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Srikalahasti temple tower and hill reflected in the Swarnamukhi river

Home › Sacred places › Pancha Bhoota — five element temples

Pilgrimage & heritage route · from Chennai

Pancha Bhoota — five element temples route, cost & what to book

Five great Shiva temples, each representing one of the five elements: earth at Kanchipuram, water at Thiruvanaikaval, fire at Tiruvannamalai, air at Srikalahasti and space at Chidambaram.

Photo: iMahesh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Duration5–6 days
Starts fromChennai
Cost from₹6,000 each
Stops7
Best timeOctober to February
Good forFamilies, Solo, Couples

Five great Shiva temples, each representing one of the five elements: earth at Kanchipuram, water at Thiruvanaikaval, fire at Tiruvannamalai, air at Srikalahasti and space at Chidambaram. Four are in Tamil Nadu and one is in Andhra Pradesh. Done in the right order from Chennai, they form one loop by train and bus.

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

Pancha Bhoota, 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 Chennai to Srikalahasti (air)
    • TravelChennaiFree
    • TravelSrikalahasti (air)₹150
  2. Day 2 Kanchipuram — Ekambareswarar (earth) to Tiruvannamalai — Arunachaleswarar (fire)
  3. Day 3 Chidambaram — Nataraja (space) to Thiruvanaikaval — Jambukeswarar (water)
  4. Day 4 Return

₹49 once, 6 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

Chennai → Srikalahasti (air) → Kanchipuram — Ekambareswarar (earth) → Tiruvannamalai — Arunachaleswarar (fire) → Chidambaram — Nataraja (space) → Thiruvanaikaval — Jambukeswarar (water) · Directions in Google Maps ↗

  1. 1
    Start Map ↗
  2. 2
    Train or bus north, 3 h. Andhra Pradesh Map ↗
  3. 3
    Bus via Tiruttani, 3 h 30 m Map ↗
  4. 4
    Bus, 3 h Map ↗
  5. 5
    Bus via Villupuram and Cuddalore, 4 h Map ↗
  6. 6
    Train or bus to Trichy, 3–4 h Map ↗
  7. 7
    Train from Trichy to Chennai, or fly Map ↗

Travel legs add up to about ₹1,220 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₹12,000
Couple · from Chennai
Per person₹6,000

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

Temple towns have lodges everywhere. Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai are best booked ahead for weekends and full moons.

Food

Meals everywhere. Kanchipuram idli is an old temple recipe worth trying.

Local tip: Travel between temples during the midday closure, and arrive at each one for the evening rituals.
Step 6 of 6Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How many days do you need for Pancha Bhoota?

5–6 days, starting from Chennai.

What is the best time for Pancha Bhoota?

October to February. Avoid full-moon days at Tiruvannamalai and Karthigai Deepam (November–December), unless the festival is the point.

How much does Pancha Bhoota cost?

From about ₹6,000 per person doing it yourself, with the travel legs adding up to roughly ₹1,220.

What needs to be booked in advance?

Trains (must book): The Trichy–Chennai return fills up on weekends. Temple timings: All close from about 12:30 pm to 4 pm. Plan to travel during the afternoon break. Special darshan: Only needed on festival days.

Where do pilgrims stay?

Temple towns have lodges everywhere. Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai are best booked ahead for weekends and full moons.

What about food?

Meals everywhere. Kanchipuram idli is an old temple recipe worth trying.

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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: iMahesh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0 · source · Photo: Matthew T Rader · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: VasuVR · CC BY 4.0 · source

5–6 days · —
Route