[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

Were you able to stick to the timings for the rest of the temples? How did that go? Also I hope you had a pleasant stay at KMU

Ampere, i don't think he stayed in KMU. Guess, he didn't goto KMU at all

-Ravi

[Vizay]

Originally Posted by ampere

Were you able to stick to the timings for the rest of the temples? How did that go? Also I hope you had a pleasant stay at KMU

I stayed in V.Koil http://hotelsriakshardham.com/ it was a good one. Stay was pleasent. Commute to nearby temples (Thirukadaiyur, Thiruvengadu, etc) were without any trouble. Actually inner roads were on par or better than ECR. Did take ECR to chennai and GQ back to bangalore. Noticed many sections of relaid road near Chennai/Kancheepuram It used to be patched & bumpy ride. Thanks.

[Vizay]

Originally Posted by ravib

Ampere, i don't think he stayed in KMU. Guess, he didn't goto KMU at all

-Ravi

Yes. You are right. I didn't touch KMU this time. But another one waiting in next 1-2 months going further down till Tanjore visiting multiple temples on the way.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Vizay

Yes. You are right. I didn't touch KMU this time. But another one waiting in next 1-2 months going further down till Tanjore visiting multiple temples on the way.

Ok cool. If your main destination is Tanjore, then going via Trichy makes more sense and fastest than any other route.

-Ravi

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by Vizay

Yes. You are right. I didn't touch KMU this time. But another one waiting in next 1-2 months going further down till Tanjore visiting multiple temples on the way.

If visiting temples is your main agenda, then staying in kumbakonam makes sense. From here almost all the temples are accessible within short distance.

[Secretariat]

A request for guidance on the optimal route from Bangalore to Swamimalai. I am driving with three super senior citizens in a fortnight's time. Because of their presence, the criteria (in that order of importance) for route selection is

- Quickest possible time to reach
- Decent loo stops every 2 hours or so
- Less bumpy roads

I am expecting that it would be Bangalore-Salem-Attur-Perambalur-Ariyalur-T.Palur-Kumbakonam as Ravi has reported a few posts ago, but I thought I would check with the stalwarts - Amp, Ravi, Suresh.

Thanks

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

I am expecting that it would be Bangalore-Salem-Attur-Perambalur-Ariyalur-T.Palur-Kumbakonam as Ravi has reported a few posts ago,

Better to go via Ulundurpet/Vridhachalam. Simply because you have more break points available. Esp if senior folks want to opt for more frequent bio-breaks.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

A request for guidance on the optimal route from Bangalore to Swamimalai. I am driving with three super senior citizens in a fortnight's time. Because of their presence, the criteria (in that order of importance) for route selection is

- Quickest possible time to reach
- Decent loo stops every 2 hours or so
- Less bumpy roads

I am expecting that it would be Bangalore-Salem-Attur-Perambalur-Ariyalur-T.Palur-Kumbakonam as Ravi has reported a few posts ago, but I thought I would check with the stalwarts - Amp, Ravi, Suresh.

Thanks

I would suggest via Hosur,Krishnagiri,Salem and then take NH79 all the way till Ulundurpet town and then head towards Vriddhachalam, Jayamkondan and T Polur.
Do note that on NH79 (Salem-Ulundurpet NH) apart from Ramas veg near Attur, you do not have any other option to break for food. That is the only drawback on this stretch. So plan accordingly.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

A request for guidance on the optimal route from Bangalore to Swamimalai. I am driving with three super senior citizens in a fortnight's time. Because of their presence, the criteria (in that order of importance) for route selection is

- Quickest possible time to reach
- Decent loo stops every 2 hours or so
- Less bumpy roads

I am expecting that it would be Bangalore-Salem-Attur-Perambalur-Ariyalur-T.Palur-Kumbakonam as Ravi has reported a few posts ago, but I thought I would check with the stalwarts - Amp, Ravi, Suresh.

Thanks

Since you are traveling with very senior citizens, i would agree with Ampere and Suresh to take Bangalore-Salem-Attur-Ulundurpet-Vridhachalam-Jayankondam-Kumbakonam route.

The main reason is in this route for sure, you will have a place/major town to break in 2 hours gap. But, please note that better you budget for atleast 8 hours journey assuming you can't do high speeds and need frequent breaks. So you can meet the last 2 criteria, but not the first.

As suresh mentioned, between Salem to Ulundurpet, the only good place to break is Ramas cafe after attur. It will come on to your left. So don't miss that.

Swamimalai is just 7 kms from Kumbakonam and is about 15 minutes drive, so obviously it makes sense to break & stay at Kumbakonam, before you proceed to temple.

-Ravi

[Secretariat]

Thanks very much Ampere, Suresh, Ravi. I never cease to be amazed at how helpful you guys are.

In line with your guidance, that's the route I'll take. I suspect there will be nothing new to report on the route as it is well covered in this thread; so I'll only report in the event of finding something different.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

Thanks very much Ampere, Suresh, Ravi. I never cease to be amazed at how helpful you guys are.

In line with your guidance, that's the route I'll take. I suspect there will be nothing new to report on the route as it is well covered in this thread; so I'll only report in the event of finding something different.

Some places to stay in Kumbakonam:

- Rayas
- PLA Residency
- Sara Regency.

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

I would suggest via Hosur,Krishnagiri,Salem and then take NH79 all the way till Ulundurpet town and then head towards Vriddhachalam, Jayamkondan and T Polur.

Did NHAI revert back to the old numbering for the highways? Google maps shows this stretch as NH68 and all other highways too are marked with the earlier numbering. And I can't believe that Google has not yet updated it because I have seen in Gmaps few months back that this stretch was marked as NH79.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by rameshnanda

Did NHAI revert back to the old numbering for the highways? Google maps shows this stretch as NH68 and all other highways too are marked with the earlier numbering. And I can't believe that Google has not yet updated it because I have seen in Gmaps few months back that this stretch was marked as NH79.

Yes its quite confusing. Some how I still feel comfortable with old numbers. The instant some one says NH79, I think Ajmer-Chittor-Ratlam-Indore!

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by ampere

Yes its quite confusing. Some how I still feel comfortable with old numbers. The instant some one says NH79, I think Ajmer-Chittor-Ratlam-Indore!

Completely agree. I too never got hang on the new numbers.

Okay. I checked on NHAI website and I only see the old numbering system.



Source - http://www.nhai.org/statewise2.htm#

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

Yes its quite confusing. Some how I still feel comfortable with old numbers. The instant some one says NH79, I think Ajmer-Chittor-Ratlam-Indore!

Totally agree. Why the heck they want to change the NH numbers and confuse everyone, as if we are running short of numbers.

I would always prefer older numbers so that atleast i don't confuse others
But google misleads me sometimes....

-Ravi