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-   -   Bangalore to Velankanni : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/34526-bangalore-velankanni-route-queries-20.html)

SH70 will definitely slow you down because of the potholes and bad patches.

Vridhachalam-Chidambaram is still bad.

See Narayan's update:

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post4626934

What you should do is post Vridhachalam go to Neyveli-Kullanchavadi - Alapakkam - Chidambaram

Ref : Route Link

The best route from the road condition point of view is definitely Salem > vrindachalam >kumbakonam>thiruvarur>Velankanni.

Good roads and definite timesaver.

I thought he was looking for options to Chidambaram. But yes if Velankanni is he target, then surely what you say makes sense.

How is Thiruvarur-Nagapattnam? If not great, one more option is to drive towards Thiruthuraipundi and take a deviation towards (Ettukudi Murugan Temple) and reach out the ECR on the other side. You will need searching on the maps, but the option can work out beautifully. Thiruvarur-Thiruthuraipoondi is also a nicely laid out 2-lane. (This is what I am referring to: Route Link


Also what is the status of Kumbakonam bypass ? Have all the constructions been completed?

Folks need some route advice for a friend:
Onward from Bangalore to Velankanni he took the infamous Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamalai route (don't know if this was a gmaps suggestion).

He wants to know which is a good route for his return journey.

Yes, google suggests only that route as a choice which is obviously not a great choice.

Return via Velankanni-Tiruvarur-Needamangalam-Thanjavur-Trichy-Salem-Bangalore is best.

-Ravi

My take: Take the Vridhchalam Attur option. But avoid Chidambaram-Vridhachalam by a detour. (I think member narayans80 had a suggestion)

Route link

Any idea if the Thanjavur-Nagapattinam route is good now?
The last I traveled on this route was two years ago and there was 4 laning work going on and I had to go via Mannargudi and Thruthurapoondi to avoid that section.

Is Velankanni Basilica open now ?
A friend who does the south trip regularly told us that Needamangalam stretch was awful. Why not stick to Vridhachalam, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, Karaikal route ? You may not reach 3 digit figures there , but at least you will be moving without resorting to taking diversion.

Yes, it is open since last September is what I read.

Will try this route as it seems shorter as well. I have tried multiple routes on the return every time, but I keep forgetting them since I take a different route every year and it has been two years since I last visited Velankanni.

I did this route on the onward journey on Saturday and the roads from Virudachalam to Sirkali are not great. I don't remember if it was from Chidambaram or from Virudachalam, that had road works going on which has non-asphalted sections.
One lane of the road was occupied by the locals for loading grain along with road works every 500 meters. Few kilometers before Tharangambadi, there are short stretches that are bad as well. Overall, from Chidambaram to Nagapattinam, because of local traffic and the above, progress was slow.

The return I took was via Thruthuraipoondi-Mannarguddi-Thanjavur-Trichy- Karur road till halfway and took the bridge across Cauvery to continue on the Musiri-Namakkal road. Thankfully, all the stretches all the way from Velankanni till the 4 lane NH to Salem was in very good conditions.

You were lucky. Unprecedented rains had battered the Cuddalore region yesterday. Every monsoon, Karaikal/Nagapattinum region gets tons of rain and every second storm crosses this area resulting in damaged roads. For people in Madras, visiting Velankanni in monsoon times is not an option.

Yes, I heard after I got back. In fact I was preparing for rains all the way back to Bangalore since there was forecast for rains even in Bangalore, but not a drop till I got back. There were occasional showers here and there on way the between Salem and Virudachalam, but nothing in Velankanni. In fact, it was sunny the day I was there and when I left as well on Sunday morning.

Hello All,

Planning the trip from Bangalore to Vailankanni in the mid of next week.

Google maps is suggesting the usual Bangalore, Salem, Artur, Chidambaram, Karaikal, Vailankanni.

Hope this is the best route to take both ways?

Any recommendations on the restaurants (family friendly) enroute?

Any recommendations in Vailankanni for shopping, things to do, nearby places.

Thanks a lot.

I can think of two other options.

1. If one can manage T-Palur and KMU bypass, then KMU-Thiruvarur- Take Thiruthuraipoondi SH and take the Ettupadi exit, And head to Thirupoondi on ECR and head to Velankanni. Down south of KMU roads are good.

2. Take the regular Trichy-Tanjore-Mannargudi-Thiruthuraipoondi-Velankanni option.