Jharsuguda to Bagdogra Flights

  About Jharsuguda

Located in the northern side of Odisha is the city of Jharsuguda. The place is famous for its metallurgical contribution. It is recognised as an industrial hub and has good connectivity with other metropolitan cities. The city recently inaugurated the Jharsuguda Airport and renamed it as Veer Surendra Sai Airport. Jharsuguda does not have a lot of tourist attractions but thanks to its industrial relevance, manages to attract industrialists.

Best time to visit Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda's geographical features give it mild summers and winters in comparison to the rest of Indian cities. Despite being located in the far northwest of the state of Odisha, the city witnesses decent and mild temperatures. The months from October to March are considered to be the best time to visit the city. Jharsuguda actually enjoys mild temperatures without much humidity during these months. During winters, the city actually sees a temperature that drops to 13 degree Celsius in the night. The days during summer are quite clear and sunny. It is not hot as the maximum the temperature rises to is 27 degree Celsius during winter months. Hence, travelling within the city or to engage in tourist activities become easy. The city does witness a good footfall of tourists during this season. It is considered to be the peak season for Jharsuguda. In fact, December and January are actually peak winter months and will see the maximum drop in temperatures. The hotel prices do see a surge during this time as the demand rises. You will find some decent establishments in the city, and the hotel prices are still decent, even after the hike.

The summers in Jharsuguda are not very favourable for travelling or tourism. The temperatures skyrocket just as much as they drop. The hot weather is accompanied by humidity too, which only makes the weather extremely unpleasant. April and May see peak summers with temperatures going as high as 41 degree Celsius. Interestingly though, while the day temperatures see a hike, the night temperatures see a tremendous drop. In fact, April and May months actually see night temperatures going down to 10 degree Celsius sometimes. The extreme temperatures often make it difficult for tourists. The monsoon kicks in from July and stays till September, sometimes even October. You will need to pack your bags as per the seasons and their varied temperatures. If monsoon is what you are rooting for then an umbrella and rainy boots would be ideal. Not to mention how you should pack light clothes with winter jackets to deal with summers in Jharsuguda. The place doesn't see excessive tourism during the summers, and the hotel prices in Jharsuguda are also cheap during the summers.

Places to visit in Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda is a growing industrial hub to Odisha. Hence, much of the city has tremendous industrial locations and complexes. This leaves room for less tourist attraction. It is not the ideal place for vacation. However, for those who do live close by or have a free weekend from their professional commitments, then they can indulge in some of the activities and places to visit around the city. Since many folks often flock over for business and work-related commitments, spending quality time to break away from the professional responsibilities, they can start with checking out the Bikramkhol cave. The Bikramkhol caves are known to be archaeological sites. There are actually interesting inscriptions on the cave's walls that have been done by the tribal of the area. You can also visit the Chandi Mandir, which is located close to the city of Jharsuguda. The temple has the Ib River flowing in the backdrop which adds to the beauty of the place. While you are here, you can also check out the Jhhadeswar Temple, which is in proximity to the city. Another famous tourist attraction in Jharsuguda is the Vedanta Meadows Park. The lovely park is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and is refreshing. It is definitely unmissable and perfect for hanging out, especially with family.

Things to do in Jharsuguda

There are not many things that can be done in Jharsuguda. As an industrial hub, the place doesn't have enough recreational spaces where one can unwind. However, you can always choose to trek up the Bikramkhol caves. You actually have to walk up the stairs to reach the caves. The scenic trail makes for some lovely photographs that you can indulge in as you go up the caves. Also, close to the ChandiMandir is the Koilighugar Waterfall. The waterfall is a major tourist attraction as many devotees who visit the temple, take some time to enjoy the view and the waterfall. Close to the city, you will also find Gudguda waterfalls.

Food and Restaurants in Jharsuguda

Odisha's tribal culture is reflected in their cuisine. You will find some really simple yet sublime dishes that are quite appetising. In fact, Jharsuguda has many restaurants and food establishments that express the cultural heritage of the state. Do not be surprised if you are served food on sal leaf as it is a tradition followed by the locals. Much like how the South Indians serve food on a banana leaf, the Odisha culture has them serve food on a sal leaf. The food is perfect for those who are looking to have healthy and down-to-earth food. As a small town, Jharsuguda does not have extensive establishments. In fact, it would be tough for you to find the globally recognised fast food joints such as KFC, McDonald's and Burger King. However, the small and quaint restaurants have good food. The rich cuisine of Odisha can be tasted at these establishments with meals ranging from their classic pakhala bhata to pilaf. When you do visit Jharsuguda, you should definitely not miss their famous curry, Santula. The dish is basically made from raw papaya, drumsticks, brinjal and tomato with light spices.

