Vijayawada to Goa Flights

  About Vijayawada

Situated on the banks of Krishna River is the city of Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Surrounded by dense greenery of the Eastern ghats, the city has exquisite scenery to cherish. The industrial city is known to have the second-largest rail junction connectivity, making it an important city in India. It is the hub of transport connection to South India. The city enjoys a beautiful melange of cultures and heritages, making it a good tourist place. Flight connectivity to Vijayawada from other major cities further enhances its importance.

Best time to visit Vijayawada

Vijayawada's climate is usually moderate all-round the year. However, winter months make it the best time to visit. Winters arrive in October and stay till February, giving people ample time to plan a trip to Vijayawada for a small excursion. The November and December months are especially favourable for travelling as the sun is pleasant, as is the vibe of the place. Thanks to the favourable weather, it manages to attract a lot of tourists to Vijayawada city. Even the flight tickets to Vijayawada see a spike during the peak-season, being winter. You will have a good time during winter in Vijayawada as the streets are lit with many hawkers selling some of the finest street food. Plus, it would be easier to visit tourist attractions in and around the city.

While the winters are inviting and beautiful, the summers are equally scorching and terrible. The temperatures often spike up to 43 degree Celsius, which can be tough for some people to deal with. The weather is extremely hot and humid. It definitely would not allow you to traverse within the city as the pesky heat and humidity would come in the way of your mood. Not to mention how it could have some have implications such as heat strokes and dehydration too. Best thing to do would be to avoid summers in Vijayawada for one's own safety. Besides, if travel and leisure is your purpose of visiting Vijayawada, then it is all the more important that you do not opt for Vijayawada for vacation. It certainly wouldn't be a good trip, and you might end up feeling more worked up than before.

Interestingly, the monsoons are not good but not as bad as summers. The city witnesses torrential rains between the months of July and September. Due to the extreme downpour, the travel plans that you may have had might need alteration. The erratic nature of the rain will have an effect on the temperature of the city. It could be favourable, or it could be bad. Hence, the best way to go about it would be to only pick winter as the time to visit Vijayawada. It is ideal, and the city also has more life to it that would do well with your vacation mood.

Places to visit in Vijayawada

Vijayawada has a plethora of beautiful tourist attractions that would make for a good itinerary. Bhavani Island is one such place where the Krishna river would surround you while you enjoy fine dining. It is the perfect leisure setting that one can ask for. Aside from it, you can further explore some of the temples and pilgrimage that is situated in the city. Places such as Kanaka Durga Temple, Subramanya Swamy Temple, Hinkar Tirtha, ISKCON Temple, to name a few, are places that would transport you to a serene environment. Exploring ruins at the Kondapalli Fort is also a good way to spend time in Vijayawada. As is visiting the Victoria Museum to learn more about the Vijayawada empire and the historical significance of the city.

Things to do in Vijayawada

Not just food and tourist attractions but the city also cater to one's recreational needs with a slew of things to do. Shopping being the primary attraction for many, tourists often flock over to the Besant Road for some street shopping. Getting souvenirs for your peers could be something fun to engage in. For those who are interested in flexing calf muscles and engaging in some adventure activities, you can pick trekking to the Mangalagiri Hills or Gandhi Hill as an option. Further to rest easy, packing a picnic basket and heading to the Kolleru Lake is also a comfortable idea that you can undertake.

Food and Restaurants in Vijayawada

Vijayawada's food culture would be agreeable to all. The city brings together some of the finer shades of Indian cuisine in one platter. Although the city is predominantly South Indian and would cater to the said cuisine, they do come with variations. Vijayawada accommodates Udupi-style restaurants, exquisite fine dining experiences with global fusion and more. You will thoroughly be overjoyed by the plethora of food options that the city has for you. Traditional food joints have also been transformed into fine dining experiences that cannot be missed. The foodie in you would certainly agree with some of the food that the city offers. It is a known fact that people in Andhra Pradesh hold a special spot for rice and pickles. Do make a note that the food quantity is abundant, so prepare your stomach for an adventure.

The city has a bunch of mess and caterer services where you can eat to your heart's content. Sr Ramayya Mess and Caterers is one such place which would give you some delicious authentic South Indian spread. It is purely vegetarian and one of the famous places in Vijayawada. Make sure you taste their bread halwa and gongura pachadi, you will not be disappointed. Babai Hotel in Vijaywada is not just prominent for being a breakfast joint since 1942 but also for serving food to bigtime celebrities such as Sri N.T.Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Chandra Mohan, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, to name a few.

