Want to choose the perfect hill station to spend time with your partner? Darjeeling is one of the best hill stations in India. With a distance of 620km from Kolkata to Darjeeling, the “Queen of hills” offers you breathtaking views of the snow-capped Himalayas, green lush, and experience the sunrise view at Tiger Hill.
Darjeeling is not only popular for its iconic views and lush greenery, even there are also many activities to do, like taking a ride on the Toy train, visiting Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, going trekking, and tasting the famous local street food.
Kolkata is also a big hub of transportation, and because it is a major city in India, it is well connected to major destinations with all types of ways- flight, train, and cab.
Kolkata to Darjeeling: Distance & Travel Time
Here are the real figures for distance and travel time between Kolkata and Darjeeling:
| Travel Type | Distance | Approx Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial (Kolkata → Bagdogra) | ~ 496 km | ~ 1 hr 5 min flight + 2.5–3 hrs by road to Darjeeling |
| Road (Kolkata → Darjeeling) | ~ 616 km (or 634 km via NH-12) | ~ 12–14 hours (15 hours for some routes) |
| Train (Kolkata → NJP) + Road / Toy Train to Darjeeling | Kolkata → New Jalpaiguri (NJP): ~ 556 km by rail Then NJP → Darjeeling: ~ 70–84 km | Kolkata → NJP: ~10–12 hours by train + NJP → Darjeeling: 2.5–4 hours by car or 6–7 hours by toy train |
Darjeeling Tourism Package
How to reach Darjeeling from Kolkata
To reach Darjeeling, there is no its own airport you need to take a flight to Bagdogra airport, which is the nearest one. to Darjeeling. After Bagdogra, there are two ways to travel to Darjeeling- by road and train. You can hire a cab or travel by toy train, which is a popular activity to do in Darjeeling.
Kolkata to Darjeeling by flight
When it comes to visiting any destination, the most fastest way is by flight. But because of don’t have an airport in Darjeeling, you need to take a flight from Kolkata to Bagdogra airport, which is the closest airport to Darjeeling, and this journey takes 1 hour and 5 minutes to reach Bagdogra airport.
Then you need to hire a taxi/Cab, and if you have time, then choose the toy train, which takes 7 to 8 hours but makes your journey memorable. And if you want to reach early, choose a taxi, which usually takes 3 to 4 hours to reach Darjeeling.
Kolkata to Darjeeling flight ticket price
Here is the list of Kolkata to Bagdogra flight ticket prices with details of airline, flight time and the duration of travel to reach Bagdogra. But there are some differences in fare because of peak seasons and festival times you can see the fluctuations.
| Airline | Ticket Price | Duration | Flight Time (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | ₹3,094 | 1 hr 05 min | 07:35 → 08:40 | One of the cheapest fares found on OTA listings |
| Air India / AirAsia India | ₹3,100 – ₹4,000 | 1 hr 05–20 min | 09:00 → 10:20 / 11:55 → 13:00 | Many flights operate on the route |
| Multiple Carriers (IndiGo, AI, others) | ₹3,200 – ₹4,000 | ~1 hr 10 min | Afternoon departures vary | Several mid-day flight options, depending on the date |
| General Market Lowest Price (Skyscanner) | ₹5,984 (best found price) | Non-stop | Various times | Several mid-day flight options, depending on the date |
| Typical Price Range ( IndiGo / EMT) | ₹3,000 – ₹6,000 | Non-stop | Multiple daily | Current general price insight |
| Weekly Frequency | ₹3,000 – ₹6,000 | Non-stop | ~40–50 flights weekly | Many flights operated on the route |
| High-Demand Peak Spike | ₹15,000 – ₹21,000 (rare spike) | Non-stop | Morning + noon flights are frequently available | Several mid-day flight options, depending on the date |
Kolkata to Darjeeling by train
Kolkata to Darjeeling by train is another popular and comfortable option for travel. For those seeking for budget-friendly trip, train is the best way to reach Darjeeling with comforts and money saving. And the journey of Darjeeling is divided into two parts:
- Kolkata → New Jalpaiguri (NJP) by train, and
- NJP → Darjeeling by road or by the famous Toy Train.
1. Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) by Train
You can board a train to New Jalpaiguri from major Kolkata stations such as Howrah Junction and Sealdah. These long-distance trains are preferred because they offer overnight travel and comfortable seating or sleeper arrangements and the average travel time is 10–12 hours.
