: Samayapuram and Srirangam.

If you are looking for an accommodation near the Srirangam Temple then Hotel Vignesh Residency is also a good option. It is very close to the South Gopuram (the largest or tallest gopuram).

The rooms are well laid and it is well maintained.
The hotel has an attached Restaurant as well (which closes soon or atleast runs out of many options if you are late) , but the food is good and appears to be hygienic.

Thank you

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Try the SRM hotel. Nice place to stay and huge parking space.

For destinations as Srirangam and Samayapuram. Staying closer to Central Bus Stand with the present status quo of the Trichy bypass traffic situation is a terrible idea.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

For destinations as Srirangam and Samayapuram. Staying closer to Central Bus Stand with the present status quo of the Trichy bypass traffic situation is a terrible idea.

I find it better to hire a cab and visit these temples. Especially Srirangam. In such case the location of hotel does not matter much. (I have done it myself. It works well and gives more choice to hotel selection)

Given the pile-up because of the problem in the bridge thats a different problem.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by ampere

Given the pile-up because of the problem in the bridge thats a different problem.

Two weeks back I got stuck on this stretch for around 30 minutes. The traffic was very bad.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Two weeks back I got stuck on this stretch for around 30 minutes. The traffic was very bad.

I agree, that's why I meant its different problem. To avoid this if we chose some thing near bus stand even then, within city its better to avoid self transportation. In fact two months back, we had done the exact. We stayed in SRM and visited Srirangam and that too on the most auspicious day when the crowds would be maximum (Vaikunta Ekadeshi). It worked out well and we reached the hotel back in 30 min. Only later did I hear about the traffic pile up post this.

Also the other point I have realised is that in such cases again it's better to have a local cab who will figure a better solution to the problem at that instant in time. Hence I usually tend to avoid driving within a different city if I can.

[vigsom]

Originally Posted by JacksonStorm

The usual route from bangalore - Trichy is

Route 1: (Usual route and Best one)
Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Namakkal - Thottiyam - Musiri - Gunaseelam - Srirangam/Trichy

Post-Namakkal, it is a State highway till Srirangam. On the way, you can also visit Gunaseelam Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple.

Musiri to Srirangam road through the side of Kaveri river. You can enjoy the scenic route but overtaking is very difficult, especially during peak hours.

Attachment 2361455

Hot off the oven - Good news for all users waiting to see better roads between Trichy and Namakkal!

1. Trichy to Musiri

* Travel time 01 hr approx
* max speed 65kmph
* winding roads but the road surfacing has become better

2. Musiri Periyar Bridge to Thottiyam

* excellent wide medianless road till approx 30km short of Namakkal - this road would resemble the road surface of the Trichy Karur highway for the most part
* easy 80-90kmph
* little to no speed breakers

3. Thottiyam to Namakkal

* as good as a National Highway - excellent 4 lane road all the way barring 2 or 3 diversions where the road paving on one side is undergoing finishing touches
* can easily do 100kmph on this sector
* a Toll Plaza will open up at Marachipatti approx 25km short of Namakkal. Just FYI

Net result - easy reduction of at least 15 mins travel time between Trichy and Namakkal. Some pics of the 4 lane section are here for your viewing.





Upcoming Toll Plaza at Marachipatti approx 25km from Namakkal


Valayapatti - I expect the S- road here to be declared an accident prone zone and some barriers to come up very soon


Barriers appear about 4km from Namakkal Town Centre

[JacksonStorm]

Originally Posted by vigsom

* as good as a National Highway - excellent 4 lane road all the way barring 2 or 3 diversions where the road paving on one side is undergoing finishing touches
* can easily do 100kmph on this sector
* a Toll Plaza will open up at Marachipatti approx 25km short of Namakkal. Just FYI

Thanks a lot, sir! for updating the route!
but we lost lots of tamarind trees in this section!! Namakkal-Thottiyam Stretch had lots of trees on both sides when it was two lanes. I saw some images from your post. They put some saplings on both sides of a 4-lane road. I am not sure how long it will take for it to grow. Our next generation will never see the tamarind trees on the road.

But still, the Namakkal-Thuriyur (Route No. 4) stretch is still good until you are not in a rush! It has good scenery, and it will beat the sun because this road has lots of trees on both sides.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vigsom

3. Thottiyam to Namakkal

* as good as a National Highway - excellent 4 lane road all the way barring 2 or 3 diversions where the road paving on one side is undergoing finishing touches
* can easily do 100kmph on this sector
* a Toll Plaza will open up at Marachipatti approx 25km short of Namakkal. Just FYI

Good to see this. Also note the Rasipuram-Nammakal is also well done now. Same goes for Senthamangalam to Alanganatham via bund (well it was almost done when drove 5 months back).


Only part I hope they do plan a good bypass to the east of Namakkal to cover exits to these roads. Today there is none.

[krishsreedharan]

Originally Posted by ampere

Good to see this. Also note the Rasipuram-Nammakal is also well done now.

I rode this road on my way back from Chennai in January. My last trip on this road was in early 2008. Road is definitely wider and better, but this has been at the cost of the tree cover that used to be there earlier.

[csateesh]

Originally Posted by vigsom

Hot off the oven - Good news for all users waiting to see better roads between Trichy and Namakkal!

1. Trichy to Musiri
* max speed 65kmph

2. Musiri Periyar Bridge to Thottiyam
* easy 80-90kmph
* little to no speed breakers

3. Thottiyam to Namakkal

* can easily do 100kmph on this sector
* a Toll Plaza will open up at Marachipatti approx 25km short of Namakkal. Just FYI

Net result - easy reduction of at least 15 mins travel time between Trichy and Namakkal. Some pics of the 4 lane section are here for your viewing.

Excellent update. Wish I had looked at this update. I had to leave Trichy as early as 6am to drive via Karur , Namakkal.

Thanks to my early start was able to reach Salem in around 2.5 hrs

Will try this route next time when I head to Trichy

[ampere]

Originally Posted by csateesh

Excellent update. Wish I had looked at this update. I had to leave Trichy as early as 6am to drive via Karur , Namakkal.

This is a great option. But one thing I noticed is toll gate to Musiri is quite a twisty with lots of truck in and against you. From Musiri onwards it's easy to drive. Given an option I would still prefer Thuraiyur option. The Senthamangalam-Alanganatham bund section is also fully done. Plus the added bonus bypass Namakkal town.