Thiruvananthapuram to Hubli Flights

  About Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, popularly called Trivandrum, is the capital of Kerala and a very popular tourist destination in the state, too. While the city does have quite the urban and modern setup, it has also maintained its old charm and colonial legacy. Trivandrum has quite a lot of museums, beaches, palaces and temples. The Kovalam and Varkala beaches are some of the most popular tourist spots that are close by. The city's history and culture will leave you fascinated. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum, Napier Museum are some of the popular tourist spots within the city. Not to mention, you will also be treated to some lip-smacking food that are specialities in Kerala.

Best Time to Visit Thiruvananthapuram

It is not surprising that monsoons in Kerala are the most beautiful to experience. It only adds to the lush greenery around the city. But it is the winter that makes Trivandrum an ideal time to visit. October to February is considered to be the best time to plan a vacation to Trivandrum. The temperature drops down to 15 degree Celsius during winter, especially in January and February. Make sure you book a hotel in Trivandrum that has a view of the hills. Though it might be a tad bit expensive since it is peak season, it will be worth it. You will also get to indulge in a lot of outdoor activities and adventurous ones during this season, as compared to the other seasons and you will also come across decent flight deals to Trivandrum online.

July to September is when the city experiences monsoon, which also leads to extreme humidity. The city witnesses heavy rainfall in the months of June, July and August. However, the downpour does reduce from August. Despite the torrential rain, the city does see a lot of tourists since the famous Onam festival also falls during this time. This also might be a great time for you to get cheap flight tickets to Trivandrum.

Summer begins from March in Trivandrum and lasts till June. The temperature reaches up to 35 degree Celsius during summer, and the weather does not make it favourable for you to plan a trip during this season. All of your sightseeing and outdoor activity plans will be affected, thanks to the humidity and scorching heat. Though you can go to the beach and chill, there won't be a lot of other options to try out.

Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

Trivandrum's Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. The temple is only open to Hindus and dedicated to Lord Padmanabha, who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The temple sees a lot of pilgrims and devotees throughout the year. The Karikkakom Chamundi Devi temple is another one that you must visit. It is 7 km away from the Padmanabhaswamy temple and dedicated to Goddess Chamundi. The Neyyar Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary are another one of the major tourist spots in the city. It is popular for its Deer and Lion safari. You will also find crocodiles and elephants in the sanctuary. You will have to pay a nominal fee to enter the sanctuary and a separate fee for the safari. You can also go boating at the Neyyar Dam. You can also go fishing here.

For the adventure lovers, there is the Academy of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports. Whether it is Scuba Diving that you want to attempt or skydiving, the academy offers a lot of adventure sports for you to try out and they also make sure that the equipment used is state-of-the-art. The Kanakakunnu Palace is a popular site to visit. It was built under the rule of Travancore King and is also close to the Napier Museum. The palace now hosts a lot of cultural programs on its premises and make sure you catch one if there is any hosted during your visit. Vizhinjam Lighthouse, at Kovalam beach, is a 45-year-old lighthouse that is a major attraction here. The view from the top of the lighthouse is breathtaking and will leave you awestruck. You can also visit the Varkala beach, which is close to Trivandrum. You can, in fact, book a hotel in Trivandrum that is close to the Varkala Beach.

Things to do in Thiruvananthapuram

Go sightseeing to the famous museums in the city. You can either hire a cab for the entire day to visit the major tourist spots or use the public transport to do so. Don't forget to stop by the Indian Coffee House for some authentic filter coffee. Kerala is called God's Own Country for a reason. Explore the temples here along with enjoying the beautiful scenery. If you are planning to visit the beaches, make a day of it and take up a few water activities by the beach, too. You will also find a lot of food stalls and restaurants near the beaches that serve Kerala's best street food. Take up boating or fishing at the Neyyar Dam while you soak in the stunning view. If you want to explore nature at its best, there are a lot of tour guides and companies that host camping and trekking activities in and around the city.

While you are at it, you can also try activities like paragliding, skydiving, scuba diving and rafting at the Academy of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports. Catch the sunset from the Vizhinjam lighthouse. It will certainly be a fulfilling experience. If you are in the mood for going on a shopping spree, visit the Chalai Market. It's one of the busiest markets in the city, and you will get everything that you desire. Ayurvedic massages are a speciality in Kerala, and you will feel absolutely rejuvenated. Head to the Ayushmanbhava Ayurvedic Centre for a healing massage. If you don't feel like taking up an activity and just lying around the whole day, you can do so at the beach. Lying on the beach, under the stars and near the waves of the ocean is the most relaxing thing to do.

