[omatunto]

I am planning to drive down to Chidambaram this weekend. I was suggested the following route.

Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Salem - Attur - Chinna Salem- Sethiathoppe - Chidambaram

Anyone traveled lately on this route, kindly update.

1. Does this route have potholes, like Thiruvanamalai route?
2. What is the distance I need to cover in this route?
3. On an early morning drive, what is the average time one can expect to cover?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by omatunto

I am planning to drive down to Chidambaram this weekend. I was suggested the following route.

Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Salem - Attur - Chinna Salem- Sethiathoppe - Chidambaram

Anyone traveled lately on this route, kindly update.

This is the best posssible route. But get out of the 4L at Chinnasalem.
Go all the way till Ulundurpet. Take the bypass towards Trichy. And further down you exit from GST (Chennai-Trichy 4l) for Vridhchalam.

Route Link

1. Does this route have potholes, like Thiruvanamalai route?
2. What is the distance I need to cover in this route?

Much better than Tiruvannamalai. 4-Lane to salem.
Some 2L road from Salem towards Attur. After than another beautiful 4L run till Ulundurpet.

3. On an early morning drive, what is the average time one can expect to cover?

If you start at 4AM, you should be Salem by 7 max. Another 2 hour to Ulundurpet. After breakfast if you start by 8 from Salem, you should in Ulundurpet by 10.
And then another 1 to 1.5 hours to Chidambaram (70km).

[omatunto]

Originally Posted by ampere

This is the best posssible route. But get out of the 4L at Chinnasalem.
Go all the way till Ulundurpet. Take the bypass towards Trichy. And further down you exit from GST (Chennai-Trichy 4l) for Vridhchalam.

Route Link


Much better than Tiruvannamalai. 4-Lane to salem.
Some 2L road from Salem towards Attur. After than another beautiful 4L run till Ulundurpet.

Is Chinnasalem->Kallakuruchi->Ulundurpet->Vridhchalam recommended because of the 4L?

Google map shows Chinnasalem->Nainarpalayam->Vridhchalam route as well. Though the difference in distance is only 4KM, is that also a 4L?

Your time-line matches with my expectations

[ampere]

Originally Posted by omatunto

Is Chinnasalem->Kallakuruchi->Ulundurpet->Vridhchalam recommended because of the 4L?

Google map shows Chinnasalem->Nainarpalayam->Vridhchalam route as well. Though the difference in distance is only 4KM, is that also a 4L?

Yes that's the only reason I suggested driving all the way up to Ulundurpet. You get 4-lane till there. The other section is not a 4-lane.
But since I have no idea about it, I did not suggest.

[sdp1975]

I will be visiting Chidambaram soon. While returning , I would like to visit Thiruvannamalai.

What would be the best route for Chidambaram->TVM->Bangalore. Want to avoid bad roads as much as possible.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

What would be the best route for Chidambaram->TVM->Bangalore. Want to avoid bad roads as much as possible.

Chidambaram-Sethiarthope-Vridhachalam-Uludurpet-Villupuram-Tiruvannmalai

Chidambaram-Tiruvannamalai


TV Malai - Bangalore : Haruru-Morrapur-Karimangalam-Krishnagiri-Bangalore

[sdp1975]

Where do I take the diversion at Salem ? Do I need to enter Salem town?

Are the signboards clear ?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

Where do I take the diversion at Salem ? Do I need to enter Salem town?

Are the signboards clear ?

Go along the bypass. It would do a full three-quarters of a circle around Salem and would take the road to Ulundurpet.

- First you would see Coibattore exit.
- Then Madurai exit.
- And finally the road to Ulundurpet.

Route link

[paharino1]

Originally Posted by ampere

Chidambaram-Sethiarthope-Vridhachalam-Uludurpet-Villupuram-Tiruvannmalai

TV Malai - Bangalore : Haruru-Morrapur-Karimangalam-Krishnagiri-Bangalore

Thanks for the route info.

Was planning Thanjavur - Chidambaram - Tiruvannmalai & back to Hyd.
Comments
- Confused about a good route from Thanjavur to Chidambaram
- Will follow the above route from Chidambaram - Tiruvannmalai
- I would think Tiruvannmalai - Bangalore - Hyd would be the fastest route back ?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by paharino1

Thanks for the route info.

