Travel
Getting to The Leela Gandhinagar
The whole celebration takes place at The Leela Gandhinagar, so once you arrive you won't need to travel between venues. Here's everything you need to plan the journey — whether you're flying in from across India or across the world.
Nearest airport
AMDAhmedabad
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
About 30–40 minutes by road (≈25 km) to The Leela Gandhinagar
AMD is the closest airport and handles both domestic and international flights — it's the right airport for essentially every guest.
Arriving from Abroad
International guestsThere are no nonstop flights between the US and Ahmedabad, so you'll connect once. There are three good corridors — pick the one that suits your coast and your comfort. Total travel runs roughly 19–24 hours either way.
Flying from the United States
Three ways in — through the Gulf, Europe, or East Asia.
Via the Gulf — most direct
Emirates (Dubai), Qatar Airways (Doha) and Etihad (Abu Dhabi) connect straight through to Ahmedabad from most US cities — JFK, EWR, IAD, ORD, IAH, DFW, SFO, LAX and SEA. Please read the note on Gulf routings below before booking.
Via Europe
From the East Coast, connect through London, Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam (British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Virgin) to Delhi or Mumbai, then a short hop to Ahmedabad.
Via East Asia
From the West Coast, route across the Pacific through Tokyo (HND/NRT), Hong Kong (HKG) or Seoul, connecting onward via Delhi or Mumbai — a solid alternative that steers clear of the Gulf.
Tip: Book the whole journey through to AMD on a single ticket — your bags are checked through and a missed connection becomes the airline's problem, not yours.
Flying from Europe
Most European cities are one stop away, and London has a nonstop.
Nonstop from London
Air India flies nonstop between London Gatwick (LGW) and Ahmedabad — about 9½ hours, no connection needed.
Via the Gulf
Emirates (DXB), Qatar Airways (DOH) and Etihad (AUH) connect London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan and more straight through to Ahmedabad.
Via an Indian metro
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic (London), Lufthansa (Frankfurt/Munich), Air France (Paris) and KLM (Amsterdam) fly to Delhi or Mumbai, with a short domestic hop onward to AMD.
Tip: From continental Europe, a Gulf connection is usually both the quickest and the best-priced option.
A note on Gulf routings
Heads up: ongoing conflict in the Gulf region has been disrupting flights and airspace around Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. If you book a Gulf routing, choose flexible or refundable fares where you can, and keep an eye on travel advisories and your airline's updates as the date approaches. Routing via Europe or East Asia avoids the region entirely — worth considering if you'd rather not risk it.
Immigration: Connecting through Delhi or Mumbai? That's your first point of entry, so you'll clear immigration and customs there — not in Ahmedabad. Collect your checked bags, re-check them, and carry on to your domestic flight. (Gulf routings that fly straight into Ahmedabad clear at AMD.)
Visas & entry
Most visitors — US, UK, Canada, Australia, EU and many more — travel on an India e-Tourist Visa, applied for entirely online.
- Apply only on the official Government of India portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in. Many lookalike sites charge extra fees or are outright scams.
- Apply at least 3–4 weeks ahead. Approval is often quick, but processing can take a week or more depending on your nationality.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with 2 or more blank pages.
- Pick a tourist e-Visa — the 30-day option is plenty for the wedding (1-year and 5-year versions also exist).
- India has been rolling out a mandatory online arrival card — check the official portal for current entry requirements before you fly.
Holding an OCI card or Indian passport? You won't need a visa — just carry the OCI card together with your passport.
Before you fly
- Currency
- Indian Rupee (₹). Cards are widely accepted at the hotel; carry some cash for tips, markets and rickshaws. ATMs and exchange counters are at the airport.
- Staying connected
- Grab an international eSIM before you leave (Airalo, Holafly), or buy a local SIM (Airtel/Jio) at the airport on arrival.
- Power
- 230V, plug types C, D and M. Bring a universal adapter — most US and European plugs won't fit the sockets.
- Weather & packing
- Late December in Gandhinagar is mild: ~28°C/82°F days, ~12°C/54°F evenings. Pack a light shawl or jacket for the outdoor evening ceremony.
- Time zone
- India Standard Time is UTC+5:30 — 10½ hours ahead of US Eastern, 4½ ahead of London. Arriving Dec 28th gives you a day to adjust.
When to arrive
International guests: please plan to arrive on Dec 28th, 2026 — the day before the wedding — so you're rested for a full day of celebrations. We have a room block at The Leela for the nights of Dec 28th and 29th.
Airlines and routings change — please confirm the specifics when you book.
Travelling within India
Domestic guestsAhmedabad is superbly connected within India — by air, and by a train line that runs right beneath the hotel.
By air
Ahmedabad (AMD) has frequent direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Goa on IndiGo, Air India, Akasa and Vistara — roughly 1h10 from Mumbai and 1h30 from Delhi.
By train
The Leela sits directly above Gandhinagar Capital (GNC) railway station — you can practically step off the train into the lobby. Vande Bharat and other express trains connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar.
By road
Gandhinagar is about 30–40 minutes from Ahmedabad by taxi, Ola or Uber. Chauffeur-driven and self-drive cars are easy to arrange.
When to arrive
Domestic guests: please plan to be at the venue by 10:00 AM on Dec 29th so you're settled before Haldi at 10:30 AM. Flying in that morning? Aim to land at AMD by ~8:30 AM.
Getting to the hotel
- We're coordinating group transportation from Ahmedabad airport — we'll reach out for your flight details so we can arrange a pickup.
- Prepaid airport taxis and Ola/Uber are readily available at AMD; the ride to The Leela is about 30–40 minutes.
- Arriving by train drops you at Gandhinagar Capital station, right beneath the hotel — essentially at the door.
Where you'll stay: a room block at The Leela Gandhinagar, so you can rest steps from every event.
Venue & stay detailsSee more of India
Extend your tripCome all this way and you'll want to see more — Gujarat and the rest of India reward a little extra time. Here are a few favourites, from half-day escapes near the venue to bucket-list trips to bookend your visit.
Close by — day trips from Gandhinagar
Adalaj Stepwell
Half-day~20 min
A breathtaking five-storey 15th-century stepwell carved in sandstone — the very jaali and floor motifs echoed in The Leela's own lobby.
Ahmedabad Old City
Full day~40 min
India's first UNESCO World Heritage City: Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, the labyrinthine pols, the Sidi Saiyyed jaali, and legendary street food at Manek Chowk.
Modhera Sun Temple & Rani ki Vav
Long day~2 hr
An 11th-century sun temple and a jaw-dropping UNESCO stepwell in Patan — some of Gujarat's finest ancient architecture.
Rann of Kutch
Overnight~5 hr / overnight
An endless white salt desert that glows under the winter moon — December is peak season for the Rann Utsav festival.
Make a trip of it — before or after
Rajasthan
3–5 daysUdaipur · Jaipur · Jodhpur
Right next door: lake palaces in Udaipur, the Pink City and Amber Fort in Jaipur, and the blue lanes beneath Mehrangarh in Jodhpur.
Drive or short flight
Agra — the Taj Mahal
1–2 daysTaj Mahal · Agra Fort
The one you've pictured your whole life. Easily paired with Delhi and Jaipur as the classic 'Golden Triangle'.
Fly via Delhi
Goa
2–4 daysBeaches · Portuguese old town · seafood
Trade festivities for the coast: sunset beach shacks, Portuguese-era churches, and the perfect place to wind down after the wedding.
~1.5 hr direct flight
Happy to help plan any of these — just ask us for tips, drivers, or recommendations.