For impeccable non-vegetarian dishes, you should head to GAD Restaurant, Sweet Magic, TFL and RR Durbar. These places serve the best non-vegetarian spin that is Andhra Pradesh's speciality. Much of their menu has kebabs and biryanis for food enthusiasts. You should not miss out the street food that also defines Vijayawada's food culture. At Kit-Kat Bakery, relish their masala burgers and bread omelettes. Visit Shahana's juice point to get some refreshing fruit juice.

How to reach Vijayawada (Transportation)

By Air

Vijayawada is an international airport and entertains international flights along with domestic ones. Located in the Gannavaram area, Vijayawada International Airport was originally built as an army base to serve during the Second World War. Since the airport's location is right on NH 5, it connects with various cities in the South such as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, to name a few. Major airlines such as TruJet, Air India, SpiceJet and Air Costa function from the Vijayawada airport. Flights from Vijayawada fly to prominent cities in India, including Bangalore, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Varanasi, Kochi, Kolkata and more. Direct flights to Mumbai from Vijayawada are also available and are serviced by Air India.

Despite being an international airport, there are no flights from international routes that connect to Vijayawada. In fact, to book an international flight, you will have to check for connecting flights from Hyderabad. Flight tickets to Vijayawada are not extremely pricey. You can easily book your flight ticket to Vijayawada and get some fantastic flight deals. Better accommodations are available in the city centre, but it would be best to book your hotel room in Vijayawada before your journey.

By Rail

Vijayawada's railway connectivity is legendary. In fact, the city's railway junction is known to be the second biggest in India. Vijayawada railway station is an important station in India as a majority of the train connections from North to South of India pass through the city. The rail is actually a hub that enables connecting all the cities in South of India more convenient. The station is abundantly crowded with trains coming from all corners of India. While there is a Howrah-Chennai mainline that passes through Vijayawada, there are other lines like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, too that pass through this. Vijayawada is a popular rail route that has excellent network.

Express trains such as Chennai Express, Shatabdi Express, Coromandal Express, Guwahati Express and Jaipur Express, to name a few, take a halt at Vijayawada. The station's location is in the city centre, making travelling within the city comfortable. Due to the fantastic connectivity of trains, the rail is considered over flights to Vijayawada by tourists.

By Road

The roads are just as brilliantly connected as the air and rail to Vijayawada. National highways such as NH 5, NH 9, NH 30 and more passes through Vijayawada, making it a popular route for road transport. A state-run bus facility for inter-state travelling is also available. As for intra-city and inter-state buses, private services to connect cities via AC/Non-AC buses. While traffic congestion can be expected on the highways, the road conditions are favourable, making travelling by road a lot easier. As a developed city, Vijayawada's transportation is quite immaculate. Traffic and other concerns do erupt owing to the crowd.

  About Goa

Located on the West coast of India is the quaint beachy paradise, also known as Goa. The state of Goa is hardly 3,700 sq. km, with a small population that is known to be one of the biggest tourist destinations in India. The state has a heavy Portuguese influence and culture as it is a former colony. Thanks to their Portugal-influenced, the culture and outlook of Goa are visibly diverse from the other parts of India. Goa sees a regular throng of tourists as Indian and international travellers constantly flock over to the tropical state. The domestic and international routes are well-connected, making travelling by flight to Goa, an easy task.

Best time to visit Goa

The best season to visit Goa is undeniably winter! The winters in Goa call for a celebration as the temperatures drop to offer a pleasant atmosphere. The months starting from October to February are peak season where Goa sees an abundance of travellers. The flight tickets to Goa during this season is also quite expensive as the demand is high. However, with various music festivals, Christmas and the spirit of New Year's taking over, Goa easily becomes one of the best places in winters.

The monsoon season that stretches between June to September is ideal for nature enthusiasts. While many assume Goa's beaches to be its identity, the green expanses of the Western Ghats that passes through Goa get some love from nature enthusiasts. The state's hues change from sparkling blue to emerald green, and it is worth exploring.

The summers are considered to be bad as the tropical region faces sweltering temperatures. Often the mercury spikes up to 40 degree Celsius, making it unbearably hot. The flight tickets to Goa are cheap during this season for obvious reasons. If you can handle the heat, then you can make use of good flight deals and book flight tickets to Goa.

