Hyderabad to Kolhapur Flights

  About Hyderabad

Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh, is a city that flourished during the rule of the Nizams is a place that you must visit. While it is popular for the monuments and palaces that it boasts of, it also became popular for the increasing craze of cinema and the creative liberty that the artists took to create masterpieces. It is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, both. Hyderabadi is also known for introducing the best Biryanis to the world.

Though Hyderabad has flourished and developed a lot, it has also maintained some of its old charms to keep history alive. The Charminar, which literally translates to four minarets, is a major tourist attraction in Hyderabad. You must also visit the Ramoji Film City, which is a little further away from the main city but it is totally worth it. Not only will you get to visit the magnificent film sets but you will also come across a lot of stories about the place. If you're lucky, you might even run into your favourite actor.

Hyderabadi food tends to be more on the spicier side, and if your taste buds can handle it, you'll want to pack some of it and take it back home. Apart from the monuments and palaces, Hyderabad also has a spot for all you shopaholics. It is known for its pearl jewellery. You get the best pearl and silver jewellery in the city and at an affordable price, too. The city is also popular for the Karachi Bakery, where you get the most delicious cookies, biscuits and other snacks. There's one near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, too. Make sure you stop by to take home some delicious snacks for your family and friends.

Hyderabad also has quite a lot of clubs, fancy restaurants and malls for the youngsters. You'll find a lot of upcoming new cafes and coffee breweries in the city, too. The city has a blend of old and new traditions. The Golconda Fort is a popular tourist attraction in Hyderabad. It is one of India's many architectural wonders and is built on a 400-feet high granite hill. There is a particular location below the entrance dome under which, if you clap, it will be heard a kilometre away at a pavilion. This is one of the major accomplishments of the fort, and this was made so a message could be delivered to the royals in advance, in case there was an impending attack. It was built in the 12th century and is a highly recommended place to visit.

The Chowmahalla Palace was built in the 18th century, and it spells grandeur. Spot the Belgian crystal chandeliers and white marble floors that will make you want to redecorate your own house. The Hussain Sagar Lake is an artificial lake that used to be Hyderabad's water supply before two more lakes were built. A statue of Buddha is lit up at night and stands tall in the middle of the lake. You can go boating here and soak in the serene view. The sunset is breathtaking from the lake.

The Ramoji Film City is the world's biggest film studio complex and welcomes tourists from all over the country. You can even book a hotel within the complex since it is quite far away from the city. You can opt for a tour guide who will show you around the city or one of the tour buses that have a group of tourists to get around the complex. If you are lucky, you might even come across your favourite celebrity in the film complex.

Best Time to Visit Hyderabad

Hyderabad witnesses winters from November to February. The temperature drops down to 13 degrees Celsius and goes up to 25 degree Celsius maximum. Winters are quite chilly and are also ideal for sightseeing in the city. This is also the best time for you to go shopping and there are chances that the markets will be crowded since it's the peak season for the city.

It rains in Hyderabad from August to October. It gets rainfall that's moderate to heavy, which works really well since the city becomes greener. The rains are quite unpredictable, and it might make you sit in your hotel room instead of venturing out. But you can head out when the rainfall is mediocre.

Hyderabad sees a long summer that starts from March and lasts till July. May and July witness the highest temperatures that also brings in humidity. Summer is not a very favourable time for you to plan your trip to Hyderabad, but you can visit the city during winter or the initial days of monsoon.

Places to visit in Hyderabad

The Golconda Fort is one of the oldest and an important place to visit in Hyderabad. Ruins of the fort are worth visiting. It gives you a sneak peek into the history, and you'll even come across a few untold stories. Charminar is yet another monument that is deemed important and is buzzing with tourists all year round.

Ramoji Film City is also one of the most popular destinations in Hyderabad. It is the world's biggest film studios complex, and it even says so in the Guinness World Book of Records. Since Ramoji Film City is quite far from the city, you should dedicate an entire day to exploring the film studio complex. You can book an accommodation stay or within the complex to avoid hectic travelling.

The Hussain Sagar Lake is another major attraction and best way to spend the evening. Catch the sunset at the manmade lake and grab your favourite chaat at the stalls around the lake. Chowmahalla Palace is another place you must visit to experience the grandiose and luxe of palace life.

