Chennai St Thomas & Velankanni Pilgrimage
San Thome Basilica over the tomb of St Thomas, Little Mount and St Thomas Mount in Chennai, then Mass at Velankanni and a visit to the Nagore Dargah nearby.
Trip at a glance
- Duration5 days / 4 nights
- Starts inChennai
- RouteChennai · Velankanni · Nagore
- Places3 destinations
- StateTamil Nadu, India
- Ideal forPilgrimage tours, Family holidays
- Trip stylePrivate, customisable
- Package codeNX-BCFF1C
Best time to visit: November to February




Trip overview
San Thome Basilica over the tomb of St Thomas, Little Mount and St Thomas Mount in Chennai, then Mass at Velankanni and a visit to the Nagore Dargah nearby.
The route spends 1 night in Chennai, 2 nights in Velankanni and 1 night in Nagore, so you get time for the main sights without changing hotels every day. It suits pilgrimage tours and family holidays, and every day can be shortened, swapped or extended.
Highlights
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Chennai
- Arrive via Chennai International Airport (MAA) and transfer to your hotel
- Check in and settle in
- Later: Kapaleeshwarar Temple: Colourful Dravidian temple in Mylapore
Day 2Chennai to Velankanni
- Travel from Chennai to Velankanni by road or train, or fly where it saves time (we compare options in your quote)
- Check in at your Velankanni hotel
- Morning Star Church: Church on the site of the second apparition
Day 3Velankanni: Nagore Dargah and Velankanni Beach
- Nagore Dargah: Sufi shrine 12 km away, revered by all faiths
- Velankanni Beach: Wide beach next to the basilica
Day 4Velankanni to Nagore
- Travel from Velankanni to Nagore by private vehicle
- Check in at your Nagore hotel
- Nagore Dargah: Shrine of Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, with five minarets
Day 5Depart from Nagore
- Breakfast and hotel check-out
- Transfer to Tiruchirappalli Airport (TRZ) for your journey home
How this version is planned
- Darshan and aarti timings planned around temple hours
- Online darshan or registration booked through official channels where available
- Comfortable pace and short walks planned for elders
- Dress codes and rules for each shrine shared before you go
- Daily drives kept short, with stops for children
This is a suggested itinerary. Sightseeing order may change with opening days, weather and local conditions; your final plan is in your written quote.
Good to know
- Chennai: Use Chennai as a starting day: a morning in Mylapore and an evening on the beach before driving down the East Coast Road.
- Velankanni: Book rooms early if you are travelling for the feast; hotels near the basilica fill months ahead.
- Nagore: Combine Nagore with Velankanni and the Thanjavur temples for a trip that visits shrines of three faiths.
Questions about this trip
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Tamil NaduChennai
Chennai is Tamil Nadu's capital and the gateway to the south: a coastal city of Dravidian temples, colonial-era landmarks and Marina Beach, with a serious Carnatic music and dance scene every December.
Tamil NaduVelankanni
Velankanni, on the Bay of Bengal coast, is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, one of the most visited Christian shrines in Asia and often called the Lourdes of the East.
Tamil NaduNagore
Nagore, on the Tamil Nadu coast near Nagapattinam, is home to the Nagore Dargah of the 16th-century Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Shahul Hameed, known as Nagore Andavar.
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