Puducherry, India · for visitors from abroad
Visiting Puducherry from abroad: hire a vehicle with a driver
Fly into Chennai (MAA) and post your trip once on Yippigo: verified operators quote a car, tempo traveller or Urbania with a driver from the airport to Puducherry and around. Compare itemised quotes and pay the operator you choose directly. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) is 58 km (36 miles) from Chennai by road.
This site is in English. Prices are in Indian rupees (₹).
- Free to post
- Compare quotes
- 25% advance only after you choose
Photo: Athulvis, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- Fly into
- Chennai or Tiruchirappalli
- Chennai to Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
- 58 km (36 miles)
- 2–6 people
- Car (SUV) or 12-seat tempo traveller with driver
- Best season
- November to February
- Prices
- In Indian rupees (₹); pay the operator directly
How many are travelling?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, with its day fare and the fare from Chennai to the main sights.
Fits your group
SUV / Innova
6–7 seats
₹4,700–6,300 for a full day (250 km)
Chennai → Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
₹4,700–6,300
SUV / Innova · 58 km one way · 1 day, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Where to land
- Chennai (MAA): Chennai International Airport, the usual arrival for Puducherry: the drive goes down the East Coast Road past Mamallapuram.
- Tiruchirappalli (TRZ): International airport inland, the nearer one for Karaikal, Tirunallar and Velankanni.
- Puducherry (PNY): A small domestic airport outside the town, with a few flights from other Indian cities.
From Chennai by road
One way, by road, from our route catalog. Plan 8–10 hours of driving a day at most.
| To | Distance | Drive, with stops |
|---|---|---|
| Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) | 58 km (36 miles) | 1.5–2.5 h |
| Auroville | 160 km (99 miles) | 3–4 h |
| Puducherry (Pondicherry) | 165 km (103 miles) | 3–4 h |
| Paradise Beach (Chunnambar) | 172 km (107 miles) | 3.5–4.5 h |
| Karaikal | 301 km (187 miles) | 6–7 h |
| Tirunallar | 303 km (188 miles) | 6–7 h |
How it works
1. Post your trip
Arrival airport and date, the places you want to see, how many people and how much luggage. In English; it takes two minutes and costs nothing.
2. Verified operators quote
Operators near your pickup send itemised quotes: the vehicle, the driver's daily allowance, night halts, tolls and the territory's entry tax, each on its own line.
3. Compare and ask
Ask each operator about the vehicle's model and age, whether the driver speaks English, and how they take payment.
4. Book and pay the operator
Accept the quote you prefer and pay the operator's advance directly, by a method you agree with them.
Is it safe to hire a driver?
- An operator sends a quote only with a vehicle whose papers (registration, insurance, permit and fitness certificate) our team has checked and approved.
- Every quote names the operator, so you can ask for the vehicle number and the driver's name and phone before the trip.
- The coast road is busy on weekends: leave Chennai early and keep to daylight drives.
Travelling with a driver: what is usual
- Drivers on multi-day trips stay where you stay or in drivers' rooms; the quote shows the driver allowance and night halts.
- Tipping the driver at the end of a trip is common but optional.
- Most drivers speak Tamil and some English; a few in Puducherry speak some French: ask in your request.
Paying
- You pay the operator directly; the quote says how much advance the operator asks.
- Payment methods depend on the operator: many take UPI and bank transfer, which may not work with a foreign card or bank. Agree on payment before you accept the quote.
- Prices on this site are in Indian rupees (₹).
Words you will hear
- Union territory :
- a territory governed with the central government, not a state: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam form one
- White Town :
- the old French quarter of Puducherry, between the canal and the sea
- Tempo traveller :
- a 12 to 26-seat van with a driver, the usual vehicle for groups of 10 to 25
- Darshan :
- seeing and praying before the deity in a temple
- Entry tax :
- a tax some states and territories charge vehicles registered elsewhere, listed on the quote
- Driver allowance (bata) :
- a daily amount for the driver's food, paid on top of the vehicle hire and listed on the quote
Questions groups ask
Can I book a vehicle with a driver from Chennai airport to Puducherry?
Yes. Post the trip with Chennai airport (MAA) as the pickup and Puducherry as the destination; operators quote the transfer or the whole tour.
Do I need an international driving licence?
Not for this: every vehicle comes with a local driver, so you do not drive yourself.
Is Puducherry part of Tamil Nadu?
No: it is a separate union territory surrounded by Tamil Nadu. Auroville's centre lies just across the line in Tamil Nadu, and Mamallapuram is in Tamil Nadu on the way from Chennai.
How far are the main sights from Chennai?
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) 58 km (36 miles); Auroville 160 km (99 miles); Puducherry (Pondicherry) 165 km (103 miles); Paradise Beach (Chunnambar) 172 km (107 miles); Karaikal 301 km (187 miles); Tirunallar 303 km (188 miles). Measured by road.
Which vehicle for my group?
2 people: AC Coach 50–56 seater; 4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater.
How much advance do operators ask?
25% of the quote, paid to the operator to confirm. Payment methods depend on the operator; agree them before you accept. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved