DEL to BOM: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New Delhi (DEL) to Mumbai (BOM) is a 1,137 km (706 mi), roughly 1h 50m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DEL to BOM departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Both | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Choose the right side. It gives you the better views and the shade, so one side wins on both counts.
Sit on the right for this one. The same side gives you the better views and the shade, so it is the easy call.
Takeoff
After takeoff from DEL, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the Delhi sprawl first. Very soon after, you also pass Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Meerut on that side as you climb out.
En route
- 12m inRight →Alwar · passes underneath
About 12 minutes in, Alwar slips almost under the aircraft on the right. It is brief, but it is close enough to register.
- 21m inRight →Jaipur
A few minutes later, Jaipur is on the right. You get the clearest look from that side as the city comes into range.
- 27m in← LeftRanthambore National Park
Around 27 minutes in, Ranthambore National Park is off the left. It is a quick, green interruption in the route.
- 48m inRight →Aravalli Range
Near the halfway mark, the Aravalli Range sits on the right. From cruise height it reads as a long, low line instead of sharp peaks.
- 1h 12m inRight →Ahmedabad
By about 72 minutes in, Ahmedabad is on the right. It is one of the bigger urban passes on the route.
- 1h 29m inRight →Surat
Later, around 89 minutes in, Surat comes up on the right during descent. It is one of the last major city views before landing.
Landing
On descent into BOM, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the approach views. Thane and Navi Mumbai come up on that side, and Mumbai itself is nearly under you at the end.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from DEL to BOM?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on DEL to BOM flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from DEL to BOM?
The great-circle distance is 1,137 km (706 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 50m in the air on this southbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side of the plane should I sit on from Delhi to Mumbai?
Sit on the right. That side has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on the Delhi to Mumbai flight?
You get city views early, then a mix of Rajasthan and Gujarat landmarks, with Surat on the right late in the flight and Mumbai on the left at landing.