Rajkot to Chennai Flights

  About Rajkot

Rajkot, in Gujarat, does not have a lot of options for you to go sightseeing but you will certainly love shopping here. Be it traditional snacks or silverware, Rajkot is the perfect place for a one-day trip. The city is also popular since it is where late Mahatma Gandhi pursued his early education. It is also considered as one of the cleanest cities in India. While there aren't a lot of options to explore in the city, you can visit the Jubilee Garden, Watson Museum, Kaba Gandhi No Delo and Lang Library. Do also treat yourself to a delicious plate of Gujarati thali. The city also attracts a lot of tourists who are interested in history.

Best Time to Visit Rajkot

While Rajkot's weather is pleasant throughout the year, making it possible for you to plan a trip whenever you want to, it is advisable to visit the city during winter. Rajkot experiences winter from October to March, January and February being the coldest months. The temperature ranges between 22 to 10 degree Celsius. You will get great deals on flights to Rajkot during this time. Make sure you book a hotel in Rajkot in advance since this is also peak season for tourists in Rajkot.

Monsoon in Rajkot begins from June and lasts till September. While the rainfall is not too heavy in the city during these months, it does give tourists a much-needed break from the summer heat. The showers won't really affect your plans to go sightseeing a lot and since the climate will also be pleasant, planning a trip during monsoon will also not prove to be a bad idea. In fact, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Rajkot during the monsoon. It being monsoon and off season, hotel bookings in Rajkot will also get cheaper. The Tarnetar Fair happens in August and attracts a lot of tourists from all over the country. You will see people of different tribes come together to celebrate the fair.

March to June is when summer hits the city, and the scorching heat makes it an unfavourable time for you to plan a visit to Rajkot. The temperature can go up to 42 degree Celsius, and this might even affect your sightseeing plans or any other plan to venture out. The temperature decreases and heads towards pleasant weather towards June end, making way for the monsoon to hit the city.

Places to Visit in Rajkot

The Kaba Gandhi No Delo is one of the most important tourist spots in the city. This is where late Mahatma Gandhi spent his childhood since it was his paternal home. It has been converted into a museum for tourists. Rajkot has a lot of museums for history geeks. The Rotary Dolls Museum is another popular place for tourists to visit. The museum has about 1000 dolls on exhibition that give you a glimpse of cultures from across the world and history, too. The Watson Museum that is inside Jubilee Gardens is yet another place that is perfect for the history geeks. You will find artefacts here that date back to the Indus Valley civilisation. It will also help you understand the history of Gujarat.

After you are done with the museum tour, you can visit the Nyari Dam. This place is perfect for an intimate picnic with your family, and if you wait for some more time, you will be treated to the most enchanting sunset. The Khambhalida Caves must also be in your list of places to visit in Rajkot. The beautiful carvings and the caves date back to the 4th and 5th century. Lang Library is the right place for all you bookworms. You will have to pay an entry fee to enter the library, but you will surely have a great time. The Aji Dam and Lal Pari Lake are two other places in Rajkot you can go to with your family to enjoy the scenic view. Do not end your trip without visiting the Ranjit Vilas Palace and admire its architecture. The city also has quite a few temples that you can visit before ending your Rajkot trip. The temples here have a scenic view, and you'll also be stunned at the marvellous architecture.

Things to do in Rajkot

One thing you can't miss in Rajkot is a scrumptious Gujarati thali. The food in Rajkot is absolutely delectable, and you will enjoy each bite. If you are visiting in August or September, do visit the Tarnetar Fair. The fair takes place near Triniteshwar Mahadev, and you will love being a part of this three-day festival. The dances, songs, stalls and amusement rides will ensure that you have the best day. You will get to buy a lot of souvenirs for your friends and family back home. You will also take back home a lot of memories. Visit the Mayur Patola Art near Virani High School. The patola sarees with their unique weaving techniques and intricate designs will steal your heart right away. You can also buy a few patola sarees in a few other shops. If you feel a little adventurous, you can hike to Aji Dam in the evening right before sunset. Make sure you catch the sunset from the dam, and you can thank us later for it. You can also hike up to Osam Hill in the Patanvav village. It is believed that the Pandavas lived here during their exile and you will even find the spot where Bhima met his first wife, Hidimbi. The sunset only makes this place a million times better and spectacular.

