Historically known as Madras, the city of Chennai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and is known as one of the safest cities in the country. Situated on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is a coastal city with a long beach and the city boasts impressive architecture including temples, museums, churches and the historic Saint George Fort. After spending a few days on the coast of India, head inland to a completely different part of the country. The city of Kodaikanal is an area of hills, forests, valleys, lakes and waterfalls, and the greenery of the region attracts the attention of all travelers. A beautiful place to visit, both on foot and by bike. Learn about transportation options to get from Chennai to Kodaikanal.
Travel options from Chennai to Kodaikanal
It is approximately 525 kilometers from Chennai to Kodaikanal, so the journey takes some time no matter which mode of transport you choose. Unfortunately, Kodaikanal does not have an airport, but if you prefer to travel by plane, you can fly to Madurai International Airport which is 115 kilometers away from the city. There are flights from Chennai to Madurai with four airlines: Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet, so you have plenty of choice. However, taking into account the cost of the flight and the additional payment to Kodaikanal, you can come to the conclusion that it is not worth traveling this way. Therefore, almost all tourists go from Chennai to Kodaikanal by bus or even by train. Details of both options are provided below.
From Chennai to Kodaikanal by bus
Traveling by bus from Chennai to Kodaikanal is much cheaper than flying, but it is not the cheapest way to travel. Usually trains are cheaper. Still, both buses and trains are very popular options to get from Chennai to Kodaikanal, and both modes of transport are always available.
Due to the ease of purchasing tickets, it can be said that the bus is better as you can book in advance through the website 12Go.asia. Its search and purchase system is very easy to use and allows you to receive instant confirmation to secure your seats. It also offers refund options and you can read reviews from other travelers for each route and mode of transport. Via 12Go you will find two bus companies that offer their services from Chennai to Kodaikanal: Parveen Travels and YBM Travels.
Both companies have a night service. Parveen Travels departs Chennai at 8:15 PM and arrives in approximately 9 hours and 15 minutes, around 5:30 AM the next day. YBM Travels departs at 9:00 PM and arrives in Kodaikanal about 10 hours later, around 7:00 AM. Ticket prices are usually the same with both companies, so you won’t save by choosing one or the other. The buses are sleeper type with air conditioning, so they are also very similar. On these buses, the bed is slightly smaller than a standard bed, but you can lie down and sleep when traveling at night.
Traveling overnight from Chennai to Kodaikanal will save you an overnight stay. For this reason, this option is particularly economical and prevents you from spending your holiday day traveling. If you have no trouble falling asleep, the night bus is a great option.
From Chennai to Kodaikanal by train
Chennai Egmore Railway Station © gnanistock / Shutterstock.com
Traveling by train from Chennai to Kodalkanal has two advantages over buses and trains: it is the cheapest way to travel and faster than traveling by bus. There are two trains every weekday: Tiruchendur Express and Pandian Express. There are also other options that only have departures one or two days a week and are worth checking out to see if they fit your travel plans better.
It is important to note that while the train may be the cheapest option to get from Chennai to Kodaikanal, the price will depend on the class you choose. Trains offer sleeper tickets, and the cheapest option is cheaper than the bus, though not necessarily more comfortable. If you look at the prices of more convenient options, the price increases significantly and the trip becomes much more expensive than by bus.
If you don’t mind the train surcharge, you’ll enjoy a high level of comfort. Also, on the train, you can get up and go for a short walk to stretch, which you can’t do on the bus. As we discussed earlier, trains also have the advantage of traveling faster than buses. From Pandian Express Station, you will leave Chennai Egmore Station at 9:20 PM and arrive at Kodaikanal Road Station at 4:54 AM, so the journey will take approximately 7.5 hours. Tiruchendur Express leaves Chennai in the afternoon, exactly at 16:05. As you can see, this train doesn’t only run at night, it arrives at Kodaikanal at 1.49am.
In short, we can say that both trains and buses are good options to travel from Chennai to Kodaikanal. If you want to save some time and money, choose trains. Of course, don’t forget to compare ticket prices in the different classes available. You can also choose the night bus, which you can easily book through 12Go.