Kolhapur to New Delhi Flights

  About Kolhapur

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

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

Best time to visit Kolhapur

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

Places to visit in Kolhapur

Panhala Fort

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

Jyotiba Temple

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

Binkambi Ganesh Temple

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

Kopeshwar Temple

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

Maharaja's Palace

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

Chatrapathi Shahu Museum

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

Mahalaxmi Temple

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

Things to do in Kolhapur

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

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

Food and Restaurants in Kolhapur

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

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

How to reach Kolhapur (Transportation)

By Air

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

By Rail

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

By Road

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

  About New Delhi

New Delhi, which is also the capital of India, is one of the major tourist attractions in the country. It has historical importance and is also a pitstop for everyone who wants to go for a backpacking trip to the North or the North-East. Connaught Place in New Delhi is a favourite spot for youngsters. It has a lot of cafes, pubs and hangouts for the younger crowd and is quite happening, too. As a tourist destination, New Delhi is known for the India Gate, Qutub Minar, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chandni Chowk and a lot more. Not to mention, the street food in Delhi is quite famous in the country. Chole Bhature, Parathas, Gol Gappa and the list goes on.

Delhi also boasts of a few forts that constructed in the Mughal era. Another highlight of New Delhi is that you find transport to other cities and states like Himachal Pradesh, Manali, Shimla, Dharamshala, Jaipur, Kolkata, Sikkim and so on quite easily. Be it a government-run bus or an AC, Volvo bus; there are myriad options for you to choose from here. Sarojini Nagar and Chandni Chowk are two most popular destinations in New Delhi for all you shopaholics out there. If you bargain well, you'll manage to find the best stuff at a reasonable price. It's honestly easier to get around in Delhi, and some Metros connect you to other parts of the City. You'll also find a lot of cabs, and you should book a taxi online.

You can find and book a hotel in Delhi as per your convenience and budget. You'll find a decent one that fits your budget quite easily. The City also has hostels, in case you are looking forward to meeting more people and making friends. Delhi to Agra is another popular route that people add to their itinerary. It's something that you must do. You can also visit the Chhatarpur temple, which is the second-biggest temple in India. It is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani and has been made of marble. Heritage Walks are a trend that has caught on in Delhi over the last couple of years. Since the City has so many monuments and pieces of history to flaunt, tour guides organise Heritage Walks for tourists on weekends, and it is a prevalent activity in the City.

Delhi experiences the coldest winters and the hottest summers. The weather is quite extreme, so much that it gets foggy during the cold seasons. It is also one of the most polluted cities in the world, which means you must wear a mask to protect yourself when you are in the City. Catch a play in a theatre or opt for a street play. Delhi's theatre culture is quite strong, and you'll be amazed at what you see for sure. Don't forget to take a stroll at Lodhi Gardens in Central Delhi and you'll come across monuments and structures constructed during the Mughal Era.

Best Time to Visit Delhi

October through March is a pleasant season to visit New Delhi. The temperature drops to as low as 2 degree Celsius in January. It's the perfect weather to plan a day out and make the most of all the sightseeing. Do carry all of your warm clothes. You can also visit the City during festivals. The Delhites do know how to celebrate festivals with lots of pompous and grandeur. April to June is when the City experiences summer. May and June are the hottest months and while it's not the worst time to visit the City if you don't mind the heat, but you will find good flight deals and discounts on hotels. The city witnesses monsoon from July to September. Monsoon is quite pleasant in Delhi, but it is highly recommended that you visit New Delhi during winter.

Places to Visit in Delhi

New Delhi has a lot of monuments and places of historical importance that you can visit. You can start by visiting the India Gate. It is a war memorial that was constructed in 1971 after the First World War as a tribute to the soldiers who fought and lost their lives in the war. It was built by a famous architect called Edwin Lutyens. You'll also find tour guides if you need one, who will remind you of everything that you have read in school already.

The Qutub Minar is a world-renowned UNESCO Heritage Site and surely worth the visit. The tower stands 240 feet tall and was constructed by the first-ever ruler of Delhi called Qutb al-Din Aibak. Though you could climb the 370 odd steps to get to the top of the tower earlier, it has been closed to the public for a long time now. It is one of the most beautiful monuments and is buzzing with tourists almost all the time. Visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is yet another popular tourist destination in Delhi. Tour guides usually arrange for a visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan. You can also find tickets on the government website for whenever you plan to visit.

You can also visit the Tomb of Humayun. It was built in the 16th century for Mughal emperor Humayun and like the Qutub Minar, is a UNESCO Heritage Site. New Delhi is also famous for Jantar Mantar, which is in Central Delhi. It is a popular and significant tourist attraction in Delhi. If you want to take a break from all the sightseeing and party, Connaught Place is where you go. You can also go to Hauz Khas. Both of these places are popular for youngsters to chill and hangout. It has a lot of hip and happening places.

