Getting Around Nadiad

Getting Around Nadiad

Nadiad is a compact city in Gujarat's Kheda district, and its transport network is built around one clear hub: Nadiad Junction railway station. Most visitors find that the town centre — temples, shops and markets — is small enough to cover on foot, while rickshaws and buses handle everything beyond it. This guide covers the practical options for moving around the city and for reaching it from the nearest airport.

How Tourists Move Around the City

Within Nadiad itself, short trips are dominated by three- and two-wheeled transport. Auto-rickshaws are the primary local mode and are available citywide; for short hops, expect to negotiate the fare beforehand or ask for the meter. Cycle rickshaws are also commonly available on demand and are a cheap, eco-friendly choice for short distances. E-rickshaws cluster near the railway station and market areas and suit short hops through the older parts of the city. Shared tempos operate alongside these options.

• Auto-rickshaws: the main way to get around; available across the city, best for short trips.
• Cycle rickshaws: widely available on demand; a good option for short, unhurried journeys.
• E-rickshaws: found near the railway station and markets; handy for the old city.
• Shared tempos: run alongside rickshaws on local routes.

For day trips out of town — to places such as Vadtal, Dakor or Vaso — hiring a car or taxi for a half or full day is the usual approach. Cars can be rented with or without a driver for both local and outstation travel through local operators and rental services, and taxis can also be booked through travel booking platforms or directly with local operators. Self-drive rentals are available as well.

Rail: The Backbone of Intercity Travel

Nadiad Junction is the city's main rail hub and sits on the Western Railway's Mumbai–Ahmedabad main line, making it a major station for the district. It is the recommended way to arrive in Nadiad, and trains are generally described as the fastest and most reliable option for intercity journeys.

Frequent services — including express, passenger and MEMU trains — connect Nadiad with Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai. Reserved seats can be booked through IRCTC, while unreserved passenger and MEMU trains are useful when you need to travel at short notice. Beyond the main line, two branch lines run from Nadiad, one toward Modasa and one toward Petlad, and there are plans to extend the Modasa line onward to Shamlaji.

• Book in advance: reserved tickets via IRCTC for express trains.
• Travel spontaneously: unreserved passenger and MEMU services for short-notice trips.
• Station area: the Junction area is the practical hub for onward travel, with rickshaws and e-rickshaws waiting nearby.

Note that the high-speed rail station being built in the southern part of the city, as part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, is still under construction and not yet operational — so it is not currently an option for visitors.

Buses and Other Public Transport

Nadiad has a major bus stand, and the city is a zonal division in the Charotar region, with depots in Kheda, Anand, Mahemdavad, Kapadvanj, Dakor, Mahudha, Borsad and Khambhat. GSRTC (Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation) buses, along with private operators, run frequent services connecting Nadiad to Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, Surat and Rajkot, as well as to nearby towns such as Anand.

For short hops between Nadiad and neighbouring towns, local buses and shared jeeps are often cheaper and quicker than other options. Intercity bus tickets can be booked online through platforms such as RedBus, MakeMyTrip and AbhiBus, or bought locally.

• GSRTC buses: the main public bus network, linking Nadiad with major Gujarat cities.
• Private operators: additional intercity services on the same routes.
• Local buses and shared jeeps: best for short trips to Anand and surrounding towns.
• Booking: online via RedBus, MakeMyTrip and AbhiBus, or at the bus stand.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

App-based cabs such as Ola and Uber may operate in Nadiad, but availability varies by demand and location, so it is wise not to rely on them as your only plan. Local taxis are available from the airport or station when you have luggage or want door-to-door convenience, and local rickshaws are a dependable fallback for short hops to places like Santram Mandir.

For longer trips, taxis and rental cars can be arranged through local operators and rental services, including for outstation journeys. Because app coverage is inconsistent, it helps to keep a local taxi or rickshaw contact on hand.

Walkability

Nadiad's old city and most of its attractions are walkable, and the heritage gate area is best explored on foot. The town centre is compact and navigable, with temples, shops and small cafés within easy reach of one another. Commercial and shopping areas cluster around Station Road and the Gujarat College area, and there are weekly markets on Gosaiji Road.

One practical caution: the lanes in the older parts of the city can be uneven, so closed shoes are advisable if you plan to walk a lot. The temple precinct around Santram Mandir is busy and well-lit in the evenings.

• Best on foot: the old city, the heritage gates, and the area around Santram Mandir.
• Footwear: closed shoes are recommended for uneven lanes.
• Orientation: Station Road and the Gujarat College area are the main commercial anchors.

Getting From the Airport Into the City

The nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, roughly 55–65 km from Nadiad. There are two practical ways to reach the city from there.

• Direct taxi: a prepaid airport taxi or an app cab can take you straight to Nadiad, typically in about an hour. This is the simplest option if you have luggage.
• Via Ahmedabad by bus: take local transport into Ahmedabad, then catch a GSRTC or private bus to Nadiad from the city's bus stands. This takes longer because of the transfer, but costs less.

If you are arriving by train instead, Nadiad Junction is the natural entry point, with rickshaws and e-rickshaws available at the station for the final leg into town.

Practical Tips for Getting Around

• Cash: carry small notes, as street food stalls and auto drivers generally prefer cash even though UPI is widely accepted at restaurants, shops and hotels.
• ATMs: available in the city centre and near the railway station.
• Language: Gujarati is the primary language, Hindi is widely understood, and English is spoken at hotels, larger restaurants and around the university.
• Alcohol: Gujarat is a dry state, and sale and consumption are prohibited and strictly enforced.
• Season: travel is most comfortable from October to February; the monsoon months of June to September can disrupt travel, and April to June is extremely hot.
• Festivals: during Navratri, Diwali and Purnima, accommodation fills quickly, so book well ahead and consider basing yourself in Anand or Ahmedabad if Nadiad is full.