Raipur to Allahabad Flights

  About Raipur

Raipur is the state capital of Chhattisgarh and is known to have tremendous religious significance. Owing to the many temples that the place inhabits while also being the town where reformer Swami Vivekananda resided for a brief period, there are many things that make Raipur a tourist spot. The city has an agreeable climate and beautiful greenery. The flight connectivity to Raipur from other major cities in the country is also exceptional. While the city is not as developed in comparison to the other big cities in India, Raipur has a charm of its own which makes it worth the visit.

Best time to visit Raipur

For Raipur, the winter months from November to January are considered as ideal. Thanks to the cold and pleasant atmosphere with temperatures ranging between 14 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius, it only adds to the beauty of the city. However, the summer months can get extremely hot with temperatures almost reaching 48 degree Celsius. Hence, the best thing to do would be to visit the city only during winters. The flight tickets to Raipur remain standard irrespective of the season.

Places to visit in Raipur

Purkhauti Muktangan

Purkhauti Muktangan is a beautiful park that aims at preserving the bio-cultural medley of Raipur. Inaugurated by the Hon'ble A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the park attracts people for its intriguing setting and the art exhibitions. The place with its stimulating environment has further caught the attention of filmmakers too, who continuously flock over to the park for film shootings.

Mahant Ghasi Memorial Museum

Mahant Ghasi Memorial Museum is a cultural heritage where you will find tribal artefacts, coins, inscriptions and other such objects of historical and cultural relevance. What makes the experience of visiting the Mahant Ghasi Memorial in Raipur special is how it is beautifully nestled amid lush greenery. The complex also has life-size sculptures.

Jatmai Temple

Jatmai Temple is nearly 85 km away from the main city of Raipur. However, the popularity of the Jatmai temple often makes tourists take up that travel expedition. The temple is ideally located amid a dense green expanse and is dedicated to Devi Jatmai. The temple brings together nature, culture, cuisine and calmness.

Kevalya Dham Jain temple

Your pilgrimage can further continue in the city as there are a lot of beautiful temples to check out. The Kevalya Dham Jain Temple is located a little away from the city and is one of the main tourist attractions. What makes this temple an architectural bliss is how it has been constructed entirely with marble. The serenity in the air would certainly do you right.

Things to do in Raipur

Explore Nandan Van Zoo

The Nandan Van Zoo houses a plethora of wildlife and conserves various species from extinction. The zoo also expands into a safari with four main zones. The park can be visited at all times, and you can also book your safari rides to explore more of the wildlife found in the zoo.

Educate yourself at the Energy Park

Also known as Urja Park, the vast expanse of Energy Park follows the theme of renewable energy and propagates the same. The idea behind coming up with such a park is to promote and encourage the use of renewable source of energy. It is an educational tour with special emphasis given to promoting the idea of investing more in renewable energy sources. Visiting the park would be quite an experience as you will get to learn a lot about how renewable energy sources work, how you can incorporate a mechanism to sap energy and more.

Trek up to Champaran

Originally known as Champajhar, Champaran is an important religious site for Hindus. The site is known to be the birthplace of Saint Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya. He was the founder of the Vallabh sect and also a renowned reformer. Around the vicinity, two temples have been constructed, namely Prakatya Baithakji Temple and Mood Prakatya. The temples see a whole new light during festivals conducted by the locals.

Swami Vivekananda Sarovar

The influence of Swami Vivekananda is quite strong in Raipur. Not only is the airport named after the philosopher, but even a structure has been constructed to honour him. The Swami Vivekananda Sarovar is basically built close to the Burha Thalab, which is a lush green lake. It easily becomes one of the most-visited attractions in Raipur as it has a serene and tranquil atmosphere. The lake's calmness adds to the charm of the place. You can actually take up boating on the lake as well as delve into consuming street food that is found close to the Sarovar.

Food and Restaurants in Raipur

Chhattisgarh cuisine is what comfort food is all about. Much of their dishes involve rice, jowar and bajra interspersed with spices that make for a wholesome meal. Right from their classic muthiya, which is a famous breakfast dish, to their spin on the traditional Punjabi chole bhature, their recipes are basic and comfortable. The diversity of their food culture comes from their inspiration from the dishes made in the rest of India. You will find bafauri, a dish made from chana dal and spices is a love substitute for pakodas that the other parts of India enjoy. This dish abounds with flavours that would stay with you even after the plate is empty. Other famous dishes include Dubki kadhi, which is basically kadhi with dumplings prepared from chana dal and Chousela, a sort of poori prepared from rice dough which is usually consumed with masala chhole.