Places to visit in Goa

Museums and art galleries

The state might be known for its tourism, but they also indulge in arts and culture. There are many art galleries around the Old Goa region. The state's Portugal roots can further be explored by visiting the Goa State Museum. You should also visit the Museum for technology and Art, which goes by the name Sensistan. Benaulim's Houses of Goa, Goa Chitra Museum and many other religious art museums have intriguing stories that should be explored.

Beaches

Goa's highlight is the beaches, the cuisine and the nightlife. The pristine blue waters by the coasts sparkle under the sun and attract people from all over the world. The most famous and best beaches in Goa include Palolem, Vagator, Chapora, Anjuna, Arambol, Morjim, Colva, Candolim, Mandrem, Butterfly, Agonda, Calangute, etc. The best thing to in Goa to travel within would be to rent a vehicle and beach hop as every beach caters to a certain kind of audience. Depending on your vibe, you might enjoy a certain stretch of beach. The beautiful beaches are definitely worth it.

Churches

The famed Bom Jesus Basilica with the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is a legendary church. Built in 1605, the church's distinctive architecture using wood, gold, stone and granite gives it a vintage vibe. Not to mention how you will get to witness the miraculous undecomposed body of Francis Xavier, whose body is preserved by the church officials. Other notable churches include the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of St Catejan, Se Cathedral and Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Things to do in Goa

Water sports

Goa has copious amounts of water sports activities that would keep you indulged all-day. Right from learning how to surf to snorkelling to kayaking in the wide sea, there are various water sports that you can take up. Specific beaches host scuba diving and snorkelling activities while some are known for their parasailing, banana boat ride, ferry tours and other such activities. Depending on which part of the state you're in, you'll get to experience the said kind of water sport.

Beach hopping

The beaches of Goa can either by calm and quaint or loud and noisy. Depending on which neighbourhood you choose, you'll find your own sweet nirvana. The North beaches are more commercial with Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Anjuna, Vagator and more, experiencing excessive crowd. The South beaches are quaint and quiet with luxury settings and fewer crowds. If you wish to indulge in water sports and other such activities, then you should head to North where they happen in abundance. If taking strolls at the beach or going for a swim is what you wish to do then the South beaches are it for you. You can rent bikes or cars and go on a beach-hopping spree.

Ocean treks

To reach some beaches in Goa, you will have to trek the trails. The Butterfly Beach in South Goa is one such beach where you need to trek up the stony trails to reach the exquisite and quaint beach. It is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the state. Parts of Cabo de Rama beach also expects you to do some trekking, which only adds to the fun of diving in the sea. North Goa's Arambol beach is also famous for ocean treks.

Quad Biking

If you wish to take a day's break from the beaches and the water, you can head to the adventure side of Goa where you'll find quad bike tours. Basically, you can do dirt bike riding on muddy terrains created. You don't need to be an expert to indulge in this activity as it doesn't require any levels of riders.

Casino and cruises

Goa's nightlife is just as lit as the beaches it offers. While there are regulated parties that take place on the beaches and even some nightclubs, there are dedicated cruises and casino parlours too. Try some play of dice at one of these casinos or hit the party scenes to experience the nightlife of Goa.

Food and Restaurants in Goa

As a coastal state, Goa's staple food involves fish curry and rice. The place serves the most exquisite seafood that one can ask for. The beach shacks have Continental, Seafood and Indian food cuisines as options. A majority of the tourists usually choose seafood over everything else. For the best ambience and piquant seafood, you should visit Curly's in North Goa and Fisherman's Wharf in South Goa. Other places with great seafood are The Lazy Goose, Amavi, Starlight, Ritz Classic, Gunpowder, etc.

While seafood is a staple, the iconic Goan dishes are actually made from pork. Acquaint yourself with names such as Vindaloo, Xacuti, Chorizo and Sorpotel as these Goan dishes are a big hit. From street food to lavish restaurant dining, you'll meet with all kinds of experiences in Goa, and they will all be memorable. The beach shacks also have Goan dishes in their menu so you can always mix up the platter. If seafood is a little too much for you to deal with, then an Italian rendezvous at Da Tita might go down well with you.

