Travel Assistance for Bus or Train or Flight to Thirunallar or Karaikal

By Air
Airports near Thirunallar/Chennai
The nearest airport is at Trichy (Thiruchirapalli) which is around 140 km away from Thirunallar (4:00 hours by bus. 3:30 hours by Taxi). If you ask me for the next nearest airport, then I would say "Chennai". Though there are other airports, the connectivity between Chennai and Thirunallar is very high. If you cannot reach Trichy, then you had better reach Chennai and then from there you can either come by bus (7:30 hours) or Taxi (6 Hours).

By Rail
You can reach any one of the nearest railway stations listed below and then reach Thirunallar by auto or taxi or bus. Some of the nearest railway stations to Thirunallar are:

• Karaikal (6 km) Train Number: 16175 (KARAIKAL EXP) Station Code: "KIK"
• Nagore (19 km)
• Nagapattinam (23 km)
• Mayiladudhurai(38 km)
• Thiruvarur (40 km)

By Road
Please note that Karaikal (6km from Thirunallar) is the main town. So most of the buses will be available only till Karaikal. If your bus does not pass through Thirunallar, then book your tickets to Karaikal and then from there you can take an auto-rickshaw or bus to Thirunallar.

A lot of government buses like "SETC", "PRTC" originating from various major cities/towns are passing through Karaikal and/or Thirunallar. Natives of Pondicherry always prefer PRTC (Pudhucherry Road Transport Corporation) buses as they reach the defined destinations sooner than any other bus service. Following are some government bus routes:

On your own vehicle

Pudhucherry(Pondicherry) to Thirunallar
Total Distance: 140 km (Approx)
Traveling: 4:00 Hours (Average)
By Car: 3:00 to 3:30 Hours
By Bus : 4:00 Hours
Route 1: Pudhucherry (also Pondicherry) => Cuddalore => Bhuvanagiri (Mutloor) => Chidambaram => Kollidam => Sirkazhi (Sirkali) => Poombukar Arch (Karuvizhandhanalloor also Karuvi) => Thirukadaiyur => Tharangambadi => Karaikal => Thirunallar.
Route 2 (Longer & Least preferred): Pudhucherry (also Pondicherry) => Cuddalore => Bhuvanagiri (Mutloor)=> Chidambaram => Kollidam => Sirkazhi (Sirkali) => Mayiladudurai(also Mayavaram, Mayuram) => Peralam => Thirunallar.

Bangalore to Thirunallar
Traveling: 10:00 Hours (approx)
Route: Bangalore => Hosur => Krishnagiri => Thiruvannamalai => Villupuram => Panruti => Cuddalore => Chidhambaram => Sirkazhi (Sirkali) => Poombukar Arch (Karuvizhandhanalloor also Karuvi) => Thirukadaiyur => Tharangambadi => Karaikal => Thirunallar.

Chennai to Thirunallar
Total Distance: 307 km (Approx)
Traveling: 6:00 Hours (Average)
By Car: 5:00 to 6:00 Hours
By Bus (Day travel): 7:00 to 8:00 Hours
By Bus (Night travel): 5:00 to 5:30 Hours
Route 1 (Most preferred - But prone to accidents due to unavailability of median on ECR): Chennai => Thriuvanmiyur => Through ECR => Mamallapuram by pass => Pudhupattinam (Near Kalpakkam)  => Pudhucherry (also Pondicherry) => [Please follow Pudhucherry to Thirunallar from above].
Total Distance: 307 km
By Car: 5:00 to 6:00
By Bus (Day time): 7:00 to 8:00 Hours
By Bus (Night time): 5:00 to 5:30 Hours

Route 2 (Longer but safer - Less chances for accidents; 4 lane road with median at least till Dhindivanam): Chennai => Guindy => Through By Pass => Dhindivanam => [Please follow Pudhucherry to Thirunallar from above].
Total Distance: 327 km (Approx)
By Car: 5:30 to 6:30 Hours
By Bus (Day time): 7:30 to 9:00 Hours
By Bus (Night time): 5:30 to 6:30 Hours

Hyderabad to Thirunallar
Route: Hyderabad => Chennai => [Please follow Chennai to Thirunallar from above].

Trichy (Tiruchirapalli) to Thirunallar
Traveling: 4:00 Hours (Average)
By Car: 3:00 to 3:30 Hours
By Bus : 4:00 Hours
Route 1: Trichy => Tanjore (Thanjavur) => Kumbakonam => Peralam => Thirunallar.
Route 2: Trichy => Tanjore (Thanjavur) => Thiruvarur => Nagapattinam => Nagore => Karaikal => Thirunallar.

Madurai to Thirunallar
Traveling: 10:00 Hours (approx)
Route: Madurai => Trichy => [Please follow Trichy to Thirunallar from above].

Trivandrum to Thirunallar
Route: Trivandrum => Madurai => [Please follow Madurai to Thirunallar from above].