Calgary to Patna Flights

  About Calgary

Founded as a Rocky Mountain outpost, Calgary rose from rags to riches as one of Canada's high-end cities after it discovered oil in the early 1900s. Calgary is the commercial powerhouse of Canada and earned quite a reputation for itself after hosting the Winter Olympics. You will find a lot of conventional cowboys in the locality with the wide-brimmed hats and leather boots. You will get a taste of the cowboy culture here if you visit the city in summer for the annual Calgary Stampede. You will get to witness rodeo shows, music festivals and a lot of other events hosted during the Calgary Stampede. You will be treated to a wonderful scenery and some delicious food. There are museums, parks, zoos, everything you look for on a vacation when you visit Calgary. You can just rent a bike and explore the city on your own. No matter what season it is when you head to Calgary, you will always find something to do. The city is also known for its vibrant breweries, and you can't leave without treating yourself to a glass of beer or more. People here are quite friendly and welcoming. You will certainly leave with one or more new friends.

Best Time to Visit Calgary

Spring season hits Calgary in April and May. It is not the most popular season to visit Calgary since not only is the spring season quite short, but also, the melting snow only leads to an increase in moisture and humidity in the city. The parks and other tourist destinations can be quite muddy and wet. It is best to avoid travelling to Calgary during these months. This season is also when the city starts getting ready to welcome the tourists in summer. If you are still planning to visit the city during the spring season, you can get to attend events and festivals like Calgary Expo, Calgary Dance Stampede, The Electric Highway and Calgary Marathon. You can book a hotel in Calgary of your choice and convenience at the lowest price during this time since the demand is quite low. Do make sure you are carrying your monsoon footwear and an umbrella.

June to August is a high tourist season in Calgary for all the right reasons. The city experiences summer and a lot of events are hosted during this time of the year. You can go hiking up the hill or boating by the river. You can even plan a picnic in the parks here. The weather is just perfect to plan a picnic by the lake. The famous Calgary Stampede also takes place in July, and the city sees a lot of tourists buzzing in to witness it. Make sure you book your hotel in Calgary at least a month in advance since the prices increase and availability can also become an issue. You might also want to book your flight tickets to Calgary in advance. You can attend quite a lot of festivals and events during summer like the Lilac Festival, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Calgary Fringe Festival, Calgary International Blues Festival and Calgary Pride.

September to October is the autumn season in Calgary, and it is a pleasant time to head to the city. You won't find a lot of tourists in the city as compared to summer. You will get a better deal on flights to Calgary and hotels, too. You can enjoy all the tourist attractions without having to wait in queues or amidst a lot of tourists. The evenings get pretty chilly, so make sure you also pack warm clothes. You can attend events like the Calgary International Film Festival, Wordfest: International Writers Festival and Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival.

Calgary experiences winter from November to March. This is an ideal time to visit Calgary only if you are a fan of winter sports. The Rocky Mountains are pretty accessible, and this is the best time for you to go skiing. You can attend events like the Calgary Winefest, Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest and Glow Winter Festival. You can easily get cheap flight tickets to Calgary in winter, and the hotel prices are also at their lowest. If you are a winter sports fanatic and on a budget, this is the perfect time for you to head to Calgary.

Places to Visit in Calgary

Calgary Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks and buildings in the city. The observation tower is about 190 meters tall and offers a magnificent view of the city. Prince Island's Park is another beautiful tourist attraction in Calgary that is worth visiting. You can plan a picnic in the park or go on a stroll to explore the park. You can catch the Calgary Folk Festival and Canada Day celebrations in the park here. Calgary Zoo is the best place to go to with your family. The zoo has about 1000 different species of animals including gorillas, pandas, lions and so on. Reaching the zoo is also quite convenient since it is pretty close to Calgary's C-Train. Fort Calgary is one of the historical monuments in Calgary that was built in 1875. This is the perfect place to head to if you are a history buff. You can plan an adventurous trip to the Rocky Mountains to ski, if it's winter, or go on a hike. You can take loads of pictures from up top.

