Vijayawada to Kozhikode 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 Kozhikode

Formerly known as Calicut, the city of Kozhikode is one of the major commercial cities in the Kerala state. After Kochi, Kozhikode is the second biggest commercial capital of Kerala with its extensive overseas businesses. Over the years, Kozhikode has been transformed into a modern city with traces of its traditional culture still intact. It is a proper city with quaint cafes, malls, and more importantly, a hub to some of the biggest educational institutions in India. From Indian Institute of Management (IIM) to National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode has illustrious colleges and universities.

The city is entirely developed with an international airport in place. Although it is located a little away from the city centre, the airport has a plethora of Indian and international airlines providing services. The flight connectivity to and from Kozhikode is excellent, making it one of the best in the country. It also caters to overseas flying.

Best time to visit Kozhikode

Kozhikode enjoys tropical weather, much like the rest of Kerala. The summers are scorching and the winters sublime. While the beaches look beautiful during summers as the blue waters taunt back, the winter season is the best time to visit Kozhikode. During winters, the temperature in Kozhikode drops to 14 degree Celsius, making it exceptionally tourist-friendly. You can pick up your swimming trunks and head straight to the waters without having to worry about heat strokes and dehydration. October to February is winter for Kozhikode and also the peak season. Beyond this, you will be roasted as the summer heats would be too much to handle.

As a tropical city, humidity is in the air, and it only rises exponentially during summers. In fact, the temperatures soar to 37 degree Celsius. Venturing out under the summer sun in Kozhikode would be uncomfortable. The heat would further prevent you from exploring or sightseeing. Flight tickets to Kozhikode during summer would be cheap as it is off-season. Even accommodations would be affordable so if you do plan to take a trip, book yourself a luxury hotel in Kozhikode.

Places to visit in Kozhikode

Thikkoti Light House

As a coastal spot, there are many lighthouses in Kerala. Kozhikode also has a majestic lighthouse going by the name Thikkoti. Perched atop a small hill touching the Arabian Sea in the Thikkoti village, the lighthouse has been attracting tourists since its inception. The structure is at an elevated terrain which is said to be the remains of a shipwreck. The setting is so beautiful, especially from the top of the lighthouse.

Kozhikode Beach

Kozhikode Beach is one of the most popular and tourist's favourite. The beach's vibe is extremely relaxed and perfect for travellers who wish to unwind from the long day of sightseeing. The beach is known to offer a visual spectacle with the sky turning into various colours during sunset. Plus, it is only 1 km away from the railway station.

Beypore

Beypore is actually a shipbuilding port as well as a fishing harbour. One of the major reasons why you should add this to your list of places to visit in Kozhikode is because you will get to see how ships are built as well as get to see the busy fisherman head to the seas and return with delicious fish. Beypore is an important port in the West coast of India as not only does it build ships but is also essential for commercial purposes.

Thali Temple

The Thali Temple is another major tourist attraction in Kozhikode with pilgrims visiting to seek blessings from the deity. The temple is built to honour Lord Shiva, and a Shivalunga measuring about 2 ft is nestled perfectly within the premise. It is believed to be one of the oldest temples, and the sheer beauty lies in the simplicity with which it has been constructed.

Calicut Planetarium

Kozhikode has a Planetarium which will take you through some mysteries of the universe while you rest on a reclining chair. The place has a capacity of 250 visitors and is located close to the new bus stand. The Calicut Planetarium is always full with many visitors who are astronomy enthusiasts.

Things to do in Kozhikode

Drench yourself under the Kozhippara Falls

Located on the outskirts of Kakkadampoyli are the gorgeous Kozhippara Falls. Not only can you make a day of it as you hike through the trails, but you can also sit under the waterfall and relax.

Check out the Thusharagiri Falls

Nestled in the Western Ghats is the beautiful Thusharagiri waterfall. It is a little away from the main city, and you will have to trek towards the Lakkidi Ghat to reach the falls. It is quite the tourist spot in Kozhikode as many trekkers who would like to engage in outdoor activities. There are three waterfalls in the area which make quite the spectacle.

Hit the Sweet Street

There is a street in Kozhikode popular for the sweet savouries that they prepare. In fact, it is called Mithai Theravu, which translates to Sweet Street. It is actually one of the busiest streets in Kozhikode for all the right reasons. Pamper yourself with an array of delicious sweets and give yourself a sugar rush.

Watch shows at the Sargaalaya Kerala Arts

An art patron would be very much invested in the cultural heritage of Kerala. If you're one of them, then you should head to the Sargaalaya Kerala Arts which is an initiative undertaken by the Department of Tourism to promote and preserve the affluent art and culture of the state. While you're here, d check out the gorgeous backwaters that play a perfect setting for the place.

