Jammu to Pune Vistara 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 Pune

Pune is easily one of the best cities in Maharashtra after Mumbai. Located just 160-180 km from Mumbai, the city of Pune is actually like a weekend retreat for Mumbaikars. It is also known as one of the most important cities in the state for its extensive growth in the IT industry. After Bangalore, Pune is the second-most leading cities to be a hi-tech hub. The city is perfectly connected with other metropolitans and holds a robust economic stance in the state and country.

Best time to visit Pune

Pune's monsoon and winters are to die for! The months from July to February have the best mix of seasons to attract tourists. The monsoon lights up the greenery that Pune has to offer. It often gets quite heavy with streets being flooded. However, there are various treks and trails around Pune that can be explored during the monsoon. Not to mention how they are all safe treks. The weather is cold and charming. Add the bit about various festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Raksha Bandhan that add more fervour to the city's celebratory moon.

Winter season in Pune is from October to February. The temperatures often drop low, making the city breezy and romantic. More than the weather though, the city's 3-day long celebration in December is what draws a majority of the crowd. The city organises a classical music rendezvous called Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, which unites stalwarts of the music industry. Aside from this, there are crazy music carnivals on NH7 called NH7 Weekender, which brings together famous global artists. You should book a hotel room in Pune ahead of these music festivals as the city does encounter multitudes of crowd.

Falling in the months from March to June is the summer season, probably not the best from the lot. The weather gets quite hot during summer as the scorching sun directly hits you in the face. Not to mention how there are high chances of suffering from heat strokes, especially if you are not comfortable or habituated with a tropical climate.

Places to visit in Pune

Shaniwar Wada Palace is actually a historical landmark for Pune. The majestic fortress was built back in 1732 during the existence of the Maratha Empire. Historically, the place holds a lot of significance and hence, should be visited. Aga Khan Palace makes for an intriguing setting that you should visit. Dated back to 1892, the landmark is said to have been built as an act of charity by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III. You will be amazed by the story of this place and why it is one of the most-visited spaces in Pune.

Maharashtrian's worship Lord Ganesha and have quite a few famous temples to honour the deity. The Dagdusheth Halwai temple is also one such temple where pilgrims visit in large numbers. The place is especially lit with celebrations during Ganeshotsav, which falls in the months of August and September.

One of the most popular and renowned places to visit in Pune has got to be the Osho Ashram in Koregaon Park. Founded by spiritual leader Osho Rajneesh, the ashram further depicts some of his teachings and stories that you should learn about.

Things to do in Pune

Paash organic cafe, located in Pune, is known for its sustainable lifestyle. Right from the architecture of the cafe to the organic food, Paash certainly stands tall as a must-visit and indulge place in Pune. Lose yourself amid beautiful and rare flora that is preserved by the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India at the Empress Garden. The garden is exquisite and stunning with the varied floral species of plants that simply captivate the senses. Sprawled across 39 acres of land, you can take postcard-worthy pictures at this garden and let your social media abuzz.

For the adventure junkies who want to spend a day away from the city and lose themselves in the green expanses of the Sahayadri Ranges, you should take up the Rajmachi trek. The place is always crowded with trekkers and hikers visiting from different parts of the state. The trek is especially enjoyable when undertaken during monsoon. In fact, there are many places that you can check out close to Pune that spring to life during the rainy season. Pune's food culture is the second-best in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai. There are dedicated streets in the city that cater to the foodie in you. Elevate your gastronomical senses and explore more of the food culture of Pune. You can explore this on your by ensuring that you visit the right streets to check out the delicious street food.

Food and Restaurants in Pune

Much of Pune's food culture comes from its inspiration from Mumbai city's eclectic restaurant chains. From the famous South East Asian restaurant Shizusan to the German joint Malzheit, these places have also found a sweet spot in Mumbai's culinary heart. However, Pune does have some standalone stars with scrumptious cuisine that would make one go weak in the knees. Head to the Greedy Man Pizzeria to devour the city's best Napolitano-inspired pizzas, with 12-inch being the standard and only size of the bread. Doolally may have found fame in Mumbai thanks to the lovely brewed beer and quaint vibe the place sells but it actually originated in Pune. You can go for a fun brunch here and relish their freshly brewed beer. Another perfect place to delve into exquisite culinary is the 212 All Day Cafe and Bar, a project introduced by Chef Paul Kinny. You will find a slew of scintillating seafood ranging from flavoured crustaceans to barbecued ribs.