Finding authentic Chattisgarh cuisine could be a challenge in Raipur as the city side has accommodated more popular recipes. Some of the places that you should definitely visit when in Raipur are Dialogue in the Dark, Nukkad, the Teafe, Girnar Restaurant, Cafe Junoon, Pashmina, Sukhsagar, to name a few. These places offer multitudes of cuisine that would satiate the craving for every different mood. For amazing Asian cuisine, you should opt for Yo China. The Arabian Oasis would give you the traditional Arabic treatment with a melange of Chinese and European cuisine as well. If the heart wants some chole bhatures or sweet lassi, then don't think much and directly visit Amritsari restaurant. As for some rendezvous with Italian or Mexican cuisine, check out The Monet. Raipur's food culture is quite interesting as it would give your palette a taste to some of the best dishes and cuisine that can be made available.

How to reach Raipur

By Air

As the state capital, Raipur has an airport of its own called Swami Vivekananda Airport. It is located between Raipur and Naya Raipur and is not one of the busiest airports. The airport is equipped with a single runway. Although the airport was originally it was called Raipur airport, the state re-christened it to honour Swami Vivekananda, who is known to have spent his two teenager years in the city. The airport is relatively small but has recently been reconstructed with the authorities adding a new terminal. The flight connectivity to Raipur from major cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa, Kochi, Hyderabad, etc., is quite good. In fact, these cities have regular flights flying in and out of Raipur.

The airport is touted to be one of the fastest developing airports in India owing to how it has managed to expand its terminals. The airport is also surrounded by some fancy accommodations with hotels like VW Canyon and Courtyard by Marriott. If business is what you're travelling for, then you can simply book your hotel close to Raipur airport with one of these options. There are private taxi cabs also available to hire from the airport. Airlines, namely IndiGo, Air India and Vistara operate from the Raipur airport.

By Rail

Flights to Raipur easily become the best way to reach the city. However, the trains also have good connectivity. Raipur Junction is the railway station that operates inter-state trains. In fact, Raipur is touted to be the highest grossers in India with respect to train collections. Thanks to its impeccable connection with various other cities and the convenient domestic routes that connect to Raipur railway station, it receives a majority of tourists via trains. Not to mention how its connectivity enables people to travel to various parts of the country. There are express and well as mail trains that travel in and out of Raipur. Cities such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow and more have a great connection with the Raipur station. It is best to book tickets to Raipur ahead of time as the demand for trains to the city is quite high.

By Road

Raipur's road connections are also quite impressive. The highways are perfectly maintained, and the connectivity is also remarkable. From National Highway 26, travellers can take up road trips to visit Raipur from Vizag. There are government-run bus services too which connect Raipur to cities such as Nagpur, Amravati, Sambalpur, Mandla, Ambikapur, to name a few. The location of the bus station is also within the city centre, making transportation easier. You can book your hotels in Raipur's city centre and reach your rooms without any hassle. The local transportation is mainly by rickshaws, taxi cabs and public buses. You can transit various corners of the city via either of these modes of transport.

  About Allahabad

Allahabad, now known as Prayagraj, is one of the most popular cities in India with a rich history. Not only does the City hold an important place in India's history but also in Indian mythology. According to some scriptures, Allahabad was called Kaushambi, which is a separate district now, and was also the capital of Hastinapur during the Kuru rule. The City of Allahabad prospered under the rule of Mughal emperor Jehangir. The Triveni Sangam, where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers meet, is also one of the major attractions of the City. Allahabad also played an essential role during the Indian Freedom Movement during British rule.

The City is also quite popular for hosting the famous Kumbh Mela. Allahabad also boasts of being home to late former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and 13 other Prime Ministers of the country. With architecture from the Mughal era that will take your breath away to finding your spiritual side at the Triveni Sangam, Allahabad ensures that it does not disappoint you. For all of you obsessed with history and literature, you might even find Allahabad romantic, a romantic vacation with the history of the City.

Not to forget, Allahabad is also a city of delicious dishes like kebabs, chicken biryani and a lot more. You cannot leave the City without giving in to some of the best foods that the City has to offer. While the City is buzzing with tourists and is also the 13th most populous district in India, you will find peace and quiet as you go boating at the Triveni Sangam. It is also believed that taking a dip in the holy water rids you of your sins. A lot of people also believe that it helps them attain salvation.

