Chandigarh to Aizawl Flights

  About Chandigarh

Located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, is the gorgeous city of Vancouver. It is famously known to be one of the most densely populated cities in the country. Not just the population but even the ethnic diversity sets the city apart from the others. Vancouver has a plethora of gardens and parks, along with museums and galleries. The city has managed to find fame amid travellers in recent years. Owing to the landscape scenery and thriving food establishments, Vancouver has grown into becoming one of the most important cities in Canada. It is easy to connect flights to Vancouver as well.

Best time to visit Chandigarh

Vancouver is predominantly a cold city with temperatures barely exceeding 22 degree Celsius. However, the spring, summers and fall are pleasant in Vancouver, giving way to tourists. Since summer is the peak season in Vancouver, often you will find a plethora of tourists from around Canada to flock over for some fun. The city's thriving culture and lifestyle, topped with the slew of amazing festivals such as TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival, Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Bard on the Beach, further make people want to head to the city. With so many events and lovely weather to take in, the hotel prices and flight tickets also tend to get expensive. Plus, with the crowd, it might be difficult for you to enjoy a quiet and quaint environment. The cruise port also gets busy as the travellers need to be accommodated. However, the spring season will get your spirits high and your pockets happy. From March to May, the city turns lively as the cherry blossoms bloom and the whales pass through the Vancouver waters. It is a beautiful sight and certainly comes with great perks.

There are some fascinating events such as the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Vancouver International Dance Festival that take place during spring. It is certainly the kind you shouldn't miss as the streets turn carnivalesque. Autumn is just as favourable as spring as the city prepares for the winters. It is easier to book hotels in Vancouver during this season as people are departing from the summer fun, reducing the demand for the city. Just as the temperatures go down, even the hotel prices and flight ticket costs drop, making it easier for tourists with a strict budget to traverse. While the city folks continue with their fairs and events, a new wave of budge tourists come over to be entertained by what the city has to offer. The temperatures would require you to carry jackets and coats along with you. It can get super cold, especially if you're from a hot country and are not used to the drop in temperatures. The experience of autumn in Vancouver is just as beautiful with the city streets turning crimson red as maple leaves flood the streets.

Places to visit in Chandigarh

Life in Vancouver is on the outside and not indoors. The city bustles and brims with opportunities for tourists to engage in. The Stanley Park is one sweet place from where you can begin your Canadian tour. Granville Island is the one place that will give you trendy restaurants, theatres and alluring galleries. All you've got to do is to hitch up a ferry ride and ho to the island. Another lovely place to visit would be Queen Elizabeth Park, a famous outdoor attraction in Vancouver. Famously known as the Kitsiklano 'Kits' Beach, the stretch of shores finds itself in the lines of an LA or Venice beach, thanks to the pristine water it touches. Spanish Banks Beach is another thrilling spot that would make you happy, especially if the water is something you love. The city has far too many gardens so you will never be tired of the greenery around you. The VanDusen Botanical Garden also deserves to be visited as it is one of the pretty places. It's not just gardens and beaches though, the city also has Yaletown, a chic neighbourhood to indulge in some upscaled lifestyle.

Things to do in Chandigarh

One of the best things to do in Vancouver is easily the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. It is 450 ft long, and 230 ft elevated from the ground that offers a stunning view of the river flowing under. It is quite thrilling and definitely poles apart from the feeling the gardens in Vancouver invoke. You can indulge in some leisure sightseeing and shopping at the Lonsdale Quay Market. Another fun thing to take up in Vancouver would be to indulge in a food tour. As the city does brim with a vast opportunity for lip-smacking food, you will not be disappointed with the establishments the city has. Sailing is another activity that you can take up in the city. It would be fun, and you will get to learn something new. Plus, for the outdoorsy kind, you can visit Grouse Mountain for some adventure fun.

Food and Restaurants in Chandigarh

Vancouver is nestled along the Pacific coast, making seafood as it's the staple food. In fact, much of their food has fish and other aquatic life as the base. That includes the classic fish and chips too, which is otherwise a London speciality. These can be found in the city's markets such as Granville Island. The place is ideal for you to explore their seafood delicacies. While Granville has some of the basic but delicious street meat, Yaletown upscales the whole experience, which would be ideal for you if you're on a romantic rendezvous. The setting at Yaletown is formal and posh. Some of the food establishments that you should visit during your trip are Rodney's Oyster House, Blue Water Cafe, to name a few. These are the best seafood restaurants in the city which you will surely like. You can also check out YEW Seafood + Bar, which is located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. Their speciality includes Sidney Island venison and Qualicum Bag scallops. These are a big hit in the city, and something many would recommend.

A little away from Vancouver is Richmond (in British Columbia), where you'll find more seafood with wild salmon, tuna, mussels, crab and halibut too. What makes this place special is how the fish are fresh catch of the day which the fishermen get from the docks. These you can find at Steveston Village. Not just seafood but Vancouver also has its own version of Chinatown where you will find some of the best Asian dishes. In fact, you can also experience the little India that is settled in Vancouver. There is a Punjabi Market which is basically an Indo-Canadian neighbourhood located in the South Vancouver. Rest assured, all your cravings for Indian curries and delicacies shall be fulfilled here.

How to reach Chandigarh

There are no direct flights from Indian to Vancouver. However, the flight connectivity to Vancouver from India is exceptional. Canada, in general, receives a lot of tourists and potential residents from India. Due to this, the popularity of flights to this route is quite high. In fact, every second day, there are people travelling to Vancouver or other parts of Canada. Since there are no direct or nonstop flights to Vancouver from India, many airlines do have services to reach with layovers in other international cities. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Air France, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways have some dedicated flights flying to Vancouver. As there are no direct flights, many have layovers in their origin countries. For example, Air France has flight connectivity to Vancouver from Paris, so there is a layover in the city. Similarly, other cities with layovers are in Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Newark, Istanbul, to name a few. The most popular route for flights to Vancouver is from Paris and Frankfurt. However, some of the flights need a second layover which either takes places in Montreal, Toronto or Newark.

To fly to Vancouver from India, you will require to apply for a transit visa. Since the international routes connecting Vancouver and India are from cities like Paris and Frankfurt, they require a transit visa from the passenger. To make things easier, the Canadian Embassy has allowed for online applications. All you need to do is fill up the application online and submit the same. The process is easier and less time-consuming. Besides, the status of the application is received promptly. The flight tickets to Vancouver are considerably on the expensive side. The distance is quite a lot and travelling through certain airlines is why the prices are steep. However, you can always find exceptional flight deals online. There are provisions of miles as well which enable the ticket prices to reduce. You can find cheap flight tickets to Vancouver online, especially if you book them well in advance. Simultaneously, you can make your hotel reservations too. Booking in advance always comes with its perks and booking your hotels in Vancouver will also be cheap if you do it beforehand.

  About Aizawl

Aizawl, pronounced as 'Aijal' or 'Eye-zole', is the capital city of Mizoram and a favourite village to visit among a lot of tourists. Aizawl was made by Colonel Skinner towards the end of 1800s when the Britishers, along with Officer Dally of Assam, wanted to punish Lianphunga for raiding the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Officer Dally and 400 men of the Silchar Military Police battalion were struggling by the Dhaleswari river, after which Aizawl was chosen as the outpost. Colonel Skinner was ordered to construct it before he left the country.

Aizawl is one of the most peaceful state capitals in the country. Not to mention, it has beautiful weather all year round. Even though monsoons can be a little rough sometimes, you will wake up to a beautiful morning with cloudy skies that put a smile on your face instantly. If you are planning a trip to the North East, Aizawl is undoubtedly a place you cannot miss. Some of the fun activities that you can take up include an early morning hike up the hills or visit the Mizoram State Museum to discover more exciting stories around the City.

It is one of the most underrated cities that sees very few tourists, which makes the best destination to relax and let go of all your worries. Just a day or two is also enough to get to know the City well, and this is the perfect pit-stop to rest before you take off on your next destination. Aizawl is a fascinating place to visit, and you'll definitely leave the City with a lot of memories and some riveting historical facts you would have otherwise missed.

Best Time to Visit Aizawl

You can visit Aizawl all year round. The weather is pleasant even during summer. The maximum temperature the city witnesses during summer is 25 degree Celsius, which is from March to May. The temperature drops to 3-4 degrees Celsius during winters, which is also the best time to plan a romantic trip to Aizawl. Book a hotel with Aizawl’s quaint setting as the view from your window. You'll experience winter in Aizawl from October to February. Though the City does not see hefty rainfalls, some areas are prone to landslides, and you might want to avoid going on a trek during the monsoon. The rains also lead to heavy clouds that block the view of the mountains that are the main attraction of the City. Aizawl witnesses monsoon from June to September.

