[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by ampere

When the patching up done? Last I heard was this stretch was to be rejected outright by anyone travelling to Velankanni from Tanjore.

I drove a week back. Onward via Thanjavur-Tiruvarur-Nagapattinam and return via Mannargudi.

[SBR]

Originally Posted by SBR

Finally, its time to go to Nagore on the extended weekend beginning 1st Nov.

My Ride: Ritz VDi
Occupants: Me, Wifey, BIL & my 4 year old daughter
Start Time: 4:00 AM

Planned Route:

Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Thuraiyur - Trichy - Thanjavur - Mannargudi - Thiruthuraipoondi - Nagapattinam - Nagore.

As I would be starting at 4:00 AM on 1st Nov, my pit stops will be Salem or some place before that, next stop at Namakkal or Trichy and Thanjavur. Any suggestions on good places to stop with parking and clean toilets on the way as this is my first trip on this route. I would prefer some place on the highway as I dont plan to take a detour. Any advise .

[ravib]

Originally Posted by SBR

As I would be starting at 4:00 AM on 1st Nov, my pit stops will be Salem or some place before that, next stop at Namakkal or Trichy and Thanjavur. Any suggestions on good places to stop with parking and clean toilets on the way as this is my first trip on this route. I would prefer some place on the highway as I dont plan to take a detour. Any advise .

I would suggest you to take breaks at following places.

1) Since you are leaving around 4 am in the morning, its good to break at Salem Grand Estancia. If you are hungry and want to have a bite earlier, you can stop at Thoppur A2B which is on the other side of the highway. Just take the U turn before the Thoppur toll booth. No detour here.

2) Next better stop could be at Trichy instead of Namakkal as you wouldn't have covered much distance after your first stop. In Trichy, though there are not much hotels right on the highway till you exit to Tanjore Bypass, if you are looking for decent hotel with good parking & rest rooms, a slight detour (about 2 kms) to Hotel Mayas in Chatram Bus stand area is a good choice. Once you are done, you can easily & quickly exit to Tanjore Bypass by taking Thiruvanikoil road. But you may have to ask few people about the exit to take, since you are not familiar with this route.

-Ravi

[manualManuel]

Hi all,

I was planning on a Bangalore to Velankanni to Palakkad trip on November 1, 2013.

For the Bangalore to Velankanni part, I was considering the Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Thuraiyur - Trichy - Tanjore - Thiruvarur - Nagapattinam route. My understanding is that it should take about 9 hours. So if I start at 5am, should be there by 2 pm.

For the Velankanni to Palakkad part, I was considering the Nagapattinam - Thiruvarur - Tanjore - Trichy - Karur - Dharapuram - Pollachi - Palakkad route. (This route is from Google maps. Any suggestions for alternates are always welcome.) Google maps indicate about 7 hours. So guess the same should be about 8 hours.

Any suggestions or inputs? Any suggestions on whether its is better to stay in Velankanni itself, or should I stay at Tanjore/Kumbakonam. Suggestions on hotels are welcome. MGM Vailankanni Residency or Clinton Park Inn are the options I was considering at Velankanni. Or should I just try to do it all in one day? Doing it in one day seems very hectic though.

Originally Posted by SBR

As I would be starting at 4:00 AM on 1st Nov, my pit stops will be Salem or some place before that,

SBR, looks like we are travelling on the same day! Will keep a look-out for your Ritz. What colour is it?

[mpksuhas]

^^ Guys who are starting on Nov 1 it would be better if you can cross silk board before 04.00 AM. There is huge difference in traffic before and after 04.00 AM on Hosur road, an early start can help you cross Atibelle toll booth in no time.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by SBR

As I would be starting at 4:00 AM on 1st Nov, my pit stops will be Salem or some place before that, next stop at Namakkal or Trichy and Thanjavur. Any suggestions on good places to stop with parking and clean toilets on the way as this is my first trip on this route. I would prefer some place on the highway as I dont plan to take a detour. Any advise .

If you start at 4am, you will easily reach Salem by 6.30am. I think Thoppur A2B would be too early.

There are hardly any good hotels between Trichy and Thanjavur. The road is four lane and can be covered real quick. During our trip, we searched for a place and finally had to take first exit to Thanjavur city for lunch.

On our return, had lunch at Hotel Parishudham (that too inside city) and the place is good.

Originally Posted by manualManuel

...........Trichy - Tanjore - Thiruvarur - Nagapattinam route......

