Bhavnagar to Goa Flights

  About Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a state in Gujarat but is part of the Saurashtra region. The city was originally a princely state that belonged to the Rajput Gohil family. However, after the independence, under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's rule, all the princely states were unified, including Bhavnagar. In the past two decades, the city has undergone tremendous development and growth. In terms of infrastructure, the city has found itself a quaint airport with good facilities. The flight connectivity from Bhavnagar to other big cities is also quite good. As a port city, it plays quite a pivotal role in contributing to the economy of the state. However, at the same time, there are many small-scale industries in Bhavnagar that add to the total growth of the state.

The city is quaint and has decent places to visit for a weekend vacation. You can actually book a hotel room in Bhavnagar and enjoy the scenic bliss and simplicity of the small town.

Best time to visit Bhavnagar

Cities in Gujarat do not have the luxury to enjoy summers as the temperatures tend to soar high. In fact, the weather is hot and humid, which only makes the whole experience tad bit annoying. The March to June sees temperatures rise to a close 40 degree Celsius, which is highly unfavourable, especially if you're planning a leisure trip. April and May are peak summer months here where the weather is sweltering, making it difficult to venture out in the city. Several precautions need to be taken up to avoid dehydration or heat strokes. During this time, flight tickets to Bhavnagar are cheap. Since it is off-season, it makes complete sense that several airlines would drop the prices. Even booking hotels in Bhavnagar is cheap during summers as the tourism industry sees a slump. If you are already used to such climates, then it would be a shame not to avail flight deals to Bhavnagar during summer. However, if you cannot bear the excess heat, it is recommended not to visit the city.

Instead, head to Bhavnagar during monsoon or winter. In fact, winter is the most favourable season to visit the city. October to March is when the city experiences winter where the temperatures are between 12 degree Celsius and 32 degree Celsius. This only enables excess tourism as pleasant weather welcomes tourists from everywhere. Plus, it is also the time when Gujarat celebrates Navratri and Diwali. The celebration during these festivals is an experience one should undergo. The city street bustles with enthusiastic crowd welcoming Navratri and Diwali. This is also a good time for you to wear a Garba outfit and see if you can match to their tunes without stepping on someone's foot. Plus, the added benefit is how the streets are lit with hawkers and Gujarati chaat. The city springs back to life during the winter months, which is great for tourists.

Although monsoons could be fun, the hot and humid weather makes it difficult to enjoy the whole vibe. Unlike the Western Ghats, there is no dense greenery in Vadodara. Hence, even when the rains are moderate, the chill weather witnessed in some parts of India are not experienced in Vadodara. The atmosphere does turn from hot to bearable, while humidity sees a tremendous spike. While it could be a decent trip, it won't have the fervour and excitement of what winters bring to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a small town in Gujarat and enjoys a decent number of tourist attractions. To indulge in some touristy fun and learn more about the city, then you should visit the Gandhi Smriti, Nilambagh Palace and Barton Library and Museum. As for some spiritual trip, you should visit the Takteshwar Temple and Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. While Takteshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Shri Swaminarayan Temple is specifically for the ascetic, Swaminarayan Ji. The locals call this temple Aksharwadu Temple and are quite a famous place in Bhavnagar.

Things to do in Bhavnagar

With limited places to explore, Bhavnagar leaves more room to check out the lifestyle and culture of its local habitat. You can take a stroll through the city's streets and speak to locals about the place. They will have some fun stories to tell you. Not to mention how indulging in Gujarati cuisine would be next to best in Bhavnagar. In fact, you should check out their street food culture as it would be quite rewarding to your taste buds. For the beach bums, you can visit the Gopnath Beach and walk on the shores. Water sports activities do not take place there so best to be careful.

Food and restaurants in Bhavnagar

As part of the state of Gujarat, Bhavnagar's cuisine predominantly comprises of Gujarati dishes. These include the sweet and savoury daals, kadhi, dhokla, khandwa, khaman and more. For authentic Gujarati cuisine, you should definitely opt to check out some of the restaurants within the city. They don't just serve the food but also the engaging environment and a space that would cater to a foodie's eyes. The aroma of flavours filling the room while the waiters bring over lip-smacking dishes from the kitchen would be an overwhelming experience. The city also has options for other cuisines and popular fast foods.

