Lucknow has one non-stop flight a day towards Ujjain: IndiGo to Indore (IDR), landing at 18:55 after about 2h 05mβ2h 15m. The flight back leaves Indore at 19:20. From the airport, Mahakaleshwar is about 60 km, roughly 1β1.5 hours by road, so you reach Ujjain the same evening. There is no airport in Ujjain with scheduled flights.
Landing at Indore airport? Book your airport pickup to Ujjain / Omkareshwar and your stay
For pilgrims from Lucknow and the rest of central Uttar Pradesh, this single flight has replaced a long overnight train for many families. It suits a two- or three-night trip. Because there is only one flight each way, and it uses a smaller ATR 72 turboprop, seats are limited and the timings shape every other decision. Details below reflect the late-September 2026 schedule.
LucknowβIndore flight details
| Detail | Lucknow (LKO) β Indore (IDR) | Indore (IDR) β Lucknow (LKO) |
|---|---|---|
| Airline and aircraft | IndiGo, ATR 72 | IndiGo, ATR 72 |
| Frequency | 1 a day | 1 a day |
| Flight and time | 6E7221, arrives IDR 18:55 | 6E7422, departs IDR 19:20 |
| Flying time | About 2h 05m β 2h 15m | About 1h 50m β 2h 00m |
IndiGo’s Lucknow to Indore page shows the current timing and fares. A single daily flight can be retimed at the late-October schedule change, so check again before you travel.
Two hours on a turboprop: what to expect
At just over two hours, this is one of the longest ATR sectors into Indore. The aircraft is smaller and a little noisier than a jet, and the overhead bins are compact. Keep cabin bags soft and small. Carry a light layer, as the cabin can be cool, and keep medicines and a snack in your cabin bag. Elderly passengers who need wheelchair help should request it at booking, because boarding and deplaning may use steps rather than an aerobridge. At Indore, sources disagree on which terminal ATR flights use since the two-terminal set-up began in April 2026. Go by the terminal printed on your boarding pass and pass it on to your driver.
Arriving at 18:55: the evening drive to Ujjain
With bags collected and a car waiting, you are typically on the road by about 19:30. The drive via the IndoreβUjjain road through Sanwer is about 60β62 km, so you check in at Ujjain around 20:30β21:00. That is late enough to need dinner planned, but early enough to sleep properly. Uber runs 24/7 at IDR. For an evening arrival with luggage and elders, a driver who is already tracking your flight is simpler. You can book one on our airport pickup page. The distance guide explains the road.
Arrival night: small things that help
Most of the friction on this route comes from arriving in the evening, not from the flight itself. A few simple arrangements make the first night easier:
- Tell your Ujjain hotel your flight number and expected arrival of about 21:00, and ask whether the kitchen will still be open. If it will not, have dinner at the airport or ask your driver to stop on the way.
- Keep one small bag with the next day’s clothes, medicines and phone chargers, so you do not have to unpack everything late at night.
- In winter, keep a shawl or jacket handy. The Malwa plateau gets cold after dark, especially from December to January.
- If your Bhasma Aarti is the next morning, confirm the reporting time and dress code with your booking before you sleep, and set two alarms.
Flight or overnight train from Lucknow?
Many Lucknow families have traditionally made this journey by overnight train, and it is still a reasonable choice for a large group on a budget. The flight’s advantage is time and rest. Two hours in the air, plus an hour or so on the road, replaces most of a day and a night of rail travel, so you start darshan fresh. The flight’s drawback is its fixed evening timing. If the single daily flight does not fit your dates, or is sold out, the train remains a practical fallback.
When to book Bhasma Aarti on a Lucknow trip
Same-day aarti is impossible, since you only land in the evening. The real question is whether to book it for the next morning or the one after.
| Aarti morning | Sleep you get | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Morning after arrival | Short night after a 21:00 check-in and a pre-dawn alarm | Fit adults on a tight two-night trip |
| Second morning | A full night plus a rest day | Families, senior citizens, first-time visitors |
If the flight is delayed, the next-morning option has no buffer at all. For most groups, the second morning is the better booking.
Sample three-night plan from Lucknow
- Day 1: Fly to Indore, land 18:55, reach Ujjain by about 21:00. Light dinner and sleep.
- Day 2: General darshan at Mahakaleshwar in the morning, Mahakal Lok, then rest. Evening at Ram Ghat on the Shipra.
- Day 3: Bhasma Aarti before dawn (pre-booked). Later, Kal Bhairav, Harsiddhi and Sandipani Ashram.
- Day 4: A relaxed morning. Leave Ujjain around 16:00β16:30 for the 19:20 flight home.
On a two-night version, drop Day 2 and book the aarti for the morning after arrival, accepting a short night.
Booking the fare on a one-flight route
With a single ATR each way, the whole route’s capacity sits on one small aircraft. We don’t have verified fare figures to publish, and prices change with demand, but the pattern is predictable. Seats go early around Mahashivratri (6 March 2027), Shravan (roughly JulyβAugust), long weekends and school holidays, and above all Simhastha 2028 (27 March to 27 May 2028). As a rule of thumb, book about 6β8 weeks ahead for normal dates and earlier for festivals. Book your Ujjain stay at the same time, since arrival night is not the moment to look for a room.
If the non-stop is full, one-stop options via Delhi, which has around ten daily Indore flights, give far more timings. They take longer overall, so compare door-to-door time before deciding. The Delhi route page and the flights hub have the details.
Travelling from Varanasi or elsewhere in UP?
There is currently no non-stop from Varanasi to Indore. The last direct IndiGo service stopped in October 2024, and today’s options are all connections. Lucknow is the only Uttar Pradesh city with a scheduled non-stop to Indore as of September 2026. Families in eastern UP sometimes travel to Lucknow for this flight. Others connect through Delhi. Whichever you choose, check the arrival time in Indore carefully. An evening landing followed by a 60 km drive is manageable, but a late-night landing after a long connection is hard on elders.
Making the 19:20 flight home
Leave Ujjain around 16:00β16:30, a little earlier on Sundays and festival days. That still gives you a morning in Ujjain on departure day. If you want more airport information before you go, the Indore airport guide covers facilities and the terminal layout.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct flight from Lucknow to Ujjain?
No. Ujjain has no scheduled flights. IndiGo flies one non-stop a day from Lucknow to Indore (IDR), and Ujjain is about 60 km by road from there.
What time does the Lucknow flight land at Indore?
As of late September 2026, IndiGo 6E7221 lands at Indore at 18:55. You can reach Ujjain by about 20:30β21:00.
What is the flight from Indore to Lucknow?
IndiGo 6E7422 departs Indore at 19:20 and takes about 1h 50mβ2h. Leave Ujjain around 16:00β16:30.
Is there a direct flight from Varanasi to Indore?
Not currently. The last direct service ended in October 2024. Connect via another city, or use the Lucknow non-stop.
When should I book Bhasma Aarti on a trip from Lucknow?
Book it for your second morning in Ujjain if you can. The morning straight after arrival works only for fit adults willing to accept a short night.