Chennai-Tiruvannamalai - day trip?

Sama · Feb 28th, 2006, 05:49

wondering.... is a day trip possible or is it an overnighter?

buses from Chennai? how long a ride?

the LP really doesn't have too much to say.....

thanks!

greenchutney · Feb 28th, 2006, 07:40

its 4 to 5 hours by bus (and maybe more). you can also go by train to villupuram and then hop on a bus for hour and half!...but this might take longer..

extremely hot is this place!

rangerboy123 · Feb 28th, 2006, 09:22

It is around 190km. Day trip is definitely possible. If you go by bus, it may take 4 to 5 hours. By car around 4 hours or less. My folks usually leave Madras at 4PM, drive to Tiruvannamalai during Girivalam days, have darshan and reach back home by 2AM.

Or you can leave Madras by 7/8 AM, reach there by noon/1PM. Spend 4/5 hours and can be back in Madras by 9/10PM.

Nick-H · Feb 28th, 2006, 10:39

OUr guest did it by car last week. She left 6.00am, returned about 10pm. The car cost her Rs2400.

Somehow she managed to annoy the driver so he drove all the way back extremely s l o w l y

!

rav · Mar 2nd, 2006, 11:27

yes vie done a day trip but in a taxi

not sure about bus but if u wanna climb the hill better take a over nigher will be more comfy

warm regards
ravin

ammadas · Mar 3rd, 2006, 13:02

Yogagal,
It takes about 4 hours by bus and cost about 80 rupees,my suggestion would be go there make it a priority.you should stay over night so you can walk around the mountain.I spent 5 days there in those 5 days it changed my whole out look on life.even if you can do a day trip do it.
Namaste ammadas

yrskumar · Sep 29th, 2006, 14:26

Until you know somebody in tiruvannamalai it is hard to get the hotel room on Deepam festival days.

In normal days i start late night around 11 PM by bus from Koyambedu and reach Tiruvannamalai
by early morning.

During deepam days start in the morning reach there at evening, will reach home by early morning 1-2 AM.

ArjunaWeeping · Oct 5th, 2006, 19:54

I went there by bus and found it was okay, certainly much cheaper (arouns Rs 90 or something like that, though don't trust my memory) than a taxi. I really enjoyed the window on Indian life that the bus gave - are you out in Chennai right now???

I didn't have such a great experience in Tiruvannamalai but always wonder if I hadn't built it up to be something more than I should have. Ramanashramam was wonderful, if I were going back I'd make hte effort to book in advance and stay there. As it was we stayed at the Hotel Ramakrishna which was okay, nothing special. My room had no window, just a sieve-like grill, didn't realise until a monkey was getting murdered outside my window at 5am - or at least that's what I think it was, it sounded very human at first! The food in the restaurant is okay, not quite up to the New Woodlands but did us just fine.

We got up early to walk around Arunachala and were plagued by beggars all the way round, including one woman whose tactic for getting money was to run alongside us screaming at full pitch. Between that and auto drivers always angling for a few rupees more we'd had enough of Tiruvannamalai after the first day and bailed out for Pondi. Still, I feel I have unfinished business there and would like to go back, reckon my own attitude got in the way very much.

Enjoy!

Scott

fsg · Oct 5th, 2006, 20:18

First impressions can be a bit misleading............ you had a bad bus journey, got ripped off somewhere, lost luggage. cruddy hotel....... the list can go on. Been there done it.

However if you think a place is worth a revisit, and have the time to do so please try again.

I hope you will be surprised.

Here's to us wha's like us damn few and they're a' deid

Sama · Oct 5th, 2006, 20:29

thanks so much for your posts! But as you can see, I posted this question back in March, before I went to Chennai!

as it turned out, I hired a driver for a day and did go to Tiruvannamallai, it was my last trip out before I came home. Loved the temple, however, the ashram was closed (bookstore, etc.) when I got there, could only walk around. Came back the same day.

