Key takeaways
- Indore's airport is not on the rail line, so a train trip means a short cab or auto hop to Indore Junction first, then a frequent Indore-Ujjain train.
- Indore to Ujjain is about 62 km; trains range from roughly 40 minutes on the fastest service to around 2.5 hours on a passenger, with low fares - verify on IRCTC.
- The train suits budget solo travellers with light luggage arriving in daylight.
- Families, night arrivals and anyone wanting a temple-door drop are usually better off in a pre-booked taxi.
The Indore airport to Ujjain train option is possible, but with a catch: Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport (IDR) is not on the rail line, so you first take a short cab or auto hop to Indore Junction, then one of the frequent Indore-Ujjain trains. The rail leg is about 62 km, roughly 40 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the service, at low fares. It suits budget, light-luggage, daytime arrivals; families and night arrivals usually do better in a taxi.
Everyone online quotes the taxi from Indore airport, but almost nobody explains the realistic train route after you land or when it actually makes sense. This guide joins the two legs - the airport hop and the train - and gives you an honest train-versus-taxi verdict. If you would rather skip the changes, you can pre-book an Indore airport to Ujjain taxi for the hop or for a door-to-door ride. All train times and fares below are approximate; confirm them on IRCTC before you travel.
Indore airport to Ujjain train: the honest answer
There is no railway station at the airport itself. Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport sits on the edge of Indore, a short road distance from Indore Junction, the city's main station. So "Indore airport to Ujjain by train" is really a two-step trip: a quick road hop from the terminal to Indore Junction, then a train on to Ujjain Junction. Once you are at Indore Junction you are spoilt for choice, because a large number of trains run the Indore-Ujjain corridor every day on the Western Railway network.
For the right traveller this is the cheapest way from Indore airport to Ujjain by a wide margin. For the wrong traveller - someone landing at midnight with three bags and elderly parents - the changes and waiting make a pre-booked car the saner option. The rest of this guide helps you tell which one you are.
One thing to set expectations on: "frequent" does not mean "turn up any minute". The fast, short-journey services are limited in number and cluster at certain times of day, while the cheapest passenger trains are slower. So the train can be both quick and cheap, but rarely both on the same service at the exact hour you happen to reach Indore Junction. Checking the day's actual timetable before you commit to the train route is what turns a good idea into a smooth journey.
Step 1: the airport-to-Indore Junction hop
From the terminal, you reach Indore Junction by app cab, prepaid taxi or auto. The distance is short - on the order of 8 to 10 km, so roughly 20 to 30 minutes in normal traffic, though you should treat that as approximate and allow more in peak hours. This hop is unavoidable because the airport has no station of its own.
Build in a buffer: you need time to get a vehicle, reach Indore Junction, find your platform and clear the crowd. If your onward train is one of the limited fast services, missing it can mean a long wait for the next useful one. If the idea of doing this with luggage after a flight sounds tiring, that is exactly the situation where a pre-booked car to the station - or straight to Ujjain - earns its keep. For the road distances and drive times the site has measured, see our Indore airport to Ujjain distance page.
Timing the hop matters because your flight arrival rarely lines up neatly with a good train. If you land mid-morning you will usually find a convenient service within an hour or two; if you land late evening, the gap to the next useful train - or the risk of the last one - can make the whole train plan collapse. Factor the hop and the wait together, not just the train time, when you compare it with a direct cab.
Step 2: Indore Junction to Ujjain Junction trains
This is where the train shines. Indore Junction (station code INDB) to Ujjain Junction (UJN) is about 62 km, and a large number of trains cover it daily, from premium fast services to ordinary passengers. Because frequency is high, you rarely wait long once you are at the station in daytime.
Fastest options
The quickest services, including the Vande Bharat Express on this section, can do the run in roughly 40 to 45 minutes. Reported departure times for the fast morning service vary between sources, so do not plan around a single exact minute - check the live time on IRCTC the day before.
Fares and classes
Fares are low across the board. On mail and express trains they range from around Rs 40 in the General class up to roughly Rs 1,165 in premium AC classes, with sleeper and chair-car options in between. Treat every figure as approximate and subject to change.
Class choice is really a comfort-versus-cost decision. After a flight, many travellers happily pay for a reserved AC chair car for a short, comfortable hop rather than squeeze into a General coach to save a few rupees. If you are travelling light and just want the cheapest ticket, the unreserved General fare is unbeatable; if you have bags and want a guaranteed seat, book a reserved class in advance on IRCTC rather than risk a crowded unreserved coach.
First and last trains
Services start very early - around 05:30 for the first useful train - and run late, with a last departure in the vicinity of 23:30. That wide span is part of why the train is flexible for a daytime flyer, and risky for a late-night one who could miss the last service.
