Silchar to Kozhikode Flights

  About Silchar

Silchar is a small town in the state of Assam, located on the South-Eastern side from the state capital Guwahati. It has been coined as the 'Island of Peace' by the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. The city is nestled amid wide expanses of lush greenery. Much of Silchar's cultural heritage is a testament to the British influence on the town. There have been various developments in terms of building the airport to cashing in on the tea plantations, that have taken in recent years. The quaint town is one of the developing cities in India with a busy airport. The Silchar airport was initially a Royal Air Force that was built during the Second World war by the Britishers. However, after the war was over and they lost command in India, the airport was passed on to the Royal Indian Air Force, which eventually opted to open a commercial airport.

The small town enjoys a good number of tourists because of the neutral yet pleasant climate it has to offer. The flights to Silchar are also well-connected, further enhancing tourism in the city. The accommodation is not lavish, but you can still book a hotel room in Silchar and enjoy the scenic views.

Best time to visit Silchar

Silchar's location is ideal for travelling at any time of the year. There is no restriction as such to visit Silchar only in specific seasons. However, the experience of Silchar's beauty can only be experienced depending on the time you visit the small town. The climate is quite neutral and perfect for many who wish to take up an impromptu flight to Silchar and relish the serenity of the place. Winters in Silchar can be quite cold with temperatures falling down to 10 degree Celsius. The season kicks off from October and stretches on till March. The trails turn misty, and the city looks beautiful under the winter sun. This is the perfect time to visit if you wish to indulge in some exploring of Silchar while engaging in adventure activities.

Summers in Silchar are also quite pleasant as the temperature ranges between 25 degree Celsius and 35 degree Celsius. Starting from April, the summers stay with Silchar till June. The season does witness many tourists for its pleasant ambience and environment, making it the peak season. With the enchanting weather and sublime air, exploring more of Silchar definitely becomes easier. The sun isn't too harsh and helps tourists check out some of the attractions without sweating it out.

Monsoons in Silchar begin from July and stretch up to September. Due to its location and the torrent rains that the town witnesses, travelling during monsoon is not advisable. The city sees frequent showers, which could turn somewhat risky as the possibility of floods in Silchar is quite high. Not to mention how the roads turn mucky too, making transit within the town difficult. The flight tickets to Silchar might drop during the off-season. If you think you can deal with the heavy rains, then you should give it a go and also get some great deals on flights to Silchar.

Places to visit in Silchar

Silchar's fame comes from the vast expanse of teas that it grows. They have a dedicated Tea Garden which showcases how the tea plants are maintained and everything pertaining to the processing of the leaves. With its a beautiful sight and informative tour, visiting the Tea Garden is a must when in Silchar. You should also check out Haflong, which is a small but quaint hilly town which is surrounded by scintillating water streams, green hills and exquisite waterfalls. Silchar is also famous for all the temples it has, including the Kancha Kanti Kali Temple, Bhuban Temple and ISKCON Temple.

Things to do in Silchar

There are very few things that can be done in Silchar. One of the top things to do would be to go on a pilgrimage and visit all the lovely temples that are present in the town. Or you can always opt to venture out of the town, a few kilometres away and find some new travel expeditions to indulge in. Khaspur seems like an excellent option to try this out. It has relics from the Dimasa kingdom and some tourist attractions. You can visit the place and check it out. If you're looking for peace and serenity, then you should visit the Dolu Lake and go on a photography excursion. The place offers some scenic views that would make for good postcards.

Food and Restaurants in Silchar

Silchar's food culture is not as flourishing as one would expect. Assamese cuisine is known to be eccentric from the rest of the cities in the country. With the Bengali-influence interspersed with their own flavours, the cuisine is certainly one of a kind and delicious. Some of the famous authentic dishes from the Assamese culture include Khar, an exquisite meat delicacy which also has flavours of raw papaya, taro and pulses. The dish is certainly odd but worth the try.

Assamese also indulge in cooking duck and are pretty good at it. Their duck meat curry is one of the best. However, the dish is only reserved for special occasions which include festivals, weddings and more. If you do come across something called an Oou Khatta, do not hesitate to try. The sweet and sour chutney is made from elephant apple and is a blast of flavours in the mouth. There is a handful but relevant vegetarian food options too. The famous one is Xaak Aru Bhaji, which is a mix of vegetables cooked together and garnished with herbs, garlic, ginger and lemon.

