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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 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
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 the City
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.
Foods and Restaurants
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 the City (Transportation)
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 SilkAir
SilkAir (Singapore) Private Limited, traded as SilkAir, is a regional airline which has its headquarters in the Airline House in Singapore. The airline previously had its headquarters in the fifth story of the SIA Superhub in Singapore. SilkAir is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines which is wholly owned and operated by its parent company. It has scheduled passenger services scheduled from the hub in Singapore to about 38 cities across 14 countries in the Southeast Asian, East Asian, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia. It portrays the role of the regional wing to Singapore Airlines and mainly serves short-haul and medium-haul destinations that fall under the Singapore Airlines Group network. In the year 2015, the airline carried about 3.5 million passengers and recorded a whopping operating profit of USD 40.8 million. As of 2016, the airline's operations were handed over to Mr Leslie Thng, who was appointed as the new Chief Executive after Mr Foo Chai Woo. In 2017, the airline once again registered a profit as it raked in revenue of USD 990.3 million, which was an increase of 2.5 per cent in comparison to the previous year.
The profit earned in the said year reached an all-time high for the regional carrier as it recorded USD 100.8 million, a staggering spike of 11.3 percent against the previous year. In 2018, Singapore Airlines stated that its subsidiary SilkAir's fleet would be undergoing a massive cabin product upgrade, starting 2020, before being completely merged with the parent company. As a move to move ahead with the merger, SilkAir's official website was discontinued while a dedicated section of SilkAir was integrated into Singapore Airlines' website the following year. SilkAir was founded in 1989 under the name Tradewinds Charter. It's then-parent company, a regional air-charter Tradewinds Charters, was formed in 1975 which leased planes from the parent company Singapore Airlines to serve leisure destinations. By 1989, the airline changed to Tradewinds Airlines and incorporated scheduled flight services. It leased a McDonnell Douglas MD-87 aircraft to serve five of its destinations such as Phuket, Kuantan, Pattaya and Hat Yai from Singapore's Changi International Airport. In contrast, its fifth destination Tioman had services from the city's Seletar Airport.
Over the years, Singapore Airlines' regional carrier expanded tremendously with various regional destinations such as Yangon, Jakarta and Phnom Penh being added to its international route. This enabled the expansion and broadening of the airline's presence from a leisure carrier to an airline perfect for a business traveller as well. A marketing overhaul was conducted in 1991, which was followed by some rebranding in 1992. SilkAir received its present name along with a new company logo and a corporate identity. The brand-new SilkAir also utilised about six new Boeing 737-300s which were introduced in the previous year. By the mid-1990s, the airline accommodated two Airbus A310-200s in its fleet as a means to expand its services to India and parts of Mainland China. It became the first-ever Asian carrier to provide handheld portable video-on-demand entertainment system in-flight. It was provided in the form of a DigEplayer 5500 which was available on flights of certain select countries and destinations.
In 2017, SilkAir also took over services of Scoot to Yangon. The transfer of destination helped SilkAir greatly as it boosted operations with 15 non-stop flight services accommodated in a week. In 2017, the airline further launched its flight to Hiroshima, becoming its first Japanese destination to join the SilkAir network. Further, the airline announced in 2018 that it would be transferring about 17 routes to its sister concern, Scoot, which included cities such as Wuhan, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang, Yogyakarta and Kota Kinabalu.
Fleet size of SilkAir
SilkAir's current fleet size stands at 33 with eight Airbus A320-200s, two Airbus A319-100s, 17 Boeing 787-800s and six Boeing 737 MAX 8. They are yet to receive orders of 31 Boeing 737 MAX 8s. SilkAir's operations commenced with two McDonnell Douglas MD-87s that was leased from the airline's parent company, in 1989. Eventually, in the 1990s, the airline started investing in its fleet and started the same by ordering six Boeing 737-300s. The airline operated two Airbus A310-200s that was used in service between 1993 and 1995. The Boeing aircraft was eventually transferred to Singapore Airlines. Similarly, the airline also operated two Fokker 70s between 1995 and 2000. Gradually, the airline started replacing its fleet comprising of Boeing with Airbus aircraft. They brought in their first Airbus A320-200 in 1998.
