2 days · Velankanni, Nagore Dargah and Thanjavur
ஆரோக்கிய மாதா துணை
Velankanni Tour Package from Chennai with Nagore Dargah and Thanjavur in 2 days
A church, a dargah and a Chola temple on one coastal loop: the Velankanni trip from Chennai costs ₹21,700 in a 12-seater AC tempo traveller, near ₹1,810 a person with a full van. You drive down the East Coast Road to Nagore and the Basilica on day one, and come home through Thanjavur's Big Temple on day two, about 820 km in all.
- Evening rosary at the Basilica on day one
- East Coast Road down, Thanjavur back
- Families of every faith travel with us
Three faiths, one coast
Velankanni Trip Facts
- Velankanni Basilica
- Our Lady of Good Health, about 12 km from Nagapattinam; open about 5 AM to 9 PM
- Mass
- Through the day in Tamil, English, Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi and more; morning prayer about 5:40 AM, rosary and novena at 6 PM
- Our Lady's Tank
- About 1 km from the Basilica along the Holy Path; go early, before the buses arrive
- Annual feast
- Flag hoisting on 29 August, the car procession on 6 September and the feast of the Nativity on 8 September
- Nagore Dargah
- Shrine of Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed with five minarets; the tallest was built by the Maratha king Pratap Singh
- Brihadeeswarar, Thanjavur
- Raja Raja Chola's Big Temple, a UNESCO site; open 6 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 to 8:30 PM
- Saraswathi Mahal Library
- Inside Thanjavur Palace; 10 AM to 1 PM and 1:30 to 5:30 PM, closed on Wednesdays and government holidays
- Tharangambadi fort
- The Danish Dansborg fort of 1620 on the way down; 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM, closed on Fridays
- Route
- Chennai → East Coast Road → Tharangambadi → Nagore → Velankanni → Thanjavur → Chennai, about 820 km
Two-day prices
Velankanni Trip Fares by Vehicle
Fares are for the whole vehicle for 2 days and about 820 km, down the coast road and back through Thanjavur. 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 ₹12,480≈ ₹3,120 per head Book
- Toyota Innova7 seats · ₹19/km · bata ₹600/day ₹16,780≈ ₹2,400 per head Book
- Innova Crysta7 seats · ₹22/km · bata ₹600/day ₹19,240≈ ₹2,750 per head Book
- 12-Seater Tempo Traveller12 seats · ₹25/km · bata ₹600/dayBest for 8–12 ₹21,700≈ ₹1,810 per head Book
- 17-Seater Tempo Traveller17 seats · ₹28/km · bata ₹700/day ₹24,360≈ ₹1,430 per head Book
- Force Urbania 13-Seater13 seats · ₹31/km · bata ₹800/day ₹27,020≈ ₹2,080 per head Book
- Mini Bus 21–26 Seater26 seats · ₹37/km · bata ₹900/day ₹32,140≈ ₹1,240 per head Book
- Mini Bus 30–35 Seater35 seats · ₹46/km · bata ₹1000/day ₹39,720≈ ₹1,130 per head Book
- Tourist Bus 40–45 Seater45 seats · ₹57/km · bata ₹1200/day ₹49,140≈ ₹1,090 per head Book
- Tourist Bus 49–55 Seater55 seats · ₹65/km · bata ₹1200/day ₹55,700≈ ₹1,010 per head Book
Covered by the fare
- Vehicle and driver for 2 days
- Up to 820 km, extra km at the listed rate
- Driver's daily allowance for both days
- Stops at Tharangambadi, Nagore and Thanjavur
- 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
Two days by the sea
The 2-Day Velankanni, Nagore and Thanjavur Plan
Down the East Coast Road with the sea for company, a night at Velankanni, and home through the Chola country.
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Day 1The coast road to Velankanniabout 360 km
- 4:30 AMPickups across ChennaiBreakfast near Puducherry once the sun is up.
- 11:00 AMTharangambadiThe Danish fort and the old town by the waves (the fort is shut on Fridays).
- 1:00 PMLunch, then Nagore DargahVisit the dargah of Nagore Andavar; scarves and modest dress for everyone.
- 4:30 PMCheck in at VelankanniA short rest near the shrine.
- 6:00 PMRosary and novena at the BasilicaEvening prayers, then a walk on the beach in front of the church.
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Day 2Morning prayers and the Big Templeabout 460 km
- 5:30 AMOur Lady's TankWalk the Holy Path before the crowd, then morning mass in your language.
- 8:30 AMBreakfast and the museum of offeringsThen leave for Thanjavur, about 2 hours inland.
- 11:00 AMBrihadeeswarar TempleDarshan and the great courtyard before the 12:30 closing.
- 1:30 PMPalace and Saraswathi Mahal LibraryOpen in the afternoon, except Wednesdays.
- 3:30 PMThe drive homeAbout 6½ hours with tea and dinner stops.
- 10:00 PMBack in ChennaiDropped at each home.