Places to Visit in Aizawl

The Mizoram State Museum is highly recommended if you want a glimpse of the Mizo art, culture, social life and their history. The fee is quite less, but the experience is priceless. You'll know a lot more about Mizoram that no history books can do justice to and we're not the only ones saying this. Everyone who has been to the museum has the same opinion. Solomen's Temple is also a very popular tourist attraction site. The cathedral is famous for its breathtaking architecture and the serene view that surrounds it.

Get a spectacular view of the entire City from Durtlang Hills. It's not a very difficult trek, and it is entirely worth it. Though there isn't much to do here, you will want to go back just for the view. For those of you yearning to cherish moments of solitude with nature, Tamdil lake is a place you must add to your list. You can carry your picnic basket and enjoy everything that nature has to offer to you here. It's not the most famous tourist attraction, but you won't regret it. Since the City itself doesn't see a lot of tourists, be assured that you will not be disturbed by the constant chatter that comes with a place that has a lot of tourists hovering around. You might have to carry your own food and water since there aren't many restaurants or food stalls in the vicinity. But it is an experience of a kind, one you will cherish for a very long time.

Aizawl also has a place for all you die-hard romantics! The Phulpui Grave tells the story of true love, and it will tug at your heartstrings. According to the legends, Talvungi was one of the most beautiful women and got married to Zawlpala, the chief of Phulpui village. Since polygamy was a popularly followed concept during those times, she also got married to the chief of Punthia and Rothai. Despite marrying someone else, Talvungi loved Zawlpala the most, so much that when she heard of him passing, she decided to come back to Phulpui. She dug a grave for herself next to Zawlpala's and requested an older woman to help her kill herself so she can reunite with Zawlpala. Although a lot of tourists come to pay tribute to Talvungi and Zawlpala's unconditional love for each other, they also come to enjoy the serene beauty and aura of the place. Phulpui Grave is also one of the major attractions in Mizoram.

Vantawng waterfalls are the 13th highest waterfall in the country and the highest one in Mizoram. Make sure you don't leave the City without experiencing this beautiful sight. September to January is the best time to visit the waterfalls to capture the scenic beauty of nature.

Things to do in Aizawl

Aizawl is a small city, and there is not a lot to do since it is also not a very popular tourist destination. But if you are looking for peace, quiet and a moment alone with nature, this is the right place for it. You can spend your evening going on a shopping spree at Burra Bazaar. You will find a lot of shops that sell herbal oils and medicinal herbs. You'll also find a lot of clothes and souvenir shops in the neighbourhood. We would also highly recommend visiting Solomen's Temple and meditating over there for some time. A lot of tourists swear by this, and the aura of the place will only help you clear your mind.

If you are planning to visit Mizoram in November, be sure to attend the Thalfavang Kut Festival in Hmuifang. It's a popular tourist spot near Aizawl. Thalfavang Kut is a Mizo festival that is organised by the Tourism Department of Mizoram to promote tourism. You'll see a lot of performances at the festivals and different types of Mizo dance forms like Cheraw, Sawlakai and Siktuithiang Lam. You can also go trekking on the Durtlang Hills or plan a picnic by the Tamdil lake. Since the city is small and qauint, perhaps a day or two should be enough to explore the City. If you don't want to indulge in a lot of roaming around, grab your favourite book, pick a cafe near your hotel and sip a cuppa while you are engrossed in the stories.

Foods & Restaurants in Aizawl

Though you do find restaurants that serve burgers, Chinese, continental and a lot of other variety of food, you must try the momos in Aizawl. North East is quite popular for its array of Momos, and you cannot leave the City without trying one yourself. Swahchiar, made with boiled rice and chicken or pork, is another popular dish in Mizoram. Since Mizoram is a dry state, you will not find any alcoholic beverages, but you will discover Zawlaidi, a local grape wine that has approximately 14% alcohol. You can find it in a Zawlaidi wine shop and can purchase a bottle of it. You can also ask the hotel staff to help you find it.

