There are 4 ways to get from Chennai to Colombo by plane, bus, ferry, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)MAA - CMB
4h 13mRs 32,623–61,155Train, ferry
cheapest- Take the train from Chennai Egmore to Nagappattinam
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Take the train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Fort
20h 10mRs 24,550–41,550Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Thiruvanmiyur to Nagore
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Take the bus from Kankesanturai to Pettah
18h 35mRs 26,624–27,965Train, ferry via Perambur
- Take the train from Perambur to Nagappattinam
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Take the train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Fort
20h 58mRs 24,560–41,624
Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chennai to Colombo is to bus and ferry which costs Rs. 26000 - Rs. 28000 and takes 18h 35m.
The fastest way to get from Chennai to Colombo is to fly which takes 4h 13m and costs Rs. 32000 - Rs. 65000.
The distance between Chennai and Colombo is 699 km.
The best way to get from Chennai to Colombo without a car is to train and ferry which takes 20h 10m and costs Rs. 24000 - Rs. 42000.
It takes approximately 4h 13m to get from Chennai to Colombo, including transfers.
There are 1439+ hotels available in Colombo.
What companies run services between Chennai, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka?
SriLankan Airlines and IndiGo Airlines fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) every 4 hours.
- Website
- srilankan.com
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 29,000–46,000
- Website
- goindigo.in
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 26,000–55,000
- Phone
- 14646
- care@irctc.co.in
- Website
- irctc.co.in
Train from Chennai Egmore to Nagappattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 800–6,500
- Website
- https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 800–950
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 2,100–2,700
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 2,900–3,700
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 4,900–6,500
Train from Perambur to Nagappattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 28m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- Rs 800–6,500
- Website
- https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 800–1,000
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 2,100–2,700
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 3,000–3,800
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 4,900–6,500
- Phone
- +94 11 4 600 111
- Website
- seatreservation.railway.gov.lk
Train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Fort
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 1,300–13,000
- Website
- https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/
- 2nd Class Fare
- Rs 1,300–1,900
- 3rd Class Fare
- Rs 1,500–1,900
- Air Conditioned Saloon
- Rs 3,000–13,000
- Phone
- 9513948001
- commercial@tnstc.in
- Website
- tnstc.in
Bus from Thiruvanmiyur to Nagore
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 24m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- Rs 1,100–2,100
- Website
- https://www.tnstc.in/OTRSOnline/
- Phone
- +94 76 714 8292
- ncgexpress@gmail.com
- Website
- ncgexpress.lk
Bus from Kankesanturai to Pettah
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 2,700
- Schedules at
- https://ncgexpress.lk/
- Website
- shipindia.com
Ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 22,444
- Schedules at
- shipindia.com
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