FYI for anyone looking for a place to stay, one of my classmates told me she stayed at the Sesha Bavan Guesthouse when she wasthere -- said it was so clean she could have slept on the floor. R. Arulmani is the proprietor, cell #9443446089

as for bus trips, Scott, I loved taking buses (and trains) wherever I went -- always took buses to Pondy, both trips. Took a bus to Kodaikanal, loved it. Took a Madurai city bus tour -- loved it. I always get into great conversations with people on the bus.

On the bus ride to Kodai, sat next to two old brahmins (they made sure to tell me they were brahmins!) and we talked about yoga, the Gita, etc. One gave me the phone number of the guru his brother stays with in Chandigahr! So I have the cell number of a swami for my next trip!

kmohn_g · Mar 1st, 2007, 14:36

Any road route/map / directions to have a bike ride from chennai to thiruvannamalai ?
neeed earliest

pmvelu · Mar 1st, 2007, 21:00

Kmohng,

Take NH-45 ( Chennai to Trichy highway) and drive past Tambaram,Chengalpattu, Maduranthagam & Melmaruvathur. Around 20 - 25 km before Tindivanam , you need to take a Right Turn for Tiruvanamalai ( A Big Sign board will be there at that place indicating this). Drive past Chenji and you will be in tiruvanamalai. Chennai - Tiruvanamalai distance is 187 Kms.

Hope this Helps.

kmohn_g · Mar 1st, 2007, 21:04

Thank you very much

yrskumar · Mar 3rd, 2007, 09:11

This tiruvannamalai Map site may come to handy for a road trip and driving direction to Tiruvannamalai from Bangalore and Chennai

Adiyavan · Apr 30th, 2007, 23:31

To go to Tiruvannamalai, one needs to take a right turn on NH 47 just 1 km (AND NOT 20 or 25 kms as posted earlier) before reaching Tindivanam.

Feb 28th, 2006, 05:49	#1
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,346	Chennai-Tiruvannamalai - day trip? wondering.... is a day trip possible or is it an overnighter? buses from Chennai? how long a ride? the LP really doesn't have too much to say..... thanks! __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Feb 28th, 2006, 10:39	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,747	OUr guest did it by car last week. She left 6.00am, returned about 10pm. The car cost her Rs2400. Somehow she managed to annoy the driver so he drove all the way back extremely s l o w l y ! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 2nd, 2006, 11:27	#5
rav life is like an ice crem - enoy it before it melts Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: india Posts: 28	hi yes vie done a day trip but in a taxi not sure about bus but if u wanna climb the hill better take a over nigher will be more comfy warm regards ravin

Sep 29th, 2006, 14:26	#7
yrskumar Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: paramakudi ,tamilnadu Posts: 6	Late Night 11 AM would be perfect Until you know somebody in tiruvannamalai it is hard to get the hotel room on Deepam festival days. In normal days i start late night around 11 PM by bus from Koyambedu and reach Tiruvannamalai by early morning. During deepam days start in the morning reach there at evening, will reach home by early morning 1-2 AM.

Oct 5th, 2006, 19:54	#8
ArjunaWeeping In Search of Darshan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: In Chennai!!! Posts: 92	I went there by bus and found it was okay, certainly much cheaper (arouns Rs 90 or something like that, though don't trust my memory) than a taxi. I really enjoyed the window on Indian life that the bus gave - are you out in Chennai right now??? I didn't have such a great experience in Tiruvannamalai but always wonder if I hadn't built it up to be something more than I should have. Ramanashramam was wonderful, if I were going back I'd make hte effort to book in advance and stay there. As it was we stayed at the Hotel Ramakrishna which was okay, nothing special. My room had no window, just a sieve-like grill, didn't realise until a monkey was getting murdered outside my window at 5am - or at least that's what I think it was, it sounded very human at first! The food in the restaurant is okay, not quite up to the New Woodlands but did us just fine. We got up early to walk around Arunachala and were plagued by beggars all the way round, including one woman whose tactic for getting money was to run alongside us screaming at full pitch. Between that and auto drivers always angling for a few rupees more we'd had enough of Tiruvannamalai after the first day and bailed out for Pondi. Still, I feel I have unfinished business there and would like to go back, reckon my own attitude got in the way very much. Enjoy! Scott __________________ Explore Yoga: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living In Search of Darshan - my trip to Chennai, India in 2005 Scott's Thotts - my meandering thoughts on Yoga and Life...

