Kolkata to Diu Flights

  About Kolkata

The capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, Kolkata, is famed to be one of the best metropolitan cities in the country. Known as one of the busiest cities, the rich and illustrious history is a testament to the Kolkata's culture. The cuisine does not just reflect this that they are famously known for but also the city's pristine architecture. There are a plethora of sites and important institutions that must be visited to understand the history and the magnitude of the British influence on the city. From mishti dois to doi potol to rasgullas, the elaborate list of dishes from the Bengali culture can be found in every nook and corner of Kolkata.

Best time to visit Kolkata

The months from October to March is considered the best to visit Kolkata. The temperatures see a pleasant drop while the air is cool and comfortable. The December and January months see temperatures ranging between 9 degree Celsius and 11 degree Celsius, making it cold but beautiful. The winter season also sees various important festivals observed by the Bengalis such as Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja and Kali Puja. As it is a peak season, the flight tickets to Kolkata might soar a little.

Just like most of India, the months of April to May sees a tremendous surge in the temperatures, making the atmosphere too hot. In Kolkata, summers range between 30 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius, which is quite a lot to bear. It automatically affects the plans to sightsee, especially if you are a tourist. If you are unfazed by the harsh sun during the summer, then you should visit the city. The flight tickets to Kolkata are cheap and affordable. As the accommodations are so low-priced, you can reach the city and book a hotel too.

The city does witness tremendous rainfall from June to September, come monsoon. However, of all the months, August is the wettest for Kolkata during rains. The best part about rains is how the city is filled with hawkers selling munchies while chai becomes the partner in crime.

Places to visit in Kolkata

Ensure to add the Victoria Memorial to your itinerary of places to visit in Kolkata. The structure looks like it has been picked out of a fairytale with its exquisite Victorian architecture and the well-kept gardens. Discover more about the English influence by visiting Fort Williams. The enormous white structure has been an important part of British rule and continues to play a vital role in today's Kolkata as well. This 19th-century palatial estate located in the North of Kolkata once belonged to the royal families of Kolkata.

It would be a sin to miss the Howrah Bridge, when in Kolkata. The Harbour Bridge of India is the oldest and the busiest roads you will find in the city. The bridge has been built over the Hoogly river and plays a vital role in connecting two big cities, Kolkata and Howrah. The Tagore House is also one of the famous tourist attractions. The former house of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the Tagore House has photo galleries, paintings and literary works of the poet. Kolkata's biggest attraction, though, is the Sunderbans. Listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site and being called the largest tiger reserve in India, the Sunderbans have a reputation for bringing forth a surreal for travellers.

The city also has various temples, churches and mosques that can be added to your list of places to visit in Kolkata. St Paul's Cathedral is famed for its stature as the largest church in Kolkata. As for temples, since the Bengalis have extreme faith in Goddess Durga and her various forms, there are several Devi temples and shrines that you will see in the city. The Kalighat Kali Temple, Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Birla Mandir, to name a few are beautiful temples with interesting architecture that should be explored. Do not miss the Nakhoda Mosque, which is located in Rabindra Sarani.

Things to do in Kolkata

There are several fun things to do within the city of Kolkata. You can take a book and sit by the Rabindra Sarovar to savour in the literature as well as the peaceful ambience of the place. Or you can always opt to go a little bonkers at the Aquatica, a water amusement park, touted to be the largest in the Eastern parts of India. If you think there is a lot more you need to know about the city, then the Indian Museum is your place to be.

The city has a few ghats such as Princey Ghat, located close to the Hoogly river and you should check them out. No trip can be signed off as complete with a little shopping indulgence. Head to the Park Street and haggle for some pretty accessories, Dokra and paper mâché masks when you're in Kolkata. You can further indulge in some street food binge too.

Food and Restaurants in Kolkata

The Mughals and British heavily influence Kolkata's food culture. It is believed that the Mughals played a catalyst to bring forth the famed Bengali sweets. The idea to use dry fruits in food was a Persian thing that they practised and have been doing to this day. While the enthusiasm for art and literature is very Western, the cuisine has a blend of Chinese, Portuguese and Armenian.

