[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Over all I would say very much possible.


Take the Daiwik hotel. Its costlier no doubt, but surely worth the money I would say.

http://www.daiwikhotels.com/

Originally Posted by NPV

You should be able to make it but be aware that temple closes at 12 or 12.30 pm and opens again at 4 or 4.30 pm (not sure about exact timings, please do check). If you can start at 3.30 am, it should give you some more buffer.
I haven't visited Tirumalai Nayak Palace.


If possible visit the Rameshwaram temple same evening so that next day (sunday) you can leave early morning to Dhanushkodi and start your journey to Trivandrum after breakfast. Early mornings are nice at Dhanushkodi, get a Jeep from the hotel/taxi stand.


Queen Palace is decent but don't remember the tariff (should be in my Madurai-Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram travelogue). Daiwik is newer and posh so you can splurge if you so wish.


I would suggest keeping the Chettinad region, Trichy, etc for another trip.
Instead you can visit Suchindram temple and Padmanabhapuram Palace on your way to Trivandrum (maybe you've visited these already if you're from that area ).

Thanks a lot for your inputs. Checked the Daiwik hotel but since it slightly above my budget especially since I hardly would get time to spend in the hotel. Will check out Queen Palace. Just need an AC room to spend the night.

I will skip Tirumalai Nayak Palace if it is not a must watch place. Have visited Suchindram and Padmanabhapuram palace. I will not be able to start at 3:30 AM. Will start at 4:30 AM. If I am unable to reach Madurai on time for Darshan, will skip it and visit Madurai during my next Trivandrum drive.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Over all I would say very much possible.



In that case you should be done with Darshan by say 1-2PM at max.

Originally Posted by NPV

You should be able to make it but be aware that temple closes at 12 or 12.30 pm and opens again at 4 or 4.30 pm


I would suggest keeping the Chettinad region, Trichy, etc for another trip.

Originally Posted by NPV

The Stay
So, I called a friend who recommended Hotel Metropole which unlike Supreme, New College House, etc was not so close to the temple and city centre but still a good choice and had basement parking.

Since I have 2 weeks off during Christmas, decided to stay 1 day in Madurai. Otherwise the schedule looks too tight also considering the Christmas rush to Kerala. Do you have any idea of decent hotels in Madurai near the temple. Budget < 2K per night. Safe car parking inside the hotel premise in Mandatory.
How is Hotel Metropole?

Also, can I drive via Chettinad region to Rameshwaram the next day. Just to see some Chettinad mansions? If yes, how is the road condition and route?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Since I have 2 weeks off during Christmas, decided to stay 1 day in Madurai. Otherwise the schedule looks too tight also considering the Christmas rush to Kerala. Do you have any idea of decent hotels in Madurai near the temple. Budget < 2K per night. Safe car parking inside the hotel premise in Mandatory.
How is Hotel Metropole?

Metropole is good. But no idea about parking.

Also, can I drive via Chettinad region to Rameshwaram the next day. Just to see some Chettinad mansions? If yes, how is the road condition and route?

Roads are very good. I was reading some where on the forum that NH210 has been patched up quite well. So you can Madurai-Tirupathur-Karaikudi-Ramnad-Rameshwaram.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

Do you have any idea of decent hotels in Madurai near the temple. Budget < 2K per night. Safe car parking inside the hotel premise in Mandatory.
How is Hotel Metropole?

Metropole is good but not close to the temple (not too far about 10 mins drive into the town). Tariff was 2400 for a double a/c room (including breakfast) when we stayed there. Parking is available in the basement for about 5-6 cars. The road outside one side of the property has a lot of parking space (it's a corner property just opp. Muthaiah Manram/District Court).

If you stay here, getting to the Rameshwaram highway NH49 is very easy since it's just about 1km away from the ring road/NH49 junction.

For the temple visit, I would suggest using an auto/taxi, it's worth it since you don't have to worry about parking (& finding a spot!) in the narrow streets around the temple.

Other good hotels in the business areas and closer to the temple are Supreme (they have a separate parking area opp./beside to the hotel building), New College House, etc.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Roads are very good. I was reading some where on the forum that NH210 has been patched up quite well. So you can Madurai-Tirupathur-Karaikudi-Ramnad-Rameshwaram.

Originally Posted by NPV

Other good hotels in the business areas and closer to the temple are Supreme (they have a separate parking area opp./beside to the hotel building), New College House, etc.

I have booked Hotel North Gate, Madurai http://www.hotelnorthgate.co.in/ as they have car parking withing their premises. It is Opposite to American College, Goripalayam. Which is the easier way to reach this place while coming from Bangalore?

Also, since I do not plan to have Darshan in Madurai before 12:00 Noon, I can reach Madurai leisurely to be able to do Darshan at 4:00 - 5:00 PM aftering checking in to the Hotel. So can I drive via Karaikudi to Madurai? If yes, which is the good route and how is the road condition?

Thanks in advance.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

So can I drive via Karaikudi to Madurai? If yes, which is the good route and how is the road condition?

Madurai-Melur-Tirupattur-Karaikudi

Take the 4-lane Trichy Road to Melur. At Melur take the Tirupattur road and there on to Karaikudi.

