Planning an India trip from Australia
A shorter flight than most Australians expect, and a smaller jet-lag adjustment too — here's what actually matters for the trip over.
4 min read
India is closer to Australia than most people assume, and the time difference is small enough that jet lag isn't really the issue it is for European or American travellers — the planning questions are different.
Flight routes and duration
Sydney to Delhi runs nonstop with IndiGo and Air India, at around 12 hours 43 minutes. Melbourne to Delhi is a similar duration with Air India, which also connects both Sydney and Melbourne to over 50 cities across India via its Delhi and Mumbai hubs. Booking around six weeks ahead tends to get the better fares, and July is typically one of the cheaper months to fly.
The jet lag math
India Standard Time is a fixed UTC+5:30 year-round, while Australian Eastern time zones shift with daylight saving. That puts India roughly 4.5 hours behind Sydney/Melbourne in Australian standard time, and about 5.5 hours behind during Australian daylight saving — a modest adjustment either way, and most travellers feel little to no real jet lag on this route.
Before you fly
Confirm your e-Visa is approved and printed (see our visa and entry guide). Indian power outlets are 230V/50Hz, close enough to Australia's 230V/50Hz standard that most Australian electronics only need a plug-shape adapter, not a voltage converter.
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