Chennai to Kanchipuram by Road – Distance, Time and Useful Travel Information

1. Why travel from Chennai to Kanchipuram?
2. Traveling from Chennai to Kanchipuram by car
3. Best Time to Visit
4. Popular Routes from Chennai to Kanchipuram
5. Other means of traveling
6. Attractions in Kanchipuram for Sightseeing
7. Savaari recommends – Popular places to eat in Kanchipuram
8. Hotels and Resorts in Kanchipuram

Why travel from Chennai to Kanchipuram?

Kanchipuram, or otherwise known as Kanchi, is an ancient city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Established in the 6^th century, the town is a land of historical and cultural wonders, still rooted deep in its old Tamilian traditions. And what better way to experience the bygone charm of this southern community than to take a road trip from the nearest city of Chennai or any other major city nearby, and see its beauty first-hand. With a Savaari’s Chennai cab service you can have a drive that suits your itinerary, budget, travel interests and goals. Let us help you plan a memorable journey from Chennai to Kanchipuram with all the necessary details and information about the road and the destination that lies ahead.

Travelling from Chennai to Kanchipuram by car

The route from Chennai to Kanchipuram passes through important historical landmarks, ancient sites, and small villages, as it cuts through the countryside of Tamil Nadu. Avail a Chennai car rental service, and enjoy a ride through the cultural corners of this southern state. Along the way, you will pass towns like Sriperumbudur, Sunguvarchatram, and Neervalur. When you book a car rental from Chennai to Kanchipuram, you get the benefits of a completely customizable trip package, where you can stop by any of these places for a quick sightseeing tour, travel breaks, or just to capture stunning photos.

Best Time To Visit

Kanchipuram experiences classic tropical weather with hot and humid summers, when the temperatures are harsh. But the winters, on the other hand, are cold and nippy with pleasant weather. The city also receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. The best time to travel from Chennai to Kanchipuram is in the colder months, between November and March or between September and October.

Popular Routes from Chennai to Kanchipuram

Route 1: Distance and Time taken from Chennai to Kanchipuram via NH 48

This is the shortest, fastest, and the best route to travel from Chennai to Kanchipuram. The Chennai to Kanchipuram traffic on this route is usual and there are no major road closures. The distance between Chennai and Kanchipuram on this route is somewhere around 75 KM and takes roughly two hours. Always check live maps and instant traffic updates for the latest information on the road conditions from Chennai to Kanchipuram. You can opt for a chauffeur-driven cab from Chennai to Kanchipuram to have a comfortable and hassle-free trip.

Here’s the basic route map from Chennai to Kanchipuram –

Chennai -> Kuthambakkam -> Sriperumbudur -> Sunguvarchatram -> Marutham -> Enathur -> Kanchipuram

Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:

• Chembarambakkam View Point: A scenic view point on the Chembarambakkam Lake, excellent for a refreshing break, day picnic, or watching sunsets.
• Queen Land Amusement Park, Sembarambakkam: A locally popular theme-park with roller coasters and other adventure sports and rides, water attractions, a good place for families and kids.
• Vallakottai Murugan Temple, Sriperumbudur: An ornately carved, colorful ancient temple outside the town of Sriperumbudur, and a sacred pilgrimage site.

Places to eat along this route:

• Dindigul Thalappakatti, Poonamallee: A 64-year-old restaurant chain, specializing in local, home-style biryani dishes, good for families.
• Sri Velu Military, Mevalurkuppam: Local military canteen serving quick meals and thali, at subsidized rates, good for big groups and families.
• Emerald Multi-cuisine Restaurant, Sunguvarchatram: Casual family restaurant serving standard Indian and international dishes, good for late night stops.

Chennai to Kanchipuram Road Condition via route 1:

The road conditions on route 1 from Chennai to Kanchipuram are very good. There is usual traffic and tolls on the way, but there are no road closures.

Route 2: Distance and Time taken from Chennai to Kanchipuram Via NH32 and Tambaram – Mudichur – Walajabad Rd/Vandalur – Oragadam – Walajabad Rd

This is an alternative route for travelling from Chennai to Kanchipuram. This route is about 10 KM longer than the previous route but takes about the same amount of time. There are also tolls on this route. The distance from Chennai to Kanchipuram on this route is about 84KM and takes two hours.  Always use live maps to check for road closures or check for other traffic updates while traveling.

Here’s the basic route map from Chennai to Kanchipuram along this route:

Chennai -> Vandalur -> Arambakkam -> Devariyabakkam -> Walajabad -> Nattapettai -> Kanchipuram

Popular sights/monuments that you will encounter along this route:

• Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur: A vast local zoo with natural enclosures for Asian mammals, birds, and reptiles, good for kids and families.
• Kunnavakkam Lake, Sethupet: A natural waterbody, surrounded by abundant greenery and rocky banks, good for a refreshing pit stop.
• Nathapettai Lake, Nathapettai: A huge, natural waterbody, locally popular for fishing, picnicking, and bird watching, best during early mornings and sunsets.

