There are 4 ways to get from Colombo to Thanjavur by plane, train, bus, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly, train
best- Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Trichy International Airport (TRZ)plane CMB - TRZ
- Take the train from Tiruchchirapali to Thanjavurtrain
3h 37m₹16,190–25,638Train, ferry
cheapest- Take the train from Colombo Fort to Kankesanturaitrain
- Take the ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinamferry
- Take the train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavurtrain
14h₹7,025–8,563Bus, ferry, train
- Take the bus from Pettah to Kankesanturaibus
- Take the ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinamferry
- Take the train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavurtrain
13h 11m₹7,473–8,487Bus, ferry, train via Jaffna
- Take the bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal to Jaffnabus
- Take the ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinamferry
- Take the train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavurtrain
18h 6m₹7,074–8,158
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Trichy International Airport (TRZ) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Colombo to Thanjavur is to train and ferry which costs ₹7,000 - ₹9,000 and takes 14h.
The fastest way to get from Colombo to Thanjavur is to fly and train which takes 3h 37m and costs ₹16,000 - ₹26,000.
The distance between Colombo and Thanjavur is 516 km.
The best way to get from Colombo to Thanjavur without a car is to bus and ferry and train which takes 13h 11m and costs ₹7,000 - ₹8,500.
It takes approximately 3h 37m to get from Colombo to Thanjavur, including transfers.
There are 99+ hotels available in Thanjavur.
What companies run services between Colombo, Sri Lanka and Thanjavur, India?
There is no direct connection from Colombo to Thanjavur. However, you can take the taxi to Colombo-Airport-CMB airport, fly to Trichy International Airport (TRZ), take the taxi to Tiruchchirapali, then take the train to Thanjavur. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Pettah to Thanjavur via Kankesanturai, Kankesanturai, Nagapattinam, and Nagappattinam in around 13h 11m.
- Website
- srilankan.com
Flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Trichy International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₹11,000–37,000
- Phone
- 14646
- [email protected]
- Website
- irctc.co.in
Train from Tiruchchirapali to Thanjavur
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₹120–1,000
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹120–150
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹350–440
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹470–600
- First Class (1A)
- ₹750–1,000
Train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavur
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹130–1,100
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹130–160
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹380–470
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹500–650
- First Class (1A)
- ₹800–1,100
Train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavur
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹130–1,100
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹130–160
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹380–470
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹500–650
- First Class (1A)
- ₹800–1,100
Train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavur
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 18m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹130–1,100
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹130–160
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹380–470
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹500–650
- First Class (1A)
- ₹800–1,100
- Phone
- +94 114 600 111
- Website
- Sri Lanka Railways
Train from Colombo Fort to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 4m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₹390–1,000
- Website
- Sri Lanka Railways
- 2nd Class Fare
- ₹390–550
- 3rd Class Fare
- ₹440–550
- Air Conditioned Saloon
- ₹750–1,000
- Phone
- +94 76 714 8292
- [email protected]
- Website
- ncgexpress.lk
Bus from Pettah to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹770–810
- Schedules at
- NCG Express Facebook
- Sleeper/Seater
- ₹770–810
- Phone
- +94 011-2587372
- [email protected]
- Website
- National Transport Commission
Bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal to Jaffna
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₹370–473
- Website
- National Transport Commission
- Schedules at
- NTC Schedules
- Standard
- ₹370–410
- Semi Lux
- ₹470–650
- Super Lux
- ₹850–1,100
- Phone
- 022 - 22026666
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹6,500
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹6,500
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinam
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹6,500
- Website
- The Shipping Corporation of India
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including How to travel India's Golden Triangle, 10 amazing places to get away from it all in Australia, and 5 delightfully under-the-radar French towns you need to visit - to help you get the most out of your next trip.