Chola Nadu · Eastern Coastal Plains
How to reach
By air
- Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) — The practical gateway, with Gulf and Southeast Asian service; about 60 km from Thanjavur.
- Chennai International Airport (MAA) — Four to six hours by road or rail from the delta, and the usual arrival point from outside India.
- Puducherry Airport (PNY) — Limited service; convenient only for the northern delta and the Karaikal enclave.
By rail
- Thanjavur Junction (TJ) — On the Chennai–Rameswaram and Trichy–Mayiladuthurai lines, and the base for the Big Temple.
- Kumbakonam (KMU) — The best single base for the temple belt — Darasuram, Swamimalai, Thirubuvanam and Nachiarkoil are all short hops.
- Mayiladuthurai Junction (MV) — For Chidambaram, Tharangambadi and Poompuhar.
- Nagapattinam (NGT) — For Velankanni, Nagore and the coast; Velankanni has its own terminus for pilgrim specials.
- Tiruchirappalli Junction (TPJ) — The regional hub, and the station for Srirangam and the Grand Anicut.
By road
NH 36 — Thanjavur to Nagapattinam through Tiruvarur, the delta's main east–west roadNH 83 — Trichy to Thanjavur along the head of the deltaNH 32 — the coastal road from Chennai through Chidambaram and Mayiladuthurai to NagapattinamSH 22 and the Kumbakonam ring, linking the temple belt villagesKaraikal is reached from Nagapattinam or Mayiladuthurai; the boundary is unmarked except by liquor shops
By water
Boat trips into the Muthupet mangrove lagoon from the forest department jettyCoastal fishing harbours at Nagapattinam and Kodiakkarai, working rather than passenger
Getting around
Buses are frequent and cheap between every town named here; the delta is dense enough that nothing is more than ninety minutes from anything else. Hiring a car for two days covers the three UNESCO temples and Kumbakonam comfortably. Cycles are the sane way to do Kumbakonam and Thiruvaiyaru themselves.
How to reach Chola Nadu by air, rail, road and water, and how to get around once there. (8)