Mangalore to Girnar Distance: Flight, Train and Road Guide

Mangalore, the coastal city of Karnataka, lies a long way up the west coast from the holy mountain of Girnar, near Junagadh in Saurashtra, Gujarat, so the journey needs some planning. This guide, from the team behind Somnath Dwarka Tour Package, a unit of Experience My India, covers the Mangalore to Girnar distance and the reverse, the route options, the travel time and every way to reach the mountain, by flight, train and road.

Mangalore to Girnar distance and travel time

The Mangalore to Girnar distance is about 1,654 km by the fastest route and the drive takes around 31 hours by road via NH 48, up the length of the western coast through Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat to Junagadh, at the foot of Girnar. This is a very long, cross-country journey of well over a day of continuous driving, so very few people drive it in one go. For most travellers, a flight to Rajkot, Diu or Ahmedabad, followed by a road transfer or a train to Junagadh, is a far easier and more comfortable way to reach the mountain than the long drive. Flying, in particular, turns a multi-day journey into a matter of hours, which is why most pilgrims from Mangalore choose to fly rather than drive the length of the coast.

Mangalore to Girnar route options

There are three main ways to drive from Mangalore to Girnar:

The NH 48 route is the fastest at around 31 hours, running inland and north through Maharashtra into Gujarat. Note that the coastal route via NH 66 and NH 48 is slightly shorter in distance, at about 1,645 km, but much slower at around 40 hours, as the coastal road through the Konkan is winding and slow, so it is rarely worth taking despite the shorter distance. For a road journey the NH 48 route is the standard choice, though flying or the train is far easier for most over such a distance.

Girnar to Mangalore distance

The return journey, the Girnar to Mangalore distance, is much the same, about 1,635 km in around 31 hours via NH 66 or NH 48. The route options for the reverse direction are:

As on the outward journey, the NH 66 and NH 48 routes are the fastest at around 31 to 32 hours, while the route via SH 1 is longer and much slower at around 38 hours. This is a very long drive in either direction, so the flight and train options are well worth considering over the road for most travellers heading to or from the mountain.

How to travel from Mangalore to Girnar

Given the very long distance, it is worth weighing all the options:

Mangalore to Girnar by air

Flying is by far the fastest and easiest way to reach Girnar from Mangalore. Girnar is at Junagadh and the nearest airports are Keshod, about 40 km away, Rajkot, about 100 km away and Diu, about 100 km away, with Ahmedabad, the major hub, about 330 km away. Mangalore has an international airport, with flights to Ahmedabad, often via Mumbai or Bengaluru and onward flights to Rajkot and, with a connection, to Diu. From whichever airport you land at, a road transfer or a Somnath Dwarka taxi service, completes the journey to Junagadh and the Girnar foothills. Flying to Rajkot or Diu and driving on is the quickest way to reach the mountain from Mangalore.

Mangalore to Girnar by train

The train is a good way to travel from Mangalore towards Girnar for those who prefer rail. The nearest major railhead to Girnar is Junagadh Junction, right in the city at the foot of the mountain and there are connecting train services from Mangalore towards Junagadh, often via Ahmedabad. Given the great distance up the coast, the rail journey is long, often around 36 to 42 hours or more with connections, so it is best suited to those who enjoy train travel and have the time. Comfortable overnight and long-distance services make it manageable and arriving at Junagadh puts you right at the foot of Girnar. For the wider options, see our how to reach Somnath guide, as the Somnath coast is nearby.

Mangalore to Girnar by road

If you wish to drive, a private car with a driver is the most comfortable way to cover the long distance, though it is best planned as a multi-day journey with overnight halts rather than a single stretch of over 30 hours. The NH 48 route via Maharashtra and Gujarat is the fastest and smoothest, with plentiful fuel stations, dhabas and rest stops along the way. Self-drive is possible but very demanding over such a distance, so most prefer a driver or better still a flight or train. If you do drive, breaking the journey at cities like Pune, Ahmedabad or Rajkot makes it far more pleasant and Experience My India can help arrange the local legs and the onward Girnar climb or sightseeing.

Mangalore to Girnar by bus

Long-distance buses connect Mangalore towards Gujarat, though usually with a change, often at Mumbai or Ahmedabad, from where you continue to Junagadh by another bus or a car. The total journey by bus takes around 32 hours or more, so it is a long haul, best on comfortable air-conditioned sleeper services. Buses are the most budget-friendly way to travel, but for such a long journey a flight is far quicker and a train more comfortable, so buses are usually a last choice for reaching Girnar from Mangalore.

Why travel from Mangalore to Girnar?

Despite the distance, many pilgrims and travellers from Mangalore make the journey to Girnar, drawn by the great sacred mountain and the historic city of Junagadh at its foot. Girnar is a holy mountain to both Hindus and Jains, climbed by nearly 9,999 steps or the ropeway to its summit temples, including the Dattatreya temple and ringed each year by the great Lili Parikrama. At its foot, Junagadh offers the ancient Uparkot Fort, the ornate Mahabat Maqbara, the Bhavnath temple and the Ashokan rock edicts. Girnar also sits close to the Somnath temple, about 100 km and a Gir lion safari, so a trip from Mangalore can combine the mountain with pilgrimage, history and wildlife.

Best time to make the trip

The best time to travel from Mangalore to Girnar is the cooler season, October to March, when the weather is pleasant for the climb, the ropeway and sightseeing around Junagadh, in line with the best time to visit Gujarat. The summer, April to June, is hot and makes the climb tiring and the monsoon, July to September, brings heavy west-coast rain and slippery steps, so winter is ideal. The great Girnar Parikrama takes place around November, at Kartik Purnima and the Bhavnath Mahashivratri fair in February or March, both special but very busy times. Whenever you travel, flying is the most comfortable option for the long distance.

Tips for the Mangalore to Girnar journey

A few pointers make the long trip smoother:

• Fly to Rajkot, Diu or Ahmedabad and drive on to Junagadh for the fastest, easiest journey.

• Consider a train to Junagadh Junction, right at the foot of Girnar, if you prefer rail.

• If driving, plan it as a multi-day journey with overnight halts at Pune, Ahmedabad or Rajkot.

• Use the NH 48 route rather than the shorter but much slower NH 66 coastal route.

• Combine Girnar with the Somnath temple and a Gir safari, both nearby, for a full Saurashtra trip.

• Visit in the cool season, October to March, for the most comfortable climb and sightseeing.

Mangalore to Girnar at a glance

Plan your Girnar trip from Mangalore

Experience My India can plan your Girnar trip from Mangalore, with flights, transfers and the sightseeing arranged. Plan the climb or ropeway with our Junagadh to Girnar guide, combine Girnar with the Somnath temple and a Gir safari, book Somnath Dwarka hotels and let the Somnath Dwarka tour packages or the wider Gujarat tour packages include Girnar, Junagadh and the region in your itinerary. You can also extend the trip up the coast to Dwarka for a fuller journey.

Related guides

To plan the rest of your Saurashtra trip, these related guides help:

Plan your journey

Experience My India can arrange your Mangalore to Girnar trip, with flights, transfers and the mountain. Browse more travel guides, message us on WhatsApp or call +91 73006 20809.