[AutoInt]

Originally Posted by Prowler

Chidamabaram - Sirkazhi - Thirukadaiyur - Karaikal - roads are good except for a narrow stretch near the turn off near poompuhar. I returned to Madras only about 10 days back in this road.

Thank you Prowler for the update. This helps.

The only unknown part is between Virudachalam and Chidambaram. I hope this would be decent road.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by AutoInt

Thank you Prowler for the update. This helps.

The only unknown part is between Virudachalam and Chidambaram. I hope this would be decent road.

From Salem, if you are reaching Virudachalam via Ulundurpet, then you are better off with good roads at the cost of additional kms. Don't exit at V.Koot Road (comes in few kms after Thalaivasal) to reach Virudachalam as the roads are absolutely horrible.

Virudachalam to Chidambaram is also not great but should be manageable, but you don't have other choice though.

-Ravi

[AutoInt]

Originally Posted by ravib

From Salem, if you are reaching Virudachalam via Ulundurpet, then you are better off with good roads at the cost of additional kms. Don't exit at V.Koot Road (comes in few kms after Thalaivasal) to reach Virudachalam as the roads are absolutely horrible.

Virudachalam to Chidambaram is also not great but should be manageable, but you don't have other choice though.

-Ravi

Thank you Ravi. Infact, I was planning to exit to V.koot road after Thalaivasal to reach Virudachalam. Your input is really helpful. Yes it does add 30 kms additional. I will choose this option.

I have traveled between Ulundurpet and Salem when I returned from Chennai to my home town near Namakkal in Dec 2015. Anything I need to be aware on the route between Ulundurpet and Virudachalam?

[ravib]

Originally Posted by AutoInt

Thank you Ravi. Infact, I was planning to exit to V.koot road after Thalaivasal to reach Virudachalam. Your input is really helpful. Yes it does add 30 kms additional. I will choose this option.

I have traveled between Ulundurpet and Salem when I returned from Chennai to my home town near Namakkal in Dec 2015. Anything I need to be aware on the route between Ulundurpet and Virudachalam?

Ulundurpet to Virudachalam is a short distance and a normal 2L road, so nothing specific to mention. Watchout for the directions inside Vridhachalam town, to exit and join the chidambaram road. People are very helpful so enquire if in doubt.

BTW, the only decent restaurant/rest room break between Salem to Ulundurpet is Sri Rama hotel which comes after Attur, just in case if you are not aware and need it. I did see another hotel/restaurant just before exiting to Ulundurpet town from highways but not sure how the food is.

Also, please note that the entire stretch between Salem to Ulundurpet is a mix of alternative 4L and 2L roads and not a complete 4L. So watchout for signages when the road converts and narrows down to 2L. Its easy to miss/notice in high speeds.

Drive safe

-Ravi

[AutoInt]

Originally Posted by ravib

Ulundurpet to Virudachalam is a short distance and a normal 2L road, so nothing specific to mention. Watchout for the directions inside Vridhachalam town, to exit and join the chidambaram road. People are very helpful so enquire if in doubt.

Thank you Ravi for the details. I see it is about 25 km from google. Good to hear people will be helpful .

BTW, the only decent restaurant/rest room break between Salem to Ulundurpet is Sri Rama hotel which comes after Attur, just in case if you are not aware and need it. I did see another hotel/restaurant just before exiting to Ulundurpet town from highways but not sure how the food is.

I will keep this in mind, depending on start time from Bangalore, will have to plan the breaks. Current plan is to start at 06:00 AM from Bangalore.

Any suggestions for lunch breaks in Virudachalam?

Also, please note that the entire stretch between Salem to Ulundurpet is a mix of alternative 4L and 2L roads and not a complete 4L. So watchout for signages when the road converts and narrows down to 2L. Its easy to miss/notice in high speeds.

Drive safe

-Ravi

As I mentioned in my earlier post. I traveled once between Ulundurpet and Salem. I have experienced this 4L to 2L and some times without much of warning. Thank you for the warning / reminder.

Thank you Ravi again.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by AutoInt

I will keep this in mind, depending on start time from Bangalore, will have to plan the breaks. Current plan is to start at 06:00 AM from Bangalore.

Any suggestions for lunch breaks in Virudachalam?


Thank you Ravi again.

I won't recommend any good restaurants at Virudachalam for lunch. In fact, you can reach chidambaram for little late lunch, if you leave little early by 5.30 am from Bangalore. You can stop over around 8 am in Thoppur A2B for Breakfast. Assuming if you leave Thoppur A2B at 9 am after an hour break, you can reach Sri Rama after Attur around 11ish for a short tea/restroom break and then reach Chidambaram by 1.30 or 2 pm for lunch.

