[ashis89]

Originally Posted by Zezé

As regards the return leg, would it make any sense to drive along the east coast, viz. Pondicherry-Chennai-Nellore-Ongole-Nalgonda-Hyderabad? This is the default route, to and from Pondicherry, recommended by Google Maps.

Did you make this trip? Which route did you take and how was it?

Originally Posted by hyd_traveller

I suggest Hyderabad - Kurnool - Devanahalli - Hoskote - Kolar - Chittoor - Vellore instead of Hyderabad - Kurnool - Kadapa - Chittoor - Vellore. However, Mobike008 will not agree. There are some bad patches around Nandyal which I would not like to subject to my car. Plus, more isolated road.

I am planning a trip to Pondicherry from Dec 14-17. I will be driving alone in my WagonR. I can start any time, based on the suggestions I receive and intend to cover the whole distance in day. Can you suggest which one would be the best route?

The main intention is the drive and hence, I am ready to explore different routes during the to and fro journey if there are multiple options available.

Any other tips, info on place to stay, places to visit, etc are welcome.

Thanks in advance.
Ashis

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by ashis89

I am planning a trip to Pondicherry from Dec 14-17. I will be driving alone

I would prefer.going via Bangalore simply because lot of facilities enroute (plenty of restaurants etc)and 4 laned roads for most parts.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

I would prefer.going via Bangalore simply because lot of facilities enroute (plenty of restaurants etc)and 4 laned roads for most parts.

Thanks for the info.

I would be traveling alone and I carry my food along me mostly. So I wouldn't need facilities as such except for good roads and decent fuel bunks enroute.

Are there other route options which would be more scenic but would still have good roads? This is a exploratory trip and hence I am open to try new roads. I have driven to Bangalore twice and agree that the roads are flawless but the scenery around it is bit boring.

[realcoolhand]

Bumping an old thread.

Hey fellow bhpians, I'll be driving my Verna AT from Hyd to Pondy with my wife and daughter in early October. I know the route is good and ECR is a must to drive on. Is there any update on route, anyone been there recently?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by realcoolhand

Hey fellow bhpians, I'll be driving my Verna AT from Hyd to Pondy with my wife and daughter in early October. I know the route is good and ECR is a must to drive on. Is there any update on route, anyone been there recently?

Why do you say ECR is a must? I think it would only add to distance.

If you chose to go via Chennai, even then taking the Trichy Highway (Grand Southern Trunk) makes more sense. As against if you chose to go via Cuddupah/Chittoor, then you do Chitoor-Ranipet-Arcot-Tindivanam-Pondicherry.

Given the first option via Chennai is a near/full 4-lane it makes it much easier.

[realcoolhand]

My apologies. I forgot to add important detail. Since we are only 2 drivers and have young kid, we'll make overnight stop at Chennai. Upon return we might travel directly without stopover. Then the route you suggested would be apt.

[raiuday]

Hello Bhpians,

I am planning to do a Hyderabad Pondicherry trip on 11th March and planning to do it in a daytime starting at around 4 AM in the morning. Can someone who travelled recently suggest the best route. I will be the solo driver and hence looking for a smooth patch involving 4 lane roads for most of the part. Google maps is suggesting two routes below.

1. Hyderabad - Nalgonda - Ongole - Kavali - Nellore - Gudur - Chennai outskirts (seems so) - Tindivanam - Pondicherry.

2. Hyderabad - Kurnool - Kadapa - Rayachoty - Chittoor - Arcot - Tindivanam - Pondicherry.

It'd be really helpful if anyone could suggest the best of these two or any other alternative route.

Thanks!

[raiuday]

Originally Posted by raiuday

1. Hyderabad - Nalgonda - Ongole - Kavali - Nellore - Gudur - Chennai outskirts (seems so) - Tindivanam - Pondicherry.

2. Hyderabad - Kurnool - Kadapa - Rayachoty - Chittoor - Arcot - Tindivanam - Pondicherry.

It'd be really helpful if anyone could suggest the best of these two or any other alternative route.

Thanks!

I've got back from the trip last month and penning down my input here as I've taken both the routes.

Route 1: I've taken this route during my onward journey from Hyderabad to Pondicherry. The route was mostly smooth 4 lane or 6 lane for around 95%. The only few bad patches, congestion and road work diversions were seen after entering Tamil Nadu for around 25 kms. You'll find a six lane route not long after you take the turn from Red Hills junction. The road from there on was either smooth six or four lane again except for the peak hour traffic around the SRM University area where the roads were exceptional but the only issue being the students coming out after college along with the highway traffic. This route again converges to a two lane smooth road for a not so long stretch and again you'll find a smooth 6/ 4 lane highway from the turn at Tindivanam till Pondicherry.

Route 2: I've taken this while returning from Pondicherry and would recommend to avoid it. Providing route details in the same order. ( Pondi to Hyd ). It was 4/ 6 lane road from Pondicherry to Tindivanam which again turned out to a 2 lane divider less highway for the Tamil Nadu State Highway and also a major length of the NH40. The road widening works on NH40 don't help either in most places. Simply put, the last 380 kms stretch before Hyderabad were only the consistent stretch of 4/6 lane tarmac accounting for near 50% of a proper 4/6 lane road except for a few good patches here and there on NH40.

