[Sridhar K]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

I continued on the Highway till i crossed the 4th Toll (Ulundurpet toll). There will be a hotel to your left and just beyond that you have a small left. The left is narrow but well marked with white lines. Take that left. The roads are bad but doable in any car other than a civic. The bad roads are for 6 kms at the best i guess. After that the roads are all good upto kumbakonam. Anaikarai bridge is repaired and well cooordinated by Policemen using walkie talkies.

Came back from a round trip of Chennai-Kumbakonam-Chennai yesterday. I was searching for the left after Ulundurpet toll but couldnt find it and hence went into the town and through Virudhachalam. There is a hotel immediately after the toll but couldn't find a road towards the left

For the onward trip, took the Chennai-Ulundurpet-Jayamkondan-T-Palar-Neerathanallur and Kumbakonam. The roads upto Neerathanallur was motorable but there were very good no. of of pot holes. After the bridge, the road to Kumbakonam was very narrow and we got stuck behind a few tractors. This route is pretty short

On the return journey, we took the Anaikarai- Gangaikondacholapuram - Jayamkondan route. Though longer than the T.Palur route, the time taken was more or less the same due to better roads. This route probably is one of the better roads to K.Konam in recent years if not ever.

This time visited K.Konam, Thirumeichur, Govindapuram, Thirukotikaval, Vanam mutti perumal, Thirunageswaram, Uppili Appan koil , Thirubuvanam and Kumbeshwarar temples. The road quality in and around k.Konam is also in pretty decent shape.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by Sridhar K

Came back from a round trip of Chennai-Kumbakonam-Chennai yesterday. I was searching for the left after Ulundurpet toll but couldnt find it and hence went into the town and through Virudhachalam. There is a hotel immediately after the toll but couldn't find a road towards the left


On the return journey, we took the Anaikarai- Gangaikondacholapuram - Jayamkondan route. Though longer than the T.Palur route, the time taken was more or less the same due to better roads. This route probably is one of the better roads to K.Konam in recent years if not ever.
.

Thanks Sridhar, Even one of my friend says that Ulundurpet-Virudhachalam-gangaikondacholapurm-Anaikarai is best.
How did you take the virudhachalam route by entering into Uludurpet?

[anachronix]

Originally Posted by Sridhar K

Came back from a round trip of Chennai-Kumbakonam-Chennai yesterday. I was searching for the left after Ulundurpet toll but couldnt find it and hence went into the town and through Virudhachalam. There is a hotel immediately after the toll but couldn't find a road towards the left

Next time, after you cross the Ulundurper flyover keep looking at your left for elecrtic transmission line poles, EB building and you will see the left next to it. That left connects back to the Jayamkondam route!

[Sridhar K]

Originally Posted by RGK

How did you take the virudhachalam route by entering into Uludurpet?

A couple of kms after crossing the Ulundurpet toll, there is a right turn to Salem. I took that right but instead of continuing on that road, took another right turn towards Ulundurpet town. A km or so into the city, there is another right to Virudhachalam right after crossing the Ulundurpet bus stop.

Originally Posted by anachronix

Next time, after you cross the Ulundurper flyover keep looking at your left for elecrtic transmission line poles, EB building and you will see the left next to it. That left connects back to the Jayamkondam route!

Thank you.

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by Sridhar K

For the onward trip, took the Chennai-Ulundurpet-Jayamkondan-T-Palar-Neerathanallur and Kumbakonam. The roads upto Neerathanallur was motorable but there were very good no. of of pot holes. After the bridge, the road to Kumbakonam was very narrow and we got stuck behind a few tractors. This route is pretty short

On the return journey, we took the Anaikarai- Gangaikondacholapuram - Jayamkondan route. Though longer than the T.Palur route, the time taken was more or less the same due to better roads. This route probably is one of the better roads to K.Konam in recent years if not ever.

Hi Sridhar,

Thanks for the update. Sorry to have guided you through the TPalur route. When I had last time, the route was fine and traffic was not there. HVK Sir has confirmed 2 days back in his FB group that Vikravandi - panruti - Sethiathope is also decent now.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Hi Sridhar,

Thanks for the update. Sorry to have guided you through the TPalur route. When I had last time, the route was fine and traffic was not there. HVK Sir has confirmed 2 days back in his FB group that Vikravandi - panruti - Sethiathope is also decent now.

This is really a good news. No tolls in this route, but the irritating traffic in Panruti, Vadalur, sethiathope is a concern.

[RGK]

Did a Chennai - Kumbakonam - Thanjavur - Chennai trip on Saturday/Sunday - 29th/30th.

