Chennai to Chikmagalur

There are various means of transport that travellers can choose from to reach Chikmagalur from Chennai, but roadways continue to be the most preferred one. The two places are at a comfortable driving distance from one another, and you will be able to cover the total road distance of around 600 kilometres between the two locations in about 10 hours. Scenic views add to the joys of driving by this route.

Cab Options
However, if self-driving is personally tedious, you could always hire a cab or taxi. Websites such as Get Me Cab and Savaari offer outstation taxi rentals between the two places. There are local cab service providers such as Ravi Travels, Gokul Cabs and Rajoo Cabs to fulfil your cab necessities.

Route Option from Chennai to Chikmagalur

Most travellers on this route take the following way to reach their final destination:
Chennai - Vellore - Krishnagiri -Hosur - Nice Road -Nelamangala -Kunigal -Channarayapattna - Hassan -Belur – Chikmagalur

Approximate Time Taken

A journey through this route will take you no more than 12 hours, but this also depends on your driving style and the number of halts enroute.

Approximate Fare

Fares for cabs on this route start at around INR 9000 and can go up to INR 9500 for a Sedan and INR 11,000 to INR 12,000 for a six-seater. Before booking a taxi on this route, it is advisable to check whether the fare that the operator has quoted includes additional components like parking and waiting charges or not.

Road Conditions

The roads are well maintained, but there is ongoing expansion or repair work going on often on this route. Also, this is going to be an uphill drive, and therefore, you should undertake this journey only if you are an experienced car driver.

Eating Options Enroute

There are plenty of decent places on the highway where you can halt at, and enjoy some delicious food. These dhabas and local restaurants include:

• Hoysala Village Restaurant
• Swathi Delicacy
• Cafe Coffee Day, Belur Cross
• Mayura, Belur Cross
• Kamat Upachar
• Sri Krishna Restaurant
• Suvarna Regency

Possible Pit Stops Enroute

Some numerous fascinating locations and attractions located on this route offer as must-stop points. The most popular tourist attractions enroute include:

• Yediyur Lake
• Gorur Dam
• Shettyhalli Church
• Chennakeshava Temple, Belur

Even though Chikmagalur has a railway station of its own, there are no direct trains that run from Chennai to Chikmagalur. Rail connectivity between Chennai and Birur is much better, and Birur is only around 50 kilometres away from Chikmagalur. Thus, travellers preferring a train journey would have to take a 10-hour long trip to reach Birur. Further reach Chikmagalur from Birur by road, which is another one-hour long journey.

Limited Train Options
Thus, if you want to travel from Chennai to Chikmagalur on a train journey, there are limited options available for you. Firstly, the trains that ply between Chennai and Birur are limited, and as of now, IRCTC operates only two trains on this route. Secondly, even these trains operate only once a week, and travellers don’t have much choice.

Railway Stations in Chennai and Birur

All trains on this route depart from the Chennai Central (MAS ) station and halt at the Birur Junction (RRB).

Available Train Options

1. 22698 Chennai Central - Hubballi Superfast Express
Timings:
Departure: 15:00
Arrival: 01:28
Duration: 10 hours and 28 minutes
Availability: Sundays
Fare:
General: INR 184
Sleeper: INR 355
AC 3 tier: INR 930
AC 2 tier: INR 1315

2. 17311 Chennai Central - Vasco Da Gama Weekly Express
Timings:
Departure: 15:00
Arrival: 01:28
Duration: 10 hours and 28 minutes
Availability: Fridays
Fare:
General: INR 169
Sleeper: INR 325
AC 3 tier: INR 885
AC 2 tier: INR 1270

Getting to Chikmagalur from Birur

The distance between the two places is 50 kilometres, and you can book a cab after de-boarding at Birur to reach your final destination. The journey will take you around one hour, with fares starting from INR 960.

Chikmagalur being a small town, currently does not have an airport of its own. Thus, travellers only have the option to reach the nearest airport to Chikmagalur, which is in Mangalore, around 120 kilometres away from Chikmagalur. After this, they can hire a cab to take them to their final destination in Chikmagalur. Unfortunately, the flights from Chennai to Mangalore are also minimal, and as of now, only IndiGo offers direct flights between the two places. Other airlines such as Air India also offer connecting flights between Chennai and Chikmagalur, which are more prolonged and expensive.

Flights from Chennai to Mangalore

Flights that are operated by IndiGo take around 2 hours to complete this journey, and fares for the same start at around INR 2800.

Getting to Chikmagalur from Mangalore

Chikmagalur is 150 kilometres away from Mangalore, and a road trip from Mangalore will take around 3-4 hours. You can book a cab for Chikmagalur from the airport itself, which will cost you around INR 3000. Or if you prefer, you can also board a local bus to reach your final destination.

For travellers who don’t want to get into the hassles of driving on their own, but still want to enjoy the scenic beauty, buses are a good option. However, there are no direct buses between Chennai and Chikmagalur. Hence, the only option left is to first take a bus from Chennai to Bangalore and then board a second bus from Chennai onwards till Chikmagalur. The first part of the journey will take you around 6-7 hours, while the next section will take another 5-6 hours.

Bus Details
Plenty of buses on both of these routes makes it convenient for travellers to travel comfortably and even choose their preferred operator, timing, etc. according to travel plans. Or if you so prefer, you can also reach Bangalore by bus, and then undertake a car ride from there. All buses from Bangalore to Chikmagalur depart late night; thus, the best option, in this case, would be to take an afternoon bus to Bangalore. This way, you can reach Bangalore just in time to board a second bus if you are not too keen on exploring Bangalore.

Buses from Chennai to Bangalore

A total of 185 buses operate between Chennai and Bangalore daily, and popular operators on this route include TNSTC, YBM Travels, Roshan Tours and Travels, etc.  

Boarding Points in Chennai

Standard boarding terminals in Chennai from where travellers can board a bus for Bangalore include the following locations: 

• Velachery
• Tharamani
• Thiruvanmiyur
• Adyar
• Madhya Kailash
• T Nagar

Dropping Points in Bangalore

Travellers can get off at any of the following deboarding terminals in Bangalore:

• Kalasipalayam Bus Stand
• Electronic City Toll Gate
• Silk Board
• Madiwala Police Station
• Lalbagh Maingate

Available Bus Options

Getting from Bangalore to Chikmagalur

You can either book a cab to reach Chikmagalur after de-boarding your bus in Bangalore, or you can board a second bus to reach your final destination. Private operators such as LV Travels, GreenLine Travels and Holidays and Cauvery Travels operate buses on this route regularly. All buses on this route leave in the night, with the first bus going to Chikmagalur at 21:45.

Bus Types and Fares
In all, there are seven buses on this route, and fares start from INR 449 onwards for a one-way trip. Buses on this route will take around 5-6 hours to reach their final destination, and travellers also have the option to choose between AC and non-AC sleeper buses as per their comfort.

Cab Prices
A cab, on the other hand, will cost you around INR 5000 to INR 6000, and you will be able to complete your trip in around 4 hours.