How to reach Goa

By Air

Goa's Dabolim Airport, located in Vasco da Gama, is the only airport in the State. Due to the popularity of the state, and the fact that it is the most sought-after destination for Indians, as well as international tourists, the flight connectivity to and from Goa, is incredible. Direct flight to Goa is available from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur and more. International flights from Goa are also available as some direct planes are flying to Kuwait, UAE, Doha, etc. Although no direct flights are connecting Goa to Western Europe, USA, Russia and the UK, great connectivity and layovers have enabled these international destinations to be connected to Goa.

Nonstop domestic airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, Air Asia and Vistara are available. It would be ideal to book your hotels ahead of your trip as shuttle services to pick you up from Goa airport would be convenient. On off-seasons, the flight tickets are cheap and affordable. However, if you wish to travel during their peak season, it is best to book flight tickets in advance for great flight deals online.

By Rail

There are two main railway stations namely, Madgaon Junction and Thivim, which connect other cities to South and North Goa respectively. Direct trains following domestic routes to Goa are also available from Mumbai, Delhi, Mangalore, Kochi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, to name a few.

By Road

A majority of crowd from the Mumbai and Pune region often use the road as a means to reach Goa. There are overnight buses that travel from Mumbai to Goa, which makes travelling convenient. Various public and private bus service providers have sleeper and Volvo seater buses going to Goa. You can either get down at Mapusa Bus Stand for North Goa or Panjim Bus Stand and Madgaon Bus Stand if you're opting for the South beaches. The State-serviced Kadamba Transport is also available and connects to various neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.

  About Goa Airport

Dabolim Airport is the sole domestic and international airport in the state of Goa. Situated in Dabolim, about 4 km from Vasco da Gama and 23 km from the oldest city Margao and 30 km from the state capital, Panjim, the airport is perched up the Arabian Sea. The airport is a civil enclave (a joint-use airport) and is also operated by the Indian Navy's naval airbase, INS Hansa. Goa Airport witnesses a plethora of international passengers throughout the year, especially from the European continent and many from the United Kingdom as well. IN 2013, the airport inaugurated its integrated terminal to increase the passenger handling capacity. The airport recorded capacity of 7.6 million passengers in the fiscal year 2017-18.

Dabolim Airport witnesses many European-charter airlines with flights flying to and from the city on a seasonal basis. There are dedicated charter flights from the United Kingdom, operated by TUI Airways or popularly known as just TUI. These charter flights function from the UK as well as the Republic of Ireland. Along with flights from the UK, Dabolim Airport also witnesses seasonal charter flights from Russian cities. With a consistent increase in passenger traffic and air traffic congestion, a proposal to introduce a second airport in Mopa has been granted a green signal. Mopa Airport is set to complete construction by 2022 and will see flight operations soon.

About Goa Airport terminals

Currently, Dabolim Airport accommodates two terminals for domestic and international flight operations. Terminal 1 handles all flight activities for domestic airlines. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 takes care of international flight operations ranging from landing to take off. The domestic terminal covered an area of 21,527 square feet and was constructed in 1983 while the international terminal came into existence in 1996, covering an area of 10,763 square feet. However, with a tremendous increase in passenger congestion and air traffic, the airport constructed an integrated terminal building to cater to both domestic as well as international passengers. The same was opened in 2013 with extensive features.

The design and layout of the building are aesthetic which comprises of glass and large steel span structures along with frameless glazing. The integrated terminal sprawls across 36,000 square metres and has been designed to accommodate five million passengers in a year. The terminal is also equipped with eight aerobridges. Some of the outstanding features of the terminal include an in-line baggage scanning system, 75 check-in counters, 22 immigration counters for departures, 18 immigration counters for arrivals and a total of 14 security check counters. The check-in counters are located on the ground floor, while the first floor has security checks. Following the installation of the new integrated terminal building, the old ones have been closed.

About Airport Authority

Dabolim Airport is currently being operated under the Airports Authority of India. The government statutory body which falls under the Ministry of Aviation has worked tirelessly towards enhancing the structure of Goa Airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgradations and modernisation. All the expansion projects have been undertaken by the Airports Authority of India. This includes funding and management decisions concerning the projects. Under the AAI, the airport renewed its terminal building into an integrated one that would cater to accommodating international and domestic activities. Some of their works also include installation of the multi-level car parking facility to enable parking of about 570 cars along with parking bays for aircraft. They have also asked for the Indian Navy and the State Government to help them acquire lands to expand the aprons and the older international terminal building space.

