Port Blair to Jorhat Flights

  About Port Blair

Port Blair, famously known to have been a prison during the British era, is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. It is the only city in the archipelago with airport connectivity. The beautiful city of Port Blair has a significant history and culture that you should definitely explore. Not to mention the stunning beaches and green expanses that envelop the island city. The flight tickets to Port Blair are a little on the expensive side, but you can always opt for ferry or ships as an alternative to reach the city.

Best time to visit Port Blair

Port Blair offers a different vibe in every season, making it one of the most interesting places to visit. The summer season from March to May are perfect for scuba diving. The weather is not too harsh compared to the other places in India. The sky is clear, as are the waters, making it a diver's Shangri-La. The temperatures during summer in Port Blair range between 28 degree Celsius and 30 degree Celsius, which is quite pleasant and bearable. Besides, the waters would be there to cool your senses.

October to February is yet another stretch of months that sees good weather in Port Blair. The winters are quite mild but pleasant with temperatures dwindling between 15 degree Celsius to 34 degree Celsius. The weather plus the clear skies make it the most favourable season to visit Port Blair. Many honeymooners and travellers choose this season to visit the lovely Andaman Islands and explore its beaches. The city is full of life with bustling markets and beaches. Getting cheap tickets to Port Blair during the peak season is going to be quite challenging. However, if you spend more time online to figure out a good flight deal to Port Blair, immediately take it up.

Monsoon is definitely not ideal for visiting Port Blair, especially if you're planning to visit via the sea route. The heavy rainfall would cause a lot of discomfort during your voyage. Even flights might get delayed owing to bad weather.

Places to visit in Port Blair

Cellular Jail, famously known as Kalapani, is easily one of the top tourist attractions of Port Blair. What makes this place famous is how it played as a gruelling prison during the Colonial era, the memorial celebrates the lives of freedom fighters who were imprisoned on the island. The historical relevance of the place draws a lot of attention, as does the intriguing landscape. While you're here, also ensure to check out the Japanese Bunker, a complex boasting the relics of World War II. The place certainly has made several contributions to the Indian as well as global history and is definitely worth a visit. Aside from historic sites, the place also has one of the biggest pilgrim sites with a massive Murugan Temple. The exquisite Dravidian-style architecture with deities nestled on the gopuram makes for quite an experience.

An interesting excursion would be to check out the Mangkutan village where you will be taken through the rubber plantation, which is the primary source of income for people residing in Port Blair. You should also add the Marina Park and Aquarium in your list of places to visit in Port Blair. It hosts over 350 marine species, including turtles and sharks.

Things to do in Port Blair

As a city on an island, much of the place is surrounded by pristine beaches and azure blue water touching the shores. You can take up beach hopping as a way to visit some of the finest beaches of Port Blair and its surrounding. Do add Ross and Smith Islands, Butler Bay Beach, Rutland Island, Parrot Island, Cinque Island and Karmatang beach in your list. These beautiful beaches will give you the best treatment with open waters and a calming breeze. If you wish to indulge in some water sports, which we do recommend you should, go over to Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex to make the most of your time on the island. From parasailing to banana boat rides, the complex would give you a bunch of water sports activities to choose from.

Corbyn's Cove is quite a sight for sore eyes. The quaint space with its pristine blue waters would keep you engaged. Not to mention how the coconut and palm trees lining the beach would further add more scenic beauty to your pictures. If the beaches have started to bore you and you wish to get an aerial view of the lovely island where Port Blair is located, then you should trek up to the Madhuban Ranges. It is located in the Mount Harriet National Park and is known to offer the best views of the city and island from atop.

Food and Restaurants in Port Blair

Being an island could mean barely any options for vegetarians. However, vegetarians don't have to worry about that in Port Blair. The famous Annapurna restaurant and Kattabomman restaurants, both offer amazing South Indian food at an affordable cost. You will find vegetarian Chinese dishes at these food institutions as well. As for the travellers who cannot wait to check out what the seafood platter in Port Blair restaurants consists, head straight to New Lighthouse restaurant located near Marina Park in the city. You will definitely not be disappointed by the food or the ambience. You also have Sinclair's Bayview resort with its sea-facing restaurant to visit. The place has cuisine ranging from local Port Blair speciality to continental spread.

The city also caters to honeymooners and has some lovely romantic setting to give them a splendid experience. Amaya Lounge Bar is one such place where the location will blow your mind and the food, your senses. The cuisine is friendly to all as it sells experience more than heavenly food. Speaking of a romantic setting, to make things more personal, you can opt to go to Bonova Cafe and Pub, which is located close to the Govind Nagar Beach. The place has an exquisite vibe and food so divine. Mandalay restaurant is also one such restaurant in Port Blair that faces the sea and offers top-rated food. Plus, the price is not too expensive so you can try more for less money.

