[jomson13]

Hi guys,

Will be driving down from Pune to Thrissur next Thursday. When I checked google maps just now it showed me a route via Solapur - Vijaypura and back to NH48 at Chitradurga.

This route is longer by approx 30 kms / 30 mins when compared to taking the NH48 all the way from Pune itself.

Usually google shows the fastest available route but this case seems to be an exception.

Is it due to the large number of diversions?
What do you guys recommend, stick to NH48 or go via Solapur?

[binand]

Originally Posted by jomson13

Will be driving down from Pune to Thrissur next Thursday. When I checked google maps just now it showed me a route via Solapur - Vijaypura and back to NH48 at Chitradurga.

What do you guys recommend, stick to NH48 or go via Solapur?

You should ask in the Mumbai-Bangalore thread, but I remember reading there that the route via Solapur is preferable these days on all but the "abundance of food breakpoints" parameter.

Here is a recent one: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5727441 (Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai : Route updates & Eateries)

[Peepsimus]

Hi Friends,

As part of our Kerala trip in mid-April, we will be traveling from Wayanad to Alleppey and Google Maps is suggesting the below two options. It would be very helpful to get your suggestions on the preferred route:

Route 1 (mostly hugging the coast): Wayanad > Adivaram > Thamarassery > Pantheeramkavu > Ramanattukara > Tanur > Tirur > Veliancode > Guruvayur > Kochi > Alappuzha

Route 2 (Via Thrissur): Wayanad > Adivaram > Mukkam > Areekode > Manjeri > Perintalmanna > Koppam > Thrissur > Kochi > Alappuzha

Additional context if it helps pick the better route: planning to do this in a single day, traveling with family+kids.

Thank you.

[binand]

Originally Posted by Peepsimus

Route 1 (mostly hugging the coast): Wayanad > Adivaram > Thamarassery > Pantheeramkavu > Ramanattukara > Tanur > Tirur > Veliancode > Guruvayur > Kochi > Alappuzha

Route 2 (Via Thrissur): Wayanad > Adivaram > Mukkam > Areekode > Manjeri > Perintalmanna > Koppam > Thrissur > Kochi > Alappuzha

Route 1: Ramanattukara-Tanur is not a connection you can easily make - the connecting road, Chelari-Chettipadi, was blocked off last time I went that way (for a ROB construction). Plus, the NH66 redevelopment makes driving on it a very painful affair. I generally hit the coastal road (Chaliyam-Kadalundi-Parappanangadi instead.

For the same reason you should avoid Chamravattom-Chavakkad (not Guruvayur)-Kochi too. Instead, take Chamravattom-Changaramkulam-Perumbilavu-Eranallur-Thrissur and connect to NH544 towards Kochi.

But route 2 is what I take (with slight modifications) when I drive Calicut-Kochi. Instead of Perinthalmanna-Koppam-Thrissur I go Perinthalmanna-Cherpulassery-Vaniyamkulam-Kulappully-Thrissur.

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by jomson13

Hi guys,

Is it due to the large number of diversions?
What do you guys recommend, stick to NH48 or go via Solapur?

Yes, its due to the umpteen number of diversions. I think its better to take the Solapur route. Heavy vehicle traffic will be less.

[Peepsimus]

Originally Posted by binand

But route 2 is what I take (with slight modifications) when I drive Calicut-Kochi. Instead of Perinthalmanna-Koppam-Thrissur I go Perinthalmanna-Cherpulassery-Vaniyamkulam-Kulappully-Thrissur.

Thanks a lot, will try this one

[sajiseb]

Dear all,
I need to drive from Kottayam to Angamaly (after many years).
Which route is better -
1) via MC road (Muvattupuzha & Perumbavoor) or
2) Via Kakkanadu and Aluva

- In terms of road quality, traffic jams etc

Not much difference in distance and travel time as per google maps.
Thanks

[binand]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Dear all,
I need to drive from Kottayam to Angamaly

Via MC Road. I have always found both Kottayam-Ernakulam and Ernakulam-Aluva to be intolerably frustrating.

Be aware of the inevitable pileup at Kaladi bridge. Seek alternatives if you can.

[jomson13]

Originally Posted by binand

You should ask in the Mumbai-Bangalore thread, but I remember reading there that the route via Solapur is preferable these days on all but the "abundance of food breakpoints" parameter.

