Tiruchirappalli

Understand

Tiruchirappalli is an ancient city of South India and it was the capital of Chola and Naicka kings for many centuries. The battle between the British and the French with the help of locals marked the beginnings of the British Raj in the southern part of India.

Talk As in the rest of Tamil Nadu, Tamil is the native language of Tiruchirappalli. However, unlike the thick accents of Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore or Tirunelveli, the Tamil accent of Tiruchirappalli is considered neutral. Tiruchirappalli is home to the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, the organisation responsible for the growth of Hindi in Southern India. However, as in the rest of Tamil Nadu, English is far more likely understood by locals than Hindi.

Getting there

Tiruchirappalli is well connected to Chennai the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Geographically in the centre of Tamil Nadu, Tiruchirappalli provides good connectivity between all major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu both by road and rail.

By plane 1 Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ IATA) (around 5 km (3.1 mi) towards Pudukottai at Chembattu). Tiruchirappalli is a convenient, low-cost entry point to India from Southeast Asia; Air Asia has flights from Kuala Lumpur via Singapore. Tickets booked in advance cost around ₹3,000 (US$60, for a four-hour flight), but can be well below ₹2,000 on sale. This is a good option if you fly from Thailand or Malaysia to Southern India. Singapore-based Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) flies from Singapore daily. Air India Express (an LCC subsidiary of Air India) flies to and from Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore daily and Abu Dhabi weekly twice. Air India Express also operates a daily domestic service to Chennai and weekly service to Mumbai. SriLankan Airlines allows many connections to Colombo. SpiceJet flies to Chennai. (updated Nov 2023)

By train 2 Tiruchirappalli Junction SR . Tiruchirappalli is well connected to all cities and most of the major towns in India. Located at the middle of Tamil Nadu makes it one of the busiest railway stations in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the major junctions which has trains to Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, Kochi, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Howrah and other parts of India. Rail tickets can be booked online via the official government website. (updated Apr 2026)

By bus The highest number of buses leaving Chennai is towards Tiruchirappalli and vice versa. One can either take the State Government run buses (State Express Transport Corporation or Tamil Nadu State Transport Corp.) or private buses. The private buses run by the following operators are very convenient and timely and comfortable:

KPN Travels Parveen Travels SRM Travels MJT Travels RKT Tours and Travels SRS Travels or [1] RPN Travels Sri Renganathan Travels All these have Internet bookings so you can plan your trip in advance.

By car Major national highways pass through Tiruchirappalli leading to a well-connected road network to the rest of India. Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST Road) or National Highway 45 (NH45) is one of the busiest National Highways in Southern India with a total length of 472 km (293 mi). The highway exactly starts from Kathipara junction in Guindy, a very busy confluence of five roads in south Chennai and extends up to Theni. It connects Chennai to its airpor

Getting around

Commonly used modes of local transport in Tiruchirappalli is the state government-owned Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses, Taxi and auto rickshaws.

See

Tiruchirappalli is famous for many ancient and popular temples and religious institutions. The bus network of Tiruchirappalli is very developed and most of the city readily accessible by bus at reasonable prices.

1 Jaamiya Masjid (in the city centre). built by the Nawab of Arcot more than two centuries ago. Thablay Aalam Baadsha Dargah. The mausoleum of a Muslim saint who came to Tiruchirappalli centuries ago. Kallanai. 2,000 yr old dam built on the Kallanai river, (an offshoot of the Cauvery river) by Karikala Cholan. 2 Mukkombu (15 km from Trichy Jn.). a tourist spot at Puliyancholai (on the Kallanai river). A green hideout around a pretty waterfall. On the Foot hills of Kollimalai - Kolli hills near Thuraiur.

Churches

3 All Saints Church, Salai Rd, Puthur. 4 Basilica of the Holy Redeemer. One of the ten minor basilicas in Tamil Nadu. The basilica dates back to the early 17th century when Jesuit missionaries began spreading Christianity through the Madurai Mission, with the first conversions around Tiruchirappalli in 1616. (updated Apr 2026) 5 Christ Church. (updated Apr 2026) 6 Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Theppakulam. 7 St. John's Church (at the Cantonment). one of the oldest churches in India. 8 St. Joseph's Church (5 km from Tiruchirappalli Jn), 200 year old place. Of worship. 9 St. Mary's Cathedral. (updated Apr 2026) T.E.L.C Holy Trinity Cathedral, Melapudur..

