[ampere]

Originally Posted by skdking

While returning, during Munnar - Chennai leg, should I expect to take 14 hours i.e. seven for Munnar - Madurai and seven for Madurai - Chennai?
Or is the route via Udumalpet better then the route via Theni? Could you give a breakup of the route with the likely journey time?

As Narayan said, Udumalpet route is a very scenic one which you would definitely enjoy. But please account for 3 hours from Munnar to Udumalpet.
Its a distance of 90km and you need to account for the time you get out of the car take snaps and also the drive time through the ghats.
The time taken is not due to the steep ghats (they are not steep), but the distance.

Originally Posted by skdking

Hey,
I want to add a link to a Google map route like you have done but do not know how to do it.

Here is what you do

[URL = <link name>] <Link Description> [/url]

Please remove the space between. I have added them to show you the syntax.

[skdking]

[quote]

Originally Posted by narayans80

I'd do it this way:

20 Mar (Tu)
Chennai (0600 hr) to Rameswaram (1800 hr) - 600ish Km
Stay, visit the temple. Even if you are doing the 'well' ritual you'll be done by noon next day. Are you planning to visit the temples around Rameswaram ?


21 Mar (We)
Rameswaram (1400 hr) to Madurai (1800 hr) - 178 Km
Ideally you should be able to leave earlier than that. Park your car at the hotel, take an auto and see the temple. You should be able to visit the temple in under 2 hrs.

22 Mar (Th)
Rameshwaram (0700 hr) to Munnar (1700 hr) - 170 Km (via Theni)
Should be more than enough !! I did Theni-Munnar (81 km) at a lazy 5 hrs. So even if you leave late like 8-830 you should be comfortable. After all hill stations visits is all about relaxing isnt it ?

25 Mar (Su)
Munnar (0700 hr) to Chennai (2100 hr) - 600ish Km via Udumalpet, Palani, Dindigul, Trichy
Just giving more time for the descent, places to visit on the Udumalpet route. Don't land in peak weekend traffic on your return. The last thing you want to do on a holiday is drive in peak city traffic on return. My timings for the return were 1100 - 0230 next day. I lost an hour or so in Trichy and spent an hour for dinner there.

Thanks.

I have tabulated some options in the table. Can you give your comments please. In option III I have omitted Madurai altogether.

[skdking]

Originally Posted by ampere

Here is what you do

[URL = <link name>] <Link Description> [/url]

Please remove the space between. I have added them to show you the syntax.

Here is my try.

Che - R'ram leg
Unknown road to Unknown road - Google Maps

R'ram - Munnar leg
Unknown road to NH 85 - Google Maps

Munnar - Che leg
Munnar, Kerala, India to Unknown road - Google Maps

Suggestions for avoiding city peak traffic by varying time/route are most welcome.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by skdking

Munnar - Che leg
Munnar, Kerala, India to Unknown road - Google Maps

Just checking with others as well:

Is worth all the way to Madurai or divert to Arupukottaai/Virudunagar so that
one can arrive at Tirumangalam and hence its easy to take the by-pass.

In other words, how easy it it to get to NH7 bypass from Rameshwaram road at Madurai?
One option is to turn towards Airport on NH45B and proceed to Tirumangalam.

[skdking]

Originally Posted by ampere

Just checking with others as well:

Is worth all the way to Madurai or divert to Arupukottaai/Virudunagar so that
one can arrive at Tirumangalam and hence its easy to take the by-pass.

In other words, how easy it it to get to NH7 bypass from Rameshwaram road at Madurai?
One option is to turn towards Airport on NH45B and proceed to Tirumangalam.

Do you mean this route?
NH 85 to NH 87 - Google Maps

Even this.
http://g.co/maps/mxqrx

If feasible it will be a lifesaver. Can I request for comments on these routes?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by skdking

Do you mean this route?
NH 85 to NH 87 - Google Maps

Even this.
NH 85 to NH 87 - Google Maps

If feasible it will be a lifesaver. Can I request for comments on these routes?

Yes those were the ones I had in mind. But looks like the bypass at Madurai which goes via the airport should be preferable.
I have no idea of the other SH.