You'll find a lot of cafes in Aizawl and each one different from the other. Earth Rock Cafe, Cafe Deja Vu, Jojo's Cafe are among some of the famous cafes. For all you vegetarians, Curry Pot is the place to go. Zote Bakery is also quite popular among the locals and the tourists in the area. It's one of the very few bakeries that you will find in the City. Chopstyx Restaurant and Octangle are also highly recommended places to eat at in Aizawl.

How to reach Aizawl

By Air

Since Aizawl is a state capital, it is well-connected and easily accessible. The nearest airport is the Lengpui airport and flights from Aizawl are perfectly connects to all the metropolitan cities as well. Although it might be challenging to find a direct flight to Aizawl, if you are a domestic traveller, you will need to get an Inner Line Pass to enter Mizoram. You can get the pass at the airport on arrival too.

By Rail

There are no direct trains to Aizawl and it's not one of the most highly recommended ways to reach the City. The nearest railway station to Aizawl is the Silchar railway station. You can take trains from Agartala, Imphal or Guwahati to Silchar and then take a bus or hire a car to reach Aizawl.

By Road

There are direct buses that run from the neighbouring cities and states that you can opt for to reach Aizawl. The drive from Silchar to Aizawl is approximately 6-8 hours. While most tourists prefer hiring taxis, you can take buses from Silchar, Shillong, Guwahati. The bus services are pretty good and an option you can consider if you have less luggage on you.

  About Chandigarh Airport

Chandigarh International Airport is a custom airport that also serves as a passenger airport to the Union Territory Chandigarh. Along with the city, the airport also serves Panchkula, Mohali and other cities in the states of Punjab, Haryana and a few southern districts of Himachal Pradesh. The airport runway is situated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. In contrast, the international terminal falls on the south side of the runway, close to the village of Jhiurheri in Mohali, Punjab. The international airport has all its civil and commercial operations conducted from the civil enclave of the Indian Air Force Station. In the 1970s, the airport witnessed tremendous flight activity and operations from Indian Airlines. There were regular flights connecting Chandigarh to Delhi.

Following the construction of a new airport building in the civil enclave in 2011, all operations were diverted to the new terminal. This special air terminal was announced as a customs airport in 2011, giving it the international stature. Although it became an international airport, the terminal never witnessed international flight activities operate from its premise. In 2008, the Government of Punjab acquired a land area of 304.04 acres to construct the new international terminal. Over its completion in 2015 and a few Public Interest Litigation case hearings that took place at the Punjab High Court and Haryana High Court, the airport finally witnessed international flight activities from 2016. IndiGo and Air India Express became the first airlines to commence international flights to fly to Dubai and Sharjah from Chandigarh International Airport.

About Chandigarh Airport Terminal

The new international terminal came into existence in 2015 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new terminal has been built in an eco-friendly manner with several features validating the same. Larsen and Toubro constructed the airport's new terminal. The airport's interiors have an abundance of plants which gives a rather botanical garden feel. The earlier domestic terminal now caters to VIP flights and is also reserved for flying club. Meanwhile, the new terminal includes two link taxiways that connect to the terminal as well as the cargo complex. There are four aerobridges apron reserved for parking of four in contact, and eight remote parking stands for aircraft. The terminal is divided into two levels with the first level taking care of all departures while the ground level has arrivals. The first phase of the airport terminal has the capacity to handle about 1,600 passengers at a time with a parking space to accommodate 150 vehicles. Although the airport is not a greenfield airport, it does use the runway of the current Indian air force base. The departure section of the terminal has relevant facilities such as ATMs, WiFi and a duty-free shop. Much recently, the terminal's check-in counters have also been expanded from 24 to 26.

About airport authority

Chandigarh International Airport is jointly owned by the government of Punjab, the government of Haryana and the Airports Authority of India. In fact, they have formed a consortium as the airport's operations are handled by Chandigarh International Airport Limited. In the consortium, Airports Authority of India holds a maximum stake with 51 per cent equity while the Government of Punjab and Government of Haryana hold 24.5 per cent of shares respectively. Chandigarh International Airport Limited is responsible for all the management, maintenance and other such operations of the airport terminal. Ever since the airport's genesis, CHIAL has been working towards expanding the airport's premise and providing world-class facilities to attract more flights and passengers. After quite a lot of struggle with cases going up to the high courts of both the states, Chandigarh International Airport finally even received international flight operations. Currently, the airport caters to a slew of domestic airlines, some of them catering to Indian as well as international cities.

