About Vadodara

Vadodara, earlier known as Baroda, is a flourishing city in the state of Gujarat. The city is nestled on the banks of the river Vishwamitri and close to NH 48 (renumbered from 8) which connects Mumbai and Delhi. Over the years, Vadodara has seen extreme infrastructural growth. Be it their extensive airport or the tourist attractions within the city, Vadodara has managed to climb up the ranks to be one of the cleanest cities in India. In fact, after Kochi, Vadodara is the second airport in India to have acquired a sustainable energy source, which makes it a green airport. Travelling to the city is quite easy as the flight connectivity to Vadodara or even rail and roadway has an excellent network.

The city is quite famous and sees tremendous tourists flocking over during weekends for a break. Aside from the beautiful structures and tourist attractions, the city also has great staycation options. You can book hotels in Vadodara for reasonable costs and benefit from their top-notch hospitality and services. The food culture of Vadodara is something that is worth talking about as it brings together a global fusion cuisine.

Best time to visit in Vadodara

Vadodara witnesses the hottest summers. In fact, it is said that the summers in Vadodara are the hottest in the entire country. Knowing this should be enough for you to contemplate whether to visit Vadodara during summer or to avoid it. The temperatures sometimes go up to 42 degree Celsius which could be too much for some people to handle. The months between April to July see the hottest temperatures. Often people are unable to leave their houses too because of the heat and the health problems that follow. It is not surprising that the flight tickets to Vadodara are quite cheap and affordable during this season. Even the accommodation scenes are affordable with hotel bookings in Vadodara dropping room charges. Unless you have the strength to deal with the harsh rays of the sun, venturing to the city is not a good option.

The city does experience monsoon as well, but it is quite moderate. However, because of the rains, the terrain becomes cool and the atmosphere, a lot more bearable. The months from July to September see temperatures ranging from 24 degree Celsius to 38 degree Celsius. While it is still on the hotter side, the air and vibe turn more agreeable. The city does not see excess rainfall so that the moderate showers wouldn't affect your travel plans.

Winters are the best in Vadodara. The city is comparatively colder and has a very refreshing environment. With temperatures between 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, the city air turns pleasant. Even the winter sun is soothing and manages to put a smile on everyone's faces. October to March undoubtedly have the best weather in Vadodara. Not to mention how the months also come with festivals. From Navratri to Diwali, the festivities make the city vibrant with decorations and lit ambience. You can indulge in wearing Navratri clothes and perform Garba in the city. Also, you can taste undhiyu, a dish popularly made only during the winter season by Gujaratis. Overall, the place certainly turns into a lovely carnival. The flight to Vadodara and hotel bookings in the city automatically spike up with the peak season. However, with a little more scouting on the internet, you will be able to find some amazing online flight deals to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Vadodara

With its agreeable temperatures during winter, Vadodara has some lovely places that should be checked out. There are green gardens in the city that would definitely blow your mind. You can check out the Makarpura Palace, Sayaji Garden, Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, Sur Sagar Lake, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nyaya Mandir, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Jambughoda Wild Life Sanctuary, Champaner and Kirti Mandir. As a city that is constantly rooting towards expansion and development, Vadodara is also acknowledged as one of the cleanest cities in India.

Things to do in Vadodara

Vadodara has some of the best gardens and parks in the city. From the famous Kabirwad to the colourful Ajwa Nimeta Dam Garden, these places are lit with exquisite maintenance. Theme parks such as Ajwa Fun World and S Cube Water Park are also cool places to unwind with the family. As for those who wish to be close to nature, you can head to the Zarwani and Hathini Waterfalls. When in the city, you must check out the Narmada Canal, which is an impressive structure.

Food and Restaurants in Vadodara

One can never go to Gujarat and not have their celebrated cuisine. Gujarati food is known to be one of the best and the Gujaratis, food connoisseurs. The state's city Vadodara is no different to this idea. Aside from catering to the diverse range of tourists and visitors, Vadodara also propagates their vegetarian food, Gujarati thalis and fascinating delicacies. Most of Gujarat follows a vegetarian diet and hence, is tough to find non-vegetarian food joints. However, here in Vadodara, you will find a handful of restaurants that serve mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes that would make you a happy person.