Food and Restaurants in Kozhikode

Kozhikode's food culture is a melange of Arab flavours interspersed with Indian culinary. It is known to be a foodie's hub as everyone here is enthused by the art of cooking with an acumen for exemplary cooking. The city has a unique take on culinary which is famously known as Mapilla cuisine with fish as the staple meat. The city is a foodie's paradise, and the more you try to explore, the more you'll be lost in the blissful flavours. Even though Kochi is known to have a thriving culinary scene, it is Kozhikode's flavourful food that takes the cake. You will be amazed by the exquisite food culture of the city.

Kozhikode's Paragon restaurant in Kannur Road is a haven for a biryani aficionado. The subtle mix of spices will leave you in a happy daze. Not to mention the Sulaimani tea that will go perfectly with the food. At Sagar restaurant sells delicious fish curry with pathiri which should definitely be tried. Then you have Zain's Hotel, a hotel run by women who have perfected the Mapilla cuisine. The Bombay Hotel in Silk Street also has some fantastic snacky fast food that will go down well with you. To indulge in something savoury, you can head to Maharaja Sweets where you'll find some exciting desserts like sticky halwa made from flour, jaggery and coconut oil.

How to reach Kozhikode (Transportation)

By Air

Kozhikode's airport has tremendously good connectivity with domestic cities as well as international destinations. Karipur airport, famously known as Calicut International Airport is about 23 km away from the city centre but has great internal network. There are numerous flights to and from Kozhikode flying to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad and more. The best part about Kozhikode airport is that it also caters to international flights. The city's airport serves flights to Middle Eastern countries as there are international routes from Kozhikode that connect the city to foreign countries. With such impeccable flight connectivity to Kozhikode, travelling to the city is quite comfortable and convenient. You can book your flights to Kozhikode online and get some great flight deals in the process.

By Rail

Kozhikode also has its own railway station which connects the city to various states and metropolitans. You can find trains going to Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mangalore, Kochi and more. A plethora of express trains and mails are available, some that cross the city and others with Kozhikode as the last stop. The station is also within the city limits, making travelling tad bit more manageable. You can easily travel within the city as there are transport facilities available right outside the Kozhikode station. In fact, you can book a hotel in Kozhikode which is in the proximity of the railway station. Some affordable hotel rooms are available near the railway station.

By Road

The road connectivity to and from Kozhikode to other major cities is also impressive. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation have private as well as government-run buses which connect the city to Mangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and more. The big concern that comes from road transport is extensive travel hours. You will end up investing a lot of time on a bus when travelling from Kozhikode to other cities. However, some buses run in the day as well as night so you can pick a convenient option.

  About Calicut Airport

The Calicut International Airport, which is also acknowledged as Karipur airport, serves the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in the state of Kerala. The international airport enables flight connectivity to the Malabar region of Kerala. The Calicut International Airport is 25 km from the town of Malappuram and about 26 km from Kozhikode. The airport is recognised as the 11th busiest airport in the country, concerning overall passenger traffic. It is also known to be the third busiest airport in the state of Kerala, following Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. The Calicut International Airport received its international airport stature in 2006. The airport is also known to be the only airport in Kerala with a tabletop runway. There are only three tabletop runway in India after the Calicut Airport - Lengpui Airport and Mangalore Airport. The Calicut Airport serves as the base for Air India Express which has services of the Hajj Pilgrimage, flying to Jeddah and Medina from Kozhikode. The airport also serves as a focus city to airlines such as Air India, Indigo and SpiceJet.

About Calicut Airport Terminals

The Kozhikode Calicut International Airport has two passenger terminals supporting international and domestic airlines. One terminal is dedicated to domestic airlines that offer regional flights to travel within the country. The terminal is a single level which takes care of the arrivals as well as departures of passengers. It also caters to Air India Express, which operates from the airport. The departure and arrivals space in the domestic terminal has restaurants, shops, executive and VIP lounges and other services too. Meanwhile, the terminal also has nine check-in counters, six customs counters, 12 immigration counters and five security booths. The international terminal has two levels. The ground level is reserved for the arrival and departure halls. The space also caters to a bunch of amenities including, cafes, restaurants, shops, duty-free establishments and more. The first floor of the international terminal comes with a port lounge and a VIP lounge. The port lounge is basically for the economy class while the VIP one is reserved for the first-class ticket holders. There are about 23 check-in counters, 42 immigration booths, five customs counters and three security checks.

About airport authority

The Airport Authority of India, famous known by its abbreviation AAI, owns and serves the Calicut International Airport. AAI has worked tremendously on bettering the Calicut International Airport and has managed to put it on the map of busy airports in India. Thanks to the statutory body's intervention helped bring back some international airlines to the airport, including services of the Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER. Over the years, the airport has witnessed tremendous development and expansion.

