Hubli to Madurai Flights

  About Hubli

Hubli is one of the big cities of Karnataka and is located in the North-western part of the state. After Bangalore and Mysore, Hubli is the third-largest city in Karnataka. The city, Hubli-Dharwad, has been expanding and developing at a rapid pace, which has resulted in its inclusion in the government's smart city project.

Under the strong leadership of the Vijaynagara Rayas, Hubli managed to grow into one of the commercial centres in the olden days. The city has witnessed many rulers from the Rayas to the Mughals to the Marathas and eventually, the British East India Company. With such a diverse range of rulers, the city also exhibits melange of cultures.

Over the years, Hubli has grown into a force to reckon with as a developing city. Present-day Hubli has great flight connectivity with the rest of the country. If you wish to make a trip down to the city, ensure that you pick the right time. There is a wide range of hotels to book from in Hubli that you can choose.

Best time to visit Hubli

Hubli enjoys hot and humid weather, and the temperature usually ranges between 37 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius. Winters do see a change in the trend as the temperature drops and offer a calm and soothing atmosphere. The months September to November are considered to be the best time to visit Hubli. The fall season, with its mildly cold air, makes for a pleasant stay. The footfall of tourists escalates as the tourism industry sees a spike. If you too plan to visit Hubli during peak season, then it is recommended that you book a hotel for yourself because finding accommodation can get pretty tough.

The spring months between March to May is considered to be the second-best time to visit Hubli. Unlike how the summers usually take over during the said months, in Hubli, things are different. The air is humid, but it is also quite pleasant and makes for an excellent time to explore the city. It is not too hot or too chilly. The summer months from June to August with mild rain sees tremendous precipitation in the air, making it super humid and uncomfortable. The months are hence to be avoided. Since it is off-season, you will get cheap flight tickets to Hubli and good flight deals online. Even booking a hotel in Hubli would be easy and cheap as the tourism industry wouldn't be bustling.

The winter months between December and February are also surprisingly slow as the weather is warm but easy-going. You can enjoy the serene vibe of the air and step out without worrying about extreme cold winters. The temperatures drop to 24 degrees Celsius, but that's usually about it.

Places to visit in Hubli

Siddharoodha Math

Siddharoodha Math has been built to honour Shri Sidharoodha Swamy, a good Samaritan who helped people of all caste, race and religion, without any discrimination. The beautiful structure and the devotees of Shri Sidharoodha Swamy often flock over to the Math to celebrate their guru.

Chandramouleshwara Temple

Invest yourself in learning more about the Chalukyan era, which was prevalent in Hubli, a long time ago. The Chandramouleshwar Temple is more than 900n years old and has been constructed in a way to celebrate the Chalukyan era. Acknowledged by the Archaeological Survey of India, the site is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Act. The walls of the temple have beautiful inscriptions and designs that will amaze you.

Indira Gandhi Glass House Garden

One of the prominent tourist spots in Hubli is the Indira Gandhi Glass House Garden. The structure is basically emulated from Bangalore's Lalbagh, which also has a similar glass house in the centre of the green park. The idea behind constructing the Glass House garden is to propagate events, social gatherings and exhibitions and upscale the cultural stance of the city.

Navagraha Teertha

The Navagraha Teertha is a famous pilgrim place in Hubli. The religious pilgrim is a sacred temple of the Jain community with a tall statue of Jain deity Parshvanatha. The colossal statue roughly weighs 185 tonnes and is 48 ft tall. The temple is actually built in the outskirts of Hubli, and the statue is visible from the Pune Bangalore Highway.

Gayatari Tapovan

Seek spiritual bliss at the Gayatari Tapovan, located in Banashankari Badavane. Venerated preacher, Sri Kumar Swamiji established the place. Post Swamiji's death, his followers have been maintaining the spiritual complex. The place invites everyone seeking spiritual peace with open arms and is a place worth visiting.

Things to do in Hubli

Picnic by the Unkal Lake

Unkal Lake is one of the most visited places in Hubli. The lake's historical and religious significance makes it one of the big tourist attractions of Hubli. Take up boating and find yourself immersed in the beauty of the surrounding and the lake's calm demeanour. You can also pack a lunch and go for a picnic to make a day of it.

