Getting Around Chennai from Royapettah: Metro, Auto and Bus

The metro near Royapettah

Chennai Metro's Blue Line runs from Wimco Nagar to the airport. Wikipedia's station table lists the central stretch in this order: High Court, Central, Government Estate, LIC, Thousand Lights, AG-DMS, Teynampet, Nandanam, Saidapet and Little Mount, then Guindy, Alandur and the airport. Thousand Lights station, opened on 10 February 2019, serves Royapettah, Greams Road and Gopalapuram. Government Estate serves Chepauk, Triplicane and Chintadripet, and also Ritchie Street and Ellis Road.

Royapettah itself is listed as a station on the Purple Line, which Wikipedia describes as under construction, with completion expected around December 2027. It does not carry passengers yet, so do not plan around it.

For a first trip, open the Chennai Metro Rail route planner or ask the front desk which gate of Thousand Lights station is closest to your exit. The station has four numbered gates, A1 to A4, so knowing which one you need can save a long walk around the block. Government Estate is useful if you are heading towards Chepauk, Marina Beach or Ritchie Street.

How the Blue and Green lines link

Chennai Central is an interchange between the Blue and Green lines, and on the Blue Line it is a short hop from Government Estate. Alandur is the other Blue and Green interchange, and Egmore is a Green Line station. For the airport or the south, stay on the Blue Line.

The hotel does not publish how far it is to the nearest metro station, and no walking distance is confirmed here, so ask at the front desk and use an auto for the first or last stretch.

Tickets and timings

The Chennai Metro Rail website lists QR passes, a Singara Chennai card, group tickets, NCMC cards and a WhatsApp ticketing number, 8300086000, along with a 24-hour helpline at 1860 425 1515. Fare tables and train timings are on the official site, so check them for the day you travel. Services on Sundays and holidays can differ from weekdays.

If you are staying a few days, a QR or card ticket saves queueing at the counters.

Keep your phone charged and your ticket QR ready before you reach the gate. Peak hours on weekdays are busier, and carrying luggage through the gates is easier when the trains are quieter. If you are travelling with children or elders, allow extra time for the lifts and escalators, and avoid the first few minutes after a train arrives, when the platform is crowded.

MRTS and suburban trains

Chennai's MRTS raised line runs from Chennai Beach to Velachery. The stations in order include Chintadripet, Chepauk, Thiruvallikeni, Light House, Mundagakanniamman Koil, Thirumayilai and Mandaveli. Wikipedia lists a minimum second-class fare of Rs 5. It is handy for the beach side and for Mylapore, but it is a different system from the metro, with separate tickets.

Suburban trains serve Chennai Central, Egmore and the south and west lines. They are fine for longer trips, but when you are carrying luggage and travelling at peak hours, a cab is easier.

The MRTS station at Chepauk is next to the cricket stadium, so on match days the line can be busy. Thirumayilai station serves Mylapore, which makes the line handy for a temple morning if you are willing to change vehicles. Always check the day's train schedule, because the MRTS line runs fewer services than the metro.

Autos, app cabs and MTC buses

Autos are everywhere. Reports in DT Next say the state's fixed auto fares have been unchanged since 2013, at Rs 25 for the first 1.8 km and Rs 12 per additional km, and a revision is under discussion, so what you are asked to pay in practice may be different. Agree the fare or use a meter or an app before you start.

MTC, the city bus operator, ran 3,376 buses on 668 routes as of August 2024, according to Wikipedia. Ordinary fares range between Rs 5 and Rs 23, with an AC deluxe service going up to Rs 48 in 2018 prices, and women ride free on the pink-liveried ordinary buses. Buses are cheap and wide-reaching but can be crowded, so they suit short hops better than a full day with a family.

App cabs are priced by demand, so fares jump at peak hours and in the rain. If the fare seems high, wait ten minutes or compare with an auto. Keep the hotel address on your phone: No. 9, Perumal Mudali Road, behind Woodlands Theatre, Royapettah. Drivers often recognise the theatre faster than the road name, so use it as a landmark.

A simple plan

For most visitors the best mix is an app cab or auto for doors-to-door trips, the Blue Line for a long crosstown run during off-peak hours, and a short walk for the last stretch. Express Avenue Mall is about 5 to 10 minutes from Hotel Royal King, Marina Beach and Chepauk Stadium 8 to 10 minutes, and Chennai Central 12 to 15 minutes.

Free parking is available at the hotel if you bring your own car. Message or call Hotel Royal King on +91 73973 96612 with your dates and number of guests. Rates are per room, per night, so please reconfirm the current rate and taxes when you book.