Was planning Thanjavur - Chidambaram - Tiruvannmalai & back to Hyd.
Comments
- Confused about a good route from Thanjavur to Chidambaram
- Will follow the above route from Chidambaram - Tiruvannmalai
- I would think Tiruvannmalai - Bangalore - Hyd would be the fastest route back ?

I would suggest HYD-BLR-Harur-Karimangalam-TV Malai-Tanjore-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Sirkali-Chidambaram(enroute you could see the Vaitheeswaran Temple near Sirkali)

From Chidambaram,you can either take the NH5 and come via Chennai-Vijaywada-Hyd.The entire route is 4 laned till Hyderabad.Chennai-VJA:6hrs,VJA-HYD:3-4hrsChidambaram-Pondy-Chennai Ring Road-Puzhal:5hours

Else take Chidambaram-Pondy-Vandavasi-Kancheepuram-Nagari-Puttur-Tirupati-Kalahasti-Nayudupeta-NH5 to VJA if you do not want to touch Chennai at all.

Map from Chidambaram to Puzhal.

https://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr...sz=11&t=m&z=11

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paharino1

Was planning Thanjavur - Chidambaram - Tiruvannmalai & back to Hyd.
Comments
- Confused about a good route from Thanjavur to Chidambaram

+1 to Ranjit.
Go via Kumbakonam-Mayiladurthurai-Sirkazhi-Chidambaram

- Will follow the above route from Chidambaram - Tiruvannmalai

Chidambaram-Sethiyarthope-Vridhachalam-Ulundurpet-Villupuram-TV Malai

- I would think Tiruvannmalai - Bangalore - Hyd would be the fastest route back ?

Makes perfect sense.

[paharino1]

Not regarding the routes as such, but just read on the Chidambaram temple site of AARDHRA DHARSANA FESTIVAL from Dec 19 to 28. I would assume it would be very crowded during this period & best to avoid
Similarly for the Tiruvannmalai Temple - Dec 27 & 28 is Girivalam Day - ? I would assume it would be very crowded during this period & best to avoid ?

[soarer]

I am driving down to Chindambaram this week end ( 4 & 5 Jan 2014) from bangalore, would like to know the best possible route of the following three or if there is any other alternative route

1) Bangalore - Thiruvanamalai- Panurouti-chindambaram
2) Bangalore - Salem- Attur- sethiathoopu- chindambaram
3) Bangalore- kgiri-Harur-Thirukovilur-Panurouti-chindambaram

i would be travelling with 1.5 yrs old kid and wife..while going it will be night journey and coming back it will be day journey.

thanks in advance for your advice.

ps: also suggest me to avoid the attibele toll as last weekend i was stuck for 45 mins in the toll.

[Waxeloquent]

Originally Posted by soarer

I am driving down to Chindambaram this week end ( 4 & 5 Jan 2014) from bangalore, would like to know the best possible route of the following three or if there is any other alternative route 1) Bangalore - Thiruvanamalai- Panurouti-chindambaram 2) Bangalore - Salem- Attur- sethiathoopu- chindambaram 3) Bangalore- kgiri-Harur-Thirukovilur-Panurouti-chindambaram i would be travelling with 1.5 yrs old kid and wife..while going it will be night journey and coming back it will be day journey. thanks in advance for your advice. ps: also suggest me to avoid the attibele toll as last weekend i was stuck for 45 mins in the toll.

The first one probably is the shortest and probably the worst of the roads, particularly between Krishnagiri and T'malai. Considering that you are travelling with a child and in the night, I strongly recommend the second option via Salem, Attur...
The best way to avoid Attibele toll is to go via Sarjapura, bagalur, Hosur... I have not personally taken this route but there have been good inputs in other forums. Cheers

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by Waxeloquent

The first one probably is the shortest and probably the worst of the roads, particularly between Krishnagiri and T'malai. Considering that you are travelling with a child and in the night, I strongly recommend the second option via Salem, Attur... The best way to avoid Attibele toll is to go via Sarjapura, bagalur, Hosur... I have not personally taken this route but there have been good inputs in other forums. Cheers

I would never take this kind of off beat, ill lit road at night.
In the first place I would never risk my life and that of my family by driving at night. However, if circumstances so dictate that i have to drive at night, i would stick to the main highways and tollways because at least there are things like highway patrols etc.