[narayans80]

Option 3 looks tiring: 600 km on day 1, 300 km on day 2 with 90 km hill drive! Nah!. If you are doing Rameswaram-Munnar, budget 11-12 hrs, here's why:

Rameswaram-Madurai bypass intersection: 3 hrs change
Madurai bypassing to Theni Road: 1 hr
Bypass intersection-Bodi: 1.5 hrs
Bodi-Munnar: 3.5 hrs

The drive alone comes close to 9 hrs, add 1-2 hrs for breakfast, lunch, click-click camera, vista watching, Madurai traffic etc.
~~~~~
Going via Virudhunagar seems a long shot, am not sure of conditions of Aruppukottai-Paramakudi. Its a bus route, but can't comment on conditions. Aruppukottai-Virudhunagar was a decent narrow 2-laner. But you'll lose 15-20 min getting out of Virudhungar another 15-20 kms getting in/out of Tirumangalam to get to Usilampatti. Not worth IMO, though the ~ 50 km in/out Madurai bypasses is gonna have traffic you'll be able to maintain 50-60.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Bodi-Munnar: 3.5 hrs

Is Bodi- Munnar 3.5 hours ? That I thought would be Udumalpet to Munnar as its 90km.
Bodi-Munnar should be about 50km. So I would expect a max of 2 hours.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is Bodi- Munnar 3.5 hours ? That I thought would be Udumalpet to Munnar as its 90km.
Bodi-Munnar should be about 50km. So I would expect a max of 2 hours.

It is 64 km, would be like 2-2.5 hrs if you drive continuously, but can't estimate with the way I drive hillstations

[skdking]

Originally Posted by ampere

Is Bodi- Munnar 3.5 hours ? That I thought would be Udumalpet to Munnar as its 90km.
Bodi-Munnar should be about 50km. So I would expect a max of 2 hours.

Originally Posted by narayans80

It is 64 km, would be like 2-2.5 hrs if you drive continuously, but can't estimate with the way I drive hillstations

Going slightly back in time and space.

How is this route on NH 210
Trichy-Pudukottai-Karaikudi-Thiruvadanai-Devipatam-Rameswaram

[ampere]

Originally Posted by skdking

How is this route on NH 210
Trichy-Pudukottai-Karaikudi-Thiruvadanai-Devipatam-Rameswaram

As far as I know, its decent till Pudukottai (you can do up to 70-80).
But beyond Pudukottai is rough and patchy. However that is route which all buses take to Rameshwaram.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by skdking

How is this route on NH 210
Trichy-Pudukottai-Karaikudi-Thiruvadanai-Devipatam-Rameswaram

Its one of TN roads I hate the most Had asked Harshavarthan (from Ramnad) the same question 2 pages before, he doesn't seem recommend that either. Devakottai-Devipattinam was a disaster about couple of years back (and from my experiences pre-'03), don't know the state now.

[Harshavarthan]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Its one of TN roads I hate the most Had asked Harshavarthan (from Ramnad) the same question 2 pages before, he doesn't seem recommend that either. Devakottai-Devipattinam was a disaster about couple of years back (and from my experiences pre-'03), don't know the state now.

Now Devakottai - Devipattinam is better. But Trichy - Pudukottai is the disaster :-).

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Its one of TN roads I hate the most Had asked Harshavarthan (from Ramnad) the same question 2 pages before,
he doesn't seem recommend that either. Devakottai-Devipattinam was a disaster about couple of years back (and from my experiences pre-'03),
don't know the state now.

Originally Posted by Harshavarthan

Now Devakottai - Devipattinam is better. But Trichy - Pudukottai is the disaster :-).

Thanks Harsh. I did not realize conditions had done a volte face!
This is really bad. State govt. may not look into it as its a NH.

But they should definitely push for its up gradation.

[bala80]

I Agree. The stretch between trichy and pudukottai is a disaster now, its ridden with potholes all the way through and makes like very very difficult. Its another story that the state transport coporation buses and private one's drive on the wrong side of the road due to these and doesnt give you the way if you are coming in opposite direction. I travelled this route 3 months back and was run off the road by these vehicles many a times. Nightmare.