Bhuntar Kullu to Pune Flights

  About Bhuntar Kullu 

Located beautifully at the confluence of the rivers Beas and Parvati rests this quaint town of Bhuntar. From the banks of the rivers, you can see the two varied hues of white and blue converging as the rivers meet. It certainly is a sight for sore eyes. Bhuntar is prominent for playing host to the Bhuntar Airport as well as being the point from which, travellers can pick varied domestic routes to explore Himachal Pradesh. Bhuntar connects to various notable hill stations around such as Manali, Kasol, Shimla, Dharamshala and more. Beautiful green landscapes have blessed the quaint town while the majestic Himalayan mountains surround it. The Beas River also flows through Bhuntar, making fishing a source of occupation.

Bhuntar is a small town and does not have expensive accommodation or tourist perks. However, as it plays the focal point from which travellers can traverse to other parts of the State, it automatically gains popularity. The domestic routes from Bhuntar are connected to some impeccable places and valleys such as Tirthan, Parvati, etc. It is basically a place that you can cover within a day as the accommodation is also not exemplary. However, there are some excellent hotels facing the Beas river. One can book hotels at Bhuntar and spend a day to complete checking off the list of things to do. The flight connectivity to Bhuntar and the domestic routes to and from Bhuntar Kullu are tremendously good.

Best time to visit

Bhuntar has no specific rule to visit as it is pleasant throughout the year. However, if you do wish to make the most of the quaint town and continue with your other plans, then the next thing for you to do would be to opt for a summer vacation. The summers in Bhuntar fall between April to June and are ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. Monsoons can get pretty hectic and risky as the chances of landslides are quite high. The river continued to flow without much hassle. During winters, the temperatures do drop quite a lot, but it is still bearable as the cool breezes don't result in snow.

Places to visit

Bhuntar has quite a handful of temples around which shows their devotion towards religious beliefs. From the Basheshwar Mahadev Temple to Jagannath Temple, most of the temples are built as a tribute to Lord Shiva.

Basheshwar Mahadev Temple

The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the famous tourist attractions of Bhuntar. The temple is also known by the name Visveshwara Mahadev Temple and has an exemplary architecture with exceptional sculptures. It is located close to the Bhuntar airport and is in fact, only 4 km away. It is believed that the temple came into existence in the 8th century and is easily one of the largest temples that you will find in Kullu. The stone carvings and shikaras further add to the magnificent beauty of the temple.

Jagannath Temple

At the Jagannath Temple, while you will find a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, the place also observes Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The temple is just 3 km away from the main city of Bhuntar. Located at a surprising elevation of 5000 ft from sea level, the Jagannath Temple possibly has the best view that one can find in all of Kullu. You can get a bird's eye view of the small town and feel at peace. It is necessary to be careful when climbing the steep hill where the temple is located. Since the path is quite steep, it can get risky.

Bijli Mahadev Temple

Yet another Lord Shiva temple, the Bijli Mahadev Temple is located in close proximity to Bhuntar. It is at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, atop the Mathan Hill. Since it is situated at a height, the view from the temple is simply breath-taking. The architecture is also quite exquisite as it has followed the Kash style of construction. There is a belief that every time an individual comes across a flash of light, it is a result of the Shivlinga breaking into pieces. While people are yet to witness this marvel, another belief further states that sincere prayers of the devotees could bring good rainfall in the district to help with agriculture and cultivation.

Himalayan National Park

The Himalayan National Park, also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Great Indian National Park, is a humongous meadow of preserved environment that is sprawled over the Kullu district and can be found in Bhuntar's locality as well. The park inhabits bears, both brown and black, langurs, Himalayan musk deer rhesus macaques, wild sheep and more such animals. The place also boasts rich biodiversity with some impeccable plants and flowers. Overall, the place is gorgeous and makes for a good stroll for photographers and nature-lovers.

Adi Brahma Temple

Although Pushkar in Rajasthan is known to be the only place in the entire world with a Brahma temple, Bhuntar also has a shrine dedicated to the God who created the universe. Going by the name Adi Brahma Temple, the enormous wooden temple is only 4 km away from Bhuntar and is close to the Khokhan village. At the centre of the temple vicinity, you will find a giant statue of Lord Brahma. The premise also has gorgeous chariots made of silver and brass mohras.

