Udaipur to Port Blair 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 Port Blair

Port Blair, famously known to have been a prison during the British era, is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. It is the only city in the archipelago with airport connectivity. The beautiful city of Port Blair has a significant history and culture that you should definitely explore. Not to mention the stunning beaches and green expanses that envelop the island city. The flight tickets to Port Blair are a little on the expensive side, but you can always opt for ferry or ships as an alternative to reach the city.

Best time to visit Port Blair

Port Blair offers a different vibe in every season, making it one of the most interesting places to visit. The summer season from March to May are perfect for scuba diving. The weather is not too harsh compared to the other places in India. The sky is clear, as are the waters, making it a diver's Shangri-La. The temperatures during summer in Port Blair range between 28 degree Celsius and 30 degree Celsius, which is quite pleasant and bearable. Besides, the waters would be there to cool your senses.

October to February is yet another stretch of months that sees good weather in Port Blair. The winters are quite mild but pleasant with temperatures dwindling between 15 degree Celsius to 34 degree Celsius. The weather plus the clear skies make it the most favourable season to visit Port Blair. Many honeymooners and travellers choose this season to visit the lovely Andaman Islands and explore its beaches. The city is full of life with bustling markets and beaches. Getting cheap tickets to Port Blair during the peak season is going to be quite challenging. However, if you spend more time online to figure out a good flight deal to Port Blair, immediately take it up.

Monsoon is definitely not ideal for visiting Port Blair, especially if you're planning to visit via the sea route. The heavy rainfall would cause a lot of discomfort during your voyage. Even flights might get delayed owing to bad weather.

Places to visit in Port Blair

Cellular Jail, famously known as Kalapani, is easily one of the top tourist attractions of Port Blair. What makes this place famous is how it played as a gruelling prison during the Colonial era, the memorial celebrates the lives of freedom fighters who were imprisoned on the island. The historical relevance of the place draws a lot of attention, as does the intriguing landscape. While you're here, also ensure to check out the Japanese Bunker, a complex boasting the relics of World War II. The place certainly has made several contributions to the Indian as well as global history and is definitely worth a visit. Aside from historic sites, the place also has one of the biggest pilgrim sites with a massive Murugan Temple. The exquisite Dravidian-style architecture with deities nestled on the gopuram makes for quite an experience.

An interesting excursion would be to check out the Mangkutan village where you will be taken through the rubber plantation, which is the primary source of income for people residing in Port Blair. You should also add the Marina Park and Aquarium in your list of places to visit in Port Blair. It hosts over 350 marine species, including turtles and sharks.

Things to do in Port Blair

As a city on an island, much of the place is surrounded by pristine beaches and azure blue water touching the shores. You can take up beach hopping as a way to visit some of the finest beaches of Port Blair and its surrounding. Do add Ross and Smith Islands, Butler Bay Beach, Rutland Island, Parrot Island, Cinque Island and Karmatang beach in your list. These beautiful beaches will give you the best treatment with open waters and a calming breeze. If you wish to indulge in some water sports, which we do recommend you should, go over to Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex to make the most of your time on the island. From parasailing to banana boat rides, the complex would give you a bunch of water sports activities to choose from.

Corbyn's Cove is quite a sight for sore eyes. The quaint space with its pristine blue waters would keep you engaged. Not to mention how the coconut and palm trees lining the beach would further add more scenic beauty to your pictures. If the beaches have started to bore you and you wish to get an aerial view of the lovely island where Port Blair is located, then you should trek up to the Madhuban Ranges. It is located in the Mount Harriet National Park and is known to offer the best views of the city and island from atop.

Food and Restaurants in Port Blair

Being an island could mean barely any options for vegetarians. However, vegetarians don't have to worry about that in Port Blair. The famous Annapurna restaurant and Kattabomman restaurants, both offer amazing South Indian food at an affordable cost. You will find vegetarian Chinese dishes at these food institutions as well. As for the travellers who cannot wait to check out what the seafood platter in Port Blair restaurants consists, head straight to New Lighthouse restaurant located near Marina Park in the city. You will definitely not be disappointed by the food or the ambience. You also have Sinclair's Bayview resort with its sea-facing restaurant to visit. The place has cuisine ranging from local Port Blair speciality to continental spread.

The city also caters to honeymooners and has some lovely romantic setting to give them a splendid experience. Amaya Lounge Bar is one such place where the location will blow your mind and the food, your senses. The cuisine is friendly to all as it sells experience more than heavenly food. Speaking of a romantic setting, to make things more personal, you can opt to go to Bonova Cafe and Pub, which is located close to the Govind Nagar Beach. The place has an exquisite vibe and food so divine. Mandalay restaurant is also one such restaurant in Port Blair that faces the sea and offers top-rated food. Plus, the price is not too expensive so you can try more for less money.

How to reach Port Blair

By Air

Port Blair, being the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has a domestic airport, commercially known as Veer Savarkar Airport. The airport has great flight connectivity from Port Blair to major cities in India. In fact, there are direct flights from Port Blair to Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Vizag and Delhi. These are the only destinations in India from where you can find flights to Port Blair. As for the other cities, options of connecting flights and layovers would be the only way to reach Port Blair by flight. There are no international routes connected to Port Blair as there is provision for only domestic flights. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Vistara have regular flights flying in and out of Port Blair. The closest cities to the Andaman Islands are Chennai, Vizag and Kolkata.

Reaching the island state from these three cities is known to be the easiest domestic route that can be taken. It barely takes 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Port Blair by flight from Chennai and Kolkata. However, if you are travelling from Delhi, the flight duration to Port Blair would easily take you 5 hours. International services to Port Blair are not allowed so travellers flying in from international routes will have to take a connecting flight to Port Blair. It is imperative that you carry your official documents and government papers as an international traveller. The airport conducts strict immigration checks to ensure non-natives do not enter unless the government gives them the green signal.

Interestingly, there are chopper services also available to reach Port Blair from Indian cities. Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd. has dedicated chopper services transporting people to Port Blair from Chennai.

By Water

Various private and government ferries connect to Port Blair. You can find these ferries at the Chennai port as well as Vizag and Kolkata. Although reaching Port Blair from the sea is time-consuming, it does give you a different kind of experience, which is worth it. Out of the ships and ferry options, Chennai port is closer compared to Vizag and Kolkata, so it is recommended that you board your ships from here. Travelling by ship works perfectly if you are planning a long vacation. However, if the trip is time-bound, then you should opt to fly to Port Blair. The ship and ferry services connect to Port Blair and some of its famous islands such as Havelock, Neil Island and more.

For travellers opting ship and waterways as the medium of transport, it is recommended that you book your tickets 15 days in advance. You can make online bookings for your tickets to Port Blair as these government-owned as well as private ships have active online portals. At the same time, be abreast of the challenges that would come with travelling by sea. Many people tend to fall seasick, and this results in the whole trip being ruined. Be mindful and cautious before choosing ships.