Why the airport shapes the whole journey
Cities far apart: Rajasthan is the largest state in India. Jaipur is in the north-east, Udaipur in the south, Jodhpur in the middle and Jaisalmer out in the Thar near the Pakistan border.
Long distances: a journey that links them all covers well over a thousand kilometres.
Flights don't replace the road: and we would never want them to, because the road is where much of Rajasthan lives.
- State size
- Almost the size of Germany
- Full circuit
- Well over 1,000 km
- Jaipur
- North-east
- Udaipur
- South
- Jaisalmer
- Far west, near Pakistan
- What a good flight does: it can save a full day and spare you the longest, least interesting drives.
- First, the gateway: where your international flight lands, and how you reach Rajasthan from there.
- Second, the internal legs: which hops are worth a short flight and which are better by car.
- Getting both right: the difference between a journey that flows and one that feels like transit.
- On this page: every airport that matters for a Rajasthan journey, inside the state and around it.
- Read alongside: our guide to getting around Rajasthan shows how flights fit with chauffeurs and trains, and our page on road distances gives the drive times for comparison.
International gateways
- Main gateway
- Delhi (DEL)
- Gulf route
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha to Jaipur
- Southern gateway
- Mumbai (BOM)
- For Gujarat
- Ahmedabad (AMD)
- Late landing
- Night in Aerocity
Delhi, Indira Gandhi International (DEL)
Where most guests land: direct long-haul flights from Europe, North America, Australia and across Asia, and links to every Rajasthan airport.
Three terminals: they are not all linked inside security, so check which terminal each flight uses before you book a tight connection.
- International to domestic: allow a generous gap, because you clear immigration and customs in Delhi and recheck your luggage.
- Late arrivals: most long-haul flights reach Delhi late at night or before dawn. If you land after about ten at night, we suggest a night in Aerocity, the hotel district beside the airport, or a quiet hotel in central Delhi.
- On to Jaipur: about four to five hours by road, an easy afternoon train, or a short flight.
- Where to rest: our Delhi guide and Delhi luxury hotels page, from The Imperial to The Oberoi.
Noida International Airport, Jewar
Delhi's second airport: at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, south-east of the capital. It opened to commercial flights in 2026, beginning with domestic routes.
- Near the Yamuna Expressway: which runs to Agra, so in time it may suit journeys that start with the Taj Mahal.
- Still growing: routes are being added, so we check what is flying for your dates.
- For international arrivals: Indira Gandhi International remains the main gateway for now.
Jaipur via the Gulf
Skip Delhi altogether: Jaipur International Airport has flights to several Gulf cities, so one connection through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha brings you straight into Rajasthan.
- Changing schedules: routes and airlines change from season to season, so we look at current timetables when we plan.
- For Europe: a Gulf connection into Jaipur is often the most restful way to begin, especially on a shorter journey.
Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM)
The other great gateway: good domestic flights to Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and, in season, Jaisalmer.
- Who it suits: guests coming from the south or east, those combining Rajasthan with Goa or Kerala, and anyone who wants to start in Udaipur rather than Jaipur.
- Routing: our journal on combining Rajasthan and Kerala.
Ahmedabad (AMD)
For Gujarat: some international flights and many domestic ones, and the natural gateway if your journey begins or ends in Gujarat.
- Drive times: from Ahmedabad, Udaipur is about four to five hours by road, and Mount Abu about four.
- Our journey: it works well for our Mount Abu and Gujarat journey.
The airports inside Rajasthan
- Jaipur (JAI)
- 13 km south, at Sanganer
- Udaipur (UDR)
- 22 km east, at Dabok
- Jodhpur (JDH)
- A few km from centre
- Jaisalmer
- Seasonal, mostly winter
- Bikaner
- Nal, 15 km west
- Kishangarh
- About an hour to Pushkar
Jaipur International Airport (JAI)
The busiest: Rajasthan's busiest airport sits at Sanganer, about 13 kilometres south of the city centre.
- Routes: direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur and many other Indian cities, as well as the Gulf.
- Into town: thirty to forty-five minutes depending on traffic, and a little longer to the walled city.