Things to do in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is a city for all kinds of tourists. You can go on a historical tour to all the monuments, forts and museums or you can go partying at some of the most happening places. Or just make a list of restaurants that are popular in the city and eat at all of them. Book a tour to the Ramoji Film City instead of trying to take things in your own hands. It will be more comfortable, and you won't feel all lost when you reach the location on your own. Not to mention, a tour guide always has interesting, untold stories to tell while taking you on tour. Go for a drive at the Queen's Necklace in the evening, and you won't regret it. It will be an evening well spent.

You can also visit the NTR Gardens which was made as a tribute to former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and celebrated actor, NT Rama Rao. If you are travelling with your kids, they will surely enjoy spending time here. Learn more about the history of Hyderabad and everything that has changed over time. Hyderabad is also known for the gems that it sells. You can buy as many pearl or silver jewellery as you please. There are a lot of authentic jewellery stores in the city where you will find precisely what you want without shelling out more money.

Food and Restaurants in Hyderabad

You can order a Hyderabadi Biryani wherever you go in Hyderabad. It's one of the most famous biryanis in the country, and you can order it without hesitating from any restaurant that you find. Try the Boti Kebab at Hotel Shadab in Ghansi Bazaar or Paradise at Paradise Circle in Secunderabad. It's a special kebab that you will enjoy from the first till the last bite. Qubani Ka Meetha is yet another Hyderabadi dessert that you must try. While you are at Hotel Shadab, do try the Mirchi ka Salan, another popular dish in Hyderabad.

How to reach Hyderabad

By Air

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport to Hyderabad but is quite far away from the main city. The flight connectivity is pretty strong. It connects all the domestic routes to Hyderabad and international routes from the city, too. All the major cities are well-connected by air. Do look for decent flight deals online and see if you can manage to get cheap flight tickets. Though the main city is quite far from the airport, you will get a private taxi or bus quite easily from the airport.

By Rail

Hyderabad is well-connected to all the other cities by rail through Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kachiguda railway stations. Most trains that are travelling to and from major metropolitan cities pass through Secunderabad station. Train journeys are quite comfortable, and if you do not have any time constraints, you can opt for a train journey.

By Road

Buses and private taxis run to and from Hyderabad quite frequently. In fact, you can get private buses that run to Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, too. There are quite buses connecting Andhra Pradesh to other neighbouring states, too.

  About Kolhapur

Kolhapur is one of the top cities in the state Maharashtra. The city is known for its chappals and spices. In fact, thanks to the originality and impeccable quality of some of the products such as chappals, lavangi Mirchi, jaggery and cuisine, they are all recognised as Kolhapuri. The city is well-connected with Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. People from Mumbai and Pune often take road trips to Kolhapur to enjoy the cool weather and spicy food.

The city does not have a dedicated airport for commercial purpose. As the flight connectivity from Kolhapur is non-existent, people opt for roadways as a means to reach the city. Besides, National Highway 4, which connects to Kolhapur, is so beautiful that a drive to the city would be a fun trip.

Best time to visit Kolhapur

Much like the rest of Maharashtra, Kolhapur is also quite arid with a hot summer season. However, the city experiences pleasant winters and monsoon thanks to the proximity it shares with the Western Ghats. Despite the humidity being in the air, the city makes for a good escape from the other scorching places of the state. The months November to February are considered to be the best time to visit Kolhapur as the temperatures drop to 14 degrees Celsius. You can book a hotel in Kolhapur for winter and enjoy the cold weather. Although there are not many luxury hotels in the city, you can still find some decent places to stay.

Places to visit in Kolhapur

Panhala Fort

The famous Panhala Fort built by Raja Bhoka II is a must-visit in Kolhapur. The strategic location of the fortress built in 1209 has had quite a lot of historical significance for being involved in some of the significant skirmishes between rulers of ancient times. The fort fell under the leadership of several celebrated rulers from the Marathas to the Mughals to the Britishers. With such strong backstories and some of its structures intact, the Panhala Fort easily becomes one of the best attractions of Kolhapur.

