About Vellore
Vellore is a historic and economically vibrant district in northern Tamil Nadu, situated on the banks of the Palar River. Known as the "Fort City", it is a major hub for world-class healthcare, higher education, and finished leather production, making it a prominent medical and educational epicenter.
The district is famous for the 16th-century Vellore Fort, which houses the intricately carved Jalakandeswarar Temple, a mosque, and a church. It is also historically significant as the site of the 1806 Vellore Mutiny—the first major uprising against British rule in India.
Vellore is home to the world-renowned Christian Medical College (CMC) and the highly-ranked Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT).
It is one of the top exporters of finished leather goods in India, providing a major economic backbone for the region.
Beyond the fort, popular attractions include the Sripuram Golden Temple, Amirthi Zoological Park, and the nearby Yelagiri Hills.
Explore
A 16th-century granite marvel built by Vijayanagara kings. Inside its massive walls, you will find the Jalakandeswarar Temple, known for its intricate carvings, and the ASI Government Museum.
Located in Tirumalaikodi (10 km from the city center), this massive spiritual complex features a star-shaped path and is gilded with over 1,500 kg of pure gold.
Located 25 km from Vellore, this sanctuary at the base of the Palamathi Hills is great for nature walks and spotting wildlife.
An ancient 14th-century hill shrine located on the Chennai-Bangalore highway, accessible via a 150-step climb.
Travel Guide
The VIT campus is located on a 372 acre site on the Ranipet – Katpadi Road. It is 2½ hours drive from Chennai by Road and 4 hours from Bangalore. Both the cities are well connected by road, rail and air routes with all parts of the country and also have international airports. The airport nearest to Vellore is in Chennai. If you choose to travel by train, you should buy your ticket to Katpadi Railway Station which is just 3 km away from VIT. Buses from Chennai will bring you right to the centre of the town of Vellore from where you can reach VIT which is about 5 km from the bus stand.
Auto Rickshaws (on share basis) are easily available from Katpadi Junction Railway station and Vellore new bus stand. Government Buses will fly between Chittoor bus stop to VIT. You could also hire exclusive auto rickshaws to reach VIT.
If you arrived at Chennai by air, you may take a taxi to the Central Railway Station, about 20 km away. The taxi fare ranges from Rs.200 to Rs.250. All west-bound trains from Chennai go via Katpadi Junction Railway Station to several destinations such as Bangalore, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, etc. Travel time is approximately 2 ½ hours; make sure you buy your ticket to Katpadi which is the railway station that serves Vellore town. For more details about train schedules from Chennai to Katpadi
View Train ScheduleAfter having alighted at Katpadi Junction Railway Station, take an auto rickshaw to VIT campus, a 3 km drive.
If you wish, you may take a taxi directly to VIT, Vellore, from the Chennai airport. It could cost you aroundRs. 3,500 depending upon the type of car you hire. The distance is approximately 130 km; travel time is about 2 ½ hours.