Jammu to Gorakhpur SpiceJet Flights

  About Jammu

Jammu's second name is 'City of Temples' as it is a city which boasts pristine pilgrimage. Nestling on the banks of the Tawi river, the gorgeous city of Jammu sees an astounding number of travellers thanks to the slew of temples and Hindu shrines that are present in and around the city. Surrounded by the Shivalik range, Jammu witnesses beautiful climate and is one of the fewer places in India that is open almost throughout the year.

Tourism has a significant contribution to the city's economy. The focal point for many tourists and pilgrims remains the Vaishno Devi Temple as well as the Kashmir Valley. The state also sees international tourists come over to relish the serenity of Jammu. You can book hotels in Jammu which faces the calm Tawi lake and the Shivalik range.

The city is well-connected with the rest of the country. Since there are numerous flights to Jammu from major metropolitan cities, travelling becomes less cumbersome. If you're in luck, you might actually even get great flight deals for Jammu, depending on the airlines and their plans.

Best time to visit Jammu

Jammu's pleasant weather all-year-round makes it one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in India. The sheer beauty of the city which is snuggled up on the banks of the Tawi river and surrounded by the Himalayas makes Jammu a holiday destination. One of the biggest perks of Jammu's weather is how it remains pleasant and inviting throughout the year, except for the monsoon months. The period between September to April is ideal for visiting Jammu. This basically includes two varied seasons, winter and summer. Depending on which kind of activity appeals to you, you can accordingly book flight tickets to Jammu and pay a visit to the lovely city.

For winter sports such as skiing, cable rides and indulging in other such activities, the months October to February would do you good. The temperatures might go super low, but it would be pleasant and appealing to travellers who like the cold weather.

The spring season is between March to May when the town's vibrant green expanses start dancing under the rays of the sun. With various festivals that take place during this time, the city has a whole new lively vibe that you shouldn't miss. It would be nice to explore the dense green forests with Deodar trees enveloping the lands of Jammu. The Tawi lake also looks pristine under the summer sun.

Although monsoon season doesn't see humid weather or the kind that would annoy your travel itinerary, most of the sightseeing places are shut. Even if you do visit the city, there is not much that you can do. Hence, it is best to avoid going to Jammu during monsoon even if the cheap flight tickets tempt your souls unless you're okay with just hanging out in the city without indulging in tourist activities.

Places to see in Jammu

Temples

Jammu has a plethora of temples including the famous pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi. It is one of the most-visited shrines not just in India but globally as well. Millions of pilgrims go on an expedition and offer prayers to Goddess Mahalakshmi. Since the temple is within a cave and requires the pilgrims to trek to the summit, provisions for helicopter services and palanquins have been made available. Aside from this, the other shrines of gods that you can visit in Jammu are Raghunath Temple, Mahamaya temple, Bhairo Baba Temple and Dudhadhari Mandir. The city sees a surge in travellers every year as many flocks over to seek the blessings of Vaishno Devi.

Forts

The city also has a few century-old forts that were built in the time of princely ruler. The Bahu Fort is one such fort that comes from the Dogra Empire and was constructed under the rule of Raja Gulab Singh. The fort holds a historical significance while the structure's architecture is beautiful. You can also visit the Akhnoor Fort and Poonch Fort, which is a little away from the city centre.

Palaces

Jammu is a city that doesn't just boast impeccable pilgrimage but also numerous castles. The famous landmark of the city is the Amar Mahal Palace. Commissioned by Raja Amar Singh of the Dogra Empire hired a French architecture to design and constructed the palace. Today, it serves as a museum to the city and rakes in a lot of visits from travellers. There are beautiful artefacts and art collections on display. While you're on a palace excursion, do not miss the Mubarak Mandi Palace and Sheesh Mahal as they too have intriguing backstories.

Things to do in Jammu

Visit the Surinsar Lake

The sparkling Surinsar lake with its's crystal clear water and picturesque landscape attracts tourists to experience its peace and tranquil environment.

Dogra Art Museum

The impressive Dogra Empire has shaped much of Jammu's history and culture. You can actually witness some of the alluring paintings sketched by artists of the Dogra Empire.

Explore the Bhimgarh Fort

To reach the Bhimgarh fort, you can choose trekking or hiking as a means to reach the top. As the fort is perched on top of a hill and is 150 meters above ground, it easily becomes a delightful endeavour. Thanks to the aesthetic attractions within the fort with temples, pond and lavish rooms, the place sees excessive travellers. The view from the hilltop is another reason why it receives so much love.

