[bblost]

Originally Posted by mohandas

Will that slow me down? Do you advise me to take this route?

The diversions were very irritating at that time. I don't know the current status of the road. I would avoid driving at night.

[ranjitp1]

4 laning work in progress on Kurnool-Kadapa sector

[adimicra]

Hi All,

I am planning a road trip from Hyderabad to Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram for 5 days.I plan to stay 2 nights at Pondicherry followed by 2 nights at Mahabalipuram. I will be travelling with my wife and 5 year old daughter.
I need a few suggestions from you all -

What is the best route to Pondi ? The quality of the road and travel time is more important than the distance. As I understand, there are 2 roads - one through Vijaywada and another through Anantpur-Vellore.

Any decent places on the way for food and toilets? Or, better to pack stuff as much as possible?

Is it advisable to do a non-stop drive or halt at Vellore or some place on the way? I am planning to drive at a leisurely pace for a change. If I plan to stay at Vellore or any other place, then can you suggest a decent hotel which is near the planned route?

Hotels to stay at Pondi and Mahabalipuram? I am looking for a relaxing holiday and I expect the hotel to have the normal creature comforts. Also, 2 nights at each place is the correct way to divide the time?


At this point, these are the questions I have. I am sure some more will crop up in the time to come.

Cheers
~Aadi

[ampere]

Originally Posted by adimicra

At this point, these are the questions I have. I am sure some more will crop up in the time to come.

If the Hyd-Chennai 4-lane status is good, I would advise to take this option.

- The other option of Kurnool/Madanapalle : I am not sure about blockages.
- Else its a good option.

Kurnool-Anantpur-Madapalle-Palamaner-Chittoor-Kanchi-Chengalpet-Mahabalipuram

[adimicra]

Sorry but I am not clear on the recommendation.
Which route are you recommending? How much time I should budget for the drive?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Sorry but I am not clear on the recommendation.
Which route are you recommending? How much time I should budget for the drive?

What I meant is :

- If Hyd-Chennai 4-lane is a all done, then take that option. Check with regulars on that section (bblost, venki.bala? )
- If thats not good, the option via Kurnool/Anantpur/Madanapalle/Palamaner/Chitoor/Katpadi/Vellore/Cheyyar/Vandavasi/Tindivanam/Pondi is the next best one.

Why is it next best ? Because of the uncertainty of blockages on the state border thanks to agitation.

[adimicra]

Thanks @ampere. I was more inclined to take the 2nd option. I was not aware of any blockages ... is it because of the anti-telengana agitation?

I will look into the Chennai thread for the other route.

Any suggestion for hotels? Can it be done in 12 hours with couple of breaks?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Thanks @ampere. I was more inclined to take the 2nd option. I was not aware of any blockages ... is it because of the anti-telengana agitation?

Yes I did mean the same @adi.It would be a bit tiring for about 800km if you are driving on 2-lane roads. (Anantput-Pondicherry). With 4-lane it is easily doable (via Chennai for example if the roads are complete).

If you have to break journey in between Vellore may be a good option.

[hyd_traveller]

Chennai to Vijayawada was 4-laned long back and is now under 6-laning.

Vijayawada to Hyderabad is now 4-laned. It will take 3 hours from Vijayawada (Haritha Hotel, a little after the temple) to Hyderabad (start of ORR, a little after Ramoji Film City).

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Hi All,

I am planning a road trip from Hyderabad to Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram for 5 days.I plan to stay 2 nights at Pondicherry followed by 2 nights at Mahabalipuram. I will be travelling with my wife and 5 year old daughter.
I need a few suggestions from you all -

What is the best route to Pondi ? The quality of the road and travel time is more important than the distance. As I understand, there are 2 roads - one through Vijaywada and another through Anantpur-Vellore.

Any decent places on the way for food and toilets? Or, better to pack stuff as much as possible?

Is it advisable to do a non-stop drive or halt at Vellore or some place on the way? I am planning to drive at a leisurely pace for a change. If I plan to stay at Vellore or any other place, then can you suggest a decent hotel which is near the planned route?

Hotels to stay at Pondi and Mahabalipuram? I am looking for a relaxing holiday and I expect the hotel to have the normal creature comforts. Also, 2 nights at each place is the correct way to divide the time?


At this point, these are the questions I have. I am sure some more will crop up in the time to come.

Cheers
~Aadi

I would suggest you go via Bangalore.You can check with Tbhpian Farukh who did a Hyd-Pondy and back drive recently.12-13hrs is comfortable enough to get to Pondy from Hyd.Vijayawada-Chennai route is presently prone to some road blockades every now and then.Comparitively the Anantpur route is less prone.Risk of blockades exists on both the routes.I find bypassing Chennai and getting onto ECR a very tedious thing.Instead I prefer the Bangalore option.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

I find bypassing Chennai and getting onto ECR a very tedious thing.Instead I prefer the Bangalore option.

If you do via Chennai, why would you want to take the ECR??? Between Chennai and Pondicherry, going via Tindivanam is always much better.

[adimicra]

Thanks guys ..I am all confused now!
Going via Bangalore was not even an option.
In that case, how to bypass Bangalore?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by adimicra

Thanks guys ..I am all confused now!
Going via Bangalore was not even an option.
In that case, how to bypass Bangalore?

Devanahalli-NH207-Hosakote-Malur-Hosur.Roads good all through out.Around 90-120mins depending on driving style to reach Hosur from Devanahalli

http://goo.gl/maps/I7M6h

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

I would suggest you go via Bangalore.

Originally Posted by adimicra

Thanks guys ..I am all confused now!
Going via Bangalore was not even an option.
In that case, how to bypass Bangalore?

I wont say its worth it Ranjit. With the amount of work happening between Hosur-Krishnagiri and frequent diversions between Krishnagiri-Vellore its quite a pain and its atleast 150-200km more. If he plans to do it over 2-days then yes, may be an option. But even then I would prefer a quieter route.


The ideal would be :

Hyd-Anantpur-Kadiri-Madanapalle-Palamaner-Chitoor-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Tindivanam-Pondi.

Amazing roads all the way.(But I dont know about road blocks due to agitation)

Originally Posted by adimicra

Thanks guys ..I am all confused now!
Going via Bangalore was not even an option.
In that case, how to bypass Bangalore?

On Bangalore bypass:
Devanahalli-Hoskote-Sarjapur-Baglur-Hosur
No Malur. (NH207 all the way)

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by ampere

I wont say its worth it Ranjit. With the amount of work happening between Hosur-Krishnagiri and frequent diversions between Krishnagiri-Vellore its quite a pain and its atleast 150-200km more. If he plans to do it over 2-days then yes, may be an option.


The ideal would be :

Hyd-Anantpur-Kadiri-Madanapalle-Palamaner-Chitoor-Vellore-Arcot-Cheyyar-Tindivanam-Pondi.

Amazing roads all the way.(But I dont know about road blocks due to agitation)

Ok maybe your are right about Krishnagiri-Vellore.Hosur-Krishnagiri is a breeze,I just drove it and did not find a single block anywhere.100kph can be maintained.The only pending work on this stretch seems to be marking and some misc work plus iirc a flyover or a underpass.Otherwise this stretch did not take much time.

Road blocks-well that is becoming part of life of driving in AP now a days