Team-BHP > Travelogues > Route / Travel Queries


Reply
  Search this Thread
289,620 views
Old 16th March 2011, 09:54   #31
BHPian
 
Sridhar K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chennai
Posts: 722
Thanked: 465 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Per one of my relatives in Kumbakonam, work is on to strenthen the anaikarai bridge. Expected to be completed in 1 months time and will be open to cars & buses (no lorries). Work on the bridge to Jayamkondan is also going on in full speed.
Sridhar K is offline  
Old 17th March 2011, 06:34   #32
BHPian
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Chennai
Posts: 375
Thanked: 264 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Thanks Sridhar... It will be great if you get updates from your relatives after the work is completed and the vehicles are allowed back on and post it. It will be a great help.
venki.bala is offline  
Old 6th April 2011, 12:05   #33
BHPian
 
DWind's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Singara Chennai
Posts: 804
Thanked: 238 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sridhar K View Post
DWind: As others suggested that is the best route. You can either take ECR to pondy or go via Tambaram-Tindivanam. My dad did Chennai- Mayiladutharai via Tindivanam -Pondy-Cuddalore in a wagonR last week and took 4 hrs. Per him, the Tindivanam-Pondy stretch is in great shape bypassing most towns. On the Cuddalore to Mayiladuthurai, Chidambaram town could be bypassed but Sirkali bypass is only half ready. The road is okay but one cannot maintain good speed due to potholes. Just need to ensure that you don't cross Pondy/Cuddalore during peak hours to reach there quickly.
Thanks Sridhar. The trip got postponed and I will be going to Mayiladuthurai this weekend. Will be starting from Chennai at 4 AM. Hope to reach before 9 AM.
BTW from Sirkazhi should I take the route via Vaitheeswaran koil or should I continue on NH45 A and then branch off later?

Last edited by DWind : 6th April 2011 at 12:08.
DWind is offline  
Old 6th April 2011, 13:17   #34
Team-BHP Support
 
ampere's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 17,919
Thanked: 12,884 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by DWind View Post
Thanks Sridhar. The trip got postponed and I will be going to Mayiladuthurai this weekend. Will be starting from Chennai at 4 AM. Hope to reach before 9 AM.
BTW from Sirkazhi should I take the route via Vaitheeswaran koil or should I continue on NH45 A and then branch off later?
I think the Vaitheeswaran koil route would be better, as it has much less traffic. I have not gone on that route for quite some time. Hence my info may be old.
ampere is offline  
Old 6th April 2011, 15:52   #35
Senior - BHPian
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 1,572
Thanked: 1,790 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by ampere View Post
I think the Vaitheeswaran koil route would be better, as it has much less traffic. I have not gone on that route for quite some time. Hence my info may be old.
Yes ampere, the vaitheeswaran koil route is better choice with less traffic.

Also, if you want a break for good food, you can stop at Hotel Sathabishegam in vaitheeswaran koil, which is decent enough. It is next to Bharat petrol bunk on the way to Mayavaram.

-Ravi
ravib is offline  
Old 6th April 2011, 15:58   #36
Team-BHP Support
 
ampere's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 17,919
Thanked: 12,884 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by ravib View Post
Yes ampere, the vaitheeswaran koil route is better choice with less traffic.

Also, if you want a break for good food, you can stop at Hotel Sathabishegam in vaitheeswaran koil, which is decent enough. It is next to Bharat petrol bunk on the way to Mayavaram.

-Ravi
And so are views. When I had been, it was lush green with slight rain.
It was an amazing weather and so was the drive!
ampere is offline  
Old 6th April 2011, 16:21   #37
Senior - BHPian
 
Gansan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Chennai
Posts: 4,520
Thanked: 5,470 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

^^
If one wants to experience twisties in the plains, nothing to beat this route!

I had breakfast at this Hotel Sadhabishekam last May and liked it.
Gansan is offline  
Old 11th April 2011, 16:27   #38
BHPian
 
Sridhar K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chennai
Posts: 722
Thanked: 465 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Just back from a Chennai-Tiruchi-Kumbakonam-Chennai on my Manza.

Chennai- Tiruchi - 5 hrs including break for Diesel (10 mins) & breakfast at A2B at Ulundurpettai(0.5 hrs).