Flurry's, Mocambo, Fire and Ice Pizzeria, Mrs Magpie, to name a few, have the best Continental and English spread that one can ask for in Kolkata. The quaint restaurants don't just offer their lip-smacking food but also a piece of their soul when they interact with their customers. From cute cupcakes to a delicious English breakfast, these places would give you the best food in the city.

For the sweet tooth in you, visit Balaram Mullick and Radharam Mullick to taste their legendary flavours as they constantly work on improving and innovating new sweets to keep the customers engaged. The sweets shop is actually run by the Scion of the Mullick Dynasty that was prevalent in Bengal 150 years ago.

Kewpie's Kitchen, Koshe Kosha, Indian Coffee House, Paris Cafe and Kusum Rolls are some joints which offer amazing cafe and fast food. These places do add more intrigue to the food culture of Kolkata.

How to reach Kolkata

By Air

As one of the top cities of India, Kolkata has a domestic as well as an international airport. Touted to be one of the busiest airports in the country, The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, better known as Kolkata International Airport, has excellent connectivity with domestic as well as international cities. The flight connectivity to and from Kolkata is brilliant as the city has flights coming in from major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, etc. In fact, the airport also sees flights from Kolkata reaching other top international cities.

The international routes directly connected with Kolkata include Doha, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Chittagong, Dhaka, Hong Kong, etc. You can easily book direct flights from Kolkata to these international destinations without having to compromise on the time duration as well as layover concerns. Major Indian, as well as international airlines, also have dedicated flights and parking stations in the city's airport.

One need to fret over flight tickets to Kolkata as the busy airport sees a lot of action with many travellers making their way in and out of the city. Interestingly, out of all the top metro cities in India, flight tickets to Kolkata are the cheapest. This means you can always opt for a cheap flight to Kolkata and get great deals on the same.

By Rail

There are two important railway stations that connect the city from the rest of the country. The Howrah Railway Station and the Sealdah Railway station see outstation trains arriving in and leaving Kolkata. However, they are not the only two stations which see trains connecting to other cities. Even the Chitpur railway station, Shalimar Railway station and Kharagpur railway station have express and intercity trains connecting Kolkata with various cities within West Bengal and other states.

Some of the most famous express trains to travel to Kolkata are Duronto Express, Rajdhani Express and Jan Shatabdi Express. There are special trains such as Garib Rath Express and Yuva Express that also travel to the city. The train connectivity of Kolkata is excellent as it manages to connect with various states from Jammu & Kashmir to Kanyakumari. If you are unable to get flight tickets to Kolkata, splurging on a train ticket, especially an express train, is a good travel option.

By Road

The city's roadway connectivity is just as immaculate as the train and flight connectivity. Some of the major national highways and state highways connect Kolkata to important metro cities. Taking a road trip seems like a good option, provided you are travelling from Andhra Pradesh or Orissa or Jharkhand or even Bihar. The neighbouring states of West Bengal have dedicated buses to and from Kolkata as the domestic routes are well-connected. You can further connect to the North-Eastern states with utmost ease from the city as the domestic routes from Kolkata connect perfectly with Guwahati and Siliguri.

  About Diu

Diu is a quaint coastal town located in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The town lies on the eastern side of the Diu Island which is primarily famous for its majestic fortress and turquoise blue waters. Often people choose Diu as a place to unwind as the lifestyle is chill and the cuisine is perfect for a seafood lover. Diu is a proper fishing town and receives a majority of its income from the same. Many travellers from Gujarat and Maharashtra visit Diu as it close to them and has a good vacation vibe to it. Diu actually has a few interesting structures with historical significance that would pique your interest.

The flight connectivity from Diu to various big cities is exemplary. Many often get confused and wonder how to reach the city. Flights to Diu are quite cheap and affordable, making weekend travel plans happen. The city might not have lavish staycation options, but you can book a decent hotel room in Diu without worrying about the quality of hospitality. Since there are barely many places to check out, the trip can be wound up in a single weekend.

Best time to visit Diu

As a coastal city, the best time for you to explore the best that Diu has to offer is during winter. Starting from October and staying till February, the quaint town witnesses intermittent showers that come from the northeast monsoon. However, it doesn't affect the vibe of the place with its temperature ranging from 10 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius. Locals of Diu welcome winters with their arms open as it does bring several festivities along with it. From Nariyal Poornima to Christmas, there are quite a few festivals observed by Diu, which adds more charm to the town's winters. To be part of the festivities, you should also opt for a winter excursion at Diu. The festivals observed bring together the locals as they decorate the streets with dazzling decor, share rum cakes and wine and also, dance away to rejoice the city's spirits. It is quite an experience that would do you good.

