Getting Around Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of Odisha and today serves as the state's judicial capital, home to the Orissa High Court. It sits at the apex of the Mahanadi River delta, with the Mahanadi and its distributaries — including the Kathajodi, Kuakhai and Birupa — running through and around the city. That geography matters for a visitor: the main city lies on a strip of land between the Mahanadi and the Kathajodi, while newer townships such as Markat Nagar (known locally as CDA) have grown up across the Kathajodi. Expect river crossings to shape your journeys between the older core and the newer sectors.
How Tourists Move Around
For everyday movement within the city, the practical options are hired cars, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws, all of which are readily available. These are the modes most visitors will rely on for short hops between markets, temples, the Barabati Fort area and the older riverside quarters. Because the city is spread across a wide area and the river system breaks it into distinct pockets, it helps to think in terms of neighbourhood-to-neighbourhood trips rather than assuming you can simply stroll from one end to the other.
Rail Network
Cuttack Junction is the city's railway station, served by East Coast Railway. It lies on the Kolkata–Chennai railway line, which makes it a convenient arrival point if you are coming from either direction — the journey from Kolkata takes roughly five and a half hours, while from Chennai it is roughly twenty hours. If you are arriving by train, the station is your gateway to the rest of the city, from where you can pick up an auto rickshaw, cycle rickshaw or hired car.
There is no metro or tram network in Cuttack, so rail travel here means the mainline railway rather than an urban transit system.
Buses and Public Transport
City and town buses cover part of the city, so they are useful for some routes but will not get you everywhere. One route runs from College Square through OMP, Link Road, the Badambari Bus Stop, Ring Road, the High Court, Deulasahi and Bidanasi to CDA — a useful spine if your plans involve the High Court area or the CDA township.
For longer journeys into and out of Cuttack, the Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminus (CNBT) is a modern bus terminal connecting the city with different parts of Odisha and with neighbouring states such as West Bengal.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Hired cars are readily available for getting around, and they are the most comfortable option if you are covering longer distances within the city or crossing between the main city and the newer townships. Auto rickshaws fill the gap for shorter, cheaper trips.
Walkability
Walking works well within individual neighbourhoods and along the older, culturally significant parts of the city, including the strip of land between the Kathajodi and the Mahanadi and the area around the old moated Barabati Fort. Beyond that, the city's spread — from Phulnakhara in the south to Choudwar in the north, and across the rivers to townships like CDA — makes walking impractical as a way to cover the whole city. Treat walking as a way to explore a district, and use a rickshaw or car to move between districts.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Cuttack does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is in Bhubaneswar (airport code BBI), roughly 30 km away. It offers domestic flights to destinations including New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, plus an international flight to Kuala Lumpur. From Bhubaneswar you can reach Cuttack by road using a hired car or taxi, or by train if you make your way to a station on the Kolkata–Chennai line. Because the airport sits outside Cuttack, allow time for the transfer and arrange your onward transport in advance where possible.
Practical Tips
- Keep small change handy for auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws, which are the handiest options for short trips.
- If your destination is CDA or another township across the Kathajodi, budget extra time — the river crossings add to any journey.
- Use the bus route via Badambari, Ring Road and the High Court if you are heading to the judicial or administrative part of the city.
- For intercity travel, CNBT is the departure point for buses to other parts of Odisha and to West Bengal.
- For arrivals by air, plan the Bhubaneswar-to-Cuttack leg as a separate journey rather than expecting transport at the airport itself.