How to reach Port Blair

By Air

Port Blair, being the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has a domestic airport, commercially known as Veer Savarkar Airport. The airport has great flight connectivity from Port Blair to major cities in India. In fact, there are direct flights from Port Blair to Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Vizag and Delhi. These are the only destinations in India from where you can find flights to Port Blair. As for the other cities, options of connecting flights and layovers would be the only way to reach Port Blair by flight. There are no international routes connected to Port Blair as there is provision for only domestic flights. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Vistara have regular flights flying in and out of Port Blair. The closest cities to the Andaman Islands are Chennai, Vizag and Kolkata.

Reaching the island state from these three cities is known to be the easiest domestic route that can be taken. It barely takes 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Port Blair by flight from Chennai and Kolkata. However, if you are travelling from Delhi, the flight duration to Port Blair would easily take you 5 hours. International services to Port Blair are not allowed so travellers flying in from international routes will have to take a connecting flight to Port Blair. It is imperative that you carry your official documents and government papers as an international traveller. The airport conducts strict immigration checks to ensure non-natives do not enter unless the government gives them the green signal.

Interestingly, there are chopper services also available to reach Port Blair from Indian cities. Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd. has dedicated chopper services transporting people to Port Blair from Chennai.

By Water

Various private and government ferries connect to Port Blair. You can find these ferries at the Chennai port as well as Vizag and Kolkata. Although reaching Port Blair from the sea is time-consuming, it does give you a different kind of experience, which is worth it. Out of the ships and ferry options, Chennai port is closer compared to Vizag and Kolkata, so it is recommended that you board your ships from here. Travelling by ship works perfectly if you are planning a long vacation. However, if the trip is time-bound, then you should opt to fly to Port Blair. The ship and ferry services connect to Port Blair and some of its famous islands such as Havelock, Neil Island and more.

For travellers opting ship and waterways as the medium of transport, it is recommended that you book your tickets 15 days in advance. You can make online bookings for your tickets to Port Blair as these government-owned as well as private ships have active online portals. At the same time, be abreast of the challenges that would come with travelling by sea. Many people tend to fall seasick, and this results in the whole trip being ruined. Be mindful and cautious before choosing ships.

  About Jorhat

The 'Tea capital of India', Jorhat is an important city in Assam. Known for its tea plantations, Jorhat is another important tourist destination in the state. It is the second-largest city in Assam. It is also a gateway to Upper Assam and the state of Nagaland. Apart from the tea plantations, Jorhat is also known for its breathtaking, scenic view of the Bhogdoi river, the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary and a couple of other heritage sites. You can also visit the river island of Majuli, which is only 20 km away from Jorhat and you can reach the river island through the ferries from Nimati Ghat.

Best Time to Visit Jorhat

Jorhat experiences extremely hot summers and extremely heavy rainfall during monsoon, too. Winter is the perfect time to visit Vizag. The temperature is neither too hot nor too cold. October to February is winter in Jorhat. The temperature ranges from 7 to 18 degree Celsius. Though there is mild rainfall during winter and you'll see foggy mornings and evenings because of it, it does not really affect your plans to venture out. Book a hotel in Jorhat that has a spectacular view. Also, make sure that you book your flight tickets to Jorhat in advance since winter sees more tourists than usual.

Monsoon in Jorhat can get pretty intense. It starts from July and lasts till September, and the rainfall is so heavy that it even causes a lot of waterlogging. This also increases humidity in the city, which makes it a very unfavourable time to visit the city. It will most definitely affect all of your plans to venture out. In fact, it might even make it quite tedious for you to commute within the city.

Summer gets really hot in Jorhat, and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 28 degree Celsius. Even though it doesn't seem like a lot, the weather does exhaust you. The scorching heat might affect your plans to pursue any outdoor activities. If you still feel like venturing out, make sure you drink lots of water and wear cotton clothes.

Places to Visit in Jorhat

One of the main tourist attractions in Jorhat for animal and nature lovers is the Kaziranga National Orchid and Biodiversity Park. You will find over 500 species of orchids, a greenhouse, fruit garden, flower garden, fish pond and so on. Majuli is an island that is located in the Brahmaputra river which is close to Jorhat. It is a highly recommended place for anyone who is planning a trip to Assam or the North-East altogether. You will certainly not forget the experience that you will have on this tiny island. You will have to take a boat or a ferry ride from the Nimati Ghat to get to Majuli island. In fact, since you are visiting that, make sure you go boating here solely to soak in the breathtaking sunset. If you want to experience wildlife at its best, make sure you visit the Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. It is 20 km away from Jorhat, and you'll find at least 40 different species of hoolock gibbons. You will also find langur, pigtail macaque, Assamese macaque, etc. There is the Brahmaputra river on one side and tea gardens on the other side.