There are a few good restaurants in Silchar, but none of them exclusively sell the real Assamese cuisine. In fact, to cater to the tourist crowd, they often have dishes that are famous and easy to sell. Nevertheless, you should still check out their down-to-earth dishes. Nahaz, Sudakshina, Eclipse - The Restro Lounge, Hasty Tasty, Swarupa Restaurant are some names that you should remember when you go to Silchar.

How to reach Silchar (Transportation)

By Air

Silchar Airport was originally built by the British as Royal Air Force. However, after the freedom movement, when the British left the country, the authority changed to the Royal Indian Air Force. The airport has been used for commercial purposes since then. Located about 29 km away from the main city area of Silchar in Assam, the airport does enjoy a good number of flights and passengers. Flights to Silchar regularly fly as it is one of the busiest airports in the state. Located at 338 ft above the sea level, the airport offers quite a scenic view during take-off and landing. The airport enjoys great flight connectivity from Silchar to major cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. In fact, Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo airlines have dedicated flights to Silchar, enabling the city to be of reach for major Indian cities.

The airport has only one terminal and handles flights taking domestic routes to Silchar. From Silchar airport to the main city, there are Volvo bus services made available to help travellers with their travel plans. There are taxi cabs also present at the airport that you can hire. These are the only two modes of transport to reach the city centre. However, once you're in the city, you can book a hotel in Silchar and start exploring.

By Rail

Silchar railway station is also called Bhasha Shahid Railway Station, which could be a mouthful to say. The location is precisely in the middle of the city, making transport within the city easy. The railway has excellent connection from Silchar to the rest of Indian cities. There are trains from Silchar connecting with Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Vizag, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Agartala, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram and more. On a total, it is claimed that the city connects with approximately 170 cities in the country. Considering how the train connectivity from Silchar to other cities in India is so impeccable, the demand for it is also high.

Hence, you should book your tickets to Silchar in advance. It is necessary to get a confirmed ticket and for that to happen, you will have to book tickets in advance. Despite having only three platforms, the station has managed to maintain a good log of cities visiting and exiting Silchar.

By Road                                                                             

Flight tickets to Silchar could be exorbitant due to its high demand. However, in comparison, the road is believed to be the most convenient way to reach the city. The domestic road routes to Silchar are perfectly connected, leading many travellers to opt for this choice. Some travellers actually get down at Guwahati and opt for a bus journey. Since roadway is the most favourable way to reach Silchar, many visit the state capital and take buses from there.

The Assam State Transport Corporation (ATSC) provides public AC and non-AC buses to passengers heading to Silchar from Guwahati. In fact, major cities in the North-east offer to travel to Silchar via their dedicated buses.

  About Kozhikode

Formerly known as Calicut, the city of Kozhikode is one of the major commercial cities in the Kerala state. After Kochi, Kozhikode is the second biggest commercial capital of Kerala with its extensive overseas businesses. Over the years, Kozhikode has been transformed into a modern city with traces of its traditional culture still intact. It is a proper city with quaint cafes, malls, and more importantly, a hub to some of the biggest educational institutions in India. From Indian Institute of Management (IIM) to National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode has illustrious colleges and universities.

The city is entirely developed with an international airport in place. Although it is located a little away from the city centre, the airport has a plethora of Indian and international airlines providing services. The flight connectivity to and from Kozhikode is excellent, making it one of the best in the country. It also caters to overseas flying.

Best time to visit Kozhikode

Kozhikode enjoys tropical weather, much like the rest of Kerala. The summers are scorching and the winters sublime. While the beaches look beautiful during summers as the blue waters taunt back, the winter season is the best time to visit Kozhikode. During winters, the temperature in Kozhikode drops to 14 degree Celsius, making it exceptionally tourist-friendly. You can pick up your swimming trunks and head straight to the waters without having to worry about heat strokes and dehydration. October to February is winter for Kozhikode and also the peak season. Beyond this, you will be roasted as the summer heats would be too much to handle.

As a tropical city, humidity is in the air, and it only rises exponentially during summers. In fact, the temperatures soar to 37 degree Celsius. Venturing out under the summer sun in Kozhikode would be uncomfortable. The heat would further prevent you from exploring or sightseeing. Flight tickets to Kozhikode during summer would be cheap as it is off-season. Even accommodations would be affordable so if you do plan to take a trip, book yourself a luxury hotel in Kozhikode.