To please the water baby in you, plan a picnic by the Lal Pari lake. It's not too far away from the city and the right spot for you to come across migratory birds like wigeons, purple moorhens and rosy pastors. If Rajkot is famous for anything, it is the handicrafts and the sarees. Make sure you visit the markets and find the best of everything the city has to offer to you. The Bangdi Bazaar and the Gujari Bazaar are two markets that are quite popular in the city. From jewellery to clothes to other artwork, you will find a lot of things at affordable prices.

Food and Restaurants in Rajkot

You can't go to Gujarat and not have the Dhokla or Handvo. They are the most popular Gujarati delicacies that are served with mint chutney and another chutney made of dates. It depends on whether you want to go for the spicy dip or the sweet one. Handvo is also another type of Dhokla that looks and tastes quite different. Thepla is yet another dish that is famous in Gujarat and the rest of the country. It is like paratha and is made of fenugreek leaves. It's best consumed with pickles or curd or any other dip that you prefer. It is also a very popular breakfast option in the city. Kadhi chawal is also something you must try here. And don't leave Rajkot without giving the Gujarati thali a try. The experience will stay with you for a very long time and will even make you want to take a trip back to Rajkot. Undhiyu, Rotlo, Sev Usal, Khandvi, Khakra, Khamman, Fafda are also some of the popular dishes that you must try when you are in Rajkot.

The Grand Thakar is famous for its thalis, and you must definitely try the Gujarati thali here. Waves is another restaurant that is known for its hospitality. Lords Banquet Restaurant is another place to go to if you want to give Gujarati food a try. You will also find other types of cuisines on the menu. Apple Bite Multicuisine Restaurant and Cafe is also a very popular place that has Punjabi, Chinese and Continental cuisines in their menu.

How to Reach Rajkot (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest airport is the Rajkot Airport that is well-connected with other major cities. However, international routes to Rajkot are connected from other cities. A lot of tourists either take a different flight to Rajkot from Mumbai or stop at Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. You can even take a taxi or bus from the Ahmedabad airport. If you are travelling during the offseason, you will even get decent flight deals to Rajkot and if lucky, cheap flight tickets to Rajkot.

By Rail

The Rajkot Railway Junction connects with a lot of other cities. Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jodhpur are some of the popular routes to Rajkot by rail. The frequency of the trains is also excellent, and it will be advisable for you to book your tickets in advance.

By Road

The road connectivity from Rajkot to other cities in Gujarat is excellent. You will get a lot of buses and taxis from other cities to reach Rajkot. Though taking a flight to Rajkot will be a much more convenient option. Even though buses and trains are far cheaper than flights, reaching Rajkot by air is a much better option, and it also saves a lot of time.

  About Chennai

Chennai falls in the top 10 cities of India with an illustrious history and thriving heritage. The 369-year-old city is one of the most developed cities in India and stands proudly as the capital of Tamil Nadu. Formerly known as Madras, the city of Chennai is known for its glorious history, arts and culture and its ardent enthusiasm towards automobiles. The city is also known as India's health capital as attracts the highest number of foreign tourists with 45 percent catering to health. The thriving city's melange of a modern vibe and traditional roots makes it one of the best urban cities in the world. The airport has excellent flight connectivity to and from Chennai and other domestic and international cities. You can make your flight bookings to Chennai as well as find a range of hotels to book from in the city.

Best time to visit Chennai

As Chennai is a tropical city located by the coast, the temperatures are incredibly high. Even the seasons are binary. The summers in Chennai are between April to June but is hot for the rest of the year too. The monsoon season in Chennai takes place twice in a year. While it receives scanty rainfall between June to September (as opposed to the rest of the country, which receives bountiful rain), the months from October to December see heavy rain in the city, owing to the north-east monsoon. The climate is hot and humid all-round the year, but December is the most pleasant time in the year to visit Chennai.

