With stunning architecture dating back to the 16th century, Delhi has much to offer any visitor – Jama Masjid and the Red Fort are just some of the highlights – but there are also gardens, bazaars, temples and tombs that can fill weeks. as long as you can make your way through traffic and crowds. After exploring Delhi, you can head to another great city of India: Jaipur. Although this city is smaller than Delhi in terms of size, it still impresses. With two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Pink City, as Jaipur is called, boasts several palaces and forts. Together with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur forms the tourist circuit known as the golden triangle.
Ways to get from Delhi to Jaipur
New Delhi Traffic © Savvapanf Photo / Shutterstock.com
By road, the shortest distance from Delhi to Jaipur is 280 kilometers (175 miles), so if you are driving from one city to another it will take 4-5 hours depending on traffic. Many tourists decide to travel by car on their own and, after visiting Delhi and Jaipur, head towards the third city of the golden triangle: Agra. But the traffic can be quite bad and if you are unfamiliar with the roads you may prefer to take the public transport option.
Trains are very popular as there are many services between Delhi and Jaipur and it can be a very cheap option. There are also buses and flights that are more expensive, although still reasonably priced compared to air travel in other countries.
From Delhi to Jaipur by train
New Delhi Railway Station © Damian Pankowiec / Shutterstock.com
Let’s start with the trains from Delhi to Jaipur, which is usually the cheapest way to get from one city to another. Trains are also quite fast, with some buses an hour or two ahead, but that depends on the train service you choose. Please note that there are several train stations in Delhi, so make sure you choose the most convenient one so you don’t have to make a long journey to get there. The main railway station is New Delhi Railway Station which is near Paharganj as well as Old Delhi Railway Station and Delhi Sarai Rohilla Railway Station in North Delhi.
Throughout the day, you’ll have different options to choose from depending on the level of comfort you’re looking for and the amount you’re willing to spend. The cheapest tickets are second-class seats, which do not have air conditioning, so we recommend spending a little more to travel in a carriage that has air conditioning. There are also sleeping compartments even on trains that do not run at night. They are more expensive but you will have more room to move around and it can be a good option if you are traveling with family or friends and want to make the trip together. Most day trains cover the route in 4.5-6 hours.
Buses from Delhi to Jaipur
Buses are not necessarily cheaper than trains, nor do they take less time from Delhi to Jaipur than most trains, so why choose a bus? There are two well-known companies that offer services between these cities: Gujarat Travels and Rishabh Travels, both of which have sleeper buses. This means that the level of comfort should be quite high, in addition, the buses are air-conditioned. The service from Gujarat Travels is more expensive and depending on their timetables, the journey is longer, but if you choose to travel with Rishabh Travels, you will save money and may even find a cheaper seat than on the train.
After all, traveling from Delhi to Jaipur is quite similar by train and bus, both in terms of price and the services offered.
Flights from Delhi to Jaipur
Terminal 3 with nine mudras (hand gestures) at Leeds International Airport Indira Gandhi © Gritsana P / Shutterstock.com
The third option is to fly from Delhi to Jaipur. International Airport Indira Gandhi Airport is the busiest airport in India and one of the busiest in Asia. It can be easily reached from the city by public transport. There is an express train that runs from New Delhi metro station to Airport Terminal 3 metro station and also by metro to Terminal 1 as well as buses and taxis that will take you to any terminal.
In Jaipur, you will arrive at Jaipur International Airport which is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) south of the city. It is sometimes called Sanganer Airport because it is in the Sanganer district, which is something to consider when looking for flights.
There are five airlines that offer flights from Delhi to Jaipur, which is very good for tourists as the prices are quite affordable with the competition. The five airlines are Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet, and the flight takes about an hour. This means that flying from Delhi to Jaipur is undoubtedly the fastest option, and if you look at the prices, you’ll see that air travel is quite reasonable. Ticket prices can vary, so we advise you to check several different days and times before buying, as with a little flexibility you can save a lot of money. The cheapest flights can cost about the same as the most expensive trains, so it’s worth a bit of research if you want to save money and get to Jaipur quickly.
Choosing the best way to get from Delhi to Jaipur can be difficult as there is not much difference in price between trains, flights and buses. If you want to see more of India, you might be better off taking a train or bus. However, if you want to reach Jaipur in the shortest possible time, it is better to go by plane.