Kharagpur and Balasore
The first half of NH16, good road with proper highway dhabas. Chandipur beach is a short detour from Balasore.
travel guide
Kolkata to Puri: distance, road time and how to go
Kolkata to Puri is about 494 km by road and 510 km from Barrackpore, ten to twelve hours on NH16 with breaks. Most families take the train and hire a car in Puri for the temple, Konark and Chilika. Driving down makes sense when you want to stop at Balasore or Bhubaneswar on the way, or when you are six or more with luggage.
travel guide
The short version
- Road distance from Kolkata
- 494 km
- From Barrackpore side
- 510 km
- Usual drive time
- 10 to 12 hours by road from Kolkata or Barrackpore
- Best time to go
- October to February. Rath Yatra is the busiest week of the year
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Stops on the way
Bhubaneswar, 440 km
Lingaraj, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, and the last 60 km to Puri from here. Many trips spend a night here on the way.
Konark and Chilika
Konark is 35 km from Puri on the marine drive, Satapada on Chilika about 50 km. Both need a car for the day.
Train or drive
Trains from Howrah and Shalimar reach Puri in seven to nine hours and are the sensible choice for most families; we drop you at the station and arrange a car in Puri for the temple, Konark and Chilika. Driving all the way is worth it if you want Chandipur or Bhubaneswar on the way, or if a whole group is travelling together with luggage. For four days we usually do: drive or train down, temple day, Konark and Chilika day, return.
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What we tell people before they go
Small things that decide whether the day is good or tiring.
Non-Hindu visitors are not allowed inside the main temple. Plan the day knowing that.
Leave phones and leather items in the car or the locker before the temple; the rules are strictly enforced.
The sea at Puri is strong. Stay where the lifeguards are.
Road distances and drive times here are checked on road routing data and then widened for real traffic. Timings, ferry hours and entry rules change with the season, so ask us the day before you go and we will tell you what the road is like that week.
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Cars for this trip
These are the trips on our list that match this guide. Pickup is from your gate.
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We pick up from these areas
A day trip works best when the car reaches you early, from your own side of town.
questions
Questions about Kolkata to Puri: distance, road time and how to go
How many hours is Kolkata to Puri by car?
Ten to twelve hours for 494 km with two or three stops. We normally use two drivers or start at 4am for this one.
Do you give a car in Puri if we travel by train?
Yes. Tell us your train and dates and we arrange the car in Puri for the temple, Konark and Chilika, and the drop back to the station.
not sure yet? send the date anyway. If we cannot do it, we will say so.
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want a car for it
Tell us the date and we plan the day
Send the date and how many people are going. We tell you which car fits, when the car should start, and the full price in writing before you decide.