How To Reach

Tamil Nadu lies on the southern most point of India. The state shares its borders with the states of Karnataka to the northwest, Kerala to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the north, Bay of Bengal to the east and surrounds the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Everything about Tamil Nadu gratifies the eager sightseer, be its social, cultural and art forms, its temples and heritage sites, the picturesque hill stations, and the beaches. The transport system of Tamil Nadu is so well organised that it’s easy to reach the state from any part of India and outside.

The easiest and fastest way to reach Tamil Nadu would be to travel by air. We’ll tell you how to reach the heritage rich state of Tamil Nadu.

 By Air

Tamil Nadu has an extensive domestic flight network from major cities of the state to the rest of the country. There are domestic and International Airports at Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Madurai that serve flights to U.K, USA, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Sharjah ,Malaysia et al. Cities like Thuthukudi (Tuticorin) and Salem have domestic airports. There are local buses, auto rickshaws and mobile app taxis to take you to your destination from the airport.Karnataka can be easily reached by air as there are several airports here, including one of the best airports in the country, the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. One of the busiest airports in India, KIAL receives flights from all over the world and several parts of the country. There are direct flights from major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur and Kolkata along with various other smaller cities as well. Domestic airlines that operate out of here are IndiGo, Air India, Spicejet, Vistara, AirAsia etc. The airport is also connected to several international destinations too. Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Emirates and several other airlines too fly to Bengaluru. The airport is at a distance from the city but there are several convenient ways to reach there including cab services such as Ola and Uber. There are regular buses which also take you to the airport at a very reasonable rate.

 By Train

A convenient and cost-effective way to reach Karnataka is by train. The City Railway Station in Bengaluru is the most important railway terminal here. Cities from all over the country are connected to Karnataka by the railways. Most major cities within Karnataka too are connected easily by train but there is limited connectivity in several sections of the interior state. Travellers from Mumbai or Hyderabad can find it quite easy to board a train to Karnataka as there are several trains available. Meanwhile, the Konkan Railway connects the coastal regions of Karnataka with other coastal cities such as Mumbai, Kochi and Goa. Karnataka’s total railway network is around 3089 kilometres. Travellers who want to enjoy a different experience can try the Golden Chariot, a luxury train that travels from Goa to Bengaluru via Mysore and Hampi. This tourist train is operated by Indian Railways and KSTDC. 

 By Road

Karnataka is well-connected to other parts of the country by roadways. It’s possible to travel to many of the major cities here as well as famous tourist destinations by road. Buses are run by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) which works for both interstate and intra-state destinations. Karnataka’s National Highways run for 3973kilometres and several small towns and district headquarters can be reached by road. You can also book KSRTC bus tickets online. 

The other two bus services that connect Karnataka’s more remote areas with other towns and cities are NEKRTC (North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) and NWKRTC (North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation). There are 15 national highways that link Karnataka with Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Places To Visit

1. Bangalore – The City of Diverse Existence

Topping the list for the right reasons in the capital city, Bangalore. Bangalore is the most cosmopolitan city in India. It is a melting pot that is home to people from different backgrounds, cultures and skills. It is the hub of Information Technology that houses a huge number of Software, Hardware and telecom companies that provide services to clients around the world.

Also called the garden city, the key attractions in Bangalore are Bannerghatta Park, Lalbag Garden, Tipu Sultan Palace, Wonder La Theme park, Aerospace Museum and VidhanaSoudha to name a few.

The pleasant weather throughout the year makes this city a prime summer vacation destination.

The best way to travel to this city is either by train to Bangalore Railway station or by air to Bengaluru International airport.

2. Bandipur National Park – In Harmony with Nature

Get as close as you can to natural wildlife in Bandipur National Park. Perfect haven for animal lovers who want to get engrossed in the sights and sounds of the forest.

Do not miss the Tiger Reserve and the Bird Sanctuary of the national park. The rich fauna and flora in the reserve will leave you asking for more. It is a perfect choice for a day picnic. Some of the wildlife you can spot here are elephants, the spotted deer, antelopes.

This attraction is about 80 km from the Mysore railway station and about 220 km from the airport.

