Aurangabad to Vijayawada Flights

  About Aurangabad

Aurangabad is a popular tourist destination in Maharashtra, especially because of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. The caves have been appointed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1983. You would also want to check out the Aurangabad caves. They are not as popular as the Ajanta and Ellora caves, and they are totally worth visiting. The caves were carved out of soft rocks in the fifth-sixth century. The city was initially called Khadki which was later changed to Fatehnagar after Fateh Khan, who ruled the city then. The city got its name, Aurangabad, after Mughal Prince Aurangzeb was made the Viceroy for the second time. Interesting fact: Aurangabad was a part of Hyderabad until 1956. It was during this year that the city was officially declared as a part of Maharashtra.

Apart from the caves, the city is also popular for Bibi Ka Maqbara, which is also known as the second Taj Mahal of India. The mausoleum is a tomb that was made for Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's first wife Dilras Banu Begum who was called Rabia Daurani posthumously. The two of them had five kids together, and sadly, she passed away a month after delivering their fifth child, due to complications that came with the delivery. A grief-stricken Aurangzeb later decided to create a mausoleum as the final resting place of Rabia Daurani and called it Bibi Ka Maqbara which translates to Tomb of the Lady.

The city also boasts of several temples like the Bhadri Maruti Temple and Jyothirlinga Grishneshwar temple. The latter is believed to be one of the last Jyotirlinga temples in the world. Apart from these, there is also the Daulatabad Fort and a couple of gardens that were made during the Mughal era that you can visit. Aurangabad is one of the most notable tourist hubs in Maharashtra, and you will not regret it one bit. Not to mention, you can treat yourself to the best Maharashtrian food in the city. A delicious Maharashtrian Thali for lunch and some moong dal pakoda is just what you need to make your day.

Another interesting fact about Aurangabad is how the place was called the City of Gates since it boasted of 52 gates, out of which only four have survived now. Bhadkal Gate is one of the oldest, biggest gates that has survived and you'll come across it near the Naukhanda Palace of Nizams.

Best Time to Visit Aurangabad

The city experiences summer from March to May. The maximum temperature during summer is 31 degrees Celsius, and it's not too hot, but tourists avoid travelling to Aurangabad during this season. Monsoon hits the city from June to September. It doesn't rain too heavily, but it wouldn't hurt to carry an extra umbrella or raincoat. Winters are quite pleasant and start from October through February. Winter is also the best time to visit the city, and you'll have an enjoyable trip at all of the places you choose to visit during this time.

Places to Visit in Aurangabad

The Ajanta and Ellora caves are one of the most important places to visit in Aurangabad. The Ajanta caves depict the artistry of the Buddhist monks who used simple tools to paint and sculpt stories from the Jataka Tales. While you'll find a lot of stories carved on the caves at Ajanta, the Ellora caves throw light on three religions, namely Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The intricate work on the walls of the caves will surely leave you speechless. You will be mesmerised by the beauty of these caves.

Aurangabad has a lot of stories to tell from the past right from its inception. Visit the Naukhanda Palace of Nizams to find out more about the lifestyle of the royals who lived here. You can also visit the Bhadkal gate, one of the four gates (of 52 total) that have survived now. The Bibi Ka Maqbara, also popularly known as India's second Taj Mahal, is a popular tourist attraction of the city. It depicts Aurangzeb's love for his first wife and chief consort, Rabia Daurani. The tomb is her final resting place and was completed three years after her demise. You can also visit the Siddharth Garden Zoo. You will find wild animals like crocodiles, hyenas, snakes and much more. Take this opportunity and pack a picnic basket to make a fun memory of a picnic in the garden with your family.

Embrace your spiritual side at the Bhadra Maruti temple, which was made to worship Lord Hanuman and the Jyotirlinga Grishneshwar temple where you can offer prayers to Lord Shiva and other Gods and Goddesses. It is the last of the Jyotirlinga temples in the world. It's popular among pilgrims, too. Closer to the Ellora caves, you'll also find the Valley of the Sufi Saints which is the resting place of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb and a lot of other Sufi saints. It's a holy shrine built in their honour. It's not very difficult to reach here. You'll easily find a bus, taxi or a rickshaw that will drop you to the Valley of the Sufi Saints.

Things to do in Aurangabad

You can take a bus or hire a taxi to reach the Ajanta and Ellora caves from Aurangabad. You'll also find quite a lot of tour guides in the area who will tell you tales of every carving and every cave that you visit here. Just a fair warning, there might be a few caves with an overwhelming smell since these have bats living in them. It's also known to be one of the best places to take loads of pictures. You can either make use of your photography skills to get more likes and followers on Instagram or make memories with all the selfies you take with your family or friends. It would be best if you also tried the thali at Bhoj, one of the most popular restaurants in the city. You can also visit the Shrimant Chatrapathi Shivaji Museum. Be amazed to look at a 500-year-old war suit and 400-year-old Paithani sari and lots of other artefacts that are from the Mughal era and of the Marathas.

