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)plane MAA - CMB
4h 15mRs 35,877–88,911Train, ferry
cheapest- Take the train from Chennai Egmore to Nagappattinamtrain
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Forttrain
20h 10mRs 23,773–40,596Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Thiruvanmiyur to Nagorebus
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the bus from Kankesanturai to Pettahbus
18h 26mRs 25,720–27,486Train, ferry via Perambur
- Take the train from Perambur to Nagappattinamtrain
- Take the ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturaiferry
- Take the train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Forttrain
20h 58mRs 23,783–40,668
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. 25000 - Rs. 28000 and takes 18h 26m.
The fastest way to get from Chennai to Colombo is to fly which takes 4h 15m and costs Rs. 35000 - Rs. 90000.
The distance between Chennai and Colombo is 698 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. 23000 - Rs. 41000.
It takes approximately 4h 15m to get from Chennai to Colombo, including transfers.
There are 1442+ hotels available in Colombo.
What companies run services between Chennai, India and Colombo, Sri Lanka?
SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Chennai International Airport (MAA) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) every 3 hours.
- Website
- goindigo.in
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 27,000–70,000
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport via Bengaluru
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 27,000–70,000
- Website
- srilankan.com
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 29,000–47,000
- Website
- airindia.in
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 29,000–47,000
Flights from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport via Bengaluru
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- When
- Thursday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- Rs 29,000–47,000
- 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 750–6,000
- Website
- https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 750–950
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 2,000–2,600
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 2,800–3,600
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 4,700–6,000
Train from Perambur to Nagappattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 28m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- Rs 750–6,000
- Website
- https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search
- Sleeper Class
- Rs 750–950
- Third AC (3A)
- Rs 2,100–2,600
- Second AC (2A)
- Rs 2,900–3,600
- First Class (1A)
- Rs 4,800–6,000
- Phone
- +94 11 4 600 111
- Website
- seatreservation.railway.gov.lk
Train from Kankesanturai to Colombo Fort
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- 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 950–2,300
- 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 2,700–2,800
- Schedules at
- https://ncgexpress.lk/
- Sleeper/Seater
- Rs 2,700–2,800
- Website
- shipindia.com
Ferry from Nagapattinam to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 21,694
- Schedules at
- shipindia.com
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