Indore Airport Terminal 1 vs Terminal 2: Which Is Yours?

Indore airport terminal 1 is the renovated old terminal, reopened on 29 March 2026 for smaller ATR turboprop flights, while Terminal 2 is the larger 2012 building used by jets. Because airlines can move flights between them, check the terminal printed on your boarding pass or shown in your airline app, and tell your Ujjain driver which terminal you are landing at.

Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport (IDR) in Indore is the airport most pilgrims use for Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, about 55 km away. For more than a decade it worked from a single terminal, so many older guides, and even some booking pages, still describe it that way. This page explains what changed in 2026, compares the two terminals using dated sources, shows how to work out which one your flight uses, and sets out a pickup plan for the drive to Ujjain. For everything else about arriving at IDR, from baggage to meeting points, read our full Indore airport guide for Ujjain pilgrims.

Indore Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at a Glance

Indore airport is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and lies about 8 km west of the city. It was cleared for international flights in 2018, according to Wikipedia. The two terminals differ mainly in size and in the aircraft they are meant to handle. The figures below come from four sources published between February and October 2026; where sources disagree, we show both rather than pick one.

Comparison table

Indian Infrastructure reported that the reopened Terminal 1 raises the airport's combined capacity to about 5 million passengers a year. The Free Press Journal gave the combined figure as about 55 lakh, which is 5.5 million. The difference is small and reflects different rounding.

What Changed in 2026: The Old Terminal Reopened as T1

When AAI opened the new terminal in February 2012, built at a reported cost of Rs 135 crore, the older terminal building was left unused. It has since been renovated and brought back as Terminal 1, so the airport again has two working buildings.

From abandoned building to ATR terminal

The renovated terminal was inaugurated on 29 March 2026 by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, according to Dainik Jagran. Indian Infrastructure reported the same date and said flight operations were expected to begin in April 2026. In February 2026 the Free Press Journal said the work included three new X-ray machines and a new conveyor belt, and that flights were set to start from 1 April, subject to safety checks.

The aim is to free space in the busier Terminal 2 by moving smaller aircraft out. The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop that carries far fewer passengers than an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 and is mostly used on short regional routes. Moving those flights to a separate building is meant to ease crowding in Terminal 2.

What reports say about which flights moved

This is where sources part ways, so read the numbers as reported plans, not a confirmed timetable:

• The Free Press Journal (28 February 2026) said 36 daily ATR flights were planned to shift to the old terminal.
• Wikipedia (accessed 24 October 2026) says about 16 flights were to move from T2 to T1, carrying around 2,700 passengers a day, and lists T1 for ATR and international flights.
• Labels also vary between news outlets, so do not rely on a headline's "Terminal 1" or "Terminal 2" label alone; some coverage also describes T1 simply as a domestic terminal.

We searched English and Hindi news on 24 October 2026 and found no later report confirming exactly which airlines or flights now operate from T1. The AAI page for Indore airport, checked the same day, gives no terminal allocation either. So we do not name airlines or flight numbers for either terminal; your own booking is the only reliable source.

How to Tell Which Terminal Your Flight Uses

You need the terminal for two reasons: to reach the right building when you fly out, and to tell your Ujjain driver where to wait when you fly in. Three checks, in this order, settle it.

Boarding pass and airline app

Your boarding pass, e-ticket or the airline's app is the first place to look. Airlines that fly from Indore, including IndiGo and Air India Express, normally print the terminal on the boarding pass and show it in the booking details. Look for "T1" or "T2" next to Indore or IDR. Check again on the day of travel, because a terminal can change after you book.

Aircraft type: ATR turboprop vs jet

If no terminal is shown, the aircraft type is a good clue. Booking pages often list the equipment as "ATR 72" or "ATR", or as an Airbus A320 family or Boeing 737 family jet. Based on the reported plan, an ATR flight is likely to use Terminal 1 and a jet is likely to use Terminal 2. Treat this as a likely answer only.

If the terminal isn't shown

Contact the airline or check the airport's departure and arrival screens. If you are being dropped off and still are not sure, ask at the airport entry gate which building handles your flight before the driver leaves. We have found no confirmed walkway or shuttle between the terminals, so do not count on walking across.

Terminal 1 Facilities: What to Expect

Terminal 1 is a compact building, about a third of Terminal 2's floor area, so expect fewer facilities. Only the items below were reported at the opening; anything else should be checked on arrival.

Check-in, security, baggage

Dainik Jagran reported 14 check-in counters. The Free Press Journal reported three new X-ray machines and a new conveyor belt, and Wikipedia lists three gates and two baggage carousels. Leave the usual time for check-in and security.

Food, seating, parking

At the opening, Dainik Jagran reported an "Udaan Yatri Cafe" selling tea at Rs 10 and snacks at Rs 20, seating for about 300 people and parking for about 150 vehicles. Wikipedia puts seating at 400. These were opening-day figures and prices, so treat them as a guide. We have no confirmed lounge details for Terminal 1; for lounge options at IDR see our Indore airport lounge guide.

Arriving for Ujjain: Pickup Plan by Terminal

A two-terminal airport adds one step to your arrival plan: making sure your driver is at the right building. From either terminal, the road run to Ujjain is about 55 km and usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours.

Message your driver the terminal before take-off

Send your driver or transfer company the flight number, the scheduled arrival time and the terminal ("T1" or "T2") before you board. If your terminal changes, send an update. Our guide to where your cab waits at Indore airport explains the meeting points.

Prepaid taxi and app cabs

If you have not booked ahead, check whether the taxi counter or app pickup point serves the terminal you are in before you walk out with your bags. Fares change, so compare before paying. Pre-booking an Indore airport to Ujjain taxi avoids that search after a flight.

Seniors and heavy luggage

For elderly parents or anyone needing a wheelchair, ask the airline for assistance when you book and repeat the terminal to the driver so nobody has to cross between buildings. Our page on senior citizen assistance at Indore airport covers what to request.

Departing Back from Indore: Which Terminal and When to Leave Ujjain

For the return, check the terminal again on your boarding pass the evening before, and tell your driver before you set off from Ujjain. Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours for the road, then add time for traffic in Indore, for check-in and security, and for the airline's check-in cut-off, which you should confirm with the airline. If you plan a darshan at Mahakal on the morning of your flight, build that into the timing rather than leaving it to chance.

During large festivals, and especially around Simhastha 2028, expect heavier traffic on the Indore-Ujjain road and more passengers at both terminals. Leave earlier than usual and re-check the terminal, because allocations can change when extra flights are added. For background on the reopening, the Indian Infrastructure report on the Terminal 1 inauguration gives the area and capacity figures used here.

Written and reviewed by the Fly to Ujjain editorial team. Facts checked against primary sources; see the reference above.

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