Udaipur to Gorakhpur 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 Gorakhpur

Nestled on the banks of river Rapti is this bustling city of Gorakhpur. Located in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, the city is an essential part of the state as it hosts the Indian Air Force station and is also the central administration to the North Eastern Railway Zone. The city's name comes from the spiritual significance of Saint Gorakhnath.

Another important reason that makes Gorakhpur an essential part of the state is how it directly connects to the neighbouring country, Nepal. Many tourists use the domestic route from Gorakhpur to reach Nepal, which is barely 100 km from the city. Gorakhpur has excellent flight connectivity as it does cater to international roadway routes with Nepal as a neighbour. The accommodation is quite adequate, but you can book good hotels in Gorakhpur.

Even though the domestic route to Gorakhpur is busy, it is ideal to book flight tickets in advance to avoid last-minute concerns. Not to mention how you will also be able to avail great flight deals if you make your flight bookings way ahead of schedule. The temple city has quite a few significant religious stories as well as political relevance.

Best time to visit Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur is known to have hot and dry summers with temperatures rising to 42 degree Celsius. Although the nights are comparatively cooler, the place still suffers from immense heat, which could put a damper on your plans if you wish to venture outside. The summers begin from March with May being the hottest month. Stepping out in summer is also not advised as it could lead to health concerns for some people.

Monsoons are pretty decent compared to summers as the rains make the atmosphere cooler. The air and temperature see a change with rains. However, the dull weather and mucky streets inhibit engaging in tourist activities. Sightseeing and venturing out in the city becomes problematic and is hence, avoided.

Winters bring about a pleasant temperature, making it the best season to visit the city. The months from October to February are cold and beautiful to the senses. The city experiences cool breeze and quaint ambience that also make travelling and indulging in tourist activities more convenient. The cosy vibes further add to the charm of Gorakhpur that can best be experienced during winters.

Places to see in Gorakhpur

Gorakhnath Temple

The Gorakhnath Temple was built in honour of Guru Gorakhnath. The venerated guru's teachings have since been followed diligently by his followers. The temple holds religious significance in Gorakhpur. Visit the temple to know more about the guru and how the religious premise came into existence.

Gita Press

As the name goes, the Gita Press was founded in 1923 to propagate the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita. The history of Gita press is quite interesting. Even though the press house was inaugurated in 1955, works on the press began way before it. Take a tour around the press house and learn more about the press and its relevance to society.

Archaeological Museum

Gorakhpur's prime tourist attraction is the archaeological museum which was founded in 1957. With intriguing stamps, photographs, sculptures and coins that give a peek into the past and cultural history of Gorakhpur, the museum has preserved it perfectly well. Interestingly, the museum also hosts a plethora of events such as pottery classes, how to make tools out of stones and past-life therapy for individuals to look back into their past-life. The museum is maintained by the Department of Ancient Indian History, Archaeology & Culture of the Gorakhpur University.

Arogya Mandir

The Arogya Mandir is the main highlight of the city of Gorakhpur. The premise is actually a wellness centre where you can enhance your health and further rejuvenate your mind and soul. The mandir also has accommodation setting introduced much recently to make it easy for patients to stay back for a complete cure before they can return. There are life lessons and healing endeavours that take place in the vicinity. You can enrol for their 10-day program to work on your health. The complex was acquired by Dr Vithal Das Modi in 1940, to help better people's lives with simple lessons.

The Arogya Mandir offers numerous therapies such as mud-therapy, hydrotherapy, yoga and Pranayam (meditation), steam bath and particular emphasis on diet. Specific pathological checkups are also done to learn the cause of the patient's health concern. Going in the lines of Vipassana, taught by Gautama Buddha, the health setup follows a similar pattern to work on the health of the patient. This is not something you can plan after reaching Gorakhpur. Plan for the health camp ahead of the visit to ensure that you have enrolled for it.

Things to do in Gorakhpur

Cool off at the Neernikunj Water Park

The Neernikunj Water Park is one of the few tourist attractions in Gorakhpur. You can take a day out of your schedule and head straight to the water park—bid farewell to the hot climate that envelopes the city otherwise. The water park would be a fun activity to pick, especially if you plan to unwind from your hectic schedule.

Explore the beautiful Vidyavasini Park

Although there is not much that you can do at Vidyavasini Park, one of the best things to do would be to pack a nice picnic lunch and take your family to the lush green park. The setting is quite beautiful as the open space would allow your kids to run around in the park.

Take your kids to the Railway Museum.

The Railway Museum is yet another tourist attraction that is majorly themed to cater to the families with little kids. It would be an educational expedition for them as they will get to learn more about the origin of the rail system.

Food and Restaurants in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur's cuisine is to die for. The place has marvellous Mughlai cuisine that ranges from mild to extremely spicy. From kebabs to koftas, biryanis to pulao's, indulge in some of the best Mughlai food that you will find in India. The city is actually touted to make some of the best dishes from the said cuisine. Head to Tandoor Food, located near Golghar, to get the best of Mughlai food experience. The food joint only opens for dinner and does not have any seating arrangement or dine-out facilities.

Aside from mouth-watering Mughlai food, the second-best food to indulge in would definitely be their kakori kebabs. The flavoured meat grilled to perfections spells magic and certainly worth the penny.

Mirch Masala, Choudhry Hotel and Bobi's restaurant offer lip-smacking cuisine that would make you a fan of the place and their food. However, if street food is what you wish to explore then head straight to the Gorakhpur Railway Station as the area around it have a slew of hawkers and street food artists who make memorable kebabs and other dishes.

How to reach Gorakhpur (Transportation)

By Air

Located only 6 km away from the city centre, the Gorakhpur Airport sees great flight connectivity, owing to many tourists using this domestic route to cross the border and reach Nepal. There are daily flights available to and from Gorakhpur from a majority of metropolitan cities. Urban cities such as Mumbai Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Delhi have daily flights dedicated to flying in and out of Gorakhpur. Booking flight tickets to Gorakhpur well in advance is not necessary as the flight tickets are cheap and affordable.

However, it is recommended that you book hotels in Gorakhpur before departing. It would be less cumbersome to find transport from the airport if you already have a hotel shuttle service to pick you up. The government actually converted the Air Force Station in 2003 to make the airport open for commercial use. Although no direct international routes taken by flights from Gorakhpur, there are buses available to take travellers to Nepal.

By Rail

Known to be one of the most important cities in Uttar Pradesh, the Gorakhpur Junction Railway Station is excellently connected to different parts of the country. Daily, trains from Bangalore Mumbai Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, Kolkata and more have dedicated trains going to and from Gorakhpur. Getting a train ticket could be quite challenging as the trains to Gorakhpur are always on demand. Another attribute that makes the city's railway an asset to the country is the fact that it is the headquarters to North Eastern Railway Zone.

By Road

State-owned Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) have bus services from Lucknow, Delhi, Azamgarh, Bareilly and more cities. Gorakhpur also has intercity and interstate bus services as well as cross-border transport facilities. Since the city is only 100 km away from Nepal, there are buses that take international routes to and from Gorakhpur. From deluxe to non-AC, there is a wide range of luxury buses that you can book. Although Gorakhpur is brilliantly connected across various cities in India, the sheer duration of time makes it a cumbersome mode of transport. Flights to Gorakhpur are a favourable option, as are railways.