Agartala to Surat Flights

  About Agartala

Amritsar, in Punjab, has been a city of historical and mythological importance since a very long time. According to scriptures, the city housed Maharishi Valmiki, who wrote Ramayana. It is also said that Goddess Sita gave birth to Luv and Kush at the Ramtirth ashram in Amritsar. Amritsar is colloquially called Ambarsar and was initially called Ramdaspur. And how can you forget the Golden Temple! It's one of the most famous religious places of worship and has also been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Golden Temple sees visitors from all over the world throughout the year. You cannot leave Amritsar without visiting the Golden Temple and embracing your spiritual side. The langar food will leave you satiated for a very long time. You can also volunteer in the kitchen and help the others serve. It is an experience of a lifetime.

Amritsar was founded by Guru Ram Das, who is the fourth Sikh guru who founded the holy city in the Sikh tradition. Guru Ram Das made a pool and a home next to it after which he named the town he founded, Ramdaspur. He then invited merchants and artisans to come to live in the town that was later called Amritsar. Sikhism is a widely practised religion in Amritsar, and the Sikhs have also been a very integral part of Indian history. Amritsar is also known for the tragic Jallianwala Bagh Massacre that saw the merciless killing of hundreds of Sikhs. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions, too, where you can see the bullet marks on the walls even now.

You can also visit the Bhagwan Valmiki Tiath Asthan, which is believed to be the birthplace of Luv and Kush. It is also where Maharishi Valmiki stayed and wrote the Ramayana. If you feel like going on a shopping spree, you will find lots of colourful clothes and souvenirs to take back home. All you women out there, make sure to buy the phulkari dupattas from the markets. Hall Market is one of the most popular lanes for a fun shopping spree. You can also indulge in some scrumptious local treats and try out the street food. Amritsari kulchas, Tandoori luchas, Keema naan, kulfis, phirni and some mouth-watering lassi at a Dhaba. Hungry yet?

The city is also visited a lot because of the Wagah Border. Witness the retreat ceremony at the border that divides India and Pakistan two hours before sunset every day. It will surely make you feel patriotic and can get quite overwhelming. You can also visit the Museums in the city to get to know more about its history. The Sikhs are also known to be very friendly and hospitable, which is another reason you must visit this city, at least once in your life. The city is well-connected, and if you are starting your trip from Delhi, a nice road trip will work just perfectly. The popular route from Amritsar to Delhi is often the most sought-after for an impromptu road trip.

Best Time to Visit Agartala

Amritsar experiences winter from November to March, which is also the best time to visit the city. It's ideal to go sightseeing and plan other outdoor activities that can get quite difficult during summer and monsoon. The temperature can fall below 5 degree Celsius in January and evenings can get quite foggy. Summer starts from April and goes on till June. The summer gets really hot, and the maximum temperature is approximately 40 degrees Celsius. The heat will only make it more difficult for you to get out of your hotel rooms. The monsoons start from July and till October. The city experiences mild rains sometimes that can also get intense a lot of times. But the weather is mostly humid during monsoon and makes it unfavourable for you to step out or plan a trip during this time.

Places to Visit in Agartala

The Golden Temple is one of the first things that you must visit when you reach Amritsar. The sheer aura of the temple is so positive, it will put you in a good mood instantly. Make sure to cover your head with a piece of cloth or dupatta, for women. The dome at the top of the temple is made of pure gold, and it even has a pond inside the complex. Do not leave without relishing the langar prasad. The Jallianwala Bagh is yet another place of historical importance that you must visit when you go to Amritsar. It was where hundreds of people were shot dead by Britishers, and the walls still have bullet marks. The spot was turned into a memorial after the independence to honour those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Do make sure you also visit the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum which was actually the palace of the first King of the Sikh empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The museum boasts of antiquities and personal belongings of the King. You'll also come across a lot of paintings as you take a tour of the palace. The Ram Tirth Ashram is yet another place that you can visit. It's an ancient pilgrimage where Luv and Kush were born. You'll also come across a hut in which Maharishi Valmiki stayed. The Gobindgarh Fort is another location that deserves your attention and is also of historical importance. The fort was built by Gujjar Singh Bhangi's army and was later reconstructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early 1800s.

