Delhi is the main gateway to explore Rajasthan tourism. Most travellers enter the state through the state’s capital, Jaipur, and then move deeper towards Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, or Udaipur. Wondering how to reach Rajasthan from Delhi? You can travel by flight (1 to 1.5 hours to Jaipur, Jodhpur, or Udaipur), by train (4 to 5 hours to Jaipur, with overnight options for farther cities), by bus (5 to 6 hours to Jaipur), or self-drive via NH48, where Jaipur sits just 280 km away. Based on 9 years of on-ground experience, our recommendation is simple: take the train if Jaipur is your first stop, fly if you are starting from Jodhpur, Udaipur, or Jaisalmer, and drive only if you have a week to cover multiple cities.
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As per what our trip captains suggest, the best way to reach Rajasthan from Delhi for a first-time visitor is the train to Jaipur, followed by road travel within the state. If your itinerary starts in Udaipur or Jaisalmer, take a flight. And if you genuinely enjoy driving and have a week in hand, take the highway.
Whichever mode you pick, plan your dates around the season, because the experience changes considerably between summer and winter.
Want to know how to reach Rajasthan from Delhi? Find here all the possible means:
If you are short on time, flying is the fastest option available. Rajasthan has four commercial airports with connections to Delhi.
- Jaipur (JAI): Multiple direct flights from Delhi every day. Flight time is around 1 hour. Fares usually stay between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 5,500 when you book 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Airlines operating this route include IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air.
- Jodhpur (JDH): Daily direct flights, around 1.5 hours. Fares typically fall between Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 7,000. IndiGo and Air India are the primary carriers on this route.
- Udaipur (UDR): Daily direct flights, around 1.5 hours. In our experience, this route is the most convenient way to begin a Rajasthan itinerary covering Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh, and Mount Abu. IndiGo and Air India operate this route regularly.
- Jaisalmer (JSA): Flights operate mainly from October to March. IndiGo has been the most consistent carrier on this route. Seats are limited, so book early if your dates fall in the winter months. Outside this window, the train is your only direct option.
The rail network between Delhi and Rajasthan is among the busiest in the country, making Delhi to Rajasthan by train the most balanced option in terms of cost, comfort, and reliability. Trains depart from New Delhi, Old Delhi, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, and Delhi Cantt stations, so check your ticket carefully before you leave for the station.
- Delhi to Jaipur: Ajmer Shatabdi Express, Vande Bharat Express, and the Double Decker Express cover the route in 4 to 5 hours.
- Delhi to Ajmer: The Ajmer Shatabdi Express and the Vande Bharat Express continue past Jaipur and reach Ajmer in 6 to 7 hours.
- Delhi to Jodhpur: The Mandore Express is the overnight train of choice and takes between 10 and 11 hours.
- Delhi to Udaipur: The Chetak Express is an overnight train and takes about 12 hours for the journey.
- Delhi to Jaisalmer: The Delhi-Jaisalmer Express is a 17-18-hour overnight train.
- Delhi to Bikaner: Many trains run daily. The journey takes 8-10 hours.
Delhi to Rajasthan Train Cost: The fares start at about Rs. 200 to Rs. 400 in sleeper class, Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,200 in 3AC, and Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 in 2AC, depending on the route.
Book through IRCTC 2 to 4 weeks in advance for confirmed berths, especially during the October to March peak season and around Diwali and the Pushkar Fair, when trains fill up weeks ahead. Palace on Wheels: For a luxury rail experience, the Palace on Wheels departs from Safdarjung Railway Station in Delhi and covers Jaipur, Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, and Agra over 7 nights and 8 days.
It runs during the tourist season with premium fares, so it suits travellers looking for a complete Rajasthan holiday on rails rather than a point-to-point journey. Check the current dates and fares on the official RTDC website.
The road is where you get the most choice, because it covers everything from a Rs. 500 bus ticket to a fully chauffeured multi-city circuit. Here is how the options stack up.
Buses
Buses are the most flexible way to go, because they run round the clock and rarely sell out. If you are planning to travel from Delhi to Rajasthan by bus, you have two broad choices.
- Government buses (RSRTC): Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation runs regular services from Bikaner House near India Gate and from Kashmere Gate ISBT. Volvo and Mercedes services to Jaipur are comfortable and punctual. Tickets are available at Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,200. Ordinary and express buses cost less, though they take noticeably longer.
- Private buses: Private operators run AC seater and sleeper coaches from Dhaula Kuan, Kashmere Gate, and other points in Delhi to Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer. You can check the operator, timings, and seat availability on platforms like RedBus or book with FlixBus or Zingbus, which runs AC coaches on the Delhi to Jaipur route at competitive fares. Overnight sleeper buses to Jodhpur and Udaipur generally cost between Rs. 800 and Rs. 1,600.
Cabs and Rentals
- Your own car: The most economical choice if you already own one. A Delhi to Jaipur round trip costs roughly Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000 in fuel and tolls.