Things to do in Calgary

Skiing at the Rocky Mountains is one of the main reasons why people plan a vacation to Calgary. You can also sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city. There is much more to Calgary than just the skiing slopes. You can head to the Calgary Zoo or visit the museums. You can also sign up for a tour of the Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls trip. Calgary is also known for its craft beers and food. If you don't plan on signing up for a food tour of the city, you can explore restaurants on your own. The Calgary Stampede is a very popular event and something you must witness at least once in your life. You can also try the local food from the stalls here at the event. The city is known for the locals who live their everyday cowboy life. You can also attempt to put on a cowboy outfit and blend in with the crowd during festivals. No matter when you visit the city, you will find some event or another to attend. You must definitely attend music festivals and concerts happening in the city during your holiday.

Food and Restaurants in Calgary

Calgary is known for Alberta beef, and it is the most popularly ordered dish in most restaurants. However, you can also try some of the local favourites like cheese buns from Glamorgan Bakery, mini doughnuts at Calgary Stampede or Calgary Mini Donuts, if you are not in town during the festival. You can also try the deep-fried ginger beef at Silver Inn Restaurant. It was invented here in the 1970s and became an instant favourite among locals. Another invention in Calgary was the Caesar cocktail. It is apparently made with hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Clamato juice, vodka and spices. Sounds adventurous, doesn't it? You can order the drink at Westin Calgary and other bars in the town. Vero Bistro Moderne and Gaga Pizza are some popular Italian and Canadian restaurants in the city. The Himalayan is the perfect restaurant to head to if you feel  like eating Asian, Tibetan or Nepali food. Santorini Greek Taverna serves the best Mediterranean and Greek food. The restaurant also has a very trendy decor, and you will love your dining experience here. Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant has a unique decor, and the ambience itself makes you want to sit there for some more time. The restaurant is popular for serving delicious Canadian cuisine.

How to reach Calgary (Transportation)

The Calgary International Airport is the fourth-busiest one in Canada. The flight connectivity to Calgary from India is quite good. KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Air Canada have frequent flights to Calgary with layovers in Paris, Amsterdam, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Zurich and Frankfurt. If you book in advance, you might come across exciting flight deals to Calgary. The flight journey might be quite tedious since it takes more than 18-20 hours to reach Calgary from India. Make sure you pack everything that you need to be comfortable on your flight to Calgary. You can book a hotel in Calgary that is closer to the airport so you can avoid the commute or to catch an early flight. It will be quite easy and convenient to get a cab from the airport or to book a car rental service. The airport staff is pretty helpful and will give you certain tips to explore the city if at all you ask them about it. In case you missed out on some last-minute shopping, you can always buy souvenirs and gifts from the duty-free shops at the airport.

  About Patna

Patna is yet another city that is located along the banks of the river Ganges. It is also the capital of Bihar. The city is not only a popular tourist destination but also has spiritual significance. There are pilgrimage sites for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, too. It was earlier called as Pataliputra and also had quite a few monuments to its credit. It is a blend of modernization and a glorious past. The Gandhi Ghat is a very popular tourist spot here since the ashes of late Mahatma Gandhi were also immersed here. The Ganga aarti performed here is also one of the highlights of the city.

Best Time to Visit Patna

Like a lot of other cities in India, the best time to visit Patna is also winter. The summer here is extremely hot and the monsoon unfavourable. The city witnesses winter from December to March. This temperature ranges from 12 to 32 degree Celsius during these months, and it is also the most ideal time to go sightseeing. The end of November and the seventh day after Diwali has people of Bihar performing the Chhath Puja. This is also a peak travel time to Patna. Since it is peak travel season, you can find great flight deals to Patna online. Make sure you book your hotel in Patna well in advance. You will also find quite a lot of tour packages during winter and at affordable prices.