Things to do in Agartala

Be a part of Guru Ka Langar. You can volunteer in serving the langar food or in the kitchen to cook, chop vegetables or do the dishes. It is very fulfilling, and you'll surely enjoy it. You can also visit all the major attractions in the city like the Jallianwala Bagh, Gobindgarh Fort, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum and a couple of more places. Either you can hire a cab for an entire day to go sightseeing, or you can plan your own itinerary. You will easily find rickshaws and other modes of commuting quite easily. Make sure you try out Amritsari food and lassi at the dhabas after your shopping spree at the Hall Market. You can also go birdwatching at the Harike Wetlands. Your trip to Amritsar will be historical, educational, gastronomical and fun. Getting around the city won't be that difficult. To make things easier, you can hire a tour guide at the museums and historical locations if you wish to. You'll also find amusement parks in the city if you are travelling with your kids or a large family.

Foods and Restaurants in Agartala

Whatever you do, do not miss the langar ka prasad. It's a simple meal consisting of dal, roti and kheer, but you will simply love it. It is advisable to go to the temple in the morning, offer your prayers and then wait to be served the best food in one of the biggest kitchens. You can also head to All India Famous for some Amritsari kulchas. Buzz is that they run out of kulchas by 2 pm so you might have to get there for breakfast or early lunch. Kesar Da Dhaba is one of the most popular dhabas and only serves vegetarian food. The dhaba was started way back in 1916, and the recipe has not changed since then. Pal Da Dhaba and Beera Chicken House are some of the other famous eateries if you want to binge on some mouth-watering butter chicken or lamb. Head over to Ahuja Milk Bhandaar for a delicious, tall glass of lassi. No meal in Amritsar is complete without a glass of lassi. You'll find a lot of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options in the city. It is also advisable to carry your own bottle of alcohol if at all, you wish to dine and drink at the same time. A lot of places that serve non-veg do not provide alcohol. The locals also carry their own bottle of liquor when they eat out.

How to reach the Agartala

By Air

The Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is only a 15-20 minutes drive to and from the city. Domestic flights from Amritsar to major metropolitan cities run every day from here, and it also connects directly to a couple of international destinations. You can get pretty good flight deals online for Amritsar and can even book hotels in Amritsar along with it.

By Rail

The Amritsar railway station connects to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Agra, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chandigarh. Delhi to Amritsar is a popular route that a lot of travellers prefer. It takes about 6 hours to reach Amritsar from Delhi. Paschim Express is the fastest train that you can board from Mumbai to reach Amritsar, and the journey takes about 30 hours approximately.

By Road

You'll find a lot of government and private bus services from Ambala, Patiala, Delhi, Chandigarh and Jammu. You can also hire a taxi from these cities to reach Amritsar. If you are travelling from afar, flights are the best options or trains, if you are on a budget.

  About Surat

Nestled next to the banks of Tapi river is the flourishing city of Surat, also touted for its textile industry, in the state of Gujarat. While Surat is recognised for its textile prowess, the city also has a lot of historical and cultural significance. It is the second-largest city in Gujarat after Ahmedabad and has impeccable flight connectivity to various big cities in India. As a developed city, Surat enjoys great connectivity with other cities as well as an upscale lifestyle.

Best time to visit Surat

Surat enjoys a tropical climate which means the summers here are extreme. The temperatures tend to rise to a staggering 45 degree Celsius. This could be extremely taxing for people who are not used to such climates. The days get very unpleasant due to the hot and humid summers. Hence, it is best to avoid summers in Surat. Unless you have some professional or personal commitment for which you must travel, do avoid Surat during summers. The flight tickets to Surat in summer do see a drop as it is off-season. The months from Match to June see barely many tourists as the city faces the harsh sun. Even the accommodation prices drop as there are fewer tourists in the city. This makes booking a hotel room in Surat cheaper and easy.

In contrast to the hot summers, the winters in Surat are cold and comfortable. October to February is considered to be the best time for a trip to Surat, especially if you wish to unwind and explore the city. The temperatures during winter range between 15 degree Celsius to 29 degree Celsius, making the weather pleasant. You can traverse through the city during the day, check out their textiles galore and indulge in some street food delights. Another perk of visiting Surat in winter is Navratri. Celebrated in October-November, Navratri means Garba and Garba means fancy attires. The Garba fervour is definitely a different kind of experience that you should check out.