Samayapuram- Thanjavur- Tiruchi - 2 hrs 15 mins. Tiruchi-Thanjavur is four laned and pretty good to drive (speeds of 120 possible). Toll booths are being readied. Issue is that you find vehicles coming towards you (including bikes & trucks) on the right most lane on your side of the dividor. Thanjavur-Kumbakonam is the same winding road with so much traffic and patches & mild pot holes

Kumbakonam - Chennai via Mayiladuthurai- Pondy. Started at 11:30 AM. The road between Kumbakonam & Vaithesswaran Koil similar to Thanjavur- Kumbakonam. Sirkazhi bypass's northern half is open and one has to come into town for the rest of the section. The Sirkazhi -Cuddalore was pretty decent and was able to do 70-80 Kmph for most part.

Lunch break at Ananda Bhavan near Cuddalore bridge (at 2:30 PM) and would recommend the place. The other good place for lunch is MAMS in Mayiladuthurai. Cuddalore-Pondy Road was in good condition but being two laned and traffic, had to slow down. 4 laned Pondy- Tindivanam is very good (toll booths getting ready) and was able to maintain 120 for most parts.

Got stuck up at Tambaram (near the overbridge) for close to 45 mins and reached home at 6:30 PM
Sridhar K is offline  
Old 11th April 2011, 20:07   #39
Team-BHP Support
 
ampere's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 17,919
Thanked: 12,884 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Any reason, why you choose Mayavaram/Sirkazi/Pondy route and not the one via Panruti?
Any issues with 45C? Or its just that ECR is much better (though its crowded)?
ampere is offline  
Old 12th April 2011, 11:09   #40
BHPian
 
Sridhar K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chennai
Posts: 722
Thanked: 465 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by ampere View Post
Any reason, why you choose Mayavaram/Sirkazi/Pondy route and not the one via Panruti?
Any issues with 45C? Or its just that ECR is much better (though its crowded)?
Because
1) The Anaikarai bridge is closed for traffic which means the only way is via Chidambaram
2) Heard from people that Panruti-Vikravandi and Sethiyathoppe-Vadalur sections of NH45C is not in very good shape. Chidambaram-Cuddalore-Pondy-Chennai stretch is in decent condition.
Sridhar K is offline  
Old 13th April 2011, 12:03   #41
BHPian
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Chennai
Posts: 375
Thanked: 264 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sridhar K View Post
Because
1) The Anaikarai bridge is closed for traffic which means the only way is via Chidambaram
2) Heard from people that Panruti-Vikravandi and Sethiyathoppe-Vadalur sections of NH45C is not in very good shape. Chidambaram-Cuddalore-Pondy-Chennai stretch is in decent condition.
Great updates Sridhar.... Thanks for sharing.. It seems the cars allowed through a alt road on the river sand bed below the Anaikarai Bridge. It is a decent hardened surface, my cousin yesterday updated me. But as far the rest of the route(45C) till vikravandi is not in good shape.

Venkatesh
venki.bala is offline  
Old 15th April 2011, 10:50   #42
BHPian
 
Sridhar K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chennai
Posts: 722
Thanked: 465 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

^^^Thanks. My neighbor did a trip to Neyveli and he took the Villupuram-Panruti road instead of the Vikravandi Panruti route. He mentioned that this is better though longer option.
Sridhar K is offline  
Old 2nd May 2011, 18:26   #43
BHPian
 
polopm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Chennai
Posts: 457
Thanked: 142 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sridhar K View Post
^^^Thanks. My neighbor did a trip to Neyveli and he took the Villupuram-Panruti road instead of the Vikravandi Panruti route. He mentioned that this is better though longer option.
Folks
Did a the Chennai-Kumbakonam route this weekend. Anakarai bridge is fully closed. Short term "tharai palam" has been washed away after rains. The only route now is thru Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Mayiladhuthurai.

No idea when the Jayamkondam bridge will be completed
polopm is offline  
Old 3rd May 2011, 08:58   #44
Team-BHP Support
 
ampere's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 17,919
Thanked: 12,884 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

That bridge is on a NH right ? (227?)

Is there no traffic on that section? State Buses, Private Vehicles etc?
Its surprising that this is taking so much time!
ampere is offline  
Old 3rd May 2011, 20:22   #45
BHPian
 
polopm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Chennai
Posts: 457
Thanked: 142 Times
re: Chennai - Kumbakonam : Route Queries

Quote:
Originally Posted by ampere View Post
That bridge is on a NH right ? (227?)

Is there no traffic on that section? State Buses, Private Vehicles etc?
Its surprising that this is taking so much time!
Yes, it is on the NH. Better option would be the Jayamkondam - Kumbakonam when it comes !!
polopm is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks