For most Delhi NCR households with roots further east, going home for Diwali and Chhath means one of a handful of highway corridors into Uttar Pradesh. Each behaves differently in November, and knowing which one you are on changes how far ahead you need to book.
The Corridors Covered Here
This is a route by route comparison of the five major Delhi bound corridors that carry most of this festive traffic: Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Ayodhya, with a note on connections further into Bihar.
Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026 and the main Chhath arghya on Sunday, 15 November, so each section below flags the specific dates worth booking around. Live availability for any of these sits on the Delhi bus booking page.
Choosing Among the Bus Routes Home Diwali Chhath 2026
The corridors below differ mainly in how many daily departures they run, and that single number decides how much booking urgency applies to each of the bus routes home Diwali Chhath 2026 travellers are weighing right now.
Route Snapshot: Five Corridors Side by Side
These are the currently listed figures for each route, useful for comparing before you pick one.
| Route | Distance | Journey time | Daily buses | Fare range |
| Delhi to Lucknow | ~535 km | 8 to 9 hours | 12 | Rs 367 to Rs 1,221 |
| Delhi to Gorakhpur | ~751 km | 9 to 10 hours | 3 | Rs 529 to Rs 868 |
| Delhi to Varanasi | ~807 km | ~12h 20m | Multiple daily | From ~Rs 1,829 |
| Delhi to Kanpur | ~481 km | ~7 hours | 2 | Rs 505 to Rs 3,082 |
| Delhi to Ayodhya | ~706 km | ~9h 44m | 2 | Rs 560 to Rs 1,499 |
Note: Prices are approximate and may vary based on season, demand, and availability.
The pattern worth noticing is that daily bus count varies far more than distance does. Lucknow, with the shortest relative journey and the most departures, forgives a later booking. Gorakhpur, Kanpur and Ayodhya, with two or three buses each, do not.
Delhi to Lucknow: The Corridor With the Most Room
Twelve direct departures a day between 4:40 PM and 11:55 PM make this the most forgiving of the five corridors, though forgiving is relative in a festive week. The route runs through Agra and Kanpur before the final stretch into the city.
Outbound pressure concentrates on 6 and 7 November, before Diwali, and again on 12 and 13 November ahead of Chhath. Returns tighten on 10 and 11 November and again from the evening of 16 November. Full detail sits on the Delhi to Lucknow route page.
Delhi to Gorakhpur: Fewer Buses, Longer Lead Time Needed
Three direct buses a day, departing in a narrow evening window of roughly 4:45 PM to 6:45 PM, means this corridor has the least room to absorb festive demand of the five. The route runs through Lucknow, Barabanki, Faizabad and Ayodhya on its way east.
With so few daily options, book by the last week of October if your travel falls between 5 and 17 November. Details are on the Delhi to Gorakhpur route page, and the return leg runs on the Gorakhpur to Delhi route.
Delhi to Varanasi: The Longest Run, Worth Splitting if Needed
At roughly 807 km and about 12 hours 20 minutes, this is the longest corridor of the five, and it also carries a second festive spike of its own around Dev Deepawali on 24 November, on top of the Diwali and Chhath dates.
Anyone travelling towards smaller towns beyond Varanasi can treat the city as a hub rather than a final stop, connecting onward through the Varanasi bus booking page. Full route detail is on the Delhi to Varanasi route page.
Delhi to Kanpur: Short Distance, Surprisingly Few Buses
Kanpur is the shortest of the five corridors by distance and time, at around 481 km and 7 hours, but it currently runs only two direct services a day, departing between 7:30 PM and 11:10 PM. The gap between fare tiers is also the widest on this list, from Rs 505 up to over Rs 3,000 on the highest bracket.
Because there are only two departures, this corridor rewards early booking almost as much as Gorakhpur does, despite being the shortest trip on the list. Current details are on the Delhi to Kanpur route page.
Delhi to Ayodhya: A Route That Also Carries Pilgrim Traffic
At around 706 km and 9 hours 44 minutes across two daily departures, Ayodhya combines ordinary festive homecoming traffic with a steady flow of pilgrim visitors, which keeps demand higher through the year than the distance alone would suggest.
Families travelling to a village beyond Ayodhya often find it faster to book through to Gorakhpur or Basti and take a short local connection, since the direct Ayodhya service runs only twice daily. Check current options on the Delhi to Ayodhya route page.
Travelling Further, Into Bihar
Families heading beyond Uttar Pradesh into Bihar for Chhath generally connect through a UP hub rather than a single direct Delhi service. Varanasi is the most common staging point, with onward options listed on the Varanasi to Patna route page.
Building the trip as two shorter legs rather than one very long one gives more flexibility on departure times and is often easier to rebook if a leave date shifts. Leave extra time between the two legs during festive weeks, since a delayed first bus can otherwise cost you the second one.
How the Booking Window Compares Across These Corridors
Matching your booking urgency to your actual route saves both money and stress. A route with a dozen daily buses can be left a little later than one with two or three.
| Route | Daily buses | Suggested booking window |
| Delhi to Lucknow | 12 | Two to three weeks ahead |
| Delhi to Varanasi | Multiple | Two to three weeks ahead |
| Delhi to Ayodhya | 2 | Four to five weeks ahead |
| Delhi to Kanpur | 2 | Four to five weeks ahead |
| Delhi to Gorakhpur | 3 | Four to five weeks ahead |
Picking the Right Corridor for Your Trip
If your family lives near Lucknow or on that corridor, the twelve daily departures give you real flexibility even into late October. If home is Gorakhpur, Kanpur or Ayodhya, treat the last week of October as a hard deadline rather than a target, since two or three buses a day leave very little room once the peak nights arrive.
Whichever corridor you are on, fix the return date at the same time as the outbound one. Every route on this list tightens harder on the way back than on the way out, and that is the seat worth securing first.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Delhi NCR bus routes get busiest for Diwali and Chhath 2026?
Delhi to Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Ayodhya are the busiest corridors, since they carry most festive traffic into Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
Which route has the most daily buses?
Delhi to Lucknow has the most daily buses at twelve, making it the most forgiving corridor for a later booking during the festive season.
Which route needs the earliest booking?
Delhi to Gorakhpur needs the earliest booking, since only three direct services run daily across a route of roughly 751 km.
Is Delhi to Kanpur a quick trip?
Delhi to Kanpur is the shortest of these corridors at around 481 km and 7 hours, though it runs only two direct daily services.
How do I reach Bihar for Chhath by bus from Delhi?
Reach Bihar for Chhath by connecting through a UP hub such as Varanasi, since no single direct Delhi to Patna service currently exists.
Which corridor also carries Dev Deepawali traffic?
The Delhi to Varanasi corridor also carries Dev Deepawali traffic on 24 November, adding a third festive spike beyond Diwali and Chhath.
Is the Delhi to Ayodhya route only for pilgrims?
The Delhi to Ayodhya route carries both pilgrim traffic and festive homecoming travel, which keeps demand higher through the year on this corridor.
Should I book the return leg separately?
Book the return leg in the same session as the outbound one, since every corridor on this list tightens harder on the way back.
What if my direct route shows no seats left?
Check a nearby hub city or break the journey into two shorter legs, since a connecting route may still have availability.
Do fares differ much between these corridors?
Fares vary by coach type and demand on each corridor rather than a single fixed rate, so compare the listed range before booking.
How early should I book for a two bus a day route?
Book four to five weeks ahead for a two bus a day route such as Kanpur or Ayodhya, since limited departures sell out fastest.
Does journey time change much in festive traffic?
Journey time can extend on peak evenings due to highway congestion near major cities, so listed durations are indicative rather than guaranteed.
