How to reach Deoghar and Baidyanath Dham

Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is in the town of Deoghar, in the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand. The temple sits in the middle of the town, and most hotels for pilgrims are within walking distance of it.

Whichever way you come, the last stretch is by road. The rest of this page goes through each option, and then how to get from the airport or station to your hotel and the temple.

Deoghar Airport (DGH) is about 12 km from the temple, a short drive into town. It has direct flights from a few major Indian cities. Routes and schedules change by season, so check with the airlines for your dates.

If there is no convenient flight to Deoghar, travellers often fly into a larger airport in the region, such as Patna, Ranchi or Kolkata, and continue by train or road. Each of these is several hours from Deoghar by road, so allow for it when you plan your darshan day.

MandirMay airport pickup and drop. A MandirMay cab can meet you at Deoghar Airport and take you straight to your hotel or the temple, and drop you back for your flight. There are two sizes: up to four people or up to six people. Toll taxes are included, and the cabs are AC vehicles with experienced drivers. Today's prices are in the table below.

Jasidih Junction is the main railway station for Deoghar, about 8 km from the temple. It is on the Howrah–Delhi main line, which runs through Patna, and long-distance trains from many parts of India stop there.

A shorter branch line connects Jasidih to the station in Deoghar town itself, which is closer to the temple, though fewer trains run on it.

Book train tickets early if you are travelling in Shravan, on Mahashivratri or around other festivals, when trains to Deoghar fill fast.

MandirMay railway station pickup and drop. A MandirMay cab can meet you at the station and take you to your hotel or the temple, and bring you back for your train, for up to four or six people. Tell us your station and arrival time when you book, so we confirm the pickup point.

Deoghar is linked by highway to the main towns of Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. Buses run to Deoghar from nearby cities, and many families drive or hire a cab for the whole trip.

During Shravani Mela, kanwariyas walk to Deoghar from Sultanganj in Bihar, carrying Ganga jal for Baba Baidyanath. The roads into town are very crowded through the season, and traffic is often diverted near the temple. If you are driving then, expect delays and plan to walk the last part. See the kanwar yatra route from Sultanganj.

Once you are in Deoghar, MandirMay's sightseeing cab can take you to Basukinath, Tapovan and Trikut Pahar, for up to four or six people with toll taxes included.

The simplest way is to go first to a hotel near the temple, leave your bags, and walk to the dham. MandirMay's rooms are within a short walk of the temple entrance, all with AC; see hotels near the temple.

If you want the whole journey handled, a ready-made Deoghar trip includes airport pickup and drop, two nights near the dham, VIP darshan, a Rudrabhishek and sightseeing. You can also book the pickup and drop on their own on the Baidyanath Dham page.

Before you set off:

• Carry a government photo ID for every devotee.
• Pack traditional clothes; leather belts, wallets and bags are not allowed inside the temple.
• Check the darshan timings: the temple is open from 4 AM to 10 PM, and VIP (Shighra) entry runs from 6 AM to 3 PM.
• October to March is the most comfortable time of year to travel to Deoghar.