Plan your sacred journey to the Grand Temples of South India
Chidambaram and Tiruvannamalai Tour
Nataraja at Chidambaram, the space-element temple, then Arunachaleswarar at Tiruvannamalai, the fire-element temple.
- Pancha Bhoota
- Suitable for 2–3 Days
- Girivalam
- Shiva Temples
About Chidambaram and Tiruvannamalai Tour
Begin with Nataraja at Chidambaram, then continue inland to Arunachaleswarar at Tiruvannamalai. Two or three local days give each Shiva temple its own visit window, with extra time needed if a full-moon gathering, Deepam or Girivalam is central to your trip.
Two of the five element temples on one trip: Chidambaram near the coast and Tiruvannamalai inland at the foot of Arunachala hill. Give each its own day; Tiruvannamalai fills up on full-moon Girivalam days.
Temples on this Tour (2)
- 1View Details
Chidambaram Nataraja Temple
Space element (Pancha Bhoota)
Chidambaram
Anchor the trip at Chidambaram's Nataraja temple.
- 2
View DetailsTiruvannamalai Temple
Fire element (Pancha Bhoota)
Tiruvannamalai
Continue inland to the fire-element temple on a separate day.
Route Map
Tour Highlights
- Nataraja, Chidambaram
- Arunachaleswarar, Tiruvannamalai
2-Day Route
The route moves between Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, staying near each day's temples. Allow 2 to 3 days for the 2 temples, plus travel to the first stop and home from the last.
Day 1 · stay in Chidambaram
- Chidambaram Nataraja TempleSpace element (Pancha Bhoota)Open 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM, with breaks
Day 2 · stay in Tiruvannamalai
- Tiruvannamalai TempleFire element (Pancha Bhoota)Open 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Editorial Chidambaram-first route linking two Shiva temples. Their space and fire associations do not establish a compulsory visiting sequence.
Optional stops nearby
Bird sanctuaries, dams, parks and falls near this tour's temples. They are optional: the route and cost above do not include them. Distances are straight-line from the nearest temple.
- DamSathanur DamAbout 24 km from Tiruvannamalai Temple
A 1958 reservoir on the Thenpennai river with maintained gardens, a large crocodile farm and a fish grotto. The district gives about 30 km by road from Tiruvannamalai town.
- For families
- Gardens and the crocodile farm make an easy outing for children and elders after an Annamalaiyar temple visit.
- BeachPoompuhar (Poombuhar) beach and heritage centreAbout 33 km from Chidambaram Nataraja Temple
Site of the old Chola port town of Kaveripoompattinam where the Kaveri meets the sea. The district lists Keezhaperumpallam 3 km and Thiruvenkadu 8 km away, so it fits a Ketu or Budhan temple day.
- For families
- The district site gives 24 km from Mayiladuthurai and 21 km from Sirkazhi by road. Coordinates:
- HeritageGingee FortAbout 36 km from Tiruvannamalai Temple
A fort spread over three hills beside the road to Tiruvannamalai, with Kalyana Mahal, temples, a mosque and ponds inside. The Archaeological Survey of India looks after it.
- Hours
- 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Best season
- December to March.
- For families
- Rajagiri, the tallest citadel, rises about 800 ft, and Krishnagiri is reached by steep steps. Elders and small children can stay with the buildings at the base, such as Kalyana Mahal.
- HeritageTharangambadi (Tranquebar) and Fort Dansborg museumAbout 45 km from Chidambaram Nataraja Temple
A seaside town known for Danish-era buildings. Its 1620 fort now holds a museum run by the Tamil Nadu archaeology department.
- Closed
- The museum is closed on Fridays.
- For families
- The town sits on the Mayiladuthurai to Karaikal road, 28 km by road from Mayiladuthurai railway station. Karaikal's district site puts it about 13 km north of Karaikal. Coordinates (Fort Dansborg, Wikidata Q11964733):
Sources: tiruvannamalai.nic.in, mayiladuthurai.nic.in, viluppuram.nic.in, mayiladuthurai.nic.in · checked 23 Oct 2026
Getting to Chidambaram
Chennai has the most flights and is about 213 km from Chidambaram and 189 km from Tiruvannamalai, so the tour runs as a loop down the coast and back inland. Travellers from Bengaluru can fly to Puducherry (PNY), about 77 km from Chidambaram, or drive to Tiruvannamalai in about 4 hr.
