How to reach Kumbakonam

Kumbakonam is in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, and has no airport of its own. You can reach it by train, at Kumbakonam railway station (KMU), or by bus; the nearest airports are Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) and Chennai (MAA). Use the map above to see how far you are by road, then the sections below to plan the rest of the journey. For the festival itself, see about Mahamaham and the questions visitors ask.

By train

Kumbakonam railway station has the station code KMU. It is part of the Tiruchirappalli division of the Southern Railway zone and lies off Kamarajar Road in the town. Kumbakonam has been on the railway since 1877.

• Search for trains on IRCTC from your station's code to KMU. The map above shows your nearest major station and its code.
• If there is no convenient train to KMU, also search to the nearby junctions Thanjavur (TJ) and Mayiladuthurai (MV), then continue by road.
• Check live running and platform information on NTES on the day you travel.

We don't list train numbers, timings or fares, because they change. Always check them on IRCTC or NTES.

By bus

Regular bus services run from Kumbakonam to major cities across Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Salem, and to Puducherry. Interstate buses to Bengaluru and Mysuru are run by the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation has a Kumbakonam division.

• Book long-distance government buses on the official TNSTC reservation site.
• The Kumbakonam bus stand is marked on the map above.

By air

There is no airport in Kumbakonam. The nearest is Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ); Chennai International Airport (MAA) is farther away. From either airport, continue to Kumbakonam by road or by train.

• When there is no road route from where you are (for example from abroad), the map above suggests these airports and shows the road distance and driving time from each to Kumbakonam (estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic).
• Check flights and timings with your airline. We don't show fares or schedules.

By road

The map above works out the road route and an estimated driving time from your town to the Mahamaham tank, using OpenStreetMap data. Driving times don't include traffic or stops, so allow extra time, especially during festivals.

Getting around Kumbakonam

The Mahamaham tank, the railway station and the bus stand are all in the town and marked on the map above. Many of the temples connected with the festival are close to the tank; others, such as Darasuram, Swamimalai and the Navagraha temples, are in the villages around Kumbakonam. See the temples for where each one is, and upcoming temple festivals before you choose your dates.

Travelling during Mahamaham

Very large crowds come for the festival: about 4 million people visited Kumbakonam during the 2016 festival, and the town arranged temporary transport and bathing ghats. Book trains and buses early, and follow official announcements from the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department, Southern Railway and the transport corporations for special services and road arrangements. Mahamaham 2028 is expected in March 2028 (dates to be confirmed by TN HR&CE).

International visitors

Apply for an Indian e-Visa only through the official portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. Tiruchirappalli and Chennai both have international airports. You can ask Maha, the site's assistant, about planning your route.