[NPV]

Folks,
Appreciate your suggestions/corrections on routing for my trip next week.
Anything I need to be careful/wary of ? (this is the first time I will be traveling beyond Dindigul on NH7).

Dec 24- Bangalore-Madurai
Route->Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Namakkal - Karur - Dindigul - Madurai on NH7 all the way

Dec 25- Madurai-Kanyakumari
Route->Madurai - Tirumangalam - Virudunagar - Kovilpatti - Tirunelveli - Nanguneri - Kanyakumari on NH7 all the way

Dec 26- Kanyakumari-Suchindram-Padmanabhapuram-Kanyakumari
Route->Kanyakumari - Suchindram - Nagerkoil - Takkalai (Thuckalay) on NH47 - turn off to left towards Padmanabhapuram (3-5 Km).
Return to Kanyakumari on same roads.

Dec 27- Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram
Got this route (via ECR) from an earlier post of HVK sir:
Route->Kanyakumari - Tiruchendur - Tuticorin - Sikkal - Kizhakrai - Ramanathapuram - Rameshwaram
But, looking at the maps, I'm not sure how to reach Tiruchendur from Kanyakumari

Dec 28-Rameshwaram-Bangalore (either via Madurai OR most likely Karaikudi-Dindigul)
Route 1->Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram - Paramagudi - Madurai on NH49 - then get onto NH7 to Bangalore
OR
Route 2->Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram on NH49 - turn right onto NH210 towards Devipattinam - Karaikudi - Tirupattur - Nattam - Dindigul - get onto NH7 to Bangalore
No idea about road conditions on this route !

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by NPV

Route->Kanyakumari - Tiruchendur - Tuticorin - Sikkal - Kizhakrai - Ramanathapuram - Rameshwaram
But, looking at the maps, I'm not sure how to reach Tiruchendur from Kanyakumari

It is a straightforward route. It goes via Chettikulam, Koodankulam & Ovari to Tiruchendur. Do not enter Tuticorin town, instead take the Madurai highway from Tuticorin Port gate and turn off right after the toll gate.

Dec 28-Rameshwaram-Bangalore (either via Madurai OR most likely Karaikudi-Dindigul)
Route 1->Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram - Paramagudi - Madurai on NH49 - then get onto NH7 to Bangalore
OR
Route 2->Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram on NH49 - turn right onto NH210 towards Devipattinam - Karaikudi - Tirupattur - Nattam - Dindigul - get onto NH7 to Bangalore
No idea about road conditions on this route !

The Tirupattur-Nattam-Dindigul road is in excellent condition.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by NPV

Route 2->Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram on NH49 - turn right onto NH210 towards Devipattinam - Karaikudi - Tirupattur - Nattam - Dindigul - get onto NH7 to Bangalore
No idea about road conditions on this route !

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The Tirupattur-Nattam-Dindigul road is in excellent condition.

Here you go @NPV. As HVK said, its in very good condition.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post2413700

[NPV]

Thanks HVK & ampere !
Thinking about a quick visit to a family friend's home - would it be too much of a detour to go into Tirunelveli town on the way from Madurai to Kanyakumari ?
Also, any suggested places to buy Tirunelveli Halwa ?

Please suggest places for food (Veg.) & fuel (Prefer Bharat Petroleum) breaks too for this trip - thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by NPV

Thanks HVK & ampere !
Thinking about a quick visit to a family friend's home - would it be too much of a detour to go into Tirunelveli town on the way from Madurai to Kanyakumari ?
Also, any suggested places to buy Tirunelveli Halwa ?

I think it should not be that big a traffic hold-up. I had been through that town about 2 years back and had food at the center.
It was not stressfull at all. I am not sure how the town is today.

Dont know any places for the sweets though!

[sbkumar]

Originally Posted by NPV

Folks,

Dec 26- Kanyakumari-Suchindram-Padmanabhapuram-Kanyakumari
Route->Kanyakumari - Suchindram - Nagerkoil - Takkalai (Thuckalay) on NH47 - turn off to left towards Padmanabhapuram (3-5 Km).
Return to Kanyakumari on same roads.

Once you enter Thuckalay, just after the first 3 road junction with the town hall on your left and just before the police station ( which again is on your left), you should see the right turn off the NH47 ( it's the same route as Thirparappu falls) and you should see some sign boards as well.

IIRC the palace is closed on Mondays. Please double check on this.

Originally Posted by NPV

Thanks HVK & ampere !
Thinking about a quick visit to a family friend's home - would it be too much of a detour to go into Tirunelveli town on the way from Madurai to Kanyakumari ?
Also, any suggested places to buy Tirunelveli Halwa ?

Please suggest places for food (Veg.) & fuel (Prefer Bharat Petroleum) breaks too for this trip - thanks in advance.

Lakshmi and Shanthi sweets right outside the old bus stand (near junction) are better. But you will get confused because there are multiple "Lakshmi" and "Shanthi" sweets . Since your family friend is a local he should be able to tell which ones are good, Or you can see where most locals are buying and that should be the better ones.

"Iruttu kadai" Halwa is supposed to be the best of all, but it opens only in the evening and that too for a short duration as per my knowledge. It is located somewhere near Nellaiappar temple I guess.