Hike up the Nrupatunga Hill

Hubli can get quite noisy with the demand the city has, not to mention the crowd. Hiking up the Nrupatunga Hill, which faces the Unkal Lake, sounds like a good way to rejuvenate from the week's busy work. Plus, the lush green trails would further make you feel calm and happy. In fact, right after your hike, you can actually take a dip in the lake to complete the trip.

Unwind at the Country Club Water World

The Country Club Water World is a beautiful complex with green expanses and palm trees bordering the park. The water park is the perfect escape from all the noise of the city. Plus, it is fun to indulge in a water park, especially during summers. It is located on the Karwar road and is the best getaway you can offer to your kids.

Food and Restaurants in Hubli

The cuisine followed by the city of Hubli is extremely mixed and interesting. There is no specific flavour or dish that makes the city stand out in terms of its food choices. However, that only enables the city to house some of the best restaurants and food joints. You will find a variety of choices, and every day could be an adventure for your taste buds.

Sigli and Basaveshwar Khanavali give families a wholesome feel with their multi-cuisine restaurants. In fact, Sigli is actually a barbecue and services lovely tandoors and kebabs. This restaurant called Gufha, also has the interiors of a cave. The exciting interiors of the restaurant further add to the charm of the place. Other prominent names of restaurants in Hubli that deserves your attention include, The Gateway Lakeside, Gokul Veg Family, Gurudutta Bhavan, Croissant Bistro, Ayodhya, Mishra Pedha, Boughanvilla and more.

How to reach Hubli (Transportation)

By Air

Hubli, also known as Chota Bombay, has its own airport called the Hubli Airport. However, the flight connectivity from Hubli is not great. For any passenger to travel to Hubli will have to layover at Bangalore and get a connecting flight. That is the only domestic route to reach Hubli. While it might sound inconvenient but it really isn't. Bangalore has impeccable flight connectivity and has dedicated flights traversing to Hubli daily. Hence, this means there would never be an absence of flights to Hubli. This system streamlines all the passengers to board flights to Hubli from one airport. From Bangalore, the flights fly from Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai.

Reaching Hubli might require you to change flights at Bangalore but travelling to big cities wouldn't require you to go through the same ordeal. Hubli is a big town with several good options for accommodation. To reach Bangalore, Hyderabad, Belgaum, Mumbai, Goa and other such locations, you can find direct flights flying from Hubli. Using the domestic route, these flights would not need to be changed, making it convenient for the traveller.

Ahead of your trip, you can book a hotel in Hubli and let the hotel's airport shuttle service take you around the city. Internal transportation is quite top-notch in the city, but they don't go on a metered basis and often fool the passenger into paying for more than the regular charges.

By Rail

Hubli also has its own railway station called the Hubli Railway Station. The rail is connected to some important cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Mysore, Ajmer, Kolkata and more. You will also find trains from within the state travelling in and out of Hubli. Compared to rail, opting for a flight to Hubli is far more convenient as the travel time is less and comfort is more.

By Road

Much like the rail, even the buses are accessible from all parts of the country. Some state-run bus services while other private services are all at your perusal and can be availed. You can travel to cities such as Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Tirupati, to name a few, from Hubli. However, nothing beats the convenience of flights to Hubli.

  About Madurai

Touted to be one of the ancient cities in India, Madurai is especially recognised for its religious significance. The city has a lot of temples of which the Meenakshi Amman Temple is considered as the most important one. The temple also has a shrine for her consort, Sundareswarar. Madurai is also pretty close to hill stations like Kodaikanal, Thekkady, Munnar, Kumily and so on. Madurai is the perfect blend of natural beauty and heritage with a dash of urbanisation. It also plays a crucial role in preserving Tamil culture, Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. People of Madurai are also known for celebrating all the key festivals with a lot of grandiose.

Best Time to Visit Madurai

Madurai is best visited during winters. The weather in Madurai is pleasant, and the city is buzzing with tourists and pilgrims. You can book a hotel room in Madurai closer to the Meenakshi Amman temple if that is your main purpose of the visit. Commuting in the city is not very difficult.

Winters in Madurai start from December and last till February. The temperature ranges from 20-29 degree Celsius. This is also when Pongal is celebrated across the city for three whole days. The harvest festival, that is celebrated across Tamil Nadu with a lot of grandeur, gets only better. However, since it is peak season, booking a hotel in Madurai can get a tad bit expensive. Do lookout for good flight deals to Madurai online. Since it is peak season, make sure you book your flight tickets to Madurai well in advance.

