Journey To Dindigul, Madurai And Rameswaram

Majic · 17th December 2009, 09:00

Thanks Navan Sir and Surprise, actually my sister and family are planning to come to Kerala by car and for a change they want to to do this route. Thanks for the timing and distance also

ssengo · 17th December 2009, 09:48

Navan Sir, you should have posted a nice pic of your Ritz taken during your drive. Can't wait to see it

gajadonga · 17th December 2009, 10:55

Planning a trip to Achankovil and from there to Sabari in March will be travelling through Salem.Is it advisable to travel via Batlagundu-Usilampatti-Rajapalayam or Bypass Madurai via Tirumangalam and reach Tenkasi.Thanks in advance.

navan49 · 17th December 2009, 22:28

Hi ssengo,

People might get bored up if I put my Ritz every where. If you wish please check RITZ VDI ABS Silky Silver 6500 thread there it is. It was there as my avatar for some time ok to day I will put it in avatar. I have attached to show a small scratch in Funny Guru's or the Racing Green Ritz thread too. Any how nice to have you in Rameswaram.

navan49 · 17th December 2009, 23:32

In this thread I mentioned about the MASS poor Car wash and cleaning in Madurai. When the service people called and asked about the service quality I reported the same horrible service. To day the MASS people called me and asked to cancel the complain and during my next visit they promised to do the best water service at free of cost. Just keep it in mind to fix your Service Center be bold to tell what you felt about their work. My Chennai MASS(MSM) quality is great in comparison with them.

cLJ · 18th December 2009, 20:53

What is the difference in distance from Trichy to Madurai by NH 45A & 45B and how is the road condition. Last time (May 2009) I used the Dindigul road to Trichy, but the road was not in a good condition with lot of potholes, though the traffic was very minimal.

I am planning to travel to Kanyakumary while coming back from Nagapattinam in next January. I will not stop in Madurai and directly proceed to Kanyakumary.

navan49 · 18th December 2009, 22:19

Hi CLJ,

The road to Madurai via Viralimalai, Melur is superb. Far better than Trichy Dindigul road. You follow the High way and ring road (bypassing Madurai) with 35 Rs toll. After the flyover before Tirumangalam follow the new 4 lane road and by pass tirumangalam also and go through Virudhunagar. It is almost 30kms shorter than Dindigul road. Unless you have some work trichy Dindigul road is waste.

hvkumar · 18th December 2009, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by navan49

Hi CLJ,

The road to Madurai via Viralimalai, Melur is superb. Far better than Trichy Dindigul road. You follow the High way and ring road (bypassing Madurai) with 35 Rs toll. After the flyover before Tirumangalam follow the new 4 lane road and by pass tirumangalam also and go through Virudhunagar. It is almost 30kms shorter than Dindigul road. Unless you have some work trichy Dindigul road is waste.

Where does the old Madurai bypass road connect with the new 4-lane road? After Madurai city just before Tirumangalam?

navan49 · 18th December 2009, 22:41

Hi HVK,

You are right just before Tirumangalam after Kappalur and from that ring road fly over. Just climbdown the fly over and climb up the other new one you will be on Tirumangalam bye pass. But remember those who wants to go to Kalluppatty, Srivi, Rajapalayam, Shengottah should take the left side of the new flyover and go to Tirumangalam and as usual you have to take a right turn after Tirumangalam.

hvkumar · 18th December 2009, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by navan49

Hi HVK,

You are right just before Tirumangalam after Kappalur and from that ring road fly over. Just climbdown the fly over and climb up the other new one you will be on Tirumangalam bye pass. But remember those who wants to go to Kalluppatty, Srivi, Rajapalayam, Shengottah should take the left side of the new flyover and go to Tirumangalam and as usual you have to take a right turn after Tirumangalam.

Thanks for this info.
But I think first you have the left turn into Tirumangalam town, then 1 km further down you have a flyover where you go under and take a right to Rajapalayam. I noted in my log book these 2 points when I drove from Kumili to Madurai last month. Any pointers?

