When you visit India, there is one world famous place you definitely don’t want to miss: the Taj Mahal. Located in the city of Agra, the Taj Mahal is as representative of India as the Statue of Liberty is to the United States, but it is not the only thing that can be visited in this city. The Agra Fort as well as the temples, tombs and parks add an extra to the visit. And why not head towards Jaipur from here? Known as the Pink City, Jaipur has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Jantar Mantar and Amer Fort. In addition, Jaipur also has many impressive places worth visiting and to this day it is still home to the former royal family. Agra and Jaipur are two of the cities that make up India’s famous Golden Triangle. The third city included in this tour is Delhi, so all these cities are among the top tourist destinations in the country. Read on for the best ways to get from Agra to Jaipur.
Options to travel from Agra to Jaipur
Jaipur is located almost immediately west of Agra, at a distance of 240 kilometers by road. Despite being a seemingly short distance, the journey isn’t exactly quick due to the state of the roads, so the buses don’t run as fast as one might expect. The bus is just one of the possible options to go from Agra to Jaipur, as you can also go by plane, train or taxi. The price varies considerably from one means of transport to another. Therefore, you should do some research on costs and schedules before making a decision. To make it a little easier, we have collected almost all the necessary information below.
Agra to Jaipur by bus
Let’s start with the bus from Agra to Jaipur as it is one of the cheapest ways to travel. Great if you want to watch your expenses a bit and don’t mind the journey taking longer than other options, because the bus journey from Agra to Jaipur takes about 5.5 hours. The good thing is that it is possible to travel overnight in a sleeper bus. That means it’s possible to lie down and rest in the knowledge that you’ve saved money compared to the cost of the flight or taxi.
Shrinath Travel Agency bus ticket can be booked online through the internet 12Go.Asia, where you can also see the results for the other available transport options. This way you can easily compare prices and timetables before making the reservation. The AC sleeper bus usually has an onboard bathroom and beds that recline fully. So if it is not difficult for you to fall asleep almost anywhere, you will probably sleep for a few hours on the bus from Agra to Jaipur.
This particular bus leaves the center of Agra at 5 PM and almost reaches the heart of Jaipur at 10:30 PM. As you can see, the departure and arrival times are reasonable, as you will not arrive in Jaipur too late and you will have time to find your hotel before the end of the day.
Agra to Jaipur by train
Agra Railway Station © Damian Pankowiec / Shutterstock.com
Buses are usually the cheapest mode of transport, but this is not always the case in India. Indian Railways operates trains all over the country and sells tickets at very cheap prices as it is a very popular mode of transport among locals and tourists. There are several ticket options to travel from Agra to Jaipur, so you can choose the level of comfort you want depending on your budget.
The cheapest ticket is the standard Sleeper Class, which is a few euros cheaper than the bus. These bunk beds are very flimsy and not very padded, so it’s not the most comfortable option. However, depending on the train you board, the journey need not be very long. The duration of the train from Agra to Jaipur varies between 4 hours 10 minutes and 6 hours 25 minutes. There are departures throughout the day from 5am.
You can save a little more money if you travel in a second class seat. There is no air conditioning in these carriages (also no air conditioning in the Sleeper Class), so it can be too hot. Therefore, it may be worth paying a little more to enjoy air conditioning during the trip. Chair Class carriages are air-conditioned and there are other sleeping options that have this feature as well. As you can see there is a lot to choose from.
You can book Indian Railway tickets for train from Agra to Jaipur through 12Go. Please note that the trains are not very reliable in terms of punctuality. They are often delayed and can take longer to reach their destination, something to consider when deciding which train to take.
Flights from Agra to Jaipur
Air India uses a propeller plane for short-haul domestic flights, particularly the ATR 72 in the background © Nicolas Economou / Shutterstock.com
The plane is usually the most expensive means of transportation to go from one place to another. Although flights from Agra to Jaipur are more expensive than buses and trains, they are reasonably priced. Therefore, flying is a viable option for tourists, even those on a budget. The biggest advantage of the flight is that it takes only 55 minutes from Agra to Jaipur with Air India.
The only inconvenience of flying is the journey to the airport and the transfer to the city. In Agra, the Kheria Airport is a short distance from the city. However, the Sanganeer Airport in Jaipur is further from the center and you have to consider the additional costs of getting to the city. Nevertheless, flying is still the fastest option to get from Agra to Jaipur.
Agra to Jaipur by taxi
A final option, as long as money is no object and you don’t want to fly, is to take a taxi from Agra to Jaipur. This is undoubtedly the most expensive option, but it offers a lot of flexibility as the taxi can pick you up from anywhere in Agra and take you to your hotel in Jaipur. The journey takes between 4.5 and 5.5 hours and a fixed amount is paid for the service. To get a better price, you can travel with other passengers and split the cost between you all.
As you can see, there are many transportation options to travel from Agra to Jaipur. You can save money if you enjoy the scenery by bus or train. If you prefer to travel in the shortest possible time, you can also go by plane, although the ticket is more expensive. Finally, if you are looking for flexibility, it is best to go from Agra to Jaipur by private taxi.