- Self-drive rental: Platforms like Zoomcar let you rent a hatchback or SUV on a daily basis, usually between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000 per day depending on the model. This works well for travellers flying into Delhi who still want the freedom of a road trip.
- Intercity cabs: One-way and round-trip outstation taxis are easy to book through Uber Intercity, Ola Outstation, and local operators. A one-way Delhi to Jaipur cab costs around Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 5,000, and you skip the responsibility of driving and parking entirely.
- Rented cars with driver: For multi-city circuits, hiring a car with a driver for the full duration is the most comfortable option. Expect around Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 4,500 per day for a sedan or SUV, including the driver, with fuel and tolls billed separately or bundled depending on the operator.
Delhi to Rajasthan Road Trip Route
The best route from Delhi to Rajasthan for most travellers is NH48. Leave Delhi by 6 AM, and you will reach Jaipur before noon, with enough time for a breakfast stop at one of the well-known highway dhabas near Behror. The 280 km stretch is smooth, six-lane, and easy to drive even for someone doing it for the first time.
From Jaipur, the road network spreads out across the state:
- Jaipur to Pushkar or Ajmer: 130 to 145 km, around 2.5 to 3 hours
- Jaipur to Jodhpur: 340 km, around 6 hours
- Jodhpur to Jaisalmer: 285 km, around 5 hours through open desert landscape
- Jaipur to Udaipur: 395 km, around 6.5 hours via Chittorgarh
A classic 7- to 8-day circuit runs Delhi, Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and back to Delhi, covering roughly 1,900 km in total. If South Rajasthan appeals to you more, swap Jaisalmer for Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh. We have covered the day-wise plan in our Rajasthan trip itinerary guide if you want the full breakdown. Before You Hit the Road
Our drivers, who travel these routes every week, recommend:
- Keep your FASTag active with sufficient balance.
- Avoid driving after dark on rural stretches.
- Leave some buffer time for photo stops—the landscapes between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are worth slowing down for.
- And if you would rather enjoy the road without doing any of the driving, our Rajasthan group trips cover these exact circuits in comfortable AC vehicles, with a trip captain managing the route, hotels, and sightseeing from start to finish.
Rajasthan is a large state, so the Delhi to Rajasthan distance depends entirely on which city you are heading to. Jaipur, the capital, is the nearest major city, while Jaisalmer in the far west is the longest journey.
Most travellers enter Rajasthan through Jaipur, since it sits on the Delhi-Mumbai highway (NH48) and works as the natural starting point for the Golden Triangle as well as longer Rajasthan circuits.
This is the average one-way fare per person while traveling from Delhi to Rajasthan:
- Budget (Rs. 200 to Rs. 800): Sleeper-class train or an ordinary state bus to Jaipur or Ajmer
- Mid-range (Rs. 800 to Rs. 2,000): 3AC train, Volvo bus or a private sleeper coach to any major city
- Premium (Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 7,000): Direct flight to Jaipur, Jodhpur or Udaipur
WanderOn’s Rajasthan tour packages start from Delhi, which means that intercity transport within the itinerary, hotels, sightseeing, and the trip captain are already covered in one price. All you need to do is reach the boarding point in Delhi. If you would rather skip the work of arranging transport, accommodation, and route planning separately, you can join one of WanderOn's fixed departure group Rajasthan tour packages from Delhi. All packages start and end in Delhi, so you don’t need to worry about how to reach Rajasthan. All these trips include transport, hotels, sightseeing, and a trip captain, and they start and end in Delhi. To decide which cities are worth your time on a first visit, you can go through our detailed guide on places to visit in Rajasthan. Wondering about how to reach Rajasthan from Delhi? These are the mistakes we see most often across the hundreds of Rajasthan trips we have run from Delhi.
- Booking Jaisalmer flights outside peak season: Jaisalmer flights largely stop after March. Many travellers assume the airport is always operational, only to end up paying for last-minute trains or extending drives unnecessarily. Always verify flight availability before building your itinerary around it.
- Not booking trains early enough for October to March: Rajasthan is India's most popular winter destination. 3AC and 2AC berths on trains like the Mandore Express and Chetak Express fill up 3 to 4 weeks before departure in peak season. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Driving after dark on rural stretches: Between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer and on the Bikaner highway, road lighting is sparse and cattle on the roads are a real hazard at night. Our drivers always plan the schedule to arrive before sunset on these legs.
- Underestimating summer heat on road trips: A Jodhpur to Jaisalmer drive in May with a vehicle that has a weak AC is a genuinely unpleasant experience. If you are road-tripping between April and June, leave very early and finish driving by noon.
- Flying into Jaipur and missing the train advantage: The Delhi to Jaipur Vande Bharat and Shatabdi take 4 to 5 hours from city centre to city centre. Once you account for check-in, airport waiting, and transfers, the train is often faster and always cheaper for this specific route.
- Skipping Pushkar because it looks small on the map: Pushkar is only 15 km from Ajmer and an easy half-day detour from any Jaipur itinerary. We see travelers skip it to save time, only to regret it on every trip.