[ampere]

Originally Posted by Vizay

Even at this time frame, I hope 7 hrs should be enough time to plan for. Right?

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

If you are starting at around 1:30 PMfrom Chennai, you should be able to reach Trichy comfortably at around 6:30 PM. Passing Trichy byepass would be an issue but you should be able to reach Dindigul at around 8:00 PM without any difficulties.

This translates to the fact that you would climbing up the ghats in the dark.
Hope you are fine with that.

[accentgiri]

During this month beginning I took Dindigul Vathalagundu route to reach Thekkaday. From Dindigul, lane expansion work is going on, there were lot of diversions. Diversions were available upto to Kodai right turn after Vathalagundu, so it would be better if this stretch of travel is planned during day time, otherwise after daylight it will be horrible to cross this. While returning from Thekkady, I took Theni Madurai route to avoid these diversions....

[Vizay]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

If you are starting at around 1:30 PMfrom Chennai, you should be able to reach Trichy comfortably at around 6:30 PM. Passing Trichy byepass would be an issue but you should be able to reach Dindigul at around 8:00 PM without any difficulties.

Thanks for that. Starting from Tambaram, so hoping for less than 5 hrs Trichy.

Originally Posted by ampere

This translates to the fact that you would climbing up the ghats in the dark.
Hope you are fine with that.

Originally Posted by accentgiri

During this month beginning I took Dindigul Vathalagundu route to reach Thekkaday. From Dindigul, lane expansion work is going on, there were lot of diversions. Diversions were available upto to Kodai right turn after Vathalagundu, so it would be better if this stretch of travel is planned during day time, otherwise after daylight it will be horrible to cross this. While returning from Thekkady, I took Theni Madurai route to avoid these diversions....

Going only till Dindigul. No other thread for that. Hence looked appropriate here to seek advice.
Thanks folks.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Vizay

Thanks mate. But I am planning to start at 1330 hrs on a weekday as said in my first post here.

I did a 1230 start once, was at TVS tollgate at 530, caught the 4-lane at 630 and was at Theni turnoff at 745. You can knock off 20 min off my timings, 'cos I started from T.Nagar.

[Lakshman1645]

I'm going to be driving from Chennai to Kodaikanal via Palani this Thursday. I have two questions:
1. Which exit should i take when i reach Trichy so that i can get into the city and then get onto the Dindigul road?
2. Is the road from Palani to Kodaikanal better or worse than the Vatlagundu road in terms of surface and traffic?

I have a wedding to attend at Palani. Otherwise I wouldnt bother with this route. Any help would be great.

Thanks

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by Lakshman1645

I'm going to be driving from Chennai to Kodaikanal via Palani this Thursday. I have two questions:
1. Which exit should i take when i reach Trichy so that i can get into the city and then get onto the Dindigul road?
2. Is the road from Palani to Kodaikanal better or worse than the Vatlagundu road in terms of surface and traffic?

I have a wedding to attend at Palani. Otherwise I wouldnt bother with this route. Any help would be great.

Thanks

Keep going on the Trichy bypass - no turns anywhere - to get onto Dindigul road, since it is the same NH45.

Palani-Kodai road is a very beautiful road, more than the Vathalagudu road. But narrower and less traffic.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Lakshman1645

1. Which exit should i take when i reach Trichy so that i can get into the city and then get onto the Dindigul road?

I think there is no other option, but for the following.
(Will let others also comment on the same)

Route Link

[Lakshman1645]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Keep going on the Trichy bypass - no turns anywhere - to get onto Dindigul road, since it is the same NH45.

When i drove this stretch a couple of years ago, i stayed on the bypass thinking the same thing but the road was actually NH45B - the highway to Madurai. To get to the Dindigul road, i heard there is no option but to get off the bypass and then get into town to join it. Wonder if it connects to the Dindigul road now. Anyway thanks for the help.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Lakshman1645

When i drove this stretch a couple of years ago, i stayed on the bypass thinking the same thing but the road was actually NH45B - the highway to Madurai. To get to the Dindigul road, i heard there is no option but to get off the bypass and then get into town to join it. Wonder if it connects to the Dindigul road now. Anyway thanks for the help.