You should also not miss potala alu rasa, one of the most famous Odisha delicacies. The dish is basically flavoured potato mixed with pointed gourd and cooked perfectly. Other dishes that you cannot miss include gupchup, which is basically puchka of the east, pani puri of the west and gol gappa of the north. For the ones with a sweet tooth, you should indulge in chhena poda, rasabali, and pitha to give your taste buds a tour of the state. These dishes are quite tasty. You can visit Chick Blast to get the best fried chicken and other dishes pertaining to the meat. Mayank Restaurant and Fast Food is also recognised in the city for the lovely spread of food and dishes from around the country. Pramod Hotel and Yog - Sheela are both touted to be the best restaurants in the city. They serve a plethora of cuisines that don't limit to just the Odisha cuisine. You should also visit GOCOOL for the classic sandwiches and other fast food that is recognised around India. The Food Court also does the deed. In fact, you can find salads too here.

How to reach Jharsuguda (Transportation)

By Air

The flight connectivity to Jharsuguda is decent. Over the years, the connectivity has improved as the city is turning into a thriving industrial hub for Odisha. The Jharsuguda Airport or Veer Surendra Sai Airport was used for various political and military reasons. In fact, the airfield catered to the RAF (Royal Air Force) during the British Raj as well as other Allied Forces amid the Second World War. Freedom Fighters, including Subhash Chandra Bose, also contributed to the battle. Much recently, the airport gained prominence again as it was elected to be the second commercial airport after Bhubaneshwar's Biju Patnaik International Airport in the state of Odisha. SpiceJet is the only airline that has dedicated flights flying to Jharsuguda. The flight tickets to Jharsuguda are actually quite expensive compared to the other cities in India. The most popular route to reach Jharsuguda is from Hyderabad and Delhi. These two cities are the only ones who have domestic routes connected to Jharsuguda by air. Hence, layovers also take place in Jharsuguda.

By Rail

There are quite a handful of trains to Jharsuguda. The Jharsuguda Junction is quite famous and has good connectivity with the other major Indian cities. As long as you make prior bookings of your tickets to Jharsuguda, you will be able to secure a seat and also get it for cheap. Since there are not an extensive number of trains dedicated to Jharsuguda, it is tough to reserve a seat. You can make online bookings of tickets to Jharsuguda. In the state though, Jharsuguda is an important junction with many outstation trains passing and even stopping at the station.

By Road

Road is considered to be a viable mode of transport to reach Jharsuguda. Many people often pick the domestic route from Bhubaneshwar to reach Jharsuguda. You can book for rentals at the airport or even the train station as many such services are available. There are buses that go to Jharsuguda from Bhubaneswar too as well as other neighbouring cities. Hence, the bus has always been an economically viable option to many.

  About Bagdogra

North-East India and the Himalayas are a trendy tourist destination in India, for all the right reasons. Bagdogra is a hill station near the foothills of Himalayas and in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Bagdogra is considered as the gateway to the North-East and the Himalayas. This small hill station is so beautiful; you'll love being here even if it is for a couple of hours. It's the perfect place for all you nature lovers out there. You can either laze around and admire the scenery or take a walk around the town to explore it.

The hill station is a perfect holiday spot. It's also like paradise for tea lovers since tea gardens surround it. River Teesta also flows through the town, which makes it the ideal place to indulge in river rafting. Or you can sit by the river and embrace solitude for a while. You pass through Bagdogra to get to Darjeeling, Sikkim, Siliguri and Bhutan. Bagdogra will make you fall in love with it. Apart from sightseeing and river rafting, there are quite a few activities that you can opt for in Bagdogra. It's not the most popular vacation destination, but you will surely not regret spending time in this town.

Bagdogra is connected to all major cities in the country. It is pretty easy to reach Bagdogra by flights, trains and road, too. The Bagdogra Airport connects to domestic routes from Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Guwahati. You can also quickly get a bus or taxi from the neighbouring cities to Bagdogra.

Make sure you do add Bagdogra to your itinerary when you plan a trip to the North-East. You will love this small town for its lush green surroundings and the beautiful weather. The people, too, are quite friendly and helpful. Even though there is very little that you can do in Bagdogra, it is worth stopping by. If you have a long layover at Bagdogra airport, you can make the most of it by going sightseeing somewhere near the airport. Since it is a small town, you won't have to worry about making it back on time for your flight. But if you are going to Darjeeling, Bhutan or Shillong and the town falls on your way, make sure that you do visit this town.

