Chola country & the Cauvery · The Big Temple of the Cholas, UNESCO
Thanjavur group trip guide
Thanjavur: The Big Temple of the Cholas, UNESCO in Chola country & the Cauvery, Tamil Nadu. From Tiruchirappalli it is 57 km by road, 1.5–2.5 hours with stops. Groups give it 1 day. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Tiruchirappalli costs ₹6,800–8,400 for a same-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Tiruchirappalli
- 57 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1 day
- Best season
- November to February
- Fare from Tiruchirappalli
- ₹6,800–8,400 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Tiruchirappalli (TRZ)
The Brihadisvara temple, built by the Chola king Rajaraja I in the early 11th century, raises its granite vimana high over Thanjavur; it is one of the Great Living Chola Temples on the UNESCO list.
The Maratha palace, the Saraswathi Mahal library and the Thanjavur painting and bronze workshops are in the old city, in the rice bowl of the Cauvery delta.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Thanjavur 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 → Thanjavur
₹19,800–24,400
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 332 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
The heart of a Chola temple trip from Tiruchirappalli or Madurai, for pilgrims and school groups alike.
UNESCO sitesTemples & pilgrimageForts, palaces & old towns
How far is Thanjavur
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 332 km | 7–8 h | Route: Chennai to Thanjavur |
| Coimbatore | 295 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Madurai | 170 km | 3.5–4.5 h | – |
| Tiruchirappalli | 57 km | 1.5–2.5 h | – |
| Karur | 141 km | 3–4 h | – |
| Palakkad | 332 km | 7–8 h | – |
Group fares from Tiruchirappalli
Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 1 day |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹4,700–6,300 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹5,800–7,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹6,800–8,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹7,900–10,000 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹15,000–20,200 |
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: 1 day.
- Who goes: Pilgrims, Heritage lovers, School groups, International visitors.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Thanjavur
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli (TRZ).
- Nearest railway station: Thanjavur Junction.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Thanjavur
Approved operators who take groups to Thanjavur. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Thanjavur
Fleet details on request
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
141 km by road from Thanjavur
Fleet details on request
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
332 km by road from Thanjavur
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
367 km by road from Thanjavur
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
Tiruchirappalli-la irundhu Thanjavur-ku evvalavu dooram? (How far is Thanjavur from Tiruchirappalli?)
57 km by road: 1.5–2.5 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.
Thanjavur-ku tempo traveller-ku evvalavu aagum? (What does a tempo traveller to Thanjavur cost?)
Round trip from Tiruchirappalli (57 km one way, 1 day) with driver: 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400, 40–49 seater bus ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Thanjavur cost?
Round trip from Tiruchirappalli with driver: SUV / Innova ₹4,700–6,300; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹5,800–7,400; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹7,900–10,000; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹15,000–20,200. 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 Thanjavur?
1 day. With the drive from Tiruchirappalli, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. The heart of a Chola temple trip from Tiruchirappalli or Madurai, for pilgrims and school groups alike.
When is the best time to visit Thanjavur?
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 Thanjavur from abroad?
Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli (TRZ). Nearest railway station: Thanjavur Junction. 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