chennai to rameshwaram by rail or road?

Hi,

Only yesterday i came upon the wonderful article about the scenic "east coast highway", so i am wondering, should i cancel my train reservation on Rameshwarm express (chennai to rameshwaram), and hire a taxi and drive down the highway.

Is the highway safe, i know i have driven on some of the national highways, the volume of traffic is enormous, with all the unexpcted holes, speed breakers (on a national highway, yes there are, belive me), stones. I have found, as long as I keep my driving (or taxi) to the day time i feel confortable. Night drivng in india is a nightmare.

I bet this highway must be beautiful, does it really go along the coast line?, can i watch (ofcourse not me - the driver, i better look at the road, smiles) the see from my car window?,

Another question is the train (rameshwarm express), is it meter gauge??

Waiting for you expert feed back and opinions.

thanks
dan

The EAST COAST ROAD( ECR) is a very nice road constructed and managed by a private company that goes only up to Pondicheery (from Chennai). After Pondicherry, the roads are as bad or as good as elsewhere. The distance covered by ECR is around 120kms...that's all while Rameshwaram is very far away .
So train is the best mode of transport to reach Rameshwaram frm Chennai.

hi,
thanks "citybell", for the info. I perfer to take less travelled roads, HATE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS,. Even if the back roads are bad, as long as they go along the coast, the drive must be very fascinating. I am desparately looking for a good road atlas for india, but so far no luck.

Thanks for the info.

Dan

Dear Dan,
The best mode is Train Journey.
==========
Southern Railway is operating two Metre Gauge Trains from Tambaram (suburb of Chennai) to Rameswaram, whose schedules are given below:-
TRAIN ROUTE

You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
6713 SETHU EXPRESS 01/06/2005 TAMBARAM MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN


SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 TBM TAMBARAM 1 Source 13:00 0 1
2 CGL CHENGALPATTU 1 13:40 13:45 31 1
3 MMK MADURANTAKAM 1 14:14 14:15 56 1
4 MLMR MELMARUVATTUR 1 14:29 14:30 67 1
5 TMV TINDIVANAM 1 14:59 15:00 97 1
6 VM VILLUPARAM JN 1 16:20 16:25 134 1
7 NPM NELLIKUPPAN 1 17:14 17:15 167 1
8 TDPR TIRUPADRIPULYUR 1 17:31 17:32 177 1
9 COT CUDDALORE JN 1 17:41 17:42 181 1
10 CDM CHIDAMBARAM 1 18:33 18:34 220 1
11 SY SIRKAZHI 1 19:01 19:02 237 1
12 VDL VITHISVARANKOL 1 19:09 19:10 243 1
13 MV MAYILADUTURAI J 1 19:30 19:35 256 1
14 TVR THIRUVARUR JN 1 20:44 20:45 294 1
15 TTP TIRUTURAIPDI JN 1 21:44 21:45 320 1
16 MTT MUTUPET 1 22:24 22:25 343 1
17 AMM ATIRAMPATTINAM 1 22:49 22:50 358 1
18 PKT PATTUKOTTAI 1 23:29 23:30 370 1
19 PVI PERAVURANI 1 00:04 00:05 391 1
20 ATQ ARANTANGI 1 00:24 00:25 416 2
21 KNPL KANDANUR P VAYA 1 01:04 01:05 437 2
22 KKDI KARAIKKUDI JN 1 01:55 02:00 443 2
23 DKO DEVAKOTTAI ROAD 1 02:07 02:08 448 2
24 SVGA SIVAGANGA 1 02:49 02:50 484 2
25 MNM MANAMADURAI JN 1 03:40 03:45 504 2
26 PMK PARAMAKKUDI 1 04:19 04:20 529 2
27 RMD RAMANATHAPURAM 1 05:04 05:05 564 2
28 MMM MANDAPAM 1 05:49 05:50 601 2
29 RMM RAMESWARAM 1 06:50 00:00 619 2
-----------------
TRAIN ROUTE

You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
6714 SETHU EXPRESS 01/06/2005 RAMESWARAM MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN


SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 RMM RAMESWARAM 1 Source 15:10 0 1
2 MMM MANDAPAM 1 15:37 15:38 19 1
3 RMD RAMANATHAPURAM 1 16:24 16:25 55 1
4 PMK PARAMAKKUDI 1 17:09 17:10 91 1
5 MNM MANAMADURAI JN 1 17:40 17:45 115 1
6 SVGA SIVAGANGA 1 18:14 18:15 136 1
7 DKO DEVAKOTTAI ROAD 1 19:09 19:10 172 1
8 KKDI KARAIKKUDI JN 1 19:35 19:45 176 1
9 KNPL KANDANUR P VAYA 1 19:54 19:55 183 1
10 ATQ ARANTANGI 1 20:29 20:30 204 1
11 PVI PERAVURANI 1 21:04 21:05 229 1
12 PKT PATTUKOTTAI 1 21:44 21:45 250 1
13 AMM ATIRAMPATTINAM 1 22:14 22:15 262 1
14 MTT MUTUPET 1 22:34 22:35 277 1
15 TTP TIRUTURAIPDI JN 1 23:09 23:10 299 1
16 TVR THIRUVARUR JN 1 23:54 23:55 325 1
17 MV MAYILADUTURAI J 1 00:55 01:00 363 2
18 VDL VITHISVARANKOL 1 01:19 01:20 378 2
19 SY SIRKAZHI 1 01:29 01:30 383 2
20 CDM CHIDAMBARAM 1 02:01 02:02 401 2
21 COT CUDDALORE JN 1 02:59 03:00 438 2
22 TDPR TIRUPADRIPULYUR 1 03:09 03:10 442 2
23 VM VILLUPARAM JN 1 05:15 05:20 485 2
24 TMV TINDIVANAM 1 06:14 06:15 523 2
25 MLMR MELMARUVATTUR 1 06:49 06:50 553 2
26 MMK MADURANTAKAM 1 07:04 07:05 564 2
27 CGL CHENGALPATTU 1 07:55 08:00 588 2
28 TBM TAMBARAM 1 09:20 00:00 619 2
======================
The Southern Railway is also operating 6701/6702 between Tambaram and Rameswaram, which also takes the route of 6713/6714:-
6701/Tambaram/Dep:20.15.......Rameswaram/Arr:13.20
6702/Rameswaram/Dep:12-45.....Tambaram/Arr:7.15
======================
If you feel, you cannot sit for 18 hours, for a distance of 619 Kms., then you can reach Madurai within 9 Hours in a BG Train and from Madurai you can hire a taxi to reach Rameswaram, which is approximately, 170 Kms. away from Madurai. The distance from Madurai to Rameswaram is 163 Kms., but there are no direct trains in view of ongoing Gauge Conversion work between Manamadurai and Mantapam.

hi,
thanks for the replies, yes 619 kms in 18 hours, vow and that too on a meter gauage train. I assume, the train ride must be very beautiful, does it also go along the coast like the east coast highway.

I wont mind travelling at about 35 kmph, heck, what is there to hurry about. I will be in india, and i want enjoy every moment of it.

thanks
dan

Dear Dan,
With the exception of the run between Cuddalore Port Junction and Mayiladuthurai Jn.,(76 Kms.) the run will be far away from the Coast Line, for the rest of the stretch, till you land in Rameswaram.
----------
Even the above mentioned stretch of 76 Kms., will be 30 to 40 Kms. away from Coast. (***I don't know the exact distance).
==========
It will be a pleasant ride in MG train, when you are not in a hurry.
===========
(***I have this query of you even in IRFCA, am I right?

Thanks VSP,
Yes i did put the question to IRFCA. THanks for all the info. IT has been a long time since i travelled in meter gauage-it wasy way back in the 70's between Guntur and Guntakal, with a stem engine, what a wonderful thing it was.

thanks
dan

I've heard that parts of the Guntur - Guntakal route are very scenic, can you confirm?

Sadly, all express trains pass through this section at night, there are a couple of passenger trains that pass in daylight though.

Dear Steven,
The stretch between Chelama and Diguvametta (17 Kms.) which falls between Giddalur and Nandyal is reported to be a picturesique one (***I am yet to get an opportunity on this beautiful stretch), particularly the ""Dorabavi Bridge"" on MG track which is retaine, even after Gauge Conversion.

hi i am planning to visit from chennai tambaram to kanyakumari, rameswaram, karaikudi,madurai,kutralam.wit h my family.

could any one please let me know the route how i have go by car.

thx
Satish