What Is The Nearest Airport To Rameshwaram? Are There Other Options?
“The Rameshwaram airport always lands in the news but never takes off.”
Also, this year, when I was in Rameshwaram, I heard an autodriver saying, “In a few years, we’ll have our own airport, just 20 minutes away.”
Now, these speculations and jokes about the dream Rameshwaram Airport are not something born out of thin air. By mid-2025, there will have been at least three instances when the proposals and discussions about the Rameshwaram Airport have been in the news.
- 14th March 2025: Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announces that the Rameshwaram Area will have a new airport.
- 23rd July 2025: The Tamil Nadu Government identifies five sites for the development of the Rameshawaram Airport.
- 30th August 2025: Keelakarai and Uchipulli get shortlisted for the development of the Rameshwaram Airport.
Moreover, since I have been to the Rameshwaram Temple a couple of times, I know how Rameshwaram not having an airport creates a kind of sunrise irony for us.
The sunrise in Rameswaram is magical. However, on the day you need to leave, you realize that Rameshwaram does not have an airport, and you will have to drive quite a distance to catch your flight home.
That bittersweet drive back, half asleep, with devotional songs on the radio, is something only repeat visitors truly understand.
Nevertheless, till Rameshwaram gets its own airport, Madurai, the home to the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple, remains the nearest airport to Rameshwaram. In this Dream and Travel Guide, I will talk about Madurai Airport and all other airports near Rameshwaram.
What Is The Nearest Airport To Rameshwaram? Know The Best Options
Madurai Airport, located approximately 177 km away, is the nearest airport to Rameshwaram. The travel time by road is close to 3 hours.
Madurai Airport is one of the busiest airports in Tamil Nadu, and according to a Times of India Report, it received 1,16,539 passengers in January 2025. These numbers were 45% more than in January 2024.
Furthermore, the Madurai Airport remains busy during the festive seasons of the year, starting from October to January. Also, early morning and evening timings, especially between 4 and 7 PM, are the busiest times of the day in the airport.
So, if you don’t get a ticket to fly to the Madurai Airport, you need to know your other options. Here is a detailed list.
| The Nearest Airport to Rameshwaram | Distance | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Madurai Airport | 177 Km | Around 3 Hours and 15 Minutes |
| Tuticorin Airport | 190 Km | Around 3 Hours and 10 Minutes |
| Tiruchirappalli International Airport | 227 Km | Close to 3 Hours and 45 Minutes |
| Trivandrum International Airport | 362 Km | Around 7 Hours and 30 Minutes |
| Coimbatore International Airport | 369 Km | Around 7 Hours and 10 Minutes |
Surprisingly, Kankesanturai Airport in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, is closer to Rameshwaram than Madurai Airport. It is located approximately 100 km away.
Anuradhapura Airport in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, is another airport near Rameshwaram, with a distance of around 165 km.
Moreover, although Tuticorin Airport is not the nearest to Rameshwaram, the travel time between these two places is actually shorter. So, it is the best airport for reaching Rameshwaram quickly.
How Can I Travel From Madurai Airport To Rameshwaram?
Here, I will discuss the transportation options from the nearest airport to Rameswaram. Pick the most convenient way.
1. How To Reach Rameshwaram From Madurai Airport By Train?
Two trains depart from Madurai Junction to Rameshwaram. Madurai Junction is located at a distance of 13 km from the Madurai Airport. The travel time for the same is around 30 minutes.
Nevertheless, here are the train details. (Source: IRCTC).
| Train Name | Available | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Ticket Price (INR) |
| AMRITHA EXP (16343) | Everyday | 9:55 AM | 12:45 PM | SL – 1503A – 5152A – 7201A – 1185 |
| OKHA RMM EXP (16734) | Thursday | 3:25 PM | 7:10 OM | SL – 1503A – 5152A – 720 |
Moreover, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has just launched a Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train Package. Known as the Rameswaram-Tirupati Dakshin Darshan Yatra, this package will cover all the major pilgrimage sites in South India.
This 9-Day and 10 Night journey will begin from Tirupati and will then take you to Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram. The journey will begin on 7th November 2025 and end on 16th November 2025.
The ticket prices for adults start at ₹18,040, and for children, the starting price is ₹16,890.
2. How To Reach Rameshwaram From Madurai Airport By Bus?
You can also travel from Madurai to Rameshwaram by bus. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates buses from the Mattuthavani Bus Stand, which is located at a distance of around 20 km from the Madurai Airport, and the travel time is close to 30 minutes.
Here are the details of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses from the Mattuthavani Bus Stand to Rameshwaram. (Source: TNSTC Official Website).
| Departure Time | Arrival Time | Ticket Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 7:55 AM | 12:10 PM | 135 |
| 9:25 AM | 1:40 PM | 131 |
| 10:32 AM | 2:47 PM | 175 |
| 11:45 AM | 4 PM | 135 |
| 1:15 PM | 5:30 PM | 131 |
| 2:25 PM | 6:40 PM | 176 |
| 3:31 PM | 7:46 PM | 135 |
| 4:25 PM | 8:40 PM | 175 |
| 4:43 PM | 8:58 PM | 135 |
| 5:02 PM | 9:17 PM | 176 |
| 8:00 PM | 12:15 AM | 131 |
| 9:42 PM | 1:57 AM | 131 |
| 10:50 PM | 3:05 PM | 131 |
3. How To Reach Rameshwaram From Madurai Airport By Car?
You will get taxi services from the airport, or book services such as “Madurai to Rameshwaram Taxi” online in advance for the commute.
For a one-way journey, the charges will be around INR 3500 to 8000. You can even book a Tempo Traveller at around INR 10000 if you are travelling with a big group.
Flying To The Nearest Airport To Rameshwaram? Know Which Cities Have Direct Flights To Madurai Airport?
The Madurai Airport receives direct flights from major Indian cities such as:
- Hyderabad
- Bangalore
- Chennai
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Bhubaneshwar
You will also get flights from Kolkata and Chandigarh to Madurai with a stop in between.
What Is The Nearest Airport To Rameshwaram? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the nearest airport to Rameshwaram.
Madurai Airport is the closest to Rameshwaram, and the travel time by train or road is around 3-4 hours.
However, the Trichy Airport is another major international airport close to Rameshwaram, and the travel time here is around 4 hours.
So, the Madurai Airport remains a better choice.
Yes, there are direct flight options from Chennai to Rameshwaram. Airlines such as Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo offer flight services on this route.
The travel time will be around 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. The ticket charges will be roughly around INR 4500.
Yes, you can travel to Rameshwaram from Tuticorin Airport by road. You can travel this 190 km distance by car, and the travel time is around 3 hours.
A private car or taxi charge from Tuticorin Airport to Rameshwaram will be between INR 4000 and INR 8000 for one-way travel, based on the vehicle you have chosen.
The Madurai Airport is the nearest airport to Rameshwaram with international flights. The domestic and international terminals of the Madurai Airport are integrated with dedicated sections for immigration, check-in, and security checks for international travelers.
No, foreigners cannot directly fly to Rameshwaram. They have to fly to the Madurai Airport first, and then they can take a train, a state bus, or hire a car/taxi to reach Rameshwaram.
Yes, the Tamil Nadu Government is planning an airport in Rameshwaram. The government authorities have already shortlisted places such as Keelakarai and Uchipulli.
The airport will be a 700-acre site and will have the capacity for planes such as Airbus A320.
