[Madrasin_selvan]

Travelled from Chennai To Chidambaram yesterday morning. Took the Chennai - Veppur - Vridhachalam - Sethiyathope -Chidambaram route. Though this was a roundabout I wanted to take this route to have a smooth ride.

- Veppur to Vridhachalam Bypass was Bumpy with patch works
- Vridhachalam - Sehtiyathope - Bhuvanagiri is a Splendid stretch - No speedbreakers, well marked and wide enough with paved shoulders

Planning for return tomorrow, does anyone know the condition of road between Pondy to Chidambaram. When i travelled last month the Pondy Cuddalore stretch was in shambles. And is it advisable to take the Vridhachalam - Ulundurpettai road ?

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by Madrasin_selvan

And is it advisable to take the Vridhachalam - Ulundurpettai road ?

After seeing your post and as it had been more than a year since I took this road, did this route today going from Chennai to Peralam.

Chennai-Villupuram-Ulundurpet-Vridachalam-Sethiyathopu-Bhuvanagiri-Chidamabaram-Sirkazhi-Mayiladuthurai

Regarding Ulundurpet to Vridachalam road, good news is that the road is getting widened and fully relaid. Bad news is that the work is still in progress for half the distance and in different intervals. So for every 1km, there is fresh tarmac for 500m, bad tarmac for 400m and basically gravel road for 100m and repeat. Also all culverts and bridges are yet to be finished with concrete and just filled with stones for now. This work is going on all the way from Ulundurpet to Vridachalam Junction. In another 3-6 months, this road should be very good as the newly laid sections are pretty wide with space for shoulders etc.

[Madrasin_selvan]

Originally Posted by Yieldway17

After seeing your post and as it had been more than a year since I took this road, did this route today going from Chennai to Peralam.

Chennai-Villupuram-Ulundurpet-Vridachalam-Sethiyathopu-Bhuvanagiri-Chidamabaram-Sirkazhi-Mayiladuthurai

Actually i used the same route which you had mentioned but in return direction couple of days back. Its better to take the veppur route even if its some kms extra for the next few months.

By the way, you do go by the same handle in SSC right ?

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by Madrasin_selvan

Actually i used the same route which you had mentioned but in return direction couple of days back. Its better to take the veppur route even if its some kms extra for the next few months.

By the way, you do go by the same handle in SSC right ?

Yeah, certainly better to take the Veppur route even even with bit uneven patches. Also I’m not a fan of driving through town traffic in Vridachalam and narrow road through Mangalampet.

Yes, I go by the same handle there too.

[ampere]

When will the Vikravandi/Panruti option will become good enough for folks to take this route instead of the 4-lane till Veppur. We have been reading/commenting about it for years now.

Some how never read any major development in the works for this section.

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by ampere

When will the Vikravandi/Panruti option will become good enough for folks to take this route instead of the 4-lane till Veppur. We have been reading/commenting about it for years now.

Some how never read any major development in the works for this section.

Well, Vikravandi to Koliyanur is 4-laned except for finishing works and is serviceable. Koliyanur to Sethiyathopu is a different story with it stuck in various stages of construction. This has been the story for past 1.5-2 years as the contractor Reliance Constructions (subsidiary of Anil Dirubani’s ADAG group) is nearly bankrupt and has abandoned the project. NHAI need to re-tender and restart the work, there won’t be any material changes until then.

Sethiyathopu to Cholapuram and Cholapuram to Thanjavur is being done by Patel Constructions and has seen good progress and work is still ongoing albeit bit behind planned dates. There was also an accident yesterday in Anaikarai bridge construction and hopefully that doesn’t derail this part of the project too.

[Dzirechennai]

Hi Friends,

I am driving down to Kumbakonam from Chennai this Saturday. My usual route is to take the narrow lane from NH45 (near the EB Substation, post Ulundurpet toll) leading upto Mangalampettai and then towards Virudhachalam -> Andimadam -> Jayamkondan -> T. Palur or Gangaikondacholapuram -> Kumbakonam.

Is the narrow lane to Mangalampettai closed now? A few of you had mentioned that it is better to take the Veppur route and the Viridhachalam bypass. I have not taken that so far. Does it impact the drive timings ?

Hope the local elections would not impact the temple timings and the restaurants in Kumbakonam.

I plan to cast my vote at 7 am and then start !

Best regards

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Dzirechennai

Mangalampettai and then towards Virudhachalam -> Andimadam -> Jayamkondan -> T. Palur or Gangaikondacholapuram -> Kumbakonam... temple timings

Veppur route is always the better choice.

Temple restrictions were not lifted. They are still Monday to Thursday only.

[Dzirechennai]

Thank you Narayan. Enquired with the temple and looks like they are open on the weekends.

