Old Delhi railway station nearest metro is Chandni Chowk on the Yellow Line. Its Gate 3, signposted “Delhi Railway Station”, comes out about 200 to 400 metres from the station’s red sandstone building, which dates from 1903. That short walk can still take ten minutes. The road between the metro and the station entrance, SP Mukherjee Marg, is one of the most crowded stretches in Old Delhi, with cycle-rickshaws, handcarts, porters, and wholesale buyers heading for Khari Baoli and Sadar Bazar.
The station’s official name is Delhi Junction (code DLI). It is the oldest railway station in the city, and about 250 trains start, end, or pass through it every day. It has entrances on two sides: the Chandni Chowk side to the south and the Kashmere Gate side to the north, connected by the old Kodiya Pul footbridge. The metro station you should use depends on which side you want to reach.
| Detail | Information |
| Nearest metro station | Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) |
| Exit for the railway station | Gate 3 (“Delhi Railway Station”) |
| Distance from Chandni Chowk metro | About 200–400 m to the main entrance |
| Walking time | About 3–10 minutes, depending on crowds |
| Chandni Chowk metro platforms | Platform 1 towards Millennium City Centre Gurugram; Platform 2 towards Samaypur Badli |
| Other Chandni Chowk exits | Gate 1 (Town Hall), Gate 2 (Delhi Public Library, SP Mukherjee Marg), Gate 5 (Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Paranthe Wali Gali, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazar) |
| Alternative for the north side | Kashmere Gate (Red, Yellow and Violet Lines; ISBT) |
| Violet Line option | Lal Qila metro station, about 1 km away |
| First and last trains at Chandni Chowk | Roughly 5:10–6:00 AM to 11:20 PM–midnight, depending on direction |
| Fare to New Delhi Railway Station | ₹11 (Yellow Line, 3 stops) |
| Railway station code | DLI (Delhi Junction) |
| Railway platforms | 16 |
| Railway station opened | 1864 (current building 1903) |
| Redevelopment status | Listed in August 2026 among 15 stations proposed for public-private redevelopment |
| Time zone | IST, UTC+5:30 (no daylight saving) |
Gate 3 at Chandni Chowk, and What’s Outside It
Chandni Chowk metro is an underground station on the Yellow Line, between Kashmere Gate to the north and Chawri Bazar to the south. After the fare gates, follow the signs for Gate 3. Of all the station’s exits, it opens closest to the railway station.
When you come out, the Delhi Junction building is ahead, set back from the road. You can’t miss its turrets and crenellated walls, which were designed to echo the nearby Red Fort. The route is very short, but you’ll be walking through dense crowds rather than along an open footpath. On weekday mornings, loaded handcarts from the wholesale markets come through here, and cycle-rickshaw drivers wait along the kerb, often calling out to arriving passengers.
Keep these points in mind for this short walk:
- Keep your luggage in front of you and your phone in your pocket. This is a crowded market area, and pickpocketing is common.
- Licensed railway porters wear red shirts and brass arm badges. Agree on the fee before they pick up your bags, especially for heavy loads or distant platforms.
- You don’t need a rickshaw from Gate 3. The distance is short enough that walking is usually faster than waiting for a rickshaw to get through the traffic.
The Other Side of the Tracks: The Kashmere Gate Approach
Many travellers don’t know that Delhi Junction also has a second entrance on the north side, facing Kashmere Gate. The Kodiya Pul footbridge connects the two sides over the tracks and is used heavily.
The north side is the better approach if:
- You’re arriving at Kashmere Gate ISBT by bus from Himachal, Uttarakhand, Punjab or Haryana
- You’re coming on the Red Line (from Shahdara, Dilshad Garden, Rohini, Pitampura) or the Violet Line (from Faridabad, ITO, Lajpat Nagar) and would rather not change to the Yellow Line
- Your platform is closer to the northern end of the station
From Kashmere Gate metro, the station’s north entrance is roughly 1 to 1.5 km away. That’s too far to walk comfortably with luggage but a short auto or e-rickshaw ride. With light bags, you can also change to the Yellow Line and go one stop south to Chandni Chowk, then use Gate 3. It takes about three minutes and costs ₹11.
Lal Qila on the Violet Line
Lal Qila station is on the Violet Line, one stop from Kashmere Gate on Netaji Subhash Marg. One of its gates is marked for the Old Delhi railway station, but the walk is about a kilometre through the busy stretch near the Red Fort and the eastern end of Chandni Chowk. Use it only if you’re already on the Violet Line and travelling light. Otherwise, change to the Yellow Line at Kashmere Gate and ride one stop to Chandni Chowk. It’s quicker and less tiring.
Chandni Chowk’s Other Gates
Many people arriving at Old Delhi by train want to see the old city first, before checking into a hotel or catching another train. Chandni Chowk metro’s other exits are useful for that:
| Gate | Leads to | Useful for |
| Gate 1 | Town Hall | The main Chandni Chowk avenue, Fatehpuri Masjid end |
| Gate 2 | Delhi Public Library, SP Mukherjee Marg | Local offices and the library side |
| Gate 3 | Delhi Railway Station | Delhi Junction (Old Delhi railway station) |
| Gate 5 | Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Paranthe Wali Gali, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazar | Food lanes, the spice market, the gurudwara, wholesale markets |
Gate 5 is the one to use for the old city’s best-known sights and food. From Paranthe Wali Gali, the spice lanes of Khari Baoli, and Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, you can walk back to the railway station in about 15 minutes.
