Kolkata to Vadodara Air India 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 Vadodara

Vadodara, earlier known as Baroda, is a flourishing city in the state of Gujarat. The city is nestled on the banks of the river Vishwamitri and close to NH 48 (renumbered from 8) which connects Mumbai and Delhi. Over the years, Vadodara has seen extreme infrastructural growth. Be it their extensive airport or the tourist attractions within the city, Vadodara has managed to climb up the ranks to be one of the cleanest cities in India. In fact, after Kochi, Vadodara is the second airport in India to have acquired a sustainable energy source, which makes it a green airport. Travelling to the city is quite easy as the flight connectivity to Vadodara or even rail and roadway has an excellent network.

The city is quite famous and sees tremendous tourists flocking over during weekends for a break. Aside from the beautiful structures and tourist attractions, the city also has great staycation options. You can book hotels in Vadodara for reasonable costs and benefit from their top-notch hospitality and services. The food culture of Vadodara is something that is worth talking about as it brings together a global fusion cuisine.

Best time to visit in Vadodara

Vadodara witnesses the hottest summers. In fact, it is said that the summers in Vadodara are the hottest in the entire country. Knowing this should be enough for you to contemplate whether to visit Vadodara during summer or to avoid it. The temperatures sometimes go up to 42 degree Celsius which could be too much for some people to handle. The months between April to July see the hottest temperatures. Often people are unable to leave their houses too because of the heat and the health problems that follow. It is not surprising that the flight tickets to Vadodara are quite cheap and affordable during this season. Even the accommodation scenes are affordable with hotel bookings in Vadodara dropping room charges. Unless you have the strength to deal with the harsh rays of the sun, venturing to the city is not a good option.

The city does experience monsoon as well, but it is quite moderate. However, because of the rains, the terrain becomes cool and the atmosphere, a lot more bearable. The months from July to September see temperatures ranging from 24 degree Celsius to 38 degree Celsius. While it is still on the hotter side, the air and vibe turn more agreeable. The city does not see excess rainfall so that the moderate showers wouldn't affect your travel plans.

Winters are the best in Vadodara. The city is comparatively colder and has a very refreshing environment. With temperatures between 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, the city air turns pleasant. Even the winter sun is soothing and manages to put a smile on everyone's faces. October to March undoubtedly have the best weather in Vadodara. Not to mention how the months also come with festivals. From Navratri to Diwali, the festivities make the city vibrant with decorations and lit ambience. You can indulge in wearing Navratri clothes and perform Garba in the city. Also, you can taste undhiyu, a dish popularly made only during the winter season by Gujaratis. Overall, the place certainly turns into a lovely carnival. The flight to Vadodara and hotel bookings in the city automatically spike up with the peak season. However, with a little more scouting on the internet, you will be able to find some amazing online flight deals to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Vadodara

With its agreeable temperatures during winter, Vadodara has some lovely places that should be checked out. There are green gardens in the city that would definitely blow your mind. You can check out the Makarpura Palace, Sayaji Garden, Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, Sur Sagar Lake, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nyaya Mandir, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Jambughoda Wild Life Sanctuary, Champaner and Kirti Mandir. As a city that is constantly rooting towards expansion and development, Vadodara is also acknowledged as one of the cleanest cities in India.

Things to do in Vadodara

Vadodara has some of the best gardens and parks in the city. From the famous Kabirwad to the colourful Ajwa Nimeta Dam Garden, these places are lit with exquisite maintenance. Theme parks such as Ajwa Fun World and S Cube Water Park are also cool places to unwind with the family. As for those who wish to be close to nature, you can head to the Zarwani and Hathini Waterfalls. When in the city, you must check out the Narmada Canal, which is an impressive structure.

Food and Restaurants in Vadodara

One can never go to Gujarat and not have their celebrated cuisine. Gujarati food is known to be one of the best and the Gujaratis, food connoisseurs. The state's city Vadodara is no different to this idea. Aside from catering to the diverse range of tourists and visitors, Vadodara also propagates their vegetarian food, Gujarati thalis and fascinating delicacies. Most of Gujarat follows a vegetarian diet and hence, is tough to find non-vegetarian food joints. However, here in Vadodara, you will find a handful of restaurants that serve mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes that would make you a happy person.

