Delhi to Mumbai Distance: Flights, Trains and Route Guide

Mumbai, India's financial capital and the home of Bollywood, lies far to the southwest of Delhi and the two great cities are connected by air, rail and the new Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. At around 1,400 km apart, they are a long way from each other, so choosing the right way to travel matters and there has never been more choice than now, with the game-changing expressway transforming the road journey. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers the Delhi to Mumbai distance in both directions, the fastest flights and trains, the road route and the expressway and what to see in Mumbai, 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. Here is the clear, practical guide.

Delhi to Mumbai at a glance

How far is Delhi to Mumbai by road?

Delhi to Mumbai is about 1,406 to 1,497 km and takes roughly 24 hours by road, with a few route options.

The journey runs southwest through Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and the new expressway is transforming it.

How far is Mumbai to Delhi by road?

Mumbai to Delhi is about 1,361 to 1,484 km, taking a similar time in reverse.

Either way, the road journey has been around 24 hours, though the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is bringing this down considerably as it opens.

What is the fastest way from Delhi to Mumbai?

For almost everyone, the answer is to fly. Delhi to Mumbai is the busiest air route in India, with very frequent flights throughout the day, taking only about two hours ten minutes in the air. Given that the road journey is around 24 hours and the train around 16, flying is by far the quickest and most practical option and it is how the vast majority of travellers make this trip.

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is well connected to the city by taxi, app cabs and the metro, so you can leave Delhi in the morning and be in Mumbai by lunch, with your whole trip freed up for the destination. With so many airlines and flights on this route, fares are competitive and there is a departure to suit almost any schedule, making the flight the obvious choice for business and leisure travellers alike.

Is there a train from Delhi to Mumbai?

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

• Rajdhani Express: the premium fast train covers the route in around 16 hours, a comfortable overnight journey in air-conditioned classes with meals.

• August Kranti and other expresses: several other fast and overnight trains run between the two cities, in a wide range of classes and fares.

• The experience: an overnight train through Rajasthan and Gujarat is a memorable journey and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Bandra and Mumbai Central stations are historic landmarks in themselves.

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

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: a game-changer

The biggest story for this route is the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway or NE4, India's longest expressway, an eight-lane, access-controlled highway of around 1,386 km connecting the two cities across six states, from the Sohna corridor near Delhi through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to Mumbai.

Here is where it stands and why it matters:

• Mostly operational: large stretches are already open and in use, including sections through Haryana, Rajasthan and beyond and the corridor is largely complete, with the final sections opening progressively.

• A dramatically faster drive: designed for speeds of up to 120 km/h and free of traffic signals and town congestion, the full expressway is expected to cut the Delhi to Mumbai drive from around 24 hours to roughly 12 hours once every section is open.

• Through Rajasthan: the expressway runs through Rajasthan via Dausa and Kota, near the Ranthambore region, with a spur connecting Jaipur, so it passes close to places we know well.

• Modern amenities: the road features barrier-free electronic tolling and numerous wayside amenities with fuel, food and rest stops.

As the expressway completes, the road journey is getting much faster, so check the latest open sections and current drive time before a road trip, as it is changing quickly. When the whole corridor is open, it will be one of the fastest and smoothest long-distance drives in India and it is already transforming travel and logistics across the six states it crosses. It is worth noting that even the current, partly open expressway has made much of the drive far quicker and more comfortable than the old NH48 route through crowded towns.

Is Delhi to Mumbai a good road trip?

It is becoming one. Historically, at around 1,400 km and 24 hours, the Delhi to Mumbai drive was a serious multi-day undertaking, best only for dedicated road-trippers. The new expressway is changing that and as it fully opens the drive will become far quicker and more comfortable.

Even so, for most travellers a flight remains the sensible choice and the road trip is best for those who want to enjoy the journey and the places along the way rather than simply get there quickly. Broken into stages over two or three days, the route through Rajasthan and beyond can be turned into a rewarding trip rather than just a transfer, taking in the Pink City, a tiger safari and the landscapes of western India as you go.

