Flight time & jet lag: London to New Delhi

London to New Delhi: Route overview

Covering 6,731 km from London in Europe to New Delhi in Asia, this long-haul eastward route takes 7h 59m to 9h 03m and advances the clock by 5.5 hours, requiring careful circadian planning. Crossing 5.5 time zones eastbound creates significant circadian disruption. Your body's internal clock will take approximately 6 days to fully realign with New Delhi's local schedule. The route transitions between temperate and subtropical climate zones, so expect a significant change in daylight duration and intensity that influences your circadian adjustment strategy.

What makes the London–New Delhi route different

Eastbound routes crossing 5.5 or more time zones are among the hardest for circadian adjustment because they require your body to advance its clock — effectively going to sleep earlier than it wants to, which is more difficult than staying up later.

Arrival strategy for New Delhi

After flying east across 5.5 time zones to New Delhi, your body will be significantly behind local time. If you arrive at 08:00 local, your body thinks it is 02:00. Prioritize getting bright morning light between 07:00 and 10:00 local time to advance your internal clock. Avoid the strong temptation to nap in the afternoon — if you must, limit it to 20 minutes. Target a local bedtime of 22:00 even if you do not feel sleepy, and avoid screens for 2 hours before.

Circadian rhythm analysis: London → New Delhi

When you arrive in New Delhi, your circadian rhythm is still running on London time. At 09:00 New Delhi time, your body clock reads 03:00 — the middle of the night. You will experience profound drowsiness during what should be your productive morning hours. By 22:00 local time (when you should sleep), your body reads 16:00 — still mid-afternoon internally. Falling asleep will be very difficult without sleep hygiene strategies. Your circadian system adjusts at roughly 1 hour per day, so expect 6 days for full alignment.

Your body clock in New Delhi (day 1)

How your body clock maps to local time upon arrival, before any adjustment.

Pre-departure preparation

To prepare for this 5.5-hour eastward shift to New Delhi, begin adjusting 4 days before departure. Each night, move your bedtime 83 minutes earlier and wake correspondingly earlier. Seek bright light immediately upon waking. On departure day, set your watch to New Delhi time and begin eating meals on that schedule. This pre-adjustment can reduce your recovery time by 1–2 days.

Your first 72 hours in New Delhi

Day 1 in New Delhi: Your body is ~5.5 hours off local time. Get bright sunlight in the morning. Avoid napping past 14:00. Eat at local mealtimes even if not hungry. Caffeine is fine before 14:00, not after. Day 2: ~5 hours off. Continue morning (07:00–10:00) light exposure. Sleep quality should improve. Day 3: ~4 hours off. Noticeable improvement. Maintain light and meal timing discipline.

Recovery timeline

Full circadian adjustment for the London → New Delhi route typically takes 6 days, based on the body's natural adaptation rate of ~1 hour per day for eastbound travel. During this period, expect gradually improving sleep quality, with the most noticeable symptoms (fatigue, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes) during the first 3 days. By day 6, most travelers report feeling fully synchronized with New Delhi's schedule.

Route Planner

Adjust departure date for DST-accurate results.

Jet lag adjustment plan: London → New Delhi

Significant jet lag. Allow 4–7 days for full adjustment. Plan sleep and light exposure carefully.

Business hours: London vs New Delhi

Seasonal and climate factors

Flight times between London and New Delhi can vary by 15–30 minutes seasonally due to shifting wind patterns along this long-haul corridor. New Delhi at 29°N experiences moderate seasonal daylight variation. Summer offers longer evenings useful for westward adjustment, while winter's earlier sunsets support eastward adjustment schedules.

How the London–New Delhi flight time is estimated

The 7h 59m to 9h 03m estimate for London to New Delhi is derived from the 6,731-km great-circle distance. Long-haul flights spend most of their duration at optimal cruise altitude (typically 35,000–40,000 feet), achieving effective speeds of 820–900 km/h. An additional 30–50 minutes accounts for taxi, takeoff, climb, descent, approach, and taxi at both LHR and DEL. Actual routing through controlled airspace may add 3–8% distance beyond the great-circle path due to air traffic corridors and restricted zones along the way.

Wind patterns and flight duration

Prevailing winds along the London–New Delhi corridor have a moderate effect on flight time. The general west-to-east flow of upper-level winds at these latitudes provides a slight tailwind advantage.

Practical travel context

This route links Europe and Asia, one of the busiest intercontinental corridors. Connections via Middle Eastern hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) are common alternatives to direct flights. Most travelers on stays of 3 days or longer will benefit from fully adjusting to New Delhi's local time, as the 5.5-hour shift is manageable within the first 2–3 days with proper light and sleep management.

Frequently asked questions: London to New Delhi

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