[csateesh]

Originally Posted by ampere

So to summarize:
- Be on the 4-lane.
- Go past Namakkal
- Take the Karur bypass
- At end you would see a diversion to Trichy.

Planning to test this later this month and shall keep the group updated with information

Cheers

[csateesh]

Dear BHPians,

Any update on the latest road conditions to Trichy.

The trip didn't materialize and hence no updates from my end.

Am contemplating between the two - Thuraiyur vs. Karur !!

Cheers

[nssrini]

Originally Posted by csateesh

Dear BHPians,

Any update on the latest road conditions to Trichy.

The trip didn't materialize and hence no updates from my end.

Am contemplating between the two - Thuraiyur vs. Karur !!

Cheers

I last did a trip in Nov. I felt sticking to Thuraiyur route is pretty much okay - quite decent roads, minimum traffic, quick access to NH 45 or the Thanjavur highway. No big deal in spending the extra kms on the Karur side....my 2 cents...

[ampere]

Originally Posted by csateesh

Am contemplating between the two - Thuraiyur vs. Karur !!

If end point is Trichy, I would suggest Karur. Its much easier than Thuraiyur option. Clean bypasses all the way.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by csateesh

Dear BHPians,

Any update on the latest road conditions to Trichy.

The trip didn't materialize and hence no updates from my end.

Am contemplating between the two - Thuraiyur vs. Karur !!

Cheers

As of now i would vote for Karur by pass route

[drkumarmp]

Recently drove the route, bangalore to Madurai, madurai to sevalur near pudukotai and from sevalur to bangalore via pudukotai, thiruchi, namakkal, selam, dramapuri, krishnagiri, hosur...

There are road works going on enroute from hosur to krishnagiri and the only decent eat out there is A2B but for that you need to be on the look out to take a kinda service road deviation which of you miss you need to make a kinda left U turn and back track with head on traffic coming at you including trucks so better plot the hotel on gps and be in the look out for that deviation, there is a nother A2B after krishnagiri but that comes on the opposite side while travelling from bangalore but is appropriate for those returning to bangalore, as we found out there is no decent eatery all the way from pudukkottai to krishnagiri but for this, yes you have tea shops, dabhas etc. But non where a family with kids would be comfortable. So better stock up or get off bye pass and into a town.

Plenty of sand laden trucks heading from thiruchi to attibele, all twelve wheelers totally blocking the six Lane high way and plenty driving very slow or stopped at the banks waiting for the next tailgate victim. Never overtake with close gaps, leave adequate space from the vehicle on front to take the leap so that there is plenty of road to reconsider your decision.

Drive safe.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by drkumarmp

There are road works going on enroute from hosur to krishnagiri and the only decent eat out there is A2B but for that you need to be on the look out to take a kinda service road deviation which of you miss you need to make a kinda left U turn and back track with head on traffic coming at you including trucks so better plot the hotel on gps and be in the look out for that deviation, there is a nother A2B after krishnagiri but that comes on the opposite side while travelling from bangalore but is appropriate for those returning to bangalore, as we found out there is no decent eatery all the way from pudukkottai to krishnagiri but for this, yes you have tea shops, dabhas etc. But non where a family with kids would be comfortable. So better stock up or get off bye pass and into a town.

Few places to break:
- Krishnagiri has Saravana Bhavan.
- Thoppur has Raja Bhojanam
- Salem : Grand Estancia and Park Plaza. Park Plaza esp. Very nice.

And all of them are good for family. Especially if you are OK to 200km at a stretch, I would suggest you to break at Salem (Park Plaza or Grand Estancia).

[sdp1975]

I will be staying in Trichy and Tanjore 2 days each. Some questions :

1) Is NH67 from Tanjore to Vellankanni 4 laned ?

2) Best route ( from either Trichy or Tanjore ) towards Gangai Konda Cholapuram

3) Best route from Tanjore to Thirukarugavur Temple.

4) Best route from Trichy towards Alangudi , NH210 ?

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

I will be staying in Trichy and Tanjore 2 days each. Some questions :

1) Is NH67 from Tanjore to Vellankanni 4 laned ?

2) Best route ( from either Trichy or Tanjore ) towards Gangai Konda Cholapuram

3) Best route from Tanjore to Thirukarugavur Temple.

4) Best route from Trichy towards Alangudi , NH210 ?

