4 days · all six abodes of Lord Murugan
வெற்றிவேல் முருகனுக்கு அரோகரா
Arupadai Veedu Tour Package from Chennai the six Murugan temples in 4 days
All six of Murugan's abodes in one loop: an Arupadai Veedu yatra from Chennai costs ₹44,400 in a 12-seater AC tempo traveller, about ₹3,700 each when the van is full. The drive covers roughly 1,680 km over 4 days: Thiruttani and Swamimalai on day one, Palani and Thiruparankundram on day two, Pazhamudircholai and Tiruchendur on day three, and home on day four.
- Palani before the winch's midday break
- Steps, winch or hill road for elders
- A written fare within 30 minutes
Six temples, one loop
The Six Abodes at a Glance
- Thiruttani
- Hill temple 87 km from Chennai: 365 steps, one for each day of the year, or the road to the top
- Swamimalai
- Near Kumbakonam, 60 steps named after the 60 Tamil years; here Murugan explained the Pranava mantra to Shiva
- Palani
- Dhandayuthapani on Sivagiri hill; the temple is open 6 AM to 8 PM, and the winch and rope car run 7 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 to 5 PM
- Thiruparankundram
- A rock-cut temple 8 km from Madurai, where Murugan married Deivanai; about 5 AM to 1 PM and 4 to 9 PM
- Pazhamudircholai
- On the hill above Alagar Koil, 20 to 25 km north of Madurai, with a motor road to the shrine and the Noopura Gangai spring
- Tiruchendur
- The seashore temple of the victory over Soorapadman; the paid queue closes at 6:30 PM and the free queue at 7 PM
- Route
- Chennai → Thiruttani → Swamimalai → Palani → Madurai → Tiruchendur → Chennai, about 1,680 km
- Festival days
- Soorasamharam at Tiruchendur on 15 November 2026 and Thaipusam at Palani on 22 January 2027 draw the biggest crowds
Four-day prices
Arupadai Veedu Fares by Vehicle
Each fare is for the whole vehicle for all four days and about 1,680 km, including the climbs to Thiruttani and Pazhamudircholai and the runs inside Madurai. Compare seats, photos and comfort features
Big figure: the whole trip · small figure: the approximate share per head
- Sedan4 seats · ₹14/km · bata ₹500/day ₹25,520≈ ₹6,380 per head Book
- Toyota Innova7 seats · ₹19/km · bata ₹600/day ₹34,320≈ ₹4,900 per head Book
- Innova Crysta7 seats · ₹22/km · bata ₹600/day ₹39,360≈ ₹5,620 per head Book
- 12-Seater Tempo Traveller12 seats · ₹25/km · bata ₹600/dayBest for 8–12 ₹44,400≈ ₹3,700 per head Book
- 17-Seater Tempo Traveller17 seats · ₹28/km · bata ₹700/day ₹49,840≈ ₹2,930 per head Book
- Force Urbania 13-Seater13 seats · ₹31/km · bata ₹800/day ₹55,280≈ ₹4,250 per head Book
- Mini Bus 21–26 Seater26 seats · ₹37/km · bata ₹900/day ₹65,760≈ ₹2,530 per head Book
- Mini Bus 30–35 Seater35 seats · ₹46/km · bata ₹1000/day ₹81,280≈ ₹2,320 per head Book
- Tourist Bus 40–45 Seater45 seats · ₹57/km · bata ₹1200/day ₹1,00,560≈ ₹2,230 per head Book
- Tourist Bus 49–55 Seater55 seats · ₹65/km · bata ₹1200/day ₹1,14,000≈ ₹2,070 per head Book
Covered by the fare
- Vehicle and driver for 4 days
- Up to 1,680 km, extra km at the listed rate
- Driver's daily allowance for all 4 days
- Hill roads at Thiruttani and Pazhamudircholai
- Door pickup in any Chennai area we serve
Added at cost, receipts shared
- Tolls and parking
- Night allowance if the vehicle runs between 10 PM and 6 AM
- GST, if applicable
Four days, six temples
The 4-Day Arupadai Veedu Route
The order follows the road, not the scriptures: north first, then south through the delta and the hills, and the sea temple last.