Best Time to Visit Allahabad

Allahabad witnesses winters from October to February. The temperature goes from an average of 12-degree Celsius to 3-degree Celsius. This is also one of the most favourable times to visit the City, though the City experiences its coldest winter during January. You might want to plan your trip keeping this in mind. The City experiences the hottest summers from March to June. The temperature goes from 30 degree Celsius to 45 degree Celsius, and it is not the best time to visit the City. The monsoon begins from July and goes on till September. The rains are a relief to residents of the City who have battled the scorching heat during the summer. You can also plan your trip to Allahabad during the monsoon since it is quite pleasant during the rains, too. Book your hotels in Allahabad and snag some impeccable flight deals as well as cheap flight tickets

Places to Visit in Allahabad

Khusro Bagh is a place you cannot miss at all when you visit. The burial ground was turned into a beautiful garden during the Mughal rule. It is the burial ground of Prince Khusrau, who was the eldest son of Emperor Jehangir. He had rebelled against his father when he was just 19-years-old. Prince Khusrau, Shah Begum (his mother) and Nithar (his sister). Torn between her son, Khusrau and husband, Jehangir, Shah Begum committed suicide by consuming opium. The Triveni Sangam is yet another major tourist attraction in Prayagraj. It is considered as a sacred place since it is where three holy rivers; Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet.

Triveni Sangam is the most crowded place in the state during the Kumbh Mela. It is believed that a bath in the holy river will wash away your sins. Anand Bhawan is another important tourist attraction and quite an important one at that, too. This was the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru and is also where a lot of leaders stayed like Motilal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and more. Anand Bhawan also has a room where late Mahatma Gandhi had stayed. It boasts of a small library in the room, which is what makes this an important place to visit.

You already know by now that Allahabad is a city that tells a lot of stories right from Indian history to Indian mythology. You must definitely take a tour of the Allahabad museum when you visit the City. You can also visit the Allahabad Fort, in addition to the Mughal architecture and other destinations that you plan to visit. The grand Kumbh Mela is also what makes Allahabad very special. Since the festival is celebrated and organised every 12 years, it sees more than 100 million people participating. A lot of devotees and pilgrims ensure to be part of a famed festival from all over the country.

If you are intrigued by the history and literature of the City, you can enhance it further by visiting the Allahabad Public Library. It's one of the biggest libraries in Uttar Pradesh and a paradise for all you book lovers. You cannot leave Allahabad without paying a visit to the Jawahar Planetarium. If you are visiting Allahabad with your family, your kids are going to love the planetarium. Make sure you also catch the shows that the planetarium puts up that will blow your minds away.

Things to do in Allahabad

Whether you want to book an affordable hotel room in Allahabad or a luxurious one, you'll find everything in the City. Not to mention, every accommodation that you choose will be accessible to all the places you plan to visit in the City. One of the fun things to do in Allahabad is to savour all the delicious delicacies that the City has to offer. The shawarmas, kebabs, chicken biryanis and the desserts, too. Spend your evening catching the sunset on a boat by the Triveni Sangam. You can also visit the holy place in the morning and meditate for a while. Even sipping a nice cup of Kulhad chai with the view of the ghats is enough to put a smile on your face. It will surely lift your spirits. You can also be a Pilgrim at the grand Kumbh Mela to experience the grand festival at its best. If you are looking forward to spending some quiet time and avoiding the hustle-bustle of the City, visit the Allahabad Public Library. Admire the beautiful architecture, pick your favourite book from the shelves, and you'll leave learning a lot about the City that you didn't know before.

You can also hire a taxi and go sightseeing, covering all the major tourist attractions. Visit the Allahabad Fort that has the most scenic view of the Triveni Sangam. You can even be a part of the Ardh Kumbh Mela that happens every six years. Not just with your family, but you can also plan a road trip to Allahabad with your buddies. If you don't feel like indulging in sightseeing, you can just indulge in the gastronomical experiences that the City has to offer.