Best Time to Visit Bagdogra

July to February is the best time to visit Bagdogra. While the hill station witnesses monsoon from July to October, the winter sets in from November to February. This is the ideal time for you to witness the beautiful, scenic hill station. The temperature can fall to as low as 5 degree Celsius. You can see the snowy mountains that surround the town and be mesmerized by the beauty of it. The summer is also quite pleasant in the City, and the maximum temperature touches 38 degree Celsius.

Places to Visit in Bagdogra

Check out the Coronation Bridge that is 37 km from Bagdogra. It is on the way to Gangtok from Bagdogra, and the view is just beautiful. The Surya Sen Park in Siliguri, which is close to Bagdogra, is a bright picnic spot. The park sees quite a few families on vacation spending quality time with each other while enjoying the view. Madhuban Park, which is 24 km ahead of Bagdogra in Siliguri, was established by the Indian Army. This is yet another picnic spot that tourists love. You'll even spot deers, peacocks and rabbits in the park, along with butterflies.

The Umrao Singh Boat Club in Siliguri has a lot of activities in store for you, including boating. They have a huge variety and different shapes of boats for tourists. You can get in touch with your spiritual side at the ISKCON temple in Siliguri and at Kali Mandir in Binnaguri which is also quite close to River Teesta. You can visit the temple and combine it with river rafting at the river. You can also visit Salugara Monastery while you are here.

Bagdogra has no hotels since it's only a pitstop to get to the other neighbouring cities and Bhutan. You can, however, book a hotel room in Siliguri or Darjeeling or any of the nearby towns. The bus services to Bagdogra are widespread, so you won't have to worry about travelling to and from the City.

Things to do in Bagdogra

Bagdogra is the gateway to reaching Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan and everything North-East. You can take a cab or a bus to visit Siliguri, which is the nearest City to this hill station. If you have a couple of hours left to catch another flight, you can get around the town in less time. Since Bagdogra is just a pitstop, you will find fewer tourist things to do, but the hill station is entirely worth it. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Bagdogra has the most beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains that surround it.

If you do have time on your hands, make sure you go river rafting at River Teesta. Or you can admire the river and meditate by the river for a while. You can also visit the Coronation Bridge that is quite close to the river stream. Whether you are with your friends or family, be assured that you will have a great time here. You can also visit the Salugara Monastery and the Kali Mandir to offer your prayers and to enjoy your solitude.

Even if you don't feel like indulging in any activities, grab your favourite book and get engrossed in the stories amid the best of what nature has to offer to you. You can also put on your headphones, play your favourite music and get lost in the tranquillity of the hill station. If you are on a solo trip, you will love spending time here in Bagdogra, even if it is for a little while. Bagdogra is quite accessible to most cities in the North-East, and travelling will not prove to be troublesome for you.

Food and Restaurants in Bagdogra

If you are travelling via plane, you have to try the restaurant that is inside the Bagdogra airport. It is run by the Bagdogra Airport Restaurant Workers Co-operative Society Ltd, and it serves a unique dish that grabbed headlines for all the right reasons. The airport serves you chicken cutlets that are made in Bagdogra style and are a one-of-its-kind dish. All foodies must try this out at least once. The restaurant can seat up to 150 people, and you'll be treated to a runway view as you finish your meal. It won't even burn a hole in your pocket.

Marina's Motel is one of the best restaurants near the airport if you are craving for Chinese or Continental cuisines. The staff is quite friendly, and the restaurant has a very cosy ambience. Bagdogra also has a solution to your biryani cravings. Naz Biryani House is known for serving and cooking the most delicious biryani, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. For a quick bite, you can head over to Hunger Stop restaurant near the airport. You can even try the dessert here.

The Gourmet Central Family Restaurant and Bar is approximately 11 km away from the airport. It has a charming decor with cosy seating and friendly staff. It is also one of the best restaurants in the town. Do make sure that you try the food at the airport restaurant though. You can also opt for street food or the local chai, which will be available quite easily. Don't hesitate to try out the local street food, too.

How to reach Bagdogra (Transportation)

By Air

The Bagdogra Airport is well-connected to major domestic routes from Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bangalore and Chennai. The flight connectivity is quite functional, and getting to Bagdogra is not very difficult. You can get pretty good flight deals online and cheap flight tickets, too.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is in Siliguri, which is 5 km away from Bagdogra. There are no direct trains or buses to Bagdogra, and you will have to change a taxi or bus from Siliguri to reach the hill station.

By Road

There are lots of transport options and services are available to reach the town. You can opt for whichever suits your convenience. The transport is quite affordable, too. The roads are also quite smooth and won't be uncomfortable for you. You will also find a lot of convenient options to go to other neighbouring cities of the North-East and the Himalayas. Travelling by road is also one of the best options. The journey will surely be a treat for the eyes and the soul.