[vartakavi]

Hi Friends.

I am driving this weekend from Hyderabad to Kodaikanal and back via different routes in Tamil Nadu and I would be thankful for your suggestions on the routes which have good road conditions - and of course, the sectors I should avoid.

1. Hyderabad - Anantapur - Madanapalle - Palamaner - Vellore - Tirvannamalai.
(I know the route up to Palamaner is good, but how about Vellore - Tiruvannamalai?)
2. Tiruvannamalai - Dindigul - Kodaikanal
3. Kodaikanal - Dindigul - Chidambaram
4. Chidambaram - Hyderabad
( Shortest route seems to be via Tirupati and Cuddapah, but I heard that road is under widening and there are too many diversions. It looks like I can either go from Chidambaram to Salem (route condition??) and then take NH7 all the way to Hyderabad. Another option seems to be from Chidambaram to Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Chittoor, Palamaner, Madanapalle, Anantapur, Hyderabad.

I usually drive max 8 hours and only in day time - so we may have to take two breaks from Chidambaram to Hyderabad. Grateful for any suggestions on interesting places to see enroute, if any.

[mjothi]

Originally Posted by vartakavi

2. Tiruvannamalai - Dindigul - Kodaikanal

I recently did this route, and hence responding about that segment's road condition.

I would prefer to reach Villupuram and reach Dindigul.
Vilupuram - Ulundurpet - Tiruchy - Dindigul - Kodai.

The roads till Dindigul are excellent, but expect diversions from there till kodai since there are road construction happening.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vartakavi

Hi Friends.
(I know the route up to Palamaner is good, but how about Vellore - Tiruvannamalai?)

Rough patches here and there. But more or less decent.

2. Tiruvannamalai - Dindigul - Kodaikanal

Originally Posted by mjothi

I recently did this route, and hence responding about that segment's road condition.
I would prefer to reach Villupuram and reach Dindigul.
Vilupuram - Ulundurpet - Tiruchy - Dindigul - Kodai.

An alternate option for this section:

Tiruvannamalai-Harur-Salem. These are SH and are very decent.Harur Tiruvannamalai is decent as per many who do BLR-TVMALAI.
Harur salem is very good. I was on this section at the year end. It also has a small ghat section through the Kalrayan forests.
This will end at Attur road. You get on to Salem bypass and the first exit is to towards Namakkal/Dindigul

This is strictly an alternate option, as the one via Ulundurpet is preferred due to 4-lane.

3. Kodaikanal - Dindigul - Chidambaram

Kodai-Dindigul-Trichy bypass-Vepur (on Chennai GQ) -Vridhachalam-Sethiyarthope-Chidambaram

4. Chidambaram - Hyderabad
( Shortest route seems to be via Tirupati and Cuddapah, but I heard that road is under widening and there are too many diversions.
It looks like I can either go from Chidambaram to Salem (route condition??) and then take NH7 all the way to Hyderabad.
Another option seems to be from Chidambaram to Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Chittoor, Palamaner, Madanapalle, Anantapur, Hyderabad.

Take the NH7. Break at Bangalore and drive the next day. Chidambaram-Vridhachalam-Ulundurpet-Salem-BLR-HYD

Originally Posted by vartakavi

Any idea how long it will take from Tiruvannamalai to Dindigul by the route you have indicated (at normal driving speeds 80 to 100 kms).

When you are on Dindigul-Trichy 4-lane, get into the bypass, go around through the bypass and drive towards Maduri. 10km further you will hit
Kodai road.

Also, is there a byepass that I can take to avoid Trichy?

I think there is a bypass for the city which should guide you to Dindigul road.

[vartakavi]

Thanks! Yes, three months ago, I did the Dindigul -Vattalagundu route and it was terrible. On our return journey, I came via Kodai Road and joined NH7 - may be 15 kms longer, but a much better alternative.

Any idea how long it will take from Tiruvannamalai to Dindigul by the route you have indicated (at normal driving speeds 80 to 100 kms).

Also, is there a byepass that I can take to avoid Trichy?

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by vartakavi

Thanks! Yes, three months ago, I did the Dindigul -Vattalagundu route and it was terrible. On our return journey, I came via Kodai Road and joined NH7 - may be 15 kms longer, but a much better alternative.

The road is still bad.We just got back from Kerala to Hyd via Kodai and we too took the Kodai Road-Nilakottai-Vathalangundu-Kodai route.Excellent roads through out.Kodai town roads have gone bad though.

[vartakavi]

Question on the Tiruvannamalai - Dindigul route:

I see what looks like a shorter route from Tiruvannamalai via Tirukkovilur and Asanur, that connects to NH 45 after Ulundurpet. Can anyone who has taken this route recently tell me whether its OK, because we can then visit the temple at Tirukkovilur enroute?

Also, is there a clear byepass on NH45 at Trichy? Which is the best way to avoid Trichy town (we will most probably pass by at mid-day). Any good places to have vegetarian lunch on the byepass?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vartakavi

Question on the Tiruvannamalai - Dindigul route:

I see what looks like a shorter route from Tiruvannamalai via Tirukkovilur and Asanur, that connects to NH 45 after Ulundurpet.
Can anyone who has taken this route recently tell me whether its OK, because we can then visit the temple at Tirukkovilur enroute?

I dont think you would save time. Thats because the faster you reach 4-lane quicker would be your commute time. So per me the best option
is to take the road to Villupuram. But if you want to visit Tirukkovilur temple, then thats a different proposition.

