Delhi to Kolkata Distance: Flights, Trains and Route Guide

Kolkata, the City of Joy and the former British capital of India, once known as Calcutta, is one of the country's great cultural cities, a place of grand colonial architecture, literature, art and legendary Bengali food and it lies far to the east of Delhi across the vast Ganges plains. At around 1,500 km apart, the two cities are a long way from each other, so choosing the right way to travel matters. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers the Delhi to Kolkata distance in both directions, the fastest flights and trains, the road route and stops worth making and what to see in Kolkata, useful for anyone planning the journey, often as part of a wider North India trip on a Golden Triangle tour.

I was born in Delhi and in more than 11 years arranging North India trips for Experience My India I have helped many travellers plan journeys across the country, from the Golden Triangle to the far east. Here is the clear, practical guide.

Delhi to Kolkata at a glance

How far is Delhi to Kolkata by road?

Delhi to Kolkata is about 1,476 to 1,520 km and takes roughly 23 to 25 hours by road, with a few route options.

The journey runs east across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, following the broad line of the Ganga and even with the new expressways it is a very long haul across the width of northern India. The recently opened stretches of the Ganga Expressway have shortened the western part of the drive, but much of the eastern section still runs on national highways through busy towns.

How far is Kolkata to Delhi by road?

Kolkata to Delhi is about 1,479 to 1,528 km, taking a similar time in reverse.

Either way, the road journey is around 24 hours of driving, so it is a two to three-day trip by car with overnight stops, not a single day, which is why the great majority of travellers choose to fly or take the train instead.

What is the fastest way from Delhi to Kolkata?

For almost everyone, the answer is to fly. Frequent daily flights connect Delhi with Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, taking only about two hours fifteen minutes in the air. Given that the road journey is around 24 hours and the train around 17, flying is by far the quickest and most practical option and it is how the vast majority of travellers make this trip. Numerous airlines operate the route, so fares are competitive and there is plenty of choice of timings throughout the day.

The airport is well connected to the city centre by taxi and app cabs, about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, so you can leave Delhi in the morning and be exploring Kolkata the same afternoon, with your whole trip freed up for the destination rather than the journey.

Is there a train from Delhi to Kolkata?

Yes and the train is a classic and popular way to make this journey. Delhi and Kolkata are connected by many trains, including some of India's most famous:

• Rajdhani Express: the premium fast train covers the route in around 17 hours, a comfortable overnight journey in air-conditioned classes with meals included and one of the most popular ways to travel between the two cities.

• Duronto and other express trains: several other fast and overnight trains run between the two cities, with a wide range of classes and fares from budget sleeper to premium AC, so there is something for every traveller.

• The experience: an overnight train across the Ganges plains, watching the landscape and stations of North India roll by, is a memorable journey in itself and Kolkata's Howrah and Sealdah stations are among the busiest, grandest and most atmospheric in the country.

The train is a fine choice for those who enjoy the journey and want to save on a flight, arriving rested the next day and it is worth booking a few weeks ahead, as the popular trains fill up quickly.

Is Delhi to Kolkata a good road trip?

Only for the truly dedicated. At around 1,500 km and 24 hours of driving, the Delhi to Kolkata road journey is a serious undertaking, best spread over two or three days with overnight stops and it is far from the most practical way to travel between the two cities.

That said, for those who love a long road trip, the route east passes through some of India's most remarkable places, so it can be turned into a grand journey rather than just a transfer. Spread over several days, with stops at the Taj Mahal, the sacred ghats of Varanasi and the confluence at Prayagraj, it becomes a genuine cultural odyssey across the Ganges heartland. The modern expressways, including the Ganga Expressway, have made the drive smoother than it once was, but it remains a marathon of around 1,500 km, so unless the journey itself is the point, most travellers are far better off flying or taking the train. If you do drive, plan your overnight stops carefully, start each day early and do not try to cover too much in one go.

Stops worth making on a road trip

If you do drive or break the journey into stages, the road east from Delhi passes some of the finest sights in all of India, so the long transfer can become a highlight-filled tour of the north:

• Agra: the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, only a few hours from Delhi, an essential first stop and a wonder of the world, covered in our things to do in Agra guide.

• Prayagraj: the holy city at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati and home of the Kumbh Mela, covered in our Delhi to Prayagraj distance guide.

• Varanasi: the spiritual capital of India on the banks of the Ganga, with its ghats and evening aarti, a wonderful and moving stop, covered in our Delhi to Varanasi distance guide.

• Bodh Gaya and beyond: in Bihar, the great Buddhist site where the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, before the road continues through Jharkhand and into Bengal.