Unfortunately, when you come on the NH49 from Thekkady/Theni side, you have to take the old Madurai (bypass?) via Hotel Best Western Germanus to join the new 4-laner.

navan49 · 18th December 2009, 23:21

Hi HVk,

You are right on the right turn after Tirumangalam to Rajapalayam under the over bridge. The road above is the Virudhunagar road comes straight from the 4 lane. Now you don't have to go to the old bypass via Germanus and Jumbo bells. You can go on the new 4 lane Dindigul road and take diversion just before university from the Samayanallur four lane.

csateesh · 3rd January 2010, 09:18

The toll roads actually make life a breeze. I had to drive to Trichy from Chennai on 30-Dec-09.

Took the toll road from NH 4 to Tambaram and the drive just took 18 mins

The good thing is the fact that this toll enters the NH 45 toll road. Yay..

But there is quite a lot of traffic till (Mel Maruvathur temple) and hence cannot average more than 60kmph for that stretch.

After that it is a breeze. The toll after Samayapuram isn't operational yet. The last 5 kms is really bad but I guess the wait will probably be worth it.

Took a break at A2B on NH 45.

Was able to cover the distance is less than 5 1/2 hours.

The toll roads have made travel in India such a breeze without compromising safety.

Cheers

Sateesh

mjothi · 3rd January 2010, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by csateesh

But there is quite a lot of traffic till (Mel Maruvathur temple) and hence cannot average more than 60kmph for that stretch.

Yes, seems some festival season. I saw bunch of buses full of Red uniforms. So, [28th Dec] when I went to Dindivanam, I took the Utiramerur - vandavasi and went. Roads are not so god as toll, but good for driving around 60-70kmph.

Quote:

Originally Posted by csateesh

The toll roads have made travel in India such a breeze without compromising safety.

Sir, imagine all NH are converted to Toll. Then we are left with no options. Forget us. Imagine our truck and containers carrying food items.

Either way, we pay for toll.

navan49 · 3rd January 2010, 10:07

Hi Mjothi &Csatheesh,

You are right. This is the pilgrim season. The continuos holidays, week end Vaikunda Ekadasi, New Year, Arudra Dharshan. Also the Melmaruvathur varavazhipattu mandrams go there for new year. So if you wish to travel during end of the year and Pongal serason be prepared for the traffic congestion. Of course toll is high but for the price we do enjoy the nice road. The toll upto Madurai comes 285.

gopikb · 8th January 2010, 10:38

hvkumar, you were enquiring about the Tuticorin - Rameswaram East coast road before. I did this route on 28-Dec-09. This road is pure pleasure to drive as of now. Very less traffic. Infact the number of cows and sheeps on this road out numbers the vehicles traveling. The road goes and joins Ramanathapuram and from there it is the regular route to Rameswaram as you take when you drive from Madurai. The tuticorin - Ramanathapuram stretch can be easily done in 2 hours flat. The old road used to take between 31/2 - 4 hours.

I was expecting the sea to be seen while driving. But it was not so. Only at a few places we can see the ocean at a distance. Otherwise the road is away from the coast. My brother in law traveled all the way to Chidambaram on this road and joined us at Rameswaram on the way back. He also said the road is too good as it is new. You can probably do a Chennai-Tuticorin drive on the coastal road next.

The bypass road at Ramanathapuram is still under construction. Hence you dont have a choice but to drive through Ramnad.

17th December 2009, 09:00	#46
Majic BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kottayam Posts: 588 Thanked: 8 Times	Thanks Navan Sir and Surprise, actually my sister and family are planning to come to Kerala by car and for a change they want to to do this route. Thanks for the timing and distance also
	() Thanks

17th December 2009, 09:48	#47
ssengo BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 149 Thanked: 37 Times	Navan Sir, you should have posted a nice pic of your Ritz taken during your drive. Can't wait to see it
	() Thanks

17th December 2009, 10:55	#48
gajadonga Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,045 Thanked: 458 Times	Planning a trip to Achankovil and from there to Sabari in March will be travelling through Salem.Is it advisable to travel via Batlagundu-Usilampatti-Rajapalayam or Bypass Madurai via Tirumangalam and reach Tenkasi.Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

17th December 2009, 22:28	#49
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi ssengo, People might get bored up if I put my Ritz every where. If you wish please check RITZ VDI ABS Silky Silver 6500 thread there it is. It was there as my avatar for some time ok to day I will put it in avatar. I have attached to show a small scratch in Funny Guru's or the Racing Green Ritz thread too. Any how nice to have you in Rameswaram.
	() Thanks

