Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Trichy is virtually in the geographical centre of Tamil Nadu and it’s well connected by air, bus and train.

Land

Bus

Most buses head to the central bus station on Rockins Rd. If you’re travelling to Kodaikanal, a good option is to take one of the frequent buses to Dindigul (Rs 25, two hours) and change there.

Train

Trichy is on the main Chennai–Madurai line so there are lots of rail options in either direction. Of the nine daily expresses to Chennai, the quickest are the Vaigai Express (2nd/chair class Rs 85/297, 5½ hours) departing Trichy at 9.10am, and the Pallavan Express, which leaves at 6.30am. The best overnight train is the Rock Fort Express (sleeper/3AC Rs 136/382, 7½ hours) at 9.40pm.

For Madurai the best train is the Guruvaya Express (2nd class/sleeper Rs 47/75, three hours), which leaves at 1pm. The Mysore Express goes daily to Bengaluru (sleeper/3AC Rs 160/450, 11½ hours) and Mysore (sleeper/3AC Rs 200/562, 15 hours).

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Air

As well as domestic flights, Trichy’s airport has flights to Sri Lanka. Indian Airlines (2341063; 4A Dindigul Rd) flies four days a week to Chennai (US$120). Air Deccan also flies daily to Chennai.

Sri Lankan Airlines (2462381; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-1pm Sun), at Femina Hotel, flies daily to Colombo (Rs 3800).

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