The summers in Diu are also no short of a celebration. The weather is just as pleasant with little changes in the temperature, which ranges from 25 degree Celsius to 37 degree Celsius. Despite the high temperatures, the calm and cool sea breeze brings comfort.

The vast beaches of Nagoa and Ghoghla look their bluest blue as they reflect the sun's rays. Even though it is not typically a peak-season for Diu, the crowd does arrive to dive into the Arabian sea. It is also a good time to enjoy water sports. The flight tickets to Diu are also quite cheap and affordable during this season.

The monsoons of Diu are not the best messengers of hope, though. They fall on two separate occasions, one between June to September and the other between October and November. Due to the intermittent rainfall, the weather is not clear for sightseeing, and even the beaches don't look at their turquoise blue. Not to mention how the sudden rains could hamper your plans to sightsee within the city or maybe dig a hole in one of the Diu beaches. Plus, during rains, you cannot indulge in water sports, which wraps up half the activities that you could've done during your trip to Diu.

Places to visit in Diu

Diu might have a beach as the primary attraction, but it also boasts some impressive structures, including the Naida Caves. The labyrinths of the exquisite caves would keep you interested. The town has a cute Sea Shell Museum that you should check out. The interesting shells and their stories might surprise you. Vankabara Jetty is one of the busiest and most important places in Diu as a majority of import and export of fish, and other commodities take place through this space. You should walk around it and learn about its history from the locals. One of the biggest highlights of Diu is undoubtedly St Paul's Church. Located just a few meters from the Diu Fort, the church boasts neoclassical appearance. It is well-maintained and definitely has quite the intriguing architecture that one can expect from a Portuguese-style display. It might also make you feel like you've landed in Goa.

Things to do in Diu

While on the beach, you simply cannot miss indulging in some water sports. Depending on which beach you're in, some organisers will help you out with water sports activities. The Portuguese did quite a good job with building water-facing fortresses to protect the town from any unprecedented attacks. The colonial rule may have ended, but the lovely forts continue to stand tall as the waves lash at the rocks. Plus, you get the best view of the Arabian Sea from the top of the fort so do trek up the little trail and be marvelled by the architecture. Speaking of architecture, taking a stroll to explore the city lanes of Diu is another activity that you can take up. The streets are decked up with interesting houses that have Portuguese-inspired architecture.

Food and Restaurants in Diu

Diu's cuisine comes with some Portuguese influence as it was once a colony of the Europeans. You will find a brilliant blend of flavours in their cuisine as it sustains the Indianness in the food despite its Portuguese elements. This is something you'll primarily notice in the way they cook their fish and seafood. Since Portugal is also a country surrounded by water on one side, they share the same enthusiasm when it comes to seafood. From lobsters to crustaceans, you will find all kinds of seafood here made with a European touch that will transport you to a different world.

You will find Silver Pomfret in Diu. It is said that the fish is actually the largest of its kind that you won't find anywhere else in India. Some of the famous dishes include Penn de calamari, which is basically pasta with squid. You should also taste Cozido de peixe, a fish stew which has distinct flavours. The shrimp soup, also known as Caldinho de Camarao, is another speciality of Diu that you should try out when you're in the city. While the city might have heavy Portuguese cuisine to rave about, they also relish Parsi food and have Dhansak available.

For exquisite seafood with Portuguese blend, you should check out Cats Eye Restaurant, O'Coqueiro Restaurant, Rivera Restaurant and Bar and Night Heron Restaurant. For vegetarians, Apana Foodland is probably the only place in Diu that serves lip-smacking dishes. You should also visit Ram Vijay, which is an ice cream parlour.