3. Coorg – Queer but Captivating

Coorg is one of the pristine, less crowded hill stations. Its natural and lush greenery contributes to its scenic beauty. It is an ideal summer getaway.

Coorg is bestowed with aromatic coffee plantations, breathtaking waterfalls, green mountains, and stunning views. Another unique attraction of Coorg is the Tibetan Monastery.

Tourists have plenty of options for trekking along coffee estates, along river side and mountain scenic paths. There is a local market for any kind of shopping needs.

Coorg is about 106 km from Mangalore rail station and about 250 km from the airport.

4. Hampi – An Architectural Marvel

Hampi is one of the world’s heritage sites as declared by UNESCO. Situated on the banks of Tungabhadra, the place is home to historical ruins and remains of the Vijayanagar kingdom. Rocks and stone carvings are proof of the skill and mastery of the artisans of the old era. It is the perfect tourist place for the history enthusiast.

There are such 500 magnificent structures in Hampi, each of which has a story of its own.

The Hubli airport is the nearest to Hampi, about 74 km.

5. Mysore – City of Old World Charm

Mysore is one of the oldest cities and second biggest in Karnataka. It was the erstwhile city of the Mysore kings who ruled the state for 100’s of years up until the 20^th century.

Mysore is one of the very few cities who has managed to maintain its old world charm. There are plenty of impressive palaces, museums, temples and imposing heritage structures to marvel in Mysore. The alluring Brindavan Gardens are also one of the major attractions of Mysore. The Bangalore airport is about 184 km from Mysore.

6. Shivanasamudra Falls – Nature’s Fury and Peace

Shivanasamudra water falls, located in the Mandya district of Karnataka is a splendid sight to see especially in the monsoon months. This is a segmented fall, with streams running parallel to each other called Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. The gorge is very deep and swimming is not permitted but tourists can enjoy bathing in the part where the force of water it lower.

Bangalore airport is about 175 km and Mysore station is about 80km from the Shivanasamudra falls

7. Gokarna – Tranquility at its Best

Gokarna, a small and less populated town is situated in the north Kannad district of Karnataka. This is normally on the “to-go” places list of tourists due to its peaceful ambience. Gokarna lures the tourists with its enthralling beaches and pious temples.

Your trip to Gokarna will be incomplete without a visit to the famous Mahabaleshwara temple and study its rich history.

Some of the popular but calm beaches in Gokarna are Kudle beach, Om Beach and Gokarna beach. You can enjoy the serene sands and thrilling water sports in any of these beaches.

Gokarna is about 150 km from the Vasco Da Gama airport and about 60 km from the Karwar rail station.

8. Belur and Halebidu – The Majestic Temple Towns

Belur, located on the banks of the Yagachi river is the erstwhile capital of Hoysala empire. Due to this rich history surrounding this town, it consists of various temples with marvelous architecture and perfectly crafted sculptures.

The most well-known temple here Chennakesava temple, which has huge pillars, intricate carvings, and sculptures that are life size.

Mangalore airport is 170 km from Belur and Hassan is about 25 kms.

Halebidu is situated in Hassan district of Karnataka. The main temple was built to honour king Vishnuvardhana and queen Shantala Devi. From the temple, the there is this astounding view of of two hills on the opposite sides appearing like two bulls and a Ganesh figure on the southern side. The place was ruined by the Mughal dynasty and hence got the name, “Halebidu” which means city in ruins.

This place is about 6 km from Belur and 30 km from Hassan.

9. Jog Falls – Will leave you Spellbound!

Jog Falls, falling from about 850 feet from the ground, is the second tallest falls in India. The segmented falls is a sight to behold.

There are steps to go up to the view point to enjoy the stunning view of one of nature’s beautiful creation. The sight and sound of the Jog Falls leaves a soothing and relaxing effect on the visitors.

Sagar Station is about 28 km from Jog Falls and Hubli Airport is about 130 km away.

10. Dandeli – Get set for Adventure

During the last few years, Dandeli has grown to becoming a sought after tourist place. It is an adventures hot spot due to its hilly terrain perfect for trekking, its abundant green forests and interesting wildlife. Dandeli is the perfect package for the thrill seeker.

River Kali in Dandeli offers boating and kayaking adventures.

Hubli airport is about 55 km from Dandeli.