NH544: Route and places to visit

National Highway 544, also known as NH544 (old number NH47), is a 340-kilometre (km)-long National Highway in south India that connects Salem in Tamil Nadu to Kochi in Kerala. It is also known as the Salem-Kochi Highway. The highway connects numerous key cities and towns in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including Salem, Erode, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kochi.

It is an extension of National Highway 44 (NH44), which constitutes the North-South Corridor of India’s National Highway network. It runs to the south of Coimbatore. The NH544 is Kerala’s sole four-lane (partially six-lane) highway, including the Kuthiran Road Tunnel. It was previously known as National Highway 47 (NH47).

See also: Bangalore-Mysore Expressway: Route, map, toll, latest news

 

NH 544: Major intersections

State	District	Location	km	Destinations
Tamil Nadu	Salem	Salem	0	NH 44 – Bangalore, Namakkal, Chennai
Tamil Nadu	Coimbatore	Neelambur	144	Coimbatore
Tamil Nadu		Saraswathi Hospitals	151	NH 181 / NH 81 – Coimbatore, Karur
Tamil Nadu		Eachanari Pirivu	164	NH 748 / NH 83 – Coimbatore, Pollachi
Kerala	Palakkad	Palakkad	204	NH 966 – Kozhikode
Kerala		Kannadi	209	SH 27 – Chittur
Kerala	Thrissur	Mannuthy	262	Thrissur
Kerala		Kodakara	282	SH 51 – Kodungallur
Kerala		Potta	288	SH 61 – Irinjalakkuda
Kerala		Chalakkudy	291	SH 21 – Athirappilly
Kerala	Ernakulam	Angamaly	305	SH 1 – Muvattupuzha, Munnar, Kottayam
Kerala		Athani	312	Expressway to Cochin International Airport
Kerala		Edapally	328	NH 66 – Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, Kozhikode

 

NH544: Bangalore to Coimbatore route details

The NH544 is a direct route between Bangalore and Coimbatore. It is also the quickest because traffic on this route is consistent, and there are no road closures. The journey between Bangalore and Coimbatore on this 360-km route takes approximately seven hours. For the most up-to-date information on road conditions, always consult live maps and immediate traffic updates.

 

NH544: Surveillance

The Kerala Road Safety Authority (KSRA) has completed the first phase of installing advanced traffic enforcement systems on the Edappally-Mannuthy stretch of NH544. This project includes 65 high-tech systems at 23 locations, utilising sensors, detectors and high-resolution cameras. Violations will be captured, offenders identified and notices issued based on vehicle visuals and registration plates. The KSRA, along with the Motor Vehicles Department and technical support from Keltron, is implementing this project as part of their commitment to promoting road safety during the ‘decade of action for road safety’ from 2011-2020.

 

NH544: Popular sights/monuments to be seen along this route

• Thorapalli’s Rajaji Memorial: It is a museum commemorating the birthplace and previous residence of last Governor-General of India Chakravarti Rajagopalachari.
• Krishnagiri Government Museum (Archaeological Museum), Krishnagiri: This museum has archaeological exhibits dating back to the Stone Age.
• Arulmigu Sugavaneswarar Swamy Temple, Salem: It is a five-hundred-year-old Shiva temple notable for its towers.
• Kalingarayan Anicut, Bhavani: It is a famous local dam on the Bhavani River built in the 13th century, excellent for views.

 

NH544: Restaurants along this route

• Sun Fast Food Pure Veg, Hosur, where Vegetarian South and North Indian dishes are served in a standing-only atmosphere suitable for families and children.
• New Sakthi Fast Food, Krishnagiri – It is a fast food restaurant that serves Chinese cuisine and biryani at reasonable prices.
• Tangerine, The World Kitchen, Salem – This restaurant is part of the Radisson Salem, serving high-quality vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare.
• Adyar Ananda Bhavan A2B Veg Restaurant, Perundurai – A family-friendly restaurant franchise that serves vegetarian south Indian cuisine.

 

FAQs

What is the name of the NH544 highway?

National Highway 544, often known as NH544 is also known as the Salem-Kochi Highway.

What is the speed limit on NH544?

The speed limit on NH544 varies from 60 km/hr to 100 km/hr, depending on the stretch of the highway. However, it is always advisable to follow the speed limits specified on the signboards to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com