Don't see a reason or need to stop at Virudhachalam for lunch.

-Ravi

[AutoInt]

Originally Posted by ravib

I won't recommend any good restaurants at Virudachalam for lunch. In fact, you can reach chidambaram for little late lunch, if you leave little early by 5.30 am from Bangalore. You can stop over around 8 am in Thoppur A2B for Breakfast. Assuming if you leave Thoppur A2B at 9 am after an hour break, you can reach Sri Rama after Attur around 11ish for a short tea/restroom break and then reach Chidambaram by 1.30 or 2 pm for lunch.

Don't see a reason or need to stop at Virudachalam for lunch.

-Ravi

Thank you once again Ravi for your response and suggestion. I will take this into account depending on my start time. Hopefully I will be able to start at 05:30 AM.

Thanks a lot and will update once I complete the trip.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by AutoInt

Thank you once again Ravi for your response and suggestion. I will take this into account depending on my start time. Hopefully I will be able to start at 05:30 AM.

By a 5:30 start, I am sure you can make it to Salem by 8. Break at Saravana Bhavan (Aasai Dosai) right on the next signal after GRT Grand Estancia.

[AutoInt]

Thank Ampere. My trip did not happen as planned today due to some unforeseen situation.
I will plan it in a months time.

[sk7671]

Am planning to travel to Thirunallar from Bangalore this weekend. Anything I should be aware of? Is a Saturday-Sunday trip doable? Going on Saturday and coming back just the next day?

TIA!!!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by sk7671

Am planning to travel to Thirunallar from Bangalore this weekend. Anything I should be aware of? Is a Saturday-Sunday trip doable? Going on Saturday and coming back just the next day?

Going on a saturday and coming back on Sunday would be hectic. Especially because you do a lot of 2-lane roads.

Best option would be :

Bangalore-Salem-Ulundurpet-Vridhchalam-Jayam Kondam-TPalur-Kumbakonam-Thirunallar.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by sk7671

Am planning to travel to Thirunallar from Bangalore this weekend. Anything I should be aware of? Is a Saturday-Sunday trip doable? Going on Saturday and coming back just the next day?

TIA!!!

Originally Posted by ampere

Going on a saturday and coming back on Sunday would be hectic. Especially because you do a lot of 2-lane roads.

Best option would be :

Bangalore-Salem-Ulundurpet-Vridhchalam-Jayam Kondam-TPalur-Kumbakonam-Thirunallar.

+1 to what Ampere said. Though it is practically doable if you are just going only to Thirunallar sanieeswaran temple, but going to be super hectic and very tiring.

Please follow this route and not the default google maps route. The default route takes you through bad roads.

https://goo.gl/maps/D84NC2t8ekp

Have a safe trip and good darshan.

-Ravi

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ravib

Please follow this route and not the default google maps route. The default route takes you through bad roads.

If you are talking about the Thalaivasal-Veppur-Vriddachalam road. The roads' been resurfaced recently. h14 has done the Veppur-Thalaivasal section here. I got a separate update that the Veppur-Vriddacahalm section has been resurfaced as well, and now takes only 15 min to do Veppur-Vriddachalam.

Its a surprise for me too, it took us 1:15 to complete Veppur-Vriddachalam last August for that 20 odd km (that's how bad it was).

[ampere]

Originally Posted by narayans80

Its a surprise for me too, it took us 1:15 to complete Veppur-Vriddachalam last August for that 20 odd km (that's how bad it was).

This indeed good news. Saves a lot of hassle.

The other thing which I felt extremely concerned about Salem-Ulundurpet is the fact that at most bypasses are 2-lane. And the 4-lane roads suddenly converge to a 2-lane. So if one is heading towards Ulundurpet, 2-lanes of traffic converges to one, the driver needs to be careful. The return side usually extends as the 2-lane and hence the flows seems to be maintained.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

This indeed good news. Saves a lot of hassle.

The other thing which I felt extremely concerned about Salem-Ulundurpet is the fact that at most bypasses are 2-lane. And the 4-lane roads suddenly converge to a 2-lane. So if one is heading towards Ulundurpet, 2-lanes of traffic converges to one, the driver needs to be careful. The return side usually extends as the 2-lane and hence the flows seems to be maintained.

+1
I need to stand corrected. Got double confirmed that V.Koot road via Veppur towards Vridhachalam is now in good condition. This will save significant amount of time. I was told they are planning for some toll booth, but not very sure.

@sk7671, please use the above route to reach upto Kumbakonam and then use the route which i mentioned.

-Ravi