Food and Restaurants in Thiruvananthapuram

Apart from the panoramic landscape that Kerala has to offer, it is also known for its cuisine. From spicy seafood to desserts, you'll love everything about the food in Kerala. It is known for its delicacies that are made of or with coconut. The tapioca chips that you get here are fried in coconut oil. Almost every tourist packs a few of these to take back home. Make sure you also try the Sarkara Upperi, which is basically banana chips that are coated in jaggery. You will come across a lot of stalls that sell this, especially during Vishu. The Appam and stew combo that you get in Kerala is also quite popular. You must definitely try this combo for breakfast. You can either opt for a sweet appam or a savoury one. If you have additional time on your hands, do head to Kozhikode or Thalassery to try the Malabari biryani. It's only 70 km away from Trivandrum. Your food experience in Kerala is incomplete without Sadya. It's usually served during weddings or festivals on a banana leaf.

Ananda Bhavan is a very popular restaurant franchise down South, and this one will also not disappoint. If you are in Kerala on your honeymoon, make sure you go to Curry Chatty. The food and the ambience complement each other perfectly. They also have an intimate setting for couples to enjoy a romantic evening. Jasmine Bay, at Vivanta Hotel by Taj, is open 24 hours and has a plethora of cuisine options You can also try the street food at popular tourist spots here. The rice here is quite unique, but you won't regret trying it out.

How to reach Trivandrum

By Air

Trivandrum is a coastal city and a beautiful one at that, too. Trivandrum airport has both domestic and international ports, since it is the capital of the state. It is 4 km away from the city and is also near Kovalam beach. You will be treated to a beautiful view of the sea as you land. The flight connectivity to and from Trivandrum is excellent. There are frequent flights from Trivandrum to other cities in the country and internationally. Connecting flights from Bangalore and Chennai are some of the popular routes to Trivandrum via air.

By Rail

Trivandrum is also well-connected by rail, and the Trivandrum Central railway station is one of the largest stations in India. It is also one of the cheapest ways to reach the city. The Netravati Express, Anantapur Express and Sabari Express are some of the trains that start from and stop at the city.

By Road

The city is also connected really well by road. You can either take the public transport or a private one to reach the city. You will get buses from Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Coimbatore and Kochi quite easily. The transport system within the city is also quite convenient. You can easily ditch the luxurious ways of travel to use the public transport here

  About Hubli

Hubli is one of the big cities of Karnataka and is located in the North-western part of the state. After Bangalore and Mysore, Hubli is the third-largest city in Karnataka. The city, Hubli-Dharwad, has been expanding and developing at a rapid pace, which has resulted in its inclusion in the government's smart city project.

Under the strong leadership of the Vijaynagara Rayas, Hubli managed to grow into one of the commercial centres in the olden days. The city has witnessed many rulers from the Rayas to the Mughals to the Marathas and eventually, the British East India Company. With such a diverse range of rulers, the city also exhibits melange of cultures.

Over the years, Hubli has grown into a force to reckon with as a developing city. Present-day Hubli has great flight connectivity with the rest of the country. If you wish to make a trip down to the city, ensure that you pick the right time. There is a wide range of hotels to book from in Hubli that you can choose.

Best time to visit Hubli

Hubli enjoys hot and humid weather, and the temperature usually ranges between 37 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius. Winters do see a change in the trend as the temperature drops and offer a calm and soothing atmosphere. The months September to November are considered to be the best time to visit Hubli. The fall season, with its mildly cold air, makes for a pleasant stay. The footfall of tourists escalates as the tourism industry sees a spike. If you too plan to visit Hubli during peak season, then it is recommended that you book a hotel for yourself because finding accommodation can get pretty tough.

The spring months between March to May is considered to be the second-best time to visit Hubli. Unlike how the summers usually take over during the said months, in Hubli, things are different. The air is humid, but it is also quite pleasant and makes for an excellent time to explore the city. It is not too hot or too chilly. The summer months from June to August with mild rain sees tremendous precipitation in the air, making it super humid and uncomfortable. The months are hence to be avoided. Since it is off-season, you will get cheap flight tickets to Hubli and good flight deals online. Even booking a hotel in Hubli would be easy and cheap as the tourism industry wouldn't be bustling.