Stops worth making on a road trip

If you do drive, the route southwest from Delhi passes some wonderful places, especially in Rajasthan:

• Jaipur: The Pink City is close to the expressway via its Jaipur spur, an essential Rajasthan stop, covered in our things to do in Jaipur guide.

• Ranthambore: the famous tiger reserve lies near the expressway's route through Rajasthan, covered in our Jaipur to Ranthambore distance guide.

• Udaipur and Rajasthan: the City of Lakes and the rest of Rajasthan are within reach off the route, covered in our Delhi to Udaipur distance guide, which uses the same NE4 expressway.

• Kota, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat: the road continues through Kota, the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh and the cities of Gujarat like Vadodara and Surat, before reaching Mumbai.

Together they can turn the long transfer into a memorable journey across western India.

Where is Mumbai and what makes it special?

Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, sits on India's west coast on the Arabian Sea, spread across a chain of once-separate islands now joined into one great city. It is the country's financial and commercial capital, the home of the Hindi film industry and India's most cosmopolitan, fast-paced and glamorous city, a place of dreams and hustle where fortunes are made and where people from every corner of India come to build a life. Its grand colonial architecture, its Art Deco seafront and its energy make it unlike anywhere else in the country.

The highlights are many and varied, from grand colonial monuments to sea views, temples and the glamour of the film world:

• The Gateway of India: the grand colonial-era basalt arch on the waterfront at Apollo Bunder, built to commemorate a royal visit, Mumbai's most famous landmark and the departure point for Elephanta ferries.

• Marine Drive: the sweeping curved seafront promenade along the Arabian Sea, known as the Queen's Necklace for the way its lights sparkle at night, perfect for an evening stroll.

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus: the magnificent Victorian-Gothic railway station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most beautiful stations, still bustling with commuters.

• Elephanta Caves: the ancient rock-cut Shiva cave temples on an island in the harbour, a World Heritage Site reached by a scenic boat ride.

• Bollywood and the beaches: Film City and the studios that power the Hindi film industry and the lively Juhu and Girgaon Chowpatty beaches with their street food and sunsets.

• Colaba, Bandra and the markets: the colonial Colaba causeway, trendy, cafe-filled Bandra, the Siddhivinayak and Haji Ali shrines and the bustling bazaars and street food that give the city its flavour.

Mumbai is a city that never sleeps and it rewards a few days spent soaking up its energy, its architecture, its sea views and its incredible food.

When is the best time to visit Mumbai?

The best time to visit Mumbai is October to March, when the weather is pleasant and relatively cool and dry for exploring the city and its coast. The winter months are ideal for sightseeing, the beaches and the seafront.

Summers, from April to June, are hot and very humid on the coast and the monsoon, from June to September, brings heavy, dramatic rain that can flood parts of the city, though it has its own atmosphere, so the cooler, drier winter months are by far the most comfortable for a visit. If you enjoy festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi, in late summer, is Mumbai's grandest celebration, filling the streets and the sea with colour.

How we can help with your trip

While Mumbai lies well beyond our core Golden Triangle region, the route between Delhi and Mumbai runs right through Rajasthan, which we know intimately, so we can plan that leg of your journey beautifully. Many travellers combine the classic Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and the wider Rajasthan of Ranthambore and Udaipur, with an onward flight to Mumbai for a fuller taste of the country.

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 and Rajasthan part of your trip, leaving you free to enjoy the journey.

Travel tips for Delhi to Mumbai

• Fly for the fastest trip, about 2 hours 10 minutes on the busiest air route in India.

• Take the Rajdhani or another express train, around 16 hours, for comfort and value.

• Follow the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway progress, as it is cutting the drive sharply.

• Break a road journey at Jaipur, Ranthambore or in Gujarat on the way.

• Do not miss the Gateway of India and Marine Drive in Mumbai.

• Visit October to March, avoiding the hot, humid summer and heavy monsoon.

Want a North India and Rajasthan trip, with an onward flight to Mumbai, planned end to end? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

Travelling across India is easiest when the flights, trains, transfers and stays are all handled and that is what we do for the North India and Rajasthan half of a Delhi to Mumbai journey, the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan 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 Kolkata distance: the long journey east to the City of Joy.

• 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.