Things to do

Rafting at Beas river

Beas river is sparkling blue and calmer as compared to the Parvati river. Hence, river rafting is mostly conducted on the banks of the Beas river in Kullu. You can opt for this once in a lifetime experience and dive straight into a raft that will give you an exquisite sight of the Himalayan ranges while you're in the water. It is certainly something you should pick up because rafting in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are adrenaline-charged and extremely fun.

Trek to Sar Pass and Malana Village

To go on trekking expeditions, you will have to travel to Mandi village, which is not very far from Bhuntar. As you reach Mandi, you will have the option to explore Malana and Sar Pass. Since Sar Pass requires you to be healthy and have six to seven days in hand to reach the summit, it needs to planned out properly. As for Malana village, you can take a taxi ride to the foothills of the village and trek up to the holy hill station. You need to avoid touching any of the structures in the Malana village as you will be fined for it.

Explore Bhuntar Kullu on a bicycle

The best way to spend your time in Bhuntar Kullu would be to rent a bicycle and explore more of the green expanses that envelop the hill station. The lovely dense forests of Bhuntar would keep your attention engaged, and you will be thoroughly amazed by how gorgeous the city and its outskirts are.

Food and restaurants

Since Bhuntar is more of a stop-over for many travellers before they can pick their next destination, the place doesn't have a lot of restaurants or food joints that are memorable. You will be happy and satiated by the food served at the bus and airport junctions, but that's about it. Dhabas and restaurants here serve Mughlai and Indian cuisine along with Maggi and corn. To get some fancy food, you will have to either head to Kullu or Kasol.

How to reach Bhuntar Kullu (Transportation)

By Air

Bhuntar Airport or Kullu Manali Airport rests perfectly atop the banks of the Beas river, offering tourists a fabulous view of the valley. The closest way to reach Manali, Kasol, Mandi, Kullu and other such tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh is via Bhuntar Airport. Considering how Kullu Manali is one of the top travel destinations in India, direct flights fly to and from Bhuntar Airport. The flight connectivity to and from Bhuntar and major cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla and Dharamshala is top-notch. Since there is only one runway available, the flights have layovers in Delhi. Quite a handful of airlines have also reserved dedicated flights to Bhuntar Kullu.

By Rail

Pathankot is the central railway station in North India that connects domestic routes of major tourist destinations. From Dharamshala to Manali to Kullu, all the top hill stations can easily be connected via Pathankot. Trains from metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, etc., travel to Pathankot. From here, tourists can pick taxi cabs or rentals or even motorcycles to travel to Bhuntar, Kullu and other parts of Himachal Pradesh. Reaching Kullu is quite easy as all modes of transport will take you right here. A dedicated railway station does not exist in Bhuntar.

By Road

Buses are usually the most sought-after choice when travelling to Bhuntar from other parts of the northern cities. Often people take the Rajdhani to reach Delhi, and from here, dedicated buses taking domestic routes to reach Bhuntar are taken. You can find these buses at Kashmere Gate in Delhi from where the buses usually start. Aside from the luxury buses and Volvo AC services, the state also provided bus services for cheap tickets. The Himachal Pradesh State Board Transport Corporation (HPSRTC) has reserved buses that connect Bhuntar and Kullu to the other parts of the state. From Kullu, you can easily travel to other hill stations such as Shimla, Rampur, Mandi, Kasol, Manali, etc.

  About Pune

Pune is easily one of the best cities in Maharashtra after Mumbai. Located just 160-180 km from Mumbai, the city of Pune is actually like a weekend retreat for Mumbaikars. It is also known as one of the most important cities in the state for its extensive growth in the IT industry. After Bangalore, Pune is the second-most leading cities to be a hi-tech hub. The city is perfectly connected with other metropolitans and holds a robust economic stance in the state and country.

Best time to visit

Pune's monsoon and winters are to die for! The months from July to February have the best mix of seasons to attract tourists. The monsoon lights up the greenery that Pune has to offer. It often gets quite heavy with streets being flooded. However, there are various treks and trails around Pune that can be explored during the monsoon. Not to mention how they are all safe treks. The weather is cold and charming. Add the bit about various festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Raksha Bandhan that add more fervour to the city's celebratory moon.

Winter season in Pune is from October to February. The temperatures often drop low, making the city breezy and romantic. More than the weather though, the city's 3-day long celebration in December is what draws a majority of the crowd. The city organises a classical music rendezvous called Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, which unites stalwarts of the music industry. Aside from this, there are crazy music carnivals on NH7 called NH7 Weekender, which brings together famous global artists. You should book a hotel room in Pune ahead of these music festivals as the city does encounter multitudes of crowd.

