New Delhi To Rishikesh - Plane Or Train?

[Isafab]

Since my flight from the US would most likely arrive in New Delhi, and I want to get to Rishikesh, I have a couple of choices. I do not want to drive, so that leaves the train to Haridwar or I can take another flight to Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun.

Is either of these options better than the other. Do you have other suggestions?

 

[Manish Petwal]

Depends on the amount of time and money you want to spend on the journey. Jolly Grant airport is 15 KMs from Rishikesh and you will have to hire a cab to come to Rishikesh as there are limited public transportation facilities. The taxi will charge you another 700 Rs and you might face difficulty finding one if you arrive at the airport late in the evening, after 10 pm.
Another option is to use a bus service from Kashmiri Gate ISBT in Delhi. There is an AC bus service known as JANRATH by U.P. Transport ( Public transport service). It will cost you 350 Rs and will drop you to ISBT Rishikesh. The travel time in the bus is around 7 -8 hours. You can also check out the public Volvo bus services.

There are no direct train routes from Delhi to Rishikesh and you need to alight at Haridwar junction and take a bus to Rishikesh from there.
Hope it helps.

 

[jnorth88]

I like the trains because they are a nice adventure in and of themselves. But they take a lot longer. If time is an issue, or trains are not your thing, go by plane. That will get you where you need to go faster, giving you more time at your destination. It really is just a matter of how long you are willing to spend on travel, since the costs are not too different.

 

[Chahal]

Going from Delhi to Haridwar by road and then another 10-12 kilometres on to Rishikesh is not a bad idea at all. Roads these days are pretty good. Take a taxi or an air-conditioned bus from the ISBT and it should take less than five hours to get to Rishikesh if you leave Delhi early in the morning.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello, @Isafab! Welcome to the forum!

You have many transportation options from New Delhi to Rishikesh:

1. Airplane - This is the fastest and most convenient option. Here are some flights from New Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun:

• IndiGo - This airline has three flights daily departing from Delhi to Dehradun. Timings are: 11:20, 13:00 and 16:25.

• Air India - This has one flight during Tuesday or Sunday. It departs from Delhi at 17:05.

• Jet Airways - This airline has five flights from Delhi to Dehradun daily. Timings are: 6:05, 9:10, 12:05, 13:55 and 16:55.

• Spice Jet - This has two flights departing from Delhi to Dehradun daily. Timings are: 11:25 and 15:15.

Fare varies between, Rs. 1,413 to Rs. 3,000 per passenger. The Jolly Grant Airport is about 20 kms away from Rishikesh. From the airport, you can ride a taxi going to Rishikesh. There's a prepaid taxi counter right at the airport. Then, outside the airport, there are normal taxis which you can also ride.

There are also buses outside the airport to take you to nearby cities like Rishikesh. These buses are mostly operated by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation. Some of their timings are:

• 9:30, 12:40 and 7:30.

If you're arriving by night time, you can opt for radio taxis or prepaid taxis, although the charge would be higher.

2. Train - There's a Rishikesh Railway Station. However, there's only a few trains and it runs very slowly. Here is one timing:

• Delhi Rishikesh Passenger Train No. 54471 - Departs daily at 17:35 and arrives at 4:20.

Since it's a passenger train, you cannot book tickets in advance and the travel time is so long at 11 hours or more. So your next option would be trains going to Haridwar Junction from Delhi. There are plenty of trains and many of them have a shorter travel time that the one I posted above. Here they are:

• Yoga Express Train No. 19031 - Departs daily at 4:21 and arrives at 12:10.

• Dehradun Shatabdi Train No. 12017 - Departs daily at 6:45 and arrives at 11:22.

• Dehradun Jan Shatabdi Train No. 12055 - Departs daily at 15:20 and arrives at 19:32.

With these trains, you can reserve a ticket in advance and you can choose what kind of seats you'd like. Travel time varies but with the trains I posted, it's between 4 to 8 hours. From Haridwar Junction, you can ride a taxi going to Rishikesh.

There's also a bus station in front of the railway station. From there, UTC Buses depart and arrive at Rishikesh. Here are some of their timings:

• 8:00, 9:15, 9:30, 10:00, 11:45, 12:00, 12:20, 14:20, 15:00, 16:40 and 16:45.