Places to eat along this route:

• Nivedhanam Multicuisine Restaurant, Padappai: Multicuisine family restaurant serving vegetarian fare in a casual setting.
• Nala Grand, Tiruvannamalai: Locally popular eatery serving all kinds of meals, good for big groups.

Chennai to Kanchipuram Road Condition via route 2:

The road conditions on this route from Chennai to Kanchipuram are good as of date. But it is a longer route and can have some traffic.

Chennai to Kanchipuram Best Route

With interesting pit stops along the way, both the routes are good for travelling from Chennai to Kanchipuram. But if you are pressed for time, then the first route seems to be the best option. Also, if rest stops are important for your travel, then also the first route is better since the other route does not offer enough food options along the way.

Other means of travelling from Chennai to Kanchipuram

By Train

You can also travel from Chennai to Kanchipuram by train. The nearest railways station is about 4.3 KM away from the city center. There are 25 total trains that ply between the two cities. The fastest train in TAMBARAM-CHENNAI BEACH LOCAL (40108), which takes about half an hour to reach Kanchipuram. The travel time can vary from one to three hours depending on the train and route you take. 

For Chennai to Kanchipuram train booking, you can visit any online travel portal or check the Indian Railways website to get the best deals. For the latest and most accurate information on Chennai to Kanchipuram train timings, always check the timetables of IRCTC before you book.

By Flight

There is no flight service between Chennai and Kanchipuram. The only way to travel to Kanchipuram from Chennai is by bus, train, or car. If you are traveling from other cities/towns across India, you can fly to Chennai and from there book an airport taxi or rent a car to reach Kanchipuram.

Attractions in Kanchipuram for Sightseeing

Owing to a host of old temples and sites of religious significance, Kanchipuram has evolved as a temple town and a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus. There are about 50 temples in the city, which are the primary attractions for visitors, among other local sites of historical and cultural significance. Apart from this, Kanchipuram is also known for its silk weaving industry.

• Kailasanathar Temple – a 1300-year-old historic temple and the highlight of the town, known for stone carved pillars and pyramid towers.
• Kamakshi Amman Temple – a historic Hindu temple with elephants inhabiting the premise, known for hosting traditional festivals.
• Varadharaja Perumal Temple – a huge temple complex spreading across 23 acres, dating back to the 11th century.
• Ekambareswarar Temple – a sacred Shiva temple known for its ancient architecture.
• Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham – the temple of the presiding deity of the town.
• Thiru Ekambaranathar Temple – a massive complex housing Shiva temple with ornate temple towers.
• Tiru Parameswara Vinnagaram – an ancient Buddhist temple complex also housing sanctums dedicated to Vishnu.
• Kanchi Kudhil – a century-old villa turned into a museum, which features antiques, ancient handicrafts, photos, and art.
• Kanchipuram Murugan Silk Weavers’ Society – one of the most famous and oldest silk co-operative societies of Kanchipuram engaged in production and sales of handloom silk textiles. You can do a tour of the weaving process or buy silk fabrics/sarees at wholesale rates.
• Kuttu Kalai Kudam – a unique art school offering training to children in the Kattaikkuttu Kudam – a traditional theater art form, where dancers dress up in colorful costumes and enact mythological anecdotes.

Savaari Recommends – Popular places to eat in Kanchipuram

The food culture of Kanchipuram is close to its cultural heritage, with mostly traditional Tamilian fare, revolving around rice, spices, chilies, coconut and native fruits and vegetables in the cuisine. The locally made idli is a popular dish. Although the dominant cuisine available in Kanchipuram is south Indian you can also find north Indian, Chinese, and other international dishes.

Here are some of the best places to eat in Kanchipuram –

• Sri Rubak Café, Gem Nagar
• Anbazhagan Mess, Thaiyar Kullam
• Kanchi the Grill Theory & Club 10 Chicken, Ennaikaran
• Kanchi Karupatti Coffee, Ennaikaran
• Thahira Hotel, Ennaikaran

Hotels and Resorts in Kanchipuram

Place Name	Address	Phone Number
Hotel SSK Grand	No 70, Annai Indira Gandhi Salai, Nellukara St, near Sri Chitragupta Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502	081225 00500
Regency Kanchipuram by GRT Hotels	487, Gandhi Rd, Ennaikaran, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502	044 2722 5250
Royal Stay Kanchipuram	27, KK Nagar, Pillaiyarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501	099943 11199
Pine Tree Hotel	Old No. 73C/1A, New No. 20, Mettu Street, Vallal Pachaiyappan, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501	083000 37272
RB Grand Residency	Chennai Bangalore Highway, Enathur, next to Saravana Bhavan, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631561	044 2726 4453

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