Tamil Nadu, India · for visitors from abroad
Visiting Tamil Nadu from abroad: hire a vehicle with a driver
Fly into Chennai (MAA), Coimbatore (CJB), Madurai (IXM) or Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) and post your trip once on Yippigo: verified operators quote a car, tempo traveller or Urbania with a driver for your whole stay. 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: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- Fly into
- Chennai or Coimbatore
- 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 (hills October to June)
- 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 biggest in the state: the start for Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram, Puducherry and Tiruvannamalai.
- Coimbatore (CJB): International airport: the start for Ooty, Coonoor, Valparai and the Isha Yoga Center.
- Madurai (IXM): International airport: the start for the Meenakshi temple, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari and Kodaikanal.
- Tiruchirappalli (TRZ): International airport: the start for Srirangam, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Velankanni.
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 |
| Kanchipuram | 77 km (48 miles) | 2–3 h |
| Puducherry (Pondicherry) | 165 km (103 miles) | 3–4 h |
| Vellore | 138 km (86 miles) | 3–4 h |
| Tiruvannamalai | 204 km (127 miles) | 4–5 h |
| Chidambaram | 233 km (145 miles) | 5–6 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 any state entry taxes, 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.
- Temple towns are busiest at dawn and dusk: plan drives for the middle of the day and keep to 6–8 hours of driving at most.
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 or Hindi: 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
- 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
- Gopuram :
- the tall carved gateway tower of a south Indian temple
- Arupadai Veedu :
- the six abodes of Murugan: Palani, Tiruchendur, Swamimalai, Thiruthani, Thiruparankundram and Pazhamudircholai
- Navagraha temples :
- nine temples near Kumbakonam, one for each of the nine planets
- Girivalam :
- the walk around the holy hill at Tiruvannamalai, done barefoot by pilgrims
- 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?
Yes. Post the trip with Chennai airport (MAA) as the pickup and your arrival date; operators quote the airport pickup and 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.
Can visitors from abroad enter the temples?
Most temple complexes welcome visitors of any faith, though some keep the inner sanctum for Hindus only. Dress modestly, remove shoes and follow the rules on phones and cameras.
How far are the main sights from Chennai?
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) 58 km (36 miles); Kanchipuram 77 km (48 miles); Puducherry (Pondicherry) 165 km (103 miles); Vellore 138 km (86 miles); Tiruvannamalai 204 km (127 miles); Chidambaram 233 km (145 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