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Brihadisvara Temple's great vimana and lit mandapa at dusk, Thanjavur

Home › Sacred places › Great Living Chola Temples

Pilgrimage & heritage route · from Thanjavur (via Chennai, Trichy or Bengaluru)

Great Living Chola Temples route, cost & what to book

Three UNESCO-listed Chola temples, a thousand years old and still in worship: the Brihadisvara in Thanjavur, the Airavatesvara at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Photo: Original: Rainer Halama Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Duration2 days · 1 night
Starts fromThanjavur
Cost from₹2,500 each
Stops5
Best timeNovember to February
Good forSolo, Couples, Families, Groups

Three UNESCO-listed Chola temples, a thousand years old and still in worship: the Brihadisvara in Thanjavur, the Airavatesvara at Darasuram and Gangaikonda Cholapuram. They are within 75 km of each other and linked by ordinary buses, but almost everyone sees only the first.

Step 2 of 6Next: Route
Your trip plan · PDF

Great Living Chola Temples, planned for you

Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.

  1. Day 1 Thanjavur — Brihadisvara Temple to Darasuram — Airavatesvara Temple to Kumbakonam
    • TravelThanjavur — Brihadisvara Temple₹400
    • TravelDarasuram — Airavatesvara Temple₹40
    • TravelKumbakonam₹20
  2. Day 2 Gangaikonda Cholapuram to Return

₹49 once, 5 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download

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The route, stop by stop

The whole route first. Tap any stop and the map zooms to just that place.

Route

Stops

Thanjavur — Brihadisvara Temple → Darasuram — Airavatesvara Temple → Kumbakonam → Gangaikonda Cholapuram · Directions in Google Maps ↗

  1. 1
    Train from Chennai or Trichy. See it in the late afternoon light Map ↗
  2. 2
    Bus towards Kumbakonam, 36 km; Darasuram is 4 km before the town Map ↗
  3. 3
    4 km by local bus or auto. Overnight here Map ↗
  4. 4
    Bus towards Jayankondam, 35 km Map ↗
  5. 5
    Bus to Chidambaram (45 km), or back via Kumbakonam to Thanjavur or Trichy Map ↗

Travel legs add up to about ₹580 per person.

Step 3 of 6Next: Cost

What it costs

Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.

Your group₹5,000
Couple · from Thanjavur
Per person₹2,500

A do-it-yourself budget: trains and buses, simple lodges and temple meals. Paid darshan and donations are extra.

Step 4 of 6Next: What to book

What to book ahead

Step 5 of 6Next: Stay & food

Where to stay and eat

Stay

Thanjavur or Kumbakonam — both have plenty of lodges. Kumbakonam is more central for the other two temples.

Food

Thanjavur's meals and Kumbakonam's filter coffee. Try the Thanjavur thali at a traditional meals house.

Local tip: Darasuram is the quietest of the three and has the finest carvings. Give it at least an hour.
Step 6 of 6Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How many days do you need for Great Living Chola Temples?

2 days · 1 night, starting from Thanjavur (via Chennai, Trichy or Bengaluru).

What is the best time for Great Living Chola Temples?

November to February. The granite gets hot from March, so see the temples early and late in the day.

How much does Great Living Chola Temples cost?

From about ₹2,500 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹580.

What needs to be booked in advance?

Trains (must book): Chennai–Thanjavur and Chennai–Kumbakonam trains fill up on weekends. Guide at the Big Temple: An ASI-approved guide at Thanjavur is worth it for the carvings and history. Entry: All three temples are free.

Where do pilgrims stay?

Thanjavur or Kumbakonam — both have plenty of lodges. Kumbakonam is more central for the other two temples.

What about food?

Thanjavur's meals and Kumbakonam's filter coffee. Try the Thanjavur thali at a traditional meals house.

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Underrated places near by

Brihadisvara Temple vimana and Nandi mandapa lit up at dusk, ThanjavurThanjavur & KumbakonamA thousand-year-old granite temple whose tower has never been rebuilt, and forty more Chola…From ₹800/dayPainted gopuram of the Thillai Nataraja Temple, ChidambaramChidambaram & PichavaramThe temple of the cosmic dancer, with a gold roof and 108 dance poses carved into its gateways,…From ₹800/dayOrnate facade and gateway of a Chettiar mansion in Kanadukathan, ChettinadChettinadSeventy-five villages of vast merchant mansions built with Burmese teak and Italian marble,…From ₹900/day

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Original: Rainer Halama Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Unknown · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Shanze1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

2 days · 1 night · —
Route