- Our most-used airport: and the nearest major one for Ranthambore, Shekhawati, Sariska and much of eastern Rajasthan.
Udaipur, Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR)
Location: at Dabok, about 22 kilometres east of the city, around forty minutes from the lakes.
- Routes: direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and other major cities.
- Hub of Mewar: the nearest airport for Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Chittorgarh, Nathdwara, Deogarh and the southern districts.
Jodhpur Airport (JDH)
Close to town: only a few kilometres from the city centre, which makes arrivals wonderfully quick.
- Shared runway: it shares its runway with an Indian Air Force station, so photography is not allowed around the airfield, and security is strict.
- Routes: direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities.
- Serves all Marwar: Rohet, Khimsar, Osian, Manvar, and the village forts around the city.
Jaisalmer Airport
Civil terminal by an Air Force base: and its flights are seasonal.
- Recent winters: flights from Delhi, Mumbai and a few other cities.
- Summer: the airport usually closes to civil flights for much of it, and schedules change each year. We confirm what is flying when we plan.
- No flights? Guests drive from Jodhpur in about five hours, which is a beautiful road in any case.
Bikaner, Nal Airport
Location: at Nal, about 15 kilometres west of the city, with limited domestic flights.
- Most guests drive: to Bikaner by road from Jodhpur or Shekhawati, or by train from Delhi.
- On a tight schedule: a flight can be useful, and we check the current routes for you.
Kishangarh Airport, for Ajmer and Pushkar
Opened in 2017: near the marble town of Kishangarh, with flights to a few major cities, including Delhi.
- Nearest to Ajmer and Pushkar: roughly an hour from Pushkar by road.
- Or Jaipur: many more flights, about three hours from Pushkar, so we choose depending on your schedule.
Kota and Hadoti
No regular flights: Kota's old airport has had none for many years.
- A new airport: Kota-Bundi airport is under construction.
- Until it opens: we fly guests into Jaipur and drive, or bring them by fast train to Kota Junction, on the main Delhi to Mumbai line.
- Bundi: about four hours from Jaipur by road.
Places without an airport
Calm for a reason: several of Rajasthan's loveliest places have no airport at all.
Mount Abu: about three and a half to four hours from Udaipur, or by train to Abu Road at the foot of the hill.
- Shekhawati: a road journey from Jaipur or Delhi.
- Jawai, Narlai and Rohet: by car from Udaipur or Jodhpur.
- Ranthambore: by road from Jaipur or by train to Sawai Madhopur.
- The chauffeur does the rest: the nearest airport is only a starting point.
Airports around Rajasthan
- Agra by train
- Under two hours from Delhi
- Agra by road
- Three to four hours
- Khajuraho airport
- About 3 km from temples
- Delhi to Varanasi
- About 1.5 hours flying
- Kutch
- Fly to Bhuj
Agra (AGR)
Small airport: limited flights, so most of our guests arrive by road or rail instead.
- Train: the Gatimaan Express from Delhi takes under two hours.
- Road: the Yamuna Expressway makes the drive about three to four hours. See the Agra guide.
Gwalior (GWL) and Khajuraho (HJR)
Gwalior: flights to Delhi and other cities.
- Khajuraho: a small airport about three kilometres from the temples, with flights to Delhi and, in some seasons, to Varanasi.
- Bundelkhand made easy: together they fold the temples into a journey. Our Rajasthan, Orchha and Khajuraho journey uses the fast train south and a flight out.
Varanasi (VNS)
The airport: Lal Bahadur Shastri International at Babatpur, about an hour from the ghats.
- Flights: direct from Delhi in about an hour and a half, and from many other cities.
- Always a flight: from Rajasthan, never a drive. See our Rajasthan and Varanasi journey.
Bhuj (BHJ), for Kutch
The base for Kutch: flights from Mumbai, for the White Rann and the craft villages of Kutch.
- From Rajasthan: most guests drive via Mount Abu or fly through Mumbai or Ahmedabad.
- The routing: our Rajasthan and Kutch journey shows it.
