Chennai - Kodaikanal : Route Queries

praveen_v · 2nd July 2008, 17:42

I'm planning to do the Chennai-Kodaikanal next week and would like to know the best route. The route conditions, if anyone has done it recently will also be very helpful.

I searched around but could not find a Chennai-Kodai thread. If there's a thread already, Mods please merge the threads.

esteem_lover · 2nd July 2008, 17:47

AFFAIK, there is only one way of reaching there, through chenglepet, villupuram, trichy, dindigul, vatlagoondu, kodai. A total distance of about 470 km.

praveen_v · 3rd July 2008, 10:47

Yes E_L that was the route i was planning to take from chennai-koadi since i was planning for a break in Trichy for a night and planning to take up trichy-kodai the next day.

Was just wondering about the condition of NH-45. is it completed till Trichy?? Also any idea of the trichy-kodai route condition?

PRADEEP KUMAR · 3rd July 2008, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by praveen_v

Yes E_L that was the route i was planning to take from chennai-koadi since i was planning for a break in Trichy for a night and planning to take up trichy-kodai the next day.

Was just wondering about the condition of NH-45. is it completed till Trichy?? Also any idea of the trichy-kodai route condition?

Hi,
between tindivanam and trichy the 4 lane work is on at a hectic pace, expect many diversions .Road condition is good but a few traffic jams common between tindivanam and ulundurpet ,after that reasonably good as traffic eases out.
Trichy to Manaparai is a good road but potholed(been like that for long now?),manaparai to Dindigul is very good and onwards to Bathlagundu is a decent double road,to kodai should be ok as well,
drive safe and avoid night driving in this route.Very heavy traffic between evening to Morning.

drbabuanand · 3rd July 2008, 14:41

trichy kodai route is very good
went to kodai last month
the ghat road is smooth and wide,did it in sx4-enjoyed it.
over night halt at trichy is a good option

pypkmsrikanth · 3rd July 2008, 16:49

If you are doing this by day, I dont think Tindivanam - Trichy would be an issue. The biggest bottleneck would be between Samayapuram and Trichy. Otherwise its a decent trip to make. If you dont mind doing an alternative route, you could try Chennai - Vellore - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Mettur - Bhavani - Perundurai - Kangeyam - Palani - Kodaikanal. This would certainly be longer but you get a scenic ghat road between Palani and Kodaikanal.

Blue Thunder · 3rd July 2008, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pypkmsrikanth

...Otherwise its a decent trip to make. If you dont mind doing an alternative route, you could try Chennai - Vellore - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Mettur - Bhavani - Perundurai - Kangeyam - Palani - Kodaikanal. This would certainly be longer but you get a scenic ghat road between Palani and Kodaikanal.

Or alternatively, Chennai-Villupuram-Trichy-Madurai-Dindigul-Palani-Kodai.

I have also heard that the Palani-Kodai route is more scenic.

.

gsajjanraj · 4th July 2008, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by praveen_v

Was just wondering about the condition of NH-45. is it completed till Trichy??

I recently(less than 3 weeks back) travelled between Trichy and Chennai by NH 45, in my SPARK. I was able to cover the distance from Trichy to Tambaram in 5hrs, without any break in between.

The road is excellent till Tindivanam. Beyond that, road expansion work is in progress. Still you would find the roads broad enough to accomodate 3 to 4 buses in parallel( If you are luck enough u can even find 3 buses trying to over take each other in parallel)

The condition of the roads beyond tindivanam is also very good, except for few places( this would be near major villages/towns), where road expansion has just started. I was able to driveat 120-140kmph pretty easily. One has to be careful enough to notice the take diversion boards at such speeds since there would be good amount of them.

I would suggest you to drive only during the day or at the max in the twilight.

Proxima · 4th July 2008, 16:13

Where is Mr highway Kumar? Even I am interested in this, plan to do a trip sometime soon.

esteem_lover · 4th July 2008, 16:24

I dont think you need to take a break in between. This can be done easily at a single stretch by even a newbie.

hvkumar · 4th July 2008, 16:33

Well, I have not Chennai-Kodai direct, but my section-wise speeds are as follows:

Chennai Guindy-Trichy, 4 hrs
Dindigul-Kodai, 2 hrs

Not done Trichy-Dindigul for a long time, but you can do that in 1 hr.