Places to visit in Kozhikode

Thikkoti Light House

As a coastal spot, there are many lighthouses in Kerala. Kozhikode also has a majestic lighthouse going by the name Thikkoti. Perched atop a small hill touching the Arabian Sea in the Thikkoti village, the lighthouse has been attracting tourists since its inception. The structure is at an elevated terrain which is said to be the remains of a shipwreck. The setting is so beautiful, especially from the top of the lighthouse.

Kozhikode Beach

Kozhikode Beach is one of the most popular and tourist's favourite. The beach's vibe is extremely relaxed and perfect for travellers who wish to unwind from the long day of sightseeing. The beach is known to offer a visual spectacle with the sky turning into various colours during sunset. Plus, it is only 1 km away from the railway station.

Beypore

Beypore is actually a shipbuilding port as well as a fishing harbour. One of the major reasons why you should add this to your list of places to visit in Kozhikode is because you will get to see how ships are built as well as get to see the busy fisherman head to the seas and return with delicious fish. Beypore is an important port in the West coast of India as not only does it build ships but is also essential for commercial purposes.

Thali Temple

The Thali Temple is another major tourist attraction in Kozhikode with pilgrims visiting to seek blessings from the deity. The temple is built to honour Lord Shiva, and a Shivalunga measuring about 2 ft is nestled perfectly within the premise. It is believed to be one of the oldest temples, and the sheer beauty lies in the simplicity with which it has been constructed.

Calicut Planetarium

Kozhikode has a Planetarium which will take you through some mysteries of the universe while you rest on a reclining chair. The place has a capacity of 250 visitors and is located close to the new bus stand. The Calicut Planetarium is always full with many visitors who are astronomy enthusiasts.

Things to do in Kozhikode

Drench yourself under the Kozhippara Falls

Located on the outskirts of Kakkadampoyli are the gorgeous Kozhippara Falls. Not only can you make a day of it as you hike through the trails, but you can also sit under the waterfall and relax.

Check out the Thusharagiri Falls

Nestled in the Western Ghats is the beautiful Thusharagiri waterfall. It is a little away from the main city, and you will have to trek towards the Lakkidi Ghat to reach the falls. It is quite the tourist spot in Kozhikode as many trekkers who would like to engage in outdoor activities. There are three waterfalls in the area which make quite the spectacle.

Hit the Sweet Street

There is a street in Kozhikode popular for the sweet savouries that they prepare. In fact, it is called Mithai Theravu, which translates to Sweet Street. It is actually one of the busiest streets in Kozhikode for all the right reasons. Pamper yourself with an array of delicious sweets and give yourself a sugar rush.

Watch shows at the Sargaalaya Kerala Arts

An art patron would be very much invested in the cultural heritage of Kerala. If you're one of them, then you should head to the Sargaalaya Kerala Arts which is an initiative undertaken by the Department of Tourism to promote and preserve the affluent art and culture of the state. While you're here, d check out the gorgeous backwaters that play a perfect setting for the place.

Food and Restaurants in Kozhikode

Kozhikode's food culture is a melange of Arab flavours interspersed with Indian culinary. It is known to be a foodie's hub as everyone here is enthused by the art of cooking with an acumen for exemplary cooking. The city has a unique take on culinary which is famously known as Mapilla cuisine with fish as the staple meat. The city is a foodie's paradise, and the more you try to explore, the more you'll be lost in the blissful flavours. Even though Kochi is known to have a thriving culinary scene, it is Kozhikode's flavourful food that takes the cake. You will be amazed by the exquisite food culture of the city.

Kozhikode's Paragon restaurant in Kannur Road is a haven for a biryani aficionado. The subtle mix of spices will leave you in a happy daze. Not to mention the Sulaimani tea that will go perfectly with the food. At Sagar restaurant sells delicious fish curry with pathiri which should definitely be tried. Then you have Zain's Hotel, a hotel run by women who have perfected the Mapilla cuisine. The Bombay Hotel in Silk Street also has some fantastic snacky fast food that will go down well with you. To indulge in something savoury, you can head to Maharaja Sweets where you'll find some exciting desserts like sticky halwa made from flour, jaggery and coconut oil.

