[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by ampere

If you start by 4AM I would suggest breakfast at Salem. Saravana Bhavan is a decent place. But I am not sure if recent construction as caused any traffic diversions.

If you are talking about Saravana Bhavan(Asai Dosai), then I think the entry will be little difficult now as there is no direct entry from the junction opposite to this hotel(while going from bangalore).

There is another Saravana Bhavan immediately after the Omalur toll(on the right side), this is a decent option.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ampere

Also how about traffic Post Namakkal towards Trichy?

Given the start time I expect he'd do it around 9-10 am. Traffic is not a concern, you can maintain a decent 60-80 kmph throughout. Its a 2-lane, curvy that runs parallel to the river, so be wary of overtaking at turns. You won't have shoulders to run off. As a first timer, I'd suggest do this stretch in broad daylight. Should take 1:15 hr to negotiate the 70 km Namakkal-Number 1 tollgate stretch.

A slight modification of the above is exiting NH7 at Karur and doing Karur-Kulithalai-Leave NH67 at Kulithalai, Cross Kaveri bridge to Musiri-Number 1 Tollgate. That would shorten the SH25 stretch to 20 km. This is to avoid negotiating Trichy city, as I mentioned quoting NPV that the Karur-Kulithalai-Trichy NH67 would land you inside the city (Chathiram Bus stand) and you'll have to then wade through the town that has confusing signages

Also the Trichy-Karaikudi is a wide 2-lane with shoulders tolled road (resurfaced completely and widened about couple of years back) would around the same 1:15 for the 90 km stretch.

The Dindigul-Karaikudi stretch, am aware only of Karaikudi-Tirupattur which is OK with some patches. Rest am not aware of latest condition.

You are free to mix and match whichever way you want.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Any pointers to where we can stop for breakfast?

With a 4am start, you should be in Salem between 6 and 6:30, so Saravana Bhavan (aka Aasai Dosai) may be an option. It is on the right side so do keep a watch (you may miss it due to construction work on the main carriageway lanes). It is beside one of the large circles/Roundtanas at Salem.
Other more expensive options at Salem are Grand Estancia and Park (now Radisson ?)

If you reach Salem before Saravana Bhavan opens, then your next options are either inside Namakkal (not a good idea if you're going via Dindugal) or Karur (there are couple of hotels on the service road but don't remember the names).

In fact, if you've gone that far (this is about 300Km from Bangalore), just for the sake of convenience, I'd suggest Hotel Subbanna on th Karur bypass which is on the NH 7 itself on the left beside a HP petrol pump and before the Amaravathy river bridge (after the Amaravathy river bridge you get the turn off to Trichy NH 67/new NH 81, so if you've gotten there, you missed the place!).
We recently stopped here for coffee, the place is neat, they have AC and non-AC sections, restrooms decent too.

Thanks to gmaps, it's already marked - Here

Originally Posted by arun_josie

There is another Saravana Bhavan immediately after the Omalur toll(on the right side), this is a decent option.

OP is planning a 4ish start so this place may not be open that early.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by NPV

In fact, if you've gone that far (this is about 300Km from Bangalore), just for the sake of convenience, I'd suggest Hotel Subbanna on th Karur bypass which is on the NH 7 itself on the left beside a HP petrol pump and before the Amaravathy river bridge (after the Amaravathy river bridge you get the turn off to Trichy NH 67/new NH 81, so if you've gotten there, you missed the place!).
We recently stopped here for coffee, the place is neat, they have AC and non-AC sections, restrooms decent too.

Thanks to gmaps, it's already marked - Here

I have seen this hotel Subbanna but never stopped here. Will try this hotel next time. Normally if Salem is early for breakfast then we prefer Madurai which has multiple options like Temple City, A2B, Hari's, Nellai Saravana Bhavan etc.

Have you tried any options in Dindigul?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

I have seen this hotel Subbanna but never stopped here. Will try this hotel next time. Normally if Salem is early for breakfast then we prefer Madurai which has multiple options like Temple City, A2B, Hari's, Nellai Saravana Bhavan etc.

I usually take the Park and splurge. A 4AM started leads you Salem by 6:30 or 6:45. These guys open at 7.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by arun_josie

Have you tried any options in Dindigul?

Arun - no experience at any hotels near or in Dindigul or the bypass. This should be en route for you on your trips towards Nagercoil, right ?

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by NPV

Arun - no experience at any hotels near or in Dindigul or the bypass. This should be en route for you on your trips towards Nagercoil, right ?

Yes, but I have never stopped for breakfast here. I have stopped for lunch/dinner though at Ponram biriyani. There is a Thalapakatti biriyani too. Both of them are on the highways but we will have to take the service lane to get access to these hotels.

[ravimathi]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Thanks ampere. I will take the Dindigul route. Any pointers on how to cross Dindigul?

Also what would be a good breakfast stop given our early start?

The Route is generally good throughout with few patches but nothing much to worry. From Dindigul, choose Dindigul - Natham - Singampunari-Tiruppattur-Karaikudi route. Two laned road with less to medium traffic in most places.