The city experiences monsoon from June to August and Madurai experiences very heavy rainfall. Though the rains add to all the beauty and charm of the city with the greenery, the climate is gloomy, and the rains stop you from venturing out.

March to May is summer in Madurai, and the temperature can rise up to 34 degree Celsius. Not only does it get hot, but the weather is quite dry, making it a less favourable time to visit the city. Since it is off-season, you will also find it easier to get cheap flight tickets to Madurai.

Places to Visit in Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman temple is one of the major tourist attractions in Madurai. A lot of tourists and pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year. The Amman temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. According to mythology, Lord Shiva came to Madurai to marry Goddess Parvati, who was residing in a human form here and was called Meenakshi. Madurai is considered sacred primarily because it is believed to be the birthplace of the Goddess. Not only is the temple huge, but the architecture will leave you stunned. Adding to this is the divine feeling that you experience in the temple. Do not miss the morning and evening aarti at the temple. You can also embrace your spiritual side at the Saint Mary's Cathedral in Madurai.

Another magnificent place to visit is the Thirumalai Nayak Palace which was built in the 17th century. It was built by King Tirumala Nayaka who was a King then. The Jain Caves is yet another top-rated tourist attraction in Madurai. You can also explore the Thiruparankundram Murugan temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It's a beautiful temple and a masterpiece in every way. While you are in this part of the city, do also visit the Pazhamudhir Solai. This is easily one of the best places to spend with yourself in solitude.

Meghamalai and Samanar Hills are also two popular locations in the city. You can go hiking to one of these mountains and reach a spot from where the entire city looks absolutely breathtaking. It's the perfect getaway from all the city hustle-bustle. Make sure you go to these places during the right season. You'll even be able to take the best pictures of yourself and nature over here.

Things to do in Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman temple is a must-visit when you are in Madurai. The queue can be pretty long depending on what time you visit the temple. Not to mention, you will also have to adhere to a few rules like wearing traditional clothes and not carrying your phones, cameras or gadgets inside the temple. It is believed that the kumkum you get after offering your prayers here is auspicious and blesses your marital life. After visiting the temple, you can stop by Puthu Mandapam, which is right opposite the temple. It is a popular place to shop for clothes, accessories, handicrafts and different kinds of art work. Go for a hike at the Samanar Hills and make sure you also stop by the Jain Caves. You might come across the Keelakuilkudi village that is famous for its Jain sculptures and painted mud horse collection.

Madurai is pretty close to the Vaigai Dam, and a lot of tourists visit the dam when they go to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary since it is on the way. It is one of the architectural marvels in the city and a very popular picnic spot, too. The sunset here is simply mesmerising. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the Alagar Kovil, recognised for its exquisite beauty. It will make you want to spend at least 10 minutes in solitude to just admire it. If you are visiting Madurai during the Chithirai Festival, you must definitely attend it. The locals celebrate the festival for over a month, and you can also be a part of the ceremonies that take place to celebrate the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped at Sundareswara here.

Food and Restaurants in Madurai

Even though Madurai is a city that has a lot of religious importance, you will find restaurants in the city that serve non-vegetarian food, a little away from the temples. Of course, you can blindly trust and have the traditional South Indian food like Idlis and Dosas here. But Madurai is known for delicacies like Paruthi Paal, Jigarthanda, Kuzhi Paniyaram and Appam. Jigarthanda is a very popular beverage here, and you'll find it almost everywhere. You can even try some outside the Meenakshi Amman temple. Just a few streets away from the Amman temple is Murugan Idli Shop. You'll get the fluffiest, most delicious idlis here with four different types of chutneys. You can also order the Onion Uttapam and Sweet Pongal here. You can also head to Kodaikanal from Madurai since it is not very far from here. Ooty is quite far by road, but you can make a trip to Ooty, too, if you have the time and if you are planning the trip during winter. Both the hill stations are worth visiting during the cold season. You'll get buses and taxis to Kodaikanal very easily from Madurai. You might have to negotiate the fare a little bit if you are taking a private taxi from Madurai.

