Ranchi to Betla National Park cab - 170 km, fares and drive time
Ranchi to Betla National Park is about 170 km by road and takes 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes by cab via Ratu, Kuru, Chandwa and Latehar; Raahi Saarthi one-way fares start at ₹3,299.
Betla National Park, inside the Palamau Tiger Reserve, is about 170 km west of central Ranchi (175 km from Ranchi Junction) - a 4 hour 15 minute to 4 hour 45 minute drive out through Ratu, Kuru, Chandwa and Latehar on NH-39, then the Kechki road to the Bison Gate. It does not go through Balumath or Daltonganj. Betla is the nearest place to Ranchi for a genuine open-jeep safari among elephants, gaur, chital, sambar and, with luck, a leopard; tigers are very unlikely, because the reserve has no resident tigress. Two things decide the plan. The park is closed every year from 1 July to 30 September, and since October 2025 only registered open safari jeeps may enter, so the cab waits at the gate. And the 06:00 slot cannot be reached from Ranchi on the same morning, so most visitors leave at 07:00, take the 14:00 afternoon safari, sleep at Betla and ride again at dawn.
What you'll pass on the way
- Ratu - 18 km out, where NH-39 leaves Ranchi
- Kuru and Chandwa - the forested highway stretch, Chandwa about 82 km in
- Latehar - the district town, about 110 km in and the natural tea stop
- Kechki - the Koel-Auranga confluence, about 7 km before the Betla gate
Things to do there
- Open-jeep safari inside Palamau Tiger Reserve - 06:00 and 14:00 slots, about 90 minutes each
- Elephant sightings at the Betla watchtowers
- Palamu Forts - Chero dynasty ruins, about 5 km by road from the Bison Gate (cars pay a ₹50 forest token)
- Kamaldah Lake
- Kechki confluence - 7-9 km from the gate
- Lodh Falls - about 95 km, better combined with Netarhat
Fixed fares
| Car type | One-way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchback (4 pax) | ₹3,299 | ₹5,999 |
| Sedan (4 pax) | ₹3,699 | ₹6,499 |
| SUV / Ertiga (6 pax) | ₹4,499 | ₹7,999 |
| Innova Crysta (7 pax) | ₹5,299 | ₹9,299 |
| Tempo Traveller (12 pax) | ₹8,499 | ₹13,999 |
Every fare is all-inclusive - fuel, the 2 tolls on this route, parking, driver allowance, inter-state permits and 5% GST. A one-way booking carries no empty-return charge.
- Distance
- 170 km
- Drive time
- 4 hr 15 min - 4 hr 45 min
- Highways
- NH-39 (old NH-75), SH-9 (Kechki road)
- Via
- Ratu → Kuru → Chandwa → Latehar
- Toll plazas (one way)
- 2
- Best time to visit
- October to March - the park is closed every year from 1 July to 30 September
- Best departure time
- 07:00 AM for the 14:00 afternoon safari; the 06:00 slot needs an overnight at Betla
- Cheapest one-way
- ₹3,299
Frequently asked questions
How far is Betla National Park from Ranchi?
Betla National Park is about 170 km from central Ranchi by road (about 175 km from Ranchi Junction) and takes 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes by cab via Ratu, Kuru, Chandwa and Latehar, then NH-39 and the Kechki road to the gate. That 170 km is the figure the Palamau Tiger Reserve, the Jharkhand Forest Department and the Latehar district all publish; the 140 km still seen on older pages is too low, and the road does not pass through Balumath or Daltonganj.
What time do Betla safaris start?
Betla National Park runs open-jeep safaris in two slots on the official Palamau Tiger Reserve portal: morning from about 06:00 and afternoon from about 14:00, each lasting about 90 minutes. The portal lists Tuesday as the weekly holiday, so check before planning a Tuesday safari.
What time should I leave Ranchi for a Betla safari?
Leave Ranchi at about 07:00. The 170 km drive to Betla National Park takes 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes, which lands you around 11:30-12:00 with time to check in before the 14:00 afternoon safari. The 06:00 morning slot would mean leaving Ranchi at about 01:30, so book a night at Betla - official forest stays cost about ₹1,700-3,000 - and take the morning slot the next day.
When is Betla National Park closed?
Betla National Park is closed to safaris every year from 1 July to 30 September and reopens on 1 October, so the 2026-27 season opens on 1 October 2026. Outside that window the official booking portal lists Tuesday as the weekly holiday. The forest rest houses, Palamu Fort and Kechki stay open through the monsoon closure.
Can I take my own car or the cab on a Betla safari, and how do I book?
No. Since October 2025 only registered open safari jeeps may enter Betla National Park; private cars and SUVs, including a Raahi Saarthi cab, wait at the Bison Gate. Book the jeep online at palamautigerreserve.in - ₹2,450 per jeep for up to 6 adults and 2 children at the 2025-26 rate.
Can I combine Betla with Netarhat?
Yes, and it is the itinerary we recommend most. Betla and Netarhat are about 95 km apart on the same western circuit - roughly 3 hours on the forest roads through the tiger reserve - so a 3-day Raahi Saarthi package from ₹12,999 covers a Betla safari, the drive across to Netarhat, and both the sunset and sunrise viewpoints.
Travelling the other way?
Nearby places to visit
Other routes from Ranchi
Fares and details last reviewed:
Book your Ranchi to Betla National Park cab
Fixed fare, no advance payment, GPS-tracked. Pay after the ride.