At the city's barbecue junction, The Barbeque Grill, you will find some well-cooked Mughlai cuisine with kebabs, biryanis and other such dishes. Plus, they do have a buffet system too. Sasumaa's Gujarati thali is famous across the state. This chain of restaurants only have Gujarati thalis, and they are all you need to get the best of the cuisine. Not to mention how hospitable the staff is that it would further enhance your experience. Vadodara also has provision for global cuisine such as Mexican, Chinese and more. You should visit Salsa Habanero to get the best of Mexican flavours in the city. The chef of the restaurant was raised in California and surrounded by Mexican cuisine, which brought about this institution.

Some of the other places in Vadodara that should be visited include Azure, Mandap, Peshawari, Kai Asia, 22nd Parallel and San's Sizzlers. If you do manage to get time aside from checking out these restaurants, it is recommended that you also check out the street food culture of Vadodara. You will be surprised by their active food scenes on the streets.

How to reach Vadodara (Transportation)

By Air

Vadodara Airport is located 6.2 km away from the main city of Vadodara. After Ahmedabad and Surat, Vadodara is the third busiest airport in the state. The airport is touted to be the cleanest in the whole country. Interestingly, the airport recently inaugurated its international terminal and has since been witnessing a tremendous surge in passenger footfall. The flight connectivity to Vadodara is excellent as various major cities have dedicated flights flying in and out of the city. Flying to Vadodara easily becomes the best option as there are many flights to Vadodara from cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Not to mention how the flight connectivity to and from Vadodara enables easier transportation for travellers. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have designated flights to Vadodara from Bangalore, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and more. The fact that the airport is clean and has top-notch facilities further makes it a favoured option. You can book flight tickets to Vadodara at a reasonable price, irrespective of whether it is peak season or off-season. Plus, the city has exquisite accommodation too. You can book fancy hotels in Vadodara and enhance your trip experience.

By Rail

Vadodara railway station is just as well-connected as the flights to Vadodara. You can simply travel to the city in Gujarat from anywhere in India. The railway station is known to be the biggest one in the western railways belt. The city's railway station has excellent connectivity with several domestic routes connected to Vadodara. The railway station witnesses various express trains from corners of India. Some of the regular express trains include the Howrah-Ahmedabad Express and Navjivan Express. However, it is best to book tickets to Vadodara well in advance, owing to the popularity of the place. From the railway station, you can easily venture around in the city, which is perfectly connected thanks to the auto-rickshaw, buses and cab services. You can even book a hotel in Vadodara's city centre area and be assured that transit would be convenient.

By Road

Many tourists opt for roadways to travel to Vadodara. The highways and domestic routes connecting Vadodara to other big cities are extremely immaculate. The highways and roads are regularly maintained to ensure that the aesthetic beauty remains intact. This has given many travellers the option to take up road trips to the city. Even bus rides to Vadodara are good as the scenic views, and travel duration is decent. If you do have a budget issue and need to save enough money to book a hotel in Vadodara, then you should opt for bus travel. They are comfortable and will lead you directly to the city centre. Here, close to the bus stand, you will find many accommodation options that would help with your wallet.

  About Bhuntar Kullu 

Located beautifully at the confluence of the rivers Beas and Parvati rests this quaint town of Bhuntar. From the banks of the rivers, you can see the two varied hues of white and blue converging as the rivers meet. It certainly is a sight for sore eyes. Bhuntar is prominent for playing host to the Bhuntar Airport as well as being the point from which, travellers can pick varied domestic routes to explore Himachal Pradesh. Bhuntar connects to various notable hill stations around such as Manali, Kasol, Shimla, Dharamshala and more. Beautiful green landscapes have blessed the quaint town while the majestic Himalayan mountains surround it. The Beas River also flows through Bhuntar, making fishing a source of occupation.

Bhuntar is a small town and does not have expensive accommodation or tourist perks. However, as it plays the focal point from which travellers can traverse to other parts of the State, it automatically gains popularity. The domestic routes from Bhuntar are connected to some impeccable places and valleys such as Tirthan, Parvati, etc. It is basically a place that you can cover within a day as the accommodation is also not exemplary. However, there are some excellent hotels facing the Beas river. One can book hotels at Bhuntar and spend a day to complete checking off the list of things to do. The flight connectivity to Bhuntar and the domestic routes to and from Bhuntar Kullu are tremendously good.

Best time to visit Bhuntar Kullu

Bhuntar has no specific rule to visit as it is pleasant throughout the year. However, if you do wish to make the most of the quaint town and continue with your other plans, then the next thing for you to do would be to opt for a summer vacation. The summers in Bhuntar fall between April to June and are ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. Monsoons can get pretty hectic and risky as the chances of landslides are quite high. The river continued to flow without much hassle. During winters, the temperatures do drop quite a lot, but it is still bearable as the cool breezes don't result in snow.