Between the rubber and coffee plantations lie the Kakochang Waterfalls. This is one of the major attractions in Jorhat purely because of its enchanting view. It is quite close to the Kaziranga National Park, so you can probably go spend the evening here after visiting the National Park. The Sukapha Samannay Kshetra is yet another place that you must visit if archaeology excites you. It was built in the memory of Sukapha, the first Ahom King of Assam. The Cinnamora Tea Estate is Assam's first-ever tea estate and a must-visit. It was established in 1850 and is about 10 km away from Jorhat. Thengal Bhavan is Assam's first-ever printing press where the state's first daily newspaper was published. It was built by Raibahadur Shiva Prasad Barooah in 1880. Make sure you book a hotel in Jorhat that has a beautiful view of either the hills or the tea plantations or the Brahmaputra river. You can even pick one that is closer to the river or the various activities that you have planned for the trip.

Things to do in Jorhat

Jorhat is a highly recommended place for all nature and adventure lovers. Along with the tea plantations, you will also find lush green hills, valleys and magnificent waterfalls. Be it planning a backpacking trip or a luxurious one, you will find options for all kinds of trips. You can trek up to the Kakochang Waterfalls or take a cultural tour of the Cinnamora Tea Plantation. It is Assam's first-ever tea plantation, and you will get to know more about what goes into growing and processing the best tea. You might even get to taste different types of tea or learn a new technique to make a refreshing tea. The tea gardens are also some of the best places to take lots of pictures. You can even interact with the locals and get to know more about the culture and their lifestyle.

Go boating at the Nimati Ghat to catch the perfect, most beautiful sunset. You can even head to Majuli island after the boating activity. It is one of the most beautiful places in the country, and the river island will definitely put you in a great mood instantly. According to certain reports, the island might disappear out of soil corrosion in the next decade or more, which makes it mandatory for you to visit it without any further delay. You can also take a safari ride at the Gibbon Sanctuary and witness wildlife at its best. The city also has museums and constructions of historical and architectural importance. Not to mention, do try the local street food in the city and some authentic Assamese food and desserts. You can also sit by the lake and meditate or just admire the view. Plan a picnic with your friends and family at Majuli or near the Brahmaputra river. You can have a gala time while enjoying a lovely picnic. You won't regret this one bit. You can even extend your stay to visit the other cities in the state. And you will also want to buy lots of tea, that is specially grown and processed here, back home.

Food and Restaurants in Jorhat

Food in the North-East of India is quite different from those of the other states up North. It's not very spicy, and the cooking technique is very simple. You can even take cooking classes here to learn one or two special dishes. In fact, people here grow most of the ingredients in their backyard. Khar, Tenga, Laksa, Pitika and a few more. If you are craving Chinese, Continental or North Indian food, you will find restaurants that have it added to the menu, too. The food, and breakfast especially, in the state will not disappoint you. You also get an additional bonus of the scenic view outside while you dine.

Make sure you also try the Assamese thali while you are there. Saffron is a popular restaurant in Jorhat that promises good food and a clean environment, too. Nimantran Restaurant is the perfect place to have lunch or dinner and is quite popular in the city, too. If it is a quick service that you are expecting, do head to Meridian Restaurant at Mithapukhuri Road, You will get great and quick service along with delicious food. Binge on some cakes and snacks at the Belle Amies bakery in Garali Road, Babupatty. You will find a lot of food stalls and tiny shacks of restaurants in the tourist areas.

How to reach Jorhat (Transportation)

By Air

The Rowriah Airport, which is also the Jorhat airport, is only a few minutes away from the main city. The flight connectivity from Jorhat airport to other cities is quite limited. Only domestic flights from Jorhat fly to other cities like Bangalore, Kolkata and Guwahati. The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport or the Guwahati airport, is the nearest airport that flies internationally. It is approximately 300 km from Jorhat. If you are visiting the city during an off season, you might get cheap flight tickets to Jorhat or Guwahati, if you plan to take a bus, taxi or train from there.

By Rail

Jorhat has two major railway stations namely Jorhat-Mariani junction and Jorhat Town railway station. Domestic routes to Jorhat are via train or road and are quite convenient, too. It takes approximately 2 hours to reach the city from the stations, but you will get a taxi from the station quite easily.

By Road

Guwahati, Shillong and Ahmedabad are some popular routes taken to reach Jorhat. You can choose from government-run buses and different types of other AC buses, depending on your budget and necessities. The view on your journey will leave you impressed and excited about your stay here.