July to September is when the city witnesses monsoon. The rainfall is quite irregular in the city, and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 28 degree Celsius. The city looks beautiful during monsoon, and while it is a pleasant time to visit the city, it might affect your plans to go sightseeing. However, since it is off-season, you might get cheap flight tickets to Patna.

The temperature often soars up to a maximum of 41 degree Celsius during summer. Patna experiences summer from March to June. The heat is so bad that you will get tired and exhausted from sightseeing or even venturing outside soon. Since there are also not that many festivals celebrated during this time, it is not the best time to experience the rich culture and traditions of the city. If you do plan a trip to Patna during summer, make sure you are well-hydrated.

Places to Visit in Patna

Gandhi Ghat is a major tourist attraction in Patna. It is majorly popular because late Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the ghat here, which is also how it got its name. Another major highlight of this ghat is the Ganga aarti that happens in the evening. You'll see approximately 51 lighted lamps held by priests while performing the aarti. It is the most beautiful sight. Patna also has the Bihar Museum for the history geek in you and Patna Planetarium for the ones interested in astronomy. You will have to pay a nominal fee to get into both the places, but it will be totally worth it. You can also visit the Patna Museum, also called Jadu Ghar, which has Indian artefacts that date back to the middle ages and the British Colonial Era. You can visit the Patna Sahib Gurudwara that was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh since Patna is also Guru Gobind Singh Ji's birthplace.

The Srikrishna Science Centre is the perfect place for you to take your kids. The Japanese Peace Pagoda is another tourist spot you must visit. It is a 125 feet tall statue that was built by the Buddh Vihar Society. It is also surrounded by greenery, which makes it a pleasant place to go to in Patna. You can also visit the Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan. It is a botanical garden that was established in 1969, and it is also a zoo. If you are here with your kids, you can also treat them to a toy train ride. Golghar, which is in the heart of the city, was constructed in 1786 by Captain John Garstin and was initially used as a storehouse. If you want to enjoy your solitude and soak in the beautiful scenic view of the city, this is the best place to go to. The Patan Devi Mandir is also a popular place in Patna. Dedicated to Goddess Maa Patneshwari, it is one of the oldest and a sacred place in the city. Locals also believe that the name of the city was derived from the Goddess' name. Chhoti Dargah is another historical site that you must not miss. The 3-storeyed mausoleum is where Makhdum Shah was buried in 1616. It is a popular tourist spot and a place of worship for Muslims.

Things to do in Patna

Patna was earlier called Patalipura and came into existence in the 5th century. While this may not be the best place for adventure lovers, it is apt for a fun, family vacation. You can either hire a taxi to go sightseeing around the city or use the public transport. Golghar is an architectural marvel in Patna. The dome structure was built by Captain John Garstin in 1786. It was used as a granary for the British Army but has now become a historical site. You climb up the spiral stairs inside the Golghar, and you will be treated to a scenic view of the city. Since Patna has a lot of temples, you can also add visiting those in your itinerary. The Sree Patna Sahib Gurudwara is also an important place of worship. You can sit here and meditate for a while after offering your prayers. You can also go to the Pataneshwari temple, dedicated to Goddess Maa Patan Devi.

You must also visit the ruins of Nalanda University. The university was established and run by Buddhist monks and had at least 10,000 students. It was also hosted by Buddha Siddhartha himself. It is about 80 km away from the main city of Patna, and even though it is in ruins, you will enjoy the tranquillity here. Visit the Gandhi Ghat and go boating here. Catch the beautiful sunset while you are boating here. Take an artistic piece of Patna back home with you. Stop by at Ajanta on Fraser Road to buy some genuine Madhubani paintings. The city also has a lot of shopping malls for you to please the shopaholic in you.

