[rakirank]

I am at Kalpakkam for the weekend. Drove down from Bangalore.

Stayed on the Chennai route till Kanchipuram where I used the military road and onwards to Chengalpattu as advised in the posts above.

Lots of road widening work on the Kanchipuram Changalpattu stretch.

Also the road after Chennasamudram toll is bad.

Need help with the return journey.

Can I do Kalpakkam, Kelambakkam, Perungalathur, Sriperumbudur and then onwards to Bangalore?

I am ok with the additional kilometers.

Appreciate any input.

[Exhaust_Note]

Hello every one!

I am planning to ride with my wife from Bangalore to Mahabalipuram. I plan to start from Brookefield at 1 AM friday and Take the Krishnagiri, Kanchipuram route.

Is it safe to ride at that time of the night/ Morning? I have a friend on his bike along too.

Any quick response would be really helpful as I plan to start off on 2nd Sep 1 AM (It is a spot plan )

Regards,
Saurab C

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Exhaust_Note

Hello every one!

I am planning to ride with my wife from Bangalore to Mahabalipuram. I plan to start from Brookefield at 1 AM friday and Take the Krishnagiri, Kanchipuram route.

Is it safe to ride at that time of the night/ Morning? I have a friend on his bike along too.

Any quick response would be really helpful as I plan to start off on 2nd Sep 1 AM (It is a spot plan )

Regards,
Saurab C

Honestly I think you are far better off leaving at about 4 AM (you should reach by 9AM latest). There's incessant rain during the nights these days, more so on the highways that side. Last thing you need is to be caught in a downpour on a motorcycle - on a highway that does not drain water quickly. Aquaplaning is a very very real threat.

Further, with your wife on a bike, I would say its a no-no from a safety perspective. Unnecessary risk on a highway where you probably dont even speak the native tongue (might be mistaken).

[Exhaust_Note]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Honestly I think you are far better off leaving at about 4 AM (you should reach by 9AM latest). There's incessant rain during the nights these days, more so on the highways that side. Last thing you need is to be caught in a downpour on a motorcycle - on a highway that does not drain water quickly. Aquaplaning is a very very real threat.

Further, with your wife on a bike, I would say its a no-no from a safety perspective. Unnecessary risk on a highway where you probably dont even speak the native tongue (might be mistaken).

You are spot on on the language part. Thanks, will leave around 4 AM and take your advise. We are not too fast on the road so, may reach by 12 or 1 PM but that is not an issue at all

Thanks!
Saurab C

[KartikBN]

Hey Guys,

Planning to travel to Mahabalipuram, Dec 7 from Bangalore, Kanakapura Road.
Did a bit of research here and I saw the last post was in August. So just checking if someone traveled off late especially after the incessant monsoons.
I was thinking the same route suggested here. I am familiar with the Kanchi route but not after kanchi towards Chengalpattu and further. Any latest updates would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[D'Ro@dSt@r]

Hello Guys,

Planning to take a break from Bangalore and hit the beaches at mahabalipuram during the weekend after I-day. Plan is to start by 7:30 along with wifey and our 2 yrs old (Yes.. he loves road trips )
Upon checking with Google the route shows as
1. Sarjapur Rd -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Ambur -> Vellore -> Kanchipram -> Chengalpattu -> Mahabalipuram

Wanted to check if the road conditions are good beyond vellore. Till vellore I know its a breeze to drive and will be able to keep up with good speed.
I had done a trip to pondy in 2014 with Arcot - Cheyyar - Vandavasi - Tivindam - Pondy and those roads were decent without much traffic.

Anyone who has done this in recent past?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by D'Ro@dSt@r

1. Sarjapur Rd -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Ambur -> Vellore -> Kanchipram -> Chengalpattu -> Mahabalipuram

Yes this is the standard route. Beyond Vellore once the six lands at Walajah, you will fae traffic till Kanchi. And beyond, first part you will need to wade through the town to get the Chengalpattu highway.

There is a roundabout bypass which you can try. (link)

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by D'Ro@dSt@r

1. Sarjapur Rd -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri -> Ambur -> Vellore -> Kanchipram -> Chengalpattu -> Mahabalipuram

Avoid Kanchipuram at all costs, atleast till 3rd week of August.

Use Sriperumbudur bypass-Oragadam-Vandalur-Mambakkam-Kelambakkam-Mahabalipuram during the interim.

[D'Ro@dSt@r]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Avoid Kanchipuram at all costs, atleast till 3rd week of August.

Use Sriperumbudur bypass-Oragadam-Vandalur-Mambakkam-Kelambakkam-Mahabalipuram during the interim.

Thanks..!! Is it due to the bad road conditions around kanchi? new to these places and have never took that road beyong vellore
I see that till Sriperumbudur its an extension of the NH 48, so it should be the same 6 lane road.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by D'Ro@dSt@r

Thanks..!! Is it due to the bad road conditions around kanchi?

Courtesy of Athi Varadar. The town is a mess, all surrounding peripheral roads are a mess (traffic).

Unless you enjoy driving in 1st-2nd gear for 4-5 hours, avoid anywhere near Kanchi town till 17th August unless you intend to visit Athi Varadar (which is a full day exercise).

[D'Ro@dSt@r]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Courtesy of Athi Varadar. The town is a mess, all surrounding peripheral roads are a mess (traffic).

Unless you enjoy driving in 1st-2nd gear for 4-5 hours, avoid anywhere near Kanchi town till 17th August unless you intend to visit Athi Varadar (which is a full day exercise).

Thanks a lot. That really helps in planning my routes
Just hoping the roads beyond Sriperumbudur are in good conditions.

[BenjiRoss]

Did Vellore to Mahabalipuram earlier this month. For the trip to Mahabs, as advised completely avoided getting into Kanchipuram - even the highway bypass on this way was quite crowded.
While going I went via Chengelpettu and SH58 (?SH57). No major dramas except for some traffic while going through towns and getting caught at a railway crossing.
Here is some dash-cam capture on SH58 and the map for the route

https://youtu.be/Iu6OU44z7kg

For the return, we avoided Chengelpet and found the route to be a little bit more narrower and cluttered, but no major differences.

Is the Kanchipuram bypass route any better now. In addition to the massive traffic that day I heard the road was also bad with multiple construction and repair work and detours.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by BenjiRoss

Is the Kanchipuram bypass route any better now. In addition to the massive traffic that day I heard the road was also bad with multiple construction and repair work and detours.

One longer option may be : Melmaruvathur-Vandavasi-Arcot.

Member @gopikb may know more about that first stretch. Later its the standard Pondicherry route.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by BenjiRoss

Is the Kanchipuram bypass route any better now. In addition to the massive traffic that day I heard the road was also bad with multiple construction and repair work and detours.

For the 6 weeks Kanchi and its surroundings were heavily crowded due to Athi Varadar. I don't see a reason for traffic blocks now. There are no (nor is there any reason for) construction going on in Walajabad-Kanchipuram or Military Road all the way to 76th km milestone exit.

[nasirkaka]

We are driving to Mahabalipuram this weekend from Bangalore and not very sure on which route, especially after vellore. Any suggestions would be welcome, the intent is to reach asap as we will have kids and senior citizens with us. TIA.