I just returned from my kumbakonam trip after visiting Garbharakshambikai temple at Thirukkaragavur. From kumbakonam i went via papanasam to the temple. I guess from Tanjore you have to proceed towards papanasam first. Roads are in good condition though.

[csateesh]

Update on Trichy - Bangalore drive via Karur

Departed Trichy at around 6:50am and reached Salem at around 9:00 am and Thoppur A2B just around 9:40am.

Time time taken to reach salem : 2:15 hours (via Karur)
Typical time taken to reach Namakkal : 1:30 hrs (via Thuraiyur)

Exit - Was using the Trichy - Karur bypass road that interesects NH 7 just around Karur

Pros of Taking the Karur route

1. Roads are reasonably wide
2. Allows you to maintain reasonable average speeds compared to Thuraiyur route (reason
3. Connects to NH 7 directly via bypass road

Cons of Taking the Karur route

1. Thanks to the sand lorry the traffic is high for a toll road
2. There are 2 toll booths from Trichy to Karur
Thiruparaithurai - INR 23
Manavasi - INR 42

Inspite of longer distance which in my case was close to 30 kms+ the mileage returned was much better 19.xx compared to 17.xx

Hope this helps the fellow BHPians.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by csateesh

Time time taken to reach salem : 2:15 hours (via Karur)
Typical time taken to reach Namakkal : 1:30 hrs (via Thuraiyur)

Isn't the time taken via Thuraiyur a bit optimistic. You are pretty much maintaining an average speed around 60+ which is quite high since this route goes via many villages. I do agree its a good road and at many places quite empty for long stretches. But still, would recommend an average of 50 (55 at most).

[ravib]

My yearly trip to Pillayarpatti last November via Thuraiyur route has similar timings.

Salem entry to Namakkal usually takes about 45 minutes and from Namakkal to Trichy toll gate which is about 90 kms I cover it in 90 minutes. So overall it takes about 2.15 hrs to 2.30 minutes. Plus No tolls to pay.

Currently the road conditions are good with some patches here and there but i can usually maintain constant reasonable speed always due to sparse traffic in 90% of the stretch.

-Ravi

[csateesh]

Originally Posted by ampere

Isn't the time taken via Thuraiyur a bit optimistic. You are pretty much maintaining an average speed around 60+ which is quite high since this route goes via many villages. I do agree its a good road and at many places quite empty for long stretches. But still, would recommend an average of 50 (55 at most).

@ampere - We normally start early and there are sections where we maintain speeds of around 90km which is probably the reason for the good average speeds

Originally Posted by ravib

My yearly trip to Pillayarpatti last November via Thuraiyur route has similar timings.

Salem entry to Namakkal usually takes about 45 minutes and from Namakkal to Trichy toll gate which is about 90 kms I cover it in 90 minutes. So overall it takes about 2.15 hrs to 2.30 minutes. Plus No tolls to pay.

Currently the road conditions are good with some patches here and there but i can usually maintain constant reasonable speed always due to sparse traffic in 90% of the stretch.

-Ravi

@ravi - Interestingly we also visit Pillayarpatti every December. Glad to know you visit the place yearly too

[ravib]

On 12-Feb-2015, i drove from Trichy to Coimbatore in NH67 via Kulithalai-Karur-Vellakoil-Kangeyam-Palladam.

The stretch between Trichy to Karur, IMPO i don't think its worth to take this route for those who drive towards Salem/Bangalore primarily because of sand lorries torture . Very very frustrating and tiring to overtake them and they shower the sand in our car windshields
On top of it we need to pay a toll as well !

Though the road surface is good in NH67, its far easier, better and less stressful route to drive via Thuraiyur road (due to less traffic and good roads) to reach Namakkal/Salem/Bangalore instead of driving via Trichy-Karur-Namakkal. Its simply painful to each and every sand lorry and makes your more tired !

My 2 cents...

-Ravi

[ampere]

Originally Posted by ravib

Though the road surface is good in NH67, its far easier, better and less stressful route to drive via Thuraiyur road (due to less traffic and good roads) to reach Namakkal/Salem/Bangalore instead of driving via Trichy-Karur-Namakkal. Its simply painful to each and every sand lorry and makes your more tired !

Next time I should try driving through Namakkal town and see how bad/good/worse it is to get on to Thuraiyur road. But I do agree that once on that road, it was extremely peaceful. I found Budhansanthai/Senthamangalam/Alanganatham section to be extremely truck traffic prone.