For the best authentic Gujarati thali, you should visit the Rasoi restaurant. It is basically a hall lined with tables and has a mess-sort of a vibe. The hall is maintained quite well and serves the best Gujarati thalis. Rangoli restaurant is also one such place in the city that has a tasty melange of food choices ranging from Gujarati to North Indian to Chinese cuisines on the menu. If scrumptious South Indian food is what you crave in Bhavnagar, you should head to Madras Dosa. The place serves great South Indian food. Perhaps you should also check out some more restaurants such as Tulsi restaurant, Honest restaurant, Rocks N Logs and Sam's Pizza, to name a few.

The city also has an interesting street food scene that you should definitely check out. Gujaratis certainly love to indulge in chaat food, and that is something you'll realise once you visit their shopping streets with food carts.

How to reach Bhavnagar (Transportation)

By Air

Bhavnagar does have an airport called Bhavnagar Airport. The flight connectivity to Bhavnagar is quite decent but limited. There are very few direct flights to Bhavnagar from other cities. The location of the airport is very convenient as it is only 3.9 km away from the city centre. Despite Bhavnagar not being a popular route for flights, the city does see a good footfall of passengers flying in to Bhavnagar. There are only two airlines, namely, Air Deccan and Alliance Air, that have dedicated flights to Bhavnagar. However, cities such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad have flights assigned for Bhavnagar. As the airport is located close to the Bhavnagar port, the flight experience is quite good with scenic landings and takeoffs. The closest airport from Bhavnagar is Surat International Airport which is at a distance of approximately 93 km. The airport is accessible from the city as there are auto-rickshaws, taxi cabs and rentals that make transit convenient.

By Rail

As part of the western railway line, Bhavnagar Railway station witnesses great connectivity via rail. While there might not be enough flights to Bhavnagar, the city's station witnesses many trains coming in from Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Kochi, Chennai, Bangalore and more. What the city's airport lacks the railway station can match up. Not to mention the fact that its location within the city is so convenient, it enhances the transit convenience of tourists. Booking a hotel room in Bhavnagar, especially close to the railway station is also possible and a choice many travellers often take up. Travelling to Bhavnagar via train is also very comfortable and convenient in terms of travel time as well as the ticket price. Although the flight ticket prices to Bhavnagar are not exorbitant, the fact that there are only a few caters to domestic cities makes is a downside.

By Road

The NH 8A is known to be the best way to connect Bhavnagar to big cities. It is a popular route to reach Bhavnagar as it brings cities like Ahmedabad Surat and Mumbai closer. Many bus services pass through and to Bhavnagar from Surat, Mumbai, to name a few. In fact, this domestic route of NH 8A to Bhavnagar sees regular bus services from Mumbai and Surat. Some bus providers send at least four buses in a day to Bhavnagar. The roadway is only viable to people depending on the geographic location you're travelling from. If it is Mumbai or cities in Gujarat then travelling by road is convenient. However, for other cities that are further away from Bhavnagar, traversing by road might not be the best bet. The city does have good accommodation so you can probably book a hotel room in Bhavnagar's finest places to unwind from the tedious journey.

  About Goa

Located on the West coast of India is the quaint beachy paradise, also known as Goa. The state of Goa is hardly 3,700 sq. km, with a small population that is known to be one of the biggest tourist destinations in India. The state has a heavy Portuguese influence and culture as it is a former colony. Thanks to their Portugal-influenced, the culture and outlook of Goa are visibly diverse from the other parts of India. Goa sees a regular throng of tourists as Indian and international travellers constantly flock over to the tropical state. The domestic and international routes are well-connected, making travelling by flight to Goa, an easy task.

Best time to visit Goa

The best season to visit Goa is undeniably winter! The winters in Goa call for a celebration as the temperatures drop to offer a pleasant atmosphere. The months starting from October to February are peak season where Goa sees an abundance of travellers. The flight tickets to Goa during this season is also quite expensive as the demand is high. However, with various music festivals, Christmas and the spirit of New Year's taking over, Goa easily becomes one of the best places in winters.

The monsoon season that stretches between June to September is ideal for nature enthusiasts. While many assume Goa's beaches to be its identity, the green expanses of the Western Ghats that passes through Goa get some love from nature enthusiasts. The state's hues change from sparkling blue to emerald green, and it is worth exploring.

