Udaipur to Bhavnagar Flights

  About Udaipur

Udaipur is one of the most beautiful cities in Rajasthan and definitely worth a visit. The city of lakes is ideal for a backpacking trip as well as for your honeymoon. Udaipur is a city that you will love, and you'll never really get lost. With an unexpected turn, you might discover an undiscovered restaurant or a shop that's hidden from the main street. You can also pick up hobbies while you're in the city. You'll find a lot of cooking classes, arts and crafts classes and the friendliest teachers, too. Not just the lakes but the city are also known for the palaces, palaces that are surrounded by lakes but also for the rich culture and the stories that come with it. You can catch the talent show at the Baghore Ki Haveli and be amazed by how easily they pull off performances that you will take ages to perfect. You can sit by the lake and just admire the sheer beauty of the city.

Sitting by the steps of the Ambrai Ghat and looking at the reflection of the City Palace falling on the lake is a view you'll never get tired of ever. Since Udaipur is a very popular holiday destination in Rajasthan, you find it easier to book a hotel room of your choice and necessities. For all you backpackers out there, there are lots of hostels like the Moustache, Zostel, Banjara and so on that will provide accommodation at minimal rates and you won't regret it at all. Getting around the city is not very difficult. You'll find rickshaws and taxis as per your convenience. People are also quite helpful when it comes to directing you.

The Jagmandir Island Palace, City Palace, Baghore Ki Haveli, Lake Pichola, Saheliyon Ki Baari, a Vintage Car Museum are only some of the most popular places in the city. Udaipur is also like paradise for all you shopaholics out there. You'll find a market in every lane that sells clothes, souvenirs, mojaris, handmade paper, handcrafted diaries, artefacts and jewellery. The city also has some famous temples, and you can attend the pujas in the evening. Apart from Lake Pichola, there is also the Fateh Sagar lake, yet another popular lake in the city. You can go boating at the lake, and you can also enjoy chaat from a series of stalls. The chaat corner near the Fateh Sagar lake is called Bombay Chowpatti, and the entire stretch of the lake is a sight to behold. There are several carvings on the walls on the other side of the road that will demand your attention.

Udaipur also has a Saas-Bahu temple, which is on the outskirts of the city. According to the stories, King Mahipala of Kachchhwaha Dynasty built the temple for his wife, who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He named it the Sahastrabahu temple, which means 'the one with a thousand arms'. Later, the King's son got married to a woman who was a devotee of Lord Shiva. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built right next to the Vishnu temple for the daughter-in-law. The temple later derived the name Saas-Bahu temple because of this connection. Though it's in ruins now, it is a place worth visiting.

Best Time to Visit Udaipur

November to February is when the city experiences winter, and it is the best time to visit. The weather is pleasant and the night, chilly. It is ideal if you have any outdoor activities planned or want to spend the day outside. It goes without saying that summer is not the most perfect time to visit Udaipur. March through May is summer and the heat can get pretty intense. You will not feel like stepping outside your hotel room. However, if you do have a trip planned during summer, make sure you get an air-conditioned room. The evenings will be pleasant as compared to the day. June to September is monsoon, and it doesn't rain too frequently in the city. While monsoon is also quite pleasant, it will take the fun away from a perfect day outdoors.

Places to Visit in Udaipur

Udaipur City Palace, located in the city centre, is one of the main attractions that you cannot miss. You'll have to get the tickets outside the palace gates. You will also get a combined ticket to Jagmandir Island Palace if you wish to see the beautiful palace that's right in the middle of the lake, too. Only part of the City palace is open for people since the royal family still resides in it but in a separate section of the palace. If you think the City Palace is breathtakingly beautiful, wait till you get to the Jagmandir Island palace in a boat.

The Sajjangarh palace is another most visited palace in the city. While you're at it, do not miss out on visiting the Monsoon palace. The whole reason this palace was built was to watch and admire the clouds during monsoon. The city also boasts of a Vintage Car Museum for all you car enthusiasts. Every car that's on display at the museum has a story behind it and a famous person having driven it. Don't forget to add the Kumbalgarh Fort and Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary to your list.

Things to do in Udaipur

Take at least 2-3 days out to visit all the palaces in the city. Most palaces also have restaurants inside the complex, and you'll be treated with the best kind of hospitality that you've come across yet. When you enter the City Palace, you will also have the option to dress up in traditional Rajasthani clothes and take pictures by the royal fountains. You can also take up cooking classes and learn to make some traditional yet easy dishes.

There are myriad places in Udaipur that organise hikes and treks since there are so many forts and hills in the city. You can also rent a cycle or a scooter and go wandering the city. Make sure you catch the sunset by the Ambrai Ghat. It's one of the most beautiful sights and sunsets that you'll catch. Udaipur is not all sightseeing, but you will also find a lot of cultural shows and performances put up by the locals.