Food and Restaurants

From galgal pickles to gorging down biryanis and kebabs, Jammu sees not just magnificent pilgrimage but also a diversity of cuisines coming together. Interestingly, as the city is a pilgrimage, much of the restaurants promote vegetarian food. However, there are some places which contribute to the biryani parties and chicken kebab clans. You will not miss any food that you've grown up with as Jammu has a variety of delicious Indian spread with Tibetan and Chinese touch.

You can indulge in some scrumptious vegetarian food at Pehalwan's Food Court and Balgotra Vaishno Restaurant. To enjoy food with some pristine view of the Himalayas and the Tawi lake, visit Falak. As for those who simply cannot do without some lip-smacking Mughlai food, Billu Di Hatti and Mughal Darbar are restaurant suggestions for you. There are some options reserved for those who indulge in international food such as Tibetan or Continental, which you can find at RMP Restaurant and The Imperial Grill Restaurant and Bar. But, to round things off, Ahdoos is the one place that will serve you with Kashmir's delightful cuisine.

How to reach Jammu (Transportation)

By Air

The Jammu airport is located at a decent 8 km distance from the city centre and has excellent flight connectivity to and from other major cities in the country. Air is usually considered to be the best mode of transport to choose when travelling to Jammu. The airport receives regular services from major airlines as the flights shuttle between Mumbai, Delhi Leh, Srinagar and more. In fact, Jammu also caters to the international audience as there are flight to and from international destinations. The domestic route for Jammu chosen by a majority of cities within the country passes through Delhi. Not all flights require layovers at the capital.

From the airport, there are shuttle services by hotels, if you have prior bookings. There are many taxi cabs and other modes of transport that would take you to the city centre or wherever you have booked your hotel in Jammu. The peak season sees a lot of crowds, and you might not be able to find good flight deals for Jammu. Hence, it is recommended that you book flight tickets to Jammu beforehand if you wish to snag some cheap flight tickets. Travelling to Jammu by flight is exceptionally comfortable and convenient.

By Rail

Jammu's very own railway station called the Jammu Tawi railway station has excellent connectivity with the rest of the cities in India. There is one train that actually starts at Jammu and ends at Trivandrum in Kerala. Basically, it's the story of two polar cities being joined by a convenient mode of transport. From regular mails to express trains, all kinds of rails will reach you to Jammu effortlessly. Further trains from cities like Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, Amritsar, Delhi and Trivandrum have trains that go to and come from Jammu. Travelling to your booked hotel room from the railway station is also not tough as there are many taxi cabs available right outside the premise.

By Road

Delhi is a popular route for Jammu and travellers often opt to travel to the capital and take a bus for the Jammu pilgrimage. As the capital has various inter-state buses that go to varied places in the North such as Manali, Shimla, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, etc., they have dedicated buses going to Jammu as well. There are state-run buses from Chandigarh too that you can choose to travel from. Many motorcycle enthusiasts take this as an opportunity to cruise through the Himachal Pradesh to reach Jammu. Depending on the domestic routes selected by motorcyclists, the said pass would lead them to Jammu.

  About Gorakhpur

Nestled on the banks of river Rapti is this bustling city of Gorakhpur. Located in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, the city is an essential part of the state as it hosts the Indian Air Force station and is also the central administration to the North Eastern Railway Zone. The city's name comes from the spiritual significance of Saint Gorakhnath.

Another important reason that makes Gorakhpur an essential part of the state is how it directly connects to the neighbouring country, Nepal. Many tourists use the domestic route from Gorakhpur to reach Nepal, which is barely 100 km from the city. Gorakhpur has excellent flight connectivity as it does cater to international roadway routes with Nepal as a neighbour. The accommodation is quite adequate, but you can book good hotels in Gorakhpur.

Even though the domestic route to Gorakhpur is busy, it is ideal to book flight tickets in advance to avoid last-minute concerns. Not to mention how you will also be able to avail great flight deals if you make your flight bookings way ahead of schedule. The temple city has quite a few significant religious stories as well as political relevance.

Best time to visit Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur is known to have hot and dry summers with temperatures rising to 42 degree Celsius. Although the nights are comparatively cooler, the place still suffers from immense heat, which could put a damper on your plans if you wish to venture outside. The summers begin from March with May being the hottest month. Stepping out in summer is also not advised as it could lead to health concerns for some people.

