Chennai to Bhadrachalam

The road distance between Chennai and Bhadrachalam is 630 kilometres, and it takes around 11 to 12 hours to complete this journey by road. Even though this will be a long car ride, the surroundings are quite scenic, and travellers enjoy this journey. For those who do not want to self drive for such a long distance, cab services are always at disposal. Cabs can easily be booked online through websites such as Gozocabs, Savaari, etc. or you can even approach your local cab operator for the same. Popular local cab operators in Chennai include Ravi Travels, Gokul Cabs, and Rajoo Cabs among others. 

Route Options From Chennai to Bhadrachalam

The most common route that is taken by travellers to reach Bhadrachalam is Chennai- Nellore- Kavali- Ongole- Vijayawada- Bhadrachalam. 
This route will take you across a total distance of 631 kilometres, and you will be driving mostly on the NH16 and NH30. 

Approximate Fare

Fares for cabs on this route start at INR 16000 onwards and can go up to INR 24000 for plentiful six-seater cabs. 

Eating Outlets On the Way

There are numerous eating outlets along the highway, where you can enjoy both north Indian and south Indian cuisine. Popular local restaurants and dhabas that you will find en route include:
1.  Sri Bombay Halwa House
2.  Chilli Pepper
3.  Sarvana Bhawan
4.  Tandoori Night
5.  Puran da Dhaba

Trains are a convenient and economical way to reach Bhadrachalam from Chennai. The rail distance of over 550 kilometres between them can easily be covered in around nine to eleven hours, and travellers can rest assured of enjoying a comfortable journey.

Drawbacks
The only drawback of travelling by train to Bhadrachalam is that there are no direct trains that will take travellers right from Chennai to their final destination in Bhadrachalam. Trains on this route terminate/halt at the Dornakal Junction, which is 55 kilometres away from Bhadrachalam. Thus, travellers will have to take another train or undertake a different mode of transport after getting off at Bhadrachalam to reach the final destination.

IRCTC Routes
IRCTC operates three trains on this route; of which, two are early morning express trains; both departing at 05:15. Charminar Express, the third and last train is a SuperFast Train leaving in the evening. The Charminar Express is also the fastest train on this route. 

Railway Stations in Chennai and Bhadrachalam
All trains on the route leave from the Chennai Central Station (MAS) and halt at the Dornakal Junction (DKJ). 

Available Options

1. 16031 Andaman Express 
Timings:
Departure: 05:15
Arrival: 16:49
Duration: 11 hours and 34 minutes
Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Fare:
General: INR 169
Sleeper: INR 325
AC 3 tier: INR 885

2. 16093 Chennai Central - Lucknow Jn. (Gomtisagar) Express 
Timings:
Departure: 05:15
Arrival: 16:49
Duration: 11 hours and 34 minutes
Availability: Tuesdays and Saturdays
Fare:
General: INR 169
Sleeper: INR 325
AC 3 tier: INR 885

3. 12759 Charminar Express 
Timings:
Departure: 18:10
Arrival: 02:59
Duration: 8 hours and 49 minutes
Availability: All days of the week
Fare:
General: INR 179
Sleeper: INR 345
AC 3 tier: INR 910
AC 2 tier: INR 1285
AC 1st class: INR 2155

Getting from Dornakal Junction to Bhadrachalam

1.  After getting off at Dornakal, board any of the seven trains IRCTC operated trains on this route. These trains will take you to the Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station (BDCR), and the journey takes around one to two hours, depending on the train that you choose. The Bhadrachalam Railway Station is 40 kilometres away from the central city. After getting off, book a cab or board a local bus to reach your final destination. Commonly known as the Kothagudem Railway Station, the Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station is a stopping point to undertake a 50-minute bus ride costing INR 70 to reach Bhadrachalam by bus.

2.  Alternatively, you can book a cab from Dornakal itself to reach your final destination in Bhadrachalam straightaway. The distance between the two places is around 100 kilometres, and fares for cabs on this route start from around INR 1440 onwards. 

Since no direct buses ply between Chennai and Bhadrachalam, travellers would have to first board a bus from Chennai to Vijayawada. Following which, a second bus must be taken to reach Bhadrachalam. The first leg of the journey will take you around 9 to 11 hours, while the next part takes around 4 to 5 hours. Many buses ply daily on these routes, and thus travellers can choose any bus that best suits their needs. 