Catch the sound and light show at the Kumbalgarh Fort. It's a treat to the eyes and the ears. You must also catch the cultural show at Baghore Ki Haveli during evenings. It has folk dance, folk music and even puppet shows and the seating arrangement takes you back to a totally different time. Udaipur also has quite a lot of lake facing rooftop restaurants that will make your evening quite romantic.

Food and Restaurants in Udaipur

The Ambrai Amet restaurant in Udaipur that overlooks the City Palace and is near the Ambrai Ghat is one of the most popular restaurants in the city. You can order anything from a traditional Rajasthani meal to a western or continental cuisine of your choice. The setting is so pleasant and romantic you'll want to take a nice, long walk after dinner to soak in the view. Since the city has a lot of international travellers, too, there are a lot of cafes and restaurants that add gluten-free and vegan dishes to their menu. Satori, a cafe near the Jagdish Temple is one of the cafes you must visit.

Rooftop restaurants are the highlights of Udaipur, and while the food they serve is mouthwatering, it's the view that adds all the charm to the place. Jheel's Rooftop Restaurant at Chandpole offers a spectacular view of the lakes and is quite popular, too. Upre by 1559 AD is another restaurant that offers a panoramic view of the city and the lakes.

How to reach Udaipur

By Air

The closest airport is the Maharana Pratap airport with spotless flight connectivity to and from Udaipur. The city is well-connected with various metropolitan cities in India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Surat and more. These cities have airlines reserving flights to fly to Udaipur. Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara are some of the domestic airlines that fly to Udaipur from the mentioned cities. Depending on when you plan your trip to the palatial city, you can make your flight bookings. But if you wish to get some good flight deals and cheap flight tickets, then it is recommended that you peruse through the site more and find online flight deals. Aso, it would be ideal for hotel bookings to be made ahead of the trip. There are no international routes that converge with Udaipur as the airport only caters to domestic flights.

By Rail

The Udaipur railway station is aptly connected to all the metropolitan cities in the country like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai. You also get a train to Ajmer, Khajuraho and a couple of other cities in the country.

By Road

Reaching Udaipur from one of the cities in Rajasthan is no trouble at all. There are quite a few government-run buses and AC, Volvo buses, too, that will help you reach Udaipur. Not to mention, you'll also easily get a bus from cities like Mumbai and Delhi. It takes about 10-12 hours to reach Udaipur from Mumbai.

  About Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a state in Gujarat but is part of the Saurashtra region. The city was originally a princely state that belonged to the Rajput Gohil family. However, after the independence, under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's rule, all the princely states were unified, including Bhavnagar. In the past two decades, the city has undergone tremendous development and growth. In terms of infrastructure, the city has found itself a quaint airport with good facilities. The flight connectivity from Bhavnagar to other big cities is also quite good. As a port city, it plays quite a pivotal role in contributing to the economy of the state. However, at the same time, there are many small-scale industries in Bhavnagar that add to the total growth of the state.

The city is quaint and has decent places to visit for a weekend vacation. You can actually book a hotel room in Bhavnagar and enjoy the scenic bliss and simplicity of the small town.

Best time to visit Bhavnagar

Cities in Gujarat do not have the luxury to enjoy summers as the temperatures tend to soar high. In fact, the weather is hot and humid, which only makes the whole experience tad bit annoying. The March to June sees temperatures rise to a close 40 degree Celsius, which is highly unfavourable, especially if you're planning a leisure trip. April and May are peak summer months here where the weather is sweltering, making it difficult to venture out in the city. Several precautions need to be taken up to avoid dehydration or heat strokes. During this time, flight tickets to Bhavnagar are cheap. Since it is off-season, it makes complete sense that several airlines would drop the prices. Even booking hotels in Bhavnagar is cheap during summers as the tourism industry sees a slump. If you are already used to such climates, then it would be a shame not to avail flight deals to Bhavnagar during summer. However, if you cannot bear the excess heat, it is recommended not to visit the city.

Instead, head to Bhavnagar during monsoon or winter. In fact, winter is the most favourable season to visit the city. October to March is when the city experiences winter where the temperatures are between 12 degree Celsius and 32 degree Celsius. This only enables excess tourism as pleasant weather welcomes tourists from everywhere. Plus, it is also the time when Gujarat celebrates Navratri and Diwali. The celebration during these festivals is an experience one should undergo. The city street bustles with enthusiastic crowd welcoming Navratri and Diwali. This is also a good time for you to wear a Garba outfit and see if you can match to their tunes without stepping on someone's foot. Plus, the added benefit is how the streets are lit with hawkers and Gujarati chaat. The city springs back to life during the winter months, which is great for tourists.