It is an easy day's drive, even with breaks for food.

Proxima · 4th July 2008, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Well, I have not Chennai-Kodai direct, but my section-wise speeds are as follows:

Chennai Guindy-Trichy, 4 hrs
Dindigul-Kodai, 2 hrs

Not done Trichy-Dindigul for a long time, but you can do that in 1 hr.

It is an easy day's drive, even with breaks for food.

Kumar, it's Dindukal, not Dindikul.

hvkumar · 4th July 2008, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proxima

Kumar, it's Dindukal, not Dindikul.

Well, maybe I am old fashioned, but I still know only Bombay, Madras, Bangalore and Trivandrum!!! So is the case with Dindigul/Dindukal.

esteem_lover · 4th July 2008, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proxima

Kumar, it's Dindukal, not Dindikul.

When did that change ???

headers · 4th July 2008, 18:12

guys, you could also take GQ till krishnagiri, then take a left turn to salem, nammakkal, dindukss.. etc.. the roads are fairly good.

I did chennai [guindy] kodai 2 years back in my MG413W carb Hardtop in 8.5 hours. Left chennai at 4:00 am sharp to reach Kodai club for lunch! My gypsy gave me 11 kpl with three on board. I did the tindivanam route then.

2nd July 2008, 17:42	#1
praveen_v BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 507 Thanked: 215 Times	Chennai - Kodaikanal : Route Queries I'm planning to do the Chennai-Kodaikanal next week and would like to know the best route. The route conditions, if anyone has done it recently will also be very helpful. I searched around but could not find a Chennai-Kodai thread. If there's a thread already, Mods please merge the threads.
	() Thanks

2nd July 2008, 17:47	#2
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	AFFAIK, there is only one way of reaching there, through chenglepet, villupuram, trichy, dindigul, vatlagoondu, kodai. A total distance of about 470 km.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2008, 10:47	#3
praveen_v BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 507 Thanked: 215 Times	Yes E_L that was the route i was planning to take from chennai-koadi since i was planning for a break in Trichy for a night and planning to take up trichy-kodai the next day. Was just wondering about the condition of NH-45. is it completed till Trichy?? Also any idea of the trichy-kodai route condition?
	() Thanks

3rd July 2008, 14:41	#5
drbabuanand BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: trichy Posts: 60 Thanked: 8 Times	trichy kodai route is very good went to kodai last month the ghat road is smooth and wide,did it in sx4-enjoyed it. over night halt at trichy is a good option
	() Thanks

3rd July 2008, 16:49	#6
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 282 Times View My Garage	If you are doing this by day, I dont think Tindivanam - Trichy would be an issue. The biggest bottleneck would be between Samayapuram and Trichy. Otherwise its a decent trip to make. If you dont mind doing an alternative route, you could try Chennai - Vellore - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Mettur - Bhavani - Perundurai - Kangeyam - Palani - Kodaikanal. This would certainly be longer but you get a scenic ghat road between Palani and Kodaikanal.
	() Thanks

4th July 2008, 16:13	#9
Proxima BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 909 Thanked: 298 Times	Where is Mr highway Kumar? Even I am interested in this, plan to do a trip sometime soon.
	() Thanks

4th July 2008, 16:24	#10
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	I dont think you need to take a break in between. This can be done easily at a single stretch by even a newbie.
	() Thanks

4th July 2008, 16:33	#11
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Well, I have not Chennai-Kodai direct, but my section-wise speeds are as follows: Chennai Guindy-Trichy, 4 hrs Dindigul-Kodai, 2 hrs Not done Trichy-Dindigul for a long time, but you can do that in 1 hr. It is an easy day's drive, even with breaks for food.
	() Thanks

4th July 2008, 18:12	#15
headers Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Greater Chennai Posts: 4,667 Thanked: 559 Times	guys, you could also take GQ till krishnagiri, then take a left turn to salem, nammakkal, dindukss.. etc.. the roads are fairly good. I did chennai [guindy] kodai 2 years back in my MG413W carb Hardtop in 8.5 hours. Left chennai at 4:00 am sharp to reach Kodai club for lunch! My gypsy gave me 11 kpl with three on board. I did the tindivanam route then.
	() Thanks