[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by Prodigy07

Hello folks,

Can someone recommend the best route to Thirunallar from Chennai (Ramapuram)?

I used to drive alone very frequently (every other weekend) to my in-laws place not far from Tirunallar until 3-4 months back. It always is a fun figuring out a route there every trip.

My no-go areas on this route after gaining some experience were

1. Cuddalore town (terrible roads and bad traffic)
2. Sethiathope to Meensuruti (terrible roads)
3. Panruti (until flyover was opened, not a factor anymore)
4. Mayiladuthurai town (unless unavoidable due to some work)

My reliable go-to primary route always was Chennai - Veppur -Jayamkondam - Anaikarai - Tirupananthal - Aduthurai - Mangainallur or Srikandapuram - Kollumangudi - Nedungadu - Thirunallar.

But the Tirupananthal to Mangainallur or Srikandapuram roads are narrow village roads and not many people are comfortable with it based on my experience with my family. Alternate route is to go via Kumabakonam Bypass from Jayamkondam and take Karaikal road from there and join back at Kollumangudi in the above route. Except for Anaikarai, I have not had much bad experiences on this route.

Towards the tail end of the route from mostly Jayamkondam or Tirupanandhal, I take different routes based on the mood of that day. There literally are ridiculous number of routes to take if one is okay with village roads.

Please note that all these roads add up significant KM to the trip but I used to avoid big towns and established routes where possible and take even small village roads. Surprisingly all my bad experiences on these trips with respect to road surface or traffic had been on established so called National Highways or major State Highways.

Four laning of Vikravandi - Tanjavur road which had started recently will probably kill this favorite route roulette game of mine couple of years from now.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Yieldway17

My reliable go-to primary route always was Chennai - Veppur -Jayamkondam - Anaikarai - Tirupananthal - Aduthurai - Mangainallur or Srikandapuram - Kollumangudi - Nedungadu - Thirunallar.

Perfectly agree on this option. I was of opinion that OP was also planning to visit Chidambaram and hence I did not offer this option. But otherwise like you at the cost of a few km, this is best option drive. Even this weeken I know some folks who drove around Mayavaram along these routes.

But the Tirupananthal to Mangainallur or Srikandapuram roads are narrow village roads and not many people are comfortable with it based on my experience with my family. Alternate route is to go via Kumabakonam Bypass from Jayamkondam and take Karaikal road from there and join back at Kollumangudi in the above route. Except for Anaikarai, I have not had much bad experiences on this route.

Agree again. Especially past Tirupananthal, folks gets confused where to take the Pompuhar or come on to the main highway. Because along with directions to Suryanaar temple, you also have milestones from Mayavaram.

Four laning of Vikravandi - Tanjavur road which had started recently will probably kill this favorite route roulette game of mine couple of years from now.

Hope this gets done fast. Its one of the important sections and helps avoid the ECR to a large extent.

[Prodigy07]

Originally Posted by ampere

Perfectly agree on this option. I was of opinion that OP was also planning to visit Chidambaram and hence I did not offer this option. But otherwise like you at the cost of a few km, this is best option drive.

Hi Ampere -

Our first stop would be at Thirunallar. So, do I still need to pass thru' Panruti (or) can I take the usual Veppur - Vridachalam Bypass road?

Originally Posted by Yieldway17

My reliable go-to primary route always was Chennai - Veppur -Jayamkondam - Anaikarai - Tirupananthal - Aduthurai - Mangainallur or Srikandapuram - Kollumangudi - Nedungadu - Thirunallar.

But the Tirupananthal to Mangainallur or Srikandapuram roads are narrow village roads and not many people are comfortable with it based on my experience with my family. Alternate route is to go via Kumabakonam Bypass from Jayamkondam and take Karaikal road from there and join back at Kollumangudi in the above route. Except for Anaikarai, I have not had much bad experiences on this route.

Towards the tail end of the route from mostly Jayamkondam or Tirupanandhal, I take different routes based on the mood of that day. There literally are ridiculous number of routes to take if one is okay with village roads.

Thanks for the detailed post. Could you please explain the route from Jayamkondam to Kumbakonam bypass to join at Kollumangudi? I'm little confused.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Prodigy07

Hi Ampere -

Our first stop would be at Thirunallar. So, do I still need to pass thru' Panruti (or) can I take the usual Veppur - Vridachalam Bypass road?

Its an 80km detour. But good roads end to end. So I would leave the decision to you. If it were me I would prefer the Veppur option. But dont want to impose the extra distance on you.

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by Prodigy07

Thanks for the detailed post. Could you please explain the route from Jayamkondam to Kumbakonam bypass to join at Kollumangudi? I'm little confused.

