The capital city of Tamil Nadu and one of the largest metro cities of the country, Chennai is a city that balances ancient architecture and modern urban trappings. The journey between the temple town of Madurai and the bustling city of Chennai by road is nothing but blissful. With our customizable trip plans and itineraries, you can do more than just a regular road trip from Madurai to Chennai. Enjoy a comfortable ride while making your journey interesting at the same time. If you are interested in travelling to other destinations near Chennai, you can hire a car in Chennai with Savaari for a comfortable travel experience.
Table of Contents
- Why travel from Madurai to Chennai?
- Traveling from Madurai to Chennai?
- Best time to take a road trip by car
- How to Reach Chennai By Train
- How to Reach Chennai By Flight
- Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
- Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Chennai
- Hotels and resorts – Accommodation in Chennai
Why travel from Madurai to Chennai?
By driving from Madurai to Chennai, you can experience the historical sites, traditional and modern culture, and scenic surroundings of the city. When you book a cab in Madurai with Savaari, you also have the opportunity to customize your entire trip, including the itinerary, allowing you to create an incredible travel experience!
Travelling from Madurai to Chennai by car
From the temple town to the capital city, the road from Madurai to Chennai is dotted with several nature hotspots, historical monuments, interesting viewing points, and more. Hence, a road trip from Madurai to Chennai is one of the best ways to travel between these two destinations. For the best experience book our reliable Madurai car rental with a local driver for a convenient and comfortable journey. With our completely customizable Madurai to Chennai trip packages, you can stop at any of these places and do quick sightseeing. Let us help you discover the best routes so you can plan an exciting trip.
Best time to take a road trip from Madurai to Chennai by car
Sitting right on the Bay of Bengal, Chennai experiences a coastal climate. The summers are generally hot and humid. So, 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.
Popular Routes from Madurai to Chennai
Route 1: Madurai to Chennai via Kanyakumari Rd and NH38
The Madurai to Chennai distance is approximately 460 KM and takes nearly 8 hours to travel. Before you travel, always check for traffic updates and use live maps to get real-time information on Madurai to Chennai road conditions.
Here’s a basic Madurai to Chennai road map for this route:
| Madurai -> Melur -> Tiruchirappalli -> Villupuram -> Tindivanam ->Chengalpattu -> Chennai |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Butterfly Park, Melur – A large local park featuring a glass butterfly house, landscaped gardens, a fountain and an eatery.
- Tiruchirappalli District Museum, Tiruchirappalli – A public museum housing artifacts, rock sculptures, and inscriptions on regional history.
- Ranjankudi Fort, Perambalur – A historical site with ruins of an ancient fort, surrounded by countryside, good for a short tour and quick break on a long drive.
- Palar River View Point, Kanchipuram – Expansive river banks with panoramic views of countryside, good for sunset views or afternoon breaks.
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal – Locally protected wetland sanctuary, good for sighting migratory birds in winter.
Places to eat along this route:
- Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant, Trichy-Melur Road – Upscale family restaurant serving Chettinad cuisine, good for families, and kid-friendly.
- Arab Spice Family Restaurant, Tiruchirappalli – Locally famous casual restaurant serving Middle Eastern dishes along with Indian and Chinese cuisines.
- Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant, Ulundurpet – Famous chain restaurant specializing in ethnic style biryani and non-vegetarian fare.
- Oorvasi veg restaurant & cafe lounge, Tindivanam – Plush eatery and lounge serving vegetarian fare, snack food, and meals, family-friendly, and group-friendly.
- Manoj Bhavan Perumal koil street, Maduranthakam – This locally popular vegetarian restaurant, serves traditional dishes, good for a quick stop.
Madurai to Chennai Road Condition Via Trichy
This is the shortest, fastest, and most convenient route to cover Madurai to Chennai by road distance. Most tourists and frequent travellers use this route since the traffic is also not heavy on this highway.
Route 2: Madurai to Chennai via Salem on NH44
The distance between Madurai to Chennai via this route is about 575 KM and takes nearly 9 hours and 30 minutes. This is a longer and slower alternative to the previous route.
Here’s a basic Madurai to Chennai road map for this route:
| Madurai -> Dindigul -> Salem -> Kallakkurichi -> Tindivanam -> Chengalpattu -> Chennai |
|---|
Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:
- Palar River View Point, Kanchipuram – Expansive river banks with panoramic views of the countryside, good for sunset views or afternoon breaks.
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal – Locally protected wetland sanctuary, good for sighting migratory birds in winter.
- Muttal Anaivari Waterfalls, Attur – A local nature hotspot with gushing streams and rocky hillocks, surrounded by ample greenery, good for day picnics or short treks.
- Paravasa Ulagam, Salem – A locally famous water-themed park, good for kids and family, works as a great overnight break on a long drive.
- Maavutharu Lake Dam, Sirumalai – A catchment area of the Sirumalai lake, surrounded by dense foliage and greenery.
Places to eat along this route:
- Manoj Bhavan Perumal Koil Street, Maduranthakam – This locally popular vegetarian restaurant, serves traditional dishes, good for a quick stop.
- Oorvasi veg restaurant & cafe lounge, Tindivanam – Plush eatery and lounge serving vegetarian fare, snack food, and meals, family-friendly, and group-friendly.
- Dindigul Thalappakatti Restaurant, Ulundurpet – Famous chain restaurant specializing in ethnic style biryani and non-vegetarian fare.
- The Cascade, Salem – Locally popular Chinese restaurant, kid-friendly, good for late-night food.
Madurai to Chennai Road Condition Via Salem on NH44
The road condition via NH44 is excellent too. However, it is the longer route. You may encounter occasional road work or heavy traffic on this route. Always check live maps and real-time updates to get the latest information on Madurai to Chennai road conditions.
Madurai to Chennai best route
While both routes are good to take, we recommend Madurai to Chennai via the NH38 route due to the less time taken and the scenic journey. However, you should check for live traffic updates before your trip to compare the routes.
Other means of traveling from Madurai to Chennai
How to reach Chennai by train?
You can also cover the Madurai to Chennai distance by train, which is available daily. There are around 23 trains that ply between Madurai to Chennai of which 10 ply daily. So you can visit the Indian Railways website for your Madurai to Chennai train bookings, or choose your options from the multiple online portals.
The fastest train is Tejas Express which takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes covering some 650 km to reach Chennai. The total time taken from Madurai to Chennai can vary from 8-11 hours, depending upon the train you choose. Therefore, for the updated Madurai to Chennai train timings, check with IRCTC for their latest timetables. You can also hire a car rental service from the Chennai railway station to reach final destination.
How to reach Chennai by flight?
You can also fly from Madurai to Chennai. There are over 10 direct flights between these two cities daily. The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, which is about 21 KM from the city centre.
The average Madurai to Chennai direct flight duration is 1 hour 30 minutes and usually costs between Rs 3000 to 5000 depending on the airline, flight route, booking window, available deals, and the travel season. For your Madurai to Chennai flight booking, visit any online travel portal or check with the airlines’ direct website. You can hire a reliable Chennai airport taxi for a convenient ride to your hotel in the city
Attractions in Chennai for Sightseeing
Chennai and its vicinity is blessed with endless natural and man-made wonders, making this the perfect starting point for uncountable road trips and places to visit nearby. From historical ancient towns to exotic beaches, there are endless possibilities for long vacations or quick weekend getaways from Chennai, every few hundred miles. Check out the best road trips you can embark on for a quick weekend getaway from 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.
[Also read: Guide to Chennai’s beaches: Tourist attractions for all travellers]
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.