Buses from Chennai to Vijayawada

A total of 28 buses run at all times of the day from Chennai to Vijayawada, with fares starting from just INR 500 per person. The best option in this case, however, would be to board a bus that leaves in the early morning, so that you can reach Vijayawada latest by the evening. Since all buses running from Vijayawada to Bhadrachalam start in the evening, the journey would save a lot of travel time by not having to wait for the second bus. 

Boarding Points in Chennai

Major boarding terminals in Chennai from where travellers can board their bus for Vijayawada include:
1.  Sholinganallur (Van/Bus Pickup)
2.  Thuraipakkam (Van/Bus Pickup)
3.  Perungudi (Van/Bus Pickup)
4.  Mahendra City
5.  Adyar -Parveen Travels (Van/Bus Pickup)
6.  SRM University

Dropping Points in Vijayawada

Buses pass through various points in Vijayawada where travellers can get down, such as the Benz Circle and NTR Circle. The best option, however, will be to get down at the Vijayawada Bus Stand, because this is the only place from where buses will further leave for Bhadrachalam. 

Bus Types Plying from Chennai to Vijayawada

Buses that run on this route include the following types:
1.  Mercedes Multi-Axle Semi-sleeper (2+2)
2.  A/C Sleeper (2+1)
3.  GARUDA(VOLVO/CORONA/ ISUZU AC SEMI SLEEPER)
4.  Volvo B11R MultiAxle SemiSleeper Auto Trans. (2+2)
5.  Volvo A/C Multi Axle Sleeper(2+1)
6.  Mercedes Benz Multi Axle A/C Sleeper (2+1)

Available Options

1. APSRTC (Garuda AC Semi Sleeper)
Timings: Various times throughout the day
Duration: 8-10 hours
Fare: INR 518 onwards

2. YBM Travels (AC Sleeper 2+1 buses)
Timings:
Departure: 23:00
Arrival: 06:30
Duration: 7 hours and 30 minutes
Fare: INR 900

3. Nani’s Dai Krishna Travels (Volvo B9R Multi Axle Semi Sleeper Buses)
Timings:
Departure: 22:45
Arrival: 07:00
Duration: 8 hours and 15 minutes
Fare: INR 736

Buses from Vijayawada to Bhadrachalam

Six buses operated by APSRTC ply between Vijayawada and Bhadrachalam. Travellers thus do not have many options in choosing a bus operator of their choice. Also, all of these buses leave in the evening, with the first bus leaving at 17:20, and the last bus leaving at 23:15. 

Boarding and De-Boarding Points

All buses on this route start from the Vijayawada Bus Stand, and travellers get off at the Bhadrachalam Bus Stand. 

Bus Types Plying from Vijayawada to Bhadrachalam

Travellers on this route have the option to choose between the following two types of buses when travelling to Bhadrachalam. 
1.  Ultra Deluxe(Non-Ac, 2+2 Push Back)
2.  Express

Approximate Duration and Fares of APSRTC Buses

Buses on this route take around 4-5 hours to complete their journey, with tickets starting from just INR 163. 

The Preferred Mode of Transportation From the Bus Stand
Autos are easily available everywhere in Bhadrachalam, and you can hire one to reach your final destination. Note that autos there do not have meters, and fares, therefore, need to be bargained. 

Travelling from Chennai to Bhadrachalam by air is a fast and convenient method, which will save you a lot of time as compared to other means of transport. To reach Bhadrachalam, you will first have to take a flight from Chennai to Rajahmundry Airport, which is the nearest airport to Bhadrachalam. The airport is located at Madhurapudi, 18 kilometres to the north of Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. After this, you will have to undertake a four-hour journey to reach your final destination in Bhadrachalam from the airport. 

Available Flights from Chennai to Rajahmundry

IndiGo is the only airline to offer direct flights between Chennai and Rajahmundry as of now. 

Approximate Time Taken

Flights take 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach their final destination. 

Approximate Fare

Fares for flights on this route start from INR 2800 onwards and can go up depending on other factors such as time of travel, season, etc. 

Getting from Rajahmundry to Bhadrachalam

The distance between Rajahmundry Airport and Bhadrachalam is 190 kilometres, and it takes around 4 hours to travel from Rajahmundry to Bhadrachalam. From the airport, you can take a bus or a cab to reach Bhadrachalam. A taxi would cost you around INR 5000 to take you to your final destination in Bhadrachalam.