[ampere]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Etukudi and Thirukollikadu are our family favourite deities. Our kuladeivam is in a village which is 5 kms from Thiruthuraipoondi and my father makes it a point to visit these temples every now and then. We also make it a point to visit ThiruRameshwaram, Mannarugudi Rajagopalaswamy temple.

In the last 2-3 years we have had multiple visits to this region. Though we visited both Etukudi and Thirukollikadu, Mannargudi is still a place yet to be visited!

Will try to couple it with Vedaranyam.

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by ampere

In the last 2-3 years we have had multiple visits to this region. Though we visited both Etukudi and Thirukollikadu, Mannargudi is still a place yet to be visited!

Will try to couple it with Vedaranyam.

Yes Ampere sir. Mannargudi temple is a very beautiful temple as the tamil saying explains" Mannargudi Madhil Azhagu". You should also visit Avudayarkoil near Pattukottai which is another marvel.

[Yieldway17]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Kumbakonam - Thiruvisanallur - Suriyanarayanar Koil road is in decent condition is a good alternative to the Kumbakonam Aduthurai road.

Thanks for the latest updates! I might have a trip brewing soon to these parts and good to know the conditions ahead.

I assume you stayed in Kumbakonam town overnight and went to Suriyanar Kovil next day? Was wondering why you took the roundabout way all the way to Kumbakonam bypass and then to Suriyanar Kovil when Anaikarai - Thirupananthal - Tirumangalakudi route would take you to Suriyanar Kovil much shorter and the roads were not bad last time I went that way couple of months back.

[venki.bala]

Originally Posted by Yieldway17

Thanks for the latest updates! I might have a trip brewing soon to these parts and good to know the conditions ahead.

I assume you stayed in Kumbakonam town overnight and went to Suriyanar Kovil next day? Was wondering why you took the roundabout way all the way to Kumbakonam bypass and then to Suriyanar Kovil when Anaikarai - Thirupananthal - Tirumangalakudi route would take you to Suriyanar Kovil much shorter and the roads were not bad last time I went that way couple of months back.

Hi Yieldway17, You are absolutely correct. I visited my cousin and then proceeded. Anaikarai - Suriyanar Koil is a very good option and it is in good condition.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Yieldway17

Chengalpattu - Tiruporur - OMR or ECR is the best option even with bottlenecks in Tiruporur and Kelambakkam. ECR is better than OMR if it's a weekday evening but otherwise OMR should be good. The bottlenecks in both Tiruporur and Kelambakkam should go away in a year or two as work for bypass for both these towns has started as part of OMR expansion.

After an year, this route is still a mess. Last sunday returned from Coimbatore and reached Chengelpet bypass from GST at 5.30. Waded through traffic lock jam in many places and finally reached Besant nagar only by 8.30

It made it look the usual Singaperumal Koil, Guduvancheri, Vandalur, Kelambakkam - a breeze.

I don't know whichever route I take, I end up in a traffic jam. Is it me ?

Originally Posted by narayans80

There are 3 bottlenecks: Sholinganallur signal, Kelambakkam and to a lesser extent Thiruporur. Chengalpattu, surprisingly was a breeze every single time.

Barring early mornings and late nights, I'd prefer this over the straight out Alandur-Tambaram-Vandalur-Paranur route. For a 4am onward or midnight return, it takes just 45 minutes from Paranur to home.

[Rajesh K R]

Originally Posted by venki.bala

Quick Update on Road conditions near Kumbakonam:

Chennai - Veppur - Jayamkondam - T.Palur - Kumbakonam Bypass: Roads are in good condition. Kumbakonam bypass is a mess due to construction works. Hotel Madhanam Inn right on the bypass is a great stop for food and clean restrooms.

Kumbakonam - Thiruvisanallur - Suriyanarayanar Koil road is in decent condition is a good alternative to the Kumbakonam Aduthurai road.

Hotel Seetharama Vilas Aduthurai is an excellent choice for Veg food.

Took Kumbakonam - Nachiyar Koil - Thirucherai - Thiruvarur nextday. Road is a twisty and good traffic. Road condition is very good and can maintain decent speeds. It took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes.