Make sure you do visit the Bibi Ka Maqbara. Though it's not as popular as the Taj Mahal, the designs and structure are quite similar to it. Aurangabad also has a lot of upcoming and new places for the youngsters to go chill or party. You'll find a lot of hip restaurants and party spots in the city, too. Though they are not widely popular yet. Aurangabad also has an amusement park that goes by the name H20 Water Park. Spend an entire day with your family or friends. This place is a delight to all the water babies who love floating on tubes or getting on those fun water slides.

Food and Restaurants in Aurangabad

You'll find everything that you feel like eating in Aurangabad. While there are places that serve traditional Mughlai and Maharashtrian food, there are also restaurants that specialise in continental, Chinese and other types of foods that you love. Bhoj Thali Restaurant is one of the most popular places in the city. You must eat here at least once before you leave the city. The Green Leaf restaurant is yet another place that has gained popularity over time. You must try the rabdi jalebis here.

Yalla Yalla is a new restaurant that has become a rage among the locals and tourists, too. It specialises in North Indian food and is like heaven for non-vegetarians. The achari chicken, prawn koliwadas and the mutton dum biryani are only some of the most popular dishes in this restaurant. Don't hesitate to try the street food in the city. Grab a plate of moong dal pakodas with a glass of chai to add to a perfect evening.

How to reach Aurangabad (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest airport is the Aurangabad airport, and the flight connectivity to and from Aurangabad to all the major cities is also impeccable. However, you will not find a direct international flight from here and will probably have to figure out which city you want a connecting flight from. It's easier to get cheap flight tickets to Aurangabad from the major cities of India like Delhi, Udaipur, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Pune and Nagpur.

By Rail

The Aurangabad railway station is well-connected with all of the major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Amritsar, Madurai, Bhopal, Chennai, Rajkot and so on. Trains run to and from Aurangabad’s domestic routes quite regularly, and it will not be difficult for you to get the train tickets. You won't even have to wait a lot to get your tickets to or from the city.

By Road

Government and private buses are running to and from the city. You'll also get AC buses that run from major cities that stop at either Central Bus station or the CIDCO bus station in Aurangabad. The two bus stops are 6 km apart, and you can pick whichever one is closest to and can further book your hotel room in Aurangabad.

  About Vijayawada

Situated on the banks of Krishna River is the city of Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Surrounded by dense greenery of the Eastern ghats, the city has exquisite scenery to cherish. The industrial city is known to have the second-largest rail junction connectivity, making it an important city in India. It is the hub of transport connection to South India. The city enjoys a beautiful melange of cultures and heritages, making it a good tourist place. Flight connectivity to Vijayawada from other major cities further enhances its importance.

Best time to visit Vijayawada

Vijayawada's climate is usually moderate all-round the year. However, winter months make it the best time to visit. Winters arrive in October and stay till February, giving people ample time to plan a trip to Vijayawada for a small excursion. The November and December months are especially favourable for travelling as the sun is pleasant, as is the vibe of the place. Thanks to the favourable weather, it manages to attract a lot of tourists to Vijayawada city. Even the flight tickets to Vijayawada see a spike during the peak-season, being winter. You will have a good time during winter in Vijayawada as the streets are lit with many hawkers selling some of the finest street food. Plus, it would be easier to visit tourist attractions in and around the city.

While the winters are inviting and beautiful, the summers are equally scorching and terrible. The temperatures often spike up to 43 degree Celsius, which can be tough for some people to deal with. The weather is extremely hot and humid. It definitely would not allow you to traverse within the city as the pesky heat and humidity would come in the way of your mood. Not to mention how it could have some have implications such as heat strokes and dehydration too. Best thing to do would be to avoid summers in Vijayawada for one's own safety. Besides, if travel and leisure is your purpose of visiting Vijayawada, then it is all the more important that you do not opt for Vijayawada for vacation. It certainly wouldn't be a good trip, and you might end up feeling more worked up than before.

Interestingly, the monsoons are not good but not as bad as summers. The city witnesses torrential rains between the months of July and September. Due to the extreme downpour, the travel plans that you may have had might need alteration. The erratic nature of the rain will have an effect on the temperature of the city. It could be favourable, or it could be bad. Hence, the best way to go about it would be to only pick winter as the time to visit Vijayawada. It is ideal, and the city also has more life to it that would do well with your vacation mood.