Lakshman, this is what I wrote when I took Dindigul Road for the first time. Yes, you will have to get off the bypass at the last exit (TVS tollgate). Time your start so that you don't cross Trichy at peak hours.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Just did a Chennai - Kodai trip last weekend. The road our upto Vathalagundu from Dindigul has a lot of diversion. It is better to go via Palani the ghat road is in good condition as well.

I had opted to take a detour via Viralimalai from Manapparai and passing Trichy was a breeze, though it was longer by about 15 kms.

[oss]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

Just did a Chennai - Kodai trip last weekend. The road our upto Vathalagundu from Dindigul has a lot of diversion. It is better to go via Palani the ghat road is in good condition as well.

I had opted to take a detour via Viralimalai from Manapparai and passing Trichy was a breeze, though it was longer by about 15 kms.

That's interesting. Does it mean that i can stay on the Trichy-Maduri hwy till Viralimali without having to enter Trichy?

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

I had opted to take a detour via Viralimalai from Manapparai and passing Trichy was a breeze, though it was longer by about 15 kms.

I do remember such diversions from 2-lane days, but is the detour better evil than the traffic from TVS tollgate to Dindigul road 4-lane start ?

Originally Posted by oss

That's interesting. Does it mean that i can stay on the Trichy-Maduri hwy till Viralimali without having to enter Trichy?

Yes these roads do exist, but not sure of the road conditions though.

[Lakshman1645]

Got back from my trip yesterday. As mentioned earlier on this thread, a lot of road widening going on between the regular turn off to Vattlagundu after Dindigul.

So I carried on for another 25 kilometers on the 4 lane NH 7 until a toll plaza. Took the very next exit and turned right towards Vattlagundu. Follow signs to Kodai Road - the railway station. Once you get onto the smaller single lane road, take the 1st left. You will be in Vattlagundu in 15 to 20 minutes.

I find this route much faster and hassle free

[oss]

Originally Posted by Lakshman1645

Got back from my trip yesterday. As mentioned earlier on this thread, a lot of road widening going on between the regular turn off to Vattlagundu after Dindigul.

So I carried on for another 25 kilometers on the 4 lane NH 7 until a toll plaza. Took the very next exit and turned right towards Vattlagundu. Follow signs to Kodai Road - the railway station. Once you get onto the smaller single lane road, take the 1st left. You will be in Vattlagundu in 15 to 20 minutes.

I find this route much faster and hassle free

You mean you took the Dindigul-Madurai highway and joined Vathalagundu instead of coming through the Dindigul-Vathalagundu road.

Is this the route you took: Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu to Dindigul, Tamil Nadu - Google Maps

I am planning a Chennai-Trichy-Dindigul-Palani-Kodai-Vathalagundu-Dindigul-Trichy-Chennai route. In that case from Vathalagundu i should aim for hte Madurai highways, and take left once on the highway, right?

[Lakshman1645]

Originally Posted by oss

You mean you took the Dindigul-Madurai highway and joined Vathalagundu instead of coming through the Dindigul-Vathalagundu road.

I am planning a Chennai-Trichy-Dindigul-Palani-Kodai-Vathalagundu-Dindigul-Trichy-Chennai route. In that case from Vathalagundu i should aim for hte Madurai highways, and take left once on the highway, right?

Hi oss,

After looking at the map I'm honestly not very sure, thought that does look like the road I took. Following the route you want to take on your way back (Kodai-Vathalagundu-Dindigul), do not turn left when you get to the main junction in Vathalagundu. Instead, carry on straight. The road is not very wide but the surface is not bad. After about 20km approximately you will drive through an under bridge and immediately reach a T junction. Turn right and drive on this road for a couple of minutes until you reach the 4 lane NH 7. You will be forced to turn left and join it north bound. From here it's straight down to Dindigul and Trichy.