Old Delhi to New Delhi Railway Station by Metro
Travellers often need to change between Delhi’s two main railway stations, for example arriving at Old Delhi on an overnight train and continuing from New Delhi. The metro makes this easy:
- Enter Chandni Chowk metro through Gate 3.
- Take Platform 1 (towards Millennium City Centre Gurugram).
- Ride three stops through Chawri Bazar to New Delhi.
- Leave by Gate 1 or 2 for the Ajmeri Gate side of New Delhi Railway Station.
The metro ride takes about five minutes and costs ₹11. Including the walks at both ends, allow 30 to 40 minutes from the Old Delhi entrance to your platform at New Delhi. A cab between the two stations covers only a few kilometres, but the roads through Old Delhi are often jammed, so it usually takes longer.
Metro Routes From Other Parts of Delhi
| Starting point | Route to Chandni Chowk | Approx. metro time |
| Rajiv Chowk / Connaught Place | Yellow Line north, 3 stops | About 6–8 min |
| New Delhi Railway Station | Yellow Line north, 3 stops | About 5 min |
| Kashmere Gate ISBT | Yellow Line south, 1 stop | About 3 min |
| Hauz Khas / South Delhi | Yellow Line north, no change | About 25–30 min |
| Gurugram | Yellow Line north, no change | About 55–60 min |
| Noida / Vaishali | Blue Line to Rajiv Chowk, then Yellow Line north | About 45–55 min |
| IGI Airport (T3) | Airport Express to New Delhi, then Yellow Line north | About 35–45 min |
| Shahdara / East Delhi | Red Line to Kashmere Gate, then Yellow Line south | About 20–30 min |
| Faridabad | Violet Line to Kashmere Gate, then Yellow Line south; or Violet Line to Central Secretariat, then Yellow Line north | About 60–75 min |
Timings and Fares
Yellow Line trains at Chandni Chowk start at roughly 5:10 AM in the Gurugram direction and around 5:40–6:00 AM in the Samaypur Badli direction. Last trains leave between roughly 11:20 PM (towards Gurugram) and midnight (towards Samaypur Badli). Timings vary a little between weekdays and holidays, so check the DMRC app if your train arrives late at night.
Fares depend on distance. Short trips like Old Delhi to New Delhi or Kashmere Gate cost ₹11. Journeys across the city are ₹43 to ₹54 on weekdays, with lower fares on Sundays and national holidays. A smart card or a QR ticket from the DMRC app lets you skip the ticket queue at Chandni Chowk, which can be long at weekend peak times.
Old Delhi Station Redevelopment: What to Expect
Delhi Junction is a heritage building, and plans to modernise it have been discussed for years. These include elevated approach roads on both sides, on SP Mukherjee Marg (Chandni Chowk side) and Zorawar Singh Marg (Kashmere Gate side), to separate station traffic from market traffic. In August 2026, the government listed Old Delhi among 15 major stations proposed for redevelopment through public-private partnerships.
Nothing has changed for metro passengers yet: Gate 3 is still the way to reach the station. Once construction starts, entrances and approach paths may move for a while. Follow the signs on site rather than relying on old directions.
Tips for Old Delhi Transfers
- Allow at least 40–45 minutes from reaching Chandni Chowk metro to your train’s departure. Crowds in the station forecourt and queues at security checks cause more delays than the metro.
- Check which side your platform is on before you arrive. It helps you decide between Gate 3 at Chandni Chowk and an auto from Kashmere Gate.
- Early trains are a problem. For departures before about 6:30 AM, the metro won’t get you there in time, so book a cab instead.
- Weekday mornings (about 9–11 AM) are the busiest times on SP Mukherjee Marg, when the wholesale markets open. Late evenings are calmer.
- Don’t accept “help” from people at the gate who say your train has moved or been cancelled. Check the station’s display boards or the NTES app.
- Ask the ticket counter for a smart card if you’ll use the metro more than a couple of times. It saves time at crowded stations in the old city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which is the nearest metro station to Old Delhi railway station?
Chandni Chowk on the Yellow Line, about 200–400 m from the main entrance.
Q. Which gate of Chandni Chowk metro goes to Old Delhi railway station?
Gate 3, signposted “Delhi Railway Station”.
Q. Is Old Delhi railway station the same as Delhi Junction?
Yes. Old Delhi railway station is the common name for Delhi Junction (DLI).
Q. How do I go from Old Delhi railway station to New Delhi railway station by metro?
Take the Yellow Line from Chandni Chowk towards Gurugram and ride three stops to New Delhi. The fare is ₹11.
Q. Can I reach Old Delhi railway station from Kashmere Gate ISBT?
Yes. Take the Yellow Line one stop to Chandni Chowk, or an auto to the station’s north entrance.
Q. Is Lal Qila metro station close to Old Delhi railway station?
It’s about 1 km away. Chandni Chowk is the closer and more convenient choice.
Q. Which metro line serves Old Delhi railway station?
The Yellow Line, through Chandni Chowk station.
Q. How long does it take to walk from Chandni Chowk metro to Old Delhi station?
Usually 3–10 minutes, depending on how crowded the road is.