Thiruvarur - Thiruthuraipoondi - Nagapattinam - Thiruvarur: Thiruvarur to Thiruthuraipoondi SH is in good shape with some construction activity 5 kms ahead of Thiruthuraipoondi town. Next section from Thiruthuraipoondi till Nagapattinam is part of ECR and is in great shape. Lots of resorts are available near Vailankanni. Nagapttinam to Thiruvarur through Sikkal, Keezhvelur is very bad. Lots of potholes and heavy truck,bus traffic.



Thiruvarur - Peralam - Mayiladuthurai - Cuddalore: Thiruvarur to Peralam particularly till poonthotam is bad with lot of potholes. After which road improves till Mayiladuthurai, after which worsens again till Vaitheeswaran Koil. Road improves after the Sirkazhi bypass and maintains till Cuddalore.

We are leaving BLR tomorrow to perform in the Natyanjali festival at Vazhuvoor, Thiruthuraipoondi, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai. Good to have noted that majorly no concerns about roads. Our transport is through a Force Traveller and our base will be at Mayiladuthurai. Starting on Friday evening we start with Mayiladuthurai at 6 pm and again return at 4 am on Sat morning.

Saturday, we intend visiting Thanjavur and Srirangam on our way back to BLR.

Any other things which we should keep in mind / points of concern etc ?

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by Prowler

After an year, this route is still a mess. Last sunday returned from Coimbatore and reached Chengelpet bypass from GST at 5.30. Waded through traffic lock jam in many places and finally reached Besant nagar only by 8.30

It made it look the usual Singaperumal Koil, Guduvancheri, Vandalur, Kelambakkam - a breeze.

I don't know whichever route I take, I end up in a traffic jam. Is it me ?

My dad (who, as an avid birder searches out little known routes all over) brought us back through the Chenglepet-Tiruporur road but had me turn at a point such that we cut across past an Apollo Arts & Science college and merged onto the Vandalur-Kelambakkam road at Kandigai. From there, if you take the Mambakkam-Ponmar route, you can merge directly onto the Medavakkam region. This way, you'll avoid jams at Tiruporur, Kelambakkam and at Sholinganallur.

That stretch that I mentioned off of the Chenglepet-Tiruporur road which goes past the Apollo Arts & Science college was being expanded in a big way and was largely deserted at night. Check it out some time!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by Rajesh K R

Any other things which we should keep in mind / points of concern etc ?

Not sure about the status of Anaikarai. So when heading towards to Mayavaram, question is would you take Jayamkondam/Meensuruti/Anakarai or Kumbakonam option.

Typically Mayavaram-Peralam should be OK. Dont know how bad it goes south of Peralam towards Thiruvarur.

When you hit Thiruvarur, you may want to look at the following option (when heading to Thiruthuraipoondi) : Thiruvarur Bypass Link

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Prowler

I don't know whichever route I take, I end up in a traffic jam. Is it me ?

There's no escaping traffic. ECR-Mahabs bypass-Chengalpattu is just more predictable and it keeps moving. With GST its just trigger happy unpredictable traffic.

I did Central-Santhome-LB Road-ECR-Mahabs bypass-Chengalpattu 2 weeks back. We started from Central at 715 am, Shell ECR 825 am and reached Manoj Bhavan at 935 am.

Same trip on the return, got caught in a massive jam at Pallavaram flyover for over 30 mins, this was at 1100 pm.

[Rajesh K R]

Originally Posted by ampere

Not sure about the status of Anaikarai. So when heading towards to Mayavaram, question is would you take Jayamkondam/Meensuruti/Anakarai or Kumbakonam option.

Typically Mayavaram-Peralam should be OK. Dont know how bad it goes south of Peralam towards Thiruvarur.

When you hit Thiruvarur, you may want to look at the following option (when heading to Thiruthuraipoondi) : Thiruvarur Bypass Link

Last year we had gone on the same route to Thirunallar. At Aduthurai, the left turn which goes through Narasingampet, Kuthalam is not good ? We intend taking that road to reach Mayiladuthurai. And, we are travelling from Bangalore.

[ramanan.skr]

Originally Posted by narayans80

ECR-Mahabs bypass-Chengalpattu is just more predictable and it keeps moving.

