Road trip guide

Puri Siliguri

Planning to travel from Puri to Siliguri? It is about 990 km by road and 20 to 23 hours by bus. Here is the whole journey: the towns on the way, the best time to leave, and how to travel comfortably.

about 990 kmabout 20 to 23 hours9 big stops on the way

Photo: Siliguri, Sourik8, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Quick answer

Puri to Siliguri by bus takes about 20 to 23 hours and covers about 990 km by road, via Bhubaneswar, Kharagpur, Dhulian, Kishanganj. Leave in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day.

The journey, stop by stop

The big towns the road passes, in order.

Puristart
Bhubaneswar
Cuttack
Bhadrak
Kharagpur
Bardhaman
Dhulian
Malda
Karandighi
Kishanganj
Siliguri arrive

What the road is like

From Puri the road passes Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Kharagpur, Bardhaman, Dhulian, Malda, Karandighi and Kishanganj before reaching Siliguri.

Siliguri is the gateway to Darjeeling, Sikkim and the North East. Travellers change here for the hills.

Puri is home to Lord Jagannath and the Rath Yatra, and one of India’s great pilgrimage towns. Travellers arrive from across India, and many continue to other temple towns by road.

Trains also connect the Puri area with Siliguri. Check IRCTC for direct trains and current availability: on festival and holiday dates they often sell out weeks ahead.

Why go by bus, not train?

Why more and more people now choose the road for Puri to Siliguri.

Board near home: a bus stops at towns and junctions along the way, so you do not have to travel to a big station first.
Seats when trains are full: on popular dates, train seats to Siliguri sell out weeks ahead, while buses add capacity close to the date.
Live tracking your family can follow, so nobody has to call you at midnight to ask where you are.
A proper berth to sleep in: a modern AC sleeper coach gives you your own lie-flat berth with curtains, charging and a reading light.
Why buses are growing: new expressways, better coaches and online booking with seat choice have made long-distance road travel faster and far more comfortable than it was a few years ago.

Tips for the journey

Pick a lower berth if you get up at night, and an upper berth if you want the most privacy and the least foot traffic.

Carry a light shawl: AC coaches run cool after midnight, even in summer.

Keep your ID, phone charger and water in a small bag at your berth, and the big bag in the luggage hold.

Share your live bus tracking link with family before you sleep, so they can see where you are without calling.

Eat a light dinner before boarding. Long-route coaches stop for meals, but timings depend on the road.

Questions travellers ask

How long does Puri to Siliguri take by bus?

About 20 to 23 hours, depending on traffic, stops and the exact road.

How far is Siliguri from Puri by road?

About 990 km.

Which towns are on the way from Puri to Siliguri?

Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Kharagpur, Bardhaman, Dhulian, Malda, Karandighi and Kishanganj.

When is the best time to leave?

Leave in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day.

Is it better to go by bus or train from Puri to Siliguri?

Both work. A bus lets you board near home and often has seats when trains are full; a train can be faster on some routes. For a trip this long, choose an AC sleeper berth.

Useful links: the road route on Google Maps and IRCTC for current trains. Distances and times are rounded and vary with traffic and stops.

Last updated 15 October 2026 by the Nandighosh travel team.