[BenjiRoss]

I need to travel from Trichy to Mayiladuthurai and Back. The onward trip will be in daylight but the return trip will be at night - around 9 PM. The route planned is Trichy- thanjavur - Kumbakonam- Mayiladuthurai.
This is the map:


How is this route - is it 2 lane or 4 lane and is there a divider. Is the road bad? Are there lots of heavy vehicles?
Are there any better alternate routes?
I know this is not an often travelled route here by TBHPians but hope to get some advice.

[hvkumar]

Normally a good road, although the road between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai is narrow, winding and bumpy. I think now the Tricy-Thanjavur road is 4-laned, but not sure. Those who have travelled recently in that route may be able to answer that question better.

[raju2512]

Trichy - Thajavur is being widened and I was told that the condition is not good.

The route from Mayiladuthurai to Thanjavur passes through a lot villages and be beware of children running across, tractors w/o headlights and ofcourse cattle

[ajayr]

Another option would be to take the Trichy-Kallanai-Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai route. It is shorter and there isn't much traffic till Thiruvaiyaru, roads are good too although a bit on the narrower side.

I believe the Trichy-Thanjavur road is still being widened with a lot of chaos on the road.

[GSMINC]

Originally Posted by ajayr

Another option would be to take the Trichy-Kallanai-Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai route. It is shorter and there isn't much traffic till Thiruvaiyaru, roads are good too although a bit on the narrower side.

I believe the Trichy-Thanjavur road is still being widened with a lot of chaos on the road.

I second that, I travel on this road almost every month.

Trichy-Grand Anicut/Kallanai-Tiruvaiyaru-Tingalur(moon temple in navagraha circuit)-Swamimalai-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuturai.

It is basically a road built by the British basically for revenue collection from the Cauvery river delta farmers, subsequentally the road was developed over years, but it is still a winding 2 lane. sometimes 1 lane, usually deserted or with very low automobile traffic, ofcourse you still have the typical small town/village hazards like cyclist/bullock cart/pedestrians

[BenjiRoss]

Originally Posted by ajayr

Another option would be to take the Trichy-Kallanai-Thiruvaiyaru-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai route.

I enquired about this route and was told exactly what you said. less traffic and shorter.
However its not safe at night as there may be thieves on the way at some spots which are a little lonely!
GSMINC: Have you travelled this route at night?

[GSMINC]

Originally Posted by BenjiRoss

I enquired about this route and was told exactly what you said. less traffic and shorter.
However its not safe at night as there may be thieves on the way at some spots which are a little lonely!
GSMINC: Have you travelled this route at night?

Yep, Done it several times at night, infact I travel atleast once a month & definitely no thieves/robbers.
It's narrow just after Kallanai for maybe 10-20kms, after that 2 lane, empty, no traffic, no shops, no nothing, but still I love this route.

[sbala]

Been on this route couple of weeks back.. Here are my updates..

* Trichy-Thanjavur four lane work is still in progress. There is lot of "Take Diversion" boards. Really annoying to travel in night on this road.

* Thanjavur bye-pass was closed due to some bridge work. But I am not sure whether this is opened or not. If not, you have to go to Thanjavur town and then take Mayiladudurai Road

* Thanjavur-Mayiladudurai Road is a 2 lane road. Newly laid road with lot of curves.

[prabhuferrari]

Originally Posted by GSMINC

Yep, Done it several times at night, infact I travel atleast once a month & definitely no thieves/robbers.
It's narrow just after Kallanai for maybe 10-20kms, after that 2 lane, empty, no traffic, no shops, no nothing, but still I love this route.

Any idea about the current state of this route?

[ampere]

- 4L work between Trichy to Tanjore is almost complete
- Tanjore to Kumbakonam is a smooth drive on 45C, Many twisty roads, going through fields.
- Kumbakonam to Mayavaram is SH, but very decent. Did it quite some back (at 8 in the evening). Very decent roads.

You can small shops open. For lunch/dinner you have to go inside the towns.

[ramanan.skr]

Check for unmarked Speed breakers between Tanjore & Kumbakonam which is not easy to identify during nights.
Tanjore to Kumbakonam will be deserted during nights.

[prabhuferrari]

Originally Posted by ampere

- 4L work between Trichy to Tanjore is almost complete
- Tanjore to Kumbakonam is a smooth drive on 45C, Many twisty roads, going through fields.
- Kumbakonam to Mayavaram is SH, but very decent. Did it quite some back (at 8 in the evening). Very decent roads.

You can small shops open. For lunch/dinner you have to go inside the towns.

Is this the best route if one has to go directly to vaitheeswaran kovil from Trichy on day time? Some ARC jewellery guy has blocked all hotels in mayavaram this weekend and only hotel available was hotel sadabishekam in v.kovil. Since it's only 12 kms from mayavaram didn't mind it.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by prabhuferrari

Is this the best route if one has to go directly to vaitheeswaran kovil from Trichy on day time? Some ARC jewellery guy has blocked all hotels in mayavaram this weekend and only hotel available was hotel sadabishekam in v.kovil. Since it's only 12 kms from mayavaram didn't mind it.

From Trichy that is the standard route. Previously it would have been good not to take NH67 via Tanjore, but now I think its worth taking the 4L (I have not taken new road yet. Check with J Ravi who did this stretch recently)

Originally Posted by prabhuferrari

Is this the best route if one has to go directly to vaitheeswaran kovil from Trichy on day time?

Originally Posted by ampere

From Trichy that is the standard route. Previously it would have been good not to take NH67 via Tanjore, but now I think its worth taking the 4L (I have not taken new road yet. Check with J Ravi who did this stretch recently)

As advised by my friends and staff of Hotel Raya's, Kumbakonam, where I stayed, I drove on SH 22 from Trichy to Kumbakonam, via Kallanai-Thiruvaiyaru and back recently, both the trips being in the night with almost nil traffic. This 2-lane curvy road on the right bank of Cauvery river was generally good with few bad stretches.

[prabhuferrari]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

As advised by my friends and staff of Hotel Raya's, Kumbakonam, where I stayed, I drove on SH 22 from Trichy to Kumbakonam, via Kallanai-Thiruvaiyaru and back recently, both the trips being in the night with almost nil traffic. This 2-lane curvy road on the right bank of Cauvery river was generally good with few bad stretches.

Thanks Ravi and Ampere. I hope you are referring to this route. When you say bad stretches how bad are they? Huge pot holes and craters? And roughly how long it took for you? 3 hrs?