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-   -   Chennai - Rameshwaram : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/51159-chennai-rameshwaram-route-queries-8.html)

It took 9.30 hrs including breaks, on the ECR route.
Break up of ECR Timing.
1. Chennai (Adyar) --> Pondy - 1.45 hrs
2. Pondy --> Cuddalore - 0.45 hrs.
3. Cuddalore --> Karaikal - 2.30 hrs.
4. Karaikal --> Ramanathapuram - 2.45 hrs.
5. Ramanathapuram --> Ramehswaram - .45 hrs.
total - 8.30 hrs

Return on the other route
1. Rameshwaram --> Ramanathapuram - 0.45 hrs
2. Rameshwaram --> Paramakudi - 0.30 hrs
3. Paramakudi --> Melur - 1.15 hrs
4. Melur --> Trichy - 1.15 hrs
5. Trichy --> Ulundurpettai - 1.00 hrs
5. Ulundurpettai --> Chennai - 2.00 hrs
total - 6.45 hrs

I was rushing while returning. I kept constantly above 130 kmph on the Mellur Chennai Road. I have not included the breaks taken.

The trip meter showed a total of 1187 kms. We dint use our car to travel inside rameshwaram. We either walked or hire a jeep.

We dint pay the entry tax. I am in Media business, so have some concessions like this clap:. But the person at the 'so called toll both' asked for Rs.40/-.

Did a Chennai - Ramnad trip this weekend. Thanks @Harshavarthan for the most apt route suggested. However i explored a bit after Ilayangudi. Trip details below

Chennai (Chromepet) 8.30 AM
Ulundurpet (11 AM)(Break - 30 mins)
Viralimalai (After Trichy) - 1.15 PM (Break - 20 mins)
Melur - Sivagangai - Ilayangudi (3.30 PM- Break 10 mins): Good roads, except a couple of bad patches.
Ilayangudi - RSMangalam: Single lane road, decent to bad shape, will get worse after monsoons - better avoided. I guess Ilayangudi - Paramakudi should be way better.
RSManagalam - Devipattinam (4.40 PM): Very good road condition.

Total: 8 hrs Including 1 hr break

Return:
Devipattinam (2:30 PM) - RSMangalam - Thriuvadani: Very good road
(On the thondi - sivangangai road) Thiruvadanai - Kalayarkoi: Very bad roads and road work going on. Better avoided.
Kalayarkoil - Sivangangai - Decent road, lot of curves.
Sivagangai - Melur - Trichy (5.40 PM, break for 15 mins)
Trichy - Thindivanam(8.00 PM, break 30 mins) - Chennai (10.00PM)

Total: 7.30 hrs Including 45 minute break. Little aggressive (100 -120 on free stretches. 80- 100 on other stretches. Not at all advisable and not worth it, i would do it more relaxed next time)

So the best way to reach ramnad till now is indisputably Trichy - Melur - Sivagangai - Ilayangudi - Paramakudi - Ramnad. BTW, is there any update on the usual route Trichy - Pudukottai - Karaikudi route? How is the work in progress and when will it be completed?

Guys, I'm going to Ramnad next week. I would like to take the ECR route from Chennai. I know the Chennai - Pondy stretch, but how about the road after that? Is it advisable to take the GST till Trichy, turn over to Tanjore and touch ECR through Pattukottai - Thondi route?

All these years I've been taking the usual Trichy-Karaikudi-Devakottai route but with the road work going on forever, my last resort is the roundabout Chennai-Madurai-Paramakudi route. An update on the ECR till Ramnad would be great!

Recently I did Tanjavur to Rameshwaram, via Adiramapattinam and ECR. The ECR is flawless. Just perfect. However note that there is no facilities and backup system, incase vehicle breakdown. Also watch out for cattle. We did Tanjavur to Rameshwaram in 3hrs 15 minutes, without brake.

I think your route is perfect. Can you guide me with the route from Tanjavur to Adirampattinam? Thanks.

Take Madras-Trichy-Kottampatti-Tirupattur-Karaikudi-Devipattinam-Ramnad. Kottampatti-Tirupattur-Karaikudi SH35 is good. This would be the fastest route from Madras.

Don't even think about taking Trichy-Pudukottai ever !! It is a disaster

Here is the route http://goo.gl/maps/z94eD
Note, there is no proper hotels, you need to plan for your food and refreshments well in advance.

I plan to travel to Rameshwaram this weekend from Chennai. I stay in the ECR. Will be accompanied by wife and mother. BHPians who have traveled recently, please let me know whether the above route is still the best one. I prefer better roads over speeds since my mother is a senior citizen.

Also, please suggest reasonable priced hotels in Rameshwaram and other places to see.

Yes it is still the best option from a routing point of view. But dont know if roads south of Malur have deteriorated of late.

Please try the TTDC hotel there. It is well maintained and beautifully located.

Is TTDCOnline the best way to book this hotel? I normally have issues booking with Govt. sites since they are not properly maintained and also not sure about their security measures.

Another place if you want more comfort.

http://www.daiwikhotels.com/

This may be a bit over the budget for me. But seems like a nice place.

Please suggest break (breakfast and lunch) options en route. We plan to start around 6:30AM from ECR, Palavakkam.

You can check with Tbhpian aargee , he has just put a travelogue of his bike ride to Rameshwaram. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...-complete.html

For stay you can opt for TTDC in Rameshwaram, they got descent rooms but no fancy services.

Tindivanam : Aryas
Ulundurpet bypass : Arya's again I think and also A2B

At Melur I think there is an A2B

After Melur, I remember a decent hotel just before Pamban bridge at Ramnad.