The route 1 trip time was close to 14 hours including proper breakfast, lunch, fuel and snack break. The distance was 803 kms from Kphb Hyderabad to Pondicherry. I've not taken the ORR as it was not crowded at 5 AM in the morning.

Route 2 took 15 and half hours from Pondi to my home in Kukatpally Hyderabad.

Both the timings were without exceeding 120 kmph and mostly between 80-110 kmph on the good stretches.

Hope it helps!

[Ram78]

Dear all, im planning to visit Puducherry next week in a Skoda Slavia AT alongwith family. This will be my first trip to the place. I'm a sedate driver..i mean 100 is a hard stop. For reference it takes me 10 hrs. min. to reach Bangalore Airport from Hyderabad if i leave at 9:30 am.

I underatand there are 2 routes atleast-one via Kurnool and branching off from there and the second via Chennai.There will be a break in travel. Various options i figure:

1) Start on 11th at 5 pm.->halt at Kurnool and then proceed onwards on 12th and reach Pondicherry after 10 hrs.
2) Start on 12th at 9 am - use the Bangalore highway..after drive of 10 hrs. take a pitstop(need yor advice on where) and then on 13th proceed towards Pondicherry.
3) Start on 12th at 9 am-use the Chennai route ..after drive of 10 hrs. take a pitstop (need you advice on where) and then on 13th proceed towards Pondicherry.

Can you kindly advice? Its a family trip and i personally prefer the Bangalore route as i have travelled to Bangalore multiple times.However not sure about the exacts to Pondicherry as there have been multiple options i see in the forum.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Ram78

3) Start on 12th at 9 am-use the Chennai route ..after drive of 10 hrs. take a pitstop

Ideally, if you start early you can do it in one sitting. After Nellore, the next best point is Madras southern suburbs (Vandalur if you are looking at budget, OMR, ECR if you are looking for star rated) from south Madras, Pondy is 2.5 hours.

For return, once you cross Ongole, reaching your residence is the next best thing. Very poor options in NAM. Or else you can think of driving via Vijayawada (which costs an hour extra) but you get good stay options in Vijayawada.

[Ram78]

Thanks Narayan.Looks like il end up taking a night halt at Nellore.Any decent hotels ..not the 5 star kinds en-route?

[MT_Hyderabad]

Originally Posted by Ram78

Dear all, im planning to visit Puducherry next week in a Skoda Slavia AT alongwith family. This will be my first trip to the place. I'm a sedate driver..i mean 100 is a hard stop

You should take the Kurnool, Kadapa, Vellore, Gingee, Tindivanam route.

It is a very nice route and is comparable to NH44.

I went with Google maps suggestion two weeks back and returned on 1st Jan 23 using a small tweak. Gmaps did not suggest the Gingee route.

I researched my own route to Chittoor and it was such a good decision. This route is so well kept and constant speed of 100 can be kept. The route suggested by Gmaps for this region was through villages with just about space of two cars passing with scrapping rear views. I took it for the onward journey, but had to find an alternative for the return.

I have driven three times to Pondi from Hyderabad. Two times I selected Kadapa route and once Nellore one. I will prefer Kadapa route anyday with this small detour mentioned above, which is much relaxing and faster.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Ram78

Thanks Narayan.Looks like il end up taking a night halt at Nellore.Any decent hotels ..not the 5 star kinds en-route?

You can check Minerva Grand. Had stayed during Nivar in 2020. Its very good.

Originally Posted by MT_Hyderabad

You should take the Kurnool, Kadapa, Vellore, Gingee, Tindivanam route.

This is a good option too. Except that you don't need to go through Vellore. From Kadapa it is Rayachoty-Chittoor-Walaja-Arcot town-Arani bypass-Gingee-Tindivanam-Pondy.

This way you don't have to negotiate Vellore and Arani towns. Only will negotiate Arcot, which is manageable.

Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai was done in the lead up to Karthigai Deepam.

[Ram78]

Dear Narayan and @MT_Hyderabad.Thanks for your valuable suggestions.I did the trip .Took the Vijayawada highway - Nellore route.While proceeding,first 100 kms.post ORR was bad.There was traffic and at multiple places congested due to road repairs.Post that it was good.Nowhere near the Hyderabad to Bangalore highway level though.If Hyd-Bglr highway is 10/ 10 rating the route for Hyd-Nellore -Chennai I took would be a 7/10 max.
I will not suggest a specific route here, as while proceeding and returning I had to take a detour and enter -Chennai city for personal work.

[Altrozed]

Couldn't find anything related to Hyderabad Tiruttani (TN AP border on Renigunta side) and hence posting.
Did a day drive from Hyderabad Miyapur to Tiruttani via Kurnool, Kadapa , Ontimitta, Razampet and Renigunta.
Road till Kadapa are excellent via BLR Highway and Kadapa NH called REPL.
From kadapa to Renigunta it's undivided 2 lane with heavy Lorry traffic and going via towns. The route is very scenic, Okayish quality, no toll and sharp curves every 500 mts.
Road via Kadapa Chittor and Arcot is preferred .
Renigunta Tiruttani Via Puttur is expensive toll with almost negligible 4 laning.

Is it really worth going via Renigunta Gudur Ongole NAM and ORR to reach back ?

Any advice for return ?