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The journey from the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Chennai to the cultural heart of West Bengal in Kolkata is a classic traverse across the eastern coast of India. While Chennai offers a structured, traditional Tamil atmosphere with its sprawling Marina Beach and filter coffee, Kolkata greets you with a whirlwind of colonial history, yellow taxis and the sweet scent of rosogollas. Travellers choose between the speed of the air and the endurance of the Indian Railways.
Chennai to Kolkata by Flight
Flights depart from Chennai International Airport (MAA) and land at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) in Kolkata. IndiGo gives the straight-line distance as around 1,366 km and the flight duration as generally 2.5 hours.[1] It quotes fares between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000, depending on when you book.[1] Chennai airport is about 20 km from the city, and Kolkata airport about 16 km from the city.[1]
Chennai to Howrah by Train
The train to Howrah Junction, the main gateway to Kolkata, runs along the coast through Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before reaching West Bengal. It is a very long ride, so most travellers pick a sleeper class: 1A (AC First Class) with lockable compartments, 2A (AC 2-Tier) or 3A (AC 3-Tier). Check departures, arrival times and fares for your date in the Indian Railways enquiry system (NTES) or on IRCTC.
Reservations open 60 days before the journey, not counting the travel day.[2] The free luggage allowance is 70 kg in AC First, 50 kg in AC 2-tier and 40 kg in AC 3-tier and in sleeper class.[3]
Timetable
| Flight Chennai - Kolkata $ 56.45–71.91 2h 10m – 2h 45m | |
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| Taxi Chennai - Kolkata $ 716.82–1,035.35 1days 1h 26m | |
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| Taxi Chennai - Dam Dam $ 714.97–1,032.63 1days 1h 42m | |
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| Train Chennai - Howrah $ 11.12–53.27 1days 4h – 1days 4h 20m | |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use the booking tool on this page to compare the transport options currently available from Chennai to Kolkata, including current prices and schedules.
Flying. IndiGo gives the flight duration as generally 2.5 hours for the roughly 1,366 km between the two cities.
IndiGo quotes fares between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000 depending on when you book (October 2026).
Sleeper classes such as 1A (AC First Class), 2A (AC 2-Tier) and 3A (AC 3-Tier) are the usual choice. Check fares and times for your date in NTES or on IRCTC.
The free allowance is 70 kg in AC First, 50 kg in AC 2-tier and 40 kg in AC 3-tier and sleeper class, according to Indian Railways.
Indian Railways opens reservations 60 days before the journey, not counting the travel day.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] IndiGo: Chennai to Kolkata Flights. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [2] Indian Railways: Advance Reservation. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [3] Indian Railways: Luggage rules. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
Guide prices and journey times are indicative, not live quotes. A booked package may include transfers and waiting time as well as the main journey. Check the selected offer, pickup point and current conditions before booking.