[adityaprasoon]

Originally Posted by saisree

You didn't mention the final destination at Chennai. The route suggestion may vary. But, given all the routes Tirutani->Thiruvallur route is favored for it being the widest of the roads as on date, have better Tea shops and Hotels.

I will be going to Alagappa Road in Chennai. Thanks for your reply.

[saisree]

Did a weekend trip to Tirupati. Took Tamabaram-Thirumazhisai-Tiruvallur-Nagari-Puttur-Tirupati Stretch. Roads on the AP stretch is being re-laid and now has become a bliss to drive until new unmarked speed breakers emerge. Speed breakers on the Thirumazhisai -Tiruvallur stretch is a pain and I don't see a remedy for that.

[Altrozed]

Originally Posted by saisree

Did a weekend trip to Tirupati. Took Tamabaram-Thirumazhisai-Tiruvallur-Nagari-Puttur-Tirupati Stretch. Roads on the AP stretch is being re-laid and now has become a bliss to drive until new unmarked speed breakers emerge. Speed breakers on the Thirumazhisai -Tiruvallur stretch is a pain and I don't see a remedy for that.

Which section of AP was bliss ? Did Renigunta - Nagari - Puttur section last week and there is hardly 4 lane road and added bonus of toll loot for non existing road.

[gotoguru]

It is very difficult to get the Rs 300 darshan ticket through the online portal nowadays. Hence resorted to book tour packages from Chennai. After checking with various operators, finally booked through APSRTC Volvo package and had a good darshan. However there are various private operators in and around T.Nagar offering this as a package for 4 to 9 members by arranging Dzire or Innova. How reliable are those operators in getting the darshan done seamlessly?

[concorde24]

Updating this thread on latest road condition after my trip to Tirumala and back from T.Nagar, Chennai yesterday, amidst rains

• Road condition from Anna-Arch upto Thirumazhisai turn has definitely improved over the last few months. The roads are wider and service lanes are separated. There are occasional bad patches, but able to maintain decent speed. Surprisingly I did not face any long wait time for signals through I entered city around 8pm.
  
• Thirumazhisai-Thiruvallur road is as "usual" , good but marred with marked speed humps
  
• Thiruvallur - Andhra border road condition is good, I see lot of patches were new tarmac has been laid but lines are not marked yet
  
• Andhra part of the route is also "usual" I am travelling by road after 5 years, but still there are incomplete portion of highway just before Tirupati after the toll which is not fixed yet
  
• Tirupati - there are diversions in the city due to flyover construction. Once completed, we can bypass the entire traffic areas near near bus-stand.
  
• Ghat road drive is very good. Irritating thing was drivers overtaking at hair pin bends as well and continous honking from behind. There is supposedly 28 min/40 min restriction on timings but it was not enforced.
  
  Did not face any water stagnation anywhere, though it rained very heavily on Sunday night !
  

[saisree]

Any recent update on this Road between Thirumazhisai and Tirupati. Driving to the hills tomorrow, just wanted to be sure

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by saisree

Any recent update on this Road between Thirumazhisai and Tirupati. Driving to the hills tomorrow, just wanted to be sure

Barring a 3-4 diversions between Nagari and Tirupati which are bad and the speed breakers that have always been there. Its good all the way till you exit for PS4 Tiruchanur. The completed 4-lane sections are very good.

It took us 4 hours from Taramani to PS4 with a 330 pm start and 2:40 hours from Alipiri to Taramani with 340 am at the Alipiri exit gate!

This is from early August

[Bsimhan]

Did the Chennai Tirumala Chennai on the 30th Aug. Going via Tiruvallur, Tiruttani was fine. Reached in 3 hours with a short breakfast break as the traffic was sparse. Coming back was another story. The exit out of Tirupathi was horrendous with an unfinished potholed road and exit via a very crowded railway crossing. Stretch of road around the Maduravoil area needs improvement. Night driving on a single road with cattle crossing in between presents hazards not to include those two wheelers cutting across the lanes without looking.

[gotoguru]

Nuego buses are frequent between Chennai and Tirupati. Seems to be a better option considering the road conditions and the comfort of air conditioned travel that these buses provide.

[mahesh27]

Any recommendations on a route for Tirupati to Chennai (koyambedu)? Is the thiruvallur tirutani stretch in good motorable condition or are there too many potholes and bad patches? Also, is there a median or do we have to deal with oncoming traffic?

[saisree]

Originally Posted by mahesh27

Any recommendations on a route for Tirupati to Chennai (koyambedu)? Is the thiruvallur tirutani stretch in good motorable condition or are there too many potholes and bad patches? Also, is there a median or do we have to deal with oncoming traffic?

Thiruvallur Tirutani stretch is in good condition and is motorable. No medians and have to be careful with the oncoming vehicles. This is the update just before the cyclone and heavy rains.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by mahesh27

Any recommendations on a route for Tirupati to Chennai (koyambedu)?

There is only one choice that is Tiruvallur-Tiruttani which too has improved leaps and bounds over the last year. Thirumazhisai-Tiruvallur is a pain and so is crossing Tiruvallur town. Otherwise the 2-lane sections are manageable. Its the 4-lane sections nearing Tirupati that get really busy.

There are still some incomplete sections closer to Tirupati which you need to watch. There are warning signs posted.

I've actually felt its easier to drive the road after 10 pm than during daytime.

[da3mn]

Originally Posted by gotoguru

Nuego buses are frequent between Chennai and Tirupati. Seems to be a better option considering the road conditions and the comfort of air-conditioned travel that these buses provide.

I second this. And also this works out best economically for small families.

We usually book the bus that starts at 05:30 am and reach Tirupati by 09:05 am and start back in the 6:00 pm bus. Works best if one has Special Dharsan ticket although nowadays its impossible to get one online

[msiva75]

I went to Tirupathi last week and took Madhavaram-Periyapalayam-Uthukkottai-Puttur route. I was able to reach Tirumala within 3 Hrs 45 minutes. This is less traffic route, however felt more vibrations due to patch work in multiple places. This route is best if someone drive from Madhavaram area.

Best Hotels in this route - A2B at Cholavaram (After Nallur Toll Plaza, take service road).

If you miss this, then the best one is P4S and A2B at Tirupathi.

[Madrasin_selvan]

Completed a Special Darshan in Tirupathi on 30th April. While going to Tirupathi took the Periyapalayam - Uthukottai - Puttur route, this route until the AP border has lot of patches which makes it unbearable at certain speeds. On return decided to take the Tiruttani - Tiruvallur route which was far better.

Unless or otherwise you are starting from North Chennai better take the Tiruvallur route.