Places to visit in Vijayawada

Vijayawada has a plethora of beautiful tourist attractions that would make for a good itinerary. Bhavani Island is one such place where the Krishna river would surround you while you enjoy fine dining. It is the perfect leisure setting that one can ask for. Aside from it, you can further explore some of the temples and pilgrimage that is situated in the city. Places such as Kanaka Durga Temple, Subramanya Swamy Temple, Hinkar Tirtha, ISKCON Temple, to name a few, are places that would transport you to a serene environment. Exploring ruins at the Kondapalli Fort is also a good way to spend time in Vijayawada. As is visiting the Victoria Museum to learn more about the Vijayawada empire and the historical significance of the city.

Things to do in Vijayawada

Not just food and tourist attractions but the city also cater to one's recreational needs with a slew of things to do. Shopping being the primary attraction for many, tourists often flock over to the Besant Road for some street shopping. Getting souvenirs for your peers could be something fun to engage in. For those who are interested in flexing calf muscles and engaging in some adventure activities, you can pick trekking to the Mangalagiri Hills or Gandhi Hill as an option. Further to rest easy, packing a picnic basket and heading to the Kolleru Lake is also a comfortable idea that you can undertake.

Food and Restaurants in Vijayawada

Vijayawada's food culture would be agreeable to all. The city brings together some of the finer shades of Indian cuisine in one platter. Although the city is predominantly South Indian and would cater to the said cuisine, they do come with variations. Vijayawada accommodates Udupi-style restaurants, exquisite fine dining experiences with global fusion and more. You will thoroughly be overjoyed by the plethora of food options that the city has for you. Traditional food joints have also been transformed into fine dining experiences that cannot be missed. The foodie in you would certainly agree with some of the food that the city offers. It is a known fact that people in Andhra Pradesh hold a special spot for rice and pickles. Do make a note that the food quantity is abundant, so prepare your stomach for an adventure.

The city has a bunch of mess and caterer services where you can eat to your heart's content. Sr Ramayya Mess and Caterers is one such place which would give you some delicious authentic South Indian spread. It is purely vegetarian and one of the famous places in Vijayawada. Make sure you taste their bread halwa and gongura pachadi, you will not be disappointed. Babai Hotel in Vijaywada is not just prominent for being a breakfast joint since 1942 but also for serving food to bigtime celebrities such as Sri N.T.Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Chandra Mohan, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, to name a few.

For impeccable non-vegetarian dishes, you should head to GAD Restaurant, Sweet Magic, TFL and RR Durbar. These places serve the best non-vegetarian spin that is Andhra Pradesh's speciality. Much of their menu has kebabs and biryanis for food enthusiasts. You should not miss out the street food that also defines Vijayawada's food culture. At Kit-Kat Bakery, relish their masala burgers and bread omelettes. Visit Shahana's juice point to get some refreshing fruit juice.

How to reach Vijayawada (Transportation)

By Air

Vijayawada is an international airport and entertains international flights along with domestic ones. Located in the Gannavaram area, Vijayawada International Airport was originally built as an army base to serve during the Second World War. Since the airport's location is right on NH 5, it connects with various cities in the South such as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, to name a few. Major airlines such as TruJet, Air India, SpiceJet and Air Costa function from the Vijayawada airport. Flights from Vijayawada fly to prominent cities in India, including Bangalore, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Varanasi, Kochi, Kolkata and more. Direct flights to Mumbai from Vijayawada are also available and are serviced by Air India.

Despite being an international airport, there are no flights from international routes that connect to Vijayawada. In fact, to book an international flight, you will have to check for connecting flights from Hyderabad. Flight tickets to Vijayawada are not extremely pricey. You can easily book your flight ticket to Vijayawada and get some fantastic flight deals. Better accommodations are available in the city centre, but it would be best to book your hotel room in Vijayawada before your journey.

By Rail

Vijayawada's railway connectivity is legendary. In fact, the city's railway junction is known to be the second biggest in India. Vijayawada railway station is an important station in India as a majority of the train connections from North to South of India pass through the city. The rail is actually a hub that enables connecting all the cities in South of India more convenient. The station is abundantly crowded with trains coming from all corners of India. While there is a Howrah-Chennai mainline that passes through Vijayawada, there are other lines like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, too that pass through this. Vijayawada is a popular rail route that has excellent network.

Express trains such as Chennai Express, Shatabdi Express, Coromandal Express, Guwahati Express and Jaipur Express, to name a few, take a halt at Vijayawada. The station's location is in the city centre, making travelling within the city comfortable. Due to the fantastic connectivity of trains, the rail is considered over flights to Vijayawada by tourists.

By Road

The roads are just as brilliantly connected as the air and rail to Vijayawada. National highways such as NH 5, NH 9, NH 30 and more passes through Vijayawada, making it a popular route for road transport. A state-run bus facility for inter-state travelling is also available. As for intra-city and inter-state buses, private services to connect cities via AC/Non-AC buses. While traffic congestion can be expected on the highways, the road conditions are favourable, making travelling by road a lot easier. As a developed city, Vijayawada's transportation is quite immaculate. Traffic and other concerns do erupt owing to the crowd.