The airport is spread across 1,700 acres of land and also accommodates a civil enclave of 35 acres. On a daily basis, Dabolim Airport witnesses about 180 flights with a large concentration of passenger traffic between 1 PM to 9 PM on weekdays. The airport is supposed to function between the slated time slot during weekdays for civilian as it has some naval restrictions. The military requires flight training activities to continue during a specific time period and hence follows the specified rules throughout the year.

As the airport is jointly operated by the Indian Navy and the Airports Authority of India, the two parties entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2017, to construct a full-length parallel taxi track that would be suitable to accommodate aircraft like Boeing 747. Both parties will share the construction cost. For the expansion project, Dabolim Airport also received environmental clearance in 2018. The project has been divided into three phases and is set to be completed in a scheduled manner. The first phase of the airport was completed in 2019, which resulted in an increase in the runway's capacity from 15 air traffic activities in an hour to 18-20 air traffic movements per hour.

Facilities at the Goa Airport

Lounge – Goa Airport has a VIP lounge that only caters to travellers with specific access passes or ticket types.

WiFi – Dabolim Airport offers free WiFi services to everyone. There are no restrictions as such. The same good speed can be availed at the common lounge as well as VIP lounges too.

ATMs and currency exchange – As it is an international airport, provisions for currency exchanges and ATMs are also present at Dabolim Airport. You will receive decent exchange rates for the currency exchange. Further, you can also transfer money to your overseas accounts.

Baby care facilities – The airport has reserved special rooms for baby care. These rooms are well-lit and have all the necessary items to cater to a baby and a new mother's comfort. A cosy chair, as well as a changing table, is also available in the baby care room. Plus, the room is private and only allows mothers with babies to enter.

Restaurants – Some many restaurants and cafes are present in the premise of Dabolim Airport. These restaurants majorly have Goan cuisine. However, there are continental, and other global cuisines also present in the airport. As you wait for boarding, indulging in food could be a good way to kill time.

Medical services – The airport has a dedicated team of medical experts that clock in 24/7. Along with professionals, Dabolim Airport also has a room reserved for doctors to take the emergency cases to. These rooms are well-equipped with basic first aid kits and medical facilities. A paramedic is also present in the airport vicinity.

Spa - A dedicated spa service is available at both the terminals of Dabolim Airport. If there are any flight delays or you have enough time in hand, you can avail their excellent spa services.

Top airlines flying from Goa Airport

Many domestic airlines are operating from Goa Airport. These include AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, TruJet and Vistara. These airlines have flights connecting Dabolim Airport to major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mysore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Nagpur, Amritsar, Srinagar, Varanasi, Kochi, Lucknow, Nashik, Surat, Madurai, Hubli, Guwahati, Coimbatore and more. In terms of international flights that operate from Goa Airport, these include Air Arabia, Oman Air and Qatar Airways. They connect to cities such as Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait City and more. The airport also accommodates seasonal airlines such as TUI Airways, Air Ukraine and Thomas Cook Airlines during peak season as the demand for the state is quite high in terms of tourism.

How to reach Goa Airport

Reaching Goa Airport is quite convenient, even though it is in the outskirts of the city. Passengers can take buses, taxi cabs and trains as well to reach any part of the state.

By Bus and taxi cabs

With respect to buses, the city of Vasco da Gama is only 4 km away. Several public buses can be taken to reach Goa Airport. The closes stop to the airport is Chicalim bus stop, which is located about 1.5 km apart. Many public buses run by the state are connected to Vasco da Gama. From the city of Vasco da Gama, you can always take taxi services to reach Goa Airport. Provisions of local mini-buses are also available to the airport from Vasco da Gama and Chicalim. Similarly, taxi cab services are available within the city. The city of Goa has its mobile app to book prepaid taxis and vehicles to smooth the process of travelling within the state and reaching Dabolim Airport. The government is also working towards constructing a 6-lane expressway that would make connections to the airport easier from major cities in Goa. Similarly, a monorail system is also being proposed.

By Rail

Dabolim has a railway station going by the same name. It is the nearest station from Goa Airport. You can take the train service to reach Dabolim Airport from various parts of Goa such as Tivim in North Goa, Ponda and Margao in South Goa. The railway station is quite in proximity to the airport and is hence, considered to be one of the cheap and affordable options to reach Goa Airport.