[HighwayHopper]

Originally Posted by bejoy

I did Bangalore - Kodai last Saturday. Started at 5:30 am. Had the breakfast at Sai Annapoorna Veg, after Selam by around 9:00 am. This comes (on the left side) around 21 kms after the Omalur Toll Plaza. Great food and restrooms. You may be passing this hotel early morning and I am not sure when it opens in the morning. But there are no good restaurants beyond this till Dindigul, unless you enter into Karur or Namakkal towns.

Maps location of Sai Annapoorna Veg:
https://goo.gl/maps/X3dJ9PtrFAR2

Very useful information. Thank you bejoy.

[mpksuhas]

Between Karur and Dindigul, Valluvar is a good option.

It comes on the right side when driving south, I don't think they are listed on Google map. But location is around here.

Pic of the place

[HighwayHopper]

Originally Posted by mpksuhas

Between Karur and Dindigul, Valluvar is a good option.

Thank you mpksuhas !!

[mashmash]

I will be doing this route coming weekend.

Day 1: Bangalore -> Madurai (via Salem-Namakkal-Karur-Dindigul)
Day 2: Madurai -> Rameshwaram (Via Paramkudi - Ramanathapuram - Rameshwaram)
Day 3: Rameshwaram -> Dhanushkodi -> Kanyakumari (Via Ramanathpur - Kilakarai - Sayagudi - Thoothukudi* - Tirunelveli - Kanyakumari)
Day 4: Stay in Kanyakumari
Day 5: Kanyakumari -> Madurai (Via Tirunelveli - Kovilpatti)
Day 6: Madurai - Bangalore (Same as on Day 1)

Are these the best routes to take (Google Map Link)?

I am aiming to start from Whitefield at 4:30AM on Saturday. Is it early enough?

Day 3 has me in a doubt. Would it be too hectic? Can Dhanushkodi be done along with Temple visit in the morning? My thinking being that it will then leave me with a leisured drive to Kanyakumari the next day?

All suggestions welcome.

PS: Stay in all the stop overs have been already booked, however, I do not have those details yet (task assigned to the ladies of the house).

MaSh

[NPV]

Originally Posted by mashmash

I am aiming to start from Whitefield at 4:30AM on Saturday. Is it early enough?

Your Day 1 is just Bangalore-Madurai, so this should be fine. About 6 hours is a comfortable journey time for Bangalore-Madurai. Temple closes around noon, so you can head straight to the temple for a visit.

Day 3 has me in a doubt. Would it be too hectic? Can Dhanushkodi be done along with Temple visit in the morning? My thinking being that it will then leave me with a leisured drive to Kanyakumari the next day?

If you reach Rameswaram on Day 2 afternoon, you can visit the local temples/tourist spots with a 4pm start from your hotel and visit the Ramanathan temple to complete Day 2.

On Day 3, do an early morning drive to Dhanushkodi and then drive to Kanyakumari (from Dhanushkodi you will have to drive to Kanyakumari via Rameswaram).

[mashmash]

Originally Posted by NPV

Your Day 1 is just Bangalore-Madurai, so this should be fine. About 6 hours is a comfortable journey time for Bangalore-Madurai. Temple closes around noon, so you can head straight to the temple for a visit.


If you reach Rameswaram on Day 2 afternoon, you can visit the local temples/tourist spots with a 4pm start from your hotel and visit the Ramanathan temple to complete Day 2.

On Day 3, do an early morning drive to Dhanushkodi and then drive to Kanyakumari (from Dhanushkodi you will have to drive to Kanyakumari via Rameswaram).

Excellent. Thank you. I will update the plan with this.

MaSh

[gurupalani]

Originally Posted by NPV

...There is a 2Km diversion in Salem for flyover construction work, so better to time your drive well and avoid driving thru Salem between 8:30-11am...

Does anyone know if this flyover construction is finished?
Hope it is done by now. I'm visiting Srivilliputtur this weekend and will be taking this route.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by mashmash

Excellent. Thank you. I will update the plan with this.

The new Dhanushkodi road extension is complete and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister last month, should be fun to drive up to the end of this road now, have a good trip

See this thread for more details - here (Dhanushkodi: Still open to tourists? EDIT: New 9.5 km stretch now opened for traffic!)

Originally Posted by gurupalani

Does anyone know if this flyover construction is finished?
Hope it is done by now. I'm visiting Srivilliputtur this weekend and will be taking this route.

It is not complete, it is about a 2Km distance and can be navigated easily during non-peak hours, peak hours usually being 8am-11am and 4pm-8pm. During weekends and holidays this could be different.
I would suggest crossing Salem by 8am.

However, I'm a bit confused seeing your location as Chennai
If you're driving Chennai-Srivilliputhur via Salem, you will not even see this construction!
Also, you have alternate routes like going via Trichy also without even touching Salem.

This flyover construction will be enroute only when going from Bangalore to Perundurai (NH 47/544) or Bangalore to Namakkal (NH7/44) sides via Salem.

[gurupalani]

Originally Posted by NPV

However, I'm a bit confused seeing your location as Chennai

Oh, I'm unable to find where to change location in the app. Every time I login via browser I keep forgetting to edit it!

I'm currently residing in Bangalore!

PS: Thanks for the info. If I have to cross Salem by 8, then I should leave really early from here, no? I'm not sure how far I'll be successful in that! Particularly because I'm traveling with a 3yo.

[mashmash]

Originally Posted by NPV

The new Dhanushkodi road extension is complete and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister last month, should be fun to drive up to the end of this road now, have a good trip

See this thread for more details - here (Dhanushkodi: Still open to tourists? EDIT: New 9.5 km stretch now opened for traffic!)

Yes, the road was completed long back I suppose. I was there in June and they were not allowing any vehicle to go beyond a point. Had to take a rickety 4x4 Mahindra van to the ruins, which went along the sea. We did walk on the road a bit. Hope to do it again and drive on that beautiful road.

MaSh

[smnrock]

Section between karur and dindigul is very uneven and bumpy. Last 3-4 months it's in same state, yet no sign of fixing by the toll operator :(

[rogercharlie]

What time did you reach Kodai Bejoy?
Thanks in advance

[Rabbit80]

Hello BHPians,

I have just returned to India after a years trip and want to complete one of the dreams to drive on the roads of Rameshawaram and till Dhanushkodi. I will be starting off from Bangalore (Tumkur Road). I will be driving my Ford Figo with my wife and two kids.
Has anyone done trip to Dhanushkodi or near by places recently.
How is the road condition
Any specific thing that I need to take care of

[deadguy25]

I think you would have read through the forums, in case you missed: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route...e-queries.html (Bangalore - Madurai - Bangalore : Route Queries)
I think you can go up to Madurai and then take the turn, that is how I had been.
Sorry, i thought the thread had road details too.

[psankar]

I am planning to do the Bangalore - Madurai - Bangalore stretch sometime soon. How good are the roads ? Is it 4 lane all the way ? I am planning to take Bangalore -> Krishnagiri -> Dharmapuri -> Salem -> Karur -> Dindigul -> Madurai route.

Anyone taken this route recently ? Any suggestions ?