Need suggestion for Kanyakumari and Pondicherry trip

We will be traveling to Kanyakumari and Pondicherry in middle of Nov. Will reach Chennai from Kolkata by air, then to Kanyakumari by train(Kanyakumari Ex). We will stay there for three days, then back to Chennai. From Chennai, we will go to Pondicherry and will stay there for 2 days and then back to Chennai and then fly back to Kolkata.
I will be first timer in Chennai and so have few questions...
1. From Airport to Chennai Egmore station, how should we go? our train is at 5:30p.m. so if I book the flight reaching Chennai at 1p.m., will that be safe?
2. How to book room in Aurobindo Ashram's guest houses? I got some no.s from net, but they are not working, pls share some info. If that is not possible, pls suggest some good hotels there.
3. What is the best option to go Pondicherry from Chennai station? I heard some good AC bus services are present. need some info on them.
4. I was thinking that while coming back to Chennai from Pondicherry, if I can arrange something so that I can visit Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram on the way back. Pls suggest.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Indranil

@Indranil,

When you come back from Kanyakumari to Chennai, Get down at Villupuram Jn. From there you can get bus to Pondicherry. It's 30 kms and buses are there 10 minutes once in that Circuit in day time. This way you can save close to 7 hours.

Once you are done with Pondicherry, You can get bus/Car and do Mahabalipuram and kanchipuram and ask them to drop you at Chennai Airport.

Velu

@Velu,
Thanks a lot for this suggestion. Saving 7hours in a trip is really priceless:-) ....I just checked trains but Kanyakumari Ex. reaches at Villupuram at 3:30a.m. It would be tough for me, as I'm totally new to that place and I will accompany my mom. I didn't find any trains as such which starts from Kanyakumari(CAPE) and come to Villupuram. Can u pls suggest something?

I understand Indranil.

Only better alternative is, Get bus from KAnyakumari to Nagercoil and board train #16724 Dep:Nagercoil Jn 18:00 Hrs.Arr Villupuram Jn at 05:08 am the next day. There will be buses frequently from 5:00 am onwards to Pondicherry from Villupuram. No issues.

Kanyakumari to Nagerkoil is just 19 kms and there are lots of buses are available.

Also once you are done with Pondicherry, if you dont want to avail cab for mamallapuram+Kanchipuram ,get back to Chennai in bus. There are buses every 30 minutes in day time and you can avail the 1 Day TTDC tour from chennai which will cover Mamallapuram + Kanchipuram which will be budget option . Refer Chennai mamallapuram tour link this URL,

http://ttdconline.com/tourname.do?title=Package

Hope this helps
Velu

Thanks Velu for the info. I will checked that option. Do you have any idea about the hotels in Pondicherry?

No Indranail . I don't have any idea on pondicherry hotels .

Velu

Indranil

You may stay at Seaside guest house run by the Aurobindo ashram. It's very good value at around Rs 1300/- for a double. There's an ashram handicrafts shop next door. They have some strict rules though - no alcohol in rooms, you should be indoors by 9 pm (or perhaps 10 pm, been a while since i went). I spoke with them this weekend though.

-Vaibhav

No need to pre-book; just show up during day-time, as in Nov it is not the busy time. If you want to be sure, or arrive late, these are the better guesthouses.

Here are the cheaper ones, like starting at Rs 50 for a good room.

This is my description of some of them.

Hi Friends,
Wish you all a happy bijoya and a happy diwali in advance....Also thanks for all your valuable suggestions. I've done with my tickets and cab booking to Pondicherry. We will be going to Pondi only and do a side visit of Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram etc.. I'm scheduled to leave on 8th November. Everything was going as per plan till Nilam came :-( I initially thought I may need to drop the plan but looks like I can go ahead. Would any one of you, who have a better knowledge of the situation, can provide me some information about the current situation and weather condition there? Should I go ahead with my plan? Please let me know whatever information you have.

Regards,
Indranil