The summers are considered to be bad as the tropical region faces sweltering temperatures. Often the mercury spikes up to 40 degree Celsius, making it unbearably hot. The flight tickets to Goa are cheap during this season for obvious reasons. If you can handle the heat, then you can make use of good flight deals and book flight tickets to Goa.

Places to visit in Goa

Museums and art galleries

The state might be known for its tourism, but they also indulge in arts and culture. There are many art galleries around the Old Goa region. The state's Portugal roots can further be explored by visiting the Goa State Museum. You should also visit the Museum for technology and Art, which goes by the name Sensistan. Benaulim's Houses of Goa, Goa Chitra Museum and many other religious art museums have intriguing stories that should be explored.

Beaches

Goa's highlight is the beaches, the cuisine and the nightlife. The pristine blue waters by the coasts sparkle under the sun and attract people from all over the world. The most famous and best beaches in Goa include Palolem, Vagator, Chapora, Anjuna, Arambol, Morjim, Colva, Candolim, Mandrem, Butterfly, Agonda, Calangute, etc. The best thing to in Goa to travel within would be to rent a vehicle and beach hop as every beach caters to a certain kind of audience. Depending on your vibe, you might enjoy a certain stretch of beach. The beautiful beaches are definitely worth it.

Churches

The famed Bom Jesus Basilica with the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is a legendary church. Built in 1605, the church's distinctive architecture using wood, gold, stone and granite gives it a vintage vibe. Not to mention how you will get to witness the miraculous undecomposed body of Francis Xavier, whose body is preserved by the church officials. Other notable churches include the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of St Catejan, Se Cathedral and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Things to do in Goa

Water sports

Goa has copious amounts of water sports activities that would keep you indulged all-day. Right from learning how to surf to snorkelling to kayaking in the wide sea, there are various water sports that you can take up. Specific beaches host scuba diving and snorkelling activities while some are known for their parasailing, banana boat ride, ferry tours and other such activities. Depending on which part of the state you're in, you'll get to experience the said kind of water sport.

Beach hopping

The beaches of Goa can either by calm and quaint or loud and noisy. Depending on which neighbourhood you choose, you'll find your own sweet nirvana. The North beaches are more commercial with Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator and more, experiencing excessive crowd. The South beaches are quaint and quiet with luxury settings and fewer crowds. If you wish to indulge in water sports and other such activities, then you should head to North where they happen in abundance. If taking strolls at the beach or going for a swim is what you wish to do then the South beaches are it for you. You can rent bikes or cars and go on a beach-hopping spree.

Ocean treks

To reach some beaches in Goa, you will have to trek the trails. The Butterfly Beach in South Goa is one such beach where you need to trek up the stony trails to reach the exquisite and quaint beach. It is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the state. Parts of Cabo de Rama beach also expects you to do some trekking, which only adds to the fun of diving in the sea. North Goa's Arambol beach is also famous for ocean treks.

Quad Biking

If you wish to take a day's break from the beaches and the water, you can head to the adventure side of Goa where you'll find quad bike tours. Basically, you can do dirt bike riding on muddy terrains created. You don't need to be an expert to indulge in this activity as it doesn't require any levels of riders.

Casino and cruises

Goa's nightlife is just as lit as the beaches it offers. While there are regulated parties that take place on the beaches and even some nightclubs, there are dedicated cruises and casino parlours too. Try some play of dice at one of these casinos or hit the party scenes to experience the nightlife of Goa.

Food and Restaurants in Goa

As a coastal state, Goa's staple food involves fish curry and rice. The place serves the most exquisite seafood that one can ask for. The beach shacks have Continental, Seafood and Indian food cuisines as options. A majority of the tourists usually choose seafood over everything else. For the best ambience and piquant seafood, you should visit Curly's in North Goa and Fisherman's Wharf in South Goa. Other places with great seafood are The Lazy Goose, Amavi, Starlight, Ritz Classic, Gunpowder, etc.

While seafood is a staple, the iconic Goan dishes are actually made from pork. Acquaint yourself with names such as Vindaloo, Xacuti, Chorizo and Sorpotel as these Goan dishes are a big hit. From street food to lavish restaurant dining, you'll meet with all kinds of experiences in Goa, and they will all be memorable. The beach shacks also have Goan dishes in their menu so you can always mix up the platter. If seafood is a little too much for you to deal with, then an Italian rendezvous at Da Tita might go down well with you.

