- Distance
- About 150 km by road
- Drive time
- 3–3.5 hours one way
- Pickup
- Pondicherry
- Destination
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Trip type
- Same-day return possible
- Vehicles
- Sedan, SUV, tempo traveller, coach
About the trip
Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu and the main air and rail gateway for travellers heading home from Pondicherry. Most of our trips on this route are airport or Central Station drops, but many families also turn it into a day of beaches, temples and shopping. The East Coast Road hugs the sea for much of the way and is pleasant to drive.
What to see in Chennai
- Marina Beach
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Mylapore
- Fort St. George
- Government Museum, Egmore
- T. Nagar shopping
- San Thome Basilica
On the road
Take the ECR for sea views and a halt at Mahabalipuram, or the GST road via Tindivanam if you need the airport faster. Allow extra time for city traffic after 4 pm.
A same-day plan
- 6:00 amLeave Pondicherry on the East Coast Road
- 8:00 amBreakfast stop near Mahabalipuram
- 10:00 amKapaleeshwarar Temple and Mylapore streets
- 12:00 pmFort St. George and the museum
- 1:30 pmLunch in the city
- 3:00 pmMarina Beach or shopping at T. Nagar
- 5:30 pmHead back to Pondicherry
Timings are a guide — tell us when you want to leave and what you want to see, and the driver will work around it.
Choose your vehicle
Airport runs, couples and small families on short trips.
The usual pick for family trips, ghat roads and long days on the highway.
Extra room and comfort for special occasions and senior guests.
Extended families, pilgrimage parties and office outings.
Weddings, school trips and temple tours with a big party.
Every car is air-conditioned and comes with an experienced driver. Our quote is all-inclusive — fuel, tolls, parking, interstate permit and driver batta — and is confirmed in writing before you book.
More car trips from Pondicherry
Day trip67 km · 1.5–2 hrsTamil NaduPondicherry to ChidambaramPondicherry to Chidambaram by car for the Nataraja Temple, with an easy return the same day and a possible stop at Pichavaram.
Tamil NaduView route →
Day trip110 km · 2.5 hrsTamil NaduPondicherry to KanchipuramPondicherry to Kanchipuram by cab to see the great temples of the silk city and shop for pure Kanchi silk sarees in one day.
Tamil NaduView route →
Day trip135 km · 3 hrsPuducherryPondicherry to KaraikalPondicherry to Karaikal by car along the coast, with the Tirunallar Saneeswaran temple and an easy link to Velankanni.
PuducherryView route →
Day trip125 km · 3 hrsTamil NaduPondicherry to KumbakonamPondicherry to Kumbakonam by cab for a day among the temple town's shrines, with Darasuram and the navagraha temples nearby.
Tamil NaduView route →
Day trip95 km · 2 hrsTamil NaduPondicherry to MahabalipuramPondicherry to Mahabalipuram by car on the East Coast Road for the Shore Temple, Five Rathas and rock-cut Pallava carvings.
Tamil NaduView route →
Day trip150 km · 3.5 hrsTamil NaduPondicherry to NagapattinamPondicherry to Nagapattinam by cab along the coast, with Nagore Dargah, Velankanni church and the town's old port close by.
Tamil NaduView route →Book a car for this trip
Send us the date, pickup point, number of people and whether you need a return. We reply with the vehicle and a single all-inclusive price.
