Diwali Week Travel: Train or Road?

Diwali week is the busiest travel week of the Indian year for many people. Students head home, workers return to their villages, families converge on grandparents’ houses, and holidaymakers set off for the hills and beaches. The result is predictable: full trains, crowded highways, and airfares that can rise sharply as the festival approaches. If you are planning a Diwali getaway, the question of how to travel is as important as where to go.

This article looks at the trade-offs between taking the train and going by road during Diwali week. It does not quote fares or timetables, which change constantly, but it does offer a way to think about the choice.

The dates that matter

In 2025, the main festival days fall from around Saturday 18 October (Dhanteras) to Thursday 23 October (Bhai Dooj), with Lakshmi Puja on Monday 20 October in most calendars. Chhath Puja, which draws enormous numbers of travellers to Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, follows shortly after, around the last week of October. That means the travel rush can stretch over two weeks, with peaks just before Diwali and again before Chhath, and heavy return traffic in between.

The case for the train

Trains remain the most affordable way for most Indians to travel long distances, and during festival weeks Indian Railways typically runs additional festival special trains on busy routes. A confirmed berth on a good train lets you sleep through the night, avoid highway traffic, and arrive without the fatigue of a long drive.

The catch, of course, is getting that confirmed berth. Reservations on popular routes open well in advance, currently around two months before the date of travel, though the rules have changed over the years, so check the current advance reservation period. Seats on the busiest trains can fill within minutes of booking opening. Tatkal quotas, released a day before travel, offer another chance, but competition for them is intense.

If you are travelling by train during Diwali week, consider these points:

Book as early as the reservation window allows.
Look for festival special trains as they are announced.
Travel on less popular days if you can, such as the festival day itself.
Avoid unreserved travel in the rush unless you are prepared for very crowded coaches.
Keep valuables close; crowded stations attract pickpockets.

The case for the road

Driving offers flexibility. You can leave when you want, stop where you like, carry as much luggage as you need, and reach places with no railway station. For hill towns and smaller destinations, the road is often the only practical way in for the last part of the journey.

The disadvantage is the traffic. National highways out of big cities can be badly congested on the evenings and weekends before Diwali. Toll plazas back up, though electronic tolling has reduced the worst queues. Hill roads, narrow and winding, can grind to a crawl when hundreds of cars arrive at once. And driving at night during the festival, when some people are celebrating, carries its own risks.

If you are driving, consider these points:

Leave early in the morning, ideally before dawn, to beat the worst of the traffic.
Avoid driving on the evening before the main festival day, when traffic often peaks.
Plan rest stops and fuel in advance; some roadside places close for the festival.
Do not drive on Diwali night if you can avoid it.
In the hills, allow plenty of extra time and do not drive tired.

Buses and shared taxis

Between the train and your own car lie buses and shared taxis. State transport corporations and private operators often add services during the festival, and buses can be a good option for shorter routes or where trains are full. Fares on private buses can rise sharply in peak demand, so compare before you book and use reputable operators.

Flying

Air travel is outside the scope of this piece, but it is worth noting that airfares on popular domestic routes often climb steeply as Diwali approaches. We look at that more closely in our article on closures and surge fares. If you fly, the same principle applies: book early, travel on less popular days, and allow extra time at the airport.

A combination often works best

For many destinations the best answer is a combination. Take a train overnight to the nearest railhead, then a local taxi for the final stretch into the hills or to a small town. That way you sleep through the long-distance part of the journey and use the road only where you must. Many hill destinations in the north, for example, have railheads at the foot of the hills from which taxis and buses continue upward.

When to travel

Whatever mode you choose, the single most useful thing you can do is shift your dates. Leaving two or three days before the rush, or travelling on the festival day itself, often makes the journey much easier. Returning a day or two after Bhai Dooj, rather than on the same day as everyone else, can save hours.

The return journey

People often plan the outward journey carefully and forget the return. The days after Diwali, and especially after Chhath, see enormous numbers heading back to the cities. Book your return at the same time as your outward trip, and be prepared for crowded stations and highways.

Pack for the journey

Whether by train or road, pack for delays. Carry water, snacks, a power bank, any medicines you need, and something warm for overnight journeys. Download your tickets and maps so you can access them without a signal.

Travelling with children and elders

Festival crowds are hardest on the youngest and oldest travellers. On trains, choose lower berths for elders where possible, and keep children within sight on busy platforms. On the road, plan shorter driving days with more breaks, and keep a small bag of essentials within reach rather than buried in the boot. If someone in your party finds crowds difficult, the case for travelling a few days early becomes even stronger.

Train or road, the week of lights is a week of movement. With a little planning, the journey can be part of the festival rather than an ordeal that precedes it.