How to reach Goa

By Air

Goa's Dabolim Airport, located in Vasco da Gama, is the only airport in the State. Due to the popularity of the state, and the fact that it is the most sought-after destination for Indians, as well as international tourists, the flight connectivity to and from Goa, is incredible. Direct flight to Goa is available from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur and more. International flights from Goa are also available as some direct planes are flying to Kuwait, UAE, Doha, etc. Although no direct flights are connecting Goa to Western Europe, USA, Russia and the UK, great connectivity and layovers have enabled these international destinations to be connected to Goa.

Nonstop domestic airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, Air Asia and Vistara are available. It would be ideal to book your hotels ahead of your trip as shuttle services to pick you up from Goa airport would be convenient. On off-seasons, the flight tickets are cheap and affordable. However, if you wish to travel during their peak season, it is best to book flight tickets in advance for great flight deals online.

By Rail

There are two main railway stations namely, Madgaon Junction and Thivim, which connect other cities to South and North Goa respectively. Direct trains following domestic routes to Goa are also available from Mumbai, Delhi, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, to name a few.

By Road

A majority of crowd from the Mumbai and Pune region often use the road as a means to reach Goa. There are overnight buses that travel from Mumbai to Goa, which makes travelling convenient. Various public and private bus service providers have sleeper and Volvo seater buses going to Goa. You can either get down at Mapusa Bus Stand for North Goa or Panjim Bus Stand and Madgaon Bus Stand if you're opting for the South beaches. The State-serviced Kadamba Transport is also available and connects to various neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.

  About Goa Airport

Dabolim Airport is the sole domestic and international airport in the state of Goa. Situated in Dabolim, about 4 km from Vasco da Gama and 23 km from the oldest city Margao and 30 km from the state capital, Panjim, the airport is perched up the Arabian Sea. The airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) and is also operated by the Indian Navy's naval airbase, INS Hansa. Goa Airport witnesses a plethora of international passengers throughout the year, especially from the European continent and many from the United Kingdom as well. IN 2013, the airport inaugurated its integrated terminal to increase the passenger handling capacity. The airport recorded capacity of 7.6 million passengers in the fiscal year 2017-18.

Dabolim Airport witnesses many European-charter airlines with flights flying to and from the city on a seasonal basis. There are dedicated charter flights from the United Kingdom, operated by TUI Airways or popularly known as just TUI. These charter flights function from the UK as well as the Republic of Ireland. Along with flights from the UK, Dabolim Airport also witnesses seasonal charter flights from Russian cities. With a consistent increase in passenger traffic and air traffic congestion, a proposal to introduce a second airport in Mopa has been granted a green signal. Mopa Airport is set to complete construction by 2022 and will see flight operations soon.

About Goa Airport terminals

Currently, Dabolim Airport accommodates two terminals for domestic and international flight operations. Terminal 1 handles all flight activities for domestic airlines. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 takes care of international flight operations ranging from landing to take off. The domestic terminal covered an area of 21,527 square feet and was constructed in 1983 while the international terminal came into existence in 1996, covering an area of 10,763 square feet. However, with a tremendous increase in passenger congestion and air traffic, the airport constructed an integrated terminal building to cater to both domestic as well as international passengers. The same was opened in 2013 with extensive features.

The design and layout of the building are aesthetic which comprises of glass and large steel span structures along with frameless glazing. The integrated terminal sprawls across 36,000 square metres and has been designed to accommodate five million passengers in a year. The terminal is also equipped with eight aerobridges. Some of the outstanding features of the terminal include an in-line baggage scanning system, 75 check-in counters, 22 immigration counters for departures, 18 immigration counters for arrivals and a total of 14 security check counters. The check-in counters are located on the ground floor, while the first floor has security checks. Following the installation of the new integrated terminal building, the old ones have been closed.

About Airport Authority

Dabolim Airport is currently being operated under the Airports Authority of India. The government statutory body which falls under the Ministry of Aviation has worked tirelessly towards enhancing the structure of Goa Airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgradations and modernisation. All the expansion projects have been undertaken by the Airports Authority of India. This includes funding and management decisions concerning the projects. Under the AAI, the airport renewed its terminal building into an integrated one that would cater to accommodating international and domestic activities. Some of their works also include installation of the multi-level car parking facility to enable parking of about 570 cars along with parking bays for aircraft. They have also asked for the Indian Navy and the State Government to help them acquire lands to expand the aprons and the older international terminal building space.

