Team-BHP - Dhanushkodi: Still open to tourists? EDIT: New 9.5 km stretch now opened for traffic!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsyFreak (Post 3937528)

There is no restriction for private vehicles. But you would need to inform at the police check post before taking your vehicle.

When did you visit the place? Because in December 2015, I was not allowed past the police check post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NPV (Post 3937207)

I don't think there is any restriction on private vehicles driving on the ruts/sand.
Remembered our own forum member @ajithkumarlb had taken his Scorpio automatic 4x4 to Dhanushkodi, see his post - here
Also remember reading in another thread that the road is being extended further in towards lands end and about 4-5 Km of it is ready - details here

When I went there sometime mid 2015, the road was almost done. I think the road will be inaugurated soon but you will lose the fun of riding/driving through the sand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsyFreak (Post 3937528)

There is no restriction for private vehicles. But you would need to inform at the police check post before taking your vehicle.
It is advisable to take a local as a guide with you, as it can get quite tricky sometimes.
Last year, I had taken my Scorpio 4WD to land's end. It was me, my wife, my mom and a localite. Although I felt there was no need for 4WD, but to be safe I drove in 4H all along...
Do let me know if you are interested, I can share the contact.

True! having a localite will help. Else take the path taken by the other 4x4 to be on the safe side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divya Sharan (Post 3937541)

When did you visit the place? Because in December 2015, I was not allowed past the police check post.

I went in Jan 2015. I had a local to accompany me. The 4x4 route is before the police checkpost.
Maybe having local support helped us.

Any latest updates on Dhanushkodi?

A biking trip is on cards for September second weekend from Kochi. Below is the high-level plan.

Day 1 : Kochi - Mundakkayam - Kumily - Theni - Madurai (294KMs)
Day 2 : Madurai - Rameswaram - Dhanushkodi (207KMs)
Day 3 : Dhanushkodi - Tirunelveli (227KMs)
Day 4 : Tirunelveli - Courtrallam - Punalur - Ranni - Kuravilangad - Kochi (286KMs)

Trip was spread across 4 days since accompanied by pillion and therefore not more than 5-6 hours of riding. Also to cover the places in a relaxed pace.

Madurai - Rameswaram - Dhanushkodi and Rameswaram- Tirunelveli is totally new for me and hence requesting support from you guys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacs (Post 4036060)

Any latest updates on Dhanushkodi?

I'm not aware of latest road conditions but Madurai-Ramanathapuram-Rameswaram has been good mostly.
Kochi-Madurai can be done completely on NH 49 but google suggests an alternative via Rajakumari to rejoin NH 49 later. I'm not too sure about the route options for this segment.

Depending on where you're staying at Madurai, get onto the Madurai airport ring road for Madurai-Rameswaram (Kappalur road) and then take the exit towards NH 49 towards Ramanthapuram. At Ramanathapuram go towards Rameswaram (the other road at the big junction near bus stand is for ECR towards Tuticorin) and you will reach near Pamban Bridge, again I think the roads are just fine.

Dhanuskodi is just about 20Km from Rameswaran and road was good, it is now getting extended more towards lands end and last I heard just a few Km left for work to complete. :)

For Dhanushkodi-Tirunelveli -> Get back to Rameswaram and then Ramanathapuram. From there you can take ECR and go via Tuticorin to reach Tirunelveli.

Ride safe, have fun :thumbs up

*ECR is a treat to drive on, am sure bikers love it too!

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.Ravi (Post 4082061)

Take the route via Paramakudi.

Planning for a Dhanushkodi trip over the weekend (starting on Saturday 3AM), and have decided to take Bangalore- Salem- Dindigul- Madurai- Rameshwaram Route. Can some one throw some light on the road condition from Dindigul- Madura- Rameshwaram?

post that will head to Velankanni and stay there on Saturday and will return back to Bangalore on Sunday.

Awaiting inputs on the stretches by recent travellers please:please:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibin (Post 4137924)

You can check my post in the below thread, I took this same route couple of months back.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post4085920

Quote:

Originally Posted by arun_josie (Post 4137928)

You can check my post in the below thread, I took this same route couple of months back.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ml#post4085920

Thank a lot!!

Hope will get some good seafood eateries near Dhanushkodi/ Rameshwaram on Saturdays?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibin (Post 4137942)

Thank a lot!!

Hope will get some good seafood eateries near Dhanushkodi/ Rameshwaram on Saturdays?

You should be able find in Rameshwaram. We went on diwali day, so most of the hotels were closed.
You can check the below link,
https://seafood-restaurants.cybo.com...d-restaurants/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibin (Post 4137924)

I drove in same route last weekend (25-Jan-2017 to 28-Jan-2017) to Rameswaram. (not Dhanushkodi).
No issues/complaints about roads till Madurai. They are as usual excellent NH7 roads.
Road updates between Madurai to Rameswaram.
In Madurai - Maana Madurai-Paramakudi stretch, road construction is going on actively. It is a mix of good roads and some bad roads with lot of diversions. You can do average speeds because of high traffic and under construction roads. But highly NOT recommended to drive currently after 6 pm. It is indeed dangerous. Beyond Paramakudi, the road conditions improve a bit till Ramanathapuram/Ramnad, but still some places the road construction is going on. Ramnad-Pamban-Rameswaram, excellent roads.

You can budget for 3.5 hours driving time for best case and 4+ hours for heavy traffic conditions.

-Ravi

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravib (Post 4138167)

I ll mostly be covering the post Madura stretch in the morning 8AM , so I expect some descent traffic on the road . Anyways thanks on that road update.

:thumbs up

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bibin (Post 4138172)

I ll mostly be covering the post Madura stretch in the morning 8AM , so I expect some descent traffic on the road . Anyways thanks on that road update.

:thumbs up

I started at same time around 8ish in the morning after breakfast. The first 50 kms are very heavy in traffic, so slows you down.
BTW, except for some tea stop, there are no decent restaurants on the way till Rameswaram. I saw one name as Annapoorani or so between Maana Madurai to Paramakudi in left side, but couldn't stop because it was raining very heavily.

I was stuck in Pamban bridge for 1 hour last weekend due to heavy rains and therefore minor accident and idiotic drivers occupying both the lanes without leaving any space/allowing opposite direction traffic. Few police men and voluteers inspite of heavy rains, got down and regulated the traffic.

Just check the weather forecast before you travel.

-Ravi