At the city's barbecue junction, The Barbeque Grill, you will find some well-cooked Mughlai cuisine with kebabs, biryanis and other such dishes. Plus, they do have a buffet system too. Sasumaa's Gujarati thali is famous across the state. This chain of restaurants only have Gujarati thalis, and they are all you need to get the best of the cuisine. Not to mention how hospitable the staff is that it would further enhance your experience. Vadodara also has provision for global cuisine such as Mexican, Chinese and more. You should visit Salsa Habanero to get the best of Mexican flavours in the city. The chef of the restaurant was raised in California and surrounded by Mexican cuisine, which brought about this institution.

Some of the other places in Vadodara that should be visited include Azure, Mandap, Peshawari, Kai Asia, 22nd Parallel and San's Sizzlers. If you do manage to get time aside from checking out these restaurants, it is recommended that you also check out the street food culture of Vadodara. You will be surprised by their active food scenes on the streets.

How to reach Vadodara (Transportation)

By Air

Vadodara Airport is located 6.2 km away from the main city of Vadodara. After Ahmedabad and Surat, Vadodara is the third busiest airport in the state. The airport is touted to be the cleanest in the whole country. Interestingly, the airport recently inaugurated its international terminal and has since been witnessing a tremendous surge in passenger footfall. The flight connectivity to Vadodara is excellent as various major cities have dedicated flights flying in and out of the city. Flying to Vadodara easily becomes the best option as there are many flights to Vadodara from cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Not to mention how the flight connectivity to and from Vadodara enables easier transportation for travellers. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have designated flights to Vadodara from Bangalore, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and more. The fact that the airport is clean and has top-notch facilities further makes it a favoured option. You can book flight tickets to Vadodara at a reasonable price, irrespective of whether it is peak season or off-season. Plus, the city has exquisite accommodation too. You can book fancy hotels in Vadodara and enhance your trip experience.

By Rail

Vadodara railway station is just as well-connected as the flights to Vadodara. You can simply travel to the city in Gujarat from anywhere in India. The railway station is known to be the biggest one in the western railways belt. The city's railway station has excellent connectivity with several domestic routes connected to Vadodara. The railway station witnesses various express trains from corners of India. Some of the regular express trains include the Howrah-Ahmedabad Express and Navjivan Express. However, it is best to book tickets to Vadodara well in advance, owing to the popularity of the place. From the railway station, you can easily venture around in the city, which is perfectly connected thanks to the auto-rickshaw, buses and cab services. You can even book a hotel in Vadodara's city centre area and be assured that transit would be convenient.

By Road

Many tourists opt for roadways to travel to Vadodara. The highways and domestic routes connecting Vadodara to other big cities are extremely immaculate. The highways and roads are regularly maintained to ensure that the aesthetic beauty remains intact. This has given many travellers the option to take up road trips to the city. Even bus rides to Vadodara are good as the scenic views, and travel duration is decent. If you do have a budget issue and need to save enough money to book a hotel in Vadodara, then you should opt for bus travel. They are comfortable and will lead you directly to the city centre. Here, close to the bus stand, you will find many accommodation options that would help with your wallet.

 About Air India

Air India was the first Indian airline that went by the name Tata Airways when it was launched. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata launched it in 1932 in Karachi. The first flight was from Karachi to Mumbai and then to Chennai. The airline became a public limited company after World War II, under the name Air India. In 1948, a Lockheed Constellation L-749A called the Malabar Princess landed in London Heathrow from Bombay, which was the airline's first international flight. Air India got its first Boeing 707-420 and became the first Asian airline to enter the Jet Age. It launched services to New York in 1960. It took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200B in 1971 and named it Emperor Ashoka. It acquired its first Airbus A310-300 in 1986 and Boeing 747-400 in 1993 which was named Konark later. The airline also operated its first non-stop flight between New York and Delhi during this year. In 2007, Air India merged with Indian Airlines under Air India Limited. They acquired their first Boeing 777 that year. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is Air India's main hub. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai is the secondary hub. Chennai International Airport, Cochin International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and Trivandrum International Airport are its focus cities domestically.