Monsoons are pretty decent compared to summers as the rains make the atmosphere cooler. The air and temperature see a change with rains. However, the dull weather and mucky streets inhibit engaging in tourist activities. Sightseeing and venturing out in the city becomes problematic and is hence, avoided.

Winters bring about a pleasant temperature, making it the best season to visit the city. The months from October to February are cold and beautiful to the senses. The city experiences cool breeze and quaint ambience that also make travelling and indulging in tourist activities more convenient. The cosy vibes further add to the charm of Gorakhpur that can best be experienced during winters.

Places to see in Gorakhpur

Gorakhnath Temple

The Gorakhnath Temple was built in honour of Guru Gorakhnath. The venerated guru's teachings have since been followed diligently by his followers. The temple holds religious significance in Gorakhpur. Visit the temple to know more about the guru and how the religious premise came into existence.

Gita Press

As the name goes, the Gita Press was founded in 1923 to propagate the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita. The history of Gita press is quite interesting. Even though the press house was inaugurated in 1955, works on the press began way before it. Take a tour around the press house and learn more about the press and its relevance to society.

Archaeological Museum

Gorakhpur's prime tourist attraction is the archaeological museum which was founded in 1957. With intriguing stamps, photographs, sculptures and coins that give a peek into the past and cultural history of Gorakhpur, the museum has preserved it perfectly well. Interestingly, the museum also hosts a plethora of events such as pottery classes, how to make tools out of stones and past-life therapy for individuals to look back into their past-life. The museum is maintained by the Department of Ancient Indian History, Archaeology & Culture of the Gorakhpur University.

Arogya Mandir

The Arogya Mandir is the main highlight of the city of Gorakhpur. The premise is actually a wellness centre where you can enhance your health and further rejuvenate your mind and soul. The mandir also has accommodation setting introduced much recently to make it easy for patients to stay back for a complete cure before they can return. There are life lessons and healing endeavours that take place in the vicinity. You can enrol for their 10-day program to work on your health. The complex was acquired by Dr Vithal Das Modi in 1940, to help better people's lives with simple lessons.

The Arogya Mandir offers numerous therapies such as mud-therapy, hydrotherapy, yoga and Pranayam (meditation), steam bath and particular emphasis on diet. Specific pathological checkups are also done to learn the cause of the patient's health concern. Going in the lines of Vipassana, taught by Gautama Buddha, the health setup follows a similar pattern to work on the health of the patient. This is not something you can plan after reaching Gorakhpur. Plan for the health camp ahead of the visit to ensure that you have enrolled for it.

Things to do in Gorakhpur

Cool off at the Neernikunj Water Park

The Neernikunj Water Park is one of the few tourist attractions in Gorakhpur. You can take a day out of your schedule and head straight to the water park—bid farewell to the hot climate that envelopes the city otherwise. The water park would be a fun activity to pick, especially if you plan to unwind from your hectic schedule.

Explore the beautiful Vidyavasini Park

Although there is not much that you can do at Vidyavasini Park, one of the best things to do would be to pack a nice picnic lunch and take your family to the lush green park. The setting is quite beautiful as the open space would allow your kids to run around in the park.

Take your kids to the Railway Museum.

The Railway Museum is yet another tourist attraction that is majorly themed to cater to the families with little kids. It would be an educational expedition for them as they will get to learn more about the origin of the rail system.

Food and Restaurants in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur's cuisine is to die for. The place has marvellous Mughlai cuisine that ranges from mild to extremely spicy. From kebabs to koftas, biryanis to pulao's, indulge in some of the best Mughlai food that you will find in India. The city is actually touted to make some of the best dishes from the said cuisine. Head to Tandoor Food, located near Golghar, to get the best of Mughlai food experience. The food joint only opens for dinner and does not have any seating arrangement or dine-out facilities.

Aside from mouth-watering Mughlai food, the second-best food to indulge in would definitely be their kakori kebabs. The flavoured meat grilled to perfections spells magic and certainly worth the penny.

Mirch Masala, Choudhry Hotel and Bobi's restaurant offer lip-smacking cuisine that would make you a fan of the place and their food. However, if street food is what you wish to explore then head straight to the Gorakhpur Railway Station as the area around it have a slew of hawkers and street food artists who make memorable kebabs and other dishes.

