Bangalore To Pondicherry: Road Condition & Route

[CasualSurfer]

Just thought to update the latest road conditions. Have done multiple trips in the last 6-8 months via multiple routes.

Standard: Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Vellore - Arcot - Cheyyar - Vandavasi - Tindivanam - Pondicherry: No major updates. Except for a few sections between Arcot - Cheyyar, the top layer had come off, but they were relaying the tar surface. Best & easiest route. All towns have bypass, scroll a few pages, I have given GMap Links to all bypass.

Shortest: Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Mathur - Uthanagarai - Chengam - Thiruvannamalai - Gingee - Tindivanam - Pondicherry. Still painful surface from Krishnagiri - Mathur - Uthanagarai. Post Singarapettai, surface is better. Cruising at 60kmph is definitely possible. And at times, 80kmph too. Just be beware of sudden road height drops. Crossing Thiruvannamalai, is still painful. Chola Resorts (just before Thiruvannamalai - while coming from Bangalore - is a decent stopover. Decent tasting food. Average restrooms).

Alternative to the shortest route: Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Bargur - Thirupattur - Uthanagarai/Singarapettai - Chengam - Thiruvannamalai - Gingee - Tindivanam - Pondicherry. Still the best alternative. Crossing Thirupattur, is still painful with potholed roads & peak hour traffic. Remember, the route from Thirupattur to Uthanagarai/Singarapettai are 1.5-2 lane undivided winding roads. Slow down to enjoy the Tamarind-tree-covered surfaces.

Scenic alternative: Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Karimangalam - Kambainallur - Morappur - Harur - Theerthamalai - Thanipadi - Thrivannamalai - Gingee - Tindivanam - Pondicherry. Road surface has help up in most sections. Beautiful winding sections of villages, farms, forests, and hills. If you are in no hurry, take this route, although not in summer...as the lands may be parched.

 

[CasualSurfer]

Latest update on 2 routes, that I did this weekend.

Shortest: Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Mathur - Uthanagarai - Chengam - Thiruvannamalai - Gingee - Tindivanam - Pondicherry. Right from Krishnagiri - Mathur - Uthanagarai - Singarapettai, the entire sections are patched. Although bumpy/patchy, easily doable. Post Singarapettai, surface is much better. Cruising at 60-80kmph is definitely possible. Most of the patches are the ones at inside villages, which were 1-2 feet lower. hence those gradients used to be very steep. Now, much more smoother, but some surprises still. Will advise to be a tad slower in those sections. Only one section between Uthangarai & Singarapettai is unpatched, about 2-3kms stretch (< 1%) in the total disance. Just be beware of craters & crater-avoiding-2-wheelers-autos. Saw 2-3 more newer petrol bunks. Next time, will get the Gmaps locations of these. The route is definitely getting better. Mathur bypass can be taken, no issues at all. Chengam bypass is better to be avoided, 2 bridges are yet to be built, hence you need to cross through sand roads, if you decide to choose the bypass. Go through the Chengam town instead. The bridge construction in Thiruvannamalai (on NH 77 exit towards Gingee) is a mess & through a painful crossroads. Night driving may not be advisable still. Issues of no decent break options still exist. 1010am-550pm, door-to-door, including a 45-min longish coffee break for meeting a friend @ Udupi Ruchi, Tindivanam.

Standard: Bangalore - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Vellore - Arcot - Cheyyar - Vandavasi - Tindivanam - Pondicherry: No major updates. All is good, except for one culvert being built post Cheyyar (IIRC). 830am-210pm, door-to-door.