Frequency does thin out at the margins of the day, so the comfortable window for the train is roughly mid-morning to early evening. Within that band you rarely wait long; outside it, plan carefully or default to road transport.
| Train (name / no.) | Approx departure | Approx time | Class / fare band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vande Bharat Express (e.g. 20911) | Early morning (approx; verify) | Approx 40-45 min | AC chair car; higher fare |
| Intercity / Express services | Multiple through the day | Approx 1-1.5 hrs | Sleeper / 2S; low fare |
| MEMU / Passenger | Multiple through the day | Approx 2-2.5 hrs | General; cheapest (from ~Rs 40) |
| First / last of the day | First approx 05:30, last approx 23:30 | Varies by service | Wide daily span |
The named trains, exact departures and current fares are managed by Indian Railways and published on IRCTC; because timetables on the Ratlam railway division change periodically, always reconfirm there rather than trusting a cached figure.
Train vs taxi after landing: which wins?
The two options optimise for different things. The train optimises for cost; the taxi optimises for effort and door-to-door convenience. The table weighs them for someone who has just landed at Indore airport heading to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain.
| Factor | Train (via Indore Junction) | Pre-booked taxi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest; low rail fares plus a short hop fare | Higher; single door-to-door fare (on the taxi page) |
| Door-to-door | No - airport hop, station, then Ujjain | Yes - terminal to your Ujjain address |
| Luggage | Awkward with heavy bags and changes | Easy; bags stay in the car |
| Night / odd hours | Risky; last-train and auto availability | Reliable; 24x7 pickup |
| Group / family | Fiddly to coordinate | Comfortable for families |
| Total time after landing | Variable; depends on the hop and connection | Predictable; roughly a 55 km, 1-1.5 hr drive |
The road distance and drive-time figures above are the ones the site has recorded for the direct route; fares for the car are quoted live on the taxi page, not invented here. In short: if you are counting rupees and travelling light in daylight, the train wins; if you value a single predictable ride, the taxi wins.
Who should take the train (and who should not)
Good fit for the train
Solo and budget travellers with a backpack, arriving in daylight, who do not mind a change at Indore Junction and a short walk at Ujjain Junction. For them the train is cheap, frequent and genuinely quick on the fast services.
Budget is usually the deciding factor for this group. The total train cost - the short hop plus a low rail fare - typically lands well below a private cab, and for a single traveller the saving is meaningful. The trade is effort and a little uncertainty, which a seasoned solo traveller shrugs off but a tired family does not.
Better off in a cab
Families, anyone with heavy luggage, pilgrims who want to be dropped near the temple, and all late-night or early pre-dawn arrivals. Missing the last train or hunting for an auto outside the airport at 1 AM is exactly the stress a pre-booked car removes. If you are weighing the whole arrival experience, our Indore airport guide for Ujjain pilgrims walks through the options after you land.
Night and pre-dawn arrivals deserve a special warning. The last Indore-Ujjain train leaves relatively late, but relying on catching it after a delayed flight is a gamble, and autos at the airport in the small hours are not guaranteed. For a Bhasma Aarti morning in particular, when you must be in Ujjain and rested before dawn, the certainty of a pre-booked car almost always outweighs the saving from a train.
For the live train list, times and fares referenced here, the Indore-Ujjain train schedule is a convenient overview, but book and reconfirm on IRCTC. Landing at Indore and want to skip the changes? Pre-book your airport-to-Ujjain cab on WhatsApp.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train from Indore airport to Ujjain?
Not directly - Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport has no railway station. You take a short cab or auto hop to Indore Junction, then one of the frequent Indore-Ujjain trains to Ujjain Junction. Check live times and fares on IRCTC.
How do I get from Indore airport to Indore Junction?
By app cab, prepaid taxi or auto. It is a short road hop of roughly 8 to 10 km, about 20 to 30 minutes in normal traffic, though you should allow extra in peak hours. There is no rail link from the airport itself.
How long does the Indore to Ujjain train take?
About 62 km, with journey times from roughly 40 to 45 minutes on the fastest services such as the Vande Bharat Express to around 2 to 2.5 hours on a passenger train. All times are approximate; confirm on IRCTC.
Is the train cheaper than a taxi from Indore airport to Ujjain?
Yes, the train is the cheapest option, with low rail fares plus a small hop fare to Indore Junction. A pre-booked taxi costs more but is door-to-door and easier with luggage, families or night arrivals. Car fares are shown on the taxi page.
What is the last train from Indore to Ujjain?
The last useful departure is in the vicinity of 23:30, with the first around 05:30, but exact times change. If you land late, the train is risky - verify the current last service on IRCTC or pre-book a 24x7 taxi instead.
Planning your Ujjain trip?
Get a quoteWritten and reviewed by the Fly to Ujjain editorial team. Facts checked against primary sources; see the reference above.