Food and Restaurants in Patna

You will mostly only find restaurants and stalls that serve vegetarian food in Patna. Not that you won't find any restaurant that serves non-vegetarian food. You will also get to satisfy your chicken, mutton or seafood cravings here. Litti Chokha is one of the most popular delicacies that you get here. The city is also popular for its desserts and snacks like Gujjia, Kesar Peda, Malpua, Chana Ghugni, Jhaal Mudi, Choora, etc. The street food is just as good as the dine-in restaurants. You will also find restaurants that serve Bengali, North Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines in Patna.

Takshila is one of the most popular restaurants in the city that is within hotel Chanakya. You will absolutely love the Mughlai, Afghan and Tandoori food in this restaurant. Biryani Mahal is another very popular restaurant in the city, so much that you will either have to wait in a long queue to get a decent table or book one in advance. It's not a very big joint, but the food will leave you satiated. Basant Vihar is popular for its paneer cutlets and veg curries. You might have to wait a tad bit to get a table on weekends, but otherwise, you will have a smooth experience here. The city also has popular franchises like Pind Balluchi and Mainland China that serve delicious food with a great ambience. The dine-in experience and the local street food both will make sure that you leave the city happy.

How to reach Patna

By Air

The Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, also called the Patna Airport, is the nearest airport in Patna that has both domestic and international terminals. The flight connectivity from Patna to other major domestic cities is excellent and quite frequent, too. While there are a lot of direct flights to Patna from major cities, connecting flights from Delhi, Bangalore, Varanasi and Lucknow are popular routes to Patna by air. Direct flights will only take about 2.5-3 hours to land in Patna, depending on which city you board the flight from to get here.

By Rail

Patna is connected to major cities in the country like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Varanasi, Bangalore, Chennai and Amritsar. Not only express trains, but you will also get super fast trains to and from Patna. It is advisable that you make your ticket bookings to Patna in advance to avoid any last-minute inconveniences.

By Road

NH31 connects Patna to other cities. You will also find a lot of private and government-run buses or taxis from nearby cities that will help you reach Patna or leave from here. Though the bus services are frequent and it is also a far cheaper way to travel, taking a train or a flight would be more convenient than anything else.

  About Patna Airport

Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is predominantly a customs airport with restricted international operations. The airport is located in Patna, the state capital of Bihar. The airport's name came from independence activist, Jayaprakash Narayan. The airport's runway is quite short and cannot accommodate heavy aircraft operations. Hence, it is known to be classified as a restricted international airport. Patna Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country with their passenger traffic increasing by 30.6 per cent, as of 2018-2019. Despite the infrastructural restrictions, the airport has managed to see a spike in the passenger traffic. Hence, the Airport Authority of India has proposed a measure to expand and modernise the external and internal facilities. Expansions projects have already begun and are reportedly set to complete by 2021. Additionally, the airport authority has also planned to develop a joint-use airport to be used by the Bihta Air Force Station too. The plan is to use civil enclave as the second airport for the city of Patna.

About Patna Airport Terminals

Currently, Patna Airport has only one terminal which is divided into domestic and international sections. You can find the arrivals and departures on opposite ends of the terminals. The airport is not massive and is rather stuck between two famous establishments, making expansion plans a challenge. The current runway length stands at 7,000 ft. The surface has been constructed with asphalt and measures about 1,954 x 148 ft. Much recently, the airport managed to complete the new terminal building's parking garage, which now accommodates more vehicles. The new terminal is set to complete construction by 2022. The new terminal is set to have more space and would be able to accommodate more facilities and even passenger traffic. The airport is also rooting to handle more flights, which can be done after the expansion plans are complete.