Falling in the months from March to June is the summer season, probably not the best from the lot. The weather gets quite hot during summer as the scorching sun directly hits you in the face. Not to mention how there are high chances of suffering from heat strokes, especially if you are not comfortable or habituated with a tropical climate.

Places to visit

Shaniwar Wada Palace is actually a historical landmark for Pune. The majestic fortress was built back in 1732 during the existence of the Maratha Empire. Historically, the place holds a lot of significance and hence, should be visited. Aga Khan Palace makes for an intriguing setting that you should visit. Dated back to 1892, the landmark is said to have been built as an act of charity by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III. You will be amazed by the story of this place and why it is one of the most-visited spaces in Pune.

Maharashtrian's worship Lord Ganesha and have quite a few famous temples to honour the deity. The Dagdusheth Halwai temple is also one such temple where pilgrims visit in large numbers. The place is especially lit with celebrations during Ganeshotsav, which falls in the months of August and September.

One of the most popular and renowned places to visit in Pune has got to be the Osho Ashram in Koregaon Park. Founded by spiritual leader Osho Rajneesh, the ashram further depicts some of his teachings and stories that you should learn about.

Things to do

Paash organic cafe, located in Pune, is known for its sustainable lifestyle. Right from the architecture of the cafe to the organic food, Paash certainly stands tall as a must-visit and indulge place in Pune. Lose yourself amid beautiful and rare flora that is preserved by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India at the Empress Garden. The garden is exquisite and stunning with the varied floral species of plants that simply captivate the senses. Sprawled across 39 acres of land, you can take postcard-worthy pictures at this garden and let your social media abuzz.

For the adventure junkies who want to spend a day away from the city and lose themselves in the green expanses of the Sahayadri Ranges, you should take up the Rajmachi trek. The place is always crowded with trekkers and hikers visiting from different parts of the state. The trek is especially enjoyable when undertaken during monsoon. In fact, there are many places that you can check out close to Pune that spring to life during the rainy season. Pune's food culture is the second-best in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai. There are dedicated streets in the city that cater to the foodie in you. Elevate your gastronomical senses and explore more of the food culture of Pune. You can explore this on your by ensuring that you visit the right streets to check out the delicious street food.

Food and restaurant

Much of Pune's food culture comes from its inspiration from Mumbai city's eclectic restaurant chains. From the famous South East Asian restaurant Shizusan to the German joint Malzheit, these places have also found a sweet spot in Mumbai's culinary heart. However, Pune does have some standalone stars with scrumptious cuisine that would make one go weak in the knees. Head to the Greedy Man Pizzeria to devour the city's best Napolitano-inspired pizzas, with 12-inch being the standard and only size of the bread. Doolally may have found fame in Mumbai thanks to the lovely brewed beer and quaint vibe the place sells but it actually originated in Pune. You can go for a fun brunch here and relish their freshly brewed beer. Another perfect place to delve into exquisite culinary is the 212 All Day Cafe and Bar, a project introduced by Chef Paul Kinny. You will find a slew of scintillating seafood ranging from flavoured crustaceans to barbecued ribs.

The union of South Indian cuisine with Syrian Christian and you've got Savya Rasa. This restaurant sells lip-smacking dishes ranging from Gongura Mamasam (mutton being the prime meat), Meen manga curry (fish curry with mango) and Bendakkai Goju (okra), to name a few. You can also check out Malaka Spice, a restaurant specialising in South-East Asian recipes with special attention to Vietnamese and Thai dishes. The dishes range from Mandarin duck to mutton teamed with sweet-textured sauces made from fruits.

How to reach Pune (Transportation)

By Air

Pune International Airport, which will soon be renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Airport, is a very important airport that sees a tremendously good connection with major cities in India. Located approximately 10 km away from the city centre, the airport sees a high footfall of passengers and is touted to be one of the busiest airports in India. The flight connectivity from Pune to various cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Nashik, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, Lucknow, etc. With such excellent domestic routes from Pune to other cities, the airport easily becomes one of the best.