Temples

10 The Rockfort Temple (5 km at the North of Tiruchirappalli junction. The temple can be reached from Central Bus stand or Tiruchirappalli Junction with bus #1 for ₹3). 6- 8PM. The temple complex has many temples. Thayumaanavar, Uchchi pillayar and Maanikka vinayagar are the most important temples. One can feel the icy chill of the wind when getting to the top of the rock. (The temple is housed on the top of a famous rock). One also gets a splendid view of the city and the Cauvery river from the top. Enjoy the bird's eye view of Tiruchirappalli, Srirangam, Cauvery and its surroundings in the morning or in the evening. A must-visit place of anyone in South India. ₹3 for entrance, ₹20 for camera. ₹100 for video camera. 11 Sri Purushothaman Temple. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Purushothaman Perumal (also called as Purushothamar) and his consort Lakshmi as Poornavalli Thayar. (updated Apr 2026) Gunaseelam - Vishnu Temple. d

Buy

Chinna Kadai Street,(NSB Road): The main shopping centre is the "Chinna Kadai" street that runs along the "teppakulum" (temple tank) of the Uchchi Pillaiyar Rock temple. The street is packed with apparel, jewellery and household merchandise stores interspersed with restaurants and snack bars. The most popular stores for apparel shopping are Saradhaas - very old store famous for silk saris and biggest store. Cheap and best quality Krishna Readymade Hall - cramped shop with good selection of readymade salwar and western wear Lakshmi Silks - further down the street beyond the Uchchi pillaiyar temple, good collection of wedding saris The Chennai Silks - variety of modern styles Ahmed Bros - variety of modern styles Thaila Silks - both traditional and modern dress materials Traditional jewellery can be found in Mangal and Mangal-Good collection of jewellery. Gopaldas - good quality, traditional designs Sampath jewellers - Gold ornaments collections and silver collections Shree Lakshmi Kreations -Good source of Natural Diamonds and Diamond jewellery, Traditional Jewellery and coloured gemstones.They also manufacture jewellery according to your design. Thillainagar This is a well-developed area where we can shop for the branded items Manghalam Towers A Popular mall spread over 60,000² ft at the heart of Tiruchirappalli. "Reliance Hypermart" occupies 2 floors, has products ranging from groceries, household utensils, apparels, furniture, electronics, luggage, foot wears and so on. The mall has "Vijay Food Court" having various food brands including Tandoor Xpress, Noodle King, ifruit and Baskin Robbins Femina Shopping Mall Hypermart in the centre of the city. Over 40,000² ft of shopping space, with all products from jewellery to chocolates, clothes, high-end sarees and garments, a food court and children"s arcade, most products are imported from various parts of the world. catering to clients of all different classes, the moto here is to make sure everyone enjoys shopping as an experience to actually shop, so that they walk out knowing for certain they have got a good deal, this is made possible by our dedicated purchasing team who go all out to shelf products that are new, attractive and of the highest quality yet affordable.

Eat

Budget Andavar Sweets, Chathiram Bus Stand, Tiruchirappalli.. Big chick, Fort Station Road, Thillainagar (near Odysee). Chick punch, Spencers hyper mart food court (near Railway junction). Cappuccino, St Joseph College shopping complex, Chatram bus stand. The coffee shop Hotel Aananth, Trichy-Tanjore highway near Thiruverumbur (First Floor). Newly opened veg & non-vegetarian restaurant, serves high-class food with great taste. Ice Blue Restaurant, Trichy-Tanjore highway near Thiruverumbur (opposite VKN building). Newly opened non-vegetarian restaurant, serves high-class Chettinad food with great taste. Khurunji, Hotel Guru (opposite Central Bus Stand). Pure vegetarian restaurant. Good quality food and fast service. All items are made fresh. Lunch meals priced at ₹45 are available from 1PM-4PM. A typical meal for two can cost about ₹70-₹100. A/C dining room for an extra ₹5 per person. Marrybrown, Williams Rd (near central bus stand, Cantonment). Hotel Padma, Pure vegetarian restaurant. Morning good quality and cheap mini tiffin is the highlight here. Chattiram bus stand ( Next to Indira Gandhi College) Sangeetha, Racquet Court Ln. Vegetarian restaurant of the Hotel Aanand Sri Saraswathi Cafe, # 27,Rockins Rd (opposite Railway Junction), ☏ +91 431 241 2333. Established 1964, traditional South Indian food with prompt service from 5:30AM-11:30AM. then lunch from 11:45AM-3:30PM. Evening snacks and meals up to 10:45PM. A/C dining service available at minimal extra cost. Home delivery and outdoor catering available.