I took the same route(CGL - Mahabs - ECR - Adyar), 2 days back, while returning from Kumbakonam. Details of which I have posted here (Temples around Trichy and Tanjore).
Took me a little over 1.5 hrs despite being an evening peak hour and this is much better than any of the other alternatives incl. CGL-Tiruporur-Kelambakkam-ECR/OMR.
CGL - Tiruporur road widening has progressed well and nearing completion except for a small portion where it comes under forest dept. Hope this, along with Tiruporur & Kelambakkam bypass, is completed before the Airport - CGL elevated expressway work gets started.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by ramanan.skr

this is much better than any of the other alternatives incl. CGL-Tiruporur-Kelambakkam-ECR/OMR.

OMR has too much traffic that goes across. Sholinganallur, Kelambakkam, Thiruporur are all slow sections. Besides how much ever you expand Thiruporur-Chengalpattu, the blind spots aren't going away

Airport - CGL elevated expressway work gets started

Simple Pallavaram flyover is being done for 3 years and counting. Airport-CGL will take our kids' lifetime to complete

[Rajesh K R]

We completed our TN Shivarathri temple trip.

Started from BLR on 20th night and 1st Halt was at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and proceeded to Mayiladuthurai - via Anakarai.

Left Mayiladuthurai to Vazhuvoor on21st Evening and then proceeded to Thiruthuraipoondi and next stop was Nagapattinam and finally back to Mayiladuthurai in the early hours of 22nd Feb. All interior roads are good, but with some curves thrown in and lot of speed breakers.

Next day was Mayiladuthurai to Thiruvaiyaru and Thanjavur before heading back to Bangalore.

[Yieldway17]

I’m planning a trip to Tirunallar in the next 2 weeks. If someone had recently traveled, could you provide update on the recent road options and conditions please?

My preferred routes used to be

1) Tambaram - Veppur - Jayamkondam - Anaikarai - Tirupananthal - Aduthurai - Mangainallur - Peralam - Tirunallar

2) The regular old GST-ECR route of Tambaram - Tindivanam - Pondy - Cuddalore - Mayiladuthuruai - Peralam - Tirunallar

I have been on the Vikravandi - Neyveli - Vadalur - Sethiathoppu route and the Vadalur - Kurinjipadi - Bhuvanagiri - Chidambaram bypass routes too but with road widening happening very actively in this road, planning to avoid it unless that’s the best option available.

[anandharamanp]

Originally Posted by Yieldway17

I’m planning a trip to Tirunallar in the next 2 weeks. If someone had recently traveled, could you provide update on the recent road options and conditions please?

My preferred routes used to be

1) Tambaram - Veppur - Jayamkondam - Anaikarai - Tirupananthal - Aduthurai - Mangainallur - Peralam - Tirunallar

2) The regular old GST-ECR route of Tambaram - Tindivanam - Pondy - Cuddalore - Mayiladuthuruai - Peralam - Tirunallar

I have been on the Vikravandi - Neyveli - Vadalur - Sethiathoppu route and the Vadalur - Kurinjipadi - Bhuvanagiri - Chidambaram bypass routes too but with road widening happening very actively in this road, planning to avoid it unless that’s the best option available.

Agree that you should avoid Vikravandi - Vadalur route. I travel frequently in this route and always witness many diversions due to road extension work and existing potholes have started getting bigger and deeper due to the impact of heavy machinery used for road construction. Moreover it is difficult to identify the potholes and navigate as they are filled with water due to rains - i did a trip in this route last week and have to struggle a lot for atleast 35 kms out of 50 kms between Vikravandi to vadalur junction.

I have stopped travelling in the Vadalur - sethiyathope route for close to 20 years and not sure about how the roads are now with road widening in place.

Note: Vadalur to chidambaram via kurinjipadi remains a breeze anytime through the year.

My suggestion is as below:
Tambaram - Tindivanam - Pondy - Cuddalore - Chidambaram - Sirkali - Thirukadaiyur - Tharangambadi - Thalatheru - Thirunallar. Google Link below:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Tamb...10.9306766!3e0


Option 1 you mentioned above will result in driving additional 45 kms approx which increases the drive time by 1 hour. Checked google maps to confirm my understanding and google also says the same.

Safe Drive!