Places to visit in Bhuntar Kullu

Bhuntar has quite a handful of temples around which shows their devotion towards religious beliefs. From the Basheshwar Mahadev Temple to Jagannath Temple, most of the temples are built as a tribute to Lord Shiva.

Basheshwar Mahadev Temple

The Basheshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the famous tourist attractions of Bhuntar. The temple is also known by the name Visveshwara Mahadev Temple and has an exemplary architecture with exceptional sculptures. It is located close to the Bhuntar airport and is in fact, only 4 km away. It is believed that the temple came into existence in the 8th century and is easily one of the largest temples that you will find in Kullu. The stone carvings and shikaras further add to the magnificent beauty of the temple.

Jagannath Temple

At the Jagannath Temple, while you will find a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, the place also observes Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The temple is just 3 km away from the main city of Bhuntar. Located at a surprising elevation of 5000 ft from sea level, the Jagannath Temple possibly has the best view that one can find in all of Kullu. You can get a bird's eye view of the small town and feel at peace. It is necessary to be careful when climbing the steep hill where the temple is located. Since the path is quite steep, it can get risky.

Bijli Mahadev Temple

Yet another Lord Shiva temple, the Bijli Mahadev Temple is located in close proximity to Bhuntar. It is at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, atop the Mathan Hill. Since it is situated at a height, the view from the temple is simply breath-taking. The architecture is also quite exquisite as it has followed the Kash style of construction. There is a belief that every time an individual comes across a flash of light, it is a result of the Shivlinga breaking into pieces. While people are yet to witness this marvel, another belief further states that sincere prayers of the devotees could bring good rainfall in the district to help with agriculture and cultivation.

Himalayan National Park

The Himalayan National Park, also known as the Jawaharlal Nehru Great Indian National Park, is a humongous meadow of preserved environment that is sprawled over the Kullu district and can be found in Bhuntar's locality as well. The park inhabits bears, both brown and black, langurs, Himalayan musk deer rhesus macaques, wild sheep and more such animals. The place also boasts rich biodiversity with some impeccable plants and flowers. Overall, the place is gorgeous and makes for a good stroll for photographers and nature-lovers.

Adi Brahma Temple

Although Pushkar in Rajasthan is known to be the only place in the entire world with a Brahma temple, Bhuntar also has a shrine dedicated to the God who created the universe. Going by the name Adi Brahma Temple, the enormous wooden temple is only 4 km away from Bhuntar and is close to the Khokhan village. At the centre of the temple vicinity, you will find a giant statue of Lord Brahma. The premise also has gorgeous chariots made of silver and brass mohras.

Things to do in Bhuntar Kullu

Rafting at Beas river

Beas river is sparkling blue and calmer as compared to the Parvati river. Hence, river rafting is mostly conducted on the banks of the Beas river in Kullu. You can opt for this once in a lifetime experience and dive straight into a raft that will give you an exquisite sight of the Himalayan ranges while you're in the water. It is certainly something you should pick up because rafting in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are adrenaline-charged and extremely fun.

Trek to Sar Pass and Malana Village

To go on trekking expeditions, you will have to travel to Mandi village, which is not very far from Bhuntar. As you reach Mandi, you will have the option to explore Malana and Sar Pass. Since Sar Pass requires you to be healthy and have six to seven days in hand to reach the summit, it needs to planned out properly. As for Malana village, you can take a taxi ride to the foothills of the village and trek up to the holy hill station. You need to avoid touching any of the structures in the Malana village as you will be fined for it.

Explore Bhuntar Kullu on a bicycle

The best way to spend your time in Bhuntar Kullu would be to rent a bicycle and explore more of the green expanses that envelop the hill station. The lovely dense forests of Bhuntar would keep your attention engaged, and you will be thoroughly amazed by how gorgeous the city and its outskirts are.

Food and restaurants

Since Bhuntar is more of a stop-over for many travellers before they can pick their next destination, the place doesn't have a lot of restaurants or food joints that are memorable. You will be happy and satiated by the food served at the bus and airport junctions, but that's about it. Dhabas and restaurants here serve Mughlai and Indian cuisine along with Maggi and corn. To get some fancy food, you will have to either head to Kullu or Kasol.