Places to visit in Chennai

Beaches

As Chennai rests comfortably on the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, the city has some pristine beaches to check out. Touted to be the second-largest urban beach in the entire world, the Marina Beach is the jewel of Chennai with a shoreline of 12 km long. The sandy shores of the beach teamed with the exquisite Colonial buildings on the street-side make for quite a spectacle.

While Marina Beach is more on the populous side, to enjoy the serenity of a quieter beach, you can visit Edward Elliot's beach and Breezy Beach, to name a few. These beaches are quaint and attract individuals who need to step away from the city's bustle. The peaceful ambience of these beaches has turned into quite the tourist attractions in Chennai.

Temples

The temples in Chennai are centuries old and found aplenty. Every corner of the street has at least one temple. These temples have fascinating stories and exquisite architecture. The temples are known to have a specific structure in South India with detailed gopurams, enormous water tanks in the back of the temple, domestic animals such as cows and dogs, hawkers selling toys and snacks, quaint ponds and shrines of several deities. Some of the famous temples in the city that you can visit are the Kapaleeswarar Temple, the Parthasarathy Temple, Sri Ramakrishna Math-Universal Temple, Kumaran Kundram and Karaneeswarar temple.

The city is also home to a bunch of churches and mosques. In fact, the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Thomas can be found in Chennai. The shrine is believed to be built over the tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, who had visited India in 52 AD. After his death, the saint's body is said to have been buried under the same spot where the Basilica now stands. Other notable churches and mosques include St. Thomas Mount, St. Mary's Church, Big Mosque (Wallajah Mosque) and more.

Museums and Monuments

Chennai's rich culture is reflected not just from the slew of temples and coastal delights but also the monuments and museums in the city. Since the city was also under the direct influence of the British East India Company, much of the architecture, culture and infrastructure have an English vibe. Visit the National Government Museum to learn more about the city's history. You can further go on an artistic voyage by visiting the National Art Gallery, which is more than 100 years old.

Ecological parks

Another major highlight of the city is the number of ecological parks and gardens that can be explored. The city runs a crocodile preservation park as well as a snake park called the Guindy Snake Park. Sprawled across 280 hectares of land is the Guindy National Park which is known to be the smallest national park in India. While the national park is inhabited by very few flora and fauna, it does hold a dedicated space to preserve reptiles and other amphibian species. Besides these two, one can opt to visit the Arinjar Anna Zoological Park, also known as Vandalur Zoo, which is located in the outskirts of the city.

Things to do in Chennai

Chennai is heavily invested not just in the automobiles but also the literary, arts and culture fields. To them, dance and music play a significant role in their daily lives. In fact, the city also observes a bunch of festivals such as Madras Music Season, Madras Day, The Hindu Lit for Life and Chennai Book Fair to commemorate some of their indulgences. These events are a rage and definitely worth attending. You can visit some of the music and dance functions held by the Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust, The Music Academy in TTK Road, Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha and Indian Institute of Music and Arts to name a few.

Another fun activity to take up would be to watch a movie of a South star at one of the single-screen or even a multiplex. The fervour of fandom during the release of their favourite celebrity's movie release is euphoric and definitely worth experiencing. As for bibliography enthusiasts, you can visit the Theosophical Society to explore the library set by Anne Besant. There are various malls with high-end fashion brands that you could check out. Or you can always go to Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar to shop silk ensembles and golden accessories.

Food and Restaurants in Chennai

T Nagar and Anna Nagar in Chennai are known market places with many food and restaurant options too. In fact, some of the best joints in the city can be found here. One of the most popular restaurants, Saravana Bhavan, is a must-visit to get the best of South Indian vegetarian food. Sri Anandam Hotel, Geetha Cafe in Pondy Bazaar, Rathna Cafe in Triplicane and Karpagambal Mess in Mylapore are some of the best restaurants that will you give quite the experience of the delicious South Indian cuisine. Dakshin and Southern Spice also offer tasty food.

