Being a prominent city in the state of Rajasthan, Kota is well known as education capital of India. Kota is famous for its coaching institutes to prepare students for various competitive exams and has a place of niche in the map of academic excellence. Yet, the city is not only about education, as Kota also has its fair share of historical sites, temples and natural beauty which make it a tourist destination of sorts. No matter you are in Kota for studies, leisure or mere a trip; the connectivity in Kota will let you get there from any part of India.
In this in-depth guide, we will look into the best means of travelling to and around Kota including the travel by air, trains, buses and even road trips plan.
While Kota has its own domestic airport Kota Airport (KTU), at a distance of some 7 km from the city center, it is still relatively small. Nevertheless, it primarily accommodates fewer flights and its operations are less frequent than the other main airports in Rajasthan.
Direct Flights: However, until now there are only limited direct flights to Kota and only Indore and Jaipur have connecting flights to Kota.
Airlines: Flights to and from Kota are sometimes offered by Air India and private airlines.
Although the airport is small, the growing size of Kota Airport will improve on its ability to serve the travelers of the future.
The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport (JAI), located near about 245 km away from Kota which offers better connectivity. The airport is perfectly well connected to the domestic and international cities and is a great option for entry to the region.
- Delhi to Jaipur – 1 hour
- Mumbai to Jaipur – 1.5 hours
- Bengaluru to Jaipur – 2 hours
- Hyderabad to Jaipur – 2 hours
It also offers flights from Dubai, London, Bangkok and other major cities.
Once you reach Jaipur, you can take a train, a bus or a taxi from Kota which will take 4 to 5 hours by road or train.
Pro Tip: Choose Jaipur Airport for more frequent and budget-friendly flight options.
No matter I take the Indian railways and Kota is pretty well to connect to other cities of India. Kota Junction (KOTA) is a major railway station of the city which is a stop on Delhi–Mumbai, Jaipur–Ahmedabad and Chennai–Delhi railway lines. Kota is well connected with cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Bhopal, Udaipur etc through superfast, express, railway and local passenger trains.
- Mandu Express (Mumbai–Bhopal)
- Rajasthan Sampark Kranti Express (Delhi–Jaipur)
- Bhopal–Ajmer Express
- Ajmer–Mumbai Express
- Shatabdi Express (from Delhi to Kota)
The travel time by train to some main cities is as follows.
From Delhi – 6 to 7 hours
From Jaipur – 3 to 4 hours
From Mumbai – It could take between 17 to 18 hours if you fly from Mumbai (direct options are available).
From Agra – 5 hours
From Bhopal – 7 hours
Kota Junction is situated about 3 km from the city center and there are hotels and points of interest around, which can be reached easily by auto rickshaws, taxis and cycle rickshaws.
Pro Tip: If you are looking at a longer trip, train is the most affordable as well as the most comfortable mode of transport to reach Kota.
Road directions offer travelers an interesting and scenic way to travel as Kota is easily accessible to many of the cities of Rajasthan and also to other states with the help of national highways and state roads. No matter if you are driving via a private car or taxi or bus, you are assured to watch scenic landscape and for that the Aravalli range provides excellent view.
If you wish to go about it comfortably and with the ability to get off wherever you like, you may choose to drive to Kota from nearby cities. Jaipur, Delhi, Indore and Udaipur are well connected by road to Kota.
From Delhi: 500 km via NH48 (approximately 7 to 8 hours)
From Jaipur: 245 km via NH52 (approximately 4 to 5 hours)
From Udaipur: 275 km via NH62 (approximately 5 to 6 hours)
From Agra: 350 km via NH11 (approximately 6 to 7 hours)
The trip from Jaipur is good, well maintained road, good drive. It can be stopped at various local eateries and take in the scenic beauty of the countryside of Rajasthan.
Pro Tip: Self-drive car rentals are available for a relaxed trip where you can stop for a while and check out picturesque towns.
Regular bus service is available to Kota from nearby cities from several state operated buses, operated by RSRTC (Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation) as well as private operators. The buses are available in non A/C, A/C, semi sleeper and deluxe categories to suit the budget of travelers.
- Jaipur to Kota – 4 to 5 hours
- Delhi to Kota – 7 to 8 hours
- Indore to Kota – 5 to 6 hours
- Bhopal to Kota – 6 to 7 hours
Pro Tip: Unless you are traveling during peak seasons (summer or festives periods), it is always wise to book your bus tickets in advance so as to avoid last minute clogging.
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