For the domestic flights, the airport sees airlines such as AirAsia India, Air India Express, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara and Air India provide flight services to connect Pune airport to metropolitan cities in the country. The airport also has an international wing with dedicated flights to and from Dubai, Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi as well as layovers of other flights coming to Pune from international routes. Since Pune is an international airport too, it is split between two terminals handling domestic and international flight from and to Pune. The accommodation scenes in Pune are also quite convenient. You will find cheap but good hotels and luxurious hospitality settings too. You can book your hotel in Pune by choosing from the range of lovely accommodations they have to offer. It will enhance your staycation experience.

By Rail

Pune Junction Railway Station also caters to connecting the city to other prime destinations in India. Pune enjoys services of superfast and express trains which travel faster than a mail. This enables the city to be well-connected. Prominent express trains such as Deccan Queen, Mumbai and Shatabdi Express pass through Pune. The city's railway station has astounding intercity transportation options. There are buses and rickshaw rides available right outside the station. You will also find taxi cabs lined up outside the Pune station, waiting to take you to the hotel you booked in Pune. Reaching various parts of the city is not very tough as you can always book rides on your phones, in case you are unable to haggle with the taxi cab driver.

By Road

Pune's connectivity doesn't falter even via roadways. In fact, the Expressway built connects Pune and Mumbai perfectly, enabling smooth and quick transport. The Expressway is actually one of the popular routes connecting Pune, enabling less travel time. There are a plethora of public and private-owned buses that also travel to Pune from big cities. Many jeeps and vans also board passengers to share the ride to Pune. In fact, some travellers prefer going to Pune by road, mainly because it has a beautiful highway. The buses and other road transports reaching Pune will drop you at any of the stops falling on the way to the railway station. You can book your hotel room in Pune from their wide range of accommodations and ask the taxi cab driver to help you reach the same.

  About Pune Airport

Pune Airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) that is situated approximately 10 km from the city centre of Pune, in the state of Maharashtra. The airport also caters to the Indian Air Force as the Air Force Station of Lohagaon. It serves as both domestic and international airport with quite a few flights operating for West Asia. Due to the increase in the demand for flights, the airport is undergoing renovation to accommodate a new terminal as well as extend the runway. The idea is to accommodate more flights at the airport and increase the connectivity to various Indian cities as well as international destinations.

The airfield was originally established under the Royal Air Force in 1939 to offer air security to the city of Bombay (renamed as Mumbai) and also played as a base to squadrons of de Havilland Mosquito and Vickers Wellington bombers, during World War II. After independence, Pune Airport primarily turned into a customs airport, as on January 1997 and serviced export of specific goods. Eventually, in 2005, the airport received a green signal to charter passenger flights along with being a customs airport. The same year, flights to international cities such as Dubai and Singapore commenced. While the airport started as one to only accommodate about 60,000 passengers in a year, rose to handle over 2.8 million in a year by 2011.

About Pune Airport terminals

Terminal 1 - Terminal 1 of Pune Airport is reserved for domestic services. Basically, all domestic and regional carriers have operations that take place from Terminal 1. The airport's Terminal 1 is divided into two levels, the ground level is for arrivals section while the first level is for departures. The terminal offers various facilities, including baby care rooms, ATMs, medical services, smoking lounge and spa services, to name a few.

Terminal 2 - Terminal 2 accommodates international operations. The terminal is reserved for all kinds of international flight activities. There are dedicated flights to Dubai and Germany that operate from Terminal 2. The terminal also caters to a few facilities such as ATMs, spa services, currency exchanges and restaurants, to name a few.

About Airport Authority

Pune Airport is owned by the Indian Air Force with operations taken over by Airports Authority of India. Although the airport authority has been trying to extend the runway at Lohegaon Airport, the lack of acquiring private plots on the western side of the airport has been concerning. The Indian Air Force has also been brought in to help with the acquisition of the land that is owned by the air force. With the growth in air traffic, the expansion project has become quite essential for the city of Pune. What makes it an important move aside from accommodating air traffic is how the extension of the runway could help accommodate operations of wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A330 and Boeing 777.

The airport authority launched an INR 1 billion worth airport expansion and upgradation plan to prepare for the Commonwealth Youth Games that was hosted in Pune. The construction of two new terminal extensions was completed in 2008 by the Airports Authority of India. The new terminal measured about 12,000 square metres on either side of the main terminal building. The previous terminal was inadequate for passenger traffic and flight operations. Hence the terminal expansions took place. With this, the airport managed to ease and accommodate passenger traffic. Newer facilities including a new parallel taxi track as well as an apron expanded enough to accommodate about eight Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737 aircraft, were also brought forth in the new airport terminal.

