[kala]

Originally Posted by RoadTripper

Hi Ampere

I agree continuing on the 4 lane stretch is definitely longer from a distance point of view. However, by exiting off Kodai Rd Toll Plaza after Dindigul, the advantage is that you cover more distance faster and you get to delay the inevitable a bit (SH driving).

Originally Posted by ampere

I think its a wide 2-lane. And its a NH45 and not SH. Though I have not driven recently, so I cant comment on how heavy is the traffic.
Of course as you said the 4-lane option is quite smooth too.

Can't really see the merit of driving 10 kms extra (And paying an additional toll as well of whatever amount) in order to reduce a 2 lane drive of 30 kms to 20 kms. (You still need to drive 20 kms on the SH from the Kodai Road exit to reach Batlagundu and that is again a 2 lane road).

Was probably justifiable during the time when roadwork was ongoing there, but from what reports I've seen here there are no more diversions due to roadwork and the drive is pretty much smooth on NH45.

And by the way - I thought the road work on NH45 was for conversion to 4 lane. Isn't that so ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kala

And by the way - I thought the road work on NH45 was for conversion to 4 lane. Isn't that so ?

I thought the NH45 was a 4-lane was only till Dindigul. Beyond its a wide 2-lane road. The re-work was to make it into a good 2-lane.

[kala]

Originally Posted by ampere

I thought the NH45 was a 4-lane was only till Dindigul. Beyond its a wide 2-lane road. The re-work was to make it into a good 2-lane.

OK. Haven't travelled that way since the roadwork started, so haven't had a chance to drive on the "new improved" road

[Anand3553]

Hey guys, I have to travel to Kodaikanal this weekend. Would be a great help if anyone has any recent update on the Dindigul - Batlagundu road. Is the work completed by now or is it still better getting off at Kodai Road? Thanks in advance...

[Ddrive]

Originally Posted by Anand3553

Hey guys, I have to travel to Kodaikanal this weekend. Would be a great help if anyone has any recent update on the Dindigul - Batlagundu road. Is the work completed by now or is it still better getting off at Kodai Road? Thanks in advance...

Dindugul-Vathalakundu, road works over long time ago.
This road is wide, buttersmooth, and in excellent condition all the way.

[Anand3553]

Originally Posted by Ddrive

Dindugul-Vathalakundu, road works over long time ago. This road is wide, buttersmooth, and in excellent condition all the way.

Thank you for the info Ddrive..Appreciate it

[Anand3553]

Just back from the trip to Kodaikanal. If it helps anyone, the road from Chennai is amazing all the way till Vathalagundu. But watch out for the numerous bad patches while travelling uphill/downhill.

[Shortsell]

Originally Posted by Anand3553

Just back from the trip to Kodaikanal. If it helps anyone, the road from Chennai is amazing all the way till Vathalagundu. But watch out for the numerous bad patches while travelling uphill/downhill.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the exact route taken? Also how long did it take to reach etc?

Originally Posted by Shortsell

Can you tell us a little bit more about the exact route taken? Also how long did it take to reach etc?

Recently, I rode on my Thunderbird 500. I left my Chennai Royapettah home at 4:10 am, took a break for 1 hour at Trichy for refuelling and breakfast, reached Kodaikanal at 1:30 pm with many photographic breaks on the way, left Kodaikanal at 3:30 pm, took a break for 1 hour at Trichy for refuelling and dinner and reached back home at 3:25 am the next day. The details are here.

[Anand3553]

Originally Posted by Shortsell

Can you tell us a little bit more about the exact route taken? Also how long did it take to reach etc?

Tambaram – Chengalpet – Tindivanam – Ulundurpet – Trichy – Dindigul – Batlagundu – Kodaikanal was the route taken. But we somehow missed the direct route to Manapparai after Trichy and ended up doing a slightly longer route through Viralimalai and joined Manapparai. Joining the highway at Manapparai turned out to be tricky as it involved navigating through a very busy and narrow market road and about 500 mtrs off-roading. The actual road which joins the highway was blocked due to ongoing construction of an over bridge.
I apologize for not having the time noted. We were a group of 6 cars with a couple of inexperienced drivers on their first long trip because of which it was stop-wait-start every now and then.
To give an idea of the traffic on the highway, we started at around 5 AM and had a good number of trucks all the way till Trichy after which the trucks became far and few inbetween.

[Ddrive]

The route taken by Anand3553 is the shortest and fastest.
The return route by J.Ravi is through Palani and he has done for a change.
How long will it take to reach depends on the speeds you drive.

At 60kmph average speed.
Tambaram-Vathalagundu 437 kms can be done in 7 hours with breaks.
Vathalagundu-Kodaikanal 60 kms ghats, can be done in 2 hours (@30kms/h)
So totally 9 hours or may be 10 hours. leisurely by any car.
Volvo buses are covering Kodaikanal-Tambaram in 10 to 11 hours, I believe.

Seen people driving super fast cars on speeds over 120, 140 or more (mostly), doing this Tamabaram-Vathalakundu stretch well below 5 hours

[maverickgenius]

Hi All,

I am planning to go the Chennai - Kodaikanal route in a few days.

I plan to take the Chennai - Trichy - Bathlagundu - Kodaikanal route.

I would be travelling in a Laura 2.0 DSG Diesel Automatic.

I need your help on the below:

1. Though I have done many long distances, this is the first time I will be driving in the ghats. How difficult is this ghat road for a beginner? How many hairpin bends are there?

2. I have gone through numerous threads for tips on hill driving. Are there any specific tips to drive an automatic car?

Regards,
Sriram

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by maverickgenius

1. Though I have done many long distances, this is the first time I will be driving in the ghats. How difficult is this ghat road for a beginner? How many hairpin bends are there?

The ghats are nothing treacherous.Just maintain prescribed speeds and overtake judiciously and you should be fine.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by maverickgenius

2. I have gone through numerous threads for tips on hill driving. Are there any specific tips to drive an automatic car?

Just take care against the TN State buses coming in opposite, when you are in the ghats. They are known to drive very rash.

[CliffHanger]

Originally Posted by maverickgenius

Hi All,

1. Though I have done many long distances, this is the first time I will be driving in the ghats. How difficult is this ghat road for a beginner? How many hairpin bends are there?

2. I have gone through numerous threads for tips on hill driving. Are there any specific tips to drive an automatic car?

Regards,
Sriram

Some suggestions

- You have to be cautious not just while climbing uphill or downhill, but also while driving between sightseeing spots. Since it is summer vacations, there will be considerable traffic on the hills and you will have to do the stop-n-go thing on the slopes or declines with vehicles at front and behind. So be extra cautious and watch out for vehicles going behind.

- While climbing uphill/downhill, always strictly stick to left at any given moment, never ever assume the road ahead is gonna be free and tread to the middle or to right. In the ghats, the reaction time and space to maneuver will be very less leading to dangerous situations. So always keep this in mind - Strictly left all the time - while taking hair pin bends, small straight stretches and everywhere else.

- This is in case the car does not have Hill-Assist. Always know where your hand brake exactly is. In case of car going backward, people in the car might raise noise. Do not panic, but pull the hand brake.