Sacred pilgrimage circuitNH45 (GST Road) via Vikravandi & Ulundurpet

Chennai to Kumbakonam 9 Navagraha Circuit Tempo Traveller Rental

Private Chennai to Kumbakonam 9 Navagraha Circuit tour in a 9 to 26 seater Tempo Traveller or Force Urbania, with a hill-certified chauffeur and Fastag toll clearance.

Distance one way310 km

Est. driving time6 Hours

Toll plazas6 approx.

Starting fare₹20 / km

Darshan timing: The Navagraha temples open 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM - 08:30 PM. Suriyanar Koil and Thingalur close for a longer midday break than the rest.

Sacred Temple Circuit NH45 (GST Road) via Vikravandi & Ulundurpet

Chennai to Kumbakonam 9 Navagraha Circuit Tempo Traveller Rental

Distance310 KM

Est. Drive Time6 Hours

Highway Tolls6 Toll Gates

Suggested Van9-Seater Maharaja / 12-Seater AC

Route Topography & Departure Strategy

Recommended Departure Timing:

05:00 AM

Ghat & Vehicle Suitability Rule:

Flat Cauvery delta roads. The nine temples sit within a 60 km radius but connect by narrow village roads, so a short-wheelbase van saves real time.

Temple Darshan Schedule: The Navagraha temples open 06:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 04:00 PM - 08:30 PM. Suriyanar Koil and Thingalur close for a longer midday break than the rest.

Curated Itinerary Breakdown

05:00 AMStep 1

Doorstep pickup

Pickup in Chennai and onto the GST Road, clearing Chengalpattu before the morning build-up.

08:00 AMStep 2

Highway breakfast

Breakfast at Ulundurpet on NH45, the standard halt for delta-bound groups.

11:00 AMStep 3

Suriyanar Koil

Arrive at the Sun temple near Aduthurai, the conventional starting point of the Navagraha parikrama.

12:30 PMStep 4

Thingalur & Alangudi

Chandran at Thingalur and Guru at Alangudi before the temples close for the midday interval; lunch at Kumbakonam.

04:00 PMStep 5

Evening temple block

Vaitheeswaran Koil, Thirunallar and Kanjanur reopen at 04:00 PM — the driver sequences these to avoid backtracking.

07:30 PMStep 6

Darasuram

Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram, a UNESCO Chola site five minutes from Kumbakonam town.

09:00 PMStep 7

Overnight or return

Overnight halt at Kumbakonam for a two-day circuit, or the return drive to Chennai for a single long day.

Key Trip Highlights

All nine Navagraha temples covered in the traditional sequence Suriyanar Koil, Thingalur, Vaitheeswaran Koil and Alangudi Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram on the return Driver holds the parikrama order so no temple is visited out of turn

Instant Fare Calculator

Starting ₹22/km