[petrohead]

Hello fellow BHPians,

Its new year and me and my friends decided to bunk a few classes as our new year resolution and head to pondy.

I have a few questions, before i put forward my questions i would like to give a small briefing regarding the program,

Its a 15 member tour, 3 cars, One santro and 2 Altos. As we are college students every penny counts so we need to plan the tour very economic.

The tour plans as of now,

Kottayam > Earnakulam > Thrissur > Coimbathore > Selam > Pondy

I would like to know a few things regarding this,

1. Is there any alternate routes from kottayam to pondy which is shorter than the above mentioned route ?
2. Road conditions from in Tamil Nadu (ie from Coimbathore and Pondy)
3. Things to note, ie precautions when traveling in this route.

The story is a bit different when returning. We plan to return via Munnar.
We googled up and it dint end up satisfactorly. I really need help in the returning route.

1. Route from Pondy to Munnar ( Quite clear about the route from Munnar to Kottayam)
2. Road conditions.
3. Climatic conditions in this time of the year.
4. Route precautions.

Also we have problems regarding the stay. Most of the hotels is fully booked, we are trying hard to get one. So if any of you have any local resources please please please help me out!!

[hvkumar]

Pondy - Munnar - Kottayam route:

Take NH45A from Pondy to Villupuram.
NH45 from there via Veppur, Perambalur, Trichy, Manaparai to Dindigul.
From Dindigul go via Sembatti, vathalagundu, Periakulam, Theni (join NH49), Bodinayakanur, Bodi Medu, Poopara to Munnar.
From Munnar to Kottayam via Adimali, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha.

You can reach Munnar from Pondy in 1 shift, in a little over 8 hours. Roads are mostly good and it is plains till you cross Bodinayakanur. Watch out for the usual slow-moving rural traffic after you turn off NH45 at Dindigul.
Avoid Bodi Medu-Poopara-Channakanal stretch after dark since there are elephant crossings.