Mid-range Banana Leaf. Non-vegetarian restaurant. Buhari. Non-vegetarian restaurant. Breeze. Non-vegetarian restaurant. Domino's Pizza, Tillai Nagar (near Reliance). Hotel Femina, Williams Rd (near Central bus stand.), ☏ +91 431 241 4501. Restaurant inside the hotel of the same name. Kannapa Chettinad restaurant, Mannarpuram, Tillainagar. Non-vegetarian restaurant. Here you get high-class Chettinad food with a traditional taste. Kulathur Briyani hotel (a little away from city on Dindugal Rd'). Non-vegetarian restaurant. Famous for Sunday afternoon biryani with good taste. Sangeetha, Racquet Court Ln. Vegetarian restaurant of the Hotel Aanand. Seakings Ice Creams, 6 RR Sabha Buildings, W.B. Rd (near Chennai Silks), ☏ +91 431 270 0731. 10AM-9:30PM. A 33 year old ice cream parlour with a wide range of in-house ice cream sundaes to choose from. Includes signature dishes like Triple Treat and Falooda. Sree Krishnas, Rockin St (in front of Central bus stand.). A nice vegetarian restaurant which offers Indian

Drink & nightlife

Birmanda Sarbat Stall, Palakarai Main Rd (4 km from Central Bus Stand, bus#1 will take you there for ₹2). Serves sarbat, an ayurvedic nanari juice. In the city for more than 3 decades. Badam Milk, Near the Central Bus Stand.

Sleep

Budget Hotel Anand, Racquet Court Ln, ☏ +91 431 2415545. From ₹500. Hotel Meega, 3 Rockins Rd (opposite Central Bus Stand), ☏ +91 431 241 4092. Check-in: 24 hr. Clean hotel with TV in every room. No hot water is available. ₹650 for A/C rooms. Mayavaram Lodge, Near Teppakulam. Decent hotel. (updated Sep 2015) Sri Saraswathi Lodge, # 27, Rockins Rd (opposite Railway Junction), ☏ +91 431 400 2000. Check-in: 24 hr. Newly renovated, cable TV in all rooms, running cold and hot water. Travel desk assistance and hygienic veg restaurant at the ground floor. From ₹240 for regular Rooms and ₹700 for A/C rooms.

Mid-range Femina Hotel, Williams Rd, ☏ +91 431 241 4501. Grand Gardenia, 22-25, Mannarpuram Junction, ☏ +91 431 404 5000. Check-in: 24 hr, check-out: 24 hr. US$75. Jenny's Residency, McDonald's Rd, ☏ +91 431 246 1301.

Splurge Breeze residency, McDonald's Rd, ☏ +91 431 241 4414, fax: +91 431 246 1451, [email protected]. From ₹2,300. Hotel Sangam Trichy, Hotel Sangam, Collectors Office Road, 620001, ☏ +91 452-4244526. Sangam Hotel is a well-known hotel in Trichy (Tiruchirapalli)

Go next

Jayakondam — 120 km, important historical place Kulithalai — on your way to Kulithalai, you can enjoy the road journey virtually on the banks of Cauvery, unforgettable experience Karur — 80 km, industrial town for handlooms and woven fabrics and you can find few temples Madurai — one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India Musiri — location of the longest river bridge across the River Cauvery in Tamilnadu Pudukkottai — 45 km from Trichy; near Sithannavasal, famous for its carvings & paintings dated back centuries Thanjavur — another Historical city away from 60 km, Important tourist centre in South India, famous for its Brihadeeshwara Temple (Big Temple), Don't miss it. There are many interesting places and temples in and around Thanjavur Kumbakonam — This is called City of Temples. away from 90 km, Important tourist centre in South India, famous for the Sarangapani Temple,, Chakrapani Temple,,Kumbeswarar Temple,,Mahamaham Tank,etc. There are many temples in and around this city.On the way from Thanjavur to Kumbakonam you can visit made up Thiruvalanchuzhi (White Pill made up of sea froth)"Swamimalai(Murugan Temple)", Patteeswaram Durga Temple, Saththimuththam Temple etc.Navagraha Sthalams are worth visiting.