Chennai is one of the most vibrant coastal cities in south India and is known for being well-planned and hospitable. Despite being a large metropolitan, Chennai is a city that balances ancient architecture and modern urban trappings. The journey between the charming town of Pondicherry and the bustling Chennai is nothing but blissful and makes for a beautiful road trip.
With our customizable trip plans and itineraries, you can do more than just a regular road trip, and enjoy a comfortable ride, while making your journey interesting at the same time. Book Savaari’s Pondicherry taxi service to have a safe and hassle-free road trip.
Table of contents
- Why travel from Pondicherry to Chennai?
- Traveling from Pondicherry to Chennai by car
- Best time to take a road trip by car
- Popular Routes from Pondicherry to Chennai
- Other means of traveling
- Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
- Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Chennai
- Hotels and resorts – Accommodation in Chennai
- Nearby Road trips
Why travel from Pondicherry to Chennai?
The time taken to travel from Pondicherry to Chennai by road is 3 hours. The duration is optimum for road travel. Moreover, the route takes you through some of the most gorgeous landscapes on this side of the country. By booking a cab with Savaari from Pondicherry to Chennai, you get the chance to customize your whole trip, including the itinerary, so you can make it an incredible travel experience!
Travelling from Pondicherry to Chennai by car
From the coastal town to the capital city, the road from Puducherry to Chennai is dotted with several nature hotspots, historical monuments, interesting viewing points, and more. Hence, a road trip from Pondicherry to Chennai is one of the best ways to travel between these two destinations – you can stop at any of these scenic stops along the way and do quick sightseeing. Let us help you discover the best routes so you can plan an exciting road trip from Pondicherry to Chennai by road.
Important Highway information – Pondicherry Chennai Highway
| Highway Name | Pondicherry to Chennai highway |
| Alternate Name | East Coast Road |
| Highway Number | NH 32 |
| Distance | 657 Km |
| Starting Point | Thoothukudi |
| End Point | Chennai |
| Highway Quality | Excellent |
Best time to take a road trip from Pondicherry to Chennai by car
Sitting right on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai experiences a coastal climate. The summers are generally hot and humid, limiting the sightseeing options and hence, are not the best time to visit Chennai. Hence, the winter and monsoon months are the most popular time to travel to Chennai by road. This period is also best if you want to explore the outdoors.
Peak: Nov to Feb
Optimal: Jan to Mar
Avoid: May to July
Popular Routes from Pondicherry to Chennai
Route 1: Pondicherry to Chennai via East Coast Road
The Pondicherry to Chennai distance on this route is nearly 150 KM and takes about three hours to reach. This route has tolls and there might be some Pondicherry to Chennai traffic due to roadwork. But for best information on Pondicherry to Chennai road conditions always check for real-time traffic updates and follow live maps.
Here’s a basic Pondicherry to Chennai road map for this route:
| Pondicherry – > Kalapet -> Edaikazhinadu -> Mahabalipuram -> Chennai |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
The route between Pondicherry and Chennai is as scenic as it can get. Therefore, you can stop at any of these places and experience what each pit stop has to offer.
- Alamparai Fort, Edaikazhinadu – Stop by the relics of this ancient fort sitting on the shore.
- Mahabalipuram Lighthouse, Mahabalipuram – An old lighthouse on the Mahabalipuram beach, known for viewing sunrise and sunsets and a popular site for photography.
- Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram – An 8th-century temple, sitting on the shore of Bay of Bengal and a landmark site of Mahabalipuram. Stop by for photo ops, views or take a day tour.
- Dakshina Chitra Heritage Museum, Muttukadu – A state-run, living-history museum dedicated to South Indian heritage and culture, good for a quick visit.
- Madras Crocodile Park, Kelambakkam – A natural marshland and wildlife reserve housing crocodiles, near Chennai city.
Places to eat along this route:
- Nivi’s Delhi Dhaba, Kanchipuram – Lakeside diner serving North Indian dishes and dhaba style food, good for families and big groups.
- Sahara Restaurant, Kalpakkam – Local diner serving north and south Indian meals, specializing in biriyani.
- L’attitude 49, Mahabalipuram – A resort restaurant serving global cuisines, known for dining with great views.
- Sangeetha Veg Restaurant, Muttukadu – Local highway side diner serving vegetarian South Indian dishes, good for family and big groups.
Pondicherry to Chennai Road Condition Via East Coast
This is the shortest and fastest route to reach Pondicherry from Chennai. It is also the most recommended route by Google maps and used by travelers. The road conditions are good and the roadtrip makes for one of the most scenic routes in the country.
Route 2: Pondicherry to Chennai via NH 32
The distance on this road is 165 km and takes nearly three and half hours. There might be some occasional traffic on this route between Pondicherry and Chennai. Always check real-time traffic and live maps for the most updated information on Pondicherry to Chennai road conditions.
Here’s a basic Pondicherry to Chennai road map for this route:
| Pondicherry -> Kiliyanur -> Tindivanam ->Perumbairkandigal ->Chengalpattu -> Chennai |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- National Fossil Wood Park, Thiruvakkarai (off NH 32) – A protected national geo-heritage monument and conservatory, housing fossils and prehistoric evidence, worth a quick detour and exploring.