However, if you do wish to explore a little more, Mansuk's shop in T Nagar is known to emulate Mumbai-chaat and Gujarati Thali. For sweets and desserts, you must let your tastebuds acquaint with Mysore Paks, Tarti Paal and other such sweets, which you will find at Sri Krishna Sweets and Aavin corners. DOJO Kulfis is also a famous hub for traditional ice creams such as kulfi, faloodas and smoothies.

How to reach Chennai

By Air

After Delhi airport and Mumbai airport, the Chennai airport is the third most active airport in India for domestic as well as international departures and arrivals. The airport is divided into two terminals, the Anna Terminal reserved for international flights and the Kamraj Terminal for domestic flights. Located in the same long stretched airport, the flight connectivity to and from Chennai is excellent.

Not just domestic but even international cities are well-connected with Chennai. Major international flight routes from Chennai to cities such as London, Frankfurt, Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, New York, Hong Kong, etc. can be reached as flights are available from Chennai Airport. Since Chennai is one of the busiest cities in India, the flight demands are also quite high. Make your flight bookings to Chennai months in advance to avoid high ticket costs.

Another perk of the Chennai airport is how it is well-connected with the city too. While it is located in the outskirts, the airport has a Metro which directly connects with the main city, making travelling far more convenient.

By Rail

There are two central stations which connect Chennai to other major cities in the country. Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore are the two central stations with regular trains entering and exiting the city from different parts of India. While Chennai Central is known to connect the city to other cities, Chennai Egmore has intercity trains that run regularly. Interestingly, both the stations are well-connected with the Chennai airport.

Chennai Central sees trains coming in from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Madurai, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore daily. Since the rail connectivity is so good, it is often considered by travellers. You must book your rail tickets well in advance as the demand is always high to travel to Chennai.

By Road

The city's bus station is touted to be one of the largest in Asia. Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) is a state-owned property and provides transport services to a plethora of destinations in the South of India. Located in the main city, there are several direct buses to the airport as well as the Egmore station. Considered to be a cheap and affordable means of travelling, you can visit Chennai as long as your location is in the neighbouring states. The travel time to Pondicherry, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Trivandrum, etc. is considerably low.

  About Rajkot Airport

Gujarat's Rajkot Airport is the fourth busiest in the state, following Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. Rajkot Airport is a civilian airport that only caters to domestic flights. The airport is also called Civil Aerodrome Rajkot. Currently, the airport sees regular flight activities by Air India and SpiceJet. The airport has a parking apron reserved for Boeing 787 as well as one ATR 72. The terminal of Rajkot Airport accommodates barely 125 people at once. It is located about 3 km to the east of the city of Rajkot. Other airports that are in proximity with Rajkot Airport are Jamnagar, which is about 81 km and Ahmedabad International Airport, at 221 km. Rajkot Airport's flights mostly connect to major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Surat. The most popular routes of flights from Rajkot Airport are to Mumbai and Bangalore respectively.

About Rajkot Airport Terminals

At present, Rajkot Airport has only one functioning terminal with a capacity of 125 passengers in an hour at both, the departures and arrivals section of the airport. There is only one boarding gate that is located on the ground level, while other passenger-related procedures take place on the first level. In total, the airport has about six check-in counters along with two security checks and two X-ray baggage facilities also available. The terminal is under the management of the Airports Authority of India.

About airport authority

Rajkot Airport is wholly owned and operated by the government of India's statutory airport's body, Airports Authority of India. The governing body is responsible for all management and infrastructural expansion related duties of the airport. The airport has been taking care of Rajkot Airport's infrastructure. In terms of management too, the Airports Authority of India is responsible for handling the airport staff. Due to its small size, the airport did see some challenges with respect to their expansion plans. However, it is being taken care of by the officials responsible for the airport.

