Delhi to Ludhiana distance, travel time and best route
Ludhiana is about 310 km from Delhi on NH-44, the Delhi–Amritsar national highway and the standard direct route. The cab heads north through Panipat, Karnal and Ambala, crosses into Punjab and reaches Ludhiana in 5 – 6 hours, including one or two short breaks.
| Route | Via | Distance | Travel time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended | NH-44 → Panipat → Karnal → Ambala → Ludhiana | ~310 km | 5 hr 30 min | Fastest direct route |
NH-44 has the famous Murthal paratha dhabas and plenty of highway-side eateries, and the drive is smooth on the six-lane highway.
Top places to visit in Ludhiana
1. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)
One of India's premier agriculture universities. The lush, peaceful campus has a botanical garden, an agricultural museum and rural heritage walks.
2. Hardy's World
A large theme park with water rides, roller coasters and family attractions — a good half-day out with children.
3. Tiger Safari and Rakh Bagh
The Tiger Safari zoo is home to tigers and other big cats, while Rakh Bagh is the city's green lung, busy with joggers every morning.
4. Phillaur Fort
A historic fort on NH-44 towards Jalandhar that now houses the Punjab Police Academy. Access is limited, but the fort is historically significant.
5. Wholesale markets and Punjabi food
Ludhiana is famous for its woollen and hosiery wholesale markets such as Chaura Bazaar, and for bicycles, sports goods and machinery — traders come from across India to source here. Leave time for a proper Punjabi meal before you head back.
A same-day business trip from Delhi
Because the drive is 5 – 6 hours each way, a same-day round trip is practical for business meetings. A typical plan:
- Early pickup from your home, office, hotel or IGI Airport anywhere in Delhi NCR.
- NH-44 north with a short breakfast or tea halt, reaching Ludhiana in about 5 hr 30 min.
- Meetings, factory visits or market sourcing in Ludhiana.
- The same cab drives you back to Delhi that evening. Ask for a GST invoice for your expense claim.
If your day runs long, the round-trip fare already includes the driver's night halt, so you can stay over and return the next morning.
Going on to Jalandhar and Amritsar
Ludhiana, Jalandhar (60 km) and Amritsar (140 km) all sit on the NH-44 corridor, so it is easy to turn a Ludhiana visit into a Punjab trip. A combined 2-day Punjab trip in a Sedan costs ₹11,000–14,000. See our Delhi to Jalandhar taxi and Delhi to Amritsar taxi pages for those routes.
Best time to visit Ludhiana from Delhi
The best season is October to March. Summers cross 45°C. Winter mornings often bring heavy fog on the highway, so we recommend daytime travel in December and January.
Festivals
- Baisakhi (13 April) — Punjab's biggest harvest festival.
- Lohri (13 January) — winter celebrations with bonfires.
- Guru Nanak Jayanti (November) — celebrations across the Sikh community.
Travel tips for your Ludhiana trip
- On regular days, 2–4 hours' notice is enough to book. For weekends, festivals and peak season, book 1–2 weeks ahead.
- Sourcing with colleagues or travelling to a wedding? The 12-seater Force Tempo Traveller has AC, push-back seats and room for 12 bags.
- Arrived in Ludhiana by train or flight? We also run Ludhiana to Delhi return taxis at the same fares and can send a cab to your hotel.
- Every cab is fully air-conditioned, with no extra charge for AC.