Also since you would be going via Tirupattur side, you can also try to visit the Pilliyarpatti temple. Its a beasutiful temple to visit.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Madurai-Melur-Tirupattur-Karaikudi

Take the 4-lane Trichy Road to Melur. At Melur take the Tirupattur road and there on to Karaikudi.

Also since you would be going via Tirupattur side, you can also try to visit the Pilliyarpatti temple. Its a beasutiful temple to visit.

So while going from Bangalore, should I go via Trichy?
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal -(Thuraiyur?)-Trichy - Karaikudi - Tirupattur - Melur - Madurai?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by pramodpk

So while going from Bangalore, should I go via Trichy?
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal -(Thuraiyur?)-Trichy - Karaikudi - Tirupattur - Melur - Madurai?

Thats really a round about. I thought while going from Madurai via towards Rameshwaram, you wanted to go via Karaikudi. Visiting Karaikudi and coming back to Madurai does not make sense. May be start early the next day and drive to Rameshwaram via Karaikudi.

Originally Posted by pramodpk

That was the initial plan but wanted to reach Rameshwaram fast. So Bangalore - Karikudi - Madurai is not feasible?

The point is, you wont be able to visit anything and also come back to Madurai. That would be quite a rush. You need to stay in Karaikudi for a day to enjoy the Chettinad cuisine.

BTW shortest route to Karaikudi is :

Salem-Dindigul-Nattam-Tirupattur-Karaikudi.

You get into Dindigul town and ask for the Nattam road. The road via Nattam goes to Tirupattur cutting NH45 some where beyond Melur.

Route Link

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats really a round about. I thought while going from Madurai via towards Rameshwaram, you wanted to go via Karaikudi. Visiting Karaikudi and coming back to Madurai does not make sense. May be start early the next day and drive to Rameshwaram via Karaikudi.

That was the initial plan but wanted to reach Rameshwaram fast. So Bangalore - Karikudi - Madurai is not feasible?

Originally Posted by ampere

Thats really a round about. I thought while going from Madurai via towards Rameshwaram, you wanted to go via Karaikudi. Visiting Karaikudi and coming back to Madurai does not make sense. May be start early the next day and drive to Rameshwaram via Karaikudi.

Ok.. In that case I will think of driving via Karaikudi to Rameshwaram if time permits. The point is that I want to leave Rameshwaram early so that I can cover Nagercoil - trivandrum before peak traffic. For this, I have to finish Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi on the day I arrive in Rameshwaram.

[deadguy25]

team,

How is the road to Rameswaram? I read a travelogue on the forum about two days back, looks like the roads are good.
Any latest updates would be of great help.

Tentatively planned for mid nextweek:
Bangalore-> Erode-> thiruchendur-> rameswaram -> trichy-> namakkal->
erode-> Bangalore

Well, i need to go to Ramswaram, thiruchendur, and Trichy. So thought it of doing it this way:

Bangalore-> Erode-> thiruchendur-> rameswaram -> trichy-> namakkal->
erode-> Bangalore

If there is a better route\order of covering the places, please suggest.

thanks much.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by deadguy25

Well, i need to go to Ramswaram, thiruchendur, and Trichy. So thought it of doing it this way:

Bangalore-> Erode-> thiruchendur-> rameswaram -> trichy-> namakkal->
erode-> Bangalore

Why Erode? Thats out of way.

Bangalore-Salem-Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy-

Trichy-Melur-Sivagangai--Illayanagudi-Paramakudi-Ramnad-Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram-Ramnad-Tiruchendur-Turicorin-Madurai-Bangalore

[deadguy25]

Originally Posted by ampere

Why Erode? Thats out of way.

Bangalore-Salem-Namakkal-Thuraiyur-Trichy-

Trichy-Melur-Sivagangai--Illayanagudi-Paramakudi-Ramnad-Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram-Ramnad-Tiruchendur-Turicorin-Madurai-Bangalore

Great. Will do it this way then. Thanks a ton Amp.

[pramodpk]

Originally Posted by NPV

You should be able to make it

Originally Posted by ampere

Over all I would say very much possible.

Thanks a lot for your inputs. I did this trip and here are the details.

[manjubp]

Next week planning to drive to Rameshwaram, from Bangalore.

I am looking for info on good diesel pump to around Madurai or ramanathapuram. VW cars are sensitive to diesel quality hence the need to know where to fill.

The route planned is Bangalore(start at 5PM) --> Salem --> Karur(night halt)--> Madurai--> Manamadurai --> Ramanathapuram --> Rameshwaram.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by manjubp

I am looking for info on good diesel pump to around Madurai or ramanathapuram. VW cars are sensitive to diesel quality hence the need to know where to fill.

The route planned is Bangalore(start at 5PM) --> Salem --> Karur(night halt)--> Madurai--> Manamadurai --> Ramanathapuram --> Rameshwaram.

There is a BP Ghar at Vadipatti, some 50 km before Madurai. You could drive unto Madurai, stay somewhere in the Northern part of Madurai (like Hotel Metropole for example) and leave the next morning. Also looking at your start timing, you'll make it close to midnight in Madurai and its much easier to cross Madurai to the other side of town. Rameswaram road is much better accessible from the NH45B side than the NH7.

If NH210 is better these days, Dindigul-Natham-Tirupattur-Karaikudi-Devipatnam-Ramnad-Rameswaram is a good route too. It will save you the hassle of Madurai traffic.