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Day 1Thiruttani and Swamimalaiabout 390 km
- 4:30 AMChennai pickupsThe van calls at each home in turn; elders get the front seats.
- 6:30 AMThiruttaniMorning darshan before the queues build. Climb the 365 steps or ride up the hill road.
- 9:00 AMBreakfast, then southAbout 6 hours to Swamimalai with a lunch stop near Villupuram.
- 5:00 PMSwamimalaiUp the 60 steps for evening darshan, then Shiva's shrine at the foot of the hillock.
- 8:00 PMNight in KumbakonamRooms are easy to find near the town's temple streets.
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Day 2Palani and Thiruparankundramabout 400 km
- 5:30 AMDrive to PalaniAbout 5 hours through Trichy and Dindigul.
- 10:30 AMPalani hill templeWinch or rope car up while it runs (7 AM to 12:30 PM), darshan, and panchamirtham from the temple counter.
- 1:30 PMLunch, then MaduraiAbout 2½ hours to Madurai.
- 5:30 PMThiruparankundramEvening darshan at the rock-cut temple on Madurai's edge.
- 8:30 PMNight in MaduraiMany groups stay near the Meenakshi temple towers.
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Day 3Pazhamudircholai and Tiruchendurabout 270 km
- 6:00 AMPazhamudircholaiUp the hill road above Alagar Koil for early darshan and the Noopura Gangai spring.
- 8:30 AMAlagar KoilDarshan at the Vishnu temple at the foot of the hill, then breakfast.
- 10:00 AMMeenakshi Amman TempleAn optional stop on the way through Madurai; phones stay in the van.
- 12:30 PMDrive to TiruchendurAbout 3½ hours to the coast.
- 5:00 PMTiruchendur by the seaDarshan well before the 7 PM queue cut-off, then Vallikugai cave.
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Day 4Sea-dawn darshan and homeabout 620 km
- 5:30 AMMorning at TiruchendurMany pilgrims bathe in the sea before an early darshan.
- 8:00 AMLeave after breakfastThe longest drive of the trip, with a break every 2 to 3 hours.
- 9:00 PMBack in ChennaiEveryone dropped home, door to door.
Know before you go
Six Temples, Six Kinds of Climb
- Climb early, while the stone is coolThiruttani's 365 steps and Swamimalai's 60 are easiest at dawn or after 5 PM. Elders can ride up Thiruttani's hill road instead.
- Plan Palani around the winchThe winch and rope car run 7 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 to 5 PM. Ride up, and walk down the steps if your knees allow; queues are longest on Tuesdays, Krithigai days and in Thai month.
- Phones stay outside at TiruchendurSince 2 July 2026 no phones are allowed inside. Leave them in the van or at the deposit counters on the Giri Prakaram, ₹5 a phone.
- Mind the queue cut-offsAt Tiruchendur the paid queue closes at 6:30 PM and the free queue at 7 PM. Most hill temples also close for 3 to 4 hours after lunch.
- Dress for temples and stairsDhoti or trousers with a shirt for men; saree, half-saree or churidar for women. Bare feet on the steps, so carry socks for hot afternoons.
- Carry kavadi or offerings? Tell usMilk pots, kavadi and tonsuring are welcome. Tell us in the fare form so we leave time and keep space in the van.
Temple hours and queue rules change on festival days. Our travel desk checks each temple's timings for your dates before you leave.
What to carry
- Traditional dress for all six temples
- Socks for hot steps in the afternoon
- A towel and dry clothes for the sea at Tiruchendur
- Cash or UPI for archanai, panchamirtham and the phone counter
- A small bag; phones stay in the van at Tiruchendur
- Knee support and regular medicines for elders
How we run this yatra
Why Murugan Devotees Travel with KMS
Timed to Winch and Queue Hours
We reach Palani while the winch runs and Tiruchendur before the 7 PM cut-off, so nobody waits at a closed gate.
Kind to Elders
We plan the hill road, winch or rope car for anyone who shouldn't climb, and the driver waits at the foot of each hill.
Breaks Built into Every Drive
Six to eight hours on the road on the first three days, with a stop every 2 to 3 hours; the long run home starts after breakfast, not at midnight.
Drivers Who Know These Hills
Experienced on Thiruttani and Pazhamudircholai roads and the coast road into Tiruchendur.
Bringing a Murugan bhakta group or a kavadi team?
Temple committees and bhajan groups often travel 20 to 50 together. A mini bus or a 45-seater keeps the group, the kavadis and the offerings on one vehicle with one driver all four days.
Arupadai Veedu fare
Pick Your Dates for the Six Abodes
The 4-day Arupadai Veedu yatra is already filled in. Choose your start date and group size, compare every vehicle, and send it to our travel desk.
Before you book
Arupadai Veedu Yatra: Common Questions
What is the cost of an Arupadai Veedu tour from Chennai?
₹44,400 for a 12-seater AC tempo traveller for 4 days, about ₹3,700 each for 12 people, including the driver's allowance and about 1,680 km. A 17-seater costs ₹49,840. Tolls and parking are added at cost.
Fares for every vehicleWhat are the six Arupadai Veedu temples?
Thiruparankundram and Pazhamudircholai near Madurai, Tiruchendur on the coast, Palani in Dindigul district, Swamimalai near Kumbakonam, and Thiruttani near the Andhra border.
How many days does the six-temple trip take from Chennai?
Four days and three nights covers all six without rushing darshan. Choose five days for elders, for Thaipusam or Kanda Sashti weeks, or to add Meenakshi Amman and Kumbakonam's temples at leisure.
In which order should we visit the six abodes?
By road from Chennai, the easiest order is Thiruttani, Swamimalai, Palani, Thiruparankundram, Pazhamudircholai, then Tiruchendur. The scriptural order starts at Thiruparankundram, but it adds hundreds of kilometres.
See the 4-day routeWhat are the Palani winch and rope car timings?
The winch and rope car run from 7 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5 PM, starting earlier on festival days. The temple is open 6 AM to 8 PM.
Are mobile phones allowed in Tiruchendur temple?
No. Since 2 July 2026 phones are not allowed inside. Deposit counters on the Giri Prakaram keep them for ₹5 each, or leave them in the van.
Temple tipsCan elders who can't climb steps do this yatra?
Yes. Thiruttani and Pazhamudircholai have roads to the top, Palani has the winch and rope car, and Swamimalai has 60 steps. Tiruchendur and Thiruparankundram need no climb.
When is Thaipusam and Soorasamharam?
Soorasamharam at Tiruchendur falls on 15 November 2026, and Thaipusam at Palani on 22 January 2027. Both bring very large crowds, so book early and plan an extra day.
Can we add Kumbakonam temples or Meenakshi Amman?
Yes. Meenakshi Amman fits into day three. For Kumbakonam's Navagraha temples, add a day, or see our Navagraha tour.
Do you arrange rooms?
We suggest clean stays in Kumbakonam, Madurai and Tiruchendur to fit your budget, and you book and pay directly. Choose "hotel help" in the fare form.
Plan your next darshan
More Temple Trips from Chennai
- Sabarimala Ayyappa Yatra3D / 2N · from ₹38,300 (12 seats)
- Chennai to Tirupati Balaji Darshan1 Day · from ₹9,100 (12 seats)
- Madurai & Rameswaram Yatra3D / 2N · from ₹33,550 (12 seats)
- Navagraha Temples Tour, Kumbakonam2D / 1N · from ₹20,450 (12 seats)
- Velankanni, Nagore & Thanjavur2D / 1N · from ₹21,700 (12 seats)
- Tiruvannamalai Girivalam & Karthigai Deepam1 Day · from ₹11,100 (12 seats)
முருகா சரணம்
Six abodes. One devoted journey.
Steps, winch and sea darshan, each reached in temple hours, with a driver who waits at every hill.