How To Reach Patiala

Patiala is popular among locals and tourists as a city that reverberates an eccentric and comprehensive grandeur. This grandeur is a product of the town's rich cultural heritage, majestic historical monuments, and glorious religious inheritance. It only fits that Patiala garners the name "City of Forts and Gardens" in honor of the brilliant architectural masterpieces spread across its expanse. The fastest way to reach Patiala is by boarding an air carrier to the Chandigarh Airport and then taking a cab to reach the destination of choice. Other than this mode of transport, the city's excellent rail connections provide a scenic route through India's landscapes. Let us understand the different travel options that offer access to the beautiful town of Patiala.

Since Patiala is bereft of an airport, the Chandigarh Airport forms the closest airport to this city. Chandigarh Airport is situated approximately 63 km away from Patiala. The nearest international airport to Patiala is Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is located around 243 km away from the town. Foreign tourists can make their way to the Delhi airport and then catch a connecting flight to the domestic airport at Chandigarh. Some of the major airlines that ply along this route include Air Asia India, Jet Airways, Vistara, Air India, Go Air, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Air India. These excellent airline companies provide air carriers that connect tourists to cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Srinagar, Hyderabad, and Delhi. Once at the airport, tourists can either catch a local bus run by the PEPSU transport company or rent a cab to get to their destination.

Patiala is blessed with its very own railway station, the Patiala Railway Station. Situated approximately 3 km away from the heart of the city, this railway station provides excellent connectivity to other hubs of North India such as Ambala, Bathinda, Amritsar, Delhi, Barmer, Kalka, and Haridwar. Ambala Railway Station also lies close to Patiala and forms a more renowned rail station. With express trains like Mumbai CST- Bhatinda Express, Delhi- Fazilka Intercity Express, Shri Ganga Nagar- Haridwar Intercity Express, Jammu Tawi -Bhatinda Express, and Varanasi- Bhatinda Express, this railway station provides better rail connectivity to the town. Once at Ambala Railway Station, tourists can choose to hop on to passenger trains such as Ambala-Patiala Passenger Express and Ambala- Bhatinda Passenger Express to make their way to the city of Patiala.

The national highways that lead commuters into Patiala comprise sturdy and comfortable roadways. Owing to these smooth roadways, Patiala enjoys excellent connectivity to neighboring towns such as Ludhiana, Amritsar, Delhi, Ambala, Jalandhar, and Chandigarh. Formerly known as Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), the Punjab Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) is a prime bus transport operator across the whole of North India, with Patiala forming its headquarters. Tourists can pick and choose between the Ordinary, Deluxe, and AC Volvo range of buses at disposal. Some of the local bus operators also offer road connectivity to international cities around the corner, such as Lahore. The Patiala Bus Stand is the central hub where most of the buses start from or end their journeys.

Patiala is blessed with several travel options to commute inside the city's expanse. The most convenient mode of transport in the town is the auto-rickshaw that can be easily called for around any nook and cranny of Patiala. Tourists can also opt for inexpensive cycle-rickshaws when the tourist sites they need to visit lie within proximity. Those visitors who prefer a more comfortable and luxurious mode of transport can hire a radio taxi or private cab from local rental agencies to aid their sightseeing ventures. Tourists must make it a point, though, to negotiate or confirm the expenses for their rides before they get on the road to avoid being charged exorbitantly. Last but not least, Patiala's Municipal Corporation also operates buses around town.