Went through the same route as last time - Chennai - Ulundurpet - take right inside into the town under the ROB and take right to join the Vridhachalam road (opp to Renga Vilas Hotel) route - Mangalampettai - Vridhachalam - Jayamkondam - Gangaikondacholapuram - Anaikarai. Started at 5.30 at Pallavaram and reached at 10.45 with breaks. Road was very good even after the rains except the speed breakers between Ulundurpet - Vridhachalam.

The road was bit bad near the Anaikarai bridge and the Police monitor the traffic.

-Did not take the T.Pallur route as it was raining on the day.
-Missed the left (service road) after the fourth toll which joins the Vridhachalam road.
Seems the road is motorable and is a good alternative instead of getting into the Ulundurpet town.
- Missed the right immediately after the toll to get into the Ulundurpet and take left to reach the Vridhachalam road (opp to Hotel Renga bhavan). This is a better option than the left as you get to join the Vridhachalam road from the start of Ulundurpet and the road is good.
The above two will save you atleast 4-6 kms and also good amount of time
-Did not cross Ulundurpet and take the next left as suggested by Sridharji.

One of the positives, the road surface is same as it was during last week of Jan'12. Crossing Vridhachalam and Jayamkondam will take 10min max if there is no traffic.

As said by Venki.bala, heard Panruti road is better but need to negotiate lot of towns and slow traffic throughout.

I feel this still remains the best road to Kumbakonam as of now. One of my colleague says to drive down till Veppur and connect the Gangaikondacholapuram road which byepasses Virudhachalam and Jayamkondam totally. If anyone have plans, then they can try this as well. But this will consume more KM.

Came back via Thanjavur. Kumbakonam to Thanjavur is very bad with uneven surfaces. There are pot holes as well.

From Thanjavur - Chennai, took Thiruvairu -Ariyalur-Perambalur-chennai which is also good and more update on the Thanjavur-Chennai thread for easy ref.

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by RGK

Did a Chennai - Kumbakonam - Thanjavur - Chennai trip on Saturday/Sunday - 29th/30th.

Came back via Thanjavur. Kumbakonam to Thanjavur is very bad with uneven surfaces. There are pot holes as well.

From Thanjavur - Chennai, took Thiruvairu -Ariyalur-Perambalur-chennai which is also good and more update on the Thanjavur-Chennai thread for easy ref.

Sorry RGK to be too inquisitive, How good was the Thanjavur -thiruvaiyaru - Ariyalur route. When i had taken this route in 2010, it was horrible. the potholes were like in the surface of the moon because of the limestone trucks.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Sorry RGK to be too inquisitive, How good was the Thanjavur -thiruvaiyaru - Ariyalur route. When i had taken this route in 2010, it was horrible. the potholes were like in the surface of the moon because of the limestone trucks.

Oh, To my surprise it was good except 10 km after Pazhuvur and the last 5 km before Perambalur. Definitely it is worth doing and preferred for day driving.

Trichy Bye pass can be opted for high speed travel and this one for scenic and exploring.

Updated the Thanjavur thread below.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3003638

[polopm]

Did a quick trip to Kumbakonam - Govindapuram for Pongal.
Got adventurous and did the Jayamkondam - Neerathanallur - Kumbakonam Byepass and paid for it, the road is not good with lots of potholes and small villages. Ideal for cases when Anakarai Police Beat has failed !
Return was thru Anakarai (thanks to the cops ), travel was very smooth. Did the Neyveli route as suggested and it is not that bad. Yes, the potholes are there, but you can navigate by driving slowly and it does save the 35 odd KMs when compared to smooth Virudhachalam road

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

Did a quick trip to Kumbakonam - Govindapuram for Pongal.

So its status quo! How is Vridhachalam-Jayamkondam? Is it any good?
Or it make sense to go to Sethiarthope and come to Vridhachalam.

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ampere

So its status quo! How is Vridhachalam-Jayamkondam? Is it any good?
Or it make sense to go to Sethiarthope and come to Vridhachalam.

Road is very good, no need for the detour.

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ampere

So its status quo! How is Vridhachalam-Jayamkondam? Is it any good?
Or it make sense to go to Sethiarthope and come to Vridhachalam.

A panorama shot of the road stretch (Virudhachalam to Jayamkondan) - it was lovely with crops ready for harvest and those which will be ready in a month or so !

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

A panorama shot of the road stretch (Virudhachalam to Jayamkondan) - it was lovely with crops ready for harvest and those which will be ready in a month or so !

Wow! Amazing SH there! That would have been a brilliant drive between the two towns. TN sure does not disappoint in terms of roads!

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by polopm

A panorama shot of the road stretch (Virudhachalam to Jayamkondan) - it was lovely with crops ready for harvest and those which will be ready in a month or so !

wow. excellent snap. thanks polopm. what were the travel times? were you able to save some in the regular neyveli route when compared with the jayamkondam route?