Feb 28th, 2006, 07:40	#2
greenchutney Account Closed Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: planet earth Posts: 1,578	its 4 to 5 hours by bus (and maybe more). you can also go by train to villupuram and then hop on a bus for hour and half!...but this might take longer.. extremely hot is this place!

Feb 28th, 2006, 09:22	#3
rangerboy123 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA/Chennai Posts: 30	It is around 190km. Day trip is definitely possible. If you go by bus, it may take 4 to 5 hours. By car around 4 hours or less. My folks usually leave Madras at 4PM, drive to Tiruvannamalai during Girivalam days, have darshan and reach back home by 2AM. Or you can leave Madras by 7/8 AM, reach there by noon/1PM. Spend 4/5 hours and can be back in Madras by 9/10PM.

Mar 3rd, 2006, 13:02	#6
ammadas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: minneapolis,mn Posts: 156	Yogagal, It takes about 4 hours by bus and cost about 80 rupees,my suggestion would be go there make it a priority.you should stay over night so you can walk around the mountain.I spent 5 days there in those 5 days it changed my whole out look on life.even if you can do a day trip do it. Namaste ammadas

Oct 5th, 2006, 20:18	#9
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 230	First impressions can be a bit misleading............ you had a bad bus journey, got ripped off somewhere, lost luggage. cruddy hotel....... the list can go on. Been there done it. However if you think a place is worth a revisit, and have the time to do so please try again. I hope you will be surprised. Here's to us wha's like us damn few and they're a' deid

Oct 5th, 2006, 20:29	#10
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,346	thanks so much for your posts! But as you can see, I posted this question back in March, before I went to Chennai! as it turned out, I hired a driver for a day and did go to Tiruvannamallai, it was my last trip out before I came home. Loved the temple, however, the ashram was closed (bookstore, etc.) when I got there, could only walk around. Came back the same day. FYI for anyone looking for a place to stay, one of my classmates told me she stayed at the Sesha Bavan Guesthouse when she wasthere -- said it was so clean she could have slept on the floor. R. Arulmani is the proprietor, cell #9443446089 as for bus trips, Scott, I loved taking buses (and trains) wherever I went -- always took buses to Pondy, both trips. Took a bus to Kodaikanal, loved it. Took a Madurai city bus tour -- loved it. I always get into great conversations with people on the bus. On the bus ride to Kodai, sat next to two old brahmins (they made sure to tell me they were brahmins!) and we talked about yoga, the Gita, etc. One gave me the phone number of the guru his brother stays with in Chandigahr! So I have the cell number of a swami for my next trip!

Mar 1st, 2007, 14:36	#11
kmohn_g Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chennai Posts: 2	Any road route/map / directions to have a bike ride from chennai to thiruvannamalai ? neeed earliest

Mar 1st, 2007, 21:00	#12
pmvelu Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 541	Kmohng, Take NH-45 ( Chennai to Trichy highway) and drive past Tambaram,Chengalpattu, Maduranthagam & Melmaruvathur. Around 20 - 25 km before Tindivanam , you need to take a Right Turn for Tiruvanamalai ( A Big Sign board will be there at that place indicating this). Drive past Chenji and you will be in tiruvanamalai. Chennai - Tiruvanamalai distance is 187 Kms. Hope this Helps.

Mar 1st, 2007, 21:04	#13
kmohn_g Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: chennai Posts: 2	Thank you very much

Mar 3rd, 2007, 09:11	#14
yrskumar Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: paramakudi ,tamilnadu Posts: 6	Tiruvannamalai map This tiruvannamalai Map site may come to handy for a road trip and driving direction to Tiruvannamalai from Bangalore and Chennai

Apr 30th, 2007, 23:31	#15
Adiyavan Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3	Tiruvannamalai To go to Tiruvannamalai, one needs to take a right turn on NH 47 just 1 km (AND NOT 20 or 25 kms as posted earlier) before reaching Tindivanam. Last edited by capt_mahajan : Apr 30th, 2007 at 23:42. Reason: advert

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