Bangalore - Tirukkoyillur - Pondicherry

aburagohain · 15th November 2007, 00:12

Hi,
Here's one input you might want to consider, I did a drive to Pondicherry and back to Bangalore over the last weekend.
This was the second time I drove to Pondicherry, the first time via the Tiruvannamalai road, not so good I'd say, daytime drive is alright, night driving may prove difficult, no divider from Krishnagiri to Pondicherry and road not too well maintained at times.
With the experiences of the last time, this time I decided to take the GQ road, to and fro, though the distance increases by about 100km, if you do not mind the extra distance, this road is worth considering. There are three sections, the road till Kanchipuram is an extension of the Hosur-Krishnagiri road, a bliss I'd say, then there is a stretch about 70km which is at par to the other road via Tiruvannamalai and then again Chengalpettu-Mammalapuram-Pondicherry is very good even though there's no road divider in the last section.
I was initially apprehensive of night driving with blinding lights from other vehicles and so on, but to my surprise, the return journey proved to be very pleasant, the GQ road is marked very well with illuminators, I as well would say it was more enjoyable driving at night. The trip took me 9.5/10 hours, covering 440km, one way with occasional stops.
So, you might want to take the Tiruvannamalai road while going, cover all the places you want to visit and come back via the GQ road, enjoy both the roads.
Stay in Pondicherry: You might give Duma's Guest House a try if you want, 5 two bedroom apartments next to the main Beach Road, a posh locality in Pondicherry. Reasonably maintained, Rs. 1500 per night and a very helpful gentleman owner Mr. Bala (http://realcomposer.fabx.org/Pondich...House_eng.htm), needs booking. I stayed there both trips, one double bedroom, a single bedroom, both air-conditioned, a hall for extra beds if need be, no food provided, but good restaurants very near.
Have a nice trip.
Regards.

thalavoy · 15th November 2007, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajeevng

Hey thalavoy, could you give some more details on the route between tirupatur to singarapettai, there are so many arterial routes. Any specific route that you can remember or just ask and drive? The one problem with ask and drive is that it will eat away time.

Thanks,
Rajeev

Good thing you asked

If you go from Bangalore, take the left at Krishnagiri to go towards Chennai. After about 20 kms, you see a right to go to Bargur. Once you cross the Bargur (bus stand), take the right fork of the Y towards Tirupattur. Before you reach Tirupattur, there is a flyover/bridge. Getting down the flyover, there is a right turn that goes to Dharmapuri. Ignore this. There is another right turn (acuter one) that is marked Salem road. Take this. After a couple or may be more kms, there is the road to Singarapettai. Take this road all the way to Singarapettai. There are no other deviations any where else.
Anyways, I did see the road repair works between Singarapettai - Chengam, which kind of indicates that the road (worse part) between Singarapettai - Uthangarai - K'giri should also be under repair.
The detour will increase about 15 kms, thats all.

prashanthyr · 15th November 2007, 15:27

@Thalavoy: Thanks for the detailed info. What about decent hotels on this stretch? Since we are traveling with families, clean hotels with restrooms becomes a critical requirement.

mogambo · 15th November 2007, 17:07

Prashanth - very hard to get hotels on that stretch..
We carried snacks and coffee in a flask..

Restrooms - you may try the occasional Petrol bunk that comes up..

Quote:

Originally Posted by prashanthyr

@Thalavoy: Thanks for the detailed info. What about decent hotels on this stretch? Since we are traveling with families, clean hotels with restrooms becomes a critical requirement.

thalavoy · 16th November 2007, 11:42

Agree with @mogambo. The last known decent area would be Hotel Tamilnadu in K'giri, before Bargur turn. After that, TVMalai is your best bet. In the other route, Kgiri - Mathur - Uthangarai, there are some decent petrol bunks (Reliance, Indian Oil) where there are okay rest rooms.

prashanthyr · 20th November 2007, 12:48

Thanks for the inputs. Also, we plan to fill up in TN since petrol is cheaper there. Any inputs on reliable bunks on the route?

mogambo · 20th November 2007, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by prashanthyr

Thanks for the inputs. Also, we plan to fill up in TN since petrol is cheaper there. Any inputs on reliable bunks on the route?

There was a note on an IOC bunk just after the railway line crossing @ Thiruvannamalai. Apparently this place has decent quality fuel.
I had a full tank @ B'lore so did not use it.

thalavoy · 20th November 2007, 18:05

That IOC bunk will be in the route to Gingee (a rock fort - good climb/exercise), not to Tirukoyilur. Well, if you dont mind a slight detour for the bunk, you can

rjstyles69 · 20th November 2007, 18:36

Maybe you chaps should read this (Travelogue : Destination anywhere along the East Coast !!)

.

Search around the travelogue section coz there are a few travelogues with places to stop over for food,routes and the distance.

kibi · 21st November 2007, 15:45

Guys,

I just did the Blore Chennai trip last week. The road was a dream.Makes me wonder how much time/km does the Blore Pondi journey take via Chennai? My belief is that the ECR road in Chennai is equally good.

