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No matter which part of the country you’re coming from, there’s a train that will get you to Chhattisgarh. Such is the connectivity offered by its two main junctions — Raipur and Bilaspur. These two stations fall along the routes of multiple passenger trains, such as the Rajdhani Express, Chhattisgarh Express, Gandhidham-Puri Express, Bilaspur-Chennai Express, Gitanjali Express, Vishakhapatnam-Mumbai LLT Express. They run on different days of the week, so do check and plan your departure accordingly.
The train ride to Chhattisgarh might sound long but it’s well worth the time to see the country in a whole new way. Changing landscapes, colourful towns, smiling faces, lush countryside — they are pictures that will stay with you forever.
Chhattisgarh’s only functional passenger airport is situated in its capital city, Raipur. The Swami Vivekananda Airport is about 15 km away from the main city and has regular flights coming in from major cities across India. These include — Delhi, Nagpur, Mumbai, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Bengaluru, Indore, Kolkata, Ranchi and Jaipur amongst others. They are serviced by top domestic airlines such as IndiGo, GoAir, Air India and Vistara.
Upon landing, transit to on-ground transportation is convenient as the airport is merely 14 km away from Raipur Junction Railway and Pandri Bus Terminal. Public and private taxis can be found right outside the terminal, that can take you to either of the stations or be hired for longer distances if needed.
Soon, Bilaspur Airport and Jagdalpur Airport will be made open for commercial services, offering more options for travellers.
With Chhattisgarh’s location in the middle of the country, it has a great network of roadways with neighbouring states as well as internally. It shares borders with Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh — so no matter what direction you come from, there’s a road leading into the state.
In total, there are 11 national highways cutting through, including NH6 connecting Mumbai and Kolkata, NH16 going from Hyderabad to Bhopalpatnam, NH78 from Madhya Pradesh to Jharkhand, NH43 from Raipur to Vishakhapatnam. Those choosing road travel can pick between chauffeur driven vehicles, private taxis, self-driven cars, public or private buses.
Inter-state bus services are popular for their affordability and connectivity, with routes offered from all neighbouring states. With private bus services, you could find the same routes as well as longer distances, which for a small price-hike provide much more comfort.
Also check out about the best time to visit Chhattisgarh.
By Foot
To really get to know a place, there’s nothing better than exploring it on foot. And you’ll get plenty of opportunities to do that on your visit to Chhattisgarh, from sightseeing around landmarks like Jagannath Temple or the relics of Sirpur to shopping in vibrant local markets or taking a wildlife walk in Kanha National Park. You’ll have plenty of moments to stop and smell the roses, take an amazing photograph or simply soak in the culture.
By Car / Taxi
Being an industrial centre, Chhattisgarh is bound to have well-maintained roads. This helps tourists get around without the bumpy journeys normally associated with road travel. Every district is connected to each other by national and state highways, ensuring you get to your destination no matter which corner of the state it is. Rental cars can be hired locally, just as taxis and auto-rickshaws. For longer journeys, cars and taxis are highly recommended and can be pre-arranged as part of your tour package or sourced on ground. For daily commute within a town or city, auto-rickshaws offer a fast and economical solution.
By Train
The railway services of Chhattisgarh is operated by South East Central Railway, with the three main junctions being Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg. The other big stations are Champa, Raigarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, Gevra Road, Pendra Road, Korba and Mahasamund. If you like the sound of train travel, ensure all bookings are made as soon as possible, since they can get crowded especially during festival season or around big holidays.
By Bus
With plenty of government and privately-run bus services running across Chhattisgarh, travellers can make their journey between destinations a fascinating road trip. These go between cities as well as some that go further into rural or wildlife areas. For safety reasons it’s always better to keep bus travel for the daytime, if possible.
Now that you know the many ways to get to Chhattisgarh, it’s time to pick a Thomas Cook Chhattisgarh Tour package that includes everything you wish to see and experience on the trip!
