Bangalore to Kumbakonam, Thanjavur - Route options
I have been in Bangalore for 7 years now and I need to visit Kumbakonam (my native) at least 4 times a year for the last few years. I have tried multiple route to my native and thought of sharing them here.
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Musiri - Trichy - Tanjore - Kumbakonam
This has been my main route till 2012. It is 4-lane till Namakkal and you have to cut through Namakkal to catch the Trichy road. Namakkal to Trichy via Musiri is not the best road for low hung cars. The condition of the road is unpredictable as the road top layer goes off quite often because of the heavy sand lorry traffic. Trichy to Tanjore is a nice four lane road. Tanjore to Kumbakonam road cuts through many town and villages and the 40 odd kms will take more than one hour to cover. Road condition is also not good. Total kms will be around 430-440 from Bangalore to Kumbakonam in this route. It will take about 8 to 9 hours for the travel.
Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Thiruvannamalai - Panruti - Neyveli - Kumbakonam
I have been advised against this route always and hence I have not tried this route at all. It seems to be the shortest though (around 400 kms). Road condition seems to be very bad always and it is 4L only till Krishnagiri (approx 100 kms from Bangalore). The road from Krishnagiri till Kumbakonam does not have median. I think this route also takes about 8 to 9 hours.
Bangalore - Salem - Attur (by pass) - X road (read it as cross road) - Viruthacalam - Jayamkondam - Kumbakonam
This has become my regular route after 2012. When I started using this route, the 4L construction was half complete and there were lot of detours & pass through towns (like Valapadi) are required. 4L construction is complete now and it by passes all the towns like Valapadi, Thalaivasal, Attur etc., It is a nice 4L road till X road. One has to be cautious in the road between Salem & X-road as the 4L road will became a two way road at few places where the towns are getting by passed. There are clear caution boards though. After X-road, the road is a drivable two way road at good speed. There are some rough patches here and there. Also, there are villages (expect people and cattle to cut across the road any time) and hence it is better to maintain a reasonable speed. I usually take the Jeyakondam - Meensuruti - Anakarai - Thirupananthal to reach kumbakonam. It is a butter smooth two lane road. Light vehicles are allowed in Anakarai river bridge. I have done this route in 7-9 hrs. In a normal speed, it will take about 8 hours (approx 430 kms).
For a personal reason, I have to travel to Tanjore from Kumbakonam on my return journey. I took the below route instead of taking the Trichy route.
Kumbakonam - Tanjore - Ariyalur - Perambalur - Thalaivasal (join NH68) - Attur - Salem to Bangalore.
It is almost the same number of kms and the roads are good to drive. Road from Ariyalur to Thalaivasal are good without potholes. But they are quite bumpy (uneven) and hence you cannot do good speeds. But it is much better than the Tanjore - Trichy - Musiri - Namakkal route.
Bangalore - Salem - Namakkal - Musiri - Trichy - Tanjore - Kumbakonam
This has been my main route till 2012. It is 4-lane till Namakkal and you have to cut through Namakkal to catch the Trichy road. Namakkal to Trichy via Musiri is not the best road for low hung cars. The condition of the road is unpredictable as the road top layer goes off quite often because of the heavy sand lorry traffic. Trichy to Tanjore is a nice four lane road. Tanjore to Kumbakonam road cuts through many town and villages and the 40 odd kms will take more than one hour to cover. Road condition is also not good. Total kms will be around 430-440 from Bangalore to Kumbakonam in this route. It will take about 8 to 9 hours for the travel.
Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Thiruvannamalai - Panruti - Neyveli - Kumbakonam
I have been advised against this route always and hence I have not tried this route at all. It seems to be the shortest though (around 400 kms). Road condition seems to be very bad always and it is 4L only till Krishnagiri (approx 100 kms from Bangalore). The road from Krishnagiri till Kumbakonam does not have median. I think this route also takes about 8 to 9 hours.
Bangalore - Salem - Attur (by pass) - X road (read it as cross road) - Viruthacalam - Jayamkondam - Kumbakonam
This has become my regular route after 2012. When I started using this route, the 4L construction was half complete and there were lot of detours & pass through towns (like Valapadi) are required. 4L construction is complete now and it by passes all the towns like Valapadi, Thalaivasal, Attur etc., It is a nice 4L road till X road. One has to be cautious in the road between Salem & X-road as the 4L road will became a two way road at few places where the towns are getting by passed. There are clear caution boards though. After X-road, the road is a drivable two way road at good speed. There are some rough patches here and there. Also, there are villages (expect people and cattle to cut across the road any time) and hence it is better to maintain a reasonable speed. I usually take the Jeyakondam - Meensuruti - Anakarai - Thirupananthal to reach kumbakonam. It is a butter smooth two lane road. Light vehicles are allowed in Anakarai river bridge. I have done this route in 7-9 hrs. In a normal speed, it will take about 8 hours (approx 430 kms).
For a personal reason, I have to travel to Tanjore from Kumbakonam on my return journey. I took the below route instead of taking the Trichy route.
Kumbakonam - Tanjore - Ariyalur - Perambalur - Thalaivasal (join NH68) - Attur - Salem to Bangalore.
It is almost the same number of kms and the roads are good to drive. Road from Ariyalur to Thalaivasal are good without potholes. But they are quite bumpy (uneven) and hence you cannot do good speeds. But it is much better than the Tanjore - Trichy - Musiri - Namakkal route.
Good description Sir.
ReplyDeleteI have also tried various routes to Kumbakonam.
Route via Jayamkondan is by far the best.
Happy driving.
Regards
d ravi shankar,bengaluru
Thanks sir. Your description of the route was indeed elaborate. Have you travelled after January this year on the same roads via atthur
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr. Abdul for the details. I am also planning to take Salem Attur, jayamkondan route to kumbakonam this week end. How is the current road condition. My drive after Salem will be entirely in the night after 7
ReplyDeleteIt great post about the kumbakonam.It is very famous for its temples.Thank for sharing this post.It might be useful for other people who are interested to travel by road.Book your bus tickets in SRM Travels
ReplyDeleteWonderful experience about your trip to Kumbakonam. It is a famous place for Navagrahas. Thanks for sharing about this famous holistic place. Love to read about this place. If anyone want to travel this place then book your bus tickets in advance to get Bus Ticket offers.
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