Together they can turn the long transfer into a memorable tour of North India's heritage and faith.

Where is Kolkata and what makes it special?

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, sits on the east bank of the Hooghly river, a distributary of the Ganga, in eastern India. Once the capital of British India until 1911, it is a city of grand colonial architecture, rich culture, intellectual and literary life and warm, food-loving people and it is affectionately known as the City of Joy. It has produced Nobel laureates, poets, filmmakers and revolutionaries and its trams, coffee houses and bookshops give it a character all its own, quite different from the rest of India.

The highlights are wonderful and varied, blending grand colonial monuments, revered temples and a living culture found nowhere else in India:

•  Victoria Memorial: the magnificent white-marble monument set in sweeping gardens, built in memory of Queen Victoria and now a museum, the city's most famous and photographed landmark.

• Howrah Bridge: the iconic cantilever bridge over the Hooghly river, one of the busiest in the world and an enduring symbol of Kolkata, best seen at dusk.

• Kalighat and Dakshineswar: two of the city's most revered temples, dedicated to the goddess Kali, the former an ancient shrine and Shakti Peeth, the latter a beautiful riverside temple linked to the saint Ramakrishna.

• The colonial heart: the grand old buildings around BBD Bagh, once Dalhousie Square, the vast Indian Museum, the oldest in India, St Paul's Cathedral and the tram-lined streets that recall the city's imperial past.

• Park Street and New Market: for dining, shopping and the city's famous cafe, sweet and food culture, especially lively around Christmas and the New Year.

• The riverfront and the ghats: the Hooghly riverbank, the Princep Ghat and boat rides, a lovely way to see the city from the water.

Kolkata is a city to be savoured slowly, for its heritage and grand old architecture, its art, cinema and literature, its trams and coffee houses and above all its incomparable Bengali food and sweets, from fish curries and kathi rolls to rosogolla and mishti doi. Give it a few days and it will win you over, revealing a soul and warmth that few Indian cities can match.

When is the best time to visit Kolkata?

The best time to visit Kolkata is October to March, when the weather is pleasant and cool for exploring the city on foot, by tram or by taxi. The most spectacular time is during Durga Puja, usually in September or October, when the whole city transforms into a joyous festival of elaborate, artistic pandals, lights, music and celebration, one of the greatest and most creative festivals in India, though also the busiest, when accommodation and transport must be booked far ahead.

Summers, from April to June, are hot and very humid and the monsoon, from June to September, brings heavy rain and occasional flooding, so the cooler winter months are the most comfortable for a visit, apart from the special magic of Durga Puja. Christmas and New Year are also a lovely, festive time in this famously cosmopolitan city.

How we can help with your North India trip

While Kolkata lies beyond our core Golden Triangle region, the western part of the Delhi to Kolkata route runs right through the places we know best, so we can plan that leg of your journey beautifully. Many travellers combine the classic Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and a Varanasi visit, with an onward flight or train to Kolkata for a fuller taste of North and East India, seeing the Mughal wonders, the sacred Ganga and the cultural capital of the east in one grand trip.

Use our things to do in Delhi guide to enjoy the capital before you set off and our nearby places to visit in Delhi guide for getaways around the city. We can handle the flights, trains, stays and guiding for the North India part of your trip, leaving you free to enjoy the journey and point you to the best of Kolkata for the eastern leg.

Travel tips for Delhi to Kolkata

• Fly for the fastest trip, about 2 hours 15 minutes in the air.

• Take the Rajdhani or another express train, around 17 hours, for comfort and value.

• Drive only if you love a long road trip, over two or three days.

• Break a road journey at Agra, Varanasi or Prayagraj on the way.

• Do not miss the Victoria Memorial and the Bengali food in Kolkata.

• Visit October to March or during Durga Puja for the festival.

Want a North India trip, from the Golden Triangle to Varanasi and on to Kolkata, planned end to end? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

Travelling across North India is easiest when the flights, trains, transfers and stays are all handled and that is what we do for the western half of a Delhi to Kolkata journey, the Golden Triangle and Varanasi sorted, with expert guiding, so you enjoy the journey rather than the planning.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. Explore the classic circuit with our Golden Triangle tours or see the capital with our Delhi day tour. We can build a wider journey with our Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

Related guides

• Delhi to Varanasi bullet train: the proposed high-speed rail on the eastern corridor.

• New Delhi tour: the capital's imperial landmarks.

• Old Delhi tour: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.

• Sunrise Taj tour: the Taj Mahal at its most beautiful.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.