3. Bus - You can also ride a direct bus from Delhi to Rishikesh. The journey can take anywhere between 5 to 7 hours. Here are some of the timings:

• Volvo Buses - 11:00, 21:00 and 22:00.

• AC Buses - 9:00 and 22:00.

• Ordinary Buses - 00:15, 00:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:10, 13:15, 14:00, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30 and 23:30.

Fare varies, between Rs. 130 to Rs. 700. I'd suggest riding a Volvo Bus or an AC Bus for a more comfortable journey.

4. Hired Car - Alternatively, you can also hire a car from Delhi to Rishikesh. But this can be expensive, even more so than riding an airplane. Expect to pay anything between Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 8,000, depending on the car type.

Anyway, these are your options. If you have the money and you want the most convenient option, then consider an airplane ride. The next most convenient one would be, at least for me, a bus ride as it's direct anyway. Then comes the train and the lastly, the hired car.

I hope this helps.

 

[Admin]

New Delhi to Rishikesh – Plane or Train? (2025-2026 Update)
If you're traveling from New Delhi to Rishikesh, here’s a detailed comparison of the best travel options:

By Flight (Fastest but Indirect Route)
Best for: Quick travel with minimal transit time.
Flight Duration: ~1 hour (Delhi to Dehradun) + ~45 min road journey to Rishikesh.

Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport (DED), Dehradun (~21 km from Rishikesh).
Direct Flights Available: IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, Alliance Air.
Average Airfare (One Way): ₹2,000 - ₹6,000.

Airport to Rishikesh Transport:

• Taxi: ₹800 - ₹1,500 (limited Ola/Uber availability).
• Bus: Public buses available (~₹100 per person).

Verdict: Fastest way, but requires an additional road journey from Dehradun.

By Train (Most Comfortable & Budget-Friendly)
Best for: Budget travelers & those who prefer a relaxed journey.
Duration: 5 - 7 hours (Depending on train type).

Train Name	Departure	Arrival	Duration	Type
Yoga Express (19031)	05:05 AM	11:20 AM	~6 hr 15 min	Express
Shatabdi Express (Delhi → Haridwar)	06:45 AM	11:30 AM	~4 hr 45 min	Fast
Jan Shatabdi Express (12055)	03:20 PM	08:00 PM	~4 hr 40 min	Superfast

Haridwar to Rishikesh Transport:

• Train: 30-40 min (Some trains continue to Rishikesh).
• Taxi: ₹400 - ₹700 (~40 min drive).
• Bus: ₹50 per person, frequent availability.

Verdict: Best balance of affordability & comfort—Shatabdi or Jan Shatabdi to Haridwar, then a cab/bus to Rishikesh is ideal.

By Bus (Cheapest & Direct Option)
Best for: Budget travelers looking for a direct journey.
Duration: ~6-7 hours.
Fare: ₹300 - ₹1,000 (depends on AC/non-AC).

Bus Options from Delhi ISBT Kashmere Gate:

• Volvo AC Buses – ₹700 - ₹1,000 (Comfortable & quicker).
• Government Buses (Uttarakhand Transport) – ₹300 - ₹500 (Basic but affordable).
• Sleeper Buses – Available via private operators.

Traffic Alert: Weekends & peak seasons may cause delays on the highway.

Verdict: Most budget-friendly, but may be tiring for long-distance travelers.

Best Option Based on Your Needs

Your Priority	Best Travel Option
Fastest	Flight to Dehradun + Taxi
Budget	Train (Jan Shatabdi / Shatabdi) + Bus/Cab
️ Most Comfortable	Train (Shatabdi) or AC Bus
Backpacker-Friendly	Budget Bus

Final Thoughts
For most travelers, the best option is the Jan Shatabdi or Shatabdi train to Haridwar, then a taxi or bus to Rishikesh. It’s affordable, comfortable, and faster than a direct train to Rishikesh. If you’re short on time, a flight to Dehradun works best, though you’ll still need a taxi from the airport.

Which option do you prefer? Have you traveled on this route recently? Share your experience below!