How to reach Diu (Transportation)

By Air

Despite being in the airports league, Diu is often misunderstood not to have a runway or a dedicated airport. However, this is not true because the Union Territory does have an airport going by the name Diu airport. Before the colonial rule ended, Diu was part of India colonised by the Portuguese. The flight connectivity to Diu from various metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad are quite good. Air Deccan and SpiceJet have reserved dedicated flights to Diu, which travels to and from the city regularly. The airport is located only 5 km away from the main city, making travelling extremely convenient. It is also closer to Nagoa Beach, which assures that the take-off and landing views would be a visual spectacle.

The airport is not spacious and can only accommodate a handful. However, it is always on demand, making flying to Diu a little difficult. As long as you book your tickets to Diu in advance, you will be able to avail some good flight deals. In fact, if you book at the right time, you might find some cheap tickets to Diu too.

By Rail

Diu does not have a dedicated railway station. In fact, for railway services, travellers will have to go to Veraval or Somnath. These two cities are actually quite far from Diu. While Somnath is 63 km away, Veraval is at 67 km. Hence, trains are the last resort that travellers consider.

By Road

Diu has excellent roadway connectivity. Several domestic routes through NH 8 connect Diu to some of the big cities in India. Although cities such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Rajkot are over 200 km away from Diu, the road network is so amazing that the travel time is reduced from these cities. Not to mention how the roads are well-maintained, adding to the convenience of the driver. There are some state-run buses between Diu and Ahmedabad that run regularly. Aside from the government-owned buses, there are private serviced buses available too. Even though some buses traverse inter-city, many big cities do not have a dedicated series of buses to Diu. Most people travel to either Ahmedabad or Mumbai to take a road trip to Diu. It is a viable option and easily doable as the roads are well-connected.

  About Kolkata Airport

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is located in Dum Dum, in the state of West Bengal. The airport serves the Kolkata metropolis and is about 17 km away from the city centre. It was earlier called the Dum Dum Airport but was later renamed as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, in 1995. The airport is sprawled over 1,641 acres and is the largest hub for air traffic in the eastern locales of the country. It is also one of the two international airports in the eastern part, along with the Bagdogra Airport. The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport accommodates the 20 million passengers, making it the fifth busiest airport in the country apropos passenger traffic. The Kolkata Airport falls behind Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore airports in terms of passenger traffic. The Kolkata Airport is also known to be a major hub for flights to connect to the Northeast parts of India, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, to name a few. Much recently, the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport received the honour as the Best Improved Airport in the Asia-Pacific region.

About Kolkata Airport Terminals

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport recently received the new integrated terminal called T2. It is spread over 2,510,000 sq ft and can accommodate about 25 million passengers yearly. This is massively better compared to the previous terminal, which could only hold a capacity of 5 million. The L-shaped structure has six levels, 128 check-in counters and about 78 immigration booths with 12 customs counters. The airport also has passenger lounges that are provided by Air India. T2 is well-equipped with 18 aerobridges and sees remote parking bays of 57. The airport authorities have further planned to erect an 18-foot statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the T2 complex. The domestic terminals have been shut down for a good while the integrated terminal is in function. In the past, the airlines did see some setbacks as Lufthansa withdrew services to Frankfurt, leaving the airport with no nonstop and direct connections to countries beyond Asia. However, since the extended new terminal, the international operations have resumed and are attracting several airlines as well.

About airport authority

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is owned and served by the Airport Authority of India. The AAI has been catering to the extension, maintenance and development progression of the domestic and the international terminals of the Kolkata Airport. Over the years, the statutory body has been extending its development plans to make the airport more efficient. AAI was initially two separate boards namely, National Airports Authority and International Airports Authority of India, handling domestic and international flights respectively. In 1995 though, the two individual bodies were merged to form the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The present works to make the Kolkata Airport more accessible is in progress. There are talks of the airport receiving connectivity with a metro rail system to connect to the main city of Kolkata. Currently, buses and prepaid taxis are the only ways to reach the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Hence, the metro line would connect to the terminal directly.

Top airlines flying from Kolkata Airport

The Kolkata International Airport is the hub for airlines and flights flying to the North-Eastern parts of India. Many domestic and international airlines operate from the city. Kolkata is the hub of the East in India. The Kolkata Airport, one of the oldest in the country, has tremendously good connectivity to the North Eastern cities of India. Airlines such as Air Asia, AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara, operate from the Kolkata International Airport. The futuristic airport manages to connect to cities such as Imphal, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Aizawl, Agartala, Shillong, Jharsuguda, Tezpur, Silchar, to name a few. These domestic airlines operating from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, have dedicated flights to various other cities in India too, including the major ones such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.