How to reach Gorakhpur (Transportation)

By Air

Located only 6 km away from the city centre, the Gorakhpur Airport sees great flight connectivity, owing to many tourists using this domestic route to cross the border and reach Nepal. There are daily flights available to and from Gorakhpur from a majority of metropolitan cities. Urban cities such as Mumbai Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Delhi have daily flights dedicated to flying in and out of Gorakhpur. Booking flight tickets to Gorakhpur well in advance is not necessary as the flight tickets are cheap and affordable.

However, it is recommended that you book hotels in Gorakhpur before departing. It would be less cumbersome to find transport from the airport if you already have a hotel shuttle service to pick you up. The government actually converted the Air Force Station in 2003 to make the airport open for commercial use. Although no direct international routes taken by flights from Gorakhpur, there are buses available to take travellers to Nepal.

By Rail

Known to be one of the most important cities in Uttar Pradesh, the Gorakhpur Junction Railway Station is excellently connected to different parts of the country. Daily, trains from Bangalore Mumbai Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, Kolkata and more have dedicated trains going to and from Gorakhpur. Getting a train ticket could be quite challenging as the trains to Gorakhpur are always on demand. Another attribute that makes the city's railway an asset to the country is the fact that it is the headquarters to North Eastern Railway Zone.

By Road

State-owned Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) have bus services from Lucknow, Delhi, Azamgarh, Bareilly and more cities. Gorakhpur also has intercity and interstate bus services as well as cross-border transport facilities. Since the city is only 100 km away from Nepal, there are buses that take international routes to and from Gorakhpur. From deluxe to non-AC, there is a wide range of luxury buses that you can book. Although Gorakhpur is brilliantly connected across various cities in India, the sheer duration of time makes it a cumbersome mode of transport. Flights to Gorakhpur are a favourable option, as are railways.

  About SpiceJet

SpiceJet is one of the most popular airlines in India and quite affordable, too. Lowest airfares and high customer value is what the airline aims to deliver to its passengers. The airline has 630 daily flights operating to 64 destinations, of which 15 are international destinations. It has hubs at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. One of the specialities of the airlines is its dynamic fares. It makes sure that the fares are affordable to every citizen of the country. Spicejet is practical and yet stylish, and there is no denying it. The airline also has a very efficient and helpful crew who make sure that you have had a safe and comfortable flight. It was founded in 2004 as Royal Airways and commenced operations in 2005 as SpiceJet. The first flight was operated between Mumbai and Delhi after which it soon became the third-largest low-cost carrier in the share market after Air Deccan and Indigo. Media magnate Kalanidhi Maran also acquired a major stake in the airline through Sun Group. The company was originally acquired by entrepreneur Ajay Singh who is the Managing Director of the airline.

SpiceJet initially leased two Boeing 737-800 aircraft when it started operations and had planned to order ten new crafts to expand. By 2010, the airline ordered 30 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and 15 Bombardier Q4 Dash. Though the airline suffered a lot of loss in 2012 due to the increase in global crude prices, it recovered and returned to profits later that year. SpiceJetrecently added the B737 - Max 8 aircraft to its fleet, which is a state-of-the-art aircraft. Most SpiceJet flights can seat from 150 to 200 passengers, except the Bombardier Q400 that only seats between 78 to 90 passengers.

The airline also has an elite SpiceClub, a membership program for passengers that offers a lot of privileges and benefits. You can earn frequent flyer points for every Rs. 100/- spent on the flights, along with the add-ons. If you have enough points, you might even get a chance to fly for free. The airline now also offers premium services to passengers who fly under the SpiceMax program. It allows passengers to choose their seats well in advance along with priority check-in and boarding, priority baggage handling but at a higher price. SpiceJet also has a cargo airline called SpiceXpress which was launched in 2018. It became the first airline that operated freight services between Southeast Asia and North East India after it began its services in 2019 between Guwahati and Hong Kong.

Fleet Size of SpiceJet

With increasing popularity, the airline kept adding more aircraft to increase efficiency. The maximum number of passengers that a SpiceJet flight can seat is up to 212, depending on the aircraft, of course. Boeing 737-900 ER is one of the largest economy passenger flights that can accommodate 212 passengers. Boeing 737-900 can seat 139 economy class passengers and 28 business class passengers. SpiceJet has 4 Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft and only one Boeing 737-900 aircraft. Boeing 737 Max 8 is an upgrade from the previous aircraft and has a narrow body. It can seat 189 economy class passengers. However, due to two fatal accidents of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the aircraft was grounded worldwide. Approximately 346 people lost their lives in these plane crashes, which is one of the primary reasons for the aircraft to get grounded worldwide. The Civil Aviation Administration of China was the first one to ground the aircraft nationwide, and other countries followed suit. The aircraft is expected to start flying after some major changes to its flight control system. There are a total 54 Boeing 737-800 aircrafts in service of which 18 also cater to a few business class passengers.

