Buses arrive in the centre of the town from either Koyembedu CMBT or Tiruvanmiyur in Chennai and Kanchipuram. There are direct buses from CMBT but you can also take any bus that has ECR written on the front, however be warned some of these ECR buses will drop you outside town, and don't go into the town proper. You can also catch the bus from Pondicherry.
A taxi from Chennai will cost Rs. 600-800 one-way USD 15 to 20 though the rates are likely to be higher based on the season, cab operator. Visitors outside Chennai, even Indian nationals and most definitely from Overseas are likely to be asked for higher rates. To or from the airport will cost Rs 800-1,200 and will take one hour off peak and 1 1/2 hours peak time. Please negotiate the cab fares at the beginning of the journey and remain firm if the operator asks for more.
The drive from Chennai on the East Coast Road is, by Indian standards, a wonderful experience: it is one of the few toll roads in India and maintained well. That said, it's still only one lane per direction with no divider, so overtaking tends to be hair-raising and high-speed head-on collisions are all too common. The road runs parallel to the coast of Bay of Bengal making it a scenic driveway, although you will not see the sea until the last few miles. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami wreaked havoc around here, so you will see shanty-towns built for affected fishermen and much of the greenery has been swept away.)
