Possible to travel Chennai to Pondi overnight?

wynwyn

Hey folks!

I'm soon to be settling in Pondi this Oct, and was wondering if there is a bus service available from Chennai airport to Pondi overnight?

My flight lands on a Wednesday 10pm, is it safe for a solo female traveller to get to Pondi at this hour or should I rest overnight and travel the next day?

Any recommendations for a simple budget room close to airport or close to bus station to travel the next day?

I've received advice to skip Chennai and keep moving to Mamalipuram, as its on the way to Pondi... but unsure so late at night the safest thing to do!

Thank you all !!!

Madrasi

I suggest you rest overnight in chennai and then travel to Pondy. Although your flight lands in chennai at 10PM it will be close to 11PM when you are out of the airport. Travelling alone at late night is certainly not advisable.

Chennai to Pondy is about 2-3 hours in the bus so rest for the night and travel the next morning.

Nick-H

But why?

Don't know about buses; of course you can take a car there any time of the day. That would be maybe three hours or a bit more, from the airport

wynwyn

I love how this forum makes the world seem such a smaller place!
You guys are the best!

An English friend gave the impression that Chennai was "rather aggressive", "unsafe" and being a crowded busy city i was better off travelling and resting in Mamalipuram for peace and quiet.

But if its anything like Bombay, im sure I'll survive

adityabee

its very easy to take a bus from the CMBT stand for Mamalapuram (2 hours) or Pondicherry (3 hours +), however - your late arrival will be a bit of a bother and it may be dicey and unadviseable getting one in the night, Chennai in itself presents some problems owing to the language barrier and it's being a bit of a male dominated scenario... you have usual precautions as anywhere in the world while traveling alone (especially as a woman) should be taken, having said all that - it is not unreasonable unsafe or dangerous. in my opinion, if you stay overnight at Egmore, you can easily take a bus from the CMBT in the morning and make your way down the ECR (east coast road). to get to Egmore, you could consider taking the suburban train from across the road (Tirusallam station) it drops you at the Chennai Egmore station and the hotels are nearby. (fare Rs. 6/-)

fsg

Id take a prepaid taxi from the airport.

Its a lot cheaper than going into town, by auto, overcharged, pay accomodation,and then getting to the bus stand by overcharged auto. CMBT is way off the radar, and then getting a bus to Pondi.

Of course there are busses going to Pondi at all times of the day and night, HOWEVER all the busses have Tamil signage. You could easily pick one up at Tambarram, where an airport auto could drop you!!!!!

But at that time of night go for the easy option....... prepaid taxi.

Relax. Hope you have accommodation sorted.

Do Chennai when you are more relaxed its not a bad place ,I enjoy but only for 3 days at most

adityabee

how much would you think that prepaid taxi would cost? (i paid 1500 the one time i took a white ambassador in the middle of the night from Pondicherry bus stand to the airport - we were five and shared the cost), and wouldn't WynWyn have to have a place ready to receive her (a booked hotel, friend's house) as she would be arriving around 2 AM if she left directly from the airport. (flight arrives at ten, then immigration, collecting luggage, changing money, booking taxi, then the actual ride - perhaps with a tea break as was in my case).

fsg

I think 1300/1500 is a fair price, but taxis are Prepaid at the airport, fixed price, no single discount. As opposed to going into town, fares to and fro

Yes there are semi cheap hotels near the airport, but the problem is the bus sinage is all Tamil, and you have to get the right bus.

Keep things simple,

All hotels lodging in India have a ' night boy' sleeping in the sofa/ bed in the foyer to receive guests at whatever time they arrive, of course as long as you know where you are going to go

Nick-H

Not all Chennai buses have signs in Tamil; very many of them are in English.

CMBT isn't actually particularly close to CMBT. It is closer than the airport is, although airport-->CMBT at night is possibly quicker than Egmore-->CMBT in the day. Hmmm... but, I guess it is easy to reach by train. I wonder when the last train is?

Chennai is not particularly aggressive or hard to cope with, as Indian cities go; it is fairly laid back. Language is not that much of a problem; I manage to live here without speaking Tamil. An English speaker is never far away (ok, ok, I'm married to one --- but I do find my way around without her!)

fsg

I think the last train goes before midnight.

adityabee

http://www.southernrailway.gov.in/su....php?pgs=32-33

last train toward Chennai Beach leaves Tirussalam @ 00.08 and the first train @ 04.13.

Nick-H

That's very good!

Last time I tried looking for Chennai sub-urban (specifically the MRTS) timetables, it was not working. Now, including MRTS, it is

palerider

I would get a pre paid into town, and go to Pondy the next day, or stay in Mahabalipuram a couple of days, and then go to Pondy, either way, it's much better to stay in Chennai for the first night.
It's nothing like the hectic stuff in Mumbai either, it's kind of sedate in a way.

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Nick-H

Chennai is an ordinary city full of people doing their ordinary-life thing. Mahabalipuram has ordinary people too (I guess!) but it can be hard to see them through the intense tourist industry. Much more hassle in Mahabs than in Chennai!

gaurav1441

You can also consider staying in Airport Retiring Rooms (situated before the Domestic departure Terminal)and then take the morning train to Egmore and then take the train that leaves for Pondicherry at 6.30 am. Or Come out of airport and try to catch a state transport bus going towards pondicherry.