Jyotiba Temple

The Jyotiba Temple is located a little away from Kolhapur but is definitely worth the visit. Constructed in 1730, the temple is said to have strong religious significance as Jyotiba is believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu God Shiva. Jyotiba's role in Goddess Mahalaxmi's battle against the demon Ratnasur is a known mythological tale. The temple was erected to worship the deity and continues to see many devotees.

Binkambi Ganesh Temple

Lord Ganesh is the most venerated deities worshipped by the Maharashtrians. The Binkhambi Ganesh Temple, located just 1 km away from the Mahalakshmi Temple, is believed to have been discovered by the villagers. The temple's walls have beautiful designs, but what makes the temple a tourist attraction is because of the lack of pillars. The entire temple has been built without any pillars. Hence, the name Binkhambi has been given to the temple.

Kopeshwar Temple

The enthralling site of Kopeshwar Temple is dated to 12th century, built under the ruler of the Shilahara dynasty. The temple's structure is an architectural bliss as there are sculptures on pillars and walls. Made to honour Lord Shiva, the temple premise also has an idol of Lord Vishnu. The majestic structure is undoubtedly one of the best temples in Kolhapur. It is especially intriguing from an architectural point of view and should definitely be visited.

Maharaja's Palace

The Maharaja Palace, located in the same vicinity of the Chatrapathi Museum, is a quaint grey structure that was built in the 19th century. The palace is home to the current King of Kolhapur, who resides on the first floor of the palace.

Chatrapathi Shahu Museum

Chatrapathi Shahu Museum is touted to be one of the oldest museums in India. Founded back in 1883, the museum's attractions include the sculptures, artefacts from the wars, weaponry, jewellery and garments from the various empires that ruled the city and more. It would be quite the educational tour for you as you will get to learn more about the Maratha empire.

Mahalaxmi Temple

The most popular tourist destination in Kolhapur is the Mahalaxmi Temple, located within the city. Devotees from various corners of the country are said to visit the city to seek blessings of the goddess of wealth. The deity is adorned with exquisite jewellery with diamonds and other precious stones. The temple presence dates back to the 7th century when Karandev of the Chalukya dynasty ruled the city. With stunning architecture and Hemadpanthi sculpture-styles incorporated to construct the temple, the premise easily manages to receive gasps for being an architectural delight. The temple walls also have sculptures of Hindu deities Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganesha, to name a few.

Things to do in Kolhapur

The landlocked city of Kolhapur might have many temples and historical places to explore. However, there are some fun things to do, as well. One of the best places you can visit to soak in the bliss of an environmentally blessed environment is Rankala Lake. It is said to be one of the most popular sites visited by tourists. The hangout is maintained well with neat seating areas and walkways. Plus, the area is surrounded by lovely green spaces of gardens. It might seem like a crowded place, but even in the noise, you will find solace as there is a space reserved for the same. Called the Rankala silence Zone, you are not allowed to make a sound, which only helps with the purpose of finding peace and tranquillity.

You can always find time to visit the Shivaji Market. Kolhapuri chappals are a rage in the country, and you can get your hands on some of the authentic Kolhapuris. If you are enthusiastic about wildlife, then you must pay a visit to the Kolhapur zoo, which is located very close to the New Palace Lake. The place has exquisite migratory birds including peacocks, emus and flamingos.

Food and Restaurants in Kolhapur

Kolhapuris are not too modest when it comes to spices in their food. They love to spice things up, and by this, we mean quite literally. From their take on non-vegetarian food to the famous, Kolhapuri misal, the city's food culture is definitely worth exploring. While it may take a strong gut to stomach all the spices that Kolhapur has to offer, it definitely is worth all the tears!

The city's famous dish misal, has far too many joints to pick from. However, it is not surprising since even the locals love to indulge in some evening misal pav rendezvous. You can visit Bawada Misal, which has had various celebrities visit the restaurant. Other popular misal joints include Fadatare Misal and Chorage Misal. There are various cafes too in the city that should be explored such as Datta Cage, The Oven, Milano's, Khembraj Bakery and more. The city's love for spice is visible in the meat they eat too. There are many non-vegetarian hotels in the city such as Hotel Meghdoot, Hotel Opel, Hotel Victor Palace and more. The food here is heavenly, and even though the spices might make you cry, your soul will scream with joy!

