A Travelling Professor’s Calm Way In
There are journeys that excite you.
And then there are journeys that settle you.
My trip to Thanjavur began with the latter.
I chose to travel from Coimbatore to Thanjavur by train — not because it was the fastest option, but because it felt right for the way I wanted to arrive.
✔️Slowly.
✔️Attentively.
✔️Without expectations.
The Train I Took:
Train: 12084 Jan Shatabdi Express
Departure: 7:15 AM from Coimbatore Junction
Arrival: Around 12:00 PM at Thanjavur
Journey Time: Just under 5 hours
Class: AC Chair Car (CC)
Ticket Cost: ₹570.85
It was Pongal holiday season, so the coach was completely full with passengers boarding at various stations on the way.
On the way the train lost its momentum. Despite that, the train reached on time — Indian Standard Time approved.
Coach Comfort & Onboard Experience:
I got an aisle seat, which meant no dramatic window views — but plenty of human ones.
The Chair Car was comfortable:
✔️Good leg space (honestly better than some premium trains)
✔️Clean coach
✔️Calm early-morning energy
The pantry staff regularly moved through the coach, selling:
Tea and coffee
Snacks
Water bottles
Even ice cream (yes, in AC coach😄)
👉Charging points were available, though placed closer to the window side — so aisle-seat travellers need to get a little creative (overhead luggage rack works surprisingly well).
So, if you have an aisle seat charging your smartphone can be a struggle.
Most passengers were either:
Sleeping
Scrolling
Or quietly minding their own journeys
I spent my time switching between scenery and people-watching — faces tell stories when landscapes disappear.
Why I Chose Train Over Bus?
I’ve travelled by bus before — day and night.
Buses have their own vibe.
They work for some moods.
But for this trip, I wanted something that felt larger than life.
The train gave me:
Physical comfort
Mental spaciousness
Time to transition into a new place
This Route is Ideal for:
👉Solo travellers
👉Senior citizens
👉Families with children
👉First-time Tamil Nadu visitors
I could see little children enjoying the journey just as much as elderly passengers resting peacefully.
A Journey as Transition, Not Transport
This wasn’t just about getting from Point A to Point B.
I was travelling solo.
With a confirmed ticket.
An IRCTC retiring room already booked.
That changes everything.
✔️The body relaxes.
✔️The mind stops rushing.
✔️You start arriving even before you arrive.
I took things slowly.
Observed more.
Expected less.
That’s the best way to enter a place like Thanjavur.
Arrival at Thanjavur Railway Station:
Thanjavur station is:
Simple
Not too big
Easy to navigate
The arrival felt peaceful, not overwhelming.
Outside the station:
Autos are available just outside the railway station
Share autos are not available easily
City buses stop is there just outside the railway station and if you ask around you can catch the right bus for your destination
One Thing to Note:
Auto drivers often quote a minimum fare of ₹100.
With polite negotiation, this can usually come down to ₹70–₹80, depending on distance and timing.
Food Near the Station:
There are many small eateries outside the station.
But if you want:
A relaxed meal
Clean seating
Consistent taste
There’s a reliable option just a stone’s throw away:
Ariya Bhavan.
It’s an easy first stop before heading deeper into the city.
Getting to the Big Temple:
👉Walkable for solo travellers with decent stamina (be mindful of the sun)
👉Auto or bus recommended for families and elderly travellers
👉Distances are manageable — Thanjavur doesn’t overwhelm you with scale.
Final Recommendation:
This train journey is perfect for anyone who wants to:
✔️Arrive calm, not rushed
✔️Observe before exploring
✔️Let the place introduce itself slowly
If you enjoy journeys that feel like a gentle handover from one life to another,
this is a very good way to enter Thanjavur.
Sometimes, the way you arrive
decides how deeply you experience a place.
And this train lets you arrive…
ready.
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