The best way to enter Dindigul town is taking NH83 from NH44. By taking this, you can avoid dindigul palani road/bazaar traffic which will be hectic sometimes. Also there is a decent vegetarian hotel named Saravana Bhavan for breakfast at the junction you enter NH83. You can also try breakfast in Hotel Aarthy which is in NH44 itself close to Dindigul. It can be noticed easily from the road itself and lot of advertisement boards as well. I suggest to have breakfast in Aarthy itself where you can refill your car as well.

I have given the route below to enter and exit dindigul to reach Natham-Karaikudi road from Bangalore.

https://www.google.co.in/maps/dir/10...39!1m0!1m0!3e0

Things to be noted:

You have to take the service road on your left to connect NH83 from NH44. It can be spotted using the sign board showing directions to Collector Office, Trichy, Dindigul etc.,

In NH83 in 2 kms you have to take another service road which will take you to Dindigul town. Sign boards are here as well for Dindigul, Karur. You have to continue on the same road to connect the Karaikudi Road.

After Natham, you have to make a sharp right at Kottampatty to stay in Tiruppattur Road. Its almost an U turn. Sign board is there but not very prominent.

Thanks,
Ravi

[ampere]

Just for kicks! I also note there is a Musiri-Manapparai-Viralimalai-Pudukottai SH which bypasses Trichy and cuts through both the 4-lanes. Would be good explore, if one has time.

[indusboy]

Thank you ampere, NPV, narayans80, arun_josie & ravimathi all for your help with my questions. We had a safe and enjoyable trip.

We took the Bangalore-Salem-Namakkal-Karur-Dindigul- Natham -Singampunari-Tiruppattur-Karaikudi route. Left from Bangalore at 4:30, reached Salem at 6:30, we were already hungry and the Asai Dosa - Saravana Bhavan was not yet open. Taking help of Google search we found another SB in the city. Given that there was not much traffic, we entered the town and found the place. To our surprise we found the place not only open but also fully packed, this apparently opens at 5:30am. After a longish breakfast we continued our journey. We got a little bit delayed in the railway crossing in Dindigul, other than that it was a smooth drive. Good surface through out, with some rough patches in the villages on NH83. Reached Karaikudi at 11:30.

Return: Having come near the coast, we wanted to catch a glimpse of the sea. A quick search on Google, showed a beach in Mimisal. From Karaikudi it is 60Km. It was ok, more of a fishing village than anything else. But we got to tip our toes in the Bay. Given our location we decided to return via - Pudokottai-Trichy-Namakkal-Salem-Krishnagiri-Hosur-Bangalore. Stopped for Biryani in Trichy (a little detour in the city took us to a place called KMS Hakkim) and for coffee at a A2B in Namakkal.

Got delayed behind line of sand trucks, and then large jams and slow moving traffic in Salem. The other thing I noticed that while the toll on the NH is not being collected, the boom barriers are still operational and they seem to taking note of something - perhaps the vehicle numbers or the number of vehicles. Reached Bangalore at 8:30pm.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by ampere

Just for kicks! I also note there is a Musiri-Manapparai-Vellimalai-Pudukottai SH which bypasses Trichy and cuts through both the 4-lanes. Would be good explore, if one has time.

Amp, I guess instead of Vellimalai it should be Viralimalai.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Amp, I guess instead of Vellimalai it should be Viralimalai.

Its a typo Suresh. Thanks for pointing. Fixed it.

Originally Posted by indusboy

Got delayed behind line of sand trucks, and then large jams and slow moving traffic in Salem. The other thing I noticed that while the toll on the NH is not being collected, the boom barriers are still operational and they seem to taking note of something - perhaps the vehicle numbers or the number of vehicles. Reached Bangalore at 8:30pm.

Good to note this. On the whole which you felt was a better option to drive? (Dindigul or Trichy) Would be good for others to note your perspective.

[indusboy]

Originally Posted by ampere

On the whole which you felt was a better option to drive? (Dindigul or Trichy) Would be good for others to note your perspective.

Having done both, my preference is to go via Dindigul - a longer stint on the much better NH44.

[Seagull76]

Did BLR - Karaikudi trip last weekend ( Apr 29 - May1 )

Onward Journey

• BLR - Karur - Dindigul - Natham - Karaikudi
• Started 5am from Domlur and got stuck for more than an hour in toll gates ( Electronic city - 20 mins, Krishnagiri - 45 mins, Thoppur - 15 mins )
• Reached around 2pm

Return Journey

• Took the alternate route suggested by @ampere( https://goo.gl/maps/xuDFijfhWSK2 )
• Pillayarpatti - Tirupattur - Kottampatty - Manaparai - Kulithalai - Musiri -Namakkal - BLR
• Travel time was around 8 hrs ( include two 20 minute break )
• Manaparai - Kulithalai - Musiri route is well maintained and 80km/hrspeed is easily doable
• Musiri - Namakkal route is surprisingly free from lorry traffic as TN Govt has halted Sand quarry ( Not sure about night times, due to sand mafia )
• Manaparai is famous for murukku/chakli and can save 2 toll gate fare compared to the other route

[DAART]

Hi

I am planning to visit my cousin in Thondi during Feb 16 weekend. Can anyone advise which route to take for Bangalore to Thondi.

Thanks