Compare: Delhi→Chennai (1,768 km) vs Delhi→Kolkata (1,318 km). Delhi → Kolkata wins by 450 km (25%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,768 km
1,099 miles · Flight: ~2h 43min · Drive: ~28h 44min
1,318 km
819 miles · Flight: ~2h 9min · Drive: ~21h 25min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 450 km (25%) · Flight time difference: ~34 min
Verdict
Delhi → Kolkata is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 450 km (25%) shorter, saves about 34 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 115 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Delhi → Chennai only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Delhi → Kolkata is the shorter route at 1,318 km, which is 450 km (25%) shorter than Delhi → Chennai. You would save approximately 34 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Delhi → Chennai | Delhi → Kolkata |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,768 | 1,318 |
| Distance (miles) | 1,099 | 819 |
| Flight time | ~2h 43min | ~2h 9min |
| Driving time | ~28h 44min | ~21h 25min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~2,298 km | ~1,713 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 169° (SSE) | 119° (ESE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | +1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~451 kg | ~336 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~393 kg | ~293 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$230 USD | ~$171 USD |
Flying from Delhi to Chennai produces roughly 451 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Delhi → Kolkata flight emits about 336 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 115 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 5 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 393 kg and 293 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Delhi to Chennai route covers 1,768 km (1,099 miles), staying within Asia. Delhi (population: 16,787,941) is located in North India, India, while Chennai (population: 7,088,000) is in South India, India.
The Delhi to Kolkata route covers 1,318 km (819 miles), remaining within Asia. Delhi (population: 16,787,941) is in North India, India, and Kolkata (population: 14,850,000) is in East India, India.
Flying from Delhi to Chennai takes approximately 2h 43min, while Delhi to Kolkata takes 2h 9min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 28h 44min for the first route and 21h 25min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Delhi, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Chennai and Kolkata as a destination.
The 450 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 2,298 km and 1,713 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 585 km of driving.
Chennai (India) has a population of 7,088,000 and is located in the South India region of Asia. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Kolkata (India) has a population of 14,850,000 and is situated in East India, Asia. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Chennai (India) — a city of 7,088,000 in the South India region of Asia. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,768 km, it makes sense when Chennai itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 2,298 km of road and a fuel cost band around $230 USD. The initial bearing is 169° (SSE), so a great-circle flight leaves Delhi heading roughly SSE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Kolkata (India) — a city of 14,850,000 in the East India region of Asia. It is also the shorter of the two at 1,318 km, saving about 34 min of flying and around 115 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,713 km of road and a fuel cost in the $171 USD range. Departing Delhi, the great-circle bearing toward Kolkata is 119° (ESE).
Delhi (28.70°, 77.10°) and Chennai (13.08°, 80.27°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Delhi (28.70°, 77.10°) and Kolkata (22.57°, 88.36°) have a +1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Kolkata is closer at 1,318 km, which is 450 km (25%) shorter.
1,768 km (1,099 miles). Flight: ~2h 43min.
1,318 km (819 miles). Flight: ~2h 9min.
Flying to Kolkata is faster at ~2h 9min, saving about 34 min compared to Chennai.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.