Regular buses from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai leave from Kilambakkam (KCBT) via Tindivanam and Gingee, about 207 km and four to five hours away. On full-moon Girivalam weekends and at Karthigai Deepam, extra government buses also run from Koyambedu and Madhavaram.
The numbers
The Chennai to Tiruvannamalai bus is two services in one. On most days it is a steady run of TNSTC buses down GST Road and across to the temple town. Around each full moon, when devotees crowd in to walk the Girivalam path around Arunachala, the transport department adds special buses from all three of Chennai’s main termini.
This guide covers the buses only: boarding points, classes, fares and how the festival specials work. Fares below come from the Transport Department’s per-km table, and the special-bus figures from announcements reported in September 2026 and December 2025.
Where to board the Chennai to Tiruvannamalai bus
Kilambakkam on GST Road is the main starting point. DT Next’s report on the September 2026 Pournami weekend listed Tiruvannamalai among Kilambakkam’s destinations, alongside Trichy and Madurai. Buses then pick up along GST Road, so Tambaram and Perungalathur residents can usually board near home.
The same report showed Koyambedu and Madhavaram also sending buses to Tiruvannamalai that weekend, which is handy for north and west Chennai. Koyambedu alone handles about 2,000 mofussil buses on a normal day, according to the CMDA. MTC route 38H links Broadway to Madhavaram bus stand, 170ACT links Madhavaram and CMBT, and 170A runs from Madhavaram through Koyambedu and Tambaram to Vandalur, near Kilambakkam. Frequencies on our route pages are averages from MTC data and may be dated, so check live timings first.
It’s often said all Girivalam specials leave from Koyambedu.
The record shows For the September 2026 Pournami weekend, Tiruvannamalai was on the lists for Kilambakkam, Koyambedu and Madhavaram, DT Next reported. Check which terminus your booked bus uses.
Fares and bus classes
The state’s mofussil rates, in the Transport Policy Note 2025-26 and in force since 29 January 2018, give the base fares below for 207 km. Tolls and fare-stage rounding make the final ticket slightly different.
| Class | Rate per km | Base fare for 207 km (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | 58 paise | Rs 120 |
| Semi deluxe | 75 paise | Rs 155 |
| Super deluxe | 85 paise | Rs 176 |
| Ultra deluxe | 100 paise | Rs 207 |
| AC seater | 110 to 130 paise | Rs 228 to Rs 269 |
Source: Tamil Nadu Transport Department, Policy Note 2025-26, mofussil fare table (rates in force since 29 January 2018). Base fares are simple arithmetic: rate per km multiplied by the 207 km route distance listed on redBus; tickets add tolls and reservation charges.
Private coaches are fewer here than on the big southern routes. On 31 October 2026, redBus listed 59 direct buses from 30 operators, with fares from about Rs 200 and operator times between 4 hours 10 minutes and 5 hours. Drop points included Periyar statue and the Gingee four-road junction in town.
The road to Tiruvannamalai
Most buses follow GST Road through Chengalpattu, Madhuranthakam and Melmaruvathur to Tindivanam, then turn west via Gingee. Some services take the inland road through Vandavasi, so check the route on your ticket if you plan to board on the way. The last stretch is slower, single-carriageway road, which is why journey times stretch toward five hours on busy nights.
Full-moon Girivalam special buses
Pournami specials are announced a few days before each full moon, usually as part of a wider weekend list. For 25 to 27 September 2026, Kilambakkam ran 1,035 buses on the Friday and 760 on the Saturday, Koyambedu 210 and 180, and Madhavaram 145 a day, across destinations that included Tiruvannamalai, DT Next reported. The department does not always give a separate Tiruvannamalai count. The specials appear on tnstc.in and the TNSTC app, and seats on the best evening departures go first.
Special buses from Kilambakkam on Friday 25 September 2026 for the weekend and Pournami rush, Tiruvannamalai among the destinations (DT Next).
Karthigai Deepam special buses
Deepam is the biggest bus operation of the year on this route. For the December 2025 Maha Deepam, SETC announced 160 AC and non-AC buses from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai, bookable as round trips on tnstc.in and the TNSTC app, DT Next reported. SETC also ran ultra deluxe and AC seater and sleeper buses from Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Coimbatore. Expect a similar pattern this year once the district administration fixes the arrangements; book the return leg at the same time, because the ride home after Deepam is the hardest seat to find.
For any problem with a government bus, the toll-free 149 helpline covers all eight state transport undertakings, according to the policy note. The booking form also has a “Single Lady” option for women travelling alone.
What this means for you
- On normal days board at Kilambakkam or along GST Road; expect four to five hours.
- An ultra deluxe seat costs about Rs 207 and an ordinary about Rs 120 at the state rates.
- On Pournami weekends check Koyambedu and Madhavaram too; specials have run from all three.
- For Deepam, book a round trip on tnstc.in as soon as SETC opens the specials.
Quick answers
Where can I get a bus to Tiruvannamalai from Chennai?
Regular government buses leave from Kilambakkam (KCBT) via Tindivanam and Gingee. On full-moon and festival weekends, specials have also run from Koyambedu and Madhavaram.
What is the bus fare from Chennai to Tiruvannamalai?
About Rs 120 by ordinary bus and Rs 207 by ultra deluxe at the state’s per-km rates, plus tolls. Private fares on redBus started at about Rs 200 on 31 October 2026.
How long does it take to reach Tiruvannamalai from Chennai by bus?
Operators list 4 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours for the 207 km run.
Are there special buses for Girivalam from Chennai?
Yes. TNSTC and SETC add specials before each full moon and for Karthigai Deepam; book them on tnstc.in or the TNSTC app.
What to watch
Before Karthigai Deepam
SETC’s 2026 Deepam special-bus announcement, with dates, boarding points and round-trip booking on tnstc.in.
Each full moon
The weekend special-bus list, which names the termini for Tiruvannamalai a few days ahead.
Checked against official sources on 31 October 2026. Timings and fares change; confirm on the operator’s booking site before you travel.
Sources
- TNSTC and SETC online reservation, popular routes and SETC Volvo semi-sleeper notice (tnstc.in)
- Transport Department Policy Note 2025-26, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), CMDA
- Route 38H Madhavaram B.S. to Broadway, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 170ACT Madhavaram B.S. to CMBT, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- Route 170A Madhavaram B.S. to Vandalur Zoo, MTC route data via Spirit of Chennai route page
- 3,550 special buses to ply across TN for weekend, Pournami rush (DT Next, September 2026)
- TN SETC to operate special buses to Tiruvannamalai for Karthigai Deepam festival (DT Next, November 2025)
- Chennai to Tiruvannamalai bus listings (redBus), viewed 31 October 2026