By 1999, the airline replaced its Boeing fleet completely and received much of its Airbus fleet. Its A319 is currently being used for services on specific routes in the Southeast Asian space along with some Indian cities. The larger A320 aircraft is predominantly utilised for major routes of the airlines. After a decade long of Airbus fleet, the airline signed a letter of intent in 2012 with Boeing to purchase 68 aircraft. The agreement comprised of a firm order of 23 Boeing 737-800s and 31 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft while they acquired purchase rights for 14 other aircraft. The airline's 737 aircraft is being used to replace the older A320 models. In 2014, SilkAir received its first Boeing 737-800 from the deal, and in 2017, it received delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Baggage Allowance
SilkAir Airlines' free checked baggage allowance depending on the type of ticket as well as the cabin class. The airline doesn't have a country-specific rule for baggage allowance but instead holds a universal rule in terms of the weight and dimensions of the baggage. The first-class travellers are allowed to carry baggage that should weigh no more than 50 kg. Business-class and premium economy class passengers are allowed to carry about 40 kg, and 35 kg checked baggage, respectively. Passengers travelling via SilkAir in the economy Flexi, standard and lite travellers can carry 35 kg, 30 kg and 30 kg, respectively. The passenger must keep a check on their baggage weight or purchase extra baggage if needed. Prior purchases are essential as it would smoothen the process of check-in baggage. Pre-purchasing of extra baggage will get passengers some additional discounts. The baggage allowance policy does change depending on the airline's frequent flyer programmes and the passengers who are members of a specific package.
In-flight services
As a regional carrier, SilkAir's in-flight services are quite decent as they provide the necessary facilities for passengers. These include help with baggage to be placed in the overhead bins, comfortable seats with recline, available legroom, in-flight meal services and in-flight entertainment systems. These might vary depending on the route and duration of the journey that the passenger has opted for.
Popular routes and top cities for SilkAir
SilkAir was predominantly acquired to cater to regional domestic route and international route networks. Over the years, the airline has managed to acquire quite a good name in the sector, especially in the Southeast Asian region as well as the Indian subcontinent for providing ideal destinations. The airline has quite a presence in India as it connects to some of the South Indian cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi. The airline witnesses regular passenger traffic from these cities in India. While it did connect to Coimbatore, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram and Visakhapatnam in the past, they have terminated these domestic routes, as of 2020. Meanwhile, in terms of its other international route connectivity, SilkAir has a presence in a handful of cities present in China, Indonesia and Australia. Some of the top cities for SilkAir include Broome, Darwin, Phnom Penh, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Bandung, Denpasar, Surabaya, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Yangon, Kathmandu, Davao, Cebu, Singapore, Colombo, Koh Samui, Phuket, Da Nang and Hanoi. The airline currently has codeshare agreements with Air China, Air New Zealand, Bangkok Airways, Fiji Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Lao Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Virgin Australia and Vistara. Additionally, SilkAir also has codeshare agreements with Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot.
Why travel by SilkAir?
SilkAir is practically perfect for budget travellers who want to get around the Southeast Asian countries without having to shell out a fortune. The kind of tourists who usually travel through the tropical beaches of Southeast Asian tourist destinations have just one thing in mind, to take a dip in the ocean—much of the budget centres around partying and participating in water sports activities. For them, splurging on airfare is the last thing to do. Hence, SilkAir works out tremendously well. Passengers can book a SilkAir flight on the airline's official website. They can also be found on other travel flight ticket selling portals as the brand has become quite famous, thanks to its affordable prices.
The airline has also upgraded its website by adding necessary drop-down menus and connecting pages. These include a dedicated tab for web check-ins and managing of the ticket booking. Passengers can also find details such as flight status and SilkAir's flight schedules on the website. Further, it is easier to find all the information regarding the baggage allowance and in-flight services in one place.
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.