[hvkumar]

The way the border conflict between TN & KL is shaping up, I would avoid all travel between TN & KL till situation becomes clear and totally safe.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The way the border conflict between TN & KL is shaping up, I would avoid all travel between TN & KL till situation becomes clear and totally safe.

My plan is Bangalore-Madurai-Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram-Bangalore.
I only enter TN from KA and get back to KA. There is no KL-TN or TN-KL border entry, closest to the TN-KL border I'm going is Suchindram, Nagercoil and Padmanabhapuram.
I did hear about protests against the proposed nuclear plant at Koodankulam which is enroute Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram.
Could you elaborate about other places on my route that may be problematic ?

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by NPV

My plan is Bangalore-Madurai-Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram-Bangalore.
I only enter TN from KA and get back to KA. There is no KL-TN or TN-KL border entry, closest to the TN-KL border I'm going is Suchindram, Nagercoil and Padmanabhapuram.
I did hear about protests against the proposed nuclear plant at Koodankulam which is enroute Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram.
Could you elaborate about other places on my route that may be problematic ?

The Nagercoil-Trivandrum highway (Thuckalay/Padmanabhapuram is on this one) is likely to be targetted by protestors if things escalates. Padmanabhapuram Palace is a Kerala kingdom palace, but located in TN, so I would not be surprised if they even cause problems there.

Koodankulam is on the KK-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Rameswaram route, but last fortnight when my friend drove that way, he did not report any problems.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Koodankulam is on the KK-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Rameswaram route, but last fortnight when my friend drove that way, he did not report any problems.

My planned route for Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram is:
Kanyakumari - Tiruchendur - Tuticorin - Sikkal - Kizhakrai - Ramanathapuram - Rameshwaram
This route is Via Koodankulam. Is there an alternate route that avoids Koodankulam ? Just in case I need, I will have a Plan B

Also, please suggest food/fuel breaks on the Madurai - KK - Rameshwaram stretches.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by NPV

My planned route for Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram is:
Kanyakumari - Tiruchendur - Tuticorin - Sikkal - Kizhakrai - Ramanathapuram - Rameshwaram
This route is Via Koodankulam. Is there an alternate route that avoids Koodankulam ? Just in case I need, I will have a Plan B

Also, please suggest food/fuel breaks on the Madurai - KK - Rameshwaram stretches.

In the event there is some road blockade at Koodankulam, you can either go via Valliyoor (NH 7) to Tiruchendur. But I am also sure that there are several inter-linked roads around Koodankulam which will enable you to bypass the hot spot.

The ECR to Ramanathapuram is absolute "facility-free", must be one highway without any food facilities or even petrol pumps (rare). I suggest you leave after breakfast and drive through so that you reach Ramanathapuram by lunch time.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by NPV

My planned route for Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram is:
Kanyakumari - Tiruchendur - Tuticorin - Sikkal - Kizhakrai - Ramanathapuram - Rameshwaram
This route is Via Koodankulam. Is there an alternate route that avoids Koodankulam ? Just in case I need, I will have a Plan B

Also, please suggest food/fuel breaks on the Madurai - KK - Rameshwaram stretches.

Apart from what HVK suggested:

Since you plan to see Suchindram, take the NH7 back to Tirunelveli and them come Tuticorin.
That way you can some hotel/fuel breaks on your way to Rameshwaram.

That way you can avoid Koodankulam problem as well.


HVK,

How is the Kovilpatti-Vembar road? Because if that is possible, then at the cost of 50km,
wont this be easier to drive? (Bypass Tuticorin as well)

KK-Tirunelveli-Kovilpatti-Vembar-Ramnad-Rameshwaram

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by ampere

HVK,

How is the Kovilpatti-Vembar road? Because if that is possible, then at the cost of 50km,
wont this be easier to drive? (Bypass Tuticorin as well)

Yes, that is a good idea too. Kovilpatti-Ettayapuram-Vembar. I have driven on part of this road from Vembar-Vilathikulam-Eppodumvenram some years ago. The road is single laned village road though, without any bypasses. Signboards will be in Tamil, so an outsider may find it difficult.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by NPV

This route is Via Koodankulam. Is there an alternate route that avoids Koodankulam ? Just in case I need, I will have a Plan B

NH7 to Tirunelveli and NH-7A to Tuticorin would be the next bet. You won't lose much in distance as well. The distances of both these routes are comparable. Except that you won't be able to visit Tiruchendur temple if you wanted to.

Originally Posted by ampere

How is the Kovilpatti-Vembar road?

Buses used to take Virudhunagar-Aruppukottai-Kamudhi-Paramakudi and NH49 thereon. Roads till Aruppukottai were good, not sure how they are beyond that.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Signboards will be in Tamil, so an outsider may find it difficult.

Pretty sure, if you get off main highways that might be the case !!

[ajitkumarlb]

ok good I opened this thread for the rameshwaram - KK route... I am heading in to Kerala from KK. I have booking with advance paid in Munnar, I can skip that but, my Camera after service in Mumbai has been shipped to reach Cochin for me to collect it there!!! hmmm need to think about it...

but for now my immediate need, route from Rameshwaram to KK, this is the referse of NVP's route.:

Rameshwaram - Ramanathapuram - Kizhakrai - Sikkal - Tuticorin - Tiruchendur - Kanyakumari

Unless hear otherwise I will be heading out on this route tomorrow morning.