Mumbai to Jaipur — Flight, Train or Road?
Fly in, train back. Or vice versa. See the countryside.
By Flight — The Sensible Choice
1.5 hours, \u20B93,000\u2013\u20B98,000. For a 1,200 km journey, flying is the obvious answer for most people. IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express, and Akasa Air operate 10+ daily flights. Book 3\u20134 weeks ahead for the best fares.
Airlines: IndiGo dominates this route with 5\u20136 daily flights. SpiceJet and Air India Express offer 2\u20133 each. Akasa Air has entered the route with competitive pricing. All operate from Mumbai T1 to Jaipur's single terminal.
Best flight times: The early morning departures (6\u20137 AM) are cheapest and get you to Jaipur by 8:30 AM \u2014 a full day of sightseeing ahead. Evening flights (7\u20138 PM) are ideal if you want to work a half-day in Mumbai first. Avoid the 10 AM\u201312 PM slots; they\u2019re the most expensive and eat into your day.
Price hacks: Tuesday and Wednesday flights are consistently cheapest. Book directly on airline websites rather than aggregators for easier changes. During Diwali, Holi, and Christmas weeks, prices spike to \u20B910,000+ \u2014 book 6 weeks ahead for these periods.
By Train — Scenic but Long
The train journey from Mumbai to Jaipur is long \u2014 12 to 22 hours depending on which train you pick. But there's something deeply romantic about falling asleep to the rhythm of an Indian train and waking up to the Aravalli landscape rolling past your window.
Best option \u2014 Mumbai\u2013Jaipur Superfast Express (12955/12956): Departs Mumbai Central at 6:50 PM, arrives Jaipur at 7:20 AM next day. About 12.5 hours \u2014 practically perfect for an overnight journey. AC 2-Tier runs about \u20B92,000\u2013\u20B92,500; AC 3-Tier is \u20B91,200\u2013\u20B91,500.
Other options: The Garib Rath (12979/12980) is the budget AC option at \u20B9800\u2013\u20B91,200 but takes 14\u201316 hours. Various Mail/Express trains take 18\u201322 hours and are only worth considering in Sleeper Class if you\u2019re on a tight budget and have time to spare.
Train Travel Tips for This Route
- \u2192Book AC 2-Tier for the best overnight experience — the curtained berths give you privacy and the bedding is clean
- \u2192Carry your own snacks and water. The pantry car food is edible but uninspiring
- \u2192Download your ticket on the IRCTC app — TTE (ticket examiner) checks are done digitally now on most trains
- \u2192The Mumbai Central station can be confusing — arrive 30 minutes early and use the display boards for platform info
- \u2192Set an alarm for 6:30 AM — the Gujarat-Rajasthan landscape at dawn will catch you off guard and you don’t want to sleep through it
By Road — Not Recommended (But Here's the Info)
1,200 km. 18\u201320 hours of driving. Multiple toll booths. We're not going to pretend this is a good idea for a point-to-point journey. However, as a multi-stop road trip, this route is actually fantastic.
The direct route: Mumbai \u2192 Ahmedabad \u2192 Udaipur \u2192 Jaipur via NH48 and NH8. About 1,200 km, 18\u201320 hours of actual driving. Tolls add up to \u20B91,500\u2013\u20B92,000. Fuel costs approximately \u20B96,000\u2013\u20B97,000 for a mid-size car. A private cab with driver costs \u20B98,000\u2013\u20B910,000.
The road trip version (recommended if driving): Break it into 3\u20134 days. Mumbai \u2192 Ahmedabad (Day 1, 6 hrs) \u2192 Mount Abu (Day 2, 4 hrs) \u2192 Udaipur (Day 3, 3 hrs) \u2192 Jaipur (Day 4, 6 hrs). This way you actually enjoy the journey and see some of Rajasthan's most beautiful countryside.
The Best Combo — Fly + Train
Our hot take: Fly one way, train the other. You get the convenience of a quick flight and the romance of the overnight train. Fly Mumbai to Jaipur in the morning, explore for a few days, then take the evening Superfast Express back to Mumbai \u2014 you wake up in Marine Drive having had one of the most scenic overnight train rides in India.
| Mode | Duration | Cost | Comfort | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlightOur Pick | 1.5 hrs | ₹3,000–₹8,000 | Excellent | Most travellers |
| Train (Superfast) | 12–14 hrs | ₹800–₹2,500 | Good (AC classes) | Scenic overnight |
| Train (Mail/Express) | 18–22 hrs | ₹500–₹1,800 | Variable | Budget travellers |
| Road | 18–20 hrs | ₹6,000–₹10,000 | Exhausting | Nobody, if we're being straight |
Fly In, Train Back
Best for: Maximising time in Jaipur. Arrive fresh by mid-morning, explore for days, then take the scenic overnight train back. You don't lose a single daylight hour.
Train In, Fly Back
Best for: Easing into Rajasthan. The overnight train arrival at dawn, with chai at the station, sets the mood. Then fly back when you're tired and travel-weary \u2014 1.5 hours and you're home.
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Written by
Priya Sharma
Jaipur-born travel writer and licensed guide. Has spent 10+ years walking these forts, eating at these stalls, and arguing with auto drivers about fares — so you don't have to.
Real Talk from a Pink City Local
What's the cheapest way from Mumbai to Jaipur?
Sleeper class on the Mumbai–Jaipur Superfast runs about ₹500–₹700. It’s an 18-hour journey, you won’t get much sleep, and you’ll arrive exhausted — but it’s cheap. If you can stretch to AC 3-Tier (₹1,200–₹1,500), the journey becomes much more comfortable. For flights, book 3–4 weeks ahead on IndiGo or SpiceJet and you can find fares around ₹3,000.
Which Mumbai airport terminal for Jaipur flights?
Domestic flights to Jaipur depart from Terminal 1 (T1) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India Express all operate from T1. If you’re connecting from an international flight at T2, there’s a free shuttle — allow 2 hours for the transfer.
Can I break the journey somewhere interesting?
Absolutely, and you should. Udaipur sits roughly midway and is spectacular — fly Mumbai to Udaipur, spend 2 days on the lakes, then drive or train to Jaipur (6 hours). Alternatively, Ajmer/Pushkar is a 30-minute detour off the Jaipur route and worth a day. The Mumbai–Ahmedabad–Udaipur–Jaipur corridor is one of Rajasthan’s greatest road trips if you have the time.
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