Things to do in Delhi

After having covered most of the heritage sites and favourite tourist places, you can take a rickshaw ride to Chandni Chowk. It is one of the oldest places in Delhi and quite popular, too. You'll hear praises of restaurants and street food here for a long time. It's also a popular shopping destination. You can also visit the Khan Market, yet another favourite place to go on a shopping spree, along with Sarojini Nagar. Do stop by the Nizamuddin Dargah to listen to music that will touch your soul and how! It's also a trendy location to shoot for a lot of Bollywood filmmakers.

Make the poet in you happy by visiting the Ghalib Ki Haveli. It's not very easy to locate, but it is where Ghalib penned all of his poems in Urdu and Persian. You'll love the aura of the place and might even get all poetic if you aren't already.

Food and Restaurants in Delhi

There are a lot of cafes, restaurants and pubs at Hauz Khas and Connaught Place. The decor, ambience and food at these places will not disappoint you. Kunzum Travel Cafe in Hauz Khas is one of a kind cafes in the area. It's also the only travel cafe around, and you'll surely meet a few like-minded people over there. You cannot go to Delhi and not give the street food a try over there. The Chole Bhatures near Delhi University, the parathas and Gol Gappa, just the thought makes you hungry. Chache Di Hatti is an old food joint near Delhi University and is famous for serving the most delicious chole bhatures. Lajpat Nagar is yet another place prominent for its samosas, chaats, Gol Gappas and mouth-watering food. Roshan Ki Kulfi at Karol Bagh is a must-try, and you can stop by for some delicious lunch. As the name suggests, it also serves kulfi and one of the best in Delhi. Moolchand Parathewala under the Moolchand Flyover will serve you the best, lip-smacking parathas with lots of butter on it.

How to reach Delhi

By Air

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the nearest to New Delhi, and the flight connectivity is pretty good, be it domestic or international. Flights from Delhi run quite frequently to all major cities in the country, and it is also reasonably easy to find a flight to Delhi from whichever city it is that you are travelling from to Delhi. You can get a good flight deals to Delhi online and cheap flight tickets from certain cities in the country.

By Rail

The Nizamuddin Railway Station, Anand Vihar station, New Delhi railway station and Sarai Rohilla station are some of the major railway junctions in the City. Nizamuddin station and New Delhi railway station connect to major metropolitan cities and other big cities. New Delhi also has metro services to commute within the City.

By Road

There are frequent bus services that connect you to Delhi. Be it a Delhi Transport Corporation bus or a private AC bus, you'll find what you need quite easily. Some of the popular domestic routes from Delhi by road are to Shimla, Hrishikesh, Manali and other tourist destinations that are near the City.

  About New Delhi Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is the country's top international and domestic airport hub, located in the capital, New Delhi. The exquisite Delhi Airport is sprawled over 5,106 acres of land and is settled in Palam, which is about 15 km away from the New Delhi railway station and about 16 km away from the city centre. The New Delhi airport has been named after the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. The airport is easily the busiest in the country with respect to passenger traffic and cargo traffic too. On a global scale, the airport is recognised as the 12th busiest airport in the world and 6th in Asia. The New Delhi airport is also the busiest for the Airbus A320 aircraft. The Delhi Airport, along with the Mumbai Airport, has arbitrated "World's Best Airport" at an awards function.

About New Delhi Airport Terminals

Indira Gandhi International Airport is a hub to various domestic and international airlines. The airport serves about 80 airlines and hence, has three active passenger terminals. Special Hajj terminal, as well as a cargo terminal, is also present at the airport. Terminal 1 is presently being used for low-cost carriers such as IndiGo and SpiceJet. However, DIAL plans to expand the terminal and augment the passenger handling capacity. Terminal 1C is dedicated to domestic arrivals. The terminal has been upgraded with an extensive area for greeting, and better luggage reclaims area. There are eight belts here.

Terminal 1D has been built for domestic departure and can accommodate 15 million passengers per year. The terminal also has 72 Common Use Terminal Equipment (better known as CUTE), 16 self-check-in kiosks and 16 security counters. Terminal 2 is dedicated to GoAir and IndiGo airlines for their regular flight operations. Terminal 3 is dedicated to international flights and airlines. There are about 168 check-in counters, 78 aerobridges, 95 immigration counters, 15 X-ray screening zones and many more features.

About New Delhi authority

The airport was originally operated by the Indian Air Force. However, the management was then transferred to the Airports Authority of India. Eventually, a consortium was formed, DIAL (Delhi International Airport Limited), led by GMR Group along with the AAI. Since then, the airport has seen quite a lot of expansion and development. The authority has been working on expanding the airport's capacity to accommodate around 100 million passengers by the year 2030.

Facilities at the New Delhi Airport

Baggage Services: The airport has specific guidelines to follow when it comes to their baggage services. Much like other airports, it is best to avoid hazardous objects such as firearms and pointy objects with you in the cabin baggage. The airport provides baggage wrapping services too where basically, they wrap several layers of plastic around the baggage to ensure that the contents are protected from damage, theft, alteration and mishandling. The airport also has services of trolleys and available at the terminal.