Here is what Google Maps says from Guindy to Oppiliyappan temple. Is this the route you recommend? Especially the one from Veppur to Kumbakonam?

Guindy -> Follow NH32, NH132 and NH38 to NH532 in Veppur
Veppur Cross Road SH 10, Veppur -> Take SH 140 to Madanathur - Neelathanallur Rd
Take MDR205 to NH36/NH 45C in Ram Nagar, Kumbakonam
Continue on NH36/NH 45C. Drive from Kumbakonam Bypass Rd to Karthi, Ullur
Turn right Pass by DUBAI RESTAURANT (on the left)
Turn left at Velan Coffee onto Kumbakonam - Karaikkal Main Rd/Manthai - Karuppur Main Rd
Pass by R.k Koli kari (on the right)
Continue on West St. Take South St and Chetty St to Oppiliyappan koil N St in Thirunageswaram

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Dzirechennai

Thank you Narayan. Enquired with the temple and looks like they are open on the weekends.

Here is what Google Maps says from Guindy to Oppiliyappan temple. Is this the route you recommend? Especially the one from Veppur to Kumbakonam?

Guindy -> Follow NH32, NH132 and NH38 to NH532 in Veppur
Veppur Cross Road SH 10, Veppur -> Take SH 140 to Madanathur - Neelathanallur Rd
Take MDR205 to NH36/NH 45C in Ram Nagar, Kumbakonam
.....
Continue on West St. Take South St and Chetty St to Oppiliyappan koil N St in Thirunageswaram

This is the route i travelled on Dec 23rd 2021 to goto Oppiliappan temple. You can refer my update post 582 below.

Exit NH45 at Veppur junction and go via Vridhachalam bypass instead of getting into Ulundurpet and mangalampettai. Its much better option although the 20 kms between Veppur Junction till Vridhachalam bypass is bumpy due to tar patches, but no potholes.

-Ravi

[Dzirechennai]

Originally Posted by ravib

This is the route i travelled on Dec 23rd 2021 to goto Oppiliappan temple. You can refer my update post 582 below.

Thank you so much Ravi. I will definitely try this one. Although it is 20 odd km more, the travel time difference is hardly 10 mts and obviously we also avoid going through the towns.

[Dzirechennai]

Originally Posted by ravib

Exit NH45 at Veppur junction and go via Vridhachalam bypass instead of getting into Ulundurpet and mangalampettai. Its much better option although the 20 kms between Veppur Junction till Vridhachalam bypass is bumpy due to tar patches, but no potholes.

-Ravi

Took this route and like you rightly said, apart from this stretch, it was very smooth. While returning, I actually took a detour to Srimushnam Bhuvaraha temple which was fantastic. By the time I reached the Viridhachalam bypass towards Veppur cross road, it was dark and a bit bumpy so had to drive a bit slowly, but once onto NH45, it was smooth sailing.
The bridge work near Mamandur though was a major block. We had to again take diversion and it almost delayed my travel time by more than an hour and half.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by Dzirechennai

Took this route and like you rightly said, apart from this stretch, it was very smooth. While returning, I actually took a detour to Srimushnam Bhuvaraha temple which was fantastic. By the time I reached the Viridhachalam bypass towards Veppur cross road, it was dark and a bit bumpy so had to drive a bit slowly, but once onto NH45, it was smooth sailing.
The bridge work near Mamandur though was a major block. We had to again take diversion and it almost delayed my travel time by more than an hour and half.

I went to Srimushnam while going towards Kumbakonam and you did it in return journey Its a very good temple, little less popular but totally worth it.

-Ravi

[vikramhere]

Hi Friends,

I am doing a splash and dash trip from Chennai to Mayiladuthurai this weekend. I usually take the NH till Veppur - Sethiatoppe - Chidambaram - Mayiladuthurai route, but haven't travelled in this route for the last 2-3 years.

Is this still the best route? News about traffic nightmares due to the Palar bridge construction is stressing me out and my wife doesnt want us to drive via ECR due to single lane, hard to convince her otherwise. Please help me with the best route friends.

Best Regards

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vikramhere

I am doing a splash and dash trip from Chennai to Mayiladuthurai this weekend. I usually take the NH till Veppur - Sethiatoppe - Chidambaram - Mayiladuthurai route, but haven't travelled in this route for the last 2-3 years.

There is one more option. Go to Jayankondam via Veppur/Vridhachalam bypass. And then head to Meensurutty via Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Then take the road to Kattumannar Kovil. From here there is an interior road to Mayavaram. The bridge over Kollidam is good. But I don't know how this road is? It used to bad with no roads around the bridges. I think it was being constructed then. If its good now, that would be a nice option. (link)

I tried this some years back because of the uncertainty of Anaikarai. If Anaikarai is up then surely we don't need this option.