At Jayamkondam, instead of taking the route to Gangai Konda Cholapuram and Anaikarai, you may take the road to T. Palur and Kumbakonam Bypass and from there take the Kumbakonam - Karaikal road which will take you straight to Kollumangudi.

[venki.bala]

Completed a quick trip to my native village with lot of relief materials last weekend. Chennai - Veppur - Jayamkondan - Kumbakonam bypass - Mannargudi - Mutupettai road ( till orathur) - Village. Most of the trees lining the road after Needamangalam are gone aftermath of Gaja. Roads have been cleared but no power in most of the villages and it will take sometime. Mannargudi in parts have got the power but erratic supply. Same with thiruthuraipoondi as well. Roads are not damaged and in good condition.

[Gansan]

Planning a drive to Pondicherry this weekend by the Tambaram-Tindivanam-Pondy route. Any rain damage to the roads on the way? Are they in perfect condition?

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by Gansan

Planning a drive to Pondicherry this weekend by the Tambaram-Tindivanam-Pondy route. Any rain damage to the roads on the way? Are they in perfect condition?

Roads from Tambaram to Tindivanam and from there to Pondy are always relatively well maintained and not very susceptible to rain damages. Except for the usual heavy traffic from Tambaram to Chengalpattu depending on the hour, you shouldn't face any issues.

[keshav1426]

Hello Gents

I am not sure if this has been discussed but I am looking for inputs . I am planning a trip from Chennai south ( Tambaram East) to Club Mahindra Puducherry. The location is in between Pondicherry and Cuddalore ( Approx 23 kms off pondicherry). Would the conventional ECR route suffice. I have been there 10 years back and realized that it took a long time to get from Pondicherry to Cuddalore where the resort is located. Roads were small and full of traffic. Has anything changed since then. Faster or more convenient route suggestions are welcome. We plan to start by 10am or so on a friday.

Thanks in Advance

[hserus]

If you're already in Tambaram why do you want to track all the way back through Chennai to Adyar? You can take the GST road and then connect to the ECR, plenty of signs saying Pondy and then you go beyond that to Cuddalore.

Originally Posted by keshav1426

Hello Gents

I am not sure if this has been discussed but I am looking for inputs . I am planning a trip from Chennai south ( Tambaram East) to Club Mahindra Puducherry. The location is in between Pondicherry and Cuddalore ( Approx 23 kms off pondicherry). Would the conventional ECR route suffice. I have been there 10 years back and realized that it took a long time to get from Pondicherry to Cuddalore where the resort is located. Roads were small and full of traffic. Has anything changed since then. Faster or more convenient route suggestions are welcome. We plan to start by 10am or so on a friday.

Thanks in Advance

[keshav1426]

Originally Posted by hserus

If you're already in Tambaram why do you want to track all the way back through Chennai to Adyar? You can take the GST road and then connect to the ECR, plenty of signs saying Pondy and then you go beyond that to Cuddalore.

We are one couple from Shollinganallur and other from Tambaram. So both routes would work for us since we will all meet up before starting the trip. Personally I would prefer the scenic ECR Route. The only concerning thing is the Pondi Cuddalore stretch which i guess we cant avoid. I just wanted to know if that single lane road is any better or still the same .

[hserus]

Originally Posted by keshav1426

We are one couple from Shollinganallur and other from Tambaram. So both routes would work for us since we will all meet up before starting the trip. Personally I would prefer the scenic ECR Route. The only concerning thing is the Pondi Cuddalore stretch which i guess we cant avoid. I just wanted to know if that single lane road is any better or still the same .

That cuddalore road won't change any more than you can straighten a dog's tail. And several parts of the ECR are, depending on the time (eg: from 8-10 AM) chock a block with share auto / two wheeler traffic on undivided roads so that the scenic part of the route is actually comparatively less.

Why don't you people meet up at Pondy and then enjoy the "beauties" of that single road together?

Also I think your post and my reply could move to a different thread, I just noticed that this thread is about Kumbakonam drives.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by keshav1426

Has anything changed since then.

It has not. For your destination, the detours are not worth it either.

Only early morning drives on a GST are a breeze, otherwise GST till Chengalpattu is a bigger pain than OMR and ECR. Last 2 times I've gone via Thiruporur-Chengalpattu.

If you are going to Chidambaram and beyond, then there are ways to avoid the Pondy-Cuddalore bottleneck.

[keshav1426]

Thank you Hserus and narayans80 for the suggestions. I think i will stick to the ECR route and plan ahead for the time spent to get to Cuddalore.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by keshav1426

Thank you Hserus and narayans80 for the suggestions. I think i will stick to the ECR route and plan ahead for the time spent to get to Cuddalore.

Leave very early in the morning say 4:30 AM. You should be fine.