About Pathankot

Pathankot is a special city in Punjab that is surrounded by vacation spots like Dalhousie, Manali, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, McLeodganj and Dharamshala. The city is beautiful, and its lush greenery is what attracts tourists to it. The city also serves as a home for defence forces like the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. Pathankot not only has historical significance, but it is also an apt place for adventure and nature lovers. If you are planning a trip that covers most of North India, you must definitely stop at Pathankot. It also serves as a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the neighbouring cities. A trip to this beautiful city will be an experience of a lifetime. You will also find a lot of temples in and around the city that you can visit.

Best Time to Visit Pathankot

Pathankot is a city that you can visit throughout the year irrespective of what season it is. Having said that, winter is far more ideal than the other seasons if you are planning to visit Pathankot. October to March is considered to be the best time to visit Pathankot and the tourist destinations around it. If you plan your trip well in advance, you might get to book a hotel in Pathankot at a cheaper rate and might even get good flight deals to Pathankot online. This is a very popular time for tourists and travellers to visit the city. The temperature ranges between 5 to 23 degree Celsius during this season. You will get to experience nature at its best during this season.

Monsoon hits Pathankot from July till September. The city receives heavy rainfall, and while it may affect your plans to venture out, it brings out the best in nature. If you are planning to trek nearby, you need to be extra careful about not slipping. Make sure you always have mosquito repellents on you, if you are travelling during monsoon.

April to June is summer in Pathankot, and even though the temperature reaches up to 46 degree Celsius, the evenings and nights seem pleasant. If you are used to warm weather, the weather in Pathankot will not be unbearable for you. In fact, since it is off-season and the city has lesser tourists than usual, you will come across affordable hotel bookings in Pathankot. You can also travel to the neighbouring cities of Pathankot and be assured that you will enjoy your trip.

Places to Visit in Pathankot

The Ranjit Sagar Dam that has been constructed on river Ravi is a popular picnic spot in Pathankot. The view from the dam will leave you stunned, and the sunset is far more mesmerizing. On the banks of this river is Shahpurkandi fort that only adds to the beauty of the city. It was built in the 16th century, and a part of this fort treats you to breathtaking views. Nurpur fort is yet another spot that is of historical importance. The fort was built in the 10th century, but a lot of it was destroyed by the British. It got demolished later in 1905 by an earthquake. One of the specialities of the fort is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Mira Bai. It was built in the 16th century and is the only place where both of them are worshipped together.

Pathankot also has quite a lot of temples, and each one of them is special. The Mukteshwar temple is located on the Shahpurkandi Dam and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. You will also find idols of worship dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Hanuman and Goddess Parvati. The Nagni temple, located approximately 16 km away from Pathankot, is devoted to the Goddess of snakes. It is another holy temple in Punjab and sees a lot of devotees in the month of August. Kali Mata's temple is yet another popular place of worship in Pathankot. Devotees actually do a 2 km trek to reach the temple. The Shani Dev temple is also a popular destination here, and it attracts pilgrims from all over the country. If you are visiting temples in Pathankot, do visit the Laxmi Narayan temple.

Things to do in Pathankot

Pathankot has a lot of things for travellers to do. Since it is also a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, you can also head to these places after your stay in Pathankot. But while you are staying in Pathankot, do visit the temples in and around the city to feel the divinity and embrace your spirituality. Seek blessings from God at the Mukteshwar temple, the Laxmi Narayan temple, Shani Dev temple and a lot of other temples in the city. In fact, if you feel like going for a little trek, you can visit the Kali Mata mandir. Visiting the temples here will definitely give you a lot of peace. The architecture and the view from the temples is simply mesmerizing. The city looks far more beautiful when it is raining and you would definitely love the view of the city if you are visiting during monsoon. You can also plan a short trip to the other cities in Punjab like Ludhiana, Amritsar and Chandigarh.

You must also visit the Nurpur Fort and absorb all the history that this place has to offer. The fort was built in 1905 and was destroyed twice; once by the British and another time by an earthquake. You must also visit the temple inside dedicated to Lord Krishna and Mira Bai. The Ranjit Sagar Dam built on river Ravi is another popular tourist spot you must visit. The area looks breathtakingly beautiful at dawn. For all the shopaholics out there, the city also has quite a few malls like the Novelty Mall, and the City Centre mall are two great places to shop. You will find whatever you need, including souvenirs, from the malls here.

Food and Restaurants in Pathankot

There is no doubt that Punjabi food is a treat to your taste buds. The parathas, chole bhature, rajma chawal, sarson da saag with makki ki roti are some of the popular cuisines in Punjab. They will surely make your hunger pangs go away with just a bite. You must also try the lassi, jalebi, kheer, barfi and gulab jamun here. The city is also famous for Litchis so make sure you try the litchi juice in Pathankot, too. You will find a lot of local restaurants that will serve the most delicious food. Do not hesitate to try the dhabas in Pathankot. Dhabas are a speciality in Punjab and it would be unwise to not visit one while you are in the state.

Moti Mahal Grand is a popular restaurant in the city that has a great ambience and serves a delicious meal. Basant Vegetarian, as the name suggests, serves mouthwatering vegetarian food. You can try the chole bhature, dal tadka, parathas and other Punjabi cuisines here. Mama's Rasoi is yet another restaurant, which is right outside Pathankot, that you must try. Green Hotel and Restaurant is yet another one that you can go to. This one also has Chinese and Lebanese cuisine on their menu.

How to reach Pathankot (Transportation)

By Air

The city has its own airport called the Pathankot Airport or the Military Airport since it is majorly also used by the military. The flight connectivity from Pathankot is quite limited to cities like Delhi, Kullu and Chandigarh. The Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar is the nearest fully functional airport in the state. It is approximately 119 km away from Pathankot. Taking a connecting flight from Delhi is one of the most popular routes to reach Pathankot. You might get cheap flight tickets to Pathankot if you are travelling during the off-season.

By Rail

Pathankot is well-connected by rail and is also an important railway junction. It connects with Kangra Valley Railway and to various other places in Himachal Pradesh. Boarding a train to and from Pathankot will not be a tedious task. However, do book your tickets in advance to secure comfortable seats. You can also take a train to Jammu, if it is next on your vacation itinerary, or any other place in Himachal Pradesh. It will be worth it!

By Road

Travelling to and from Pathankot by road is not very difficult since it is one of the most preferred modes of travel by locals and by travellers. If you are travelling to Pathankot from a city in North India itself, you will find a bus or a private taxi to Pathankot quite frequently. The journey will also be quite comfortable, and this is an affordable way to travel, too. However, if you are travelling from farther away, it will be wise to opt for a flight or a train journey. In fact, since Pathankot is a gateway to Himachal Pradesh, too, you will find a lot of options of buses and taxis that will help you reach the other state also.

  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.

 Enter Heading

  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.