[skydiver]

Folks,

Plannig a trip from bangalore to Ramshwaram, continuing to Pondicherry and then back.

BLR to rameshwaram route is clear (thanks to all the posts by fellow BHP'ians).
However, I am not soure which route to take while going from rameshwaram to Pondicherry. Please help..

[ampere]

Rameshwaram-Thondi-Pattukottai-Tanjore-Kumbakonam-Buvanagiri-Cuddalore-Pondicherry


I am not sure if from Kumbakonam the Mayavaram/Chidambaram (via Sirkazhi) route is better or 45C is better. Others need to comment on the same.

Google Link:

Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu to Pondicherry - Google Maps

[skydiver]

Thanks Amp..I have not even considered this route earlier...what is the condition of roads starting from Rameshwram?

[ampere]

This was the thread that I referred to. Look at @Harshavarthan's comments on the ECR rather than the Pudukottai road.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...nadu-tour.html

[joshguy]

Originally Posted by skydiver

Thanks Amp..I have not even considered this route earlier...what is the condition of roads starting from Rameshwram?

Hi

I would not suggest you that route(first one).The roads are not great and that too after rains.

Take this route
Rameshwaram>devakottai>karaikudi>Pudhukottai>Trich y>>>>>Tindivanam>Pondy
You need to take a right from Tindivanam

Tips
Have Breakfast/Lunch at Karaikudi their food is too good (Especially thalicha idiyappam)
Rameshwaram to Trichy is decent road
Trichy > Tindivanam - Road is SUPERB ! (its better than Blore>chennai)
Tindivanam > Pondy is 40Km

[ampere]

The standard route is:

210 and 45 (Devipatnam-Pudukottai-Trichy-Villipuram-Pondicherry.)

Now the 45 part of Trichy-Villipuram is 160 of the 450 km. (A small part).
Need to decide based on the condition of the other sections as well.

(I am not sure of the current status of each option. Let others also comment). The other thread that I pointed, referred to 10 not being in good stage. Hence did not suggest the standard route.

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?f=d&so...,1.454315&z=10


@Joshguy,

Just saw your post. Do we need to go till Tindivanam and come back ? Yes on the flip side, it does provide 4L , but its double the distance.
How is the Villupuram-Pondicherry road condition today?

[ravib]

Originally Posted by ampere

How is the Villupuram-Pondicherry road condition today?

I believe it is in good condition, just because last month my father reached villupuram-pondy in less than 40 mts by bus. Hopefully, it must be good, even after these rains.

-Ravi

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ampere

(I am not sure of the current status of each option. Let others also comment). The other thread that I pointed, referred to 10 not being in good stage. Hence did not suggest the standard route.

Sorry for the typo folks. I meant NH210 from Rameshwaram to Tanjore.

[joshguy]

@ ampere - the route you specified is shorter but AFAIK the road from karikal to chidambaram is pathetic.for that matter even from kumbakonam its the same route.

So i will not suggest it ,its all single road and you cannot go beyond 50km/hr

Ravi has commented on the road condition between Villupuram and pondy - i have gone thru that road only once so i have no idea.

Tavel @ 50km/hr and reaching pondy or going via trichy is going to consume the same time but comfort ,driving pleasure and mileage will be better in trichy.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by joshguy

@ ampere - the route you specified is shorter but AFAIK the road from karikal to chidambaram is pathetic.for that matter even from kumbakonam its the same route.

So i will not suggest it ,its all single road and you cannot go beyond 50km/hr

Ravi has commented on the road condition between Villupuram and pondy - i have gone thru that road only once so i have no idea.

Tavel @ 50km/hr and reaching pondy or going via trichy is going to consume the same time but comfort ,driving pleasure and mileage will be better in trichy.

@josh I did not suggest through karaikal-Chindambaram. They are indeed bad. I was referring to part ECR to hit Tanjore instead of Pudukottai-Trichy. But yes I am not sure of the status after the rains.

[skydiver]

Amp, joshguy, ravib,

thanks for your inputs..with 2 ladies and 3 kids in the car, I would like to stick to the route with good options for 2-3 small stop-overs..I guess going via trichy is better..

If someone knows the latest road condition of NH 45C, please share..
Thanks

[paragpatankar]

I drove from Pondy to Velankanni on 25th, and then Velankanni to Rameswaram on 26th. Took the Google Map sugestion, ad it was pretty good all through.The NH is very good except a small stretch just before Velankanni.