The airport is spread across 1,700 acres of land and also accommodates a civil enclave of 35 acres. On a daily basis, Dabolim Airport witnesses about 180 flights with a large concentration of passenger traffic between 1 PM to 9 PM on weekdays. The airport is supposed to function between the slated time slot during weekdays for civilian as it has some naval restrictions. The military requires flight training activities to continue during a specific time period and hence follows the specified rules throughout the year.

As the airport is jointly operated by the Indian Navy and the Airports Authority of India, the two parties entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, to construct a full-length parallel taxi track that would be suitable to accommodate aircraft like Boeing 747. Both parties will share the construction cost. For the expansion project, Dabolim Airport also received environmental clearance in 2018. The project has been divided into three phases and is set to be completed in a scheduled manner. The first phase of the airport was completed in 2019, which resulted in an increase in the runway's capacity from 15 air traffic activities in an hour to 18-20 air traffic movements per hour.

Facilities at the Goa Airport

Lounge – Goa Airport has a VIP lounge that only caters to travellers with specific access passes or ticket types.

WiFi – Dabolim Airport offers free WiFi services to everyone. There are no restrictions as such. The same good speed can be availed at the common lounge as well as VIP lounges too.

ATMs and currency exchange – As it is an international airport, provisions for currency exchanges and ATMs are also present at Dabolim Airport. You will receive decent exchange rates for the currency exchange. Further, you can also transfer money to your overseas accounts.

Baby care facilities – The airport has reserved special rooms for baby care. These rooms are well-lit and have all the necessary items to cater to a baby and a new mother's comfort. A cosy chair, as well as a changing table, is also available in the baby care room. Plus, the room is private and only allows mothers with babies to enter.

Restaurants – Some many restaurants and cafes are present in the premise of Dabolim Airport. These restaurants majorly have Goan cuisine. However, there are continental, and other global cuisines also present in the airport. As you wait for boarding, indulging in food could be a good way to kill time.

Medical services – The airport has a dedicated team of medical experts that clock in 24/7. Along with professionals, Dabolim Airport also has a room reserved for doctors to take the emergency cases to. These rooms are well-equipped with basic first aid kits and medical facilities. A paramedic is also present in the airport vicinity.

Spa - A dedicated spa service is available at both the terminals of Dabolim Airport. If there are any flight delays or you have enough time in hand, you can avail their excellent spa services.

Top airlines flying from Goa Airport

Many domestic airlines are operating from Goa Airport. These include AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines have flights connecting Dabolim Airport to major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mysore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Amritsar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kochi, Lucknow, Nashik, Surat, Madurai, Hubli, Guwahati, Coimbatore and more. In terms of international flights that operate from Goa Airport, these include Air Arabia, Oman Air and Qatar Airways. They connect to cities such as Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait City and more. The airport also accommodates seasonal airlines such as TUI Airways, Air Ukraine and Thomas Cook Airlines during peak season as the demand for the state is quite high in terms of tourism.

How to reach Goa Airport

Reaching Goa Airport is quite convenient, even though it is in the outskirts of the city. Passengers can take buses, taxi cabs and trains as well to reach any part of the state.

By Bus and taxi cabs

With respect to buses, the city of Vasco da Gama is only 4 km away. Several public buses can be taken to reach Goa Airport. The closes stop to the airport is Chicalim bus stop, which is located about 1.5 km apart. Many public buses run by the state are connected to Vasco da Gama. From the city of Vasco da Gama, you can always take taxi services to reach Goa Airport. Provisions of local mini-buses are also available to the airport from Vasco da Gama and Chicalim. Similarly, taxi cab services are available within the city. The city of Goa has its mobile app to book prepaid taxis and vehicles to smooth the process of travelling within the state and reaching Dabolim Airport. The government is also working towards constructing a 6-lane expressway that would make connections to the airport easier from major cities in Goa. Similarly, a monorail system is also being proposed.

By Rail

Dabolim has a railway station going by the same name. It is the nearest station from Goa Airport. You can take the train service to reach Dabolim Airport from various parts of Goa such as Tivim in North Goa, Ponda and Margao in South Goa. The railway station is quite in proximity to the airport and is hence, considered to be one of the cheap and affordable options to reach Goa Airport.