July 16, 2006
Getting to CMC
I took Kuwait Airways (excellent airline) from NY to Chennai for $1350. Going from Chennai to Vellore has a few options.
1) Hire a taxi through the CMC office (around $40??)
2) Go your own way by bus to Vellore (what I did)
- when you exit the airport, walk on the road/parking lot going away from the airport til you reach a main road. You can go left to a bus stand or catch an auto
3) Ask someone which bus to Mofussil (main bus station) or take the auto. Auto should be no more than Rs 200. Bus will be about Rs 10
4) Go to the first bus stand on the left side and ask for EXPRESS to Vellore. Make sure it's express or you will have a very very long ride. Express bus will be around 4 hours. Lonely planet will tell you 3 hours- this will never happen in 3 hours.
4) From the Vellore bus station to CMC it should be Rs 50.
Alternatively... take the train.
2) From the airport go left on main road- local train station on the right. Ask which trains go to Central station (about 7 stops). This is a 1/2 hour ride costing less than Rs 5. From the station exit you will have a 5-10 minute walk to Central station.
3) A train to Katpadi station (closest station to Vellore) will take 2.5 hours. I never took the train because it was cancelled when I wanted to take it. To book a train- go to the C1 desk (on the right after you go on). Warning: The Chennai central station is really packed and you will be elbowing people in line to hold your place.
From the Katpadi station to CMC- an auto should be about Rs 60. If they try asking for 100 or 150, just walk away!