Madurai & the deep south · Jyotirlinga island and Dhanushkodi
Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi group trip guide
Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi: Jyotirlinga island and Dhanushkodi in Madurai & the deep south, Tamil Nadu. From Madurai it is 173 km by road, 4–5 hours with stops. Groups give it 1–2 days. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Madurai costs ₹14,000–17,100 for a 2-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Madurai
- 173 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1–2 days
- Best season
- October to March
- Fare from Madurai
- ₹14,000–17,100 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Madurai (IXM)
Rameswaram, an island joined to the mainland by the Pamban bridges, is home to the Ramanathaswamy temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, famous for its long pillared corridors and its sacred wells.
At the island's tip, Dhanushkodi's empty beach lies between the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi 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 → Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi
₹33,100–40,800
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 557 km one way · 3 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 must for pilgrims from across India; with Madurai and Kanyakumari it makes the classic southern yatra.
Temples & pilgrimageBeaches & the sea
How far is Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 557 km | 11–12 h | Route: Chennai to Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi |
| Coimbatore | 391 km | 8–9 h | – |
| Madurai | 173 km | 4–5 h | – |
| Tiruchirappalli | 235 km | 5–6 h | – |
| Karur | 316 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Palakkad | 404 km | 8–9 h | – |
Group fares from Madurai
Round trip with driver, 2 days, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 2 days |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹9,800–12,900 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹11,900–15,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹14,000–17,100 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹16,100–20,300 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹30,200–40,700 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round 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 round 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: October to March.
- Time to give it: 1–2 days.
- Who goes: Pilgrims, Families, Senior citizens.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Madurai (IXM).
- Nearest railway station: Rameswaram.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi
Approved operators who take groups to Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
316 km by road from Rameswaram
Fleet details on request
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
404 km by road from Rameswaram
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Rameswaram
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
551 km by road from Rameswaram
Fleet details on request
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
Madurai-la irundhu Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi-ku evvalavu dooram? (How far is Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi from Madurai?)
173 km by road: 4–5 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.
Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi-ku tempo traveller-ku evvalavu aagum? (What does a tempo traveller to Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi cost?)
Round trip from Madurai (173 km one way, 2 days) with driver: 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100, 40–49 seater bus ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi cost?
Round trip from Madurai with driver: SUV / Innova ₹9,800–12,900; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹11,900–15,000; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹16,100–20,300; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹30,200–40,700. 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 Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi?
1–2 days. With the drive from Madurai, plan 2 days in all. A must for pilgrims from across India; with Madurai and Kanyakumari it makes the classic southern yatra.
When is the best time to visit Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi?
October to March.
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 Rameswaram & Dhanushkodi from abroad?
Nearest airport: Madurai (IXM). Nearest railway station: Rameswaram. 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