- Omanthoorar Park, Tindivanam – A public park with gardens dedicated to the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
- Muthalamman Temple, Maduranthakam – A beautiful, ancient temple with classic Dravidian architecture in stone, locally regarded as a sacred site.
- Palar River View Point, Kanchipuram – Expansive river banks with panoramic views of the countryside, good for sunset views or afternoon breaks.
- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur – A local zoo with large, natural enclosures for Asian mammals and an expansive forested area, good for a quick drive around or short safari.
Places to eat along this route
- Oorvasi veg restaurant & cafe lounge, Tindivanam – Plush eatery and lounge serving vegetarian fare, snack food, and meals, family-friendly, and group-friendly.
- Vasanta Bhavan, Acharapakkam – Standard highway-side casual diner serving traditional snacks and meal plates, good for quick stops.
- Sathyam Vegetarian Restaurant, Chengalpattu – A comfortable vegetarian restaurant specializing in classic South Indian meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Pondicherry to Chennai Road Condition Via NH32
This is an alternative route to cover Pondicherry to Chennai distance. You might find regular road traffic on this route, but it can be higher during peak season or holidays.
Pondicherry to Chennai Best Route
While you can take any of the two routes, we recommend Route 1 Via East Coast Road. The road conditions are excellent, more scenic and the time taken is less. However, it is advisable to check live traffic updates before leaving for your trip. You can also opt for a car rental service in Pondicherry with experienced drivers to reach Chennai by road.
Other means of traveling from Pondicherry to Chennai
You can also travel from Pondicherry to Chennai by train or flight.
How to reach Chennai by Train?
You can also reach Chennai from Pondicherry by train. There are only about 24 trains now plying between these two destinations. Of these, 14 trains run daily. So you can visit the Indian Railways website for your Pondicherry to Chennai train bookings, or choose your options from the multiple online portals.
The fastest train is NDLS PUDUCHERRY EXP which covers the distance between Pondicherry and Chennai in about three and half hours. Book a cab in Chennai to reach your hotel at your convenience.
How to reach Chennai by Flight?
Although there are airports in both Pondicherry and Chennai, there is no air connectivity between the two cities at this time. For all the flight updates and information, visit any online travel portal or airline website.
Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
Chennai is a large bustling city with beaches, temples, and many other attractions. Below listed are some interesting things you can indulge in Chennai:
- Marina Beach – the most popular and busiest beach of the city with recreational options.
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple – a 7th-century Shiva temple, known for its ornate Dravidian architecture.
- Government Museum – a state-run museum preserving historical artifacts and archeological findings dating back to Bronze Age and more.
- Edward Elliot’s Beach – the quieter urban beach of the city and a popular local and tourist haunt.
- Santhome Cathedral – the most famous cathedral of the city, known for its 19th-century Gothic architecture.
- Dakshina Chitra – a heritage museum with cultural exhibits and an arts center.
- Valluvar Kottam – a heritage site and cultural venue dedicated to the historical poet Valluvar.
- Semmozhi Poonga – an expansive botanical garden with more than 500 varieties of exotic plants and flowers.
Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Chennai
Chennai is a town that’s known for its rich historical and cultural heritage. Like any metro city, Chennai offers a varied palette that can satisfy any traveler’s taste buds.
These are some of the best-rated places to eat in Chennai –
- Murugan Idly Shop, E. 149/1, 6th Avenue, opp. Velankanni Church, GOCHS Colony, Besant Nagar
- Pumpkin Tales, 37, 20, Bheemanna Garden St, Alwarpet
- Amelie’s Cafe and Creamery, 6, Seshadri St, Venus Colony, Alwarpet
- Nair Mess, No.22, Mohammed Abdullah Sahib, 2nd St, Chepauk
- Animal Kingdom Theme Restaurant, 44, 1st Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar
Hotels and Resorts in Chennai
| Place Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Ilara Hotels & Spa | 1A, 1B, 1/13, Old Mahabalipuram Rd, OMR, Navalur, Tamil Nadu | 098846 88882 |
| Green Meadows Resort | 4, 364 A, Anna Salai Rd, Palavakkam Kuppam, Palavakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 099449 90950 |
| Mango Nest Nature Resort | No:1, River View Enclave, Teesta Street, 3 Road, Manapakkam Main Rd, HL: Families:, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 095823 36006 |
| Sarojini Gardens | Nazarathpettai, Tamil Nadu | 098844 12558 |
| The Green Leaf Resort | 5/79, SH 49, near Buhari Hotel, Raja Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 044 4852 0060 |
Download our Savaari car booking app for a smooth and pleasant journey.
Nearby road trips from Chennai
| Destination | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai to Ooty | 555 Km | 11Hr 25 min |
| Chennai to Bangalore | 347 Km | 7 Hr 10 min |
| Chennai to Coimbatore | 506 Km | 9 Hr 26 min |
| Chennai to Madurai | 426 Km | 8 Hr 9 min |
| Chennai to Hyderabad | 627 Km | 12 Hr |
| Chennai to Rameshwaram | 559 Km | 10 Hr |
Pondicherry Chennai Highway News:
- Work to widen a stretch of East Coast Road begins
- Pay what you can: Tindivanam-Puducherry highway eatery offers menu of hope
- 2 non-functioning toll gates in Mamallapuram removed
