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-   -   Bangalore - Kumbakonam - Thanjavur - Trichy - Madurai - Namakkal - Bangalore (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/90533-bangalore-kumbakonam-thanjavur-trichy-madurai-namakkal-bangalore-7.html)

You should have done : Tiruvannamalai-Harur-Morappur-Karimangalam. Karimangalam is on NH7; 22 km beyond Krishnagiri towards Dharmapuri. Very good roads all the way.

That was my initial plan too but just before I departed got information from a different source that road via Thirupattur was in good shape and hence gave it a try. But it turned out to be a bad decision.

The problem even to come till Thirupattur you have to drive Chengam/Uthangarai on the NH66. Hence the problem.

Planning to do Trichy - Thanjavur - Kumbakonam this weekend.

(A sudden trip because a friend invited for his family-function).
The last time I did Trichy - Thanjavur was 3.5 years back, 4-lane was not laid, now I was told it is good.

Is there a bye-pass to Thanjavur?
I can see a ring-road going south of Thanjavur and joining the Kumbakonam road on the east (in google-maps).

I am yet to ask my friend the exact roads to take since he does this drive often, but any help here welcome! (Will post details here after I do this trip).

(I will also need to bypass Kumbakonam since my exact destination is Govindapuram).

Before Tanjore bypass, you will need a Trichy bypass! Route Link
(Assuming you take the Karur road to Trichy).

Tanjore Bypass: Route Link

A to B is the continued NH67 4-lane which remains so till end of bypass. B to C normal 2 lane road. Its a wide road, but rough at many places.


For Kumbakonam : There are two options:

Bangalore-Salem-Attur-Ulundurpet-Vridhachalam-Jayamkondam-Kumbakonam. The roads from Uludurpet are interior 2-lanes roads.

Second option (I would prefer for now) is about 50 km longer, but much more easier to drive.
Bangalore-Salem-Karur-Trichy-Tanjore-KMU

4-lane to Karur, Good wide 2-lane to Trichy, 4-lane to Tanjore and bypass and last 50km is 2-lane with traffic.



KMU has a bypass : Route Link

Govindapuram is on Mayavaram road. Decent road, but expect lots of traffic (buses, trucks, two wheelers and what not!)

And since you mentioned Govindapuram, let me leave you with this...

Many Thanks Ampere!

I will take the Tanjore bypass you sent.

I was worried about the B to C in that route since it looked sparsely populated on the map. But I will take it even though you mention it 'rough at many places', since I will be avoiding driving inside the city.

I will also take the Kumbakonam bypass you sent.

I will be driving from Tuticorin to Madurai to Trichy and not from Bangalore.

Thanks again for your detailed instructions.

I will post detailed feedback here next week.

And is that photo the temple at Govindapuram?
This will be my first trip there.

Nothing to worry about that. I have taken that bypass. Works well.

Then you dont need the Trichy bypass. You are on the bypass. You just need to exit NH45 at the Tanjore road exit (NH67).

Yes thats the Panduranga temple at Govindapuram.

Have a safe drive. All the best.

So I am back from around 800 kms drive this weekend.

I was told that the regular road from Tanjavur to Kumbakonam contains lots of twisties and heavy traffic, so here is the route I took and it went off well (via Saliamangalam and Papanasam as recommended by my friend).

http://goo.gl/maps/rP9Pt

This route was picturesque and most of the road-surface was very smooth.

Will try to post some photos from the trip later.

Yes this is a recommended route. But since you were driving long distance I did not want to give you a local road, which you are not able to track. The longer you stay on NH67, its that much better. NH67 till Saliamangalam is very good (in fact its good even beyond!)

I had three navigation apps to guide me!
Google-maps, Sygic and Navimaps (which I purchased just a few days back) on my Android.

(I will post feed-back on Navimaps in the appropriate thread).

Some photos I took on my trip.

Anyone planning to stay near Kumbakonam:
My stay was at Aditya which was like small houses with two bedrooms, kitchen living rooms, etc. Best of all I could park my car just opposite my 'house'!
I paid only 2,500 per day for four adults.

The coordinates are: 11.00412, 79.45847

Will be posting a review in TripAdvisor also.

Wow! You stayed close to the temple! There is a Padmalaya Coffee just out side the temple which serves KMU degree coffee. Any other temples you were able to visit? There are quite many!

Yes that area is full of temples and temple-related buildings everywhere.

Actually I had gone for a friend who has built a small temple in 'Senganoor' a small village for which I had to drive via Aduthurai and Thirupananthal.

Did Trichy - Kumbakonam trip last week and tried the original route and it was bad scene - heavy rains and bad stretches. Is the Saliamangalam exit after the signboard for KMU on NH 67@ Thanjavur?

Its beyond Tanjore on the 67. I think the board to look out for is Thirukargavur. You can ask folks for the Garbha Rakhsambigai temple exit. Its the same road which beyond Thirukargavur would lead you to Papanasam on the Tanjore-KMU road.