How To Reach Tamil Nadu

Chennai International Airport (MAA), about 21 kilometres from city centre, is the fourth busiest airport in India. Domestic flights run from the Kamaraj Terminal, while international flights operate from the Anna Terminal. Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Alliance Air are main domestic airlines operating from Chennai Airport. Direct flights to international destinations such as Sharjah, Mauritius, London, Dubai, Singapore, and Frankfurt are available from the airport in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu has three more international airports namely Coimbatore International Airport, Madurai International Airport, and Tiruchirapalli International Airport. Moreover, Salem Airport and Tuticorin Airport are two other domestic airports. Delhi to Tamil Nadu flights takes about 2 hours to finish the travel. When traveling from major cities in India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata, it’s better to book a flight to Tamil Nadu to cut back travel time.

The train route in Tamil Nadu extends over a wide area. Headquartered in the capital city Chennai, the Southern Railway covers a large area in Tamil Nadu. Chennai Central is the main railway station in Tamil Nadu for trains departing north, whereas Chennai Egmore station serves as a hub for trains leaving south. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tamil Nadu, connects the hill station of Ooty to Mettupalayam near Coimbatore city. Other major train stations in Tamil Nadu include Madurai, Katpadi, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, and Coimbatore Junction. Chennai is also served by a sub-urban railway network.

Road transport in Tamil Nadu is maintained by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TSTC) and State Express Transport Corporation. National Highway 47, NH 49, NH 208, and NH 220 run from Tamil Nadu into Kerala. NH 67, NH 207, and NH 209 connect Tamil Nadu with Karnataka. NH 205, NH 219, and NH 234 connect the state with Andhra Pradesh. The scenic East Coast Road (ECR) runs between Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry.

There are regular buses, both government and private, operating between major tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu. Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore have an extensive road network. Depending on the destination, it should take about 6 to 12 hours to travel from Bangalore to Tamil Nadu via road. Major sightseeing tours to temples in Tamil Nadu are organised via road transport.