Here is a recent one: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...ml#post5727441 (Bangalore - Pune - Mumbai : Route updates & Eateries)

Originally Posted by rakesh_r

Yes, its due to the umpteen number of diversions. I think its better to take the Solapur route. Heavy vehicle traffic will be less.

There has been a change in plan and now my starting point has shifted from Pune to Sangli. I worked out a few options as shown in the images below:





Based on the feedback received so far, I am inclined towards Route A but for some reason google recommends going off the highway at Tumkur and leads you for the next 300kms on a variety of state and NH offshoots (A4 - A9)

I'll be the only one driving and my father is the only person accompanying me so the trip will have to be split into two days.
From the hotel availability perspective, I believe it is better to continue onwards upto bangalore bypass and stop for the night somewhere near Electronic city.

[pms]

Driving down to Kollam from Bengaluru this Saturday morning. My normal route so far has been Salem-Dindigul-Tirumangalam-Rajapalayam-Shencottai-Kottarakara-Kollam.



As of now Google Maps is suggesting the route via Dindigul-Theni-Kumali-Pathanamthitta-Adoor-Kottarakara-Kollam with time savings of close to 2hrs against my normal route. I have never taken this stretch.



Has anyone take the above route to Kollam or to nearby areas? How is the road condition and will it really save time, any inputs will help.

[rakesh_r]

Originally Posted by jomson13

I'll be the only one driving and my father is the only person accompanying me so the trip will have to be split into two days.
From the hotel availability perspective, I believe it is better to continue onwards upto bangalore bypass and stop for the night somewhere near Electronic city.

I regularly do Pune-Palakkad and this is what i normally do:
1- If starting in the evening, I normally do Pune-Kolhapur and the next day do Kolhapur-Palakkad. If i get tired, i again break the Journey at Salem and proceed to Palakkad the next day.
2- If starting early morning, I do Pune-Electronic city or Attibelle. The next day I start post breakfast and i am home by 15:00 hrs.

We mostly stick to option 2 as it requires only one stop. We have been sticking to Bengaluru-Salem-Coimbatore-Palakkad route only as road conditions are good.

[binand]

Originally Posted by jomson13

Based on the feedback received so far, I am inclined towards Route A but for some reason google recommends going off the highway at Tumkur and leads you for the next 300kms on a variety of state and NH offshoots (A4 - A9)

Google goes solely by time. For some reason it calculated A to take about 30 mins lesser; but in the larger scheme of things - 1000+ km journey that's going to take ~20 hours - I don't think that should matter all that much. The A route has the super-crowded and jam-prone Dhimbam Ghat, plus the drive through the minor roads that connect the bustling interior towns of TN can be frustrating. The unknown in the B route is the time it would take to go past Bangalore. On most days from Nelamangala to Attibele it shouldn't take more than 90-100 minutes. Rest of it is very predictable.

Originally Posted by jomson13

From the hotel availability perspective, I believe it is better to continue onwards upto bangalore bypass and stop for the night somewhere near Electronic city.

It might be even better if you were to cross into Tamil Nadu and look for a hotel in Hosur. See if you can manage that.

[sajiseb]

Originally Posted by binand

Via MC Road. I have always found both Kottayam-Ernakulam and Ernakulam-Aluva to be intolerably frustrating.

Be aware of the inevitable pileup at Kaladi bridge. Seek alternatives if you can.

Thanks. I was under the impression that there are no alternatives to crossing the Kalady bridge

[phi]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Thanks. I was under the impression that there are no alternatives to crossing the Kalady bridge

You could just re-check Google Maps when you hit Perumbavur. In case Kalady bridge is too busy, it will route you via Thiruvairanikulam bridge. On most days, it would still be faster than going via SH-15, unless you are travelling in the night.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sajiseb

Thanks. I was under the impression that there are no alternatives to crossing the Kalady bridge

There are three bridges to the west (Vallam, Thiruvairanikulam, Thottumukham) and one to the east (Kodanad) of Kaladi bridge - and that is not counting the main NH544 bridge at Aluva. My preference would be to cut over to AM Road from MC Road reaching Kuruppampadi and then taking the Kodanad-Malayattoor-Manjapra route to Angamaly - this will bypass Perumbavoor also.

I have been hearing that the Kalady pile-up can potentially delay you by 1h+ these days.