Air India made Frankfurt Airport its international hub in 2009 for onward connections to the United States of America from India. Still, they had to shut it down because of high operating costs. In 2010, Air India decided to open a new hub for its international flights in Dubai. The airline's financial growth has been a topic of conversation for decades. For years, there were debates around the privatisation of Air India, but the Government of India refused to go ahead with it. When it did decide to hand over responsibility to private companies, no one came forward. Air India launched its low-cost airline, Air India Express, a couple of years back that majorly flew to countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Despite suffering losses in the market and going through a lot of ups and downs, the airline is functioning since it is the national carrier.

Air India has also gone through a lot of modifications with its brand logo and mascot. The Maharajah is the main mascot of the airline and was created by Bobby Kooka, the commercial director of Air India then and Umesh Rao, who was an artist with J Walter Thompson Limited in 1946. The mascot was given a makeover in 2015, and the airline decided to go with a younger version of Maharajah. Since India's colour scheme is red and white, the airline's logo also incorporates the same in its logo. The name of the airline is written in Hindi and English in red. The first logo of the airline was a centaur shooting an arrow in a circle which represented the wheel of Konark. However, the airline decided to give its logo a makeover in 2007, which was a flying swan with the wheel of Konark in it.

Fleet Size of Air India

Air India had started its operations with a de Havilland Puss Moth aircraft back in 1932. It inducted its first Boeing 707-420 later on and named it Gauri Shankar. It became the first Asian airline to add a jet aircraft in its fleet. Since it is the oldest airline in the country, it has both Boeing and Airbus aircraft in its fleet. It inducted its first Boeing 747-400 in 1993 and named it Konark. The airline inducted its first Airbus A320-200 aircraft in 1989 which now covers both domestic and international short hauls. The airline has a total of 70 Airbus aircraft including one A320 Classic, 4 A320ceo, 19 A319 aircraft, 20 A321, 5 A320ceo (Single Configuration), 27 A320neo and 3 A319 (Single Configuration). It has a total of 172 narrow-body aircraft and 49 wide-body aircraft. Air India uses one of the five Boeing 747-400s as VIP flights. Air India grounded its last Airbus A320 classic fleet in 2019, and the last flight flew from Delhi to Mumbai.

Air India had also sold five of its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Etihad Airways in 2013 to make up for its financial losses. The airline also had plans to introduce long flights to Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco but had to cancel, owing to weak demand and high fuel prices.

Baggage Allowance

Air India has certain baggage allowance rules and regulations that every passenger must follow. As per Air India's baggage allowance rules, you cannot carry cabin luggage that exceeds 8 kg, and your check-in luggage cannot exceed 20 kg. If you are flying internationally and if you are a premium club member, you will be allowed up to 40 kg of baggage. Even if you are ready to pay extra, your hand baggage cannot exceed 10 kg. First Class passengers are allowed a maximum of 40 kg baggage while Business Class passengers can only carry 35 kg. If you are travelling by the Economy Class, your baggage cannot exceed 25 kg. However, if you have an infant travelling with you, an extra 10 kg baggage allowance is offered by the airline. Make sure you inform the airline staff well in advance if your luggage is going to exceed the allowed weight. The airline has also made web check-in quite convenient for its passengers. You can either log in to the website and get it done, or you can get in touch with the call centre. The executives will help you get your web check-in done. It is best to get your web check-in done in advance, so you get to pick the right seat instead of settling for something chosen by the staff at the airport.

In-flight Services

Air India's First Class is royalty and luxury personified. The seats recline up to 180-degree, and the interiors are a sight for sore eyes. In addition to the ultra-comfortable seating, Air India's in-flight services are extremely efficient, and the best part is that the first-class cabin only seats 12 passengers. You can order your favourite cocktails and cuisines that are a treat to your taste buds. You can also do all of your duty-free shopping onboard. The first-class and business class cabins are also equipped with the Thales i3000 in-flight entertainment system. You can access five channels in Hindi and English. You can also browse through Air India's in-flight magazine called Shubh Yatra. First Class and Business Class passengers can also access the Maharaja Lounge. Business-class passengers are treated to plush seats and lip-smacking entrees that are accompanied with wine. You also get an exclusive check-in and lounge facility. Don't fret if you are not travelling by the premium class. Economy class passengers have complimentary refreshments and meals on all of their flights. You will also get complimentary liquor or wine on the international flights. The airline staff makes sure that passengers have a great time during their journey.

