[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by jayded

How is the road conditions in the Thenmala route?

Pretty decent inside Kerala, but with the occassional bad stretch and a couple of potholes. Very good once you are on the TN side. Overall - roads are much better than taking Marthandam stretch.

Main issue while travelling with family is the limited dining and rest options.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Doesn't have good facilities for a day drive either.

Two options I noticed (for stopping with family) - 1. Marrybrown complex near to Srivilliputhur (10:30 am to 10:30pm) 2. KTDC Motel Aaram just inside Kerala border at Palaruvi (7am to 9:30pm).
.

Rahmath Parotta Stall, Chengottai is a good option for lunch/dinner. Specifically for Non Veg. Not a premium hotel but decent one for family. No clean rest rooms though.

Originally Posted by jayded

That's a decent timing. I took almost 7 hours door to door from Trivandrum to Madurai with a half hour breakfast break near Nagercoil. How is the road conditions in the Thenmala route? I've never tried that route and have always taken the painful Nagercoil route.

A good alternate for Nagercoil - Trivandrum is mentioned here,
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post4253614

[raghulsudheesh]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Thenmala route doesn't have good facilities for a night drive. So, plan your drive accordingly.

I dropped the night drive plan and started on 29th morning. Also I took the Negercoil route instead of Thenmala. It was all good till Nagercoil. Since I reached around late evening there wasn't much traffic but the roads where in pretty bad condition owing to Highway expansion and construction of flyovers. Then at Marthandam was the major bottle neck. Few kilometers before Marthandam there was a deviation board but since it was night, I thought it would be fine to cross Marthandam through main road. However the Marthandam junction was blocked and I had to take a deviation. This was again through narrow roads and roads in very bad shape. This took me to Kuzhithurai and then from there I rejoined NH. I would advice to take the deviation before Marthandam as the roads near Marthandam junction have one way traffic restrictions. I managed to get through only because it was night time.

[arun_josie]

BP COCO Pumps:

During my recent drive, I came across couple of more BP COCO on this route,

1) 32 Kms from the Salem exit towards towards Kanyakumari/Trivandrum, this comes on the left side
https://goo.gl/maps/rqkPWzEPpRQ2

2) 13 Kms from Kappalur Toll (Madurai) towards Kanyakumari/Trivandrum, this comes on the left side
https://goo.gl/maps/wGg2A9YzpYS2

Existing ones,

3) BP COCO along with A2B, 50 Kms from Electronic City towards Krishnagiri/Salem, this comes on the left side
https://goo.gl/maps/gWauY222DUH2

4) BP COCO along with A2B,, 135 Kms from Electronic City towards Krishnagiri/Salem, this comes on the rigt side
https://goo.gl/maps/8pwyA3XfJjH2

5) BP COCO along with A2B, 15 Kms after the TAFE factory (Dindigul - Madurai), this comes on the rigt side
https://goo.gl/maps/C54x6zvDZBv

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

BP COCO Pumps:

During my recent drive, I came across couple of more BP COCO on this route,

Simple rule - COCO bunk in TN does not qualify to be one without an A2B attached.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Simple rule - COCO bunk in TN does not qualify to be one without an A2B attached.

True that , most of them has A2B along with it. Outside TN they have tie-up with Ghar dhaba for few.

[bijuks]

Took the Thenmala route from Trivandrum (Kazhakkoottam) to Bangalore on 24th Dec 2017. The drive was good all the way and roads were in very good condition except some patch in Kerala after the turn from MC road at Nilamel. From Chenkottai, google maps directed through some small roads, road condition was good and less traffic. Joined NH44 at Tirumangalam.

Started at 5:15am and reached Attibele toll by 5:30pm. Stopped for food couple of times.

All the tolls were mostly free except Attibele.

[mpksuhas]

How bad is Nagarkovil - TVM route as of now ?

Is it bad enough to consider alternative route from Bangalore if traveling in night (expected to reach work in progress stretch around 04.00 am) in a hatch.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

How bad is Nagarkovil - TVM route as of now ?

Is it bad enough to consider alternative route from Bangalore if traveling in night (expected to reach work in progress stretch around 04.00 am) in a hatch.

It should be fine as long as you don't get stuck in any traffic caused by trucks on those narrow stretches.

[mpksuhas]

Thanks for the suggestion Arun. My friend for whom I had put the query, took the same route to Trivandrum. Since it was early in morning, he didn't face any issue.

[arun_josie]

Google maps has started recommending the route via Tenkasi/Courtallam to Trivandrum. Also, there are plans to stop the traffic via parvathipuram due to the flyover construction, dates are not announced yet. Initially it was planned for March 5th but postponed due to exam season in schools.

[arun_josie]

Parvathipuram route is closed:

Due to construction work at Parvathipuram(Nagercoil), the road is closed for traffic. It may take some time before they reopen. Here are the other options to bypass this section,

Option 1) The best option to Trivandrum is via Tenkasi(which is recommended by google maps as well). This will help to bypass both the construction sites, at Parvathipuram and Marthandam.

Option 2) 10-15kms before Nagercoil, you can take a right at Aralvaimozhi or at Vellamadam and join Nagercoil - Trivandrum SH little ahead of parvathipuram.

Option 3) This is the diverted route, its goes via Asaripallam road. Mentioned here as well.

This route goes via Nagercoil Collector Office, Asaripallam, Thingal Nagar, Karungal, Pudhukkadai, Kannanagam Junction Bus Stop, Thirumannam , Uchakkada and Poovar

[deathwalkr]

Any updates on the Kattakada-Vellarada-Boothapandi-Aralvaimozhi stretch?

[Sankar]

Kattakada Vellarada Kulasekaram is mostly good, except near Chittar reservoir on KL side. I did this route yesterday.

Kulasekaram to Aralvaimozhi is broken at several places when i covered this stretch on Mar 4th. But still I prefer this over NH in its current condition and traffic.

[Sankar]

This is the route I did this Sunday. Had to visit couple of places in this route. Before the NH was in tatters I used to deviate from Marthandam to go towards Colachel/Atoor.



Since it is the festive season expect rush/block near Kollamcode and Mandaikkadu if taking coastal route to Nagercoil.