Also, is there a clear byepass on NH45 at Trichy? Which is the best way to avoid Trichy town (we will most probably pass by at mid-day).
Any good places to have vegetarian lunch on the byepass?

As I mentioned earlier, there is a bypass.

Attached is the link: Route Link

[vartakavi]

Thanks once again!

One more query - on the return leg I might need to touch Madanapalle for some work enroute to Hyderabad. In that case, the following route looks shortest:

Chidambaram - Villupuram - Gingee - Vellore - Chittoor - Madanapalle

Can anyone tell me how is this route? Or is there a better route from Chidambaram to Vellore?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by vartakavi

Chidambaram - Villupuram - Gingee - Vellore - Chittoor - Madanapalle

Can anyone tell me how is this route? Or is there a better route from Chidambaram to Vellore?

Chidambaram-Vridhachalam-Ulundurpet-Villupuram-Tindivanam-Vandavasi-Cheyyar-Arcot-Ranipet-Chitoor-Palamaner-Madanapalle.

Tindivanam-Arcot is a better routing rather than going via Gingee.

[hellmet]

What would be the best way to reach Kodaikanal by non-private transport (from Hyderabad)? If I were to go by train, I think one would get down at Kodai Road and take a cab. However, the train takes 1 day to reach Kodai Road, so the alternative is to go to Madurai by bus (Kesineni and the likes) and then take an RTC bus or a cab (?) to Kodai.

Is that it? Or are there other options?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by hellmet

What would be the best way to reach Kodaikanal by non-private transport (from Hyderabad)? If I were to go by train, I think one would get down at Kodai Road and take a cab. However, the train takes 1 day to reach Kodai Road, so the alternative is to go to Madurai by bus (Kesineni and the likes) and then take an RTC bus or a cab (?) to Kodai.

Is that it? Or are there other options?

Hyderabad-Madurai will be via Bangalore so you can consider a self-drive option like Zoomcar for Bangalore-Kodaikanal-Bangalore, maybe include Madurai also. Bangalore-Hyderabad is well connected by train and bus

If you take a bus for Hyderabad-Madurai, then you can take a cab at Madurai to go around, then go to Kodaikanal, get back to Madurai and do the Madurai-Hyderabad journey by bus again.

[hyd_traveller]

Originally Posted by hellmet

What would be the best way to reach Kodaikanal by non-private transport (from Hyderabad)? If I were to go by train, I think one would get down at Kodai Road and take a cab. However, the train takes 1 day to reach Kodai Road, so the alternative is to go to Madurai by bus (Kesineni and the likes) and then take an RTC bus or a cab (?) to Kodai.
Is that it? Or are there other options?

Fly from Hyderabad to Madurai (SpiceJet Colombo flight has a halt and is in the morning) and take a cab or bus from Madurai to Kodaikanal.
Overnight bus from Hyderabad to Dindigul (Kallada, Kesineni or KPN) and onwards by bus or cab.
Train journery would be around 24 hours to Madurai or nearby and would eat up 2 days in travel.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by hellmet

What would be the best way to reach Kodaikanal by non-private transport (from Hyderabad)? If I were to go by train, I think one would get down at Kodai Road and take a cab.

Originally Posted by hyd_traveller

Fly from Hyderabad to Madurai (SpiceJet Colombo flight has a halt and is in the morning) and take a cab or bus from Madurai to Kodaikanal.

+1 to the flight option. I think that would be the fastest. Fly to Madurai and then take a cab. Train: Is there a direct one to Madurai. I am not aware. Need to check. (But considering Madurai being a temple city, there should be a direct train).

[hellmet]

Whoaa you guys! Thanks for the amazing response.

Originally Posted by NPV

Hyderabad-Madurai will be via Bangalore so you can consider a self-drive option like Zoomcar for Bangalore-Kodaikanal-Bangalore, maybe include Madurai also. Bangalore-Hyderabad is well connected by train and bus

I hadn't even thought of Zoomcar. Looks like a good option to consider. Would have loved to drive down all the way, but all I have is my M800, so Zoomcar makes sense.

Originally Posted by hyd_traveller

Fly from Hyderabad to Madurai (SpiceJet Colombo flight has a halt and is in the morning) and take a cab or bus from Madurai to Kodaikanal.
Overnight bus from Hyderabad to Dindigul (Kallada, Kesineni or KPN) and onwards by bus or cab.
Train journery would be around 24 hours to Madurai or nearby and would eat up 2 days in travel.

Flight is out of affordability. I'm currently considering the bus option to Kodai Road or Dindigul. What do you suggest for better connectivity options? The bus from Hyderabad would reach Kodai Road or Dindigul at around 6.15AM so we would need a washroom when we get down. Considering this too, which of the two places would you recommend?

We'd either catch a bus (public or private) or a cab to Kodai (not yet decided).

Originally Posted by ampere

+1 to the flight option. I think that would be the fastest. Fly to Madurai and then take a cab. Train: Is there a direct one to Madurai. I am not aware. Need to check. (But considering Madurai being a temple city, there should be a direct train).

I would love to fly, but it is out of budget for us. Price quoted is around 6K per person one way (next week).

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by hellmet

The bus from Hyderabad would reach Kodai Road or Dindigul at around 6.15AM so we would need a washroom when we get down. Considering this too, which of the two places would you recommend?

Dindigul would be a better option. You have good bus connectivity as well from here. From kodai road, direct buses are less and you will have to wait for the buses coming from other places.

Even better option is Madurai.