Monsoons in Surat are pretty decent as well. The rainfall is occasional and not very heavy. Unlike how some parts of India witness heavy rains during monsoon, Surat is safe from all the heavy rain. Instead, it receives moderate rains which leave a charming atmosphere. Also, the pleasant temperatures enable people to step out of their houses as the sun is not lethal. During monsoon, flight tickets to Surat come at an affordable rate. With less rain, flying to Surat is not risky as well.

Places to visit in Surat

People know Surat for their garments, textile industry and food. But here's a side of the city should definitely be explored. The city is blessed with some pretty and untouched beaches that should be explored. In fact, one specific haunted beach should be on your list of places to visit. Surat's Dumas beach has a reputation for being haunted with locals complaining of hearing screams and cries during nights. While the beach is beautiful, the nights could be haunting, but overall, it could be quite the experience. Another important beach that you should visit is Dandi beach. The popularity comes from the Salt Satyagraha that was headlined by freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. Some of the other famous tourist attractions include the Dutch Garden, Vansda National Park, Hajira Village and Sarthana Nature Park. While these places celebrate the rich natural beauty of Surat, the Sardar Patel Museum has been founded to preserve the rich heritage of the city.

Things to do in Surat

As a developed city, Surat does have some fun activities that one can engage in. It doesn't have to be to explore the textile markets. Although, if you are a fashion enthusiast and wish to see some of the textile action, then you should definitely check them out. As for those who want to derive pleasure from their Surat rendezvous, you should check out the Surat Fort. You don't need to trek for this, and the scenic views are so good that they'll make for stunning pictures. For some leisure time, you can hang out at the Jawaharlal Nehru Garden with a picnic basket or just lay on the grass. The city also has recreational parks and complexes that gain quite some tourist attention. Neverland Water Park is one such place that is often chosen by locals and even tourists, when in the city. Blues Adventure is a similar setting that is perfect for recreational activities.

Food and Restaurants in Surat

Surat's popularity may come from the flourishing textile industry, but their food culture is just as illustrious. Being a city in Gujarat being following the traditional Gujarati cuisine with its delectable khandwas and khaman dhoklas. Interestingly, while Surat does propagate the Gujarati-ness in their cooking, the city also caters to varied cuisines that would get your attention. From the richness of North Indian cuisine's kitchen to a culinary bliss from the Mediterranean, Surat has a plethora of restaurants and food joints to elevate your dining experience. The city entertains some interesting delicacies from around the globe. But their slew of street food is what piques the excitement.

Some of the dining experiences in the city include Leonardo Italian Mediterranean Dining Falafel Lovers and Sizzling Salsa. These restaurants offer global cuisine with a touch of Indianness to them. From European, Mexican, Mediterranean, etc., the restaurants are mostly vegetarian. However, a handful of joints do offer lovely non-vegetarian food. In fact, you can head to Ziba, to get the best of tandoori and North Indian dishes. Their speciality includes the scrumptious rajma chawal and achaari fish tikka masala. Of course, it would be a shame to miss out Gujarati thali when in Surat.

For the best Gujarati thali experience, head to Kansar Gujarati Thali and Sasumaa. These restaurants would give you the best amalgam of fine dining and authentic Gujarati food. Expect lots of traditional dishes such as khatti meethi daal, undhiyu, aloo rasila, bhakhri, kadhi, kachumber salad and more.

How to reach Surat (Transportation)

By Air

Surat Airport is located in Magdalla, close to the Surat city. The airport has remarkable flight connectivity from Surat to major big cities in India. In fact, it is deemed to be the second busiest airport after Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Interestingly, the airport caters to the customs department for aircraft movements and simultaneously, works for commercial purposes. It also caters to the aviation field and allows flying schools to use the grounds around the airport for flying practices. Surat airport was built back in the 1970s and has since played a pivotal role in connecting Gujarat with other cities and states in India. The flight connectivity to Surat from other cities is excellent.

There are flights that fly to Surat from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Bhopal, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur and more. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceXpress, Air India Express, SpiceJet, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Surat. There are daily flights to Surat reserved from Delhi and Mumbai. Despite being a domestic airport, Surat sees a tremendous footfall of passengers as well as flights in the airport. The airport's location is close to 11 km away from the main city.