How to reach Bhuntar Kullu (Transportation)

By Air

Bhuntar Airport or Kullu Manali Airport rests perfectly atop the banks of the Beas river, offering tourists a fabulous view of the valley. The closest way to reach Manali, Kasol, Mandi, Kullu and other such tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh is via Bhuntar Airport. Considering how Kullu Manali is one of the top travel destinations in India, direct flights fly to and from Bhuntar Airport. The flight connectivity to and from Bhuntar and major cities such as Delhi, Chandigarh, Shimla and Dharamshala is top-notch. Since there is only one runway available, the flights have layovers in Delhi. Quite a handful of airlines have also reserved dedicated flights to Bhuntar Kullu.

By Rail

Pathankot is the central railway station in North India that connects domestic routes of major tourist destinations. From Dharamshala to Manali to Kullu, all the top hill stations can easily be connected via Pathankot. Trains from metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai Lucknow, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, etc., travel to Pathankot. From here, tourists can pick taxi cabs or rentals or even motorcycles to travel to Bhuntar, Kullu and other parts of Himachal Pradesh. Reaching Kullu is quite easy as all modes of transport will take you right here. A dedicated railway station does not exist in Bhuntar.

By Road

Buses are usually the most sought-after choice when travelling to Bhuntar from other parts of the northern cities. Often people take the Rajdhani to reach Delhi, and from here, dedicated buses taking domestic routes to reach Bhuntar are taken. You can find these buses at Kashmere Gate in Delhi from where the buses usually start. Aside from the luxury buses and Volvo AC services, the state also provided bus services for cheap tickets. The Himachal Pradesh State Board Transport Corporation (HPSRTC) has reserved buses that connect Bhuntar and Kullu to the other parts of the state. From Kullu, you can easily travel to other hill stations such as Shimla, Rampur, Mandi, Kasol, Manali, etc.

  About Vadodara Airport

Vadodara Airport, also known by the name, Civil Airport Harni, is situated in the suburb of Harni, which is in the north-east of Vadodara, Gujarat. The city is the third largest in the state of Gujarat in terms of population. The city follows Ahmedabad and Surat in the list of populated cities in the state. Vadodara was originally a domestic airport which recently received the stature of an international airport. Vadodara Airport has started operations of international flights. Additionally, the airport also has its state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility.

About Vadodara Airport terminals

Vadodara Airport has one domestic terminal which has been named after the Maharaja of Baroda State. The terminal's decor has been inspired by the architectural nuances of mixed styles ranging from Gujarati to dome-shaped roofs, etc. As the airport is small, so is the terminal. It cannot accommodate a large throng of passengers and barely manages 250 in an hour. Hence, to expand the capacity of the terminal and to incorporate international flight operations, the airport announced to construct a new integrated terminal building in the vicinity. A competition to design the new terminal was introduced on an international scale. Following this, a US-based consortium Gensler, Frederic Schwartz Architects and Creative Group from India bagged the project to design the new terminal. Works to accommodate the new integrated terminal commenced in 2009 as the foundation was laid.

After nearly seven years of construction work, the terminal was completed and inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in the same year. The new integrated terminal sprawls across an area of 18,120 square metres and can accommodate about 700 passengers in an hour. Other features of the terminal include 18 check-in counters as well as a night parking facility. The parking bay can accommodate close to nine Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This has enabled a reduction in the burden at Mumbai Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and Ahmedabad Airport (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport). It has also made it economical for several airlines. Presently, Vadodara Airport does not accommodate cargo. It is also recognised as the second airport in the country, after Cochin International Airport, to be a green airport. In fact, the airport's new integrated terminal also holds a global record for being the only airport with the longest single sheet rooftop which measures about 164.2 metres.

About Airport Authority

The airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body, which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has been founded to cater to the upgradations, maintenance and management of various civil aviation infrastructure in the country. It is thanks to the work of the Airports Authority of India that Vadodara Airport has managed to expand its airport terminals and to accommodate both domestic and international flights. In fact, the exemplary work of the AAI has enabled Vadodara Airport to bag the Swachh Bharat Award for being one of the cleanest and safest airports in the category of airports that can accommodate passenger capacity of 1.5 million. As part of the expansion plans, Airports Authority of India has brought Vadodara Airport in the maps of one of the most accomplished and well-developed airports in India.

Facilities at the Vadodara Airport

Wheelchair accessibility – You can request for a wheelchair with your airline, and the airport would cater to the same.