The Burmah Idiyappa Kadai is a local eatery that serves Idiyappam only. There is no seating here, but the outlet sees a lot of customers on a regular basis. The Idiyappams are served with tomato chutney and sweetened coconut milk. Chandran Mess at the Alagar Kovil main road is another popular restaurant that you can visit. Its speciality is Kola Urundai or mutton balls. It is owned by a family that overlooks everything that goes into making the best dishes. Not only do they grind their masalas using a mortar pestle like the olden days, but the members of the family also supervise the kitchen at all times. You will also find a lot of restaurants that serve other Indian dishes, Chinese and Continental cuisines, too.

How to reach Madurai (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest airport is Madurai Airport, which is about 10 km away from the city. The airport connects Madurai to domestic routes in the city like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi. The flight connectivity from Madurai to these cities within the country is excellent. However, the nearest international airports are the Coimbatore International Airport and Tiruchirappalli International Airport. You can either change flights from these airports or take a taxi from outside the airport. You will also get taxis from Madurai airport to your hotel or wherever you wish to go first.

By Rail

Trains run regularly to and from Madurai Junction. Trains run quite frequently from the city, and it is also well-connected to other major cities in the country. It is advisable that you make your ticket bookings done well in advance during summer since it is a holiday season and a lot of people travel to Madurai for the summer vacation with their families and kids. In any case, booking tickets in advance will help you find better coaches.

By Road

There are quite a few buses, both government-run and private, that are connected to Madurai. You will also get buses from Madurai to other major cities of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. Getting around the city and to the city by road is also quite convenient. The NH 44 is a popular route to Madurai.

  About Madurai Airport

The Madurai Airport is touted to be a customs airport that majorly serves the city and its neighbouring districts in Tamil Nadu. It is located close to State Highway 37, which is about 12 km from the Madurai railway station. The airport stands at the 32nd position as the busiest airport in India. This includes in terms of passenger handling as well as aircraft movement. Established in 1957, the airport was originally used as an airfield by the Royal Air Force of the British during the Second World War, back in 1942. Later after independence from the British, the airport chartered its first passenger flight which was a Fokker Friendship aircraft that followed the Madras - Madurai - Trivandrum - Madurai - Madras route. This took place in 1956. The airport soon found recognition for being one of the 35 non-metro airports chosen for modernisation. Much recently, the airport received a revamp from the government as a new integrated terminal building was constructed. Madurai airport also has international flights that fly to Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

About Madurai Airport Terminals

The Madurai Airport has two terminals placed in an adjacent direction to connect the old and the new unified terminal. The integrated terminal is presently being used for all domestic and international activities. Meanwhile, the old terminal has been reserved as a Cargo Terminal. The growth in the demand for flights to and from the Madurai International Airport, there are plans to separate the two terminals into individual domestic and international. The terminal with the area of 189,000 ft has the capacity to handle about 250 passengers on arrival and departure. The airport's parking bay can accommodate 375 cars and ten buses. The new terminal also includes features such as 16 check-in counters along with 12 immigration booths. There are two security counters, too, with five customs counters. The new terminal also entertains two lounges for passengers, a VIP lounge managed by AAI and a CIP lounge (Commercial Important Persons) handled by the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. There are three aero-bridges too.

About airport authority

The Madurai Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The AAI is a statutory body that ensures to handle the infrastructural development, maintenance and management of various airports, including the Madurai Airport. Much recently, the airport proposed to create a new terminal building specifically for the Madurai International Airport, as the airport has been witnessing an increase in passenger traffic. The new building will also have a control tower and plans to erect seven new aprons at the Madurai Airport. This is due to the airport's current capacity to handle only 250 passengers at their arrival and departure halls at once. A proposed site is going to extend the runway to 12,500 ft, enabling the efficient functioning of overseas services. Work to extend the airport has already begun with plans to disconnect the Ring Road at the Mandela Junction and divert the route to Perungudi and Avaniapuram, which would eventually connect to the Tuticorin Road.

Top airlines flying from Madurai Airport

Madurai Airport is one of the small airports in the state of Tamil Nadu. As the airport does have two adjacent terminals, one is for the domestic, and the other is for international airlines. There are only two international airlines that fly from Madurai Airport. The Srilankan Airlines, which flies to Colombo–Bandaranaike and SpiceJet, which flies to Dubai-International, are both available at the Madurai airport. Air India Express also has a flight to Singapore, available at Madurai Airport. Aside from these three airlines with cities to international connections, the rest of the airlines are domestic. Domestic airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, Alliance Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet, fly from the Madurai Airport. The airlines connectivity is a little limited as they only fly to cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Tiruchirapalli and Hyderabad.