How to reach Kolhapur (Transportation)

By Air

Kolhapur does have an airport going by the same name. However, the airport is currently not operational for commercial use. Hence, often people choose to go to airports that are close to Kolhapur. The nearest airports to Kolhapur are Belgaum Airport and Pune Airport. These two airports are fairly connected with major cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and more. Kolhapur airport is located in Ujlaiwadi, which is close to the city. Works to turn it into a civil airport is underway. Aside from Pune and Belgaum, people also opt to reach Goa Airport or Mumbai Airport and take roadways to reach Kolhapur.

By Rail

Kolhapur Railway Station is located a little away from the city centre. Although it is only 5 km away from the main city, the connectivity to important cities in India from Kolhapur is quite good. There are dedicated trains from cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Tirupati, Pune and Satara. South-bound trains going to Karnataka, Goa and Kerala also stop at the Kolhapur railway station. Since Kolhapur falls on the domestic route to cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Goa and more, the connectivity by railway is quite convenient. From the railway station, there are a plethora of transportation options such as rickshaws and buses that can be taken to reach Kolhapur's main city area.

By Road

To reach Kolhapur, National Highway 4 is the best choice. NH4's domestic route connects Kolhapur to Mumbai and Bangalore. In fact, the highway is also known as the Mumbai-Bangalore highway since it connects the two big cities. NH4 has recently been spruced up, making road trips easier. The highway has not just been enhanced in terms of aesthetics but is also well-maintained. This has enabled less traffic on the highway and a drop in the estimated travel time. A slew of bus services, both government-based and private, have services for Kolhapur. In fact, many buses going to Bangalore or returning to Mumbai from Bangalore pass through Kolhapur.

  About Hyderabad Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or Hyderabad Airport serves as the international airport to the city of Hyderabad in Telangana state. The airport is situated about 24 km in the South of Hyderabad, in Shamshabad. The Hyderabad Airport has one passenger terminal which caters to both, domestic and international airlines. The airport also has a cargo terminal as well as two runways. An aviation training facility is also prevalent at the airport along with a fuel farm and a solar power plant. It is recognized as the sixth busiest airport in India, in terms of passenger traffic. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also caters as a hub to airlines such as Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Lufthansa Cargo, TruJet, Quikjet Cargo and IndiGo. Hyderabad is a focus city for Air India.

About Hyderabad Airport Terminals

The Hyderabad International Airport has one only terminal which integrates the domestic and international sides of terminals. The area covered is 1,133,000 sq ft and has a scope to accommodate 12 million passengers in a year. While the western wing of the airport terminal takes care of the international flights, the eastern side takes cate of domestic flight operations. There are about 96 check-in counters, 19 self-check-in kiosks and close to 46 counters of immigration. A total of nine gates are present at the airport, located on the south of the terminal whereas there are two more in the north. Passenger lounge facilities are available and provided by the Plaza Premium Lounge. Separate lounges for VIP are also available in the terminal. The airport has ten aerobridges and about 57 parking bays. GHIAL recently added 26 more parking bays to the are, taking the new tally to 83 parking bays.

About airport authority

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or RGIA is possessed and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL). It is a public-private undertaking which comprises of public entities, including the Airports Authority of India and the Government of Telangana, along with private organizations namely, GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. While the AAI and Government of Telangana hold 13 per cent respectively, the private entities such as GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad have 63 and 11 per cent holdings respectively. According to the agreement acknowledged by GHIAL and the Central Government, GHIAL has the right to function the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for 30 years. Further from the completion of the years, GHIAL further receives an option to choose if they wish to continue another 30 years of association.

Facilities at Hyderabad Airport

Special assistance - The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has provisions to cater to the travellers ranging from escorting senior citizens to portage facilities. Some of the special assistance features include asking for baby strollers, to help expectant mothers or senior citizens with wheelchairs, helping passengers with mobility issues, helping accompany minors, catering to passengers who are travelling with pets, buggy services and other such concerns. You can avail the services at the information desk. Or you can make prior intimation with the airlines that would help the staff be prepared for your demands.