The winter months between December and February are also surprisingly slow as the weather is warm but easy-going. You can enjoy the serene vibe of the air and step out without worrying about extreme cold winters. The temperatures drop to 24 degrees Celsius, but that's usually about it.

Places to visit in Hubli

Siddharoodha Math

Siddharoodha Math has been built to honour Shri Sidharoodha Swamy, a good Samaritan who helped people of all caste, race and religion, without any discrimination. The beautiful structure and the devotees of Shri Sidharoodha Swamy often flock over to the Math to celebrate their guru.

Chandramouleshwara Temple

Invest yourself in learning more about the Chalukyan era, which was prevalent in Hubli, a long time ago. The Chandramouleshwar Temple is more than 900n years old and has been constructed in a way to celebrate the Chalukyan era. Acknowledged by the Archaeological Survey of India, the site is protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites Act. The walls of the temple have beautiful inscriptions and designs that will amaze you.

Indira Gandhi Glass House Garden

One of the prominent tourist spots in Hubli is the Indira Gandhi Glass House Garden. The structure is basically emulated from Bangalore's Lalbagh, which also has a similar glass house in the centre of the green park. The idea behind constructing the Glass House garden is to propagate events, social gatherings and exhibitions and upscale the cultural stance of the city.

Navagraha Teertha

The Navagraha Teertha is a famous pilgrim place in Hubli. The religious pilgrim is a sacred temple of the Jain community with a tall statue of Jain deity Parshvanatha. The colossal statue roughly weighs 185 tonnes and is 48 ft tall. The temple is actually built in the outskirts of Hubli, and the statue is visible from the Pune Bangalore Highway.

Gayatari Tapovan

Seek spiritual bliss at the Gayatari Tapovan, located in Banashankari Badavane. Venerated preacher, Sri Kumar Swamiji established the place. Post Swamiji's death, his followers have been maintaining the spiritual complex. The place invites everyone seeking spiritual peace with open arms and is a place worth visiting.

Things to do in Hubli

Picnic by the Unkal Lake

Unkal Lake is one of the most visited places in Hubli. The lake's historical and religious significance makes it one of the big tourist attractions of Hubli. Take up boating and find yourself immersed in the beauty of the surrounding and the lake's calm demeanour. You can also pack a lunch and go for a picnic to make a day of it.

Hike up the Nrupatunga Hill

Hubli can get quite noisy with the demand the city has, not to mention the crowd. Hiking up the Nrupatunga Hill, which faces the Unkal Lake, sounds like a good way to rejuvenate from the week's busy work. Plus, the lush green trails would further make you feel calm and happy. In fact, right after your hike, you can actually take a dip in the lake to complete the trip.

Unwind at the Country Club Water World

The Country Club Water World is a beautiful complex with green expanses and palm trees bordering the park. The water park is the perfect escape from all the noise of the city. Plus, it is fun to indulge in a water park, especially during summers. It is located on the Karwar road and is the best getaway you can offer to your kids.

Food and Restaurants in Hubli

The cuisine followed by the city of Hubli is extremely mixed and interesting. There is no specific flavour or dish that makes the city stand out in terms of its food choices. However, that only enables the city to house some of the best restaurants and food joints. You will find a variety of choices, and every day could be an adventure for your taste buds.

Sigli and Basaveshwar Khanavali give families a wholesome feel with their multi-cuisine restaurants. In fact, Sigli is actually a barbecue and services lovely tandoors and kebabs. This restaurant called Gufha, also has the interiors of a cave. The exciting interiors of the restaurant further add to the charm of the place. Other prominent names of restaurants in Hubli that deserves your attention include, The Gateway Lakeside, Gokul Veg Family, Gurudutta Bhavan, Croissant Bistro, Ayodhya, Mishra Pedha, Boughanvilla and more.

How to reach Hubli (Transportation)

By Air

Hubli, also known as Chota Bombay, has its own airport called the Hubli Airport. However, the flight connectivity from Hubli is not great. For any passenger to travel to Hubli will have to layover at Bangalore and get a connecting flight. That is the only domestic route to reach Hubli. While it might sound inconvenient but it really isn't. Bangalore has impeccable flight connectivity and has dedicated flights traversing to Hubli daily. Hence, this means there would never be an absence of flights to Hubli. This system streamlines all the passengers to board flights to Hubli from one airport. From Bangalore, the flights fly from Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai.