Facilities at Madurai Airport

Airport lounge – The airport has a few lounges including a retiring room for passengers who are waiting due to a layover. Madurai Airport also has a lounge called the Golden Chariot Lounge. It is essential for passengers to get access to hang out at the lounge space. The same can be availed through membership programs.

Foreign exchange – The foreign exchange counters are available at the arrivals of the international terminal. The counters have been placed to enable passengers travelling from abroad to exchange currencies and even make money transfers.

Restaurants and cafes – There are a few restaurants and cafes available in the premise of the airport. There is a dedicated food court present in the departure while the arrivals section has small food joints. These include some local food establishments which service tea, coffee and other beverages. Similarly, the airport also has restaurants and joints such as Subway, KFC, to name a few.

Baggage – Madurai Airport provides excellent baggage services. These include provisions of trolleys, baggage wrapping services and storage facilities. As Madurai Airport has flights connecting to domestic and international destinations, they have proper facilities to help ease the transit. You can get your bags wrapped in plastic. This would ensure that the luggage is not mishandled or the contents are affected. Trolleys are available at all intervals until the security check.

Smoking room - Smoking is prohibited in the airport, and hence, the airport has installed dedicated smoking lounges. The smoking room is available in the domestic terminal's Gate 6. Lighters and cigarettes can also be found at the terminal.

ATMs - ATM kiosk of Indian Bank has been placed in the airport's entrance. As the airport caters to domestic and international flights, the ATM kiosks would help withdraw money and exchange currencies.

Medical services - In order to help out with emergencies, the airport has installed medical rooms and services. There are first aid centres in the airport and details on the same can be received at the airport. The terminal manager would be the best to guide the passenger through the process. Pharmacies are also installed at Madurai Airport to help with last-minute medical purchases.

Special assistance - Madurai Airport provides special assistance for passengers who need the same. There are trolleys and wheelchairs available at the airport that the passenger can avail. In fact, it would be best to inform the airline beforehand to avail the services. The airport will provide staff to help passengers travel within the airport and even help them with the check-in and security check procedures.

How to reach Madurai Airport

Madurai Airport has excellent connectivity with buses operated under the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC). There are many routes that directly connect to the Madurai airport. In fact, Madurai Airport is known to be one of the few airports in the country that has dedicated government transport services to enable connectivity. Within the city, you will find bus stops with regular buses to help reach Madurai Airport. You can find them at the Periyar Bus Stand, Thirupparankundram, Arappalayam, Krishnapuram Colony, Mattuthavani and Park Town. Plus, these buses have services at the most convenient timings. It is considered to be one of the best ways to reach Madurai Airport.

Another convenient way to reach Madurai Airport is by hailing a taxi. Prepaid taxis are available in the city. The city of Madurai has prominent call taxi services that operate within the city as well as to the airport. These taxis also have services that traverse to neighbouring cities from Madurai. Auto-rickshaws are also considered to be one of the easiest and affordable means of transport to reach Madurai airport. They are widely available within the city to the airport. However, the only concern here is to ensure that you can haggle with the rickshaw. The auto rickshaws do not function on the meter system, so a fixed price needs to be agreed upon with the drivers before you start the journey.

About Madurai

Formerly known as Madura, the city of Madurai is recognised as one of the major cities in the state of Tamil Nadu. In fact, it is actually known to be a cultural capital of the state and is the third largest city after Chennai and Coimbatore. Madurai is also known to be the hub for Tamil Sangam, a congregation of Tamil scholars which is held in the city on an annual basis. Madurai has seen some flourishing history with several big empires taking leadership. The city was ruled by Pandyas, Madurai Sultanate, Madurai Nayaks, Cholas, Vijaynagar Empire and British East India Company, to name a few.

The city's major highlight is the famous Meenakshi Temple as well as the Tirumalai Nayak Palace. These two historical monuments have played a vital role in shaping the cultural heritage of the city. Apart from the historical sites, Madurai also has essential educational institutes run by the government. Madurai Medical College, Madurai Law College, Homeopathic Medical College and Agricultural College and Research Institute are some of the important educational institutes.