[darklord]

What the title says.

We plan to do the trip over three days sometime in December, in our Santro. The starting point will be Attingal, near TVM. The purpose is mostly spiritual. My queries are:

1. Which route should I take? Should I take the Thenmala route or the Nagercovil route?
2. Suggestions of other historic temples that we should not miss out enroute.
3. Approximate driving time.
4. Weather.

What better place to ask these questions than in the Travelogue section of T-BHP ?

Thanks people, looking forward to your suggestions/tips/advice.

[ampere]

Route:

- TVM - Nagarcoil : NH47
- Nagarcoil-Tiruchendur : ECR
- Tirchendur-Tuticorin-Ramnad-Rameshwaram (ECR)
- Rameshwaram-Madurai (NH49)
- Madurai-Tirunelveli-Nagarcoil (NH7)
- Nagarcoil - TVM (NH47)



Other temples (all on the way

1. Suchindram
2. Many on the Rameshwaram-Madurai route.
(Sethukarai, Darba Shayanam etc).

3. Around Madurai : Pillayarpatti, Pazhamudhir Cholai

4. Nellaiyappar Temple at Tirunelveli

Here is the route map:

Trivandrum Bypass Rd, Thiruvallam, Trivandrum, Kerala to Trivandrum, Kerala 695001 - Google Maps

[DicKy]

It's better to take the nagercoil route as once kanyakumari is passed the road is a bliss to use,except for stupid bikers on the wrong side of the 4 lane carriageway.

[hvkumar]

I took the Tenmala route yesterday and I would recommend it.
Route would be as follows:

Attingal-Kollam-Kottarakara-Punalur-Tenmala-Aryankavu-Schencottah-Kuttalam-Tenkasi-Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Vembar-Sikkal-Kizhakarai-Ramanathapuram-Mandapam-Rameswaram-Mandapam-Ramanathapuram-Madurai

As you would have noticed, I have realigned your route to go first to Rameswaram and then to Madurai.

The Kollam-Tenkasi NH203 is mostly good, except that you must watch out for some minor bad sections around the ghat curves. Very scenic route, moderate traffic by day (except for the Sabarimala pilgrim traffic).

I have no idea about the condition of the Tenkasi-Tirunelveli road, but I am sure it will be great.

From Tiruchendur to Ramanthapuram, it is the fantastic East Coast Road which I took last month, and is a real beauty. I can share log book info if you want.

NH49 from Ramanathapuram to Madurai is also good.

No idea what return route you would like, but maybe you can take the Nagercoil route or the Kumili route. Remember if you take the Kumili route, the ghats ascending to Kumili is in very bad shape now.

[darklord]

Originally Posted by ampere

Route: TVM - Nagarcoil : NH47

Given the choice between Nagarcoil and Thenmala, I am inclined to take Thenamala. Nagercoil route is a pain to drive and it is a familiar route. Thanks for the rest of the route info.

Other temples (...) Tirunelveli

Thanks for those, will check them out.

Originally Posted by DicKy

It's better to take the nagercoil route as once kanyakumari is passed the road is a bliss to use,except for stupid bikers on the wrong side of the 4 lane carriageway.

Yeah very true. But by the time I reach Nagercoil, I would be irritated and depressed. This route is a certain mood-destroyer . So, if Thenmala route is good, then I am inclined towards that.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I took the Tenmala route yesterday and I would recommend it.
Route would be as follows:

Attingal-Kollam-Kottarakara-Punalur-Tenmala-Aryankavu-Schencottah-Kuttalam-Tenkasi-Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Vembar-Sikkal-Kizhakarai-Ramanathapuram-Mandapam-Rameswaram-Mandapam-Ramanathapuram-Madurai

Thanks. Don't you think Attingal-Nilamel-Kadakkal-Thenmala will be shorter; with the Nilamel-Thenmala being a bad road (I went upto Thenmala last week)?

As you would have noticed (...) very bad shape now.

Thanks for the valuable advice sir.

I can share log book info if you want.

Please.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by darklord

Thanks. Don't you think Attingal-Nilamel-Kadakkal-Thenmala will be shorter; with the Nilamel-Thenmala being a bad road (I went upto Thenmala last week)?

I agree, but unless you are familiar with interior roads in KL, I would prefer to stick to the main routes, won't get lost and signages are good.

[hvkumar]

Check out the following log book, has the route profile for Kanyakumari-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...xWclE&hl=en_GB

[darklord]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I agree, but unless you are familiar with interior roads in KL, I would prefer to stick to the main routes, won't get lost and signages are good.

The road through Kadakkal upto Thenmala is familiar, so I will stick to that.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Check out the following log book, has the route profile for Kanyakumari-Tiruchendur-Tuticorin-Ramanathapuram

Thanks a lot sir. Downloaded and saved.

[ampere]

Do note, you will need to stay for a day or two to go around Madurai. As the temples that I mentioned are in different directions and in the radius of 40-50 Km.

[cLJ]

Has anybody has travelled on the ECR from Ramathapuram to Nagapattinam recently. How is the road condition. I am planning a trip to Velankanni and from there to Ramanathapuram through ECR.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by cLJ

Has anybody has travelled on the ECR from Ramathapuram to Nagapattinam recently. How is the road condition. I am planning a trip to Velankanni and from there to Ramanathapuram through ECR.

I remember in some other post that its very good. In fact I remember the post stating that Its better to take that route to Rameshwaram rather the regular Pudukottai route. This was in response to a querry on route from Tanjore to Rameshwaram.

[hvkumar]

The ECR from Ramanathapuram to Nagapattinam is fantastic. I did it last month.
Took me 3 hours to cover the 225 kms.

[darklord]

I have made a rough plan:

Day 1: Start from home in the morning. Drive straight to Tirunelveli and visit Nellaiappar temple. Drive to Tirchendur and visit temple. Drive to Rameshwaram.

Day 2: Rameshwaram & Dhanushkodi. Stay in Rameshwaram or drive to Madurai in the evening.

Day 3: Visit Madurai, Tirupuramkundram, and Srivilliputtur. Reach home by evening/night.

Tips and suggestions are welcome.

Also, how are the roads between Madurai and Thenkasi NH 208 (?)?

[hvkumar]

Roads between Madurai & Tenkasi via Srivilliputtur & Rajapalayam are very good.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Roads between Madurai & Tenkasi via Srivilliputtur & Rajapalayam are very good.

HVK, how long is the ghat section? According to me it should be over by Shenkottai ? Since I have never driven then, I have no idea about its condition. But familiar about the route.