Popular Routes and Top Cities for Air India

Air India connects to various domestic and international routes daily. Since it is one of the oldest and the first airlines, it connects to more cities domestically and internationally. It connects to approximately 102 destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and so on. It also flies to international destinations that cover the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Air India has frequent flights running to other destinations and makes sure you have had a great journey as well. Do make sure that you get your web check-in done well in advance.

Why Travel by Air India?

Air India is the national airline and has been in the airline industry since 1932. The airline makes sure that you have had a comfortable journey and seldom leaves any room for complaints. It has maintained its legacy of making sure that every passenger gets a royal treatment. It is also one of the very few airlines in the country that offers first-class flights to its passengers. You can check Air India's flight schedule and your flight status on their website. Even if you cannot access the website for some reason, you will certainly get updates and messages from the airline regarding the same. It also makes web check-in quite easy for its passengers. The staff is well-equipped to solve any grievances or requests put forth by passengers. You can book an Air India flight from the website. You can also get in touch with your travel agent and get them to book the ticket for you. It would be best if you experienced the royal treatment and luxury of being Air India's first-class passenger at least once in your life. The airline has come a long way and continues to give its passengers the best services and experience. The airline also makes sure that the flights run on time.

  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.

  About Vadodara Airport

Vadodara Airport, also known by the name, Civil Airport Harni, is situated in the suburb of Harni, which is in the north-east of Vadodara, Gujarat. The city is the third largest in the state of Gujarat in terms of population. The city follows Ahmedabad and Surat in the list of populated cities in the state. Vadodara was originally a domestic airport which recently received the stature of an international airport. Vadodara Airport has started operations of international flights. Additionally, the airport also has its state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility.

About Vadodara Airport terminals

Vadodara Airport has one domestic terminal which has been named after the Maharaja of Baroda State. The terminal's decor has been inspired by the architectural nuances of mixed styles ranging from Gujarati to dome-shaped roofs, etc. As the airport is small, so is the terminal. It cannot accommodate a large throng of passengers and barely manages 250 in an hour. Hence, to expand the capacity of the terminal and to incorporate international flight operations, the airport announced to construct a new integrated terminal building in the vicinity. A competition to design the new terminal was introduced on an international scale. Following this, a US-based consortium Gensler, Frederic Schwartz Architects and Creative Group from India bagged the project to design the new terminal. Works to accommodate the new integrated terminal commenced in 2009 as the foundation was laid.

After nearly seven years of construction work, the terminal was completed and inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in the same year. The new integrated terminal sprawls across an area of 18,120 square metres and can accommodate about 700 passengers in an hour. Other features of the terminal include 18 check-in counters as well as a night parking facility. The parking bay can accommodate close to nine Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This has enabled a reduction in the burden at Mumbai Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and Ahmedabad Airport (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport). It has also made it economical for several airlines. Presently, Vadodara Airport does not accommodate cargo. It is also recognised as the second airport in the country, after Cochin International Airport, to be a green airport. In fact, the airport's new integrated terminal also holds a global record for being the only airport with the longest single sheet rooftop which measures about 164.2 metres.

About Airport Authority

The airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body, which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has been founded to cater to the upgradations, maintenance and management of various civil aviation infrastructure in the country. It is thanks to the work of the Airports Authority of India that Vadodara Airport has managed to expand its airport terminals and to accommodate both domestic and international flights. In fact, the exemplary work of the AAI has enabled Vadodara Airport to bag the Swachh Bharat Award for being one of the cleanest and safest airports in the category of airports that can accommodate passenger capacity of 1.5 million. As part of the expansion plans, Airports Authority of India has brought Vadodara Airport in the maps of one of the most accomplished and well-developed airports in India.

Facilities at the Vadodara Airport

Wheelchair accessibility – You can request for a wheelchair with your airline, and the airport would cater to the same.

Medical facility – Vadodara Airport has a designated team of medical professionals to deal with emergency cases that might crop up at the airport premise. They are trained doctors and professionals. Medical rooms are also present as are pharmacies.

