[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by NPV

Do take a look at this post and the one referenced in that post for alternative routes
- here (Bangalore to Kumbakonam : Route Queries)

Yes, checked on it. Considering the Kumbakonam - Vridhachalam - Attur Salem route for return journey. 50kms extra, but looks like it will be worth it given the road conditions are excellent.

[autospeaker]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Yes, checked on it. Considering the Kumbakonam - Vridhachalam - Attur Salem route for return journey. 50kms extra, but looks like it will be worth it given the road conditions are excellent.

Please check with the locals before taking this Kumbakonam-Virudhachalam road. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the entire stretch of 140 km from Kumbakonam was being relaid and I repented taking this road( Dec 2015). It consumed almost half a day to reach Virudhachalam.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by autospeaker

Please check with the locals before taking this Kumbakonam-Virudhachalam road. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the entire stretch of 140 km from Kumbakonam was being relaid and I repented taking this road( Dec 2015). It consumed almost half a day to reach Virudhachalam.

Kumbakonam-Vridhachalam Bypass-Veppur-V.Koot Road-Attur-Salem and beyond, all the way the roads are in very good condition. Nothing to worry.

You can also refer to Bangalore-Kumbakonam thread.

-Ravi

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by autospeaker

Please check with the locals before taking this Kumbakonam-Virudhachalam road. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the entire stretch of 140 km from Kumbakonam was being relaid and I repented taking this road( Dec 2015). It consumed almost half a day to reach Virudhachalam.

Yes, I will certainly check once I am there.

Originally Posted by ravib

Kumbakonam-Vridhachalam Bypass-Veppur-V.Koot Road-Attur-Salem and beyond, all the way the roads are in very good condition. Nothing to worry.

You can also refer to Bangalore-Kumbakonam thread.

-Ravi

Thank you. Yes I read that thread and like you said, the reviews are good about its present state.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by autospeaker

Please check with the locals before taking this Kumbakonam-Virudhachalam road. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the entire stretch of 140 km from Kumbakonam was being relaid and I repented taking this road( Dec 2015). It consumed almost half a day to reach Virudhachalam.

The Kumbakonam thread has been updated with latest condition - all good
Please check that thread for details on the bypasses/route information.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Looking forward for a drive to Tanjore from Bangalore.

What is the best option at the moment considering the road conditions? Let me know if anyone has done it very recently. If you plot the route on google maps, that will be really helpful.

Bangalore-Salem-Namakkal-Musiri-Trichy to Thanjavur should be the best option. As regards the route to Trichy, you will get more details in the Bangalore-Trichy thread

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by NPV

The Kumbakonam thread has been updated with latest condition - all good
Please check that thread for details on the bypasses/route information.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Bangalore-Salem-Namakkal-Musiri-Trichy to Thanjavur should be the best option. As regards the route to Trichy, you will get more details in the Bangalore-Trichy thread

Thank you folks for the suggestions.
I have more or less finalized my routes. Not taking the Karur route as I am fine skipping the NH and drive through the other options given.
https://goo.gl/maps/brrzKAS7Bpw

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by autospeaker

Please check with the locals before taking this Kumbakonam-Virudhachalam road. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the entire stretch of 140 km from Kumbakonam was being relaid and I repented taking this road( Dec 2015). It consumed almost half a day to reach Virudhachalam.

Originally Posted by ravib

Kumbakonam-Vridhachalam Bypass-Veppur-V.Koot Road-Attur-Salem and beyond, all the way the roads are in very good condition. Nothing to worry.

-Ravi

I did this a week back and thought I will come back and give a quick update. Went through the exact same route that I posted above, and that was a perfect drive.

No issues with any part of it. Salem - Attur - Vridhachalam in good condition, with 4 lanes and intermittent switching to 2 lanes. Vridhachalam - Jayamkondam was excellent. Only Thiruvaiyaru to Namakkal via Kallanai was slightly rough at some stretches, but nothing to be worried at all.

Just in case if anyone is interested, you may read a quick travelogue that I have written on this drive-
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...hitecture.html

[Fauji]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Just in case if anyone is interested, you may read a quick travelogue that I have written on this drive-

Thanks for the update. very helpful.

[suresh_gs]

Folks

My friend intends to drive to Tanjore by Car on Aug 15th from Bangalore with his family. Which of the below routes is recommended for him to drive

1. Via Hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Namakkal-Musiri-Srirangam-Trichy
2. Via Hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Karur-Trichy

How are the road conditions from Namakkal to Srirangam in case Option 1 is preferred.

Apart from the Big Temple, what are the other places of interest to see in Tanjore.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Folks

My friend intends to drive to Tanjore by Car on Aug 15th from Bangalore with his family. Which of the below routes is recommended for him to drive

1. Via Hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Namakkal-Musiri-Srirangam-Trichy
2. Via Hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Karur-Trichy

How are the road conditions from Namakkal to Srirangam in case Option 1 is preferred.

Apart from the Big Temple, what are the other places of interest to see in Tanjore.

Hi Suresh,
I drove via option #1 to Tanjore in first week of July. Road conditions are good and nothing to worry about and doesn't warrant to take Karur route.

Apart from Big temple, if he is interested in other temples, he can see Tanjore Punnainallur Mariyamman temple, as this being "Aadi" month in Tamil calendar, it is considered auspicious.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

My friend intends to drive to Tanjore by Car on Aug 15th from Bangalore

The precise question was discussed here a month back. You might want to check it.

Musiri-Thottiyam is holding up so far and I'd expect it to remain that way atleast till NE monsoons this year.

BTW Musiri route forks at Number 1 Tollgate and there is no reason to cross Kollidam bridge, if the destination is Thanjavur.

[silvercloud]

Folks,

I will be driving down from Bangalore to Thanjavur next week; google map is giving me 2 options as below

1. Bangalore --> Salem --> Attur --> Perambalur --> Ariyalur --> Thanjavur (410 Km)
2. Bangalore --> Salem --> Namakkal --> Musiri --> Trichy --> Thanjavur (410 KM)

Option 1 is being suggested due to shorter driving time; however I am worried about road conditions considering recent rains.

Can anyone please share their inputs on which route to take.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by silvercloud

Folks,

I will be driving down from Bangalore to Thanjavur next week; google map is giving me 2 options as below

1. Bangalore --> Salem --> Attur --> Perambalur --> Ariyalur --> Thanjavur (410 Km)
2. Bangalore --> Salem --> Namakkal --> Musiri --> Trichy --> Thanjavur (410 KM)

Option 1 is being suggested due to shorter driving time; however I am worried about road conditions considering recent rains.

Can anyone please share their inputs on which route to take.

I would suggest Option 2. You have 4 lane roads from Bangalore till Namakkal. Namakkal to Musiri is a 2 lane road for approx 85-90 kms. Trichy to Tanjore is a 4 lane road again.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by silvercloud

Folks,

I will be driving down from Bangalore to Thanjavur next week; google map is giving me 2 options as below

1. Bangalore --> Salem --> Attur --> Perambalur --> Ariyalur --> Thanjavur (410 Km)
2. Bangalore --> Salem --> Namakkal --> Musiri --> Trichy --> Thanjavur (410 KM)

Option 1 is being suggested due to shorter driving time; however I am worried about road conditions considering recent rains.

Can anyone please share their inputs on which route to take.

As suresh mentioned, please go with option 2. You will get much better roads compared to 1st option. Except for 90 kms from Namakkal to Trichy, rest is all 4L toll roads.
Also, the roads in Ariyalur district are generally not good and very slow to drive due to lots of villages to cross through.

-Ravi