Medical facility – Vadodara Airport has a designated team of medical professionals to deal with emergency cases that might crop up at the airport premise. They are trained doctors and professionals. Medical rooms are also present as are pharmacies.

Restaurants and cafes – There are quaint cafes and restaurants installed in the airport premise. They can be found in the departure sections of the airport. Smaller joints and food establishments can also be found in the arrivals section. For tea, coffee and other such beverages, you can check out some joints located in the airport.

Baggage – The baggage services at the airport include trolleys and porter systems. You can ask for a porter service, wherein an airport staff would escort your trolley of luggage and even get the security checks done on your behalf. Trolleys are available outside the airport as well as in the airport premise.

Shops – There are small shops also present at the airport premise. You can find some impeccable paintings, books, magazines, artefacts and souvenirs at these shops. They basically glorify the culture of Gujarat and also have exquisite ethnic items that you could purchase. In fact, for passengers who need to pass their time at the airport can actually visit these shops and be entertained by the lovely collection of items that they have for sale.

Lounge – The airport has a luxury lounge present in the departure section of the terminal. The lounge can be accessed by passengers who have special passes or a certain ticket type. As for others who wish to spend time in the lounge and enjoy their benefits, the airport has tariffs that the passengers will need to pay to get access to the space. There are TV sets, WiFi services, good hospitality and great lounge seats available in the lounge.

Special assistance – There are special assistance services that have been reserved for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities. These services can be availed at the airport. It is recommended that the passenger inform the airlines prior to the journey. The airport will be able to accommodate the necessary services and trained staff to cater to the same.

Smoking zones – Vadodara Airport has strict laws against smoking and to make sure that the protocols to not smoke in public are followed, they have installed zones in the premise. The airport has designated smoking zones for passengers to avail. These spaces also have cigarettes for sale. The smoking lounges are kept clean and sanitised with fresh air being pumped at every interval.

Top airlines flying from Vadodara Airport

Vadodara is a big city within the borders of Gujarat. However, it does not have excellent connectivity with other Indian cities. As an airport that only caters to domestic flights, Vadodara Airport accommodates operations of airlines namely Air India and IndiGo. These airlines fly to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, to name a few.

How to reach Vadodara Airport

By Bus and taxi

Vadodara as a city is perfectly connected with several modes of transportation. The airport is also just as well-connected as it is very close to the city centre. You can opt for buses to reach Vadodara Airport. There are designated bus stops available in proximity to the airport. These buses can be taken from anywhere around the city. As one of the important cities in Gujarat, Vadodara's bus services are handled by the state government. Hence, the connectivity is immaculate. Aside from the buses, you can also reach Vadodara Airport by hailing a taxi cab. There are provisions of the same in the city. In fact, you can also opt for car rentals and travel in the same to reach Vadodara Airport.

By Rail

Baroda Railway Station is barely five kilometres from Vadodara Airport. Hence, if you are travelling from neighbouring towns by train and have a flight to catch from Vadodara Airport, the best way to reach would be by getting a rickshaw or taxi ride from the railway station. As it is in the city centre, you can easily find taxi cabs and rickshaws at the Baroda Railway Station to reach Vadodara Airport. It would take you about 15 minutes to reach Vadodara Airport from the railway station. Hopefully, if there is not much traffic on the street, the travel duration would further be reduced. The road conditions are rather conducive.

About Vadodara

Vadodara, popularly known as Baroda, is the third-most populous city in the state of Gujarat. The city is named after the presence of Banyan (Vad), that grow and flourish in the city. Vadodara is perched atop the banks of the Vishwamitri River and is roughly 120 km away from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Vadodara's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer has enabled the city to have a tropical climate at all times. It is extremely hot and often deals with scorching summers too. Although the city witnesses tremendous passenger traffic owing to the industrial establishments, there are dedicated peak months when you can visit Vadodara.

The best time to visit the city is from March to April. It is considerably hot and humid, but the heat is bearable. The city is blessed with lovely temples and exquisite palaces and historic structures. In fact, it is even recognised as the cultural capital of Gujarat. Thanks to these attractions, the city witnesses tremendous tourist action. Some of the highlights of the city include the Lakshmi Vilas Palace which is the residence of Baroda Stat's Maratha regal family, the Gaekwads, from the Gaekwad Dynasty. Vadodara is home to the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The city is heavily invested in various power and oil and gas corporations.