City

Bhubaneswar from Ranchi - 455 km, 9 hr - 10 hr 30 min by cab

The temple city on the road to Puri

Distance

455 km

Drive time

9 hr - 10 hr 30 min

Best time to visit

Oct - Feb

From

₹8,499 one way · ₹15,499 round trip

Bhubaneswar is 455 km from Ranchi, about 9 hr - 10 hr 30 min by cab. The temple city on the road to Puri. Raahi Saarthi cab fares start at ₹8,499 one way · ₹15,499 round trip. The best time to visit is Oct - Feb.

Bhubaneswar is the old Ekamra Kshetra, a city of sandstone temples from the seventh century onward, and it sits directly on the Ranchi-Puri road 60 km short of Puri. That geography is the whole argument for adding it: Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani, the Jain rock-cut caves at Udayagiri and Khandagiri, the Ashokan edict and Peace Pagoda at Dhauli and the white tigers at Nandankanan all cost almost no extra driving on the way home. The one rule is not to make it a Monday.

How to reach Bhubaneswar from Ranchi

Bhubaneswar is 455 km from Ranchi on NH-20 through Khunti, Chaibasa and Keonjhar, then NH-16 through Cuttack - 9 to 10 hours 30 minutes by cab. Puri is a further 60 km on NH-316. Biju Patnaik International Airport is inside the city, which makes Bhubaneswar the usual flight connection for anyone joining or leaving an Odisha road trip midway.

Highlights

Lingaraj Temple - the great eleventh-century Shiva temple of the old town
Mukteshwar and Rajarani - smaller, older and far quieter
Udayagiri and Khandagiri - Jain rock-cut caves cut into two facing hills
Dhauli Shanti Stupa and the Ashokan rock edict at its foot
Nandankanan Zoological Park - white tigers, and closed every Monday

Insider tips

Do not schedule Bhubaneswar on a Monday - Nandankanan and both the Dhauli and Konark light-and-sound shows are closed
Lingaraj also restricts entry to Hindus; there is a raised viewing platform outside the wall for everyone else
Nandankanan opens 07:30 in summer and 08:00 in winter; adult entry ₹50, child ₹10, safaris charged separately
The Ashokan rock edict at Dhauli is free; the Peace Pagoda is a short climb above it
Bhubaneswar sits on the way back from Puri, so give it the last morning rather than a separate trip

Bhubaneswar, Khordha - The temple city on the road to Puri

Quick facts

Distance from Ranchi: 455 km
Drive time: 9 hr - 10 hr 30 min
Best time to visit: Oct - Feb
Type: City
State: Odisha
District: Khordha
Cab fare: ₹8,499 one way · ₹15,499 round trip

Nearby attractions

Puri (60 km)
Konark (68 km)
Cuttack (30 km)

FAQs about Bhubaneswar

How far is Bhubaneswar from Ranchi by cab?

Bhubaneswar is 455 km from Ranchi and the drive takes 9 to 10 hours 30 minutes via Khunti, Chaibasa, Keonjhar, Duburi and Cuttack. The last 150 km on NH-16 is four to six lanes; the Keonjhar section before it is two-lane and shared with iron-ore trucks.

Is Bhubaneswar worth a day on a Puri trip?

Yes, and it is close to free in driving terms because the city is on the road home, 60 km short of Puri. One morning covers Lingaraj, Mukteshwar and Rajarani, or Udayagiri-Khandagiri and Dhauli, or Nandankanan if there are children in the car. Raahi Saarthi's 4-day and 5-day Odisha packages both build it into the return leg.

Which day is Nandankanan closed?

Nandankanan Zoological Park is closed every Monday. It opens 07:30 to 17:30 from April to September and 08:00 to 17:00 from October to March. Entry is ₹50 for anyone over twelve and ₹10 for a child of three to twelve; the lion, white tiger and herbivore safaris are charged separately.