Train Time Table
Here is the table of the Howrah to New Jalpaiguri train ticket price, route, timing, and train number.
| Train | Route / Timings | Approx Ticket Price | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howrah → New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat (22301) | Howrah (HWH) → NJP, ~7.5 hr journey. | EC: ~₹2,390, CC: ~₹1,185 | Executive Chair (EC), Chair Car (CC) |
| Howrah → NJP Special (03027) | Overnight Mail Express, departs 23:55 from Howrah, arrives NJP ~10:45. | 1A ~₹2,180, 2A ~₹1,300, 3A ~₹920, SL ~₹350 | 1A, 2A, 3A, 3E, SL |
| Howrah → NJP Special (03013) | Another overnight passenger train, departs Howrah 23:40, arrives NJP ~10:10. | Not available | 1A, 2A, 3A, SL |
| Howrah → NJP Humsafar (13115) | From Kolkata area to NJP, modern AC train. | 3A: ~₹1,015, Sleeper: ~₹375 | 3A and Sleeper |
| Howrah → NJP Kamrup Express (15959) | Mail / Express train. | 2A: ~₹1,280, 3A: ~₹895, SL: ~₹330 | 2A, 3A, SL |
| Howrah → NJP Saraighat Express (12345) | Long-distance train from Howrah to NJP. | 1A: ~₹2,205, 2A: ~₹1,325, 3A: ~₹945, SL: ~₹360 | 1A, 2A, 3A, SL |
2. NJP to Darjeeling – Hill Journey Options
Once you arrive at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station, you can continue the journey to Darjeeling through two main options:
Option A: By Road (Taxi / Shared Jeep)
This is the most common way to reach Darjeeling from NJP. You can hire a taxi or book a seat in a shared jeep to reach Darjeeling, which takes 3 to 4 hours, that also depends on traffic and weather.
Option B: By Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train)
To reach Darjeeling from NJP station toy train is the most popular way to travel. The world-famous UNESCO-listed Toy Train provides a slow but scenic climb into the hills. This train maintains a slow speed of 11–12 km/h due to the steep gradients and narrow gauge heritage track, and it takes 7 to 8 hours to reach Darjeeling, which is 84km away.
The Train No. is 52541 and usually departing near 10:00 AM from NJP and arriving in Darjeeling around 5:30 PM.
Darjeeling Holiday Plans
Kolkata to Darjeeling by Road
Traveling from Kolkata to Darjeeling by road is a long and common way to reach, but it gives a scenic journey. To reach Darjeeling, the most commonly used route follows NH-12, which goes from Kolkata to Siliguri, then to Darjeeling.
The total distance on this route is around 634 km, and the drive usually takes about 15 hours, depending on traffic and stops.
If you’re planning to hire a cab, Kingsland holiday provides you with the one-way Kolkata to Darjeeling/Siliguri cab cost at the best price.
For public transport, there is no direct luxury bus from Kolkata to Darjeeling. Instead, travellers can take a bus from Kolkata to Siliguri. From Siliguri, shared taxis, shared jeeps, and NBSTC buses are available to reach Darjeeling.
More Popular routes to Darjeeling
| Route Name | Travel Option | Time | Distance | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Darjeeling | Flight to Bagdogra / Cab | 6–8 hours | 1,500 km | Fly from Delhi to Bagdogra (2h 10m) and take a 3-hour taxi or shared cab to Darjeeling. |
| Mumbai to Darjeeling | Flight to Bagdogra + Cab | 7–9 hours | 2,100 km | Direct flight to Bagdogra (3h) followed by a scenic 3-hour hill drive to Darjeeling. |
| New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling | Toy Train / Cab | 7–8 hours | 70 km | The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train) offers a UNESCO heritage journey through the hills. |
| Lucknow to Darjeeling | Flight / Train + Cab | 12–14 hours | 900 km | Take a flight to Bagdogra or train to NJP, then proceed by road to Darjeeling. |
| Bangalore to Darjeeling | Flight to Bagdogra + Cab | 8–10 hours | 2,300 km | Fly to Bagdogra (via Kolkata or Delhi) and take a taxi or shared jeep to Darjeeling. |
| Chennai to Darjeeling | Flight to Bagdogra + Cab | 9–11 hours | 2,250 km | Take a flight to Bagdogra and travel by road through scenic hills to Darjeeling. |
| Siliguri to Darjeeling | Cab / Shared Jeep / Toy Train | 3–4 hours | 65 km | Road trip via Hill Cart Road or scenic toy train ride through Kurseong. |
| Jamshedpur to Darjeeling | Train + Cab | 14–16 hours | 620 km | Take a train to NJP and then a cab or toy train to Darjeeling. |
| Bhopal to Darjeeling | Flight / Train + Cab | 14–16 hours | 1,400 km | Fly via Delhi/Kolkata to Bagdogra and continue by road to Darjeeling. |
| Bagdogra to Darjeeling | Cab / Shared Jeep | 3 hours via Hill Cart Road (NH110) | 68 km | The fastest and most popular route for tourists; taxis and shared jeeps available. |
Places to Visit in Darjeeling
Darjeeling Images