How to reach Kozhikode (Transportation)

By Air

Kozhikode's airport has tremendously good connectivity with domestic cities as well as international destinations. Karipur airport, famously known as Calicut International Airport is about 23 km away from the city centre but has great internal network. There are numerous flights to and from Kozhikode flying to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad and more. The best part about Kozhikode airport is that it also caters to international flights. The city's airport serves flights to Middle Eastern countries as there are international routes from Kozhikode that connect the city to foreign countries. With such impeccable flight connectivity to Kozhikode, travelling to the city is quite comfortable and convenient. You can book your flights to Kozhikode online and get some great flight deals in the process.

By Rail

Kozhikode also has its own railway station which connects the city to various states and metropolitans. You can find trains going to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mangalore, Kochi and more. A plethora of express trains and mails are available, some that cross the city and others with Kozhikode as the last stop. The station is also within the city limits, making travelling tad bit more manageable. You can easily travel within the city as there are transport facilities available right outside the Kozhikode station. In fact, you can book a hotel in Kozhikode which is in the proximity of the railway station. Some affordable hotel rooms are available near the railway station.

By Road

The road connectivity to and from Kozhikode to other major cities is also impressive. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation have private as well as government-run buses which connect the city to Mangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and more. The big concern that comes from road transport is extensive travel hours. You will end up investing a lot of time on a bus when travelling from Kozhikode to other cities. However, some buses run in the day as well as night so you can pick a convenient option.

  About Calicut Airport

The Calicut International Airport, which is also acknowledged as Karipur airport, serves the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in the state of Kerala. The international airport enables flight connectivity to the Malabar region of Kerala. The Calicut International Airport is 25 km from the town of Malappuram and about 26 km from Kozhikode. The airport is recognised as the 11th busiest airport in the country, concerning overall passenger traffic. It is also known to be the third busiest airport in the state of Kerala, following Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. The Calicut International Airport received its international airport stature in 2006. The airport is also known to be the only airport in Kerala with a tabletop runway. There are only three tabletop runway in India after the Calicut Airport - Lengpui Airport and Mangalore Airport. The Calicut Airport serves as the base for Air India Express which has services of the Hajj Pilgrimage, flying to Jeddah and Medina from Kozhikode. The airport also serves as a focus city to airlines such as Air India, Indigo and SpiceJet.

About Calicut Airport Terminals

The Kozhikode Calicut International Airport has two passenger terminals supporting international and domestic airlines. One terminal is dedicated to domestic airlines that offer regional flights to travel within the country. The terminal is a single level which takes care of the arrivals as well as departures of passengers. It also caters to Air India Express, which operates from the airport. The departure and arrivals space in the domestic terminal has restaurants, shops, executive and VIP lounges and other services too. Meanwhile, the terminal also has nine check-in counters, six customs counters, 12 immigration counters and five security booths. The international terminal has two levels. The ground level is reserved for the arrival and departure halls. The space also caters to a bunch of amenities including, cafes, restaurants, shops, duty-free establishments and more. The first floor of the international terminal comes with a port lounge and a VIP lounge. The port lounge is basically for the economy class while the VIP one is reserved for the first-class ticket holders. There are about 23 check-in counters, 42 immigration booths, five customs counters and three security checks.

About airport authority

The Airport Authority of India, famous known by its abbreviation AAI, owns and serves the Calicut International Airport. AAI has worked tremendously on bettering the Calicut International Airport and has managed to put it on the map of busy airports in India. Thanks to the statutory body's intervention helped bring back some international airlines to the airport, including services of the Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER. Over the years, the airport has witnessed tremendous development and expansion.

Top airlines flying from Calicut Airport

Calicut International Airport has good connectivity to some of the cities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Majorly, the Calicut airport has airlines operating to reach domestic cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, as metro stations. Aside from these, cities such as Kannur, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Agatti see flights from the Calicut International Airport. There are a few domestic and international airlines that fly from the airport. Airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet, operate from the Calicut International Airport. Some of these domestic airlines also have international journeys on their calendar. Air India's Air India Express has flights to cities in Kerala as well as international cities such as Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Sharjah, Riyadh and more.