Kibi

akroy · 21st November 2007, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by kibi

Guys,

I just did the Blore Chennai trip last week. The road was a dream.Makes me wonder how much time/km does the Blore Pondi journey take via Chennai? My belief is that the ECR road in Chennai is equally good.

Kibi

via ECR it takes 2-3 hours depending upon traffic out of Chennai...Why will you do Pondi from Blr via Chennai?
Even better route is Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Mahabalipuram - Pondi

Abhi

prashanthyr · 22nd November 2007, 13:11

All,
Thanks for the inputs - we have to go to Tirkkoyilur. Does the Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Mahabalipuram - Pondi route go through this place?

prashanthyr · 18th December 2007, 10:50

Any updates on the Krishnagiri - Thiruvannamalai road condition?

mogambo · 18th December 2007, 13:22

"Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Mahabalipuram - Pondi" route does not go through Thirukkoyilur

15th November 2007, 00:12	#16
aburagohain BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 153 Thanked: 2 Times	Hi, Here's one input you might want to consider, I did a drive to Pondicherry and back to Bangalore over the last weekend. This was the second time I drove to Pondicherry, the first time via the Tiruvannamalai road, not so good I'd say, daytime drive is alright, night driving may prove difficult, no divider from Krishnagiri to Pondicherry and road not too well maintained at times. With the experiences of the last time, this time I decided to take the GQ road, to and fro, though the distance increases by about 100km, if you do not mind the extra distance, this road is worth considering. There are three sections, the road till Kanchipuram is an extension of the Hosur-Krishnagiri road, a bliss I'd say, then there is a stretch about 70km which is at par to the other road via Tiruvannamalai and then again Chengalpettu-Mammalapuram-Pondicherry is very good even though there's no road divider in the last section. I was initially apprehensive of night driving with blinding lights from other vehicles and so on, but to my surprise, the return journey proved to be very pleasant, the GQ road is marked very well with illuminators, I as well would say it was more enjoyable driving at night. The trip took me 9.5/10 hours, covering 440km, one way with occasional stops. So, you might want to take the Tiruvannamalai road while going, cover all the places you want to visit and come back via the GQ road, enjoy both the roads. Stay in Pondicherry: You might give Duma's Guest House a try if you want, 5 two bedroom apartments next to the main Beach Road, a posh locality in Pondicherry. Reasonably maintained, Rs. 1500 per night and a very helpful gentleman owner Mr. Bala (http://realcomposer.fabx.org/Pondich...House_eng.htm), needs booking. I stayed there both trips, one double bedroom, a single bedroom, both air-conditioned, a hall for extra beds if need be, no food provided, but good restaurants very near. Have a nice trip. Regards.
	() Thanks

15th November 2007, 15:27	#18
prashanthyr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 546 Thanked: 249 Times	@Thalavoy: Thanks for the detailed info. What about decent hotels on this stretch? Since we are traveling with families, clean hotels with restrooms becomes a critical requirement.
	() Thanks

16th November 2007, 11:42	#20
thalavoy BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 406 Thanked: 77 Times View My Garage	Agree with @mogambo. The last known decent area would be Hotel Tamilnadu in K'giri, before Bargur turn. After that, TVMalai is your best bet. In the other route, Kgiri - Mathur - Uthangarai, there are some decent petrol bunks (Reliance, Indian Oil) where there are okay rest rooms.
	() Thanks

20th November 2007, 12:48	#21
prashanthyr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 546 Thanked: 249 Times	Thanks for the inputs. Also, we plan to fill up in TN since petrol is cheaper there. Any inputs on reliable bunks on the route?
	() Thanks

20th November 2007, 18:05	#23
thalavoy BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 406 Thanked: 77 Times View My Garage	That IOC bunk will be in the route to Gingee (a rock fort - good climb/exercise), not to Tirukoyilur. Well, if you dont mind a slight detour for the bunk, you can
	() Thanks

20th November 2007, 18:36	#24
rjstyles69 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bengalooru.. Posts: 4,343 Thanked: 842 Times View My Garage	Maybe you chaps should read this (Travelogue : Destination anywhere along the East Coast !!) . Search around the travelogue section coz there are a few travelogues with places to stop over for food,routes and the distance.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 15:45	#25
kibi Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 24 Thanked: 2 Times	Guys, I just did the Blore Chennai trip last week. The road was a dream.Makes me wonder how much time/km does the Blore Pondi journey take via Chennai? My belief is that the ECR road in Chennai is equally good. Kibi
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 13:11	#27
prashanthyr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 546 Thanked: 249 Times	All, Thanks for the inputs - we have to go to Tirkkoyilur. Does the Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Mahabalipuram - Pondi route go through this place?
	() Thanks

18th December 2007, 10:50	#28
prashanthyr BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 546 Thanked: 249 Times	Any updates on the Krishnagiri - Thiruvannamalai road condition?
	() Thanks

18th December 2007, 13:22	#29
mogambo BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 138 Thanked: 38 Times	"Kanchipuram - Chengalpattu - Mahabalipuram - Pondi" route does not go through Thirukkoyilur
	() Thanks