Facilities at the Chandigarh Airport

Food court - Chandigarh International Airport may not have a slew of fancy restaurants installed in its vicinity; it does have a dedicated food court. Passengers can avail lip-smacking dishes from the airport's food courts. They have local and globally recognised food joints available. From burgers to chole bhatures, you can find all kinds of cuisine.

Trolleys and wheelchairs – Trolleys and wheelchairs are available at the airport. While the trolleys can be found at every junction of the airport's arrivals and departure section, wheelchairs need prior intimation. You will need to speak with the airlines and inform them about the requirement for a wheelchair at the entrance of the airport's departure gates. Following the same, the airport will send trained staff to help out the passenger in need of the wheelchair.

Baggage – The baggage system and services at the Chandigarh International Airport include trolleys, baggage wrapping services, storage facilities and more. There are dedicated reclaim baggage conveyor belts located in the arrivals section from where passengers can get access to their checked luggage.

ATMs and currency exchange – As an international airport, Chandigarh International Airport has installed currency exchange booths in the arrivals section of its international terminal. International travellers can get their currencies exchanged and also make money transfers at the forex counters. Plus, there are ATM kiosks also available in the airport premise. Passengers can withdraw money if needed, especially if they are travelling within any liquid cash.

Medical facilities – The airport also has medical facilities available for emergency cases. It is essential to have medical experts on the airport campus at all times. Hence, the airport has ensured to keep a team of dedicated medical professionals. There are medical rooms also available at the airport. You can avail these services for free. There are pharmacies also available at the airport. They provide medicines as well as toiletries that you can purchase.

Child care room – Parents travelling with infants can avail the child care room facility. These rooms have been reserved for parents to help tend to their infant babies. Activities such as breastfeeding and changing diapers can be done in these rooms as it offers privacy. Simultaneously, the child can be put to sleep in the room while they wait for boarding. These rooms are kept well-sanitised.

Smoking zones – Chandigarh International Airport does not allow smoking in public. Hence, they have provided special smoking zones for passengers. These can be found at the departures and arrivals of both the domestic and international terminals. It is essential for passengers to adhere to these rules and smoke within the premise of the smoking lounge provided by the airport.

Special assistance – The airport caters to special assistance for disabled travellers. Prior intimation needs to be given to the airlines by the traveller if they wish to avail these services. You can also specify the requirements for the traveller to the airlines, and the airport will make the necessary accommodations for the same.

International SIMs – For travellers who are visiting Chandigarh and do not have a local SIM number, you can get hold of the same at the airport. There are dedicated counters at the arrivals section of the international terminal where counters have been installed to provide temporary SIMs. Mobile phones are also available, in case you need one.

Top airlines flying from the Chandigarh Airport

Chandigarh International Airport currently enables operations of seven domestic airlines and caters to connect two international destinations. Presently, the airlines that operate from Chandigarh International Airport are AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. These airlines have excellent connectivity with various Indian cities along with designated international destinations. Chandigarh International Airport connects flights to cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Dharamshala, Pune, Jammu, Chennai, Kullu, Dubai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna and more.

How to reach Chandigarh Airport

By Bus

The new terminal of Chandigarh International Airport is close to 14 km away from the main city of Chandigarh. The city of Chandigarh has excellent bus transport facilities that help connect to various parts of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh too. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking has AC buses that operate from the main city to the airport's new terminal. The buses take Route 38 and 36 to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It is easily one of the most sought-after ways to reach Chandigarh International Airport. The ticket fare is also quite affordable and ideal for travellers. Besides, the buses have been designed in such a way that they offer a comfortable journey to the airport. The transport service also has a mobile app from where you can book tickets and get details about the bus schedules and routes to reach Chandigarh International Airport.

By Taxi cabs

Taxicab services are also present within the city to reach the Chandigarh International Airport. You can hail a taxi cab from anywhere around the city or the other surrounding states to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It might be challenging as you will need to communicate with the drivers and ensure that they don't make you pay an exorbitant amount for the journey to reach the Chandigarh International Airport.