A plan to extend the Rajkot Airport is in the works. Rajkot Urban Development Authority and Rajkot Municipal Corporation have collectively designed and proposed a plan to extend the runway of Rajkot Airport from its current 5,400 ft to 6,000 ft. The plan is to accommodate larger aircraft and to enable string connectivity to major cities aside from Mumbai. As Rajkot is a city with extensive manufacturing companies, the airport needs to have good connectivity with more cities in the country. Currently, the airport suffers from lack of capacity to accommodate larger aircraft as well as passengers. Expanding the airport is quite challenging as it is located within the city in proximity to the residential area and commercial buildings. Due to lack of space, the Rajkot Airport is finding difficulty with its expansion projects. The current airstrip is also incapable of handling and serving larger aircraft. Hence, plans to construct a new airport altogether has been approved by the city. The new airport is located on the Ahmedabad - Rajkot national highway and is about 20 km away from the main city.

Facilities at Rajkot Airport

Special assistance - Rajkot Airport has limited facilities, but they have the basic ones to cater to the needs of the passengers. Travellers with mobility concerns can avail their special assistance services. The airport has trained staff to take care of travellers who need to be escorted within the airport premise. The same needs to be notified to the airlines as well. They will be able to speed up the process of reserving a staff to help the passenger.

Baggage - The airport is said to have the best baggage services in store for the passengers. They have free baggage services for passengers carrying heavy luggage too. Not just the trolleys but you can also opt for porter services where staff would help you take your baggage from one place to another at the airport. The security-check for the bags can also be done by the staff on your behalf. Wrapping services are another perk of Rajkot Airport.

Child care room - Designated child care rooms have been installed at the airport premise. Often passengers travel with infants who need special treatment. With feeding and changing diapers as some of the challenging acts that require privacy, Rajkot Airport has brought forth a clean and hygienic room specially designed to cater to their needs. The room has baby products along with a comfortable seating arrangement and even a changing table.

Medical services - Medical assistance and services are also available at the airport. The Airports Authority of India has made it mandatory to install medical services in case of emergencies at the airport. Hence, Rajkot Airport also has a dedicated medical service available at all times. You can also find pharmacies at the airport. Details of the same can be found at the airport's information desk.

Cafes and snack counters - Rajkot Airport doesn't have a proper restaurant or food court as such to cater to full-course meals for passengers. However, the airport has brought forth some food stalls and establishments. There are local entrepreneurs who have set up their stalls in the premise. You can find light snacks, tea, coffee and other beverages at the airport. Some of them are inspired by Gujarati cuisine, so the snacks are also much to the likes of their culture.

Lounges - There are a business lounge and a VIP lounge installed at the airport. Although these facilities are restricted to certain ticket holders or members of specific airlines, the services available are quite good. They have comfortable seating, TV and entertainment decks, mobile-charging points and even provisions of WiFi facilities to enable a comfortable experience.

Transportation services - Right outside the arrivals section, there are local taxi cabs and other such transport facilities available. You can book a ride within the city at the airport itself. Further, rentals can also be booked here. The airport also provides a travel guide for travellers who are visiting the city for the first time.

ATMs - ATM kiosks of State Bank of India have been installed at the airport premise. You can make cash withdrawals at the airport, in case you might have missed out on doing the same before your journey.

Smoking lounge - Dedicated smoking lounges are also available at Rajkot Airport's vicinity. The same can be found at the departure. Since smoking in public is an offence, the airport has ensured to dedicate a space specifically for smokers.

WiFi - WiFi services are also complimentary and available for free at the airport. It is only reserved for a few minutes post which the passenger will need to pay an extra fee if they need to get WiFi connectivity.

Top airlines flying from Rajkot Airport

Rajkot Airport caters to airlines such as East-West Airlines, Indian Airlines, Air Deccan and Gujarat Airways. The airlines are mostly all regional with more preference given to cargo flights. SpiceJet and Air India are the only two domestic airlines that operate from Rajkot Airport. The flight connectivity of Rajkot Airport is quite limited as it only caters to about a handful of cities. The major cities include Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Meanwhile, Rajkot Airport also has flights to Surat and is available for passengers. Out of the flights that function from Rajkot Airport, the most popular routes are the ones connecting to Mumbai and Bangalore. Majorly, the airport doesn't see a lot of flight action and has limited scheduled flights. Much of the air traffic is witnessed by other neighbouring airports such as Jamnagar, Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

How to reach Rajkot Airport

By Rail

The airport is also only 3 km away from the railway station. For travellers who are visiting the city from rural sections of Gujarat can easily get taxi cabs to reach Rajkot Airport from the railway station. The number of trains is limited and scheduled, so there are only specific destinations that it caters. You can get a taxi cab or rickshaw service from the railway station to reach Rajkot Airport. From the airport, you can get fixed rated taxi cabs too that will reach you to the railway station. Travellers often choose this as it is affordable and convenient too.

