Krishnagiri to Tiruvannamalai road status

Hi

our family is planning for a road trip from bangalore to tiruvannamalai next week. Does any one know whats the latest and greatest on the road quality from krishnagiri to tiruvannamalai?

I had heard lot of negative comments about the road quality until 4 months back.

Any one who ventured on this route recently? Please post back.

We are planning to drive down by car.

If this road is still worse, i googled map to see a alternate (100+km extra) route from vellore (blr-krishgiri-vellore-tiruvanaḿalai). Would like any comments on the alternate route also.

thanks in advance

From what I heard last NH66 is still in bad condition, so the direct Krishnagiri-Thiruvannamalai road isn't recommended.

The route via Vellore would be the best in terms of road conditions, but it is about 100kms longer.

Another route which was recommended by someone else recently was Krishnagiri-Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Thiruvannamalai. He reported that the roads on this route are in pretty decent condition, and it is at least 50 kms shorter than the Vellore route. No first-hand experience, but still may be worth taking a chance.

thanks a lot for the update.
we are traveling tomorrow, will respond back with our experience.

Hi all

I am new to this site. i wish to share my experience regarding a new route from Bangalore to Tirukkoilur. As you all know, the present route via Krishnagiri and Tiruvannamalai (NH66) is not fit for car travel considering the fact that the road is full of craters.
I chose this route via Kambainallur, Morappur, Harur, Theerthamalai, Thanipadi, Tiruvannamalai. After paying toll at Krishnagiri, proceed along NH7 till you see a diversion to Morappur on the left hand side. You will cross Kambainallur, Morappur till you reach Harur. From Harur do not ask the locals how to go to T V Malai. They will suggest you the route via Singarapettai. Instead ask them the route to Theerthamalai.
Once you cross Theerthamalai, Thanipadi you will reach T V Malai outer. Then ask for GH in T V Malai. Opposite to GH is a cement road that takes you to Tirukkoilur bye pass.
This route is 36 kms more than the present route. But considering the prevalent conditions in NH66, this new route is 1000 times better. In fact i was able to touch 80-90 kmph between Kambainallur and T V Malai. This is a state highway (2L) but the roads are superb. Between Thanipadi and T V Malai, the road has been patched up which makes your drive a bit bumpy if you go at high speeds. Otherwise excellent road.
I took 4 hrs 45 min to reach Tirukkoilur from Koramangala with a 20 min tiffin break at Krishnagiri and 15 min waiting time at Attibele Toll.
I would encourage people to use this road
Regards
G Suresh

Yes, this is the same route that I had suggested to anuarvind. (Except for the tip on not asking the locals for directions at Harur - thank you for that info). Not sure if they did take that route or not, haven't heard any feedback from her after the journey.

Infact from Thanipadi one can go to Tirukkoilur via sankarapuram without touching T V Malai. When i enquired about the road condition, the locals advised me not to take this route. So i stuck to the T V Malai route.
I left my house at Koramangala at 6 45 am and reached Ulaganandha perumal temple at Tirukkoilur at 11:30 am considering 15 min waiting time at Attibele toll and 20 min tiffin break at Krishnagiri.
Just ensure that after reaching Harur, do not ask the locals how to go to T V Malai. They will guide you via Singarapettai that joins the dreaded NH66.
Ask the locals the road to Theerthamalai.
After reaching T V Malai GH as mentioned earlier, one has to take the cement road opposite to GH. While in cement road, if in doubt ask the locals how to go reach Tirukkoilur bye pass road and not the Tirukkoilur road via Manalurpet.
Plz remember to carry food with you when you are travelling on the route i mentioned. In fact after crossing Krishnagiri till you reach T V Malai, you do not have any hotel/restaurant enroute. You have small wayside shops at the nearby villages wherein you can buy soft drinks/biscuits/chocos etc but no hotel.
Keep this in mind when travelling on this route

I had been 2-3 times in Krishnagiri - Karimangalam - Morappur - Harur - Tiruvannamalai route. The route is great, beautiful scenery all around and road condition is good except for many turns and a little rough patch closer to TVM. But, it is not advised for late evening/night driving if going by single car (instead of 2-3 cars) because of a ghat road which is for nearly for 30 km. Breakdown service between Harur and TVM may be difficult, too!

We did the trip to TV Malai yesterday. Thanks for posting the detailed route, including to ask for Teerthamalai. The roads were amazing. We had to do about 30-40 kms extra and it saved us a whole lot of time, and bother! Thanks again!!

planning to travel from Bangalore airport to T V Malai.
how long will the trip take if I use the suggested route Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Karimangalam - Morappur - Harur - Tiruvannamalai

When i went to tirukkoliur which is 35 kms from T V Malai, i left my home (Koramangala 5th block) at 6:45 am and reached T V Malai around 10:45 - 11:00 as i reached tirukkoilur by 11:30 am.

From NH7 exit till T V Malai, very good 2L roads but beware of speed breakers near villages.

We left Silk Board at 3.20 PM. After a 30 minutes halt at Krishnagiri, we reached T V Malai at 8.00 PM. We did not drive beyond 80 Kmph at any place. After Karimangalam, our speed was between 70 & 80 KMPH maximum.

Please add the distance from Airport to Silk Board appropriate to the time of day.

We for a lark took an alternative route from Velankanni to Bangalore and decided to drive from Velankanni to Chidambaram to Banruti then to Thirukovillur and Thiruvanamalai and Krishnagiri. Worst decision ever.

There is major road widening work going on on the Thiruvanamalai to Krishnagiri stretch but the road looks like its hardly ever been repaired since first laid.
Despite travelling by day - it took us 2.5hrs for the 100km stretch and there were huge pot holes and stretches of just gravel and stones.

Next time would try the chidambaram - salem route onto bangalore Dont know how bad/good that one is.

Nevertheless - this road will likely take another 2 years to get finish, so dont go anywhere near there.

Hi all,
Thanks to this forum members I took the following route as suggested here

Bangalore -> krishnagiri -> karimangala -> morappur -> harur -> Theerthamalai -> Thiruvannamalai..

Road is excellent but for some minimal patches.

PLEASE NOTE: when we were coming back 18th nov 2012 we observed some road works from theerthamalai to Thiruvannamalai. The work is being mainly carried on the side of the roads but might cause inconvenience.

Regards
Suresh.

Dear all, thanks a ton for the route to thiruvannamalai. We had a great trip from bangalore through this new found route, took 4 hrs 45 mins to TVM and 4 hrs 30 mins back to bangalore including a break of about 30 mins in both

The route is Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Kambinallur - Morappur - Harur - Theerthamalai - Thanipadi - Thiruvannamalai

After Krishnagiri, keep going on the highway towards salem and in about 22 kms you get the diversion on left to Morappur with a large sign board that you cant miss. After that the ride is through a state highway, very pictureque throughout surrounded by hills and cattle, great to explore this route.

Be carefule to have your vehicle fully checked and loaded, as there is no signs of car shops.

Also we took some food alongwith us with kids.

Real fun ride to Thrivannamalai