This route is patched up and doable, but there are three railway gates.
Better, take Thanjavur-Mannargudi-Thiruthuraipoondi-Velankanni route, which is more scenic and straight road. There are little bad sections here and there but easily manageable.

[SBR]

Originally Posted by manualManuel

SBR, looks like we are travelling on the same day! Will keep a look-out for your Ritz. What colour is it?

Hey mate, you can look out for a Breeze Blue Ritz VDI with a LTD sticker at the back and a IDS sticker in the front.

Here is the ownership thread link of my Ritz VDI which has many pics of my car

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...-ritz-vdi.html

I will keep an eye for the i20 I guess.

[manualManuel]

Originally Posted by SBR

I will keep an eye for the i20 I guess.

It would be a white Honda Civic, with a KL registration. Safe journey !

[SBR]

Originally Posted by SBR

Finally, its time to go to Nagore on the extended weekend beginning 1st Nov.

My Ride: Ritz VDi
Occupants: Me, Wifey, BIL & my 4 year old daughter
Start Time: 4:00 AM

Planned Route:

Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Thuraiyur - Trichy - Thanjavur - Mannargudi - Thiruthuraipoondi - Nagapattinam - Nagore.

Just came back last night from the trip.

Onward journey was Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Musiri - Trichy - Thanjavur - Mannargudi - Thiruthuraipoondi - Nagapattinam - Nagore.


Started at 4:00 AM in Bangalore. First pitstop was at A2B in Thoppur for about 20 mins.

Salem: 8:00 AM
Trichy: 11:00 AM (Second pit stop at Sree sweet shop on the thanjavur highway)
Thanjavur: 12:15 PM
Lunch Break on way to Mannargudi. Had carried lunch from home.
Nagore: 3:25 PM
Distance: 525 KMS

The route was good overall. Suggest anyone to avoid the Namakkal - Musiri route. Its really bad with huge pot holes and lots of truck traffic.

Return Journey:

Nagore: 10:20 AM
Nagore - Thanjavur: Took the Thiruvarur route. Road is in decent condition but with too many blind turns and lots of traffic.
Trichy: 1:00 PM (1st pitstop at Hotel Aananth for lunch. It is located on the highway just before entering Trichy from Thanjavur)
Trichy - Thuraiyur - Namakkal - Excellent route.
Namakkal: 4:00 PM (Stopped at Hotel Aaryas for a Tea Break. Decent Hotel with clean toilets & this is located right on the main road in Namakkal)
A2B Thoppur: 6:30 PM
Krishnagiri: 8:00 PM (Dinner Break)
Home: 10:20 PM
Distance: 505 KMS

Total Distance covered - 1030 KMS. Hope this helps.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by SBR

The route was good overall. Suggest anyone to avoid the Namakkal - Musiri route. Its really bad with huge pot holes and lots of truck traffic.

So looks like still Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy is a very good alternative option.
You should have taken that. Only problem is crossing Namakkal town. One way to beat Namakkal traffic to a certain extent is to enter via the Third city bypass/exit point.

Route Link

This works very well because you don't see the temple traffic and you don't need to go round the temple.

[Knight Rider]

Hi, has anyone done a cochin - velankanni trip lately? If so what would be the best route to take? Also any pointers on where to stay in velankanni? I am travelling with my family.

Thanks in advance

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Knight Rider

Hi, has anyone done a cochin - velankanni trip lately? If so what would be the best route to take? Also any pointers on where to stay in velankanni? I am travelling with my family.

Thanks in advance

Check #70. Very close to what you are looking for.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3206139

[Knight Rider]

Thank you, how is the salem route? where do you take the diversion while coming from cochin?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Knight Rider

Thank you, how is the salem route? where do you take the diversion while coming from cochin?

May be instead of driving all the way to Salem, you can also do :

Ernakulam-Angamaly-Trichur-bypass-Kuthiran-Vadakkenchery-Pollachi-Dharapuram-Odanchatram-Dindigul-Trichy-Tanjore-Tiruthuraioondi-Velankanni

[Knight Rider]

Originally Posted by ampere

May be instead of driving all the way to Salem, you can also do :

Ernakulam-Angamaly-Trichur-bypass-Kuthiran-Vadakkenchery-Pollachi-Dharapuram-Odanchatram-Dindigul-Trichy-Tanjore-Tiruthuraioondi-Velankanni

Thank you, request feedback from anyone who has used this road recently