Food and Restaurants in Allahabad

Allahabad has a lot to offer when it comes to food. It's a delight for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The kachoris and sabzis, the different types of lassi, biryani and the list goes on; Allahabad will be a treat to your taste buds. Eat On is one of the most popular joints in the City and every tourists' delight. The place serves different types of parathas, shami kebabs and the most aromatic biryanis. Though the place has no seating arrangement for customers, it is an inconvenience that they cover up for with their delicious food. Chaat in Allahabad is like nothing you'll ever find elsewhere. Spend your evening gorging on some unique and tasty chaat at Nirala or a plate of chole samosa at Sainik. For all you tea lovers out there, make sure you try the Tandoori Chai in Allahabad. And also down some jalebis at Hira Halwai shop!

How to reach Allahabad (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest domestic airport is the Allahabad airport, and it is well-connected to most of the metropolitan and other cities in the country. The nearest international airport is at Varanasi and Lucknow. Allahabad airport is on the outskirts of the City, but you will find a taxi from the airport quite easily. You will also find cheap flight tickets to Allahabad and good flight deals online.

By Rail

The City is well-connected by rail, and it's easy to get a train to Allahabad from all major cities. Chheoki, Allahabad Junction, Allahabad City, Naini, Phaphamau Junction, Prayag, Subedarganj, Bamhrauli are some of the stations that you can plan your travel to and from, depending on your itinerary. Even though the City is connected really well by rails, flights are a much better option and a very convenient one, too.

By Road

Since Allahabad is one of the most popular cities in Uttar Pradesh, it is well-connected by road, too. You can easily get a bus or taxis from major cities to Allahabad. You can also plan a fun road trip with your buddies and stay at Allahabad for a few days. Getting around the City or going to the City from another one is not a task but it can get a tad bit tedious if you are travelling from afar.

  About Raipur Airport

Swami Vivekananda Airport or better known as Raipur Airport is the primary airport that caters to the state of Chattisgarh. It is situated between Raipur and Naya Raipur and is close to 15 km and 10 km away from the two cities respectively. The airport has been acknowledged as the 28th busiest airport in the country with respect to passenger traffic. It is also recorded as the 29th busiest airport in terms of aircraft movement. The airport, originally called Raipur Airport, was renamed as Swami Vivekananda Airport, to honour the venerated saint, Swami Vivekananda, who spent a brief period of his teenage years in the city of Raipur. The airport accommodates one integrated terminal which was upgraded to handle international and domestic operations. Currently, there are not many international flight activities that are witnessed by Swami Vivekananda Airport. Despite being an airport with international stature, the authorities haven't been able to attract a lot of international airlines. However, with their expansion plans and regular upgradations, they aim to upscale the airport and get more flight activities.

About Raipur Airport Terminal

The airport has one integrated terminal that was inaugurated in 2012 by former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. The new integrated terminal was built at the cost of nearly INR 158 crore. The building area is sprawled across 4.9 acres and has been designed to accommodate 1300 passengers at once. This number excludes the 400 international passengers that the airport seeks to handle. The new terminal is blessed with better modern amenities to enhance the passenger experience and to attract more airlines to operate from Swami Vivekananda Airport. Currently, there are two aerobridges, eight boarding gates, eight X-ray baggage machines, 20 check-in counters and four security counters that have been installed to cater to the efficient functioning of passenger services.

Further, they have also installed two baggage claim conveyor belts as part of their grand airport upgradation scheme. The airport also has a cargo terminal that was brought in the picture in 2016. The Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal was inaugurated in 2016 after the constant demand for an air cargo operation by the state of Chattisgarh. The Airports Authority of India worked to convert one of the old terminal buildings into a Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal to accommodate cargo operations. The project was handled by Ahmedabad-based firm, GSEC Limited. Presently, the airport has a single runway which measures approximately 10,666 ft in length and 148 ft in width. Much recently, the airport also facilitated the airfield with night-landing options. The apron of the airport has seven parking bays which can accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 type of aircraft, along with a helipad.

About airport authority

Swami Vivekananda Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The government body has taken up the responsibility to manage the airport's expansion and management operations. Over the years, they have been able to make quite a few changes in the airport's infrastructure. This includes the installation of a new integrated terminal that caters to handle more passengers. Not to mention, they have also worked on accommodating parking bays that would enable handling of aircraft from the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 carrier family. The equipment of the airport has also seen a consistent upgradation. Further, to make the airport accessible from both the cities, Raipur and Naya Raipur, the Airports Authority has brought forth services and installed them in the airport premise.