By air
- Chennai International Airport (MAA)about 213 km, about 3 hr 30 min to 4 hr 30 min by road
- Chennai International Airport (MAA)about 189 km to Tiruvannamalai, about 3 hr to 4 hr by road
- Puducherry Airport (PNY)about 77 km, about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 45 min by road
- Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ)about 168 km, about 2 hr 30 min to 3 hr by road
By train
- Chidambaram (CDM)21 trains listed from Chennai Egmore or Tambaram; the fastest is the Kashi Tamil Express 16368 (06:40 from Egmore, about 3 hr 10 min), then 20683 and 22623 from Tambaram (about 3 hr 15 to 3 hr 25 min). The station is 1.6 km from the Nataraja temple per the urban portal.
- Tiruvannamalai (TNM)Only three trains listed from Chennai: the daily MEMU 66033 from Chennai Beach (18:00, about 5 hr 40 min) and two express trains from Perambur (about 3 hr 36 min) whose running days are unclear. Villupuram Junction has 12 trains to Tiruvannamalai taking about 1 hr, which links it to the Chidambaram line.
By road
- From Chennaiabout 220 km, about 4 hr to 4 hr 30 min
- From Bengaluruabout 390 km, about 6 hr 30 min to 7 hr 30 min
- From Puducherryabout 70 km, about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 30 min
- Chidambaram to Tiruvannamalaiabout 156 km, about 2 hr 30 min to 3 hr 30 min
Sources: router.project-osrm.org, tiruvannamalai.nic.in, newsonair.gov.in, trawell.in, erail.in, erail.in, tnurbantree.tn.gov.in, router.project-osrm.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Is one day enough for Chidambaram and Tiruvannamalai?
A short visit to both may fit under favourable conditions, but two days are more dependable. Use three if you need a rest day or intend to include Girivalam.
Does the circuit include Girivalam?
No. Walking around the hill is a separate undertaking. Allow extra time, consider physical readiness and check current local crowd and access arrangements.
Must Chidambaram be visited first?
No compulsory order for this pair was verified. Chidambaram is first because Nataraja anchors this itinerary; reverse it if your arrival or festival plans favour Tiruvannamalai.
Plan this Tour
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Estimated Trip Cost
₹ 16,010
for 4 people (2 Days)
≈ ₹ 4,003 per person for the trip
- No flight needed · already in the arrival city₹0Choose road or drive for a local trip. Airport transfers are still extra.
- 1 × AC sedan with driver₹8,2001 × (500 billed km × ₹14 + 2 days × ₹600 driver). Up to 4 passengers per vehicle, driver separate. AC; fuel budgeted within the per-km hire, inclusions to confirm. Minimum 250 km/day; route 500 km. Chennai operator example; pickup in your region to confirm. Rate source
- 1 night · 2 rooms₹4,6101 nights × 2 rooms × ₹2,305/night. Two people per room, rounded up. Hotel Raya’s Standard AC, Kumbakonam published reference including tax; availability elsewhere to confirm. Rate source
- Simple local meals · all travellers₹3,2002 days × 4 people × ₹400/day. Planning allowance.
- Tolls, parking and personal spending
- Home/station transfers, travel-day meals and extra nights
- Permits, garage/pickup kilometres, driver accommodation and operator taxes, if charged
Assumptions & what changes this estimate
References checked 19 October 2026. Rooms use the linked hotel’s published examples. Meals, fuel, bus and train are budgeting allowances. Bus/train costs use approximate distance, not ticket searches or confirmed classes. Flight examples are economy fares; Luxury upgrades your stay and local vehicle, not your flight cabin. Cab and rental examples need confirmation for your arrival region.
Basic sets rooms, meals and hired vehicle class. Own-vehicle fuel and economy return fares do not change with the stay tier. Dates do not fetch live prices.
Hotel references are Kumbakonam examples, including the published tax, used as a budget across the trip. They are not confirmed rooms in every town. Meals and fuel are planning allowances. All travellers use the same allowance; no child discount is assumed.
Cab minimums and room sharing mean some changes can leave a line unchanged. Travel quotes entered by you are fixed group totals. Prices and availability must be confirmed before booking.