17th December 2009, 23:32	#50
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	In this thread I mentioned about the MASS poor Car wash and cleaning in Madurai. When the service people called and asked about the service quality I reported the same horrible service. To day the MASS people called me and asked to cancel the complain and during my next visit they promised to do the best water service at free of cost. Just keep it in mind to fix your Service Center be bold to tell what you felt about their work. My Chennai MASS(MSM) quality is great in comparison with them.
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 20:53	#51
cLJ BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Thrissur Posts: 109 Thanked: 3 Times	What is the difference in distance from Trichy to Madurai by NH 45A & 45B and how is the road condition. Last time (May 2009) I used the Dindigul road to Trichy, but the road was not in a good condition with lot of potholes, though the traffic was very minimal. I am planning to travel to Kanyakumary while coming back from Nagapattinam in next January. I will not stop in Madurai and directly proceed to Kanyakumary.
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 22:19	#52
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi CLJ, The road to Madurai via Viralimalai, Melur is superb. Far better than Trichy Dindigul road. You follow the High way and ring road (bypassing Madurai) with 35 Rs toll. After the flyover before Tirumangalam follow the new 4 lane road and by pass tirumangalam also and go through Virudhunagar. It is almost 30kms shorter than Dindigul road. Unless you have some work trichy Dindigul road is waste.
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 22:41	#54
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi HVK, You are right just before Tirumangalam after Kappalur and from that ring road fly over. Just climbdown the fly over and climb up the other new one you will be on Tirumangalam bye pass. But remember those who wants to go to Kalluppatty, Srivi, Rajapalayam, Shengottah should take the left side of the new flyover and go to Tirumangalam and as usual you have to take a right turn after Tirumangalam.
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 23:21	#56
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi HVk, You are right on the right turn after Tirumangalam to Rajapalayam under the over bridge. The road above is the Virudhunagar road comes straight from the 4 lane. Now you don't have to go to the old bypass via Germanus and Jumbo bells. You can go on the new 4 lane Dindigul road and take diversion just before university from the Samayanallur four lane.
	() Thanks

3rd January 2010, 09:18	#57
csateesh BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 551 Thanked: 168 Times View My Garage	Sharing the chennai - Trichy route details The toll roads actually make life a breeze. I had to drive to Trichy from Chennai on 30-Dec-09. Took the toll road from NH 4 to Tambaram and the drive just took 18 mins The good thing is the fact that this toll enters the NH 45 toll road. Yay.. But there is quite a lot of traffic till (Mel Maruvathur temple) and hence cannot average more than 60kmph for that stretch. After that it is a breeze. The toll after Samayapuram isn't operational yet. The last 5 kms is really bad but I guess the wait will probably be worth it. Took a break at A2B on NH 45. Was able to cover the distance is less than 5 1/2 hours. The toll roads have made travel in India such a breeze without compromising safety. Cheers Sateesh
	() Thanks

3rd January 2010, 10:07	#59
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi Mjothi &Csatheesh, You are right. This is the pilgrim season. The continuos holidays, week end Vaikunda Ekadasi, New Year, Arudra Dharshan. Also the Melmaruvathur varavazhipattu mandrams go there for new year. So if you wish to travel during end of the year and Pongal serason be prepared for the traffic congestion. Of course toll is high but for the price we do enjoy the nice road. The toll upto Madurai comes 285.
	() Thanks

8th January 2010, 10:38	#60
gopikb BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 554 Thanked: 390 Times	hvkumar, you were enquiring about the Tuticorin - Rameswaram East coast road before. I did this route on 28-Dec-09. This road is pure pleasure to drive as of now. Very less traffic. Infact the number of cows and sheeps on this road out numbers the vehicles traveling. The road goes and joins Ramanathapuram and from there it is the regular route to Rameswaram as you take when you drive from Madurai. The tuticorin - Ramanathapuram stretch can be easily done in 2 hours flat. The old road used to take between 31/2 - 4 hours. I was expecting the sea to be seen while driving. But it was not so. Only at a few places we can see the ocean at a distance. Otherwise the road is away from the coast. My brother in law traveled all the way to Chidambaram on this road and joined us at Rameswaram on the way back. He also said the road is too good as it is new. You can probably do a Chennai-Tuticorin drive on the coastal road next. The bypass road at Ramanathapuram is still under construction. Hence you dont have a choice but to drive through Ramnad.
	() Thanks