Daytrips from Pondicherry

chris0304

I am going to be in Pondicherry for a few days at the end of my holiday in september and was thinking of doing a few day trips, using Pondy as a base. I realise that mamallapuram would be a good day trip but am interested in visiting tiruvannamalai and/or Thanjavur - Auroville dosen't really tempt me. Are these possible in a day, if so how would I go about getting to/from them to Pondy? I was considering renting a moped whilst there as I hear the roads are of singnificantly better quality and drivers not so erratic here than elsewhere in india - is this a good idea or am I better sticking to rail/taxi? any suggestions? Also, what will the weather be like in tamil nadu in mid-september?

Thanks

Jean-Philipe

The only practical way to do either Tiruvannamalai or Thanjavur from Pondy on a day trip is by taxi. Why not plan to do an overnight stop instead?

There is a train from Pondy to Tiruvannamalai but I don't have the schedule handy.

If you want to use your own (rented) wheels, I'd suggest something a bit bigger than a moped, say a scooter or 100cc bike. Rental rates are about Rs100 to Rs 200 per day.

I do a lot of travelling in Tamil Nadu by motorcycle (100cc Hero Honda), and it's a good way to get around. I assume you already have some experience riding a bike; India is perhaps not the best place to begin. The roads are generally pretty good.

You should be Ok for weather in September. The June-August monsoon will have cooled things down and the rains should have stopped. The next monsoon starts in October or November.

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chris0304

Thank you very much Jean-Philipe thats quite handy. Do you know where I could find the schedule for the pondicherry-tiruvannamalai, i've had a look on the indian railways website but I could'nt find it! Do you know how much a taxi to either Thanjavur or tiruvannamalai would be?

Jean-Philipe

Just now the Indian Railway site isn't providing information on passenger trains; there's just a message saying it's being updated. I don't have my Southern Railway timetable with me, but I'll be home in a few days and can look up the trains then.

A taxi should cost about Rs 6/km (or Rs 8/km for A/C) plus Rs 200 per day.

slakhs

Hi

Some additional places. On the way to Thiruvannamalai (30 KMs before) is the famous fort at Gingee (Pronounced Senji). See

http://www.viluppuram.tn.nic.in/tourist3.htm

Closer to Pondy is the famous Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram (65-70 Kms) and Pichavaram Mangrove forests (15 Kms from CDM)

Cheers
SLakhs

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travelhol

Pondicherry is too far for a round trip in one day. We thought Thanjavur was not that interesting. Madurai was much better. If you decide to go to Thanjavur, we did stay at a nice hotel - the Gnanam. It was about $25 for a double with a/c. I think it has a web site. The roads are only better north of Pondicherry, not south or west. South of Pondicherry, stick with trains if possible. Driving is still very bad.

Jean-Philipe

Now that the Pondy-Villupuram railway line has been converted to broad guage, there is no direct train from Pondy to Tiruvannamalai. You have to change at Villupuram, and there are no convenient connections to make a day trip.

Lv Pondy PDY / ar Villupuram VM / train #
0410 / 0500 / 106
0545 / 0625 / 6116 (except Thu Sun)
1400 / 1445 / 196
1440 / 1530 / 104
1815 / 1855 / 2897 (only Wed)

Lv VM / ar Tiruvannamalai TNM / train #
0415 / 0625 / 842
1555 / 1755 / 844
1815 / 2040 / 846

Lv TNM / ar VM / train #
0640 / 0855 / 841
0940 / 1210 / 843
1940 / 2210 / 845

Lv VM / ar PDY / train #
1030 / 1120 / 103
1220 / 1310 / 195
1240 / 1335 / 2898 (only Tue)
2042 / 2130 / 6115 (except Wed Sat)
2235 / 2330 / 105