A new baby, a new daughter-in-law, or just a long time away. If this is the year to be in Punjab for Lohri, here is how to plan the flights.
Quick answer: when should I fly for Lohri 2027?
Lohri falls on Thursday 14 January 2027, with Maghi the next day, Friday 15 January. Aim to land in Punjab by 12 January so you have a day to rest before the bonfire. Fly into Amritsar for the shortest road trip, or into Delhi for lower fares and more flight choice, then drive or take the train. Book now, three months out, while the lower fare levels are still open. PayLite lets you pay in weekly instalments.
Why Lohri is worth the trip home
Lohri is the one night of the year when the whole village, or the whole street, gathers around a fire. Rewri, gajak, peanuts, popcorn, and someone’s uncle singing Sundar Mundariye louder than everyone else. For Punjabi families across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, it is the festival that pulls hardest.
It pulls hardest of all when there is a first Lohri to celebrate. A baby’s first Lohri, or a couple’s first Lohri after their wedding, is a big family occasion in Punjab. Grandparents want to hold the baby by the fire. If that is your family this year, your parents are already asking when you land.
Maghi follows on 15 January. In many families it means an early dip, a visit to the gurdwara, and kheer.
Amritsar or Delhi: which airport for Lohri?
This is the first decision, and it changes your fare and your journey time. Amritsar is the gateway to Punjab. Delhi has more flights and usually lower fares, but you then have a road or rail journey of several hours into Punjab.
From | To Amritsar (return) | To Delhi (return) | Then from Delhi |
Melbourne | From AUD $803 | From AUD $493.13 |
Road: roughly 4 to 5 hours to Ludhiana or Chandigarh, 5 to 6 to Jalandhar, 7 to 8 to Amritsar. Rail: express trains run Delhi to Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar daily, typically 5 to 8 hours. |
Sydney | Quoted on request | From AUD $626 | |
Brisbane | Quoted on request | From AUD $847 | |
Perth | From AUD $807 | From AUD $631 | |
Adelaide | From AUD $1,453 | From AUD $773 |
Fares per person, checked 7 October 2026 on manntravel.com.au. Prices change daily and depend on airline, dates and fare type. Lead-in fares are usually for off-peak dates; January festival dates will be higher.
Choose Amritsar if your family is in Majha or Doaba, you are travelling with a newborn or elderly parents, or you simply want to be met at the airport by your own people and be home within the hour. The fare gap narrows a lot once you add a hired car from Delhi and a night’s rest.
Choose Delhi if the fare difference is large on your dates, your family is in the Chandigarh, Patiala or Ludhiana side, or you want more airline and date choices. Many families fly in through Delhi and out through Amritsar, or the other way round. Ask us to price the open-jaw option.
One honest warning. Delhi in January means fog. Early-morning flights and trains are regularly delayed, sometimes for hours. If you land in Delhi before dawn, do not book a tight onward connection. We wrote more about this in our Delhi fog guide.
Timing your trip around Lohri and school holidays
Lohri sits nicely at the back end of the Australian summer holidays, so a two to three week trip fits without missing school.
- Term 4 2026 ends: Queensland 11 December, Western Australia 17 December, New South Wales and Victoria 18 December.
- Students go back: around 27 to 28 January 2027.
- Land by 12 January. One day to sleep off the flight, one day for the market run, then Lohri on the 14th and Maghi on the 15th.
That gives two workable plans. Fly out just after New Year and return in the last week of January, which usually means softer fares than the Christmas rush. Or fly out around 20 December, have Christmas and New Year in Punjab too, and come back the weekend before school starts. The second plan is the one that sells out first, so if that is you, book now.
What to pack for Punjab in January
Australians forget how cold Punjab gets. Melbourne is 35 degrees the week you leave, and Jalandhar is 5 degrees at night with no central heating. Pack for both.
1. Proper warm layers
Thermals, a thick jacket, beanies and socks for everyone. Village homes are cold at night and foggy in the morning. A good shawl does double duty for the bonfire and the gurdwara.
2. Gifts that travel well
Australian chocolate, macadamias, Ugg-style slippers, wool blankets and good-quality kids’ clothes are always welcome. Check your baggage allowance before you buy. If the trip is for a first Lohri, families often bring something special for the baby or the new couple, so plan that bag early.
3. Baby essentials
If you are travelling with a baby for their first Lohri, bring the formula, nappies and medicines you trust from home for at least the first week. You can buy more there, but the brands differ.
4. Documents
Australian passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card. Babies born in Australia need their own passport and visa. Apply early through the official Indian visa website, and check Smartraveller before you go.
5. Cash and cards
Carry some rupees for the first day, and tell your Australian bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked at the first ATM in Phagwara.
Booking advice: book now, three months out
Lohri is a fixed date and every Punjabi family in Australia is looking at the same two weeks. Airlines sell their seats in fare levels, cheapest first. When those seats go, the price steps up. In early October you still have good choice. By December, you are choosing from what is left.
Three things help:
- Book everyone on one booking. Grandparents, kids and the new baby all together. If a flight changes, you move as a group.
- Be flexible by a day or two on the outbound and the return. Midweek is usually cheaper than the weekend.
- Use PayLite. Lock in today’s fare with a low deposit, then pay the rest in up to 26 weekly instalments before you fly. It is available on selected refundable fares, and Afterpay is accepted too.
Students and education staff can also join MannPass for free. It takes an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights to India, is valid for 30 days, and can be renewed. It cannot be combined with other promotions.
Why book your Lohri trip with Mann Travel?
Mann Travel has been taking Australian families home to Punjab since 2007. Our team sits on Collins Street in Melbourne, speaks Punjabi, Hindi and English, and answers the phone 24/7. We know the Amritsar and Delhi routes well, we know which fares suit a family with a pram and three suitcases, and we have booked a lot of first Lohris. If you are flying south instead, see our Melbourne to Hyderabad route guide.
Let’s take you home for Lohri.
Search live fares at manntravel.com.au/flights or call our team on 1300 754 002. Ask about PayLite to lock in your fare today.
frequently asked questions
When is Lohri in 2027?
Lohri is on Thursday 14 January 2027. Maghi, also called Makar Sankranti, is the next day, Friday 15 January 2027.
Should I fly to Amritsar or Delhi for Lohri?
Amritsar puts you in Punjab the moment you land, which suits families with a baby or elderly parents. Delhi usually has lower fares and more flights, but add four to eight hours by road or rail, and allow for January fog delays.
When should I book Lohri flights from Australia?
Now. Three months out is the sweet spot. The lower fare levels on January dates close through November and December as Punjabi families across Australia book the same weeks.
Can I do a two-week trip to Punjab for Lohri without missing school?
Yes. Australian students return around 27 to 28 January 2027, so a trip from early January to the last week of January fits. Leaving before Christmas gives you a longer stay but fares are higher.
Can I pay for Lohri flights in instalments?
Yes. With Mann Travel’s PayLite, you pay a low deposit and spread the rest over up to 26 weekly instalments on selected refundable fares. Afterpay is also accepted. Call 1300 754 002 or contact us.
Fares and availability change daily and depend on the airline, date and fare type. Always check live prices before booking. Road and rail times are a general guide and can be longer in winter fog.
