[narayans80]

NH45 has taken a hit on Tambaram-Chengalpattu. Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvayaru was good wide 2-lane. The region got hammered last week and today, so things can change. From Thiruvayaru to Thanjavur/Kumbakonam is OKish narrow roads.

[CArspeed]

Originally Posted by RGK

I am planning to drive to Thanjavur via Perambalur - Ariyalur. Do anyhow have the latest information about the road condition?

During these rainy season, I would stick to Chennai-Trichy-Thanjavur. I have travelled in other routes as well. This route though circuitous coupled with some traffic in Trichy outskirts will be quicker most times.

[ravib]

Originally Posted by narayans80

NH45 has taken a hit on Tambaram-Chengalpattu. Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvayaru was good wide 2-lane. The region got hammered last week and today, so things can change. From Thiruvayaru to Thanjavur/Kumbakonam is OKish narrow roads.

+1

Originally Posted by RGK

I am planning to drive to Thanjavur via Perambalur - Ariyalur. Do anyhow have the latest information about the road condition?

Note: I did Trichy - Thiruvanaikovil - Kallanai - Thiruvaiyaru (South Bank Road) in the month of December 2020 (1 year ago) and it was good.

Last Dec 2020, I drove from Trichy-Perambalur-Ariyalur-Thiruvaiyaru-Tanjore and roads were good all throughout. It was newly laid, so i don't expect too much damage, although due to enormous rains, its difficult to say.

if you need full 4L, go via Trichy-Tanjore. If you are okay to gamble and take 2L roads, you can go via Perambalur-Ariyalur route.

-Ravi

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by RGK

I am planning to drive to Thanjavur via Perambalur - Ariyalur. Do anyhow have the latest information about the road condition?


Note: I did Trichy - Thiruvanaikovil - Kallanai - Thiruvaiyaru (South Bank Road) in the month of December 2020 (1 year ago) and it was good.

I did Mannargudi - Thanjavur - ariyalur - Perambalur 2 weeks back. Road conditions are good. No detoriation.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by ravib

+1
if you need full 4L, go via Trichy-Tanjore. If you are okay to gamble and take 2L roads, you can go via Perambalur-Ariyalur route.

Originally Posted by venki.bala

I did Mannargudi - Thanjavur - ariyalur - Perambalur 2 weeks back. Road conditions are good. No detoriation.

Exactly

Originally Posted by CArspeed

During these rainy season, I would stick to Chennai-Trichy-Thanjavur. I have travelled in other routes as well.

Updates after the trip:

I did Chennai - ECR-Cuddalore-Chidambaram-Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam(Thirunageswaram)-Needamangalam-Mannargudi-Thanjavur-Ariyalur-Perambalur-Chennai.

ECR (Avoid Pondy-Cuddalore ) and Delta Zone roads have become very bad and certainly affects the schedule.

On the contrary Mannargudi - Thanjavur (a few broken pieces of the pavement) & Ariyalur - Perambalur is good (widening work is happening on the stretch).

Even the NH45 has been affected and have raised a complaint with NHAI personnel. They said. "orders have been received to carry out the patch work".

[Sk8r]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to do Chennai - Ulundurpet - Virudhachalam - Jayakondam - Kumbakonam ( Visit a couple of places ) and head to Thanjavur for night stay.

- How is the route between Ulundurpet and Kumbakonam ??
- Is this doable before dusk, Say I leave Chennai by 6 AM on 22nd ( Looong weekend traffic )

thanks in advance !

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Is this doable before dusk, Say I leave Chennai by 6 AM on 22nd ( Looong weekend traffic )

6 am on Diwali long weekend Saturday is not a good day to travel for leisure. If you want to escape traffic, start late night. This way overnight bus traffic would have moved and private car traffic on Saturday morning would start.

There is no escaping crowds at the destination.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Sk8r

I am planning to do Chennai - Ulundurpet - Virudhachalam - Jayakondam - Kumbakonam ( Visit a couple of places ) and head to Thanjavur for night stay.

Change to Ulundurpet-Veppur-Vridhchalam bypass - Jayamkondam-KMU.

Take the T-Palur instead of Anaikarai. Lots of diversions on 45C thanks to 4-lane work.

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by ampere

Change to Ulundurpet-Veppur-Vridhchalam bypass - Jayamkondam-KMU.

Take the T-Palur instead of Anaikarai. Lots of diversions on 45C thanks to 4-lane work.

The speed breakers on the T.Palur stretch are a serious pain though. They seem to crop once every 200 mts

[techpanda]

If anyone plans to stop at Kumbakonam, taking the Ulunthurpet-Vridhachalam-Sethiathope-Cholapuram route is good.

NH-36 is pretty much completed up to this route, except for some bridges. There is less traffic on this route as big vehicles do not use it yet.

[ampere]

I saw a news pieces speaking about the new bridge at Anakarai getting ready and soon operational? Any updates on that?

[RedHerring]

Jan 2025 update


I just did Chennai - Trichy - Thanjavur - Ariyalur - Perambalur - Chennai this weekend.

Would recommend Thanjavur to Chennai via Trichy, especially at night. Most of the strech from Thanjavur to Perambalur is a 2L with no lights and passes through some towns as well. Google maps shows this to be slightly faster (& cheaper!) than the Trichy route but is definitely more taxing.