Key hubs
Namakkal airport and railway station
- Airport
- Salem (SXV) is about 52 km away; Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) is about 85 km and Coimbatore (CJB) about 153 km
- Railway station
- Namakkal station is on the Salem–Karur broad-gauge line, opened in 2013; Salem Junction and Karur Junction are the larger railheads
- Getting around
- Autos for the short hops between the rock and temples; hire a cab for Tiruchengode and the Kolli Hills
How to reach Namakkal by air
Salem Airport (SXV) is about 52 km away, and Tiruchirappalli (TRZ) about 85 km; Coimbatore (CJB) is about 153 km and has more flights. Allow roughly one to two and a half hours by road.
How to reach Namakkal by train
Namakkal has a station on the Salem–Karur line, which opened in 2013. Salem Junction (SA) and Karur Junction (KRR) are the larger railheads.
How to reach Namakkal by road
Namakkal lies on the road between Salem and Karur, with links to Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore. State and private buses run frequently.
Getting around Namakkal
Autos cover the short distances between the rock, the temples and the bus stand. Hire a cab with a driver for Tiruchengode and the Kolli Hills.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Namakkal
- Carry water, and wear shoes that slip off easily for the temples.
- For Kolli Hills, break the long hairpin drive with stops, and avoid it if motion sickness is a problem.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.