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Major city · India

Thiruvakkarai

Half a day: see the Chola temple and the wood fossil park, then move on to Pondicherry or Gingee.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Thiruvakkarai is a small village in Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu, known for a 10th-century Chola temple and a geological wood fossil park. Most travellers stop for 2–4 hours on the way to Pondicherry (about 25 km east) or Gingee Fort. There is no reason to stay overnight.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Nov–Feb
avoid Apr–Jun (heat)
Airports
PNY · MAA
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Thiruvakkarai: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Thiruvakkarai112 ▾
  • All services112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Thiruvakkarai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Street or quick mealChai at a village stall₹10–20 (≈ under US$1)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi from Pondicherry (one way)check₹1,200–1,500 (≈ US$14–18)
  • Budget bedDouble room in Pondicherry, a night, per room₹1,500 (≈ US$18)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room in Pondicherry, a night, per room₹3,000 (≈ US$35)
  • High-end bedDouble room in Pondicherry, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) · Mid ₹3,000 (≈ US$35) · High ₹5,000 (≈ US$60)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Chola temple (Vedapureeswarar Temple)Wood fossil park (National Fossil Wood Park)
Airports
PNY Puducherry Airport (about 30 km (19 mi) east; limited flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad) · MAA Chennai International Airport (about 150 km (93 mi) north; the main international gateway)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    36°C (97°F)

  5. May

    Avoid

    38°C (100°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    37°C (99°F)

  7. Jul

    not flagged

    35°C (95°F)

  8. Aug

    not flagged

    34°C (93°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Apr–Jun. Month by month →

Warmest May (38°C (100°F)), coolest Jan (20°C (68°F) low), wettest Jul (6 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Thiruvakkarai: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C (86°F)

20°C (68°F)

1 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

21°C (70°F)

1 rd

Mar

33°C (91°F)

23°C (73°F)

1 rd

Apr

36°C (97°F)

26°C (79°F)

2 rd

May

38°C (100°F)

28°C (82°F)

3 rd

Jun

37°C (99°F)

27°C (81°F)

4 rd

Jul

35°C (95°F)

26°C (79°F)

6 rd

Aug

34°C (93°F)

25°C (77°F)

6 rd

Sep

33°C (91°F)

25°C (77°F)

5 rd

Oct

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

5 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

4 rd

Dec

29°C (84°F)

20°C (68°F)

2 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable. For the fossil park and temple, a hired auto-rickshaw from Pondicherry or Tindivanam is practical.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Pondicherrygo

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus or taxi, about 30 min

French Quarter, promenade and ashram.

Gingee Fort

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Taxi, about 40 min

Hill fort complex; allow 2–3 hours.

Tindivanam

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Bus or taxi, about 20 min

Market town with bus connections.

Aurovillego

Door to door: About 35 min

Taxi, about 35 min

Experimental township; Matrimandir viewing by appointment.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Thiruvakkarai

Very few options; most visitors stay in Pondicherry or Tindivanam.

Pondicherry

25 km (16 mi) east; wide range of hotels and guesthouses.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,000–2,000 (≈ US$12–25) excl. bed
Mid
₹2,000–4,000 (≈ US$25–50) excl. bed
High
₹4,000 (≈ US$50)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room in Pondicherry1 × 1 night × ₹3,000₹3,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,000₹6,000
Auto-rickshaw from Pondicherry (return)1 × ₹1,200 · check₹1,200
Taxi from Pondicherry (return)1 × ₹2,500 · check₹2,500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹1,270
Trip total≈ ₹6,990 per person per day, bed included₹13,970≈ US$160

2026 estimate in INR; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Chai at a village stall₹10–20 (≈ under US$1)
Simple meal (rice, dal, vegetables)₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3)
Auto-rickshaw from Pondicherry (one way)check₹600–800 (≈ US$7–10)
Taxi from Pondicherry (one way)check₹1,200–1,500 (≈ US$14–18)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet village; standard precautions apply. Watch for traffic on the main road.
  • The wood fossil park is a protected site; do not remove any fossils.
  • Temple timings may be irregular; check locally before visiting.
  • No ATM in the village; carry cash from Pondicherry or Tindivanam.

Emergency numbers

All services
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ThiruvakkaraiThiruvakkarai

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

இந்த முகவரிக்கு, தயவுசெய்துTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All services112

Embassy

Most embassies are in New Delhi; consulates in Chennai.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Pondicherry → Thiruvakkarai by auto: ₹600–800 (≈ US$7–10), about 30 min (check)
  • Pondicherry → Thiruvakkarai by taxi: ₹1,200–1,500 (≈ US$14–18), about 30 min (check)

Say or show

  • வணக்கம் — Hello (vaṇakkam)
  • நன்றி — Thank you (nanṟi)
  • எவ்வளவு? — How much? (evvaḷavu?)
  • கோயில் எங்கே? — Where is the temple? (kōyil eṅkē?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Thiruvakkarai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Apr–Jun (heat) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources

Ask about Thiruvakkarai

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