[vigneshA]

Quick update.
Did Chennai- Salem - Chennai.

1. Chennai - Salem through Ulundurpet - Kalakuruchi - Salem.
Travel time 7 hrs 15 mins.
Start time 7:15 AM end Time - 2:30 PM.
While the 4 laning of Ulundurpet- Salem section is underway in many places and atleast one stretch is open for traffic, the real bottlenecks are town pass through's. These are congested and the roads are also bad. Also, side shift due to construction slows down. However once these town bypasses are ready, should be OK to use.
2. Return Salem - Chennai via Harur-Thirupattur- Vellore.
Again took 7 hrs 30 mins. THis was partly due to accident near salem that caused detour and robbed off 20 mins. The other major bottleneck in this section is Uthangarai-Thirupatthur section. The road is majorily bad and pass through Thirupatthur town also kills you. The entire 20 km stretch took me an hour due to traffic pile up in the town.

While i was advocating return through Krishnagiri route, i was tempted to take the Harur route, simply due to exhorbitant toll prices at both toll gates in NH7.

[ampere]

So is there an NH68 4L work in progress? That is news indeed.

[im_srini]

Originally Posted by vigneshA

While i was advocating return through Krishnagiri route, i was tempted to take the Harur route, simply due to exhorbitant toll prices at both toll gates in NH7.

Yes, you do pay a price for the nice roads between Krishnagiri & Coimbatore. At least 3 tollways on this stretch have increased their prices recently. Data from my last 2 MAS-to-CBE trips...



In the most recent trip, the toll at Kumarapalayam is lower than the previous trip since I took a 'two-way' pass, which is valid for 24 hours & costs Rs.56. As far as I remember the 'one-way' toll at Kumarapalayam is still Rs.34.

A couple of things to keep in mind at Salem:

A) On NH47, as you approach from Sankagiri & take the flyover, the exit which takes you onto NH7 is poorly marked, the sign-board is too close to the exit, if you're driving at a healthy clip up the flyover, you're bound to miss it

B) If you ask anybody in Salem the route to Chennai, they'll almost always direct you on to NH68 (Ulundurpet). You'll have to ask for the directions to Bangalore or Krishnagiri to be directed back on to NH7

[ampere]

My previous question is still un-answered? Is NH68 being 4Laned?
I doubt it. Vignesh can you please explain?

[ksubram]

I see this is a very old thread. Not sure if people are still checking. Hope Ampere or HVK are reading this.

My goal is to reach Nelliyampathy by 10 am. on 28th Dec. I'd be starting from Madras.

I'm open to leaving on 27th Dec post lunch and making a brief night halt en route. What would you advise. Normally i clock 65-70 kms in an hour on highways. Tolls are not a constraint but i'd like to skip roads that are getting four laned. Are there better alternatives to MAA-KRISHNAGIRI-SALEM.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ksubram

I see this is a very old thread. Not sure if people are still checking. Hope Ampere or HVK are reading this.

My goal is to reach Nelliyampathy by 10 am. on 28th Dec. I'd be starting from Madras.

I'm open to leaving on 27th Dec post lunch and making a brief night halt en route. What would you advise. Normally i clock 65-70 kms in an hour on highways. Tolls are not a constraint but i'd like to skip roads that are getting four laned. Are there better alternatives to MAA-KRISHNAGIRI-SALEM.

You should do : Chennai-Tindivanam-Ulundurpet-Salem-Avinashi-Palladam-Pollachi-Kollengode-Nemmara-Nellyampathy.
- 4-laned till Avinashi.
- Nice 2-lane till Pollachi.
- And nicely tarred but narrow road to Nemmara/Nellyampathy

Its about 600+km. If you have to reach by 10AM you need to do an overnight drive. If you are not OK, then, I would say drive on day one to Pollachi and stay. You leisurely start the next day and reach before 10.

Some hotels I can suggest in Pollachi :
- Nivethas Inn
- Shakti Resorts

[NPV]

Originally Posted by ksubram

My goal is to reach Nelliyampathy by 10 am. on 28th Dec. I'd be starting from Madras.

What are the stay options you are considering at Nelliyampathy ?

At Pollachi you can also consider Coco Lagoon (Great Mount Resorts), more expensive though and not too sure if you'll find rooms for the last week of Dec. OR Ramanuja, near bus stand, smaller place, like a lodge but heard good feedback.

[ksubram]

Just the right & timely information i was looking for. Thankyou Ampere!

I plan to start on the 27th around 3p.m. drive for 7 hours and halt overnight before resuming the morning journey of hopefully not more than 3-4 hours. My ultimate destination on leg#1 of this roadtrip is an estate about 2 hours by jeep from Nelliyampathy.. and hence targeting to reach the start point by 10 a.m.

From Nelliyampathy, i'll be proceeding to Marari for a night and then eventually to Chittar Lake, near Kanyakumari. Will write to you should i need further guidance.

[ksubram]

Just left Madras. Am on the highway - GPS is recommending the Perambalur-Dharapuram-Pollachi as a faster route versus Salem-Palladam-Pollachi

Btw, we don't plan to halt at Salem but rather at Pollachi for the night.

[ramzsys]

Originally Posted by ksubram

Perambalur-Dharapuram-Pollachi as a faster route versus Salem-Palladam-Pollachi?

Former goes through towns and latter route is 4 lane+2 lane.

Instead:

Since it is a day trip, i suggest you take NH47 all the way till L&T bypass and then take left at Karpagam college(http://goo.gl/maps/j7Jb4) to get onto NH209 towards Pollachi.

Hope this new deviation leaves you more confused than you originally were

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ksubram

Just left Madras. Am on the highway - GPS is recommending the Perambalur-Dharapuram-Pollachi as a faster route versus Salem-Palladam-Pollachi

Btw, we don't plan to halt at Salem but rather at Pollachi for the night.

The one which Google recommends goes through many villages and hence would slow you down. The one via Salem is a 4-lane most of the time and hence you make a rapid progress. Better to stick to the four lane.

[ksubram]

Hello Invaluable Guides!

Am currently near Kanyakumari and heading to Megamalai next inspired by the several travelogues of the place.

a) request route guidance to Megamalai
b) is the road as bad as its portrayed in all websites or have there been any repairs.

Accomodation is with Woodbriar

[arun_josie]

Has anyone done the below route recently? If so, how is the road/traffic conditions? Or is there another better alternate route for Dhimbham - Pollachi?

Dhimbham - Puliampatti (via Puliampatti - Bhavanisagar - Banari Rd) - Annur - Somanur - Pollachi.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Dhimbham - Puliampatti (via Puliampatti - Bhavanisagar - Banari Rd) - Annur - Somanur - Pollachi.

Many have taken the Bannari-Bhavani Sagar road. But dont know how Puliampatti connection is. Annur-Somannur-Karnampettai to Palladan-Pollachi road should be good till NH67 (Sulur-Palladam). But I dont know beyond. I have seen that intersection on the Palladam-Pollachi road.

[Mr.Boss]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Dhimbham - Puliampatti (via Puliampatti - Bhavanisagar - Banari Rd) - Annur - Somanur - Pollachi.

Puliampatti to Somanur roads are better these days.

Beyond that
Somanur --> Karanampettai --> Karadivavi --> Kamanaiken palayam --> Pollachi
will be the ideal route, but I don't have latest information on this route.

Instead,
Karanampettai --> Palladam --> Pollachi
will be safe bet with superb roads (2 lane)