How to Reach Tamil Nadu: Flights, Trains and Road Routes

Most travellers reach Tamil Nadu by flying into Chennai for Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram and Puducherry, or into Madurai, Tiruchirappalli or Coimbatore for the temple towns of the south and the Nilgiri hills. Trains link every major town, and a popular plan is to fly into Chennai and out of Madurai.

Tamil Nadu is large, and its highlights run from the coast near Chennai to the hills in the west and the temples of the deep south. Choosing the right airports saves long drives. This guide explains the options by air, rail and road, and the drive times between the main places.

The short answer

By air

Chennai is one of India's busiest airports, with flights from every major city and many international routes. Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore have flights from several Indian cities and some international links. Thoothukudi and Salem have smaller airports. For Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is often the closest airport.

From the metros

By train

Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the main stations, with fast trains from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. Vande Bharat and express trains link Chennai with Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, climbs from Mettupalayam to Ooty on a slow, scenic route; seats sell out in season. Trains also cross the Pamban bridge to Rameswaram.

By road

The East Coast Road from Chennai is scenic, reaching Mahabalipuram in about an hour and a half and Puducherry in about three to three and a half hours. Chennai to Madurai is a long drive of seven to eight hours, so most travellers break the journey at Thanjavur or Chettinad. From Bengaluru, Ooty is about seven hours via Mysuru, with night travel restricted through the Bandipur and Mudumalai forests.

Drive times between key places

Reaching the Nilgiris

Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri sit in the Nilgiri hills above Coimbatore. From Coimbatore airport, the road climbs through hairpin bends to Ooty in about three hours. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam takes around five hours to Ooty, using a rack system on the steepest stretch; many travellers ride it one way and drive the other. From Bengaluru and Mysuru, the road through the Bandipur and Mudumalai forests is closed to most traffic at night, so plan daytime travel.

Reaching the deep south

Rameswaram, an important pilgrimage town, is reached by road or rail across the sea to Pamban Island, about three and a half to four hours from Madurai. Kanyakumari, at the southern tip of India, is about four and a half hours from Madurai and roughly two to two and a half hours from Thiruvananthapuram, which makes it easy to combine with Kerala. Tirunelveli has trains from Chennai and is a useful railhead for the far south.

Combining with neighbouring states

Tamil Nadu borders Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Madurai and Kanyakumari pair well with Kerala's backwaters and beaches, Coimbatore and Ooty with Mysuru and Coorg, and Chennai with Tirupati, about three to four hours away by road. Puducherry, a separate union territory, is easy to include from Chennai.

Arriving from abroad

Chennai has direct international flights to the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and Europe, and Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Coimbatore have links to the Gulf, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo. Overseas visitors can often reach the south without changing in Delhi or Mumbai.

Matching the route to the trip

Getting around

A private car with a driver who knows temple timings is the most comfortable option. In Chennai, the metro, suburban trains and app cabs work well. Tamil Nadu State buses connect every town cheaply. Our Timeless Tamil Nadu trip includes a driver from Chennai to Madurai.

Your first day

After landing in Chennai, spend the afternoon in Mylapore and on Marina Beach. In Madurai, the evening ceremony at the Meenakshi Temple is a good first outing. Keep long drives for early mornings, when roads are quieter and temperatures lower.

Planning around temple timings

Most large temples in Tamil Nadu open early in the morning, close for a few hours around midday and reopen in the late afternoon. Plan drives for the middle of the day and temple visits for the mornings and evenings, when rituals take place and the stone floors are cooler. Festival days bring large crowds and special queues, so check dates before you travel.

Season and festivals

November to February is the most comfortable season, though November and early December can bring north-east monsoon rain to Chennai and the coast. Pongal in mid-January fills trains and buses. The hills are pleasant from March to June. Read our month-by-month guide before booking.

Travelling with parents

Fly between distant regions rather than driving all day, and plan temple visits early or late to avoid hot stone underfoot. Ask for lower berths on trains.

For couples

Couples often add Puducherry's French Quarter or a heritage stay in Chettinad, or a few days in the Nilgiris.

Budget options

Trains and state buses are inexpensive and frequent. Book trains early around festivals. Simple vegetarian meals are excellent value across the state.

Practical tips

Dress modestly for temples and leave footwear at the counters. Read our 7-day Tamil Nadu itinerary and planning guide to plan the rest of your trip.

A BagPackerMe planner can arrange the whole journey privately, with one named planner, WhatsApp support throughout and vegetarian and Jain food planned in.

Your questions, answered

Which airport is best for a Tamil Nadu temple trip?

Fly into Chennai and out of Madurai for a north-to-south temple route. For a shorter trip focused on Thanjavur, Chettinad and Madurai, Tiruchirappalli is a convenient arrival airport.

How do I reach Ooty?

Coimbatore is the nearest airport, about three hours from Ooty by road. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs from Mettupalayam near Coimbatore up to Ooty.

How far is Mahabalipuram from Chennai?

About an hour and a half by road along the East Coast Road. Puducherry is about two hours further south.

How do I reach Rameswaram?

Madurai is the nearest major airport, about three and a half to four hours by road. Trains also run to Rameswaram across the Pamban bridge from Chennai and Madurai.