The union of South Indian cuisine with Syrian Christian and you've got Savya Rasa. This restaurant sells lip-smacking dishes ranging from Gongura Mamasam (mutton being the prime meat), Meen manga curry (fish curry with mango) and Bendakkai Goju (okra), to name a few. You can also check out Malaka Spice, a restaurant specialising in South-East Asian recipes with special attention to Vietnamese and Thai dishes. The dishes range from Mandarin duck to mutton teamed with sweet-textured sauces made from fruits.

How to reach Pune

By Air

Pune International Airport, which will soon be renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Airport, is a very important airport that sees a tremendously good connection with major cities in India. Located approximately 10 km away from the city centre, the airport sees a high footfall of passengers and is touted to be one of the busiest airports in India. The flight connectivity from Pune to various cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Nashik, Ahmedabad, Goa, Kochi, Lucknow, etc. With such excellent domestic routes from Pune to other cities, the airport easily becomes one of the best.

For the domestic flights, the airport sees airlines such as AirAsia, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara and Air India provide flight services to connect Pune airport to metropolitan cities in the country. The airport also has an international wing with dedicated flights to and from Dubai, Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi as well as layovers of other flights coming to Pune from international routes. Since Pune is an international airport too, it is split between two terminals handling domestic and international flight from and to Pune. The accommodation scenes in Pune are also quite convenient. You will find cheap but good hotels and luxurious hospitality settings too. You can book your hotel in Pune by choosing from the range of lovely accommodations they have to offer. It will enhance your staycation experience.

By Rail

Pune Junction Railway Station also caters to connecting the city to other prime destinations in India. Pune enjoys services of superfast and express trains which travel faster than a mail. This enables the city to be well-connected. Prominent express trains such as Deccan Queen, Mumbai and Shatabdi Express pass through Pune. The city's railway station has astounding intercity transportation options. There are buses and rickshaw rides available right outside the station. You will also find taxi cabs lined up outside the Pune station, waiting to take you to the hotel you booked in Pune. Reaching various parts of the city is not very tough as you can always book rides on your phones, in case you are unable to haggle with the taxi cab driver.

By Road

Pune's connectivity doesn't falter even via roadways. In fact, the Expressway built connects Pune and Mumbai perfectly, enabling smooth and quick transport. The Expressway is actually one of the popular routes connecting Pune, enabling less travel time. There are a plethora of public and private-owned buses that also travel to Pune from big cities. Many jeeps and vans also board passengers to share the ride to Pune. In fact, some travellers prefer going to Pune by road, mainly because it has a beautiful highway. The buses and other road transports reaching Pune will drop you at any of the stops falling on the way to the railway station. You can book your hotel room in Pune from their wide range of accommodations and ask the taxi cab driver to help you reach the same.

  About Vistara Airlines

Vistara is a fairly new airline that is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. Tata Sons owns 51% stake in the airline, and Singapore Airlines has 49% stake. This was Tata Sons' reentry in the world of Airlines since Air India was nationalised. Tata's still has minority stakes in AirAsia India. However, getting Vistara started was no less of a struggle for both parties involved. The companies had made a bid in the 1990s to launch the full-service carrier in India, but it was not successful and was denied approval by the Indian government. The airline was founded finally in 2013 after India opened up its airline for 49% foreign direct investment. Vistara airlines commenced operations in 2015 with its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. It serves up to 36 destinations domestically and internationally. It operates approximately 200 flights daily and has flown over 20 million passengers already. It has grown quite popular and is slowly becoming one of the most preferred airlines by passengers. While low-cost carriers mostly dominate other airlines, Vistara caters to the high-end business travellers in the country. It also aims to make sure that the passengers have a luxurious and comfortable journey.

Vistara is a Sanskrit word that translates to the limitless expanse, and the airline sure does live up to its name. Vistara carried about half a million passengers in just seven months of commencing operations. It is also one of the few airlines that has the International Air Transport Association (IATA) membership. It flew its first international flight to Singapore in 2019 from Mumbai and Delhi. The airline used its Boeing 737-800NG. Vistara codeshares with British Airways, SilkAir, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines Japan Airlines and Lufthansa. It also has interline agreements with a couple of airlines that include Aeroflot, Air France, Air Mauritius, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Asiana Airlines, Gulf Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, flydubai, Finnair, Kenya Airways, Japan Airlines and KLM. The airline currently has 40 aircraft in service and is awaiting 52 more that it has ordered. The aircraft has business class, premium economy and economy class for its passengers. Fun fact: Vistara was the first airline to introduce the Premium Economy class.