By Rail

Surat railway station is perfectly connected with other cities in the country. Since it is on the main domestic route from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, the station is always busy. There are more than four trains that leave from Mumbai to go to Ahmedabad on a daily basis and has Surat as one of the stops on the way. Much of the outstation trains that Surat witnesses at the railway station are on the popular domestic route between Mumbai and Delhi. This includes trains heading to Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, Delhi and more. The railway station is located in the main city, making travelling within the city far easier. Some of the frequented express trains include Bandra Surat Intercity Express, August Kranti Rajdhani Express, Indore-Mumbai Avantika Express and Karnavati Express. From the railway station, you can hire a cab to reach the hotel you have booked in Surat. The city is equipped with good hotels, so accommodation is never a matter of concern.

By Road

Surat's road connectivity is phenomenal. The city, with its impeccable infrastructure, has well-connected roads. There are major highways that pass through the city. Over the years, the growth and development of the city's infrastructure have enabled it to network with big cities via roadways. It is impressive to note how some of the roads that have been constructed are aesthetically pleasing too, aside from good connectivity. These points make travelling to Surat by road a viable option. The popular route to Surat is the Udhana Mumbai Highway and the Surat Ahmedabad Highway as these roads see tremendous traffic owing to the top-notch connectivity. AC and Non-AC Volvo buses are available from cities such as Ahmedabad and Mumbai to reach Surat. Due to the extensive infrastructural development phases, the city witnesses a lot of traffic so even if you do try to reach ahead of time, you might get stuck within the city.

  About Surat Airport

Surat Airport falls in the category of customs airport and serves the city of Surat in the state of Gujarat. The airport is situated in Magdalla and covers an area of 770 acres. Following Ahmedabad, Surat Airport is the second busiest airport in the state with respect to passenger traffic and aircraft movement. In 2018, the airport received the custom airport status from the aviation industry. The airport also caters to a flying training school in the country. Surat Airport came into existence in the early 1970s and was operated under the state government of Gujarat. The first airline to operate from the city was by the airline, Safari Airways. They chartered flights to Bombay and Bhavnagar and used the small aircraft such as Douglas DC - 3 Dakota for the same. However, the services were eventually discontinued after a year or two of functioning. In the 1990s though, the airport resumed flight operations with regional airlines Vayudoot and Gujarat Airways. They had dedicated flights to the city of Surat. However, activities of the same were also discontinued in 1994 and 2000 respectively. In 2003, the complete operations and management of Surat Airport were transferred to the Airports Authority of India. Under the new operational heads, the airport witnessed tremendous expansions and modernisation. The airport proposed and even restarted flight activities to Mumbai and Bhavnagar in 2004. But the attempts failed as the airport infrastructure couldn't accommodate flight activities. For a year, a new defunct Air Deccan had flights operating an ATR 42 aircraft to the cities that stopped in 2005.

The airport's runway faced an expansion in 2007 that was extended from 1,400 metres to 2,250 metres, with a view to allowing larger aircraft accommodation. Following the expansion, flight activities resumed yet again in 2007 with Indian Airlines operating Airbus A319 aircraft to Delhi. It was noted that the runway extension work was conducted poorly, resulting in reported damage to the path. With such limitations, Surat Airport officials announced that they would not allow more than two aircraft operations with the flight's weight not exceeding more than 75,000 kilograms. The conditions were levied until the repair and reconstruction of the new runway were completed. Since then, the airport authority has worked towards several expansion plans to make Surat Airport ideal for passenger flights.

About Surat Airport Terminal

Currently, Surat Airport has one integrated terminal building along with a cargo terminal. The integrated terminal building was inaugurated by then Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Dinsha Patel, in 2009. The construction of the new terminal cost about INR 400 million. It is sprawled across an area of 91,000 square feet and can handle 240 passengers in an hour. Various modern amenities have been installed at the airport with CCTV cameras, hand baggage X-ray machines, two air bridges with a visual docking guidance system, a 120-seater lounge, two baggage carousels in the arrivals section and a plethora of small shops. The airport recently inaugurated its cargo terminal in 2020 after a plan to expand and bring forth a modular cargo terminal was approved by the Airports Authority of India.

With the approval of the tender, the construction work for a new cargo terminal was offered to a Surat-based firm. The cargo complex is spread across 14,000 square feet in total with a ground-level area of nearly 10,800 square feet and the first floor covering 3,200 square feet. The project lasted for 13 months, following which the new cargo terminal was completed and ready for business. Additionally, Surat Airport plans to expand its cargo terminal and install a new international cargo terminal. Land for the same has already be acquiesced and would be provided once the bid is announced and sold to a company for construction.

