[m8002?]

Originally Posted by ampere

But you can try Trichy-Tanjore-Mannargudi-Thiruthuraipoondi-Velankani. It's about 40-50km more but I am guessing it may a cleaner route.

I took this route 2 years back and no complaints. But got struck in some political rally and traffic in Mannargudi.

Was hoping there is some improvements in the regular Tanjore - Thiruvarur route now after all these years.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Was hoping there is some improvements in the regular Tanjore - Thiruvarur route now after all these years.

My only concern with that section are those 3 railway crossing at Nedamangalam and the narrow roads around that region. Not sure if that situation has ever changed. Also there was a long bypass for Nedamangalam which is on the works. But dont know when it would get completed.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by m8002?

I took this route 2 years back and no complaints. But got struck in some political rally and traffic in Mannargudi.

.

This is the best option when it comes to good roads and less road works.
When I went in February, there were culvert work happening between Tanjore and Mannargudi which should be finished by now.
Also when using this route, don't follow google map suggestion after Mannargudi and instead go via Thruthuraipoondi town. Refer my post #316.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by tharian

This is the best option when it comes to good roads and less road works.
When I went in February, there were culvert work happening between Tanjore and Mannargudi which should be finished by now.
Also when using this route, don't follow google map suggestion after Mannargudi and instead go via Thruthuraipoondi town. Refer my post #316.

Very true. Google will either route through the Canal Road or the one via the temple at Thirukollikadu and then cut through the Thiruvarur-Thiruthuraipoondi highway and then again take interior roads. Even the road via Thirukollikadu had quite some construction on going then.

Like you mentioned even I won't suggest these interior roads.

[kit_dennis]

Originally Posted by tharian

This is the best option when it comes to good roads and less road works.
When I went in February, there were culvert work happening between Tanjore and Mannargudi which should be finished by now.
Also when using this route, don't follow google map suggestion after Mannargudi and instead go via Thruthuraipoondi town. Refer my post #316.

Originally Posted by ampere

Very true. Google will either route through the Canal Road or the one via the temple at Thirukollikadu and then cut through the Thiruvarur-Thiruthuraipoondi highway and then again take interior roads. Even the road via Thirukollikadu had quite some construction on going then.

Like you mentioned even I won't suggest these interior roads.

As of today, which is the fastest route from Bangalore to Velankanni?
Is it still Tanjore->Mannargudi->Thiruthuraipoondi->Velankanni even though it is 40+ kms more?
Gmaps doesnt show this option at all.
We are planning to start at 8am tomorrow(23-Feb) from Silkboard.

Also if someone can suggest the best route from Velankanni to Pondicherry, that would be great.

[M35]

Originally Posted by tharian

Also when using this route, don't follow google map suggestion after Mannargudi and instead go via Thruthuraipoondi town. Refer my post #316.

Oops. Missed your post and I did the detour along the narrow canal road 10.00 PM which was like watching a horror movie until I got back to the East West rroad closer to Velankanni. All thanks to the Google Map

[tharian]

Originally Posted by kit_dennis

As of today, which is the fastest route from Bangalore to Velankanni?
Is it still Tanjore->Mannargudi->Thiruthuraipoondi->Velankanni even though it is 40+ kms more?
Gmaps doesnt show this option at all.
We are planning to start at 8am tomorrow(23-Feb) from Silkboard.

Also if someone can suggest the best route from Velankanni to Pondicherry, that would be great.

I haven't gone in a year to Velankanni and will be going soon though and I'll most probably take the route you stated. I don't think the route from Thanjavur straight to Nagapattinam via Thiruvarur is complete yet.

Velankanni to Pondy is via ECR which is being widened nearing Chidambaram. Not sure how good other routes are.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by kit_dennis

Is it still Tanjore->Mannargudi->Thiruthuraipoondi->Velankanni even though it is 40+ kms more?

This is the best option in my opinion. All other routes are broken.

Tanjore-Mannargudi is superb 2-lane. Dont know the status beyond, I can only guess it would be good.

An early start, say by 4AM means you can be in Trichy 10 and should be in Velankanni by late lunch.

[M35]

Originally Posted by kit_dennis

As of today, which is the fastest route from Bangalore to Velankanni?
Is it still Tanjore->Mannargudi->Thiruthuraipoondi->Velankanni even though it is 40+ kms more?
.

Dindigul to Tanjavur to Mannargudi are all.excellent. The surface is in shambles within Mannargudi town, very briefly though. Please take the regular HW to
Thiruthuraipoond and then to Velankanni instead of what the GMap suggests. I did this stretch a couple of days ago.

[familyman555]

Hi, all. I am planning to drive from Chennai to Velankanni with my family. Can you suggest a reliable self-drive car rental and also the ideal route, along with stopover options for lunch.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by familyman555

Hi, all. I am planning to drive from Chennai to Velankanni with my family. Can you suggest a reliable self-drive car rental and also the ideal route, along with stopover options for lunch.