Top airlines flying from Calicut Airport

Calicut International Airport has good connectivity to some of the cities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Majorly, the Calicut airport has airlines operating to reach domestic cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, as metro stations. Aside from these, cities such as Kannur, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Agatti see flights from the Calicut International Airport. There are a few domestic and international airlines that fly from the airport. Airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet, operate from the Calicut International Airport. Some of these domestic airlines also have international journeys on their calendar. Air India's Air India Express has flights to cities in Kerala as well as international cities such as Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Sharjah, Riyadh and more.

International airlines that fly from the Calicut International Airport include Air Arabia, Air India Express, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Flynas, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, SalamAir and Saudia. A majority of airports in the state of Kerala have direct flights to Middle Eastern countries. Since a lot of demand is prevalent for Middle Eastern cities in Kerala, airlines from the said countries operate from Kerala as well. Air India Express specifically has an operating base with services to Medina and Jeddah from the Calicut International Airport. The cities host the Hajj Pilgrimage and hence, see a lot of demand from pilgrims during the holy seasons.

Facilities at the Calicut Airport

WiFi - The airport terminal has an excellent WiFi connection. You can find details of the same at the check-in counter. The airport's domestic and international terminals both have a good connection. A domestic phone number would be required to log in to the WiFi network. They are available for free.

Special assistance - The Calicut International Airport also caters to services for personal assistance, especially for senior citizens, expectant mothers and physically disabled passengers. There is specific special assistance that you can acquire at the information desk. Informing the airlines about the special requests for wheelchairs or personal assistance can be demanded as well. Each airline has skilled professionals who are trained for these services.

ATMs and forex - There are ATM kiosks and foreign exchange booths present at regular intervals at the airport. To ensure that required liquid currency can be accessed, the airport has brought about a good number of ATM kiosks and currency exchange booths. They are available at the departure and arrival zones of international and domestic terminals.

Prayer rooms - Multi-faith rooms to observe prayers have also been made available at the airport. The Calicut Airport has dedicated rooms that are available at both, departure and arrival terminals. The rooms can also be used for meditation purposes. There are religious books of multi-faith available in the room as well.

Post office - The good part about the airport is how they have postal services as well. In case there is a sudden necessity to post a letter or important documents, it can be arranged at the airport. They are available close to the domestic and international terminals.

Baggage - The airport has several services pertaining to baggage. There are trolley services available at the Calicut International Airport. They can be found at regular intervals outside and within the airport premise. You can find them at the international and domestic terminals.

Restaurants and cafes - There are many restaurants and cafes present at the airport complex. You can find some of the food establishments at the arrival and departure zones. Plus, there are some quick snacks and beverages joints available at the check-in areas too. There are dedicated food courts and also decent restaurants that can be found in the lounge area.

Internet cafes - In case you need to send important emails or work on some projects at the airport, there is an internet cafe installed at the airport. Even though the WiFi services are available, you can get hold of a computer system at the airport and work on professional projects.

Lounges - The airport provides lounge services as well. Since it is an international airport, there are VIP lounges as well as premium lounge authorised by AAI. Some of the lounge services have spas, showers, hotel rooms for in-transit passengers, upscale restaurants and great hospitality.

How to reach Calicut Airport

Rail

The closest railway station is the Feroke railway station from the Calicut Airport. The station is about 18 km away from the airport and is connected to many important cities close to Kozhikode. Meanwhile, the Kozhikode Railway Station, located about 28 km away from the Calicut Airport, is also well-connected. The station is connected to various major Indian cities as well as within Kerala. There are taxi cabs and bus services available from the railway station to the airport. In case you are travelling from within the state and need to reach Calicut Airport, the best route would be to opt for the Kozhikode Railway Station.

The state also has buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, to help with connection to the airport. They service FlyBus, which is a low-floor AC bus that shuttles between the main city of Kozhikode and the airport. The bus is a perfect mode of transport to use if you have to reach Calicut International Airport. These services are cheap and perfect for budget travellers who need to save money. Plus, they are quite convenient too. You can find these buses in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malappuram, to name a few cities. The Calicut International Airport is situated on the National Highway 966 and is further joined by National Highway 66 at Ramanattukara. Both the national highways are located at a distance of 2.3 km and 8 km from the airport. The highways further connect Calicut International Airport to Kozhikode, Malappuram. Wayanad, Coimbatore, Kannur, Thrissur and Palakkad.

About Calicut

Calicut or Kozhikode, is a principal town and the second largest urban agglomeration in the state of Kerala, after Kochi. The city is the 20th largest populated in India with a population of 2 million, as recorded in the 2011 census. Kozhikode's fame comes from its plethora of spice industry. The city is also known as the City of Spices as it catered as an important trading point for Indian spices. Kozhikode or Calicut is recognised as the second-best city to reside in India with respect to the economics research as conducted by the firm Indicus Analytics in 2009. They have accumulated data on residences, investments and earnings to form the ranking. Predominantly, the city features a tropical monsoon climate and witnesses two periods of showers in a year.