There are 5 ways to get from Colombo to Madurai by plane, bus, ferry, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Madurai, bus
best- Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Madurai (IXM)plane CMB - IXM
- Take the bus from Madurai airport to Periyar Bus Standbus
3h 2m₹14,569–26,030Train, ferry
cheapest- Take the train from Colombo Fort to Kankesanturaitrain
- Take the ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinamferry
- Take the train from Nagappattinam to Madurai Jntrain
17h 57m₹7,099–9,048Bus, ferry, train via Thanjavur
- Take the bus from Pettah to Kankesanturaibus
- Take the ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinamferry
- Take the train from Nagappattinam to Thanjavurtrain
- Take the bus from Thanjavur to Maduraibus
17h 49mFly to Trichy International Airport, train
- Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Trichy International Airport (TRZ)plane CMB - TRZ
- Take the train from Tiruchchirapali to Madurai Jntrain
4h 14m₹18,194–24,895Bus, ferry, train
- Take the bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal to Jaffnabus
- Take the ferry from Kankesanturai to Nagapattinamferry
- Take the train from Vellankanni to Madurai Jntrain
22h 47m₹7,203–8,860
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Madurai (IXM) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Colombo to Madurai is to train and ferry which costs ₹7,000 - ₹9,500 and takes 17h 57m.
The fastest way to get from Colombo to Madurai is to fly and bus which takes 3h 2m and costs ₹14,000 - ₹26,000.
The distance between Colombo and Madurai is 400 km.
The best way to get from Colombo to Madurai without a car is to bus and ferry and train via Thanjavur which takes 17h 49m and costs .
It takes approximately 3h 2m to get from Colombo to Madurai, including transfers.
There are 224+ hotels available in Madurai.
What companies run services between Colombo, Sri Lanka and Madurai, India?
There is no direct connection from Colombo to Madurai. However, you can take the taxi to Colombo-Airport-CMB airport, fly to Madurai (IXM), walk to Madurai airport, then take the bus to Periyar Bus Stand. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Pettah to Madurai via Kankesanturai, Kankesanturai, Nagapattinam, Nagappattinam, Thanjavur, and Thanjavur in around 17h 49m.
- Website
- srilankan.com
Flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₹11,000–36,000
Flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Trichy International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₹10,000–32,000
- Phone
- 14646
- [email protected]
- Website
- irctc.co.in
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 Madurai Jn
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- ₹210–1,600
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹210–250
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹550–700
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹750–1,000
- First Class (1A)
- ₹1,200–1,600
Train from Tiruchchirapali to Madurai Jn
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ₹160–1,300
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹160–200
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹450–600
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹600–800
- First Class (1A)
- ₹1,000–1,300
Train from Vellankanni to Madurai Jn
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- ₹210–1,700
- Website
- irctc.co.in
- Sleeper Class
- ₹210–260
- Third AC (3A)
- ₹550–750
- Second AC (2A)
- ₹750–1,000
- First Class (1A)
- ₹1,300–1,700
- 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
- ₹380–950
- Website
- Sri Lanka Railways
- 2nd Class Fare
- ₹380–550
- 3rd Class Fare
- ₹430–550
- Air Conditioned Saloon
- ₹750–950
- Phone
- 91-452-2690612
- [email protected]
- Website
- Madurai Transport
Bus from Madurai airport to Periyar Bus Stand
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ₹35
- Schedules at
- Madurai Transport
- Phone
- +94 76 714 8292
- [email protected]
- Website
- ncgexpress.lk
Bus from Pettah to Kankesanturai
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₹760–790
- Schedules at
- NCG Express Facebook
- Sleeper/Seater
- ₹760–790
- Website
- Shanmuga Travels
Bus from Thanjavur to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Schedules at
- Shanmuga Travels
- Phone
- +91 9865511926
- [email protected]
- Website
- Universal Travels
Bus from Thanjavur to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- Universal Travels
- Website
- LION Travels
Bus from Thanjavur to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Schedules at
- LION Travels
- Phone
- +91 9444 838 838
- [email protected]
- Website
- PRM Roadways
Bus from Thanjavur to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Website
- PRM Roadways
- Phone
- +91 97514 35999
- [email protected]
- Website
- SBM Traansport
Bus from Thanjavur to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Schedules at
- SBM Traansport
- Website
- Laxma Tours & Travels
Bus from Thanjavur to Madurai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Schedules at
- Laxma Tours & Travels
- 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
- ₹360–466
- Website
- National Transport Commission
- Schedules at
- NTC Schedules
- Standard
- ₹360–410
- Semi Lux
- ₹460–650
- 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
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