Not only do the Business Class and Premium Economy Class passengers get special treatment, but so do the economy class passengers. The premium economy class allows you to choose seats that have extra legroom and far more comfortable as compared to the economy class ones. It has eight business class seats that are the most comfortable ones in the aircraft. You can also use Vistara's frequent-flyer program called Club Vistara. You can look up more offers on the website like the Vistara Womanflyer, Vistara Corporate Flyer, Vistara Student Discount, Vistara Senior Citizen Discount, Vistara Affordable Luxury and so on.

Fleet Size of Vistara

Vistara picked up pace and popularity quite quickly. It flew half a million passengers in only seven months of commencing operations, which is quite impressive. Though the airline does not have a fleet as large as the other airlines, it is slowly getting there. Vistara has 13 Airbus A320-200 aircraft which have eight business class seats, 24 premium economy class seats and 126 economy class seats. It also has 20 Airbus A320neo aircraft with the same number of passenger accommodations. It has 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft that can accommodate 168 passengers, 12 business class and 156 economy class. The Boeing 787-9 can accommodate 30 business class passengers, 21 premium economy class and 248 economy class, passengers. While the airline currently only owns one of these aircraft, it has placed an order of five more of those. It is, without a doubt, one of the biggest Vistara aircraft that can seat more passengers as compared to the other flights.

Vistara acquired its first aircraft in 2014 and commenced flights from 2015. The airline also has quite a few aircraft that it is planning to get on long term leases soon. Vistara is one of the only Indian airlines that have business class seats and also has a lot of offers to provide luxurious services to its customers. Vistara might not exactly have low fares, but it does make sure you get your money's worth.

Baggage Allowance

Make sure you go through Vistara's baggage allowance rules and regulations while you book your Vistara flight tickets. The airline allows 7 kg cabin luggage for economy class passengers, 10 kg for premium economy and 12 kg for business class passengers. Your cabin luggage cannot exceed this limit unless you are carrying items like a handbag, overcoat, camera, infant's feeding aids, medicines, laptops and so on. Baggage allowance rules differ depending on your ticket plan. You can choose between Value, Standard and Flexi plans for whichever travel class you choose. For passengers travelling within India, the maximum limit for check-in luggage for economy class is 15 to 20 kg, premium economy is 20 to 30 kg and business class is 30 to 40 kg. If you are travelling to international destinations like Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore and Colombo, the maximum limit ranges from 30 to 45 kg. For travellers heading to Kathmandu, the limit ranges from 20 to 40 kg. You can either check out the baggage allowance limit on your ticket or find it on the website.

If you have a Club Vistara Gold or Platinum membership, there are chances you might get a few extra kilos of baggage that you can carry without having to pay extra. Make sure you are not carrying any item that has been prohibited by the airline. You cannot carry explosives, flammable or combustible items, sharp objects, chemical or illegal drugs in your luggage or otherwise. You must also make sure that you carry your power bank and portable chargers with your cabin baggage instead of the check-in luggage. It would be advisable to get your web check-in done in advance to avoid any hindrance. You will also have to inform the airline staff hours before boarding the flight in case your baggage exceeds the weight limit.

In-flight Services

Vistara's in-flight services are not only luxurious, but they are completely worth all the money spent. The business class seats are reclined, have an extendable leg rest, footrest, and you can also adjust the height of the headrest. You also get personal storage space at the side of your seat for smaller items. If you are travelling by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, you also get seat ambient lighting, USB outlet, and an 18" HD personal entertainment screen with a video handset. Vistara also offers the most delicious meals as a part of its in-flight dining experience. You can enjoy a range of food options and can also sip on some refreshing coffee from Starbucks. You can enjoy over 70 hours of Hollywood and Bollywood content that are a part of Vistara's in-flight entertainment services. Whether you want to watch a romantic, comedy or action film, or just listen to various genres of music, you will find everything that you are looking for as a part of the in-flight entertainment services. You can look up their website to get a glimpse of all the royal treatment and luxury that you will experience onboard.

