Venue

Visa related information for foreign participants

There are 3 types of visa that you may apply for. Also, please try to apply for an e-visa if eligible, it is easier to obtain. The following link has details on it: e-visa (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html).  

1. Conference visa: This is the preferred visa type to attend conferences in India. For this, we need to provide you with two documents - 

(i) Clearance from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and 

(ii) Clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 

We will require your passport scans (the relevant pages which have your information) for this step. It may take a month to get these documents. After that, your visa gets processed in a week or so, thus we have time. However, since the ministry may not appreciate too many iterative applications for a single conference, we would like to request you to kindly send your passport scan by 10 December 2025 to caldam2026@iitdh.ac.in if you are planning to take this visa. 

2. Business visa: This is probably more suitable for a research visit than conference. For this, you will need a research visit invitation letter from my side. We can provide one upon request (to: caldam2026@iitdh.ac.in). You will also need to provide a "business card". Your Institute ID mentioning your affiliation and designation can be used. Otherwise, it is possible to make one by yourself (for example). 

3. Tourist visa: This is surely not for conferences. However, this one is probably the easiest to get. This does not require any document from our side to the best of our knowledge. If it is required, please let us know. 

Please write back to caldam2026@iitdh.ac.in for further queries. 

How to reach IIT Dharwad

Hubli (also called Hubballi) and Dharwad are twin cities about 20 km apart. Hubli-Dharwad is well connected by buses. Chigari buses (AC buses) are very frequent between Hubli and Dharwad. One can take Chigari bus from Hubli railway station directly to Dharwad new bus stand. One can reach Hubli/ Dharwad using the following options. Hire an auto (usually costs around 300 INR) from Dharwad city to reach IIT Dharwad.

By flight:

Dharwad is connected to three airports. Hubli (HBX) is the nearest airport to IIT Dharwad (about 40 minutes). Belgaum (IXG) airport is about 60 minutes away. Goa airport is approximately 3-4 hours by road (160 km) from IIT Dharwad. There are direct flights to Hubli/Belgaum from major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad.

By train:

Dharwad railway station and Hubli railway station are at distances 15 km and 35 km, respectively, from the campus. Hubli is well connencted by trains. There are around dozen trains running between Hubli and Bengaluru everyday. There are a few trains from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, to Hubli/ Dharwad. 

By bus:

Dharwad new bus stand is the nearest bus stand (about 10 km) to IIT Dharwad. Other major bus stands include Hubli, Belgaum. There are many KSRTC (public) buses and private buses (like VRL, SRS) running between Dharwad/ Hubli and Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai.

Tourist attractions

Local attractions

How to reach:

• Chandramouleshwar temple, Unkal lake and Nrupatunga hill are all close by. Either hire an auto from IIT Dharwad, or take Chigari bus from New bus stand Dharwad to Unkal lake stop, and take an auto from there.

• Kittur fort is 24 km from IIT Dharwad. Hire an auto/ cab from IIT Dharwad.

© IIT Dharwad