Which legs to fly, and which to drive
- One-hour flight
- Often four hours door to door
- Under four hours
- The car usually wins
- Six hours plus
- A flight makes sense
- Always drive
- Udaipur to Jodhpur
- Always fly
- Varanasi and Kutch
- Time at both ends: domestic flights in India are frequent and good value, but there is the drive to the airport, security, waiting, the flight and the drive into town.
- The maths: a one-hour flight is often a four-hour door-to-door day. These are the decisions we make most often.
Jaipur to Udaipur: often worth flying
The numbers: about six hours by road, about an hour in the air, with direct flights.
- Short journey: we fly.
- Longer journey: we drive and break the road with a night in Bundi, Chittorgarh or Pushkar, so it becomes two easy days instead of one long one.
Delhi to Udaipur or Jodhpur: a good way in
- Start south or west: a direct flight from Delhi or Mumbai to Udaipur or Jodhpur saves a long day on the road.
- One direction: we often fly guests into Udaipur and out of Jaipur, so the journey never doubles back.
Jaisalmer: fly in when you can, drive the other way
- Far from everything: when winter flights are running, we sometimes fly guests in or out, and drive the other way via Jodhpur or Bikaner so they still see the desert from the road.
- No flights: the drive from Jodhpur is about five hours, and we time it to arrive as the fort turns gold.
Udaipur to Jodhpur: always drive
One of the loveliest roads: through the Aravalli hills and past the marble Jain temple at Ranakpur.
- Why not fly: it would mean connecting through another city and missing it all.
- The stops: our journal on driving Udaipur to Jodhpur via Ranakpur.
Jaipur to Agra: drive or train
- By road: about four hours, with the Abhaneri stepwell and Fatehpur Sikri on the way. There is no sensible flight.
- By train: a fast service runs between the two cities, though timings change and the car gives you the stops.
Rajasthan to Varanasi or Kutch: fly
- Full days by road: or more, so we fly.
- The routing: usually through Delhi for Varanasi, and through Mumbai or Ahmedabad for Bhuj, unless you want to drive through Mount Abu into Gujarat.
Arrival day, the way we plan it
On every journey we arrange, someone meets you as you walk out of arrivals, holding a sign with your name. Your chauffeur takes your luggage, gives you cold water and drives you to the hotel, where check-in is arranged in advance.
Landing in the small hours: we ask the hotel to hold the room from the night before so you can go straight to bed.
- Flight tracked: your planner watches the flight and is on WhatsApp throughout.
- Hand luggage: keep your passport, printed or digital visa and onward details in it. You show them at immigration, and need your passport again for domestic flights and hotel check-in.
- At the terminal door: Indian airports check your ticket and photo identification before you enter, so have both ready for any flight.
- Money: change a little or use an ATM inside the airport, and keep small notes for tips. Our guide to money and tipping explains more.
- SIM or eSIM: arrange it before you leave the airport, or ask us to. See our guide to SIM cards and internet.
- Only our named driver: don't accept offers of transport from strangers in the arrivals hall.
- A gentle first day: plan nothing more than a walk, a long lunch or a swim. Jet lag is real, and Rajasthan rewards a rested traveller.
Domestic flights: the practical details
- Baggage
- Often below long-haul limits
- Power banks
- Hand luggage only
- Photography
- Not near Air Force airfields
- Wheelchairs
- Request with airline in advance
- Food on board
- Mostly sold, not served
Baggage allowances
Lower limits: domestic economy allowances are often lower than international ones, and each airline sets its own.
- Excess weight: with a long-haul allowance, you may pay extra on an internal flight.
- Fly light: we check the rules for each ticket and, where it helps, send heavy bags ahead by road with your chauffeur.
Power banks and batteries
Hand luggage only: power banks and spare lithium batteries never go in checked bags.
- Limits: airlines may restrict their size or how you use them on board.
- Easy to reach: security staff in India check carefully, so pack them where you can get at them.
Arriving at the airport
Allow plenty of time: security queues at Delhi and Mumbai can be long, especially in the early morning.
- Smaller airports: Udaipur and Jodhpur are quicker, but have fewer flights, so missing one costs more.