About airport authority

Surat Airport is owned and operated under the Airports Authority of India. The airport authority has been responsible for the consistent expansion and upgradation of Surat Airport. Over the years, the airport has witnessed some growth, and also several concerns have been solved. In 2014, a massive collision of a buffalo with a SpiceJet Boeing 737 brought forth the safety concerns that were soon addressed by the Airports Authority. The runway extension work was divided into three phases to ensure that the airport's regular functions are not affected. The first phase saw an extension of the runway by 655 metres. Following this move, the airport also constructed adjoining concrete apron that measured at 235 x 90 metres. It has been linked by two taxiways and is the only runway of the airport. The authorities also added high-tech night landing amenities along with an instrument landing system and navigation systems to enhance the efficiency of Surat Airport.

The airport has announced that they will continue working on the expansion of the terminal building of the Surat Airport. The project's budget has been estimated at INR 3.50 billion with the project expected to take off in two years. The terminal building will comprise of a total area of 25,520 square metres. With the extension complete, Surat Airport'sAirport's terminal building will have the capacity to handle about 1,800 passengers, 1,200 from domestic and 600 from international, at peak hours. The new terminal will also be equipped with modern facilities and essentials such as 20 check-in counters, five aerobridges and 26 immigration counters, to name a few. They also plan to extend the parking space for cars to accommodate more than 500 at once. Along with this, the airport plans to extend the apron to accommodate ten more number of bays for aircraft of Type C.

Facilities at the Surat Airport

Baggage and trolleys – The baggage services at Surat Airport include free trolleys, baggage wrapping, porter services and more. You can also store your baggage in the airport premise if need be.

Wheelchair – For passengers who are disabled and require wheelchairs and special assistance, Surat Airport has reserved staff to take care of this as well. Trained staff will also accompany the passenger and wheel them past the security checks.

Medical assistance – Special medical assistance experts have been hired to take care of emergency cases that might take place in the airport premise. The trained professionals are well-equipped with medical emergency cases and also have the necessary first aid kits to tend to the patients. The airport also has pharmacies in the departure sections of the terminal.

ATMs – Multiple ATM kiosks have been put up in Surat Airport. For passengers who need to withdraw money or have some last-minute expenses for which they need to pay in cash, the ATMs are ideal. They are also placed in perfect distances to make it accessible for passengers from all corners of the airport.

Restaurants – There are a bunch of restaurants and cafes in the airport premise. These can mostly be found in the airport terminal's departure halls. With a view to ensuring that the passenger is entertained and well-fed, Surat Airport has installed a few restaurants and cafes in its food court. One can relax here and also indulge in some traditional Gujarati cuisine while they wait for boarding.

Travel agents – In case you haven't figured out your accommodation and travel itinerary in the city, at the airport's travel agent desk, you will be able to figure your plans out. A dedicated booth has been maintained by Surat Airport to cater to the traveller's needs. Car rentals, hotel accommodations and other such bookings can be made from the airport's travel booth.

Smoking zones – Surat Airport does not allow smoking in public spaces. Instead, they have installed dedicated smoking zones for passengers to enable clean air in the airport premise. The smoking zones have been installed in the terminal's departure as well as arrivals halls.

Top airlines flying from the Surat Airport

Presently, Surat Airport accommodates flight activities of airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Out of these, Air India Express is the only international airline that Surat Airport can manage for now. While it caters to connect to Indian cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Goa, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar, Surat Airport also has one international city connection as one flight networks with Sharjah. Along with this, the airport also has one cargo carrier, SpiceXpress, that connects to destinations such as Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata.

How to reach Surat Airport

Surat Airport is about 12 km away from the city centre. However, as a big city in the state of Gujarat, the city has a phenomenal network of transport facilities that will help you reach Surat Airport. A slew of ridesharing platforms such as Ola, Meru, Uber, Savaari Car Rentals, Oneway and Jugnoo, to name a few, function from the city. These taxi cab services have fixed fares to reach Surat Airport. They are the most convenient and comfortable means of reaching Surat Airport. The city bus stand also has dedicated services to reach Surat Airport. However, buses might not be as comfortable as taxi cabs, even though they are affordable and cheap.