Reaching Hubli might require you to change flights at Bangalore but travelling to big cities wouldn't require you to go through the same ordeal. Hubli is a big town with several good options for accommodation. To reach Bangalore, Hyderabad, Belgaum, Mumbai, Goa and other such locations, you can find direct flights flying from Hubli. Using the domestic route, these flights would not need to be changed, making it convenient for the traveller.

Ahead of your trip, you can book a hotel in Hubli and let the hotel's airport shuttle service take you around the city. Internal transportation is quite top-notch in the city, but they don't go on a metered basis and often fool the passenger into paying for more than the regular charges.

By Rail

Hubli also has its own railway station called the Hubli Railway Station. The rail is connected to some important cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Mysore, Ajmer, Kolkata and more. You will also find trains from within the state travelling in and out of Hubli. Compared to rail, opting for a flight to Hubli is far more convenient as the travel time is less and comfort is more.

By Road

Much like the rail, even the buses are accessible from all parts of the country. Some state-run bus services while other private services are all at your perusal and can be availed. You can travel to cities such as Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Tirupati, to name a few, from Hubli. However, nothing beats the convenience of flights to Hubli.

  About Trivandrum Airport

Trivandrum International Airport serves as the international airport to Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital of Kerala. The airport came into existence in 1932 and has been recorded as the first airport of the state. It is also acknowledged as the fifth international airport that was installed by former Prime Minister of India, VP Singh. Despite being the state capital, Trivandrum International Airport is the second busiest airport, following Kochi International Airport. In the country, Trivandrum International Airport falls in the fourteenth position as the busiest airport in India. The airport recorded to accommodate about 4.4 million passengers, as on 2018-19, with aircraft movements of 33,093 in the same year. Trivandrum International Airport is only 3.7 kilometres away from the city centre and about 13 km from Technopark and 16 km from Kovalam beach. The airport is sprawled across an area of 700 acres of land. Currently, the airport handles two terminals, each dedicated to domestic and international flight operations, respectively. The airport also purveys to the Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard. In fact, IAF has an exclusive apron reserved for operations of the government security body. Additionally, it also allows pilot training activities that are facilitated by the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation technology.

About Trivandrum International Airport terminals

The airport has two terminals, one reserved for domestic operations and the second for international operations. Air India is the only airline which operates from the terminal 2. Ground operations at the international terminal are also handled by Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt. Ltd. and Bhadra International India Pvt. Ltd. The terminal is fully air-conditioned and has WiFi facilities available. Some of the other features of the international terminal include exquisite lounges, brilliant natural lights with the use of glass roofing and efficient conveyance services for passengers. Meanwhile, the domestic terminal mostly caters to good cafes, book shops, phone-recharging points and more. Along with the terminals, Trivandrum International Airport also has a narrow-body maintenance, repair and overhaul unit (MRO) operated by Air India. They cater to twin hangars for services of Boeing 737-type of aircraft and a plethora of Air India Express aircraft. At a time, two aircraft can be accommodated simultaneously at the two hangars of MRO.

Terminal 1 - Terminal 1 or the domestic terminal covers an area of 99,000 square feet and has the capacity to handle 400 passengers at a go. Into Place Services fuelling operations that are facilitated by IndianOil Skytanking are also present in the domestic terminal.

Terminal 2 - Terminal 2 is a newly built building that has three jetways along with parking bays that can handle eight aircraft. It is built right opposite Terminal 1 and is closer to the city side. Constructed by the Airports Authority of India, the designs for the new terminal were taken up by architects of the UK-based firm, Pascall+Watson. The terminal serves as a catalyst for the development of the IT sector as well as the tourism industry of the southern districts of the state of Kerala. The international terminal is sprawled across an area of 380,000 square feet. It is capable of handling passengers of large aircraft such as three Airbus A340s and one Boeing 747. The passenger crowd mainly adds up to roughly 1500 passengers.