Facilities at the Raipur Airport

Baggage – The baggage services that can be availed at Swami Vivekananda Airport is quite good. They have baggage wrapping services which you can take up to avoid mishandling and theft of items from your bag. The airport also offers storage facilities for bags, but there are some conditions that need to be adhered to. Trolleys are also present at the airport vicinity to help you take your luggage around at the airport.

Lounge – The airport has a fancy lounge called the Cinnamon Lounge. The facilities at the Cinnamon Lounge have been designed specifically to help ease the passengers who are waiting for boarding. The leather seats installed at the lounge space is cosy and very comfortable. Not to mention, the restaurant in the lounge also offers exquisite food and good hospitality services. One can relax at the lounge and even pay a sum to enter the space.

Restaurants and cafe – Although the airport is considerably small, it does have a bunch of restaurants and cafes for travellers. They are located in the departure as well as the arrivals section. Some of the globally recognised food establishments are also present at the airport's food court. Not to mention how budget snacks corners are also available at Swami Vivekananda Airport. Further, as part of its facilities, you can find small joints which serve coffee, tea and other beverages.

Duty-free shops – Even though Swami Vivekananda Airport is predominantly not an international airport, it does facilitate duty-free shops at the departure section to cater to the entertainment needs of the passengers. One can check out the shop with all its culturally rich textile goods as well as artefacts. The place is perfect for purchasing souvenirs, in case you might have missed out on shopping for the same.

Retail store – Shoppers Stop, a famous retail shop chain in the country, owned by Tata Group, has a franchise at the airport's departure section. The shop offers a plethora of goods and commodities from the clothing and lifestyle segment. You can peruse through the shop and even make some purchases at the shop.

ATMs – One of the perks of Raipur Airport is the installation of ATM kiosks at the departure and the arrival gates. This is to ensure that you are able to withdraw money as and when needed. It also becomes convenient to travel within the city from the airport by withdrawing cash directly at the airport premise. You can also make purchases in the airport.

Medical services – To assist in medical emergencies, the airport has provisions for medical services as well. There are dedicated rooms for medical services as well as professionals available on duty at the airport premise. Along with this, the airport also has pharmacies with common medicines.

Special assistance – The airport provides special assistance to cater to the needs of passengers. You can ask for the airport to send staff to escort the passengers with special needs. The special assistance is usually reserved for travellers with mobility and physical disability. They cater to senior citizens, pregnant women and individuals with mobility concerns. It would be best to intimate the airlines about the special assistance needs so that the airport staff can be prepared for the same.

Top airlines flying from the Raipur Airport

The airport mainly caters to domestic airlines with a few provisions for international airline operations. Presently, Swami Vivekananda Airport has operations of airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo and Vistara. These airlines have direct flights connecting to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Vizag, Nagpur, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Patna, Srinagar, Ranchi, Jaipur, Indore, Goa, Jagdalpur, Jharsuguda, Bhopal and more. According to the official website of Swami Vivekananda Airport, the airport is scheduled to cater to United Airlines, which has a scheduled flight to Delhi.

How to reach Raipur Airport

By Rail

Swami Vivekananda Airport is a little away from the city centre. It is approximately 16 km from the Raipur Junction railway station and 14 km from the main bus terminal. Hence, if you are travelling to Raipur from other parts of Chattisgarh, from the railway station, you can avail taxi cab and rickshaw services to reach Swami Vivekananda Airport. Due to the distance from the railway station to the airport, the prepaid taxi and rickshaws might charge an exorbitant amount. It is advised that the traveller fix a final fare to reach the Swami Vivekananda Airport before starting the journey.

By Bus

Dedicated bus services are available to reach Swami Vivekananda Airport from within the city of Raipur as well as nearby destinations. You can find buses heading to Telibandha, Pachpedinaka, Tatibandh and Durg Railway Station too. A schedule of the buses travelling to Swami Vivekananda Airport has been shared on the official website of Raipur Airport. Private buses can also be booked at a price that has been mentioned on the website. These luxury buses will be air-conditioned and have individual seats, high definition LED screens, and trained staff take you to the Swami Vivekananda Airport.

By Taxi cabs and ridesharing apps

One of the best ways to reach the Swami Vivekananda Airport from the main city is by hailing a taxi cab service or by booking a ride on a ridesharing app. The city offers Ola and Uber cab services. You can make your bookings and reach Raipur Airport without much hassle. Further, the city is also blessed with enough prepaid taxi cab services that can be availed. These services can be found within the city as well as the airport.