West Bengal is an eastern Indian state stretching from the Himalayan foothills at Darjeeling to the mangrove delta of the Sundarbans. It combines the colonial heritage and literary culture of Kolkata with tea estates, terracotta temples, wildlife reserves and Bay of Bengal beaches.
- Public
- Extensive rail, Metro and bus network, with rail the best option for intercity travel
- Taxi
- App cabs are available in Kolkata and Siliguri; hill towns rely on shared jeeps
- Rental
- Self-drive is uncommon and hill roads demand local drivers
- Walking
- Kolkata's central areas and Darjeeling's Mall are walkable
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 4/5
- Taxi
- 3/5
- Rental
- 2/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- Kolkata airport to the city, ₹500-900 ($5-9)
- Taxi Info
- Prepaid counters operate at Kolkata and Bagdogra airports
- Shuttle
- Airport buses connect to city centres in Kolkata
- Shuttle Info
- Operating schedules vary; confirm current timings at the airport
- Bus
- Buses from CCU to Esplanade and Howrah
- Bus Info
- Travel time depends on traffic
- Private
- Pre-booked car with fixed fare from the airport, about ₹1,000-2,000 ($10-21)
- Private Info
- Bagdogra to Darjeeling about ₹3,000-4,500 per vehicle
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
State and private buses cover Kolkata; Darjeeling relies on shared jeeps
Alternatives
Metro, tram, app cabs and autos in Kolkata; shared jeeps and walking in Darjeeling
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- Yellow taxis run on meters in Kolkata but fares are often negotiated; app cabs are the reliable choice
- Apps
- Uber, Ola, Rapido
- App Names
- Uber, Ola, Rapido
- Typical Fare
- ₹100-300 ($1-3) for typical Kolkata city rides; Darjeeling fixed-rate taxis from about ₹300 for short local hops
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
State and private buses to Digha, Bakkhali, Santiniketan and Siliguri for ₹150-900 ($1.6-9.4)
Shared
Shared jeeps and cabs connect Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Gangtok
Flights
Kolkata to Bagdogra about 1 hour 10 minutes, ₹3,000-8,000 ($31-83)
Private
Chauffeur-driven cars from ₹3,500 to ₹6,500 per day ($36-68)
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
West Bengal is connected by rail, road and air. Kolkata is the main international gateway, Bagdogra serves the Darjeeling hills, and Indian Railways links Howrah and Sealdah to most districts.
Airports
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport
Bagdogra Airport
Cooch Behar Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
IRCTC Rail Connect
Official app for Indian Railways reservations
Uber
Ride-hailing in Kolkata and Siliguri
Ola
Ride-hailing and outstation cabs in Kolkata
Rapido
Bike taxis and autos in Kolkata and Siliguri
redBus
Bus booking for state and private operators
Where Is My Train
Offline train running status and PNR tracker
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Book Vande Bharat and express trains on IRCTC well ahead for Howrah to New Jalpaiguri travel
Use app cabs in Kolkata to avoid fare disputes
Darjeeling shared jeeps depart from fixed stands when full
Landslides can close Darjeeling and Kalimpong roads in monsoon; check status before travel
Prepaid taxi counters at Kolkata and Bagdogra airports are the safest option
Kolkata Metro is the fastest way to avoid road traffic
Carry small notes for ferries, trams and jeeps