Travelling with kids: The New Delhi airport also has special rooms for child care as often many new mothers with infants commuting require special facilities and privacy to take care of the kids. Hence, the airport has arranged for special rooms and child care centres to bring about a comfortable environment. The well-sanitised baby rooms have provisions of baby products as well as comfortable chairs for mothers to feed their babies. There are nursing stations and changing tables also available. The airport also offers complimentary strollers, which is available at the information desk. A small children's area has also been reserved at the airport to keep the kids entertained.

Restaurants and cafes: You can find a plethora of food establishments and restaurants that you can check out at the airport. You will be in luck to find a lot of famous food establishments such as KFC, Subway, McDonald's, Burger King and more. You can also find cafes and establishments that serve liquor.

Lost and found room: There is a specific room reserved for lost and found. In case you have misplaced something, perhaps the boarding pass, your mobile phone or wallets, you can visit the efficient lost and found room. The information desk will guide you to the lost and found station.

Medical services: The airport has 24/7 medical services. Often airports have some medical emergencies, especially if the passengers already suffer from some conditions. Hence, the airport has reserved special medical services that are always available. The centre is prevalent at all the airport terminals.

Prayer room: The New Delhi airport also has multi-faith prayer rooms available. While you are waiting to board flights, you can also spend some time meditating and chanting religious verses.

Smoking zone: To keep a smoke-free environment in the airport terminal, special provisions to maintain smoking zones have been initiated by the New Delhi airport. There are a handful of smoking rooms that are at a convenient distance. Plus, if you need, you can also purchase boxes of cigarettes at the airport.

Porter service: Porter services are ones where you can simply get someone to escort your luggage on your behalf. You can get these services at the departure and arrival terminals with a specific nominal fee. An experienced staff would be available to escort your baggage from gate to gate.

Parking facilities: The airport also has parking and valet facilities. As long as you pay some amount to hold your parking spot, you wouldn't have to worry about your vehicle. The facility is secure and is perfectly connected to both the terminal buildings of the airport.

VIP lounge: The airport also has a VIP lounge and other experiential services. If your flight ticket has premium services available or if you are a member of the elite club to avail VIP services, you can spend time at the lounge while you wait for your flights. The services at the lounge are quite upscale and fancy.

ATMs and foreign exchange: For foreign nationals, there are foreign exchange counters available. You can make your currency exchanges done at the airport and maybe even avail some good forex rates. Plus, various ATM kiosks are also available at the terminals.

Top airlines flying from the Delhi Airport

As the capital of the country, the Indira Gandhi International Airport sees tremendous flight activity. In terms of domestic connectivity, New Delhi is responsible for connecting various metropolis as well as small towns. Specific cities that cannot be reached by many other airports require connectivity from New Delhi. For example, the Kullu Manali airport in Himachal Pradesh can only accommodate fewer flights. In such cases, the connectivity is narrowed with Delhi being the centre for all connections. A majority of the airlines that fly within the domestic cities has a base at the New Delhi airport. The top domestic airlines that fly from Delhi Airport are Air India, AirAsia, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara.

New Delhi's flight connectivity with other major international cities is also excellent. Many prominent airlines fly from New Delhi airport. Considering it is the capital of India, many famous international airlines connect with New Delhi airport. Some of them include Air Arabia, Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Finnair, KLM Royal Air. Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Thai Airways and Srilankan Airlines, to name a few. Some of the domestic airlines from New Delhi airport also fly internationally. Airlines such as AirAsia, Air India, SpiceJet, GoAir and IndiGo have provisions for international flights as well. These airlines fly to cities such as Dubai, Phuket, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh, Istanbul, Dhaka and more.

How to reach the Delhi Airport

By Rail

The closest railway station to the New Delhi Airport is the Palam railway station. It is about 4.8 km away from terminal 1 and close to 12 km from Terminal 3. Trains are considered to be an easy route to reach the airport. Another good way to reach the New Delhi airport is by the Airport metro station. The metro station is located close to Terminal 2 and 3. The Airport metro station lies on the lines of Delhi Airport Metro Express. The station sees a lot of action with many passengers using this mode to reach the airport. The frequency of the trains reaching the Airport metro station is also quite good as there is one train every 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the Airport metro station which lies on the Magenta Line reaches New Delhi airport's Terminal 1. The train is considered to be the best way to reach the New Delhi airport as it is faster and does not deal with any of the road traffic.

By Road

There are regular buses that traverse from the main city to the New Delhi airport. The fastest way to reach by road would be to take up the 8-lane of Delhi Gurgaon Expressway. Buses serviced by the Delhi Transport Corporation operates regular air-conditioned buses that reach the airport. There are Uber and Ola taxi cab services also available to reach the Indira Gandhi International airport. You can also make prior bookings on the app. You can find metered taxis at the Terminal T3 and T1C.