[KPR]

Anyone recently travelled in this route? Is the bridge open both ways?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by KPR

Anyone recently travelled in this route? Is the bridge open both ways?

Yes it is open both ways for a little over a week.

[narayans80]

Massive jams on the lead up to Ongur bridge between Tindivanam and Melmaruvathur. One side of the bridge has been closed for repairs. Please check for red sections on Maps before attempting

[Gansan]

We have to drive to Trichy tomorrow (Friday) morning and drive back on Sunday morning. Any updates about the bridge condition and traffic jams? What time will be best to cross the place? Where exactly is it?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Gansan

What time will be best to cross the place? Where exactly is it?

It is about 10 km after Athur toll, few km before Saraswathy Law College.

Best time would be to avoid weekend car and bus traffic. Friday nights and Sunday evenings are strict no-no.

Best to check Melmaruvathur-Tindivanam travel times (or vice versa depending on your travel direction) on Google Maps and decide. I wouldn't detour unless travel times are showing 50 min and above (normally takes 30 mins).

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by Gansan

We have to drive to Trichy tomorrow (Friday) morning and drive back on Sunday morning. Any updates about the bridge condition and traffic jams? What time will be best to cross the place? Where exactly is it?

The diversion is not as bad as the Palar bridge diversion, so not worth a detour. Last weekend it hardly added any additional time to my travel on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon return times

[airguitar]

Well this post isn't exactly about the route, but more an inquiry about places ( which perhaps doesn't warrant a new thread ). I have an upcoming Trichy trip - we have been there a few times and so this time want to make it a bit more grass-roots kind of a trip with focus on local cultural or hidden places or traditional places. Traveling with young children.

I'm looking for ( around/within50-75kms radius of the city center ) suggestions on the below
- Places with some nice access to the Kaveri
- Temples that are generally not on typical tourist circuits ( I have added in Kudumiyanmalai this time with it's rich history; Kalaiyar kovil is a little too far )
- Local eateries (vegetarian) that shouldn't be missed : I would be staying near the Thiruvanaikovil
- Any other heritage places (I have the rail museum, districut museum and Kallanai on my list)
- Cultural places (e.g. music related or musical instruments making places or bronze idol making places or boutiques that sell bronze idols )

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by Gansan

We have to drive to Trichy tomorrow (Friday) morning and drive back on Sunday morning. Any updates about the bridge condition and traffic jams? What time will be best to cross the place? Where exactly is it?

I crossed the place around 10.30 a.m on Friday and by 3.30 p.m. today. There were absolutely no issues.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by airguitar

Places with some nice access to the Kaveri

Gunaseelam Temple, Vathalai. In general take the Kulithalai-Musiri bridge and drive towards Number 1 Tollgate.
If you see water in Kollidam, places around SH22 should be beautiful too.

Temples that are generally not on typical tourist circuit

Thirupattur Brahma temple
Siruvachur Madhurakaliamman
Vayalur Murugan
Uraiyur Vekkaliamman - Could be crowded
Tirumayam
Thirukoshtiyur - Moderately crowded. Important temple for Vaishnavism though.

Local eateries (vegetarian) that shouldn't be missed : I would be staying near the Thiruvanaikovil

Parthasarathy Vilas

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Gansan

I crossed the place around 10.30 a.m on Friday and by 3.30 p.m. today. There were absolutely no issues.

Looks like the long weekend has thrown this out of gear. Last night was showing +51 min, now it is showing +2 hrs

[pypkmsrikanth]

Had to make a quick trip to Villuppuram today. Took me half an hour to cross the section from the toll booth at 8:30 in the morning. Return around 3:30 PM was a breeze.

While going the traffic was stopped in one direction to allow vehicles to pass through. Those coming back to Chennai tomorrow can expect a fairly long delay while crossing this section. Please plan accordingly. Those staying around OMR may be better off to take a detour via Marakkanam, ECR to reach that part of Chennai.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Took me half an hour to cross the section from the toll booth at 8:30 in the morning. Return around 3:30 PM was a breeze.

By Saturday night the traffic had dissipated from 15 km to 1.5 km. It was only on southbound. Northbound traffic had no problems.

I took Bukkathurai-Uthiramerur-Vandavasi-Tindivanam during onward, return was a breeze.

[airguitar]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Gunaseelam Temple, Vathalai. In general take the Kulithalai-Musiri bridge and drive towards Number 1 Tollgate.
If you see water in Kollidam, places around SH22 should be beautiful too.


Thirupattur Brahma temple
Siruvachur Madhurakaliamman
Vayalur Murugan
Uraiyur Vekkaliamman - Could be crowded
Tirumayam
Thirukoshtiyur - Moderately crowded. Important temple for Vaishnavism though.

Parthasarathy Vilas

Just adding in a few more temples/places that would be of interest outside "main" trichy but part of Pudukottai but close enough to Trichy, that we ended up doing

1. Koranganathar temple, Srinivasanallur, near Musiri
2. Viralimalai ( Trichy - Dindukkal highway ), which of course is well-known.
3. Moovar and Aivar Temple, Agarapatti, off Kodumalur (10 kms from Viralimalai)
4. Kudumiyan Malai Temple ( old, but huge Shiva temple with a lot of history. Don't miss the rock cut temples and music related inscriptions - needs the watchman to open the gates behind the temple. This is at the foothill. For the more discerning, you can climb up a combination of steps and rocks to reach a Murugan temple atop the hill, you may need some local guidance, we didn't climb the hill though )
5. Sittannavasal caves and paintings (12 kms via Annavasal from Kudumiyan Malai)
6. Vijayala Choleswaram at Narthamalai (10 kms from Sittannavasal)

Separately, for those folks taking the Thuraiyur route, I found Lakshmi Mess (A/C) to be a good stopover for lunch ( they also have a "Kuzhambu Kadai" outlet nearby - don't get confused by it - the one I'm referring to is close by when you take a right[when coming from Attur/Vazhapadi side] after seeing the Kuzhambu Kadai).

[mah45]

Originally Posted by narayans80

By Saturday night the traffic had dissipated from 15 km to 1.5 km. It was only on southbound. Northbound traffic had no problems.

I took Bukkathurai-Uthiramerur-Vandavasi-Tindivanam during onward, return was a breeze.

Hi, does anyone know if work in this bridge is completed ?
Thanks

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by mah45

Hi, does anyone know if work in this bridge is completed ?

Was completed by end of August itself.