Popular Routes and Top Cities for Vistara

Vistara connects to various destinations through domestic and international routes daily. It connects to 34 destinations including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Amritsar, Bangkok, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Colombo, Chennai, Dehradun, Dubai, Goa, Guwahati, Delhi, Indore, Kathmandu, Leh, Lucknow, Port Blair, Srinagar and so on. You can check Vistara's flight schedule and your flight status on the website. Vistara makes it a point to operate punctually and not give passengers a chance to complain about anything. The staff is also quite friendly and helpful in case you need help with anything at all.

Why Travel by Vistara?

Vistara has evolved as one of the most favourite airlines among passengers and deservedly so. It offers luxury and convenience at the best price. The fares might not be as cheap as other Indian Airlines, but it does live up to its promise of delivering luxurious services to its passengers. You can book a Vistara flight ticket through the website or get a travel agent to do the same. If you are not able to go through the web check-in process for any reason, you can always get in touch with the call centre. The executives will definitely help you through the process. Vistara also makes sure that it keeps you updated on your flight status and any upcoming or ongoing offers that it comes up with. You can also sign up to become a Club Vistara member to enjoy the benefits. It is also one of the only few Indian airlines that gives luxury a tad more importance as compared to low fares. It leaves its customers satisfied, which is one of the reasons that it flew over half a million customers in only seven months. It is also slowly becoming one of the most preferred airlines among passengers. Its services only keep improving with time.

  About Pune Airport

Pune Airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) that is situated approximately 10 km from the city centre of Pune, in the state of Maharashtra. The airport also caters to the Indian Air Force as the Air Force Station of Lohagaon. It serves as both domestic and international airport with quite a few flights operating for West Asia. Due to the increase in the demand for flights, the airport is undergoing renovation to accommodate a new terminal as well as extend the runway. The idea is to accommodate more flights at the airport and increase the connectivity to various Indian cities as well as international destinations.

The airfield was originally established under the Royal Air Force in 1939 to offer air security to the city of Bombay (renamed as Mumbai) and also played as a base to squadrons of de Havilland Mosquito and Vickers Wellington bombers, during World War II. After independence, Pune Airport primarily turned into a customs airport, as on January 1997 and serviced export of specific goods. Eventually, in 2005, the airport received a green signal to charter passenger flights along with being a customs airport. The same year, flights to international cities such as Dubai and Singapore commenced. While the airport started as one to only accommodate about 60,000 passengers in a year, rose to handle over 2.8 million in a year by 2011.

About Pune Airport terminals

Terminal 1 - Terminal 1 of Pune Airport is reserved for domestic services. Basically, all domestic and regional carriers have operations that take place from Terminal 1. The airport's Terminal 1 is divided into two levels, the ground level is for arrivals section while the first level is for departures. The terminal offers various facilities, including baby care rooms, ATMs, medical services, smoking lounge and spa services, to name a few.

Terminal 2 - Terminal 2 accommodates international operations. The terminal is reserved for all kinds of international flight activities. There are dedicated flights to Dubai and Germany that operate from Terminal 2. The terminal also caters to a few facilities such as ATMs, spa services, currency exchanges and restaurants, to name a few.

About Airport Authority

Pune Airport is owned by the Indian Air Force with operations taken over by Airports Authority of India. Although the airport authority has been trying to extend the runway at Lohegaon Airport, the lack of acquiring private plots on the western side of the airport has been concerning. The Indian Air Force has also been brought in to help with the acquisition of the land that is owned by the air force. With the growth in air traffic, the expansion project has become quite essential for the city of Pune. What makes it an important move aside from accommodating air traffic is how the extension of the runway could help accommodate operations of wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A330 and Boeing 777.

The airport authority launched an INR 1 billion worth airport expansion and upgradation plan to prepare for the Commonwealth Youth Games that was hosted in Pune. The construction of two new terminal extensions was completed in 2008 by the Airports Authority of India. The new terminal measured about 12,000 square metres on either side of the main terminal building. The previous terminal was inadequate for passenger traffic and flight operations. Hence the terminal expansions took place. With this, the airport managed to ease and accommodate passenger traffic. Newer facilities including a new parallel taxi track as well as an apron expanded enough to accommodate about eight Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737 aircraft, were also brought forth in the new airport terminal.

