Guide details
Best time to visit
Early morning trains or overnight buses
How to get there
By train, flight, overnight bus, or car via NH48
Highlights
Vande Bharat Express, Shatabdi Express, the NH48 drive
Good for
Business travellers, weekend trips, backpackers
Price range
Rs 700 to Rs 6,000 depending on mode
Chennai to Bangalore is one of the busiest travel corridors in south India, and whichever way you choose to go, you’ve got plenty of options. The road distance is about 350km via NH48, and depending on your choice of transport, the journey can take anywhere from just over an hour by air to seven hours by road.
Chennai to Bangalore by train
The train is usually the best balance of comfort, cost and reliability on the Chennai to Bangalore route. The Vande Bharat Express is the fastest option, covering Chennai Central to KSR Bengaluru in around 4 hours 15 minutes, with only a couple of stops along the way, and chair car fares typically running from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500. The Shatabdi Express takes a little longer, around 5 hours, and has been running the route for years with a loyal following among business travellers, at broadly similar fares. The Brindavan Express is the slower, older service, taking close to 6 hours, but it runs at a noticeably lower fare, often under Rs 500 in second class, which makes it a fair choice if you’re not in a rush. All three depart from Chennai Central and arrive into KSR Bengaluru (Bangalore City) station, right in the heart of the city, so you avoid any airport transfer at either end.
Chennai to Bangalore by flight
Flying is the fastest way to cover the Chennai to Bangalore route, with a flight time of around 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes and fares that typically range from Rs 2000 to Rs 6000 depending on how far ahead you book. Several airlines run multiple daily flights between Chennai International Airport and Kempegowda International Airport, so you can usually find a departure to suit your schedule. The catch is that Bangalore’s airport sits well outside the city, around 35km from the centre, so factor in an extra hour or more to actually get into town once you land, which narrows the time advantage over the train for shorter notice trips.
Chennai to Bangalore by bus
Overnight AC sleeper and Volvo buses are a popular choice, especially if you want to save on a hotel night. The journey takes around 6 to 7 hours, running via Vellore, Krishnagiri and Hosur on NH48, with fares generally between Rs 800 and Rs 1500 depending on the operator and seat type. Buses leave through the evening from Koyambedu bus terminus and other pickup points across the city, and arrive early morning in Bangalore, so you wake up and start your day rather than losing daylight hours to travel.
Driving from Chennai to Bangalore
If you’re driving, the route runs almost entirely on NH48, a well maintained highway with several stretches of good dual carriageway. In a private car with a couple of short breaks, the journey takes around 6 hours, though this stretches out if you leave during peak holiday weekends or hit roadworks around Vellore or Hosur. Krishnagiri, roughly the halfway point, has a good spread of restaurants and fuel stations if you want to break the drive, and hiring a car with a driver for the one way trip typically costs between Rs 6000 and Rs 8000.
Which option should you choose
For business trips or anyone short on time, flying wins on speed once you ignore the airport transfers at both ends. For a comfortable, no-fuss journey without airport queues, the Vande Bharat or Shatabdi trains are hard to beat and drop you right in the centre of both cities. Buses suit those on a tighter budget or who’d rather travel overnight and not lose a day, and driving makes sense if you want the freedom to stop wherever you like or you’re carrying more luggage than public transport is comfortable with.
- Distance: approximately 350km via NH48
- Vande Bharat Express: around 4 hours 15 minutes, from around Rs 1000
- Shatabdi Express: around 5 hours
- Brindavan Express: around 6 hours, from under Rs 500
- Flight: around 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, from around Rs 2000
- Bus or car: around 6 to 7 hours, from around Rs 800
Whichever way you pick, book train tickets and flights a few days ahead if you can, since the Chennai to Bangalore route fills up fast, particularly on Friday evenings and Sunday nights when it feels like the whole city is travelling at once.