Boeing 737-700 has seven aircraft of which four can accommodate business class passengers. The total capacity of these aircraft is between 134 to 149. SpiceJet also has 2 Airbus A320-200 aircraft that can accommodate up to 180 passengers. The Bombardier Q400 is a comparatively smaller aircraft that accommodates fewer passengers as compared to the Boeing aircraft. SpiceJet has about 32 of these that can accommodate 78 to 90 passengers. SpiceJet has announced that it will induct 16 Boeing 737-800 and 5 more Bombardier Q400, owing to the demand. Since SpiceJet also caters to business class and premium passengers who are willing to pay extra for comfort and exclusive offers, you will find a lot of flights that have sections reserved for these passengers in the aircraft. The best part about the Bombardier Q400 is that there are two people on either side of the aircraft, which makes more room for you to have a relaxing journey. However, it only flies to shorter distances as compared to the other aircraft.

Baggage Allowance

Like most airlines, SpiceJet also has a specific set of rules adhering to the baggage that you can and cannot carry. There are a certain set of rules for domestic passengers and other sets of rules for passengers travelling internationally. Spicejet has certain baggage allowance restrictions that every passenger must follow. Currently, domestic passengers are allowed only one check-in baggage that does not exceed 20 kgs. Passengers who are carrying more than the baggage allowance will have to bear extra costs and will need to be booked at least 6 hours before the flight departure. Make sure you are not carrying any radioactive or explosive items in your baggage. You also have to steer clear of corrosives like acids, alkalis, mercury and compressed flammable or combustible gases. There are also certain rules with carrying your phone charger and power banks that you must follow. You can only carry these in your hand luggage and not your check-in luggage.

It is advisable to get your web check-in done in advance so you won't have to spend a lot of time at the counter. You can just collect your boarding pass, hand over your luggage and head to the gate. SpiceJet allows the Free Baggage Allowance of the International sector if you are travelling from domestic to international or vice versa on a connecting flight within 24 hours. If you have a connecting flight and have to change to another airline, you are allowed Free Baggage Allowance of one check-in bag weighing 20 kg or less. Again, you need to ensure that you are not carrying anything that you are not allowed to carry. It is also advisable that you do not pack your valuables like jewellery, money or electronics in your check-in luggage. Make sure you add those to your hand luggage since the airline is not responsible for any damage to property. It is also a piece of thoughtful advice to protect your assets.

In-flight Services

Though SpiceJet used to function on economy class-only seating when it commenced operations, it introduced premium in-flight services to SpiceJet passengers under the title SpiceMax. Passengers are offered additional benefits like pre-assigned seats with extra legroom, priority check-in and boarding, meals onboard and so on at a higher price. You are also eligible for a complimentary upgrade and free cancellation. The airline does not offer or provide complimentary meals to passengers flying by economy class. Though it has a frequent flyer programme, it does not provide in-flight entertainment options. With the airline evolving and introducing new offers and services to keep its customers happy, don't be surprised if they introduce in-flight entertainment services for the premium passengers.

Popular Routes and Top Cities for SpiceJet

SpiceJet connects to various domestic and international routes on a daily basis. It connects to 54 Indian destinations and 15 international destinations with 630 flights operating on a regular basis. It has its hubs at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad so don't be surprised if your flights have layovers at these cities whether you travel domestically or internationally. The staff is quite accommodating and helpful. They will help you out with any query that you have regarding your layovers or other flight details. Do make sure you are allowed to step out of the airport and explore the surrounding area before you board the flight again after your layover.

Why Travel by SpiceJet?

SpiceJet is not only one of the most affordable airlines in India, but it is also an efficient one. The airline ensures that its passengers are informed about the flight status more than just once along with the SpiceJet flight schedule. Even if your flight witnesses the slightest delay, the authorities make sure they keep you informed about it so you can plan your commute to the airport according to that. Web check-in is also made easy through your phone or using a kiosk at the airport. Booking a SpiceJet ticket is also quite easy and anything but complicated. It aims to attract passengers with low fares and quality service. It also manages to live up to its mission. The staff is also quite friendly and helpful.