This is the usual route - Madras -> ECR - Pondicherry -> Cuddalore - Sirkazhi -> Karaikal -> Velankanni. Roughly it translates to a distance of about 300 km. But be aware that after you cross Pondi, there are dozens of road work going on which slow you down painfully. What was barely a 4.5 hour drive a few years ago now take about 6 hours.

You can have lunch at Hotel Devi on the way to Cuddalore - decent Hotel with a good choice of menu (almost rare in this part) with meat dishes and plenty of space for parking your car.

Years ago, it used to be a place with plenty of trees, but now all the trees have been cut down.

You will find it difficult to park your car near the main Basilica. Most usually park the car at the hotel and take an auto to the Church. The autos, fleece you of course. They charged me Rs.100 /- for a distance of 1 km.

[Justus12]

Greetings Folks,

It's finally time! Once again, I will be travelling with my family to Velankanni this year. We will be leaving on the 12th of May, this week at midnight or might start around 4 am on 13th early morning from Mumbai to our destination at Velankanni, with a two day stay at Velankanni and then to Pondicherry. Velankanni to Pondicherry will be the same usual coastal route. The route I chose to travel this time is the same route which I took last year and to be honest is the default route for most Bombay folks who travel to Velankanni by road.

The following is the route planned:
Mumbai - Pune - Kolhapur - Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Salem - Chidambaram - Nagapattinam - Velankanni

It would be a great favour if anyone could update me on the current route condition. This route is the most safest according to some and since I had taken it last time, I hardly had any problems at all, except one where Google Maps started behaving weird at around 2.30 am and took me from an extremely small lane to join the main road at Chidambaram. I have watched a few YouTube videos where different routes from Bangalore to Velankanni were explained, I didn't understand the language in it though but made sense of what was being said.

If there are any other routes which could be better than the one I chose, please do share it with me as that would be really helpful. Google shows the default route to Bangalore from Mumbai but after Bangalore, directs me to Tiruvannamalai - Kalakurichi and then joins Chidambaram as this saves a decent amount of kilometres but it still takes roughly takes around the same time to reach Velankanni as compared to the Salem route. Also, the last time, Growler suggested me to not take the Tiruvannamalai route as the area is more secluded and the roads were still being worked upon.

I am in no hurry to reach Velankanni but a simple, safe and a well laid route will be of much help keeping in mind that my journey from Bangalore to Velankanni will start late evening and traversing through Tamil Nadu will be in the dead of night.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be highly appreciated!

Ps: My fleet for this long journey will be my dearest 2005 Toyota Innova 2.5 Diesel.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Justus12

The following is the route planned:
Mumbai - Pune - Kolhapur - Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Salem - Chidambaram - Nagapattinam - Velankanni

I can tell you about the route from Chidambaram onwards to Velankanni. They are relaying the road in many places and building new bridges. This means you have excellent 4 lane roads for a few kilometers interspersed with poorly laid patches where the work is going on. You would be better off traveling in day time than in night.

Chidambaram -> Sikarzhi -> Karaikal - > Nagapattinum - > Velankanni.

Traveling in Tamilnadu is generally safe. Road side robberies are not heard of in this side. The suggestion to travel in day time is mainly because you may not see the dangers lurking in the road diversions. I have seen a car that was precariously perched in a 4 feet precipice on the edge of a road construction.

[Justus12]

Originally Posted by Prowler

I can tell you about the route from Chidambaram onwards to Velankanni. They are relaying the road in many places and building new bridges. This means you have excellent 4 lane roads for a few kilometers interspersed with poorly laid patches where the work is going on. You would be better off traveling in day time than in night.

Chidambaram -> Sikarzhi -> Karaikal - > Nagapattinum - > Velankanni.

Traveling in Tamilnadu is generally safe. Road side robberies are not heard of in this side. The suggestion to travel in day time is mainly because you may not see the dangers lurking in the road diversions. I have seen a car that was precariously perched in a 4 feet precipice on the edge of a road construction.

Thank you so much for the quick response! I will definitely keep this is mind and plan my travel accordingly.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Justus12

The following is the route planned:
Mumbai - Pune - Kolhapur - Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Salem - Chidambaram - Nagapattinam - Velankanni

Mumbai-Salem is all time and tested. Beyond Salem: Please lots of construction around Chidambaram/Sirkazhi area. I would suggest a slight detour.

Salem-Karur-Trichy-Tanjore-Mannargudi-Thiruthuraipoondi-Velankanni.

What I can suggest is plan your break in such a way that you take a break in Salem. And start the next day.

Maybe Mumbai to Davanagere. And Davanagere to Salem.