[saugdas]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Check out the MMI latest version 5.0, it has the correct ECR route now.

You do not have to enter Tuticorin city to go to Tiruchendur or Tirunelveli, simply continue on ECR on the Tuticorin bypass.

Happy to hear that Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli road is good. You could have taken a shorter route by going directly to Valliyoor on NH7 south of Tirunelveli.

@ HVK : I think i have the latest version 5.0 because i bought it just 3 months back. And if I am not wrong, it did give the first option as ECR from Ramanathapuram itself. I guess the ECR starts some where after crossing ramanthanapuram from Rmasehwaram side? But i was told by my hotel to take the keelakarai route just before entering the Ramanathapuram main city (left from the Rly crossing) since it will save time of crossing the city and also some kms. That is the reason i changed the route via this point. But except the first ~40 kms, rest was good and i guess this was when i joined the ECR again. But interestingly only once or twice it showed ECR on my MMI and the rest of the time it was showing SH and unknown roads.. But the road qlty was excellent till tuticorin.

At tuticorin i actually entered the bypass disobeying my MMI and went for 1/2 kms. Then it recalculated and showed me the distance increased by 10kms. I thought i might have to enter the city anyway because i knew there will be road change here. Coupled with fact that we were looking for a hotel for lunch - led me make a wrong judgement and we turned back to catch the original MMI direction to enter the city.

Yes, i did enter the NH7 by the route you mentioned. The MMI did not show this part of NH7 but it was telling me to enter the city and then take the left for NH7 a few kms ahead. When i saw the flyover and the big wide road i guessed it must be the new bypass for NH7 and stopped and enquired. And i was right. It did save me some more time.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by saugdas

@ HVK : I think i have the latest version 5.0 because i bought it just 3 months back.

The latest version 5 uses the data on the ECR that I had shared with MMI and I recall seeing that it had the correct roads. But I suspect it must have calculated the shortest/optimal route which gave wrong results. Earlier versions did not have the proper ECR south of Ramanathapuram.

I guess the ECR starts some where after crossing ramanthanapuram from Rmasehwaram side? But i was told by my hotel to take the keelakarai route just before entering the Ramanathapuram main city (left from the Rly crossing) since it will save time of crossing the city and also some kms. That is the reason i changed the route via this point.

Your hotel guy is right. The Ramanthapuram bypass on ECR comes before you enter Ramanathapuram city (when coming from Rameswaram side, 51 kms from Rameswaram, 4 kms before Ramanathapuram), and you turn left (south) to go via Kizhakarai to Tuticorin. Kizhakarai is just 15 kms from Ramanthapuram bypass. However, when I went on that route, the rail crossing overbridge was incomplete although there was a dirt track parallel to the bridge under construction.

At tuticorin i actually entered the bypass disobeying my MMI and went for 1/2 kms.

Bad decision, Tuticorin town has been known to frustrate many! Had you continued on the bypass, you would have intersected and taken a left turn to go towards Tuticorin Port/Tiruchendur via the Sterlite plant.

Originally Posted by saugdas

I think i have the latest version 5.0 because i bought it just 3 months back.

MMI has already introduced version 6.0 maps. Please see this link:

MapmyIndia Navigator Map Upgrades For GPS Devices In India | GPS Navigation

[saugdas]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

The latest version 5 uses the data on the ECR that I had shared with MMI and I recall seeing that it had the correct roads. But I suspect it must have calculated the shortest/optimal route which gave wrong results. Earlier versions did not have the proper ECR south of Ramanathapuram.


Your hotel guy is right. The Ramanthapuram bypass on ECR comes before you enter Ramanathapuram city (when coming from Rameswaram side, 51 kms from Rameswaram, 4 kms before Ramanathapuram), and you turn left (south) to go via Kizhakarai to Tuticorin. Kizhakarai is just 15 kms from Ramanthapuram bypass. However, when I went on that route, the rail crossing overbridge was incomplete although there was a dirt track parallel to the bridge under construction.

good to hear that we are using your data thru MMI.
The Ramanathapuram bypass is yet to be opened. I had to enter further 2 kms into the city and then cross the railway track to the left. yes, i crossed the other end of the bypass again on the keelakarai route. So this is the ECR then. But why was it not showing properly don't know.

[saugdas]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

MMI has already introduced version 6.0 maps. Please see this link:

MapmyIndia Navigator Map Upgrades For GPS Devices In India | GPS Navigation

Thank you Raviji for the info. Yes, an update is required for the maps i see since i like to travel quite often. But they should have been giving a free update for customers 3months old! Or else i will wait for another revsion since there are a lot of roads nearing final stages in TN.