By Bus and taxi cabs

There is a bus stand located just 4 km away from Rajkot Airport. Hence, a majority of travellers opt for this mode of transport to reach Rajkot Airport. The bus stand sees scheduled buses reach from various parts of the city. In fact, some of the buses are interstate and have a good connection to neighbouring cities in Gujarat. You can travel from anywhere in Gujarat and be able to reach Rajkot Airport with the utmost ease. Along with buses, the city also has great taxi services. There are general taxi stands along with private taxi services available within the city. You can hail a cab from the bus stand and reach Rajkot Airport. Or you can directly take a cab to reach Rajkot Airport.

  About Chennai Airport

Chennai International Airport serves as the international airport to the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The airport is situated in Tirusulam, which is about 21 km away from the city centre. It has been recognised as the third busiest airport in the country in terms of international traffic as well as cargo capacity. The airport falls behind New Delhi and Mumbai to be on the list of the busiest airport. The Chennai International Airport is also the fourth busiest in India, with respect to passenger traffic and follows New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In India, the airport falls in the top five list of busiest international and domestic airports. The Chennai International Airport has also been acknowledged as the 49th busiest on the Asia level, becoming one of the four top cities to be on the top 50 Asia list. The airport is perfectly connected with Chennai Metro as well as Tirusulam railway station, which falls in the Chennai Suburban Railway line.

About Chennai Airport Terminals

The airport has two terminals which have been named after the state's former chief ministers. The domestic terminal is also known as K. Kamaraj while the international terminal is named C. N. Annadurai. They are interconnected by a building. The building now serves as an older international block that deals with administrative offices, along with a restaurant. The whole stretch is one linear structure that was built additionally as Anna terminal (T3) was brought about in 1988 to align with the Kamaraj terminal (T1). The first domestic terminal that was built at the Chennai airport had two aero-bridges. This was considered a milestone as the Chennai airport became the first one in the country to have aerobridges in the domestic terminal. Terminal 1 and 2 are not used for passenger traffic any more. They have been reserved for cargo. Meanwhile, the newly built Terminals 3 and 4 serve the international departures and arrivals. Annadurai terminal deals with international passengers. The terminal has about 45 check-in counters, 38 immigration booths with 16 at the departure terminal and 22 at the arrivals and 18 customs counters which are at the departure as well as arrival terminal.

About airport authority

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Department handled the Chennai Airport in 1952. However, the operations were later taken over by the Airports Authority of India in 1972. Since then, there have been extensive infrastructural development plans and schemes that have been conducted. Much recently, the airport underwent some extensive construction to modernise the amenities prevalent in the airport. The new international terminal (T4), was built just while ago. Simultaneously, the existing international terminal (T3) was renovated, and a second runway was extended. The parallel runway also includes new taxiways, parking bays as well as a cargo terminal. The Airports Authority of India is responsible for working on the designs, maintenance and management of the airport. Not to mention how AAI brings forth funds to expand the development projects and schemes for the airport. The statutory body has also introduced two sustainable gardens which have been installed within the airport premises. Along with this, they have worked towards many other expansions.

Facilities at the Chennai Airport

Child care rooms: The Chennai airport has reserved specific rooms for mothers with infants. The space is perfect for feeding, changing table and other such activities to take care of the kids. The room is perfectly maintained and is regularly sanitised.

Wheelchair services: The airport also has wheelchair services that have been reserved for senior citizens, expectant mothers and passengers with medical ailments. You can find these services at the departure and arrival gates of both the terminals.