Meanwhile, the recorded passenger handling capacity has been recorded at 1.8 million, in a year. The area of the check-in floor is about 10,200 square feet while the arrival area covers about 6,500 square feet. With a view to enabling the passengers to check-in at any counter without having to waste time, the airport has installed a Common Users Terminal Equipment (CUTE). Along with this, there are X-ray machines installed right next to the conveyor belts to enable faster clearance of baggage. The terminal's entrance is perfectly connected to the Chacka-Eenchakkal road. A bridge has also been constructed across the Parvathy Puthanar canal that links the new international terminal to the Kazhakuttam-Inchivila National Highway. Further, the car park space of the terminal can accommodate nearly 600 cars.

About Airport Authority

Trivandrum International Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body has taken up the responsibility to manage, operate and maintain the airport's infrastructure. It has also undertaken roles of upgradation and expansion of the airport terminals and runways. Over the years, AAI has worked extensively towards making Trivandrum International Airport a state-of-the-art structure. They have enabled world-class facilities and installed better equipment for efficiency.

As part of the expansion plans proposed by the Airports Authority of India, they have demanded 82 acres of land to demolish the existing domestic terminal and to construct a new one altogether. The airport authority also plans to install newer and better facilities in the domestic terminal of Trivandrum International Airport. On the same, the state government has agreed to acquire about 18 acres for construction purposes of the domestic terminal. The new terminal that they plan to construct would be sprawled across 40,000 square metres to spruce up the city's common airport terminal area. Works regarding the new terminal, including blueprints of the new terminal building, have already begun at the AAI headquarters. They plan to complete the construction of the new terminal in about 18 to 24 months as soon as the Kerala government hands over the portion of land to the airport authorities. The new terminal is said to be a replica of the existing terminal 2.

Facilities at the Trivandrum International Airport

ATMs and forex counters – As an international airport, Trivandrum International Airport has provisions for currency exchange. You can find these counters in the arrivals section of the airport terminal.

Medical services – The airport has installed medical services and facilities to cater to emergency cases. There are dedicated rooms as well as free medical services that passengers can avail, in case they are facing some discomfort or unrest. Along with medical centres, the airport also has pharmacies.

Lounges – There are luxe lounges also available at the airport. Both the domestic and international terminals have lounge services which can only be accessed by specific ticket holders or VIP guests.

Baby care room – Child care rooms have been installed at the airport premise to make travelling easy for parents with infants. These rooms can be utilized for breastfeeding and diaper-changing activities.

Smoking zones – The airport follows a strict no-smoking protocol in public spaces. They have instead installed smoking zones for travellers who wish to smoke. These can be found at both the terminals of the airport.

Baggage – The baggage services are impeccable at the airport. They include facilities of trolleys, baggage wrapping services and porter systems.

Top airlines flying from Trivandrum International Airport

Presently, Trivandrum International Airport sees an equal amount of domestic and international flight operations. Some of the top domestic airlines operating from Trivandrum International Airport are Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. While the number of domestic airlines operating from Trivandrum International Airport is limited, the international flights are aplenty. Many international airlines that operate from Trivandrum Airport include Air Arabia, Air India Express, Emirates, British Airways, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Scoot and SriLankan Airlines. A majority of cities that the airport is connected to are Sharjah, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Riyadh, Kochi, Coimbatore, Doha, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, London, Bahrain, Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Colombo, to name a few. Trivandrum International Airport also accommodates cargo facilities and operations to be conducted from the airport terminal. Some of the important carriers include Blue Dart Aviation, Emirates SkyCargo, FitsAir, Qatar Airways Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Saudia Cargo.

How to reach Trivandrum International Airport

By Road

Trivandrum International Airport is located in proximity with National Highway 66. The airport has been situated in such a way that access to the city is enhanced. The new integrated terminal is perfectly connected to the city centre. Various buses can reach you to Trivandrum International Airport. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation mainly operates these buses. They have bus services across the city and interstate as well. You can easily reach the Trivandrum International Airport from the city limits. Plus, they are cheap and affordable too so travelling to reach Trivandrum International Airport is convenient. You can also opt for prepaid taxi service to reach both the terminals of Trivandrum International Airport. Cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola also have services in the city to reach Trivandrum International Airport. The cab fare is also fixed on Ola and Uber so you wouldn't have to haggle with the taxi driver.

By Rail

The airport is in reach of the city's central railway stations, Kochuveli Railway Station and Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. They are located about 5 km and 5.5. km away from Trivandrum International Airport, respectively. The city is perfectly connected with the rest of the state from the railway station. You can easily reach the Trivandrum International Airport from the railway station. There are prepaid taxi cabs and other such services also available from the railway station.