Key hubs
Kanpur airport and railway station
- Airport
- Kanpur Airport (KNU) at Chakeri, about 17 km from the centre, domestic flights only; Lucknow (LKO), about 77 km away, is the nearest international airport
- Railway station
- Kanpur Central (CNB), one of the busiest stations in the country, with a city-side entrance at Ghantaghar and a cantonment-side entrance
- Getting around
- App cabs and autos for most trips; the Orange Line metro now links Kanpur Central, Naveen Market, Moti Jheel and the north-west of the city
How to reach Kanpur by air
Kanpur Airport (KNU) at Chakeri is about 17 km from the centre and handles domestic flights, with IndiGo listed to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai; check the current schedule. Lucknow (LKO), about 77 km away, is the nearest international airport and about two hours by road.
How to reach Kanpur by train
Kanpur Central (CNB) is a major junction on the North Central Railway, with a city-side entrance at Ghantaghar and a cantonment-side entrance. It handles hundreds of trains a day; check the timetable and station code for your train.
How to reach Kanpur by road
Kanpur lies about 484 km south-east of New Delhi and about 80 km south-west of Lucknow. The airport approach connects to NH-19, and road and rail links run to Lucknow; check bus and expressway options when you plan.
Getting around Kanpur
App cabs and autos cover most routes, and a car with driver is easiest for the church, temple, stadium and day trips. The Orange Line metro runs from IIT Kanpur to Kanpur Central, with underground stations at Moti Jheel, Naveen Market and Bada Chauraha.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Kanpur
- Use a car and driver, or an app cab, for the church, JK Temple and stadium: they are spread across the city and pavements are poor.
- The JK Temple needs you to leave handbags in the cloakroom and go through a security check, so travel light and carry only what you need.
- The metro avoids road traffic on the central stretch, but check how far each station is from your sight, and the steps down, before a long walk with parents.
- In December and January, fog can delay trains and flights, so build a spare day into onward connections.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.