Further, as part of the expansion plans to introduce a new terminal building is also in the works with the Airports Authority of India is set to invest INR 400 million. They plan to integrate the new terminal into an existing one. The building will also accommodate offices of AAI. The airport authority is also working on renovating and extending the runway to 3,250 metres.

As the expansion options are limited, the government of Maharashtra has proposed the construction of a whole new airport in the Pune metropolitan region. Responsibility to execute the new Pune Airport called Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport has been entrusted to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). The greenfield airport is set to cover over 1,800 hectares of land and will accommodate two runways. For the same, the State Government allocated about INR 2 billion in 2012 to acquire the land for the airport.

Facilities at the Pune Airport

WiFi – Pune Airport offers WiFi services that can be availed for 30 minutes. If you need to use it for more than 30 minutes, then you will be asked to pay a certain sum.

ATMs – ATM kiosks can be found at the departure as well as the arrivals section of the terminals at Pune Airport. They are mostly of local banks.

Baby care rooms – For travellers who are with infants, the baby care rooms come as a blessing. These rooms can be utilized to feed the baby as well as change their clothes and diapers. The rooms are quite comfortable and sanitized to ensure that the parent and child are safe.

Medical services – Medical assistance is also provided with a 24/7 team of experts stationed at the airport's terminals. They often cater to medical emergencies and are equipped with basic first aid kits too.

Smoking lounge – To avoid discomfort to others, the airport has reserved smoking lounge where passengers can smoke away. You can also purchase cigarette boxes at the airport, right outside the smoking lounge.

Currency exchange – The airport offers currency exchange counters that can be found in the arrivals section of the airport terminal. The exchange rates are also quite decent and as per the market.

Baggage – With an international stature, the airport's baggage facilities are also quite next level. There are free trolleys that can be picked up from anywhere in the airport terminal. The airport also has luggage wrapping services that many can opt for if they are travelling with fragile content.

Restaurants and shops – There are many restaurants and shops available in the departure section of the airport terminal. To pass the time, one can indulge in some exquisite food that can be found at the airport's food court. Plus, there are shops also available where you can purchase exquisite items that glorify the cultural heritage of Pune.

Lounges - The airport has a specific lounge for the public called Bird Lounge. After paying a certain sum at the entrance, you can avail the comfortable services of the lounge. There are newspapers, cosy plush seating arrangement, quaint ambience, good food and hospitality, TV and more, available in the lounge. Passengers can also get access to the lounge WiFi without any specific time limit and finish office-related work.

Top airlines flying from Pune Airport

Pune Airport sees flight operations from airlines such as AirAsia India, Air India, Air Arabia, Air India Express, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Lufthansa, Silkair, Kam Air and Vistara. As an airport that caters to domestic and international cities, the airport connects to a slew of cities. In India, Pune Airport connects to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Jaipur, Goa, Nashik, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Indore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Belgaum, Allahabad and more. As for international cities, Pune Airport has flights flying to cities such as Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kabul, Singapore, Frankfurt and more.

How to reach Pune Airport

By Bus

The city has dedicated shuttle services allocated by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) to reach Pune Airport. Under the PMPML, the providers are separated into two, namely, Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT). Although the airport doesn't have a direct bus stand or connection available, there are locations in the proximity that helps passengers to reach Pune Airport. Passengers will have to get down at Burma Shell Stop, which is situated about five minutes away from the main passenger terminal. Scheduled buses operate from within the city to reach Pune Airport, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. The ticket fare is quite cheap and affordable and perfect for budget travellers. Schedule of the buses can be found on the official website of Pune Airport. You can peruse through the page and get details about the bus service and which time is the most convenient for your journey.

By Taxi cabs and auto-rickshaws

Another sought-after transport mode to reach Pune Airport is a prepaid taxi and auto rickshaws. There are many taxis that can be found in the main city of Pune. To reach Pune Airport, you can hail a cab from the city, or you can also book a taxi cab in advance. A one-way trip from the city centre to Pune Airport should cost approximately INR 260. However, depending on where you are reaching Pune Airport, it may vary. You can also hail auto-rickshaws and car rentals. It would be beneficial to pay for the ride in advance or fix up a cost before the journey to the airport commences.