[narayans80]

I was told by my friend about a good restaurant after leaving the NH45B. And that was the reason we did not stop at the 'Ghar' just before the NH45B 4 lane part ended in Madurai (it was on the opp side). But could not find any. I don't think we missed it because all of us were looking for one. Maybe i was guided by my MMI thru some other alternate short cuts there

saugdas, for the Ashok Bhavan hotel i am mentioning you have to go past bypass. Its inside the Madurai Mattuthavani bus stand

But i was told by my hotel to take the keelakarai route just before entering the Ramanathapuram main city (left from the Rly crossing)

What you did is correct. You have to take that railway crossing to get into ECR if the bypass is not complete.

[paharino1]

From Rameswaram to Trichy - Is the Rameswaram - Madurai - Dindigul - Trichy route the best or is there any alternate route suggested ?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by paharino1

From Rameswaram to Trichy - Is the Rameswaram - Madurai - Dindigul - Trichy route the best or is there any alternate route suggested ?

There are alternate routes but would reccomend you stick to the Rameswaram-Madurai-Trichy route instead of the one via Pudukottai and Karaikudi which has been traditionally bad and is two laned.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paharino1

From Rameswaram to Trichy - Is the Rameswaram - Madurai - Dindigul - Trichy route the best or is there any alternate route suggested ?

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

There are alternate routes but would reccomend you stick to the Rameswaram-Madurai-Trichy route instead of the one via Pudukottai and Karaikudi which has been traditionally bad and is two laned.

The best route is :

Rameshwaram-Ramnad-Paramakudi-Illayangudi-Sivagangai-Melur-Trichy.

Route Link

[swiftdiesel]

Did Chennai - Rameswaram last week and here is a route update.

Onward journey: Chennai - Trichy - Kottampatti - Singamapunari - Thirupathur - Karaikudi - Thiruvadanai - Thondi - Ramnad by pass - Rameswaram.

Upto Trichy its NH45, continue after Trichy on Madurai highway and take detour at Natham - Thirupathur SH35. This left turn is easy to miss at speed, so slow down. The turn will be signposted as Kottampatti with a left turn. The benefit of this route is it helps avoid toll booth before Melur and also saves considerable distance. Roads are good till Thiruvadanai. Just wanted to check Thiruvadanai - Thondi route to touch ECR at Thondi. Thiruvadanai - Thondi route is terrible and best avoided although after Thondi, the ECR is excellent.

Return journey: Rameswaram - Ramnad by pass - RS Mangalam - Devakottai - Thirupathur - Singamapunari - Kottampatti - Trichy - Chennai.

Did the return journey on the usual route till Thirupathur. Excellent roads. From Thirupathur I took the same detour to Singamapunari instead of Melur. Good roads again. After Kottampatti this road joins the NH45 Madurai-Trichy highway.

Here is the route link Trichy - Singampunari route link

[ampere]

Originally Posted by swiftdiesel

The benefit of this route is it helps avoid toll booth before Melur and also saves considerable distance.
Roads are good till Thiruvadanai. Just wanted to check Thiruvadanai - Thondi route to touch ECR at Thondi. Thiruvadanai - Thondi
route is terrible and best avoided although after Thondi, the ECR is excellent.

Apart from the toll as how would you compare this to the usual:
Melur-Sivagangai-Illayanagudi-Paramakudi-Ramnad option ?
That I thought was a much better option. Hence the querry.

[swiftdiesel]

Originally Posted by ampere

Apart from the toll as how would you compare this to the usual:
Melur-Sivagangai-Illayanagudi-Paramakudi-Ramnad option ?
That I thought was a much better option. Hence the querry.

The route that you've quoted is equally good. I haven't been on that route myself but I enquired with my people down there. It's just that when you avoid Melur, you save considerable distance, time and money (toll booth).

[TPaulV]

Dear All,

Planning a family drive with kids from Kanyakumari to Velankanni. Google maps is suggesting to go along ECR via Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Athiyuthu, Thondi.

I was thinking of taking a route that has maximum four lane roads to drive fast and comfortably. Will it be good to take the Tirunelveli, Madurai, Dindigul, Trichy, Thanjavur route? Or will it result in much more travel time?

Or is there any other better route?

Thanks!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by TPaulV

I was thinking of taking a route that has maximum four lane roads to drive fast and comfortably. Will it be good to take the Tirunelveli, Madurai, Dindigul, Trichy, Thanjavur route? Or will it result in much more travel time?

Kanyakumari - Madurai - Malur - Aranthangi - Adirampatnam - Velankanni

That would a better option.

[TPaulV]

Originally Posted by ampere

Kanyakumari - Madurai - Malur - Aranthangi - Adirampatnam - Velankanni

That would a better option.

After Melur, does this route have four-lane roads? Or is the traffic not much so that we can drive comfortably?