Temple towns of the north · Temple of the dancing Shiva
Chidambaram group trip guide
Chidambaram: Temple of the dancing Shiva in Temple towns of the north, Tamil Nadu. From Tiruchirappalli it is 148 km by road, 3–4 hours with stops. Groups give it half a day. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Tiruchirappalli costs ₹8,700–10,800 for a same-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
- Free to post
- Compare quotes
- 25% advance only after you choose
Photo: Nittavinoda, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Tiruchirappalli
- 148 km by road
- Time to give it
- Half a day
- Best season
- November to February
- Fare from Tiruchirappalli
- ₹8,700–10,800 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) or Chennai (MAA)
The Thillai Nataraja temple at Chidambaram is dedicated to Shiva as the cosmic dancer, with a gold-roofed hall and tall gopurams carved with the poses of classical dance.
The Natyanjali dance festival is held in the temple around Mahashivratri (February–March).
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Chidambaram from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Chennai → Chidambaram
₹14,300–17,500
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 233 km one way · 2 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
A pilgrim stop between Puducherry and the Chola temples of Kumbakonam.
Temples & pilgrimageForts, palaces & old towns
How far is Chidambaram
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 233 km | 5–6 h | – |
| Coimbatore | 373 km | 7–8 h | – |
| Madurai | 273 km | 5–6 h | – |
| Tiruchirappalli | 148 km | 3–4 h | – |
| Karur | 220 km | 4–5 h | – |
Group fares from Tiruchirappalli
Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 1 day |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹6,000–8,100 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹7,400–9,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹8,700–10,800 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹10,100–12,800 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹19,400–26,200 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: November to February.
- Time to give it: Half a day.
- Who goes: Pilgrims, Families, Heritage lovers.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Chidambaram
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) or Chennai (MAA).
- Nearest railway station: Chidambaram.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Chidambaram
Approved operators who take groups to Chidambaram. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
71 km by road from Chidambaram
Fleet details on request
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
220 km by road from Chidambaram
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Serves Chidambaram
Fleet details on request
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
Serves Chidambaram
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Tiruchirappalli-la irundhu Chidambaram-ku evvalavu dooram? (How far is Chidambaram from Tiruchirappalli?)
148 km by road: 3–4 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Chidambaram-ku tempo traveller-ku evvalavu aagum? (What does a tempo traveller to Chidambaram cost?)
Round trip from Tiruchirappalli (148 km one way, 1 day) with driver: 17-seater ₹8,700–10,800, 40–49 seater bus ₹19,400–26,200. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Chidambaram cost?
Round trip from Tiruchirappalli with driver: SUV / Innova ₹6,000–8,100; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹7,400–9,400; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹8,700–10,800; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹10,100–12,800; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹19,400–26,200. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Chidambaram?
Half a day. With the drive from Tiruchirappalli, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. A pilgrim stop between Puducherry and the Chola temples of Kumbakonam.
When is the best time to visit Chidambaram?
November to February.
Which vehicle for our group?
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; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Chidambaram from abroad?
Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) or Chennai (MAA). Nearest railway station: Chidambaram. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- 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