Know before you go
Basilica, Dargah and Temple: Visitor Tips
- Dress for all threeFull trousers or a dhoti for men; a saree, salwar or long dress for women. A scarf covers the head at the dargah.
- Footwear comes offLeave shoes at the stands before the Basilica's marble platforms, the dargah and the Big Temple; carry socks for hot stone at noon.
- Offerings and tonsuringCandles, garlands and silver votive offerings are sold near the shrine; tonsuring is done at the counters. Tell us and we leave time.
- Go to the tank earlyOur Lady's Tank and the Holy Path are calm around 5:30 AM and crowded once the tour buses arrive.
- Thanjavur before noonThe Big Temple closes from 12:30 to 4 PM; reach by 11 AM. Saraswathi Mahal Library is shut on Wednesdays.
- Watch the Friday fortTharangambadi's Danish fort is closed on Fridays; we swap in Poompuhar beach if your day one is a Friday.
Mass timings and feast-week arrangements change each year. Our travel desk checks the shrine's schedule for your dates.
What to carry
- Modest clothes for the church, dargah and temple
- A scarf or dupatta for the dargah
- Candles or offerings, if you wish
- Light clothes and a cap for the coast
- Socks for hot temple floors
- Cash or UPI for offerings and the museum
Our way of running it
Why Families Choose KMS for Velankanni
Respect for Every Shrine
Our drivers know the Basilica's mass hours, the dargah's customs and the temple's closing times.
The Scenic Way Down
The East Coast Road by the sea one way, the Chola heartland the other, never the same road twice.
Rooms Near the Basilica
Tell us your budget and we suggest stays close to the shrine; you book and pay the hotel directly.
Drivers Rested for the Return
The drive home starts mid-afternoon on day two, with breaks every 2 to 3 hours.
Bringing a parish group or an extended family?
Parish groups and family reunions often travel 20 to 50 together. A mini bus or a 45-seater keeps everyone on one vehicle for both days, with one driver and one bill.
Velankanni trip fare
Pick Your Dates for Velankanni
The 2-day Velankanni, Nagore and Thanjavur trip is already filled in. Set your start date and group size, compare every vehicle, and send it to our travel desk.
Before you book
Velankanni Trip: Questions We Hear Most
How much is a Velankanni tour package from Chennai?
₹21,700 for a 12-seater AC tempo traveller for 2 days, about ₹1,810 each for 12 people, with the driver's allowance and about 820 km included. A 7-seater Innova costs ₹16,780. Tolls and parking are extra.
Every vehicle's priceHow far is Velankanni from Chennai by road?
About 325 km, 6 to 7 hours by the inland highway, or a little longer along the East Coast Road through Puducherry, Chidambaram and Tharangambadi.
Is two days enough for Velankanni, Nagore and Thanjavur?
Yes. Day one covers the coast, Nagore and the evening prayers at Velankanni; day two covers Our Lady's Tank, morning mass and Thanjavur on the way home. Add a day in feast week or at Christmas.
The 2-day planWhat are the mass timings at Velankanni Basilica?
Masses are held through the day in Tamil, English, Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi and other languages. Morning prayer is about 5:40 AM and the rosary and novena about 6 PM. The schedule changes in feast week, so check the shrine's notice.
When is the Velankanni festival?
Every year from 29 August, when the flag is hoisted, to 8 September, the feast of Our Lady's Nativity. The car procession is on 6 September.
When is the Nagore Kanduri festival?
The 14-day Kanduri marks the saint's death anniversary in the Islamic month of Jumada al-Akhirah, so its dates move every year. The sandal procession on the tenth day draws the biggest crowd.
What are the Thanjavur Big Temple timings?
Brihadeeswarar Temple is open 6 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 to 8:30 PM. The Saraswathi Mahal Library in the palace is open 10 AM to 5:30 PM with a short lunch break, and closed on Wednesdays.
Can people of every faith visit all three places?
Yes. The Basilica, Nagore Dargah and the Big Temple all welcome visitors of every faith. Dress modestly, remove footwear where asked, and cover your head at the dargah.
Can we add Thirunallar or the Navagraha temples?
Thirunallar is 15 to 20 km from Nagore and fits into day one on request. For all nine Navagraha temples, see our 2-day Navagraha tour, or join the two into a 3-day trip.
Navagraha temples tourWhere do we stay in Velankanni?
Lodges and hotels near the Basilica suit every budget; we suggest a few and you book and pay directly. In feast week and at Christmas, book a month ahead.
Plan your next darshan
More Temple Trips from Chennai
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- Arupadai Veedu: Six Murugan Temples4D / 3N · from ₹44,400 (12 seats)
- Navagraha Temples Tour, Kumbakonam2D / 1N · from ₹20,450 (12 seats)
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அன்னை வேளாங்கண்ணி
Three faiths. One coast. Two easy days.
Evening rosary at the Basilica, a quiet hour at Nagore and the Big Temple before noon, with a driver who knows each one's hours.