[polopm]

Folks
Am planning for a Pongal Holiday trip to Kumbakonam(KMU) from Chennai:
The routes available are;
1. ECR-Chidambaram-Mayiladuthurai-KMU
2. NH45 till Vikravandi, then onto Panruti, Vadalur, Anaikarai, KMU
3. NH45 till Ulundurpet(bypass) , take the SH69 to Virudachalam, SH141/140 via Andimadam to jayankonam, turn left to Gangaikonda cholapuram and then on the NH45C till KMU

I heard that the roads in the area are damaged badly after rains. I travelled via opt#3.... 2 years back and the road was butter smooth for most of the time.
Not sure now..Need some gyan here !!! If there is any other option as well, please let me know !
Btw, I will be travelling by new Vento TDi. A longer but enjoyable route is fine by me

Cheers!

[polopm]

Ok, will answer it myself after commuting this last weekend !
Onward thru option#3 - , the only bad stretch is between Ulundurpet to Virudhachalam, 2/3 gear territory
Return thru Chidambaram-Cuddalore-Pondy-Thindivanam-Thambaram

Pondy to Thindivanam was super cool !

[ampere]

I am assuming while returning, you took the road via Mayavaram-Sirkazi.
How is the road status till Chidambaram?

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ampere

I am assuming while returning, you took the road via Mayavaram-Sirkazi.
How is the road status till Chidambaram?

Yes, did that route only.. Road is so-so you do have potholes here and there, Sirgazhi byepass was closed halfway and had to take a right turn into town, there was a nasty stretch near the railway station to get back to the byepass.
Chidambaram byepass is good.

Cheers !

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

Yes, did that route only.. Road is so-so you do have potholes here and there, Sirgazhi byepass was closed halfway and had to take a right turn into town, there was a nasty stretch near the railway station to get back to the byepass.
Chidambaram byepass is good.

Cheers !

Thanks. Thats the problem with that route. Lot of folks on the road. Becomes very difficult to drive. I found even Kumbakonam-Mayavaram itself to be dense both from a traffic and from a population standpoint.

I am also not sure if there is any plan to 4-Lane 45C. Else that would have been a perfect return option.

[magnanimousdude]

Guys,

Could you please update the Road Condition from Pondy -Cuddalore - Chidambram. As i suspect that the recent rain destroyed it.

I am Planning to have a trip from chennai to omampuliyur. I wanted to take the route of Chennai - Pondy -Cuddalore - Chidambram - omampuliyur.

I know that Chennai - Pondy is awesome route how about the route NH45A between Pondy -Cuddalore - Chidambram. As i suspect the recent rain destroyed it!!!!

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by magnanimousdude

Guys,

Could you please update the Road Condition from Pondy -Cuddalore - Chidambram. As i suspect that the recent rain destroyed it.

No problem with this road after the rains, conditions are fine.

[Gansan]

I took the NH45-Panruti-Neyveli-Sethiathope route to dash to Sirkali and back on Republic day. The road once you leave the NH45 is pretty bad at places, especially till you cross Panruti. Fortunately we had hired a Traveler and did not take our cars.

[polopm]

The NH45-Panruti-Neyveli-Sethiathope route is damaged after rains every year ...probably due to proximity to canals and water bodies and the soil does not hold on.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by polopm

The NH45-Panruti-Neyveli-Sethiathope route is damaged after rains every year ...probably due to proximity to canals and water bodies and the soil does not hold on.

Then looks like a weekend getaway to Tranqbar will have its own share of troubles. Need to watch out on updates to this stretch.

[polopm]

Update: Anakarai bridge is closed for some time(few weeks?) for repair works. I will post more updates once I get some more info.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by polopm

Update: Anakarai bridge is closed for some time(few weeks?) for repair works. I will post more updates once I get some more info.

When you meant closed, is it closed completely?
The last i remember is that it was closed for Heavy vehicles, but cars and smaller vehicles were allowed.

Can you clarify what you meant by closed?

-Ravi

[ramanan.skr]

Originally Posted by polopm

Folks
Am planning for a Pongal Holiday trip to Kumbakonam(KMU) from Chennai:
The routes available are;
1. ECR-Chidambaram-Mayiladuthurai-KMU
2. NH45 till Vikravandi, then onto Panruti, Vadalur, Anaikarai, KMU
3. NH45 till Ulundurpet(bypass) , take the SH69 to Virudachalam, SH141/140 via Andimadam to jayankonam, turn left to Gangaikonda cholapuram and then on the NH45C till KMU

Is there a direct route from Jayamkondan to kumbakonam apart from going through Gangaikondan & Anaikarai? Mapmyindia shows a direct route from Jayamkondan to kumbakonam whereas the same is not present in GMaps.

Jayamkondan to Kumbakonam

Jayamkondan to Kumbakonam Via Anakarai

[ampere]

I could not spot this road neither in Google nor in Satguide. But MMI maps show this. If you note MMI says its 45C, which I think is not correct, as 45C will go to Neyveli. At least from that logic, I don think its right.

Need to confirm though.

[polopm]

Originally Posted by ravib

When you meant closed, is it closed completely?
The last i remember is that it was closed for Heavy vehicles, but cars and smaller vehicles were allowed.

Can you clarify what you meant by closed?

-Ravi

It is fully closed . Got the info for some cab drivers who frequent that area.
Will get an update before weekend and will post.

Cheers.