International airlines that fly from the Calicut International Airport include Air Arabia, Air India Express, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Flynas, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, SalamAir and Saudia. A majority of airports in the state of Kerala have direct flights to Middle Eastern countries. Since a lot of demand is prevalent for Middle Eastern cities in Kerala, airlines from the said countries operate from Kerala as well. Air India Express specifically has an operating base with services to Medina and Jeddah from the Calicut International Airport. The cities host the Hajj Pilgrimage and hence, see a lot of demand from pilgrims during the holy seasons.

Facilities at the Calicut Airport

WiFi - The airport terminal has an excellent WiFi connection. You can find details of the same at the check-in counter. The airport's domestic and international terminals both have a good connection. A domestic phone number would be required to log in to the WiFi network. They are available for free.

Special assistance - The Calicut International Airport also caters to services for personal assistance, especially for senior citizens, expectant mothers and physically disabled passengers. There is specific special assistance that you can acquire at the information desk. Informing the airlines about the special requests for wheelchairs or personal assistance can be demanded as well. Each airline has skilled professionals who are trained for these services.

ATMs and forex - There are ATM kiosks and foreign exchange booths present at regular intervals at the airport. To ensure that required liquid currency can be accessed, the airport has brought about a good number of ATM kiosks and currency exchange booths. They are available at the departure and arrival zones of international and domestic terminals.

Prayer rooms - Multi-faith rooms to observe prayers have also been made available at the airport. The Calicut Airport has dedicated rooms that are available at both, departure and arrival terminals. The rooms can also be used for meditation purposes. There are religious books of multi-faith available in the room as well.

Post office - The good part about the airport is how they have postal services as well. In case there is a sudden necessity to post a letter or important documents, it can be arranged at the airport. They are available close to the domestic and international terminals.

Baggage - The airport has several services pertaining to baggage. There are trolley services available at the Calicut International Airport. They can be found at regular intervals outside and within the airport premise. You can find them at the international and domestic terminals.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many restaurants and cafes present at the airport complex. You can find some of the food establishments at the arrival and departure zones. Plus, there are some quick snacks and beverages joints available at the check-in areas too. There are dedicated food courts and also decent restaurants that can be found in the lounge area.

Internet cafes - In case you need to send important emails or work on some projects at the airport, there is an internet cafe installed at the airport. Even though the WiFi services are available, you can get hold of a computer system at the airport and work on professional projects.

Lounges - The airport provides lounge services as well. Since it is an international airport, there are VIP lounges as well as premium lounge authorised by AAI. Some of the lounge services have spas, showers, hotel rooms for in-transit passengers, upscale restaurants and great hospitality.

How to reach Calicut Airport

Rail

The closest railway station is the Feroke railway station from the Calicut Airport. The station is about 18 km away from the airport and is connected to many important cities close to Kozhikode. Meanwhile, the Kozhikode Railway Station, located about 28 km away from the Calicut Airport, is also well-connected. The station is connected to various major Indian cities as well as within Kerala. There are taxi cabs and bus services available from the railway station to the airport. In case you are travelling from within the state and need to reach Calicut Airport, the best route would be to opt for the Kozhikode Railway Station.

The state also has buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, to help with connection to the airport. They service FlyBus, which is a low-floor AC bus that shuttles between the main city of Kozhikode and the airport. The bus is a perfect mode of transport to use if you have to reach Calicut International Airport. These services are cheap and perfect for budget travellers who need to save money. Plus, they are quite convenient too. You can find these buses in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malappuram, to name a few cities. The Calicut International Airport is situated on the National Highway 966 and is further joined by National Highway 66 at Ramanattukara. Both the national highways are located at a distance of 2.3 km and 8 km from the airport. The highways further connect Calicut International Airport to Kozhikode, Malappuram. Wayanad, Coimbatore, Kannur, Thrissur and Palakkad.

About Calicut

Calicut or Kozhikode, is a principal town and the second largest urban agglomeration in the state of Kerala, after Kochi. The city is the 20th largest populated in India with a population of 2 million, as recorded in the 2011 census. Kozhikode's fame comes from its plethora of spice industry. The city is also known as the City of Spices as it catered as an important trading point for Indian spices. Kozhikode or Calicut is recognised as the second-best city to reside in India with respect to the economics research as conducted by the firm Indicus Analytics in 2009. They have accumulated data on residences, investments and earnings to form the ranking. Predominantly, the city features a tropical monsoon climate and witnesses two periods of showers in a year.