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Getting There by Air
The national airline for is Air India (AI) (website: www.airindia.com). The other national airline is Indian Airlines (website: www.indian-airlines.nic.in). There are also new commercial airlines adding international destinations to their schedules including Jet Airways (website: www.jetairways.com) and Air Sahara (website: www.airsahara.org).
Approximate Flight Times
From London to Delhi is 8 hours, to Kolkata (Calcutta) is 9 hours 45 minutes; to Chennai (Madras) is 11 hours, and to Mumbai (Bombay) is 8 hours 30 minutes. From New York to Delhi is 15 hours 30 minutes.
Main Airports
New Delhi (DEL) (Indira Gandhi International) is 23km (14 miles) south of the city (journey time - 45 minutes). To/from the airport: There are coach, bus and taxi services to the city. Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, post office, restaurants and car hire.
Mumbai (BOM) (Chhatrapati Shivaji International) is 35km (22 miles) north of the city (journey time - 50 to 75 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxi and bus services go to the city. There is also a railway system connecting with the Metro rail system. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, post office, restaurant and shops.
Kolkata (Calcutta) (CCU) (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International) is 20km (13 miles) northeast of the city (journey time - 40 to 70 minutes). To/from the airport: There is a 24-hour coach service to Indian Airlines' city office and major hotels. Taxi services go to the city. Facilities: Post office, bank, bars, duty-free shops and restaurants.
Chennai (MAA) (Madras International) is 14km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time - 20 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available. There is a train regularly throughout the day. Facilities: Money exchange facilities, tourist information offices and hotel reservation services.
Departure Tax
Mumbai (BOM) (Chhatrapati Shivaji International) is 35km (22 miles) north of the city (journey time - 50 to 75 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxi and bus services go to the city. There is also a railway system connecting with the Metro rail system. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, post office, restaurant and shops.
Kolkata (Calcutta) (CCU) (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International) is 20km (13 miles) northeast of the city (journey time - 40 to 70 minutes). To/from the airport: There is a 24-hour coach service to Indian Airlines' city office and major hotels. Taxi services go to the city. Facilities: Post office, bank, bars, duty-free shops and restaurants.
Chennai (MAA) (Madras International) is 14km (9 miles) southwest of the city (travel time - 20 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available. There is a train regularly throughout the day. Facilities: Money exchange facilities, tourist information offices and hotel reservation services.
None.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Calicut, Kochi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Panaji (Goa) and Rameswaram (the main departure point for the sea crossing to Sri Lanka; passenger services are presently suspended owing to the political situation in Sri Lanka).
Indian ports are also served by several international shipping companies and several cruise lines. There are, however, no regular passenger liners operating to South-East Asia.
Departure tax: Seaports levy the following departure tax: Rp500 (for journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka); Rp750 (all other destinations).
Indian ports are also served by several international shipping companies and several cruise lines. There are, however, no regular passenger liners operating to South-East Asia.
Departure tax: Seaports levy the following departure tax: Rp500 (for journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka); Rp750 (all other destinations).
Getting There by Rail
This section gives details of the major overland routes to neighbouring countries (where frontiers are open); in most cases these will involve road as well as rail travel. Details should be checked with Indiatourism as they may be subject to change (see Contact Addresses).
Connections to Pakistan: All travel is advised against in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan other than across the international border at Wagah. Approaching the border away from the official crossing point could be dangerous.
Connections to Nepal: The most practical and popular route to Nepal is by train to Raxaul (Bihar) and then by bus to Kathmandu or by train to Gorakphur (or by bus if coming from Varanasi) and then by bus to Kathmandu crossing the border at Sunauli; also, by train to Nantanwa (UP) and then by bus to Kathmandu/Pokhara, or Bhairawa to Lumbini for Pokhara. It is also possible to make the crossing from Darjeeling by bus to Kathmandu across the southern lowlands.
Connections to Bhutan: The best way of reaching Bhutan is by train to Siliguri, then bus to Phuntsholing. There is also an airlink from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Paro by Druk Air.
Connections to Bangladesh: The train link between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Dhaka was finally reopened in April 2008 after four decades out of service. Another route is from Darjeeling via Siliguri, then train or bus from Jalpaiguri to Haldibari.
Currently, no land frontiers are open between India and Myanmar or India and China (PR).
Connections to Pakistan: All travel is advised against in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan other than across the international border at Wagah. Approaching the border away from the official crossing point could be dangerous.
Connections to Nepal: The most practical and popular route to Nepal is by train to Raxaul (Bihar) and then by bus to Kathmandu or by train to Gorakphur (or by bus if coming from Varanasi) and then by bus to Kathmandu crossing the border at Sunauli; also, by train to Nantanwa (UP) and then by bus to Kathmandu/Pokhara, or Bhairawa to Lumbini for Pokhara. It is also possible to make the crossing from Darjeeling by bus to Kathmandu across the southern lowlands.
Connections to Bhutan: The best way of reaching Bhutan is by train to Siliguri, then bus to Phuntsholing. There is also an airlink from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Paro by Druk Air.
Connections to Bangladesh: The train link between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Dhaka was finally reopened in April 2008 after four decades out of service. Another route is from Darjeeling via Siliguri, then train or bus from Jalpaiguri to Haldibari.
Currently, no land frontiers are open between India and Myanmar or India and China (PR).
Getting There by Road
Of late, the overland route from Europe to India has become very popular, but travellers should have accurate information about border crossings, visa requirements and political situations en route. The most popular border crossings into India are Sunauli (for Delhi and northwest India), Birganj (for Kolkata (Calcutta) and east India) and Kakarbhitta (for Darjeeling). Several adventure holiday companies arrange overland tours and buses to India.
A bus service operates between Lahore (Pakistan) and New Delhi. The journey takes roughly 10 hours. For information on this and other overland routes to neighbouring countries, contact the India tourism office (see Contact Addresses).
A bus service operates between Lahore (Pakistan) and New Delhi. The journey takes roughly 10 hours. For information on this and other overland routes to neighbouring countries, contact the India tourism office (see Contact Addresses).