Although monsoons could be fun, the hot and humid weather makes it difficult to enjoy the whole vibe. Unlike the Western Ghats, there is no dense greenery in Vadodara. Hence, even when the rains are moderate, the chill weather witnessed in some parts of India are not experienced in Vadodara. The atmosphere does turn from hot to bearable, while humidity sees a tremendous spike. While it could be a decent trip, it won't have the fervour and excitement of what winters bring to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a small town in Gujarat and enjoys a decent number of tourist attractions. To indulge in some touristy fun and learn more about the city, then you should visit the Gandhi Smriti, Nilambagh Palace and Barton Library and Museum. As for some spiritual trip, you should visit the Takteshwar Temple and Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. While Takteshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Shri Swaminarayan Temple is specifically for the ascetic, Swaminarayan Ji. The locals call this temple Aksharwadu Temple and are quite a famous place in Bhavnagar.

Things to do in Bhavnagar

With limited places to explore, Bhavnagar leaves more room to check out the lifestyle and culture of its local habitat. You can take a stroll through the city's streets and speak to locals about the place. They will have some fun stories to tell you. Not to mention how indulging in Gujarati cuisine would be next to best in Bhavnagar. In fact, you should check out their street food culture as it would be quite rewarding to your taste buds. For the beach bums, you can visit the Gopnath Beach and walk on the shores. Water sports activities do not take place there so best to be careful.

Food and restaurants in Bhavnagar

As part of the state of Gujarat, Bhavnagar's cuisine predominantly comprises of Gujarati dishes. These include the sweet and savoury daals, kadhi, dhokla, khandwa, khaman and more. For authentic Gujarati cuisine, you should definitely opt to check out some of the restaurants within the city. They don't just serve the food but also the engaging environment and a space that would cater to a foodie's eyes. The aroma of flavours filling the room while the waiters bring over lip-smacking dishes from the kitchen would be an overwhelming experience. The city also has options for other cuisines and popular fast foods.

For the best authentic Gujarati thali, you should visit the Rasoi restaurant. It is basically a hall lined with tables and has a mess-sort of a vibe. The hall is maintained quite well and serves the best Gujarati thalis. Rangoli restaurant is also one such place in the city that has a tasty melange of food choices ranging from Gujarati to North Indian to Chinese cuisines on the menu. If scrumptious South Indian food is what you crave in Bhavnagar, you should head to Madras Dosa. The place serves great South Indian food. Perhaps you should also check out some more restaurants such as Tulsi restaurant, Honest restaurant, Rocks N Logs and Sam's Pizza, to name a few.

The city also has an interesting street food scene that you should definitely check out. Gujaratis certainly love to indulge in chaat food, and that is something you'll realise once you visit their shopping streets with food carts.

How to reach Bhavnagar (Transportation)

By Air

Bhavnagar does have an airport called Bhavnagar Airport. The flight connectivity to Bhavnagar is quite decent but limited. There are very few direct flights to Bhavnagar from other cities. The location of the airport is very convenient as it is only 3.9 km away from the city centre. Despite Bhavnagar not being a popular route for flights, the city does see a good footfall of passengers flying in to Bhavnagar. There are only two airlines, namely, Air Deccan and Alliance Air, that have dedicated flights to Bhavnagar. However, cities such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad have flights assigned for Bhavnagar. As the airport is located close to the Bhavnagar port, the flight experience is quite good with scenic landings and takeoffs. The closest airport from Bhavnagar is Surat International Airport which is at a distance of approximately 93 km. The airport is accessible from the city as there are auto-rickshaws, taxi cabs and rentals that make transit convenient.

By Rail

As part of the western railway line, Bhavnagar Railway station witnesses great connectivity via rail. While there might not be enough flights to Bhavnagar, the city's station witnesses many trains coming in from Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Kochi, Chennai, Bangalore and more. What the city's airport lacks the railway station can match up. Not to mention the fact that its location within the city is so convenient, it enhances the transit convenience of tourists. Booking a hotel room in Bhavnagar, especially close to the railway station is also possible and a choice many travellers often take up. Travelling to Bhavnagar via train is also very comfortable and convenient in terms of travel time as well as the ticket price. Although the flight ticket prices to Bhavnagar are not exorbitant, the fact that there are only a few caters to domestic cities makes is a downside.

By Road

The NH 8A is known to be the best way to connect Bhavnagar to big cities. It is a popular route to reach Bhavnagar as it brings cities like Ahmedabad Surat and Mumbai closer. Many bus services pass through and to Bhavnagar from Surat, Mumbai, to name a few. In fact, this domestic route of NH 8A to Bhavnagar sees regular bus services from Mumbai and Surat. Some bus providers send at least four buses in a day to Bhavnagar. The roadway is only viable to people depending on the geographic location you're travelling from. If it is Mumbai or cities in Gujarat then travelling by road is convenient. However, for other cities that are further away from Bhavnagar, traversing by road might not be the best bet. The city does have good accommodation so you can probably book a hotel room in Bhavnagar's finest places to unwind from the tedious journey.