As the fifth busiest airport, Kolkata does offer good connectivity to the North East cities as well as countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and other countries in Southeast Asia. International airlines such as Bhutan Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Cathay Dragon, China Eastern Airlines, Druk Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Malindo Air, Myanmar Airways, NovoAir, Qatar Airways, Regent Airways, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Smile and US-Bangla Airlines, operate from the Kolkata International Airport. The airport also has international airlines connecting cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong and more.

Facilities at Kolkata Airport

Airlines lounges - The airport accommodates a handful of airline lounges along with the airport's dedicated lounge. As an international airport, the Kolkata Airport does cater to world-class facilities at the lounge including spas, restaurants and relaxing seats to unwind.

Baggage - Some of the big perks of baggage at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport include the provision of baggage wrapping services. This is to avoid the bags from being mishandled or for the contents to be affected. A wrapping fee is charged at the airport, which can be paid by cash, online payments or with the use of a debit or credit card. Along with the wrapping service, the airline also provides a storage facility. You can keep your bags here if there is a long layover or you can ask for a porter service too, to take care of your luggage. The services can be availed for up to 30 days, but the airport would carry a thorough security check before allowing the baggage to be stored.

Child care centre - For travellers in-transit with infants, the airport has reserved special child care rooms. The facility has all the child care essentials, including a changing table for the baby. They can be found at the arrival as well as the departure section of all the terminals. The room is well-maintained and hygienic.

ATMs and forex - Foreign exchange services are also available at the airport for travellers who may need extra liquid cash. Money transfers and other such money-related services are also available at the airport. These are specifically reserved for international passengers or travellers flying out of the country. Dedicated local banks have also been made available at the airport to help the passengers.

Postal services - In case you need to share some important document via courier or other mailing options, the airline has reserved a postal service specifically for such situations. You can find the postal services within the premise of the airport. You can find out more about this at the information desk located at regular intervals in the airport.

WiFi - The airport also allows free WiFi services within the vicinity. You can directly connect to the airport's WiFi network with a valid Indian mobile number. The services are available at the domestic and international terminals, at the waiting areas. The high-speed connection can be availed for approximately 45 minutes. Following this, the passenger will have to pay a fee to get access to more internet.

Medical services - There are round the clock medical facilities available at Terminal 2 of the airport. The medical services are managed by the Airports Authority of India along with Medica Super Speciality Hospital. They have inspection rooms as well as emergency paramedic supplies as well.

Special assistance - Passengers who require special assistance with respect to being escorted in a wheelchair or help with the braille symbols, can request for the same. It would be best to inform the airline ahead of time so that the airport staff can be accommodated to cater to the same. A staff would accompany the traveller with mobility or other health conditions.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public has been prohibited by the government. Hence, special smoking lounges have been installed within the premise of the airport. You can find them at both the domestic and international terminals.

Retiring room - The airport has introduced a convenient retiring room for passengers who have layovers. There are retiring rooms and dormitories at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport that passengers can avail to rest and freshen up.

How to reach Kolkata Airport

By Rail and Metro

The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport was once well-connected to the main Kolkata Suburban Railway system. From the Dum Dum Cantonment railway station (now Kolkata Suburban Railway Station), the airport was connected at the Biman Bandar station. However, with the state's plan to work on a metro line that connects the airport to the railway, the station has been shut for construction. Presently, the metro rail is under construction with the Kolkata Suburban Railway system's connectivity shut down. The distance is 4km long and elevated which also passes through Jessore Road. Once the metro rail completes construction, it will be directly linked with the terminals of the Kolkata Airport.

By Road

Currently, the only way to reach the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is by hailing a taxi or getting a prepaid ride. The airport and the city have excellent prepaid taxi facilities and AC buses that do connect the city with the airport. The 2 km flyover built from Kestopur to Raghunathpur was specifically constructed to increase the efficiency of reaching the airport and to avoid the traffic. You can make bookings of a prepaid taxi can be made at the booths and counters at the domestic and international terminals of the airport. You can easily reach Kolkata International Airport by road.