Routes›From Chennai›Puducherry (Pondicherry)
Chennai to Puducherry (Pondicherry) by train or bus
160 km by road. The bus is fastest at 3 h; the train is cheapest, from ₹100 per person.
Puducherry (Pondicherry) to ChennaiFastest
Bus
SETC / Private AC Bus
3 h door to door
Cheapest
Train
Pondicherry Express
from ₹100 per person
Best value
Train
Pondicherry Express
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flight times include about three hours at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from budget to premium class.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Overnight | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus | SETC / Private AC Bus | 3 h | ₹190–₹580per person | No | Daily |
| Train | Pondicherry Express | 4 h | ₹100–₹500per person | No | A few a week |
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a cab is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Bus · SETC / Private AC Bus | ₹380–₹1,160 | ₹760–₹2,320 |
| Train · Pondicherry Express | ₹200–₹1,000 | ₹400–₹2,000 |
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Trains from Chennai Central to Puducherry.
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Once you’re in Puducherry (Pondicherry)
- Best time: October – March
- Typical stay: 2 days
- Railhead: Puducherry
- Airport: Chennai (MAA), 165 km
- On the ground: from ₹4,900 for two over 2 days — stay, food, local transport and entry, typical rates (not season-adjusted), excluding this journey.
Related
Plan the Puducherry (Pondicherry) trip
A day-by-day plan for Puducherry (Pondicherry) starting from Chennai, with this journey and the stay priced in.