Further, as part of the expansion plans to introduce a new terminal building is also in the works with the Airports Authority of India is set to invest INR 400 million. They plan to integrate the new terminal into an existing one. The building will also accommodate offices of AAI. The airport authority is also working on renovating and extending the runway to 3,250 metres.

As the expansion options are limited, the government of Maharashtra has proposed the construction of a whole new airport in the Pune metropolitan region. Responsibility to execute the new Pune Airport called Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje International Airport has been entrusted to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). The greenfield airport is set to cover over 1,800 hectares of land and will accommodate two runways. For the same, the State Government allocated about INR 2 billion in 2012 to acquire the land for the airport.

Facilities at the Pune Airport

WiFi – Pune Airport offers WiFi services that can be availed for 30 minutes. If you need to use it for more than 30 minutes, then you will be asked to pay a certain sum.

ATMs – ATM kiosks can be found at the departure as well as the arrivals section of the terminals at Pune Airport. They are mostly of local banks.

Baby care rooms – For travellers who are with infants, the baby care rooms come as a blessing. These rooms can be utilized to feed the baby as well as change their clothes and diapers. The rooms are quite comfortable and sanitized to ensure that the parent and child are safe.

Medical services – Medical assistance is also provided with a 24/7 team of experts stationed at the airport's terminals. They often cater to medical emergencies and are equipped with basic first aid kits too.

Smoking lounge – To avoid discomfort to others, the airport has reserved smoking lounge where passengers can smoke away. You can also purchase cigarette boxes at the airport, right outside the smoking lounge.

Currency exchange – The airport offers currency exchange counters that can be found in the arrivals section of the airport terminal. The exchange rates are also quite decent and as per the market.

Baggage – With an international stature, the airport's baggage facilities are also quite next level. There are free trolleys that can be picked up from anywhere in the airport terminal. The airport also has luggage wrapping services that many can opt for if they are travelling with fragile content.

Restaurants and shops – There are many restaurants and shops available in the departure section of the airport terminal. To pass the time, one can indulge in some exquisite food that can be found at the airport's food court. Plus, there are shops also available where you can purchase exquisite items that glorify the cultural heritage of Pune.

Lounges - The airport has a specific lounge for the public called Bird Lounge. After paying a certain sum at the entrance, you can avail the comfortable services of the lounge. There are newspapers, cosy plush seating arrangement, quaint ambience, good food and hospitality, TV and more, available in the lounge. Passengers can also get access to the lounge WiFi without any specific time limit and finish office-related work.

Top airlines flying from Pune Airport

Pune Airport sees flight operations from airlines such as AirAsia India, Air India, Air Arabia, Air India Express, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Lufthansa, Silkair, Kam Air and Vistara. As an airport that caters to domestic and international cities, the airport connects to a slew of cities. In India, Pune Airport connects to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Jaipur, Goa, Nashik, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Indore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Belgaum, Allahabad and more. As for international cities, Pune Airport has flights flying to cities such as Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kabul, Singapore, Frankfurt and more.

How to reach Pune Airport

By Bus

The city has dedicated shuttle services allocated by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) to reach Pune Airport. Under the PMPML, the providers are separated into two, namely, Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT). Although the airport doesn't have a direct bus stand or connection available, there are locations in the proximity that helps passengers to reach Pune Airport. Passengers will have to get down at Burma Shell Stop, which is situated about five minutes away from the main passenger terminal. Scheduled buses operate from within the city to reach Pune Airport, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. The ticket fare is quite cheap and affordable and perfect for budget travellers. Schedule of the buses can be found on the official website of Pune Airport. You can peruse through the page and get details about the bus service and which time is the most convenient for your journey.

By Taxi cabs and auto-rickshaws

Another sought-after transport mode to reach Pune Airport is a prepaid taxi and auto rickshaws. There are many taxis that can be found in the main city of Pune. To reach Pune Airport, you can hail a cab from the city, or you can also book a taxi cab in advance. A one-way trip from the city centre to Pune Airport should cost approximately INR 260. However, depending on where you are reaching Pune Airport, it may vary. You can also hail auto-rickshaws and car rentals. It would be beneficial to pay for the ride in advance or fix up a cost before the journey to the airport commences.