- Right terminal, right time: your chauffeur will drop you there.
Airports shared with the Air Force
Which ones: several in Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner, sit beside or within military airfields, as does Agra.
- No photography: around them, and security can be stricter than elsewhere.
- Camera away: until you are well clear.
Changing plans
Moving schedules: smaller routes change from season to season and sometimes at short notice.
- We watch your bookings: and rebook if an airline moves a flight.
- Always a road plan: we rarely build a journey around a single small-airport connection without one behind it.
Wheelchairs and assistance
Available on request: Indian airports offer wheelchair assistance and help through security, but it must be requested with the airline in advance.
- Stairs and buses: some smaller airports use them to reach the aircraft rather than an air bridge.
- Every leg covered: tell us what you need, and we request assistance and brief your chauffeur to meet you at the right door. Our accessible travel guide has more.
Food, lounges and the waiting
On board: domestic flights are short, and most airlines sell rather than serve food.
- At the airport: the larger ones have lounges and decent cafes.
- Udaipur and Jodhpur: small, quiet terminals, so we time your departure from the hotel to keep the waiting short.
How the seasons affect flying
- Fog season
- Mid-December to January
- Monsoon storms
- July to September
- Jaisalmer summer
- Few or no flights
- Peak weeks
- Diwali, Christmas, New Year
Winter fog in the north
When: from about mid-December to January, dense morning fog often settles over Delhi and the plains of north India.
- The effect: early flights are delayed or diverted, and trains and roads slow down.
- How we plan: no tight morning connections in these weeks, midday flights out of Delhi, and a cushion before anything that cannot be missed, such as a luxury train departure or your flight home.
- Rajasthan itself: clearer, though Jaipur and the east can have foggy mornings too.
The monsoon
- Afternoon storms: from July to September, heavy storms can delay flights, especially in Mumbai and Udaipur.
- Usually short delays: we keep a little slack in monsoon schedules and a backup plan for any important connection.
Summer and the desert
Jaisalmer: from April to June, it usually has few or no civil flights.
- Hot air: small aircraft carry less in very hot air.
- Elsewhere: summer is quiet and flights are easier to book. Our weather and climate guide explains each season across the state.
Festival peaks
- Busy weeks: Diwali, Christmas and New Year, and long Indian holiday weekends fill flights quickly and push fares up.
- Book early: if your journey falls in those weeks, we book flights as soon as your route is settled.
Private jets and helicopters
Jets and turboprops: they can fly between the main airports, including Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, with permissions arranged in advance through established operators.
Helicopters: can land only at approved sites with local clearances.
- Restrictions: border districts, Air Force areas and protected monuments carry them. We never promise a landing we have not confirmed.
- The usual mix: most charter guests combine one or two flown legs, often the hardest one to or from Jaisalmer, with a private car for the rest.
- Luggage: small aircraft have strict limits, so bags usually travel ahead by road.
- How we plan them: our page on helicopter and charter journeys.
How we route a typical journey
One week: Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur
Arrive: land in Delhi and rest a night.
- Jaipur: drive or take a morning train for three nights.
- Udaipur: fly from Jaipur for three nights, then fly back to Delhi or Mumbai for your international flight.
- The result: two short flights, one drive, and no wasted days. Our Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur journey is built this way.
Two weeks: the classic loop
East to west: fly into Delhi, drive to Agra and on to Jaipur, then drive west through Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
- South to finish: drive back to Jodhpur and on to Udaipur via Ranakpur, and fly home from Udaipur through Delhi or Mumbai.
- A flown desert leg: possible if Jaisalmer has flights that season. The Royal Rajputana follows this rhythm.
Starting in the south
- The route: fly into Mumbai and on to Udaipur, then travel north by road through Jodhpur, Jaisalmer or Pushkar to Jaipur, and fly home through Delhi.
- Who it suits: guests from the south or east, and anyone who wants the lakes first.
Adding the Ganga or Kutch
Varanasi: finish in Agra or Delhi and fly there for two or three nights.
- Kutch: finish in Udaipur and travel to Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
- Connections: we work them out once we know your route.