Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
BUS
The downtown
SETC bus stand
( reservation office 7.30am-9.30pm)
has AC express buses to
Chennai (?260, eight hours) every 45 minutes from 5.30am to 1pm, and five times
between 8pm and 10.45pm. Buses for other cities leave from the New Bus Station, 5km
southwest of the centre. Many arriving buses can let you off in the city centre before head-
ing out there. Services from the New Bus Station:
Chidambaram
?90, four hours, every 30 minutes
Karaikal
?45, 3½ hours, 11 daily
Kumbakonam
?29, 1½ hours, every 15 minutes
Madurai
?90, four hours, every 15 minutes
Trichy
?31, 1½ hours, every 10 minutes
TRAIN
The station is reasonably central at the end of Gandhiji Rd. Five daily trains head to Chen-
nai Egmore (seven to nine hours) including the 8.30pm Rock Fort Express (sleeper/3AC/
2AC/1AC ?190/490/730/1225). Eighteen trains head to Trichy (2nd-class/3AC/2AC ?37/
218/610, 1½ hours), and 12 to Kumbakonam (2nd-class/3AC/2AC ?35/218/610, 40
minutes to 1½ hours).
Getting Around
Bus 74 (?6) shuttles between the New Bus Station and the local bus stand downtown. An
autorickshaw can cost ?100.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Trichy (Tiruchirappalli)
0431 / POP 846,915
Welcome to (more or less) the geographic centre of Tamil Nadu. Tiruchirappalli, univer-
sally known as Trichy or Tiruchi, isn't just a travel junction; it also mixes up a throbbing
bazaar with some major must-see temples. It's a big, crowded, busy city, and the fact that
most hotels are grouped around the large bus station isn't exactly a plus point. But Trichy
has a strong character and long history and a way of overturning first impressions.