Restaurants and cafes – There are quaint cafes and restaurants installed in the airport premise. They can be found in the departure sections of the airport. Smaller joints and food establishments can also be found in the arrivals section. For tea, coffee and other such beverages, you can check out some joints located in the airport.

Baggage – The baggage services at the airport include trolleys and porter systems. You can ask for a porter service, wherein an airport staff would escort your trolley of luggage and even get the security checks done on your behalf. Trolleys are available outside the airport as well as in the airport premise.

Shops – There are small shops also present at the airport premise. You can find some impeccable paintings, books, magazines, artefacts and souvenirs at these shops. They basically glorify the culture of Gujarat and also have exquisite ethnic items that you could purchase. In fact, for passengers who need to pass their time at the airport can actually visit these shops and be entertained by the lovely collection of items that they have for sale.

Lounge – The airport has a luxury lounge present in the departure section of the terminal. The lounge can be accessed by passengers who have special passes or a certain ticket type. As for others who wish to spend time in the lounge and enjoy their benefits, the airport has tariffs that the passengers will need to pay to get access to the space. There are TV sets, WiFi services, good hospitality and great lounge seats available in the lounge.

Special assistance – There are special assistance services that have been reserved for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities. These services can be availed at the airport. It is recommended that the passenger inform the airlines prior to the journey. The airport will be able to accommodate the necessary services and trained staff to cater to the same.

Smoking zones – Vadodara Airport has strict laws against smoking and to make sure that the protocols to not smoke in public are followed, they have installed zones in the premise. The airport has designated smoking zones for passengers to avail. These spaces also have cigarettes for sale. The smoking lounges are kept clean and sanitised with fresh air being pumped at every interval.

Top airlines flying from Vadodara Airport

Vadodara is a big city within the borders of Gujarat. However, it does not have excellent connectivity with other Indian cities. As an airport that only caters to domestic flights, Vadodara Airport accommodates operations of airlines namely Air India and IndiGo. These airlines fly to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, to name a few.

How to reach Vadodara Airport

By Bus and taxi

Vadodara as a city is perfectly connected with several modes of transportation. The airport is also just as well-connected as it is very close to the city centre. You can opt for buses to reach Vadodara Airport. There are designated bus stops available in proximity to the airport. These buses can be taken from anywhere around the city. As one of the important cities in Gujarat, Vadodara's bus services are handled by the state government. Hence, the connectivity is immaculate. Aside from the buses, you can also reach Vadodara Airport by hailing a taxi cab. There are provisions of the same in the city. In fact, you can also opt for car rentals and travel in the same to reach Vadodara Airport.

By Rail

Baroda Railway Station is barely five kilometres from Vadodara Airport. Hence, if you are travelling from neighbouring towns by train and have a flight to catch from Vadodara Airport, the best way to reach would be by getting a rickshaw or taxi ride from the railway station. As it is in the city centre, you can easily find taxi cabs and rickshaws at the Baroda Railway Station to reach Vadodara Airport. It would take you about 15 minutes to reach Vadodara Airport from the railway station. Hopefully, if there is not much traffic on the street, the travel duration would further be reduced. The road conditions are rather conducive.

About Vadodara

Vadodara, popularly known as Baroda, is the third-most populous city in the state of Gujarat. The city is named after the presence of Banyan (Vad), that grow and flourish in the city. Vadodara is perched atop the banks of the Vishwamitri River and is roughly 120 km away from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Vadodara's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer has enabled the city to have a tropical climate at all times. It is extremely hot and often deals with scorching summers too. Although the city witnesses tremendous passenger traffic owing to the industrial establishments, there are dedicated peak months when you can visit Vadodara.

The best time to visit the city is from March to April. It is considerably hot and humid, but the heat is bearable. The city is blessed with lovely temples and exquisite palaces and historic structures. In fact, it is even recognised as the cultural capital of Gujarat. Thanks to these attractions, the city witnesses tremendous tourist action. Some of the highlights of the city include the Lakshmi Vilas Palace which is the residence of Baroda Stat's Maratha regal family, the Gaekwads, from the Gaekwad Dynasty. Vadodara is home to the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The city is heavily invested in various power and oil and gas corporations.