Chennai to Nagapattinam Taxi

Chennai to Nagapattinam Taxi — 325 km to the Port Town of Three Faiths

Nagapattinam, an old port on the Coromandel coast about 325 km and six hours from Chennai, is the base for three of Tamil Nadu's best-known pilgrimages in one small area: the Nagore Dargah to the north, the Velankanni basilica to the south and the Sikkal Murugan temple just inland.

Three shrines within half an hour

The Nagore Dargah, the shrine of the Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, draws people of every faith, and its annual Kandoori festival ends with a sandalwood procession. The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni, about 12 km south, holds its feast from 29 August to 8 September, when pilgrims walk in from across Tamil Nadu. Sikkal's Singaravelar temple, a few kilometres west, is where Murugan is said to have received his vel, the divine spear, before his battle with Surapadman. In town, the Kayarohanaswamy temple is the main Shiva shrine.

Coast road or inland

Most drivers take the East Coast Road past Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry, on through Cuddalore and Chidambaram to Sirkazhi, then along the shore through Tharangambadi, Karaikal and Nagore. Karaikal belongs to the Union Territory of Puducherry, so the car passes in and out of it; any permit for that is paid separately at actuals. On busy weekends the inland route via Villupuram, Kumbakonam and Thiruvarur can be quicker.

A port with a long history

Nagapattinam traded with Southeast Asia for centuries, and in the Chola period a Buddhist monastery, the Chudamani Vihara, was built here with the support of a Srivijaya king; many Buddha bronzes found in the town are now in the Government Museum in Chennai. Later the Portuguese and Dutch held the port. Today it has a busy fishing harbour, and the refinery at Panangudi lies just outside town.

Choosing your dates

The Velankanni feast, Christmas and New Year bring very large crowds to the coast, and the Nagore Kandoori fills the town in its season, so book rooms early for those weeks. On ordinary days an early start from Chennai reaches Nagapattinam by lunch, leaving the afternoon for Sikkal and an evening at Velankanni.

Stops along the shore

Pondicherry and Chidambaram are the natural meal breaks. Poompuhar, the ancient Chola port at the mouth of the Cauvery, is a short detour near Sirkazhi, and Tharangambadi's seafront fort, built by the Danes, sits right on the route.

Pickups and vehicles

We pick up across Chennai, including the airport, Central, Egmore, Koyambedu and southern suburbs such as Sholinganallur on the way to the coast road. A sedan suits a small family; groups visiting all three shrines with elders usually choose an SUV, and parish or family groups can book a Tempo Traveller.