VIP facilities - The airport does have several VIP services available. As it is one of the top 10 international airports in the country, the services are quite world-class, including the lounge accommodation. There are meeting rooms and lounge areas for travellers with first-class or business class tickets. There are showers and spas also available at the airport to help in-transit passengers to relax. In fact, the VIP lounges and hotels where travellers can relax before they take their connecting flight.

Restaurants and cafes - You will find some excellent restaurants and food establishments at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. This includes small food and beverage kiosks and a dedicated food court. There are global food joints such as KFC, Subway, McDonald's and more. Some of them are also available at the departure and arrival areas. The departure zones at domestic and international terminals also have upscale restaurants and bars that you can check out.

Lost and found - The airport also offers lost and found services that you can avail. The centre is open 24/7, so you can visit the room whenever there is an item that you have lost. You will need your boarding card, photo identity card (this could include passport, visa, driver's licence, voter's card, etc.) and a proof that substantiates the fact that you are the rightful owner of the lost item. In case you are unable to visit the lost and found centre yourself, you can send a representative. However, while you do that, you will need to provide an authorized letter from the passenger and include a description of the lost item. The said person will also need to show relevant ID proofs.

Prayer room - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also has convenient prayer/multifaith rooms within the premise of the passenger terminal building. There are two rooms present at the airport.

Baggage - The luggage facilities at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport are also top-notch. As the airport caters to domestic and international passengers, the airport does have luggage services include wrapping and porter facilities. To avoid theft and mishandling of luggage, you can opt for baggage plastic wrapping. There are trolleys also available at the departure and arrival gates of the terminal building.

Child care centre - There are dedicated child care rooms available at the arrival and departure zones of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The rooms are well-maintained and cleaned properly. The airport staff also keep the child care rooms clean and sanitized. There are baby products also available as are provisions of a comfortable chair for feeding and changing table for a diaper change.

Medical services - The airport also reserved medical services to aid to emergency cases. They are available at proper intervals to ensure that the help arrives quickly in time of immediate assistance. You can also visit the information desk to get hold of some medical assistance. The medical services are provided by Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. It is a 24/7 service with pharmacy and paramedics. The airport also has well-trained doctors available who cater to the treatment centre. There is a dedicated ambulance service also available at the airport.

Airport transit hotel - One of the highlights of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is that the airport accommodates a hotel for in-transit passengers. You can get more details on the same at the information desk, available at all intervals. The airport has lodge services with AC and Non-AC dorms. The prices of the same are mentioned on the website of GHIAL as well as at the information desk. You can further opt for deluxe rooms and shower booths as well, to freshen up.

Top airlines flying from Hyderabad Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is known to serve about 18 international destinations and 45 domestic cities. As one of the top ten busiest airports in India, Hyderabad Airport's connectivity in terms of domestic as well as international cities is excellent. It manages to connect several cities and is also known to operate a plethora of airlines. The Hyderabad airport is recognized to serve domestic airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, Vistara, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and TruJet. Not just major cities in India but Hyderabad also provides great service to connect to smaller cities and towns too. While the prominent domestic airlines from Hyderabad Airport cater to major cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati, it also has connectivity with smaller cities.

As the city also caters to connecting 18 international destinations, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also has tremendous globally recognized airlines. Air Arabia, Air Asia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Flynas, are some of the airlines that operate from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airport also plays the role of connecting domestic cities to international airlines to fly abroad. Cities such as Sharjah, Kuwait, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Colombo-Bandaranaike, Doha, to name a few, have good connectivity from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

How to reach Hyderabad Airport

Thanks to the services provided by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, the accessibility to reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is excellent. There are direct buses that are provided for individuals travelling from the city centre to the airport. It is one of the most comfortable transport facilities to reach Hyderabad Airport. A flyover was constructed to reach the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport without facing excess traffic. The flyover has been constructed on the National Highway 44 and National Highway 765, interspersed with the Outer Ring Road. Called the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway, the flyover is perfect and helps reach the Hyderabad Airport without dealing with the city traffic. Although the Hyderabad Metro Rail's second phase is in the works to connect a line to the airport terminal, it is still in the process. Taxi cabs are the best modes of transport that can be considered to reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.