Key hubs
Ratlam airport and railway station
- Airport
- Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, Indore (IDR) is the nearest major airport, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by road
- Railway station
- Ratlam Junction (RTM) is a major junction on the Delhi-Mumbai and Ajmer-Khandwa routes and the headquarters of a Western Railway division
- Getting around
- Autos and e-rickshaws in the city; hire a car and driver for Sailana, Bibrod and the sanctuary
How to reach Ratlam by air
Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport, Indore (IDR), is the nearest major airport, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from Ratlam by road. Check road conditions and allow extra time; there is no commercial airport in the city.
How to reach Ratlam by train
Ratlam Junction (RTM) is a major junction on the Delhi-Mumbai and Ajmer-Khandwa routes, with frequent trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Ujjain, Indore and Udaipur. It is the headquarters of the Ratlam division of Western Railway.
How to reach Ratlam by road
Ratlam lies in western Malwa and is linked by road to Ujjain, Indore and Banswara. Sailana is on the Ratlam-Banswara road, about 19 to 25 km away depending on the source. Expect slower going on small roads near the sanctuary.
Getting around Ratlam
Autos and e-rickshaws cover the city. For Sailana, Bibrod and the sanctuary, hire a car with driver for the day; buses run on the main roads but are not practical for the sanctuary.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Ratlam
- Hire a car and driver for Sailana. Roads and signage are patchy, and local people may not know the sanctuary location well.
- Carry water, sunhats and any medicine; facilities at the sanctuary and garden are basic.
- Temples require removing footwear; carry socks for hot floors and keep a dry cloth for wet monsoon paths.
- 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.