WiFi: WiFi services have also been provided at the airport. There is free WiFi that is available for close to 45 minutes in the premise. You can also find paid services of WiFi for better connectivity and longer duration of access. You will need an Indian phone number to get hold of the services.

Medical aid: The airport also has special medical kits and rooms available for emergencies. To ensure that emergency cases are tended to with prompt medical assistance, there are kits and services available at close intervals. There are health scan facilities also available at the airport to get a better understanding of the medical concern if need be.

Prayer rooms: Multi faith rooms have been reserved for passengers. The prayer rooms are open for people of all faith as there are religious books also present in the hall. These rooms can also be used as meditation halls.

Lost and found: Lost and found facilities are also available at the airport premise. Details of the same can be received at the information desk. A few dedicated spaces have been allotted at close intervals for lost and found desks.

ATMs and Forex: The airport has a slew of ATM kiosks and foreign exchange counters at regular intervals to help passengers. In case you are running short of cash or need to exchange some currency, you can find counters at the airport.

Post Office: One of the cool facilities that the airport has is postal services. There are courier services and post offices in the airport vicinity. You can find them at both the terminals. This can be ideal for last-minute mails and documents that need to be sent out.

Restaurants and cafes:

Chennai airport has a bunch of hotels and famous food establishments. The airport cafeteria has many options to choose from for food. From Indian cuisine to dishes from the international kitchen, there are many choices that can be made for food while you wait to board the flight.

Smoking zone: The airport has dedicated smoking rooms too. The rooms also have provisions for cigarette boxes, in case passengers run out of them or need to purchase them.

Baggage wrapping: The luggage facilities at Chennai airport are also good. Aside from trolley services and luggage counters to store them, the airport also has baggage wrap services. The airport is equipped with professional staff that package the bags with plastic to avoid various concerns ranging from baggage mishandling to thefts.

VIP lounge: Chennai airport has reserved halls for VIP lounges. Individuals with first-class flight tickets and premium memberships with specific airlines will have access to the VIP Lounge. The lounge services are quite good and upscaled.

Top airlines flying from the Chennai Airport

Domestic flights flying from Chennai Airport are from Terminal 1. The Chennai International Airport is touted to be the HQ of the Airports Authority of India, with states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep and Puducherry under its wing. The Chennai airport has immaculate connectivity with most of the Southern cities and hence, has various domestic airlines catering to the same. Airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, Air Asia India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara, operate from the Chennai International Airport. These airlines have flights connecting to specific small towns within the Southern belt and hence, make the airport an important hub.

Along with the domestic airlines that operate from the city, there are a plethora of international airlines that also function from the airport. A majority of flights connecting to Australia and New Zealand have airlines available. The most important international airlines that operate from Chennai Airport are Air Arabia, Air Austral, Air Canada, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Seychelles, Air Asia, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Batik Air, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways, flydubai, Flynas, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Japan Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Air Asia, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and Virgin Australia. Terminal 3 and 4 are reserved for international airlines as departures and arrivals take place from them.

How to reach the Chennai Airport

The Chennai International Airport is located on the National Highway 32, also recognised as the Grand Southern trunk Road. The highway is known to be a famous link that connects the city to other important cities in Tamil Nadu. The best way to reach the Chennai International Airport is by opting for its closest railway station, the Tirusulam railway station. The station falls on the Suburban railway network. Often this route is considered as it directly connects with the city centre. Another famous route connecting the city centre to the airport is via the metro station. The airport metro station falls in the Chennai Metro line. The metro line is also considered to be the ideal way to reach the Chennai Airport. Aside from the Tirusulam railway station, the Metro station is favoured more. It is also acknowledged to be the second metro station which connects with an airport in India.

There are expansion plans that are in the making to make the connectivity to Chennai airport better from the city centre. It has been announced that a direct tube will be constructed to bridge the distance from the metro station to the Chennai airport. Flyovers are also being erected to connect the metro station directly to the departure and airport terminals. Simultaneously, the government is also planning on facilitating a connection between the Tirusulam train station with the metro station.