Along the Palar valley
The road runs west from Kanchipuram through the Palar valley's fields and small towns, past the old Nawabi town of Arcot and the leather centres of the area, to Vellore. At about 69 km, the drive is short; packing, the narrow streets at the Kanchipuram end and parking at the Vellore end decide the day.
Leaving Kanchipuram
Homes on the temple and weavers' streets may need a smaller vehicle to shuttle goods to the truck; colonies on the main roads are easier. Silk sarees should be folded in cotton and packed in sealed cartons, and looms dismantled and labelled by someone who knows them.
Arriving in Vellore
From the east, the truck reaches Sathuvachari and the colonies along the highway first. Vellore's centre, around the fort, the old bus stand, Long Bazaar and the streets near the big medical college hospital, is crowded with patients, families and shops, and parking is hard. Gandhi Nagar, Bagayam and Thottapalayam are quieter, and Katpadi, across the Palar, has the railway junction and a large university's student housing. Tell the mover the exact address.
Moving for treatment or study
Many families move to Vellore to be near the hospital during long treatment, and many students move to its university and colleges. A short-term flat or a hostel room usually needs only a few-items move. If you're moving for treatment, ask the mover for a date that fits your appointments and for help placing furniture.
Heat and the monsoon
Vellore is one of the hottest towns in Tamil Nadu from about April to June, so load at dawn and keep candles, cosmetics, medicines and electronics in your own vehicle. The north-east monsoon, roughly October to December, brings heavy spells to both towns.
December to February is usually the most comfortable window.
Festivals and dates
Kanchipuram's temple festivals and Vellore's festivals at the Jalakandeswarar temple in the fort and the golden temple nearby bring crowds, and Pongal and Deepavali keep crews busy. Choose a date clear of these if you can.
Leather, silk and business goods
The Vellore area is a leather and footwear centre, and Kanchipuram a silk town. If you're moving stock, samples, looms or tools as well as household goods, keep them on a separate list with their own paperwork, and check whether the risk coverage includes business goods. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Packing for a short move
A short route still needs proper packing. Ask for wooden furniture to be wrapped in blankets with corner protection, brass lamps and idols wrapped individually and packed upright, and heavy cartons loaded low.
Short stays near the hospital
Families moving to Vellore for a long course of treatment often rent a furnished or part-furnished flat near the hospital for a few months. Bring only what you'll use, keep medical files and medicines in your own bag, and ask the mover whether the rest of the household can be stored until you know how long you'll stay.
Settling in
Plan fans or cooling for Vellore's heat, find out how water and power backup work, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Tamil is spoken at both ends.