Manali to Chennai
Distance, road route, travel options and tentative fare estimates by car, bus and train from Manali, Himachal Pradesh to Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Approx Distance: 2800 km
Approx Duration: 62.2 hrs
Route overview
Manali to Chennai is about 2800 km by road, roughly 62.2 hours of travel time.
By car: Manali to Chennai
About 56h of driving split over 7 days, plus stops.
- Start from Manali. Leave early (5–6 AM) and avoid driving on highways after dark.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 150. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 300. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Overnight halt around km 400. Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 550. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 700. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Overnight halt around km 800. Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 950. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 1100. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Overnight halt around km 1200. Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 1350. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 1500. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Overnight halt around km 1600. Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 1750. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 1900. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Overnight halt around km 2000. Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 2150. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 2300. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Overnight halt around km 2400. Stop for the night in a town along the highway with hotels.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 2550. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 150 km (about 3h of driving) — Rest stop around km 2700. Look for a town or highway plaza with fuel and food.
- 100 km (about 2h of driving) — Arrive in Chennai
By bus: Manali to Chennai
3 bus rides with 2 changes. Operators and departure times vary — check live availability before you travel.
- Board at Manali. Go to the main bus stand / ISBT in Manali. Overnight buses usually leave in the evening; book a seat in advance for sleeper and Volvo services.
- Manali → change point 1. AC Sleeper / Volvo (overnight) · ~933 km Takes about 20h 44m. Tentative fare ₹1,030–₹2,660.
- Change buses at a major city (around km 933). Get down at the bus stand of a large city on the highway and take the next bus towards Chennai. If your connection is not until the next day, stay the night there.
- change point 1 → change point 2. AC Sleeper / Volvo (overnight) · ~933 km Takes about 20h 44m. Tentative fare ₹1,030–₹2,660.
- Change buses at a major city (around km 1867). Get down at the bus stand of a large city on the highway and take the next bus towards Chennai. If your connection is not until the next day, stay the night there.
- change point 2 → Chennai. AC Sleeper / Volvo (overnight) · ~933 km Takes about 20h 44m. Tentative fare ₹1,030–₹2,660.
- Arrive in Chennai
By train: Manali to Chennai
The nearest railway stations are Joginder Nagar (about 47 km away) for Manali and Chennai Central for Chennai. There is no direct train between them in our timetable data; most travellers change trains at a major junction. Options with a change:
- With two changes, 66h 55m in total: JOGINDER NAGAR - PATHANKOT PASSENGER (52472) 07:20 AM Joginder Nagar to 05:30 PM Pathankot, then Jammu Mail (14034) 07:05 PM Pathankot to 01:40 AM Ambala Cant Jn, then Chandigarh Chennai Express (22688) 08:55 AM Ambala Cant Jn to 02:15 AM Chennai Central — change at Pathankot (about 1h 35m wait) and Ambala Cant Jn (about 7h 15m wait)
Train details come from a 2015 railway timetable snapshot — newer trains, changed timings and running days are not included, so confirm on IRCTC before you plan around a train.
Tentative fare estimate
Approximate fares for about 2800 km, estimated from typical Indian per-km tariffs — not a live quote from any operator.
- Car / Taxi: Hatchback ₹30,900 · Sedan ₹36,500 · SUV ₹47,750 · Innova / MUV ₹53,400 · Tempo Traveller ₹61,900
- Bus: Non-AC Seater ₹3,080 · AC Seater ₹5,040 · Non-AC Sleeper ₹4,480 · AC Sleeper ₹6,440 · Volvo / Multi-Axle ₹7,890
- Train: Sleeper ₹1,710 · Economy ₹2,830 · Third AC ₹3,950 · Second AC ₹5,630 · First AC ₹7,870
Tentative estimates only — actual fares vary by operator, season, class and how early you book.
Other routes
More routes from Manali
- Manali to Kasol
- Manali to Kullu
- Manali to Bir
- Manali to Tirthan Valley
- Manali to McLeod Ganj
- Manali to Dharamshala
- Manali to Kaza
- Manali to Dalhousie
- Manali to Shimla
- Manali to Kufri
More routes to Chennai
- Kanchipuram to Chennai
- Tirupati to Chennai
- Vellore to Chennai
- Chittoor to Chennai
- Puducherry to Chennai
- Nellore to Chennai
- Cuddalore to Chennai
- Kadapa to Chennai
- Kolar to Chennai
- Kumbakonam to Chennai
Routes from Chennai
- Chennai to Manali
- Chennai to Mahabalipuram
- Chennai to Kanchipuram
- Chennai to Tirupati
- Chennai to Vellore
- Chennai to Auroville
- Chennai to Puducherry
- Chennai to Tiruvannamalai
- Chennai to Yelagiri
- Chennai to Chidambaram