About airport authority

As part of its expansion plans, the airport currently stands at a runway length of 7,000 ft. The airport is right in the middle of Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan as well as Phulwari Sharif railway station. The terminal building's area is being increased from the current size, which is 7,200 square metres to a new size which will be 57,000 square metres. The new terminal building is slated to have two levels and will be equipped with six aerobridges along with an apron to park about 14 aircraft. Currently, the airport only has a small parking bay to accommodate six aircraft. To conduct expansion work, Patna airport has demolished several of its buildings, including the Airport Colony as well as IAS Bhavan. The airport also plans to accommodate several utility buildings which include the meteorological centre and Bihar Flying Club. Following this, Patna Airport also plans to construct a new Air Traffic Control tower which would be located adjacent to Birla Institute of Technology. A world-class terminal building will also be installed on the premise of the airport.

About 13.1 acres of land that is close to Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is being utilised for the two-levelled terminal building. The Airports Authority of India has also proposed to extend the terminal further, view a view to sustaining air operations. The terminal extension will be completed by 2035 and is set to handle about 6 million passengers in a year. The new terminal building would be connecting to the existing building with the help of a sky bridge. The civil enclave at Bihta Air Force Station is also under construction and stands about 20 km away from the city. The second airport is being worked on to cater to large aircraft. For the same, the Bihar government acquired about 126 acres of land to construct Bihta Airport. The new airport terminal is being designed by Singapore firm Meinhardt, accommodating about 4.5 million passengers annually.

Meanwhile, Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited, a Hyderabad-based firm, has been selected to execute the layout. The new terminal is set to be completed by 2022. Patna Airport also has a multi-level parking garage.

Facilities at Patna Airport

ATMs - Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport has installed domestic ATM kiosk to ensure that passengers can withdraw money when they wish to at the airport. It is a convenient location and is required too. The same can be found at the departures and arrivals of the airport terminal.

Payphone booths - Pay phone booths have also been added to the list of facilities at the airport. The idea behind maintaining phone booths is to help passengers with no mobile phones or networks to make use of the facility. You can make local calls and connect with the required contact to reach within the city. You will need to pay a small nominal fee to avail the benefits of the phone booth.

Forex counters - As the primary international airport in the state, Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport also has currency exchange counters. Travellers who are venturing from outside India can get their currencies exchanged at the airport's arrivals terminal. The facility has been added recently after the airport underwent some refurbishing. At the forex counters, travellers can also transfer money and receive the same from outside the country.

Medical services - Following the mandatory clause to have medical services in the premise of the airport, Patna Airport has also reserved a special room for the same. In case of any medical emergencies at the airport vicinity, one can directly reach out to their medical room for assistance. A team of dedicated professionals are constantly present at the airport in case of emergencies. Also, there are pharmacies present in the departure section of the terminal.

Hotel booking counters - Right outside the arrivals section of the terminal is the travel agent's booth. At the counter, you will be able to make bookings with respect to your travel and accommodation within the city. The agent will provide all the required details to venture within the city. Starting from top attractions in the city to modes of transport that would be convenient, the travel agent would guide you through all the necessary information about the city to ensure that your stay is comfortable and your experience is good.

Child care room - Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport has also allotted rooms for child care. Many travellers who travel with infants often find it challenging to cater to their child's needs in public. Activities such as changing of the diaper and breastfeeding require privacy in a safe and hygienic environment. Hence, the airport has reserved a child care room to enable the same. They have also installed comfortable chairs and changing tables in the rooms. You can find baby products also at the airport's child care room.

Special assistance - You can request for special assistance with your airlines, and the airport staff would be present to help you out. The trained staff will take you through the procedures of security checks and boarding without much hassle. Wheelchairs are also available, and a dedicated professional would accompany you around the Patna Airport.

Baggage - The baggage facilities at Patna Airport are quite exemplary. They cater to all kinds of baggage needs ranging from the wrapping of the luggage to storage. Trolleys are also present at the airport to help travellers take their luggage through the airport facility. You can also opt to store your luggage at a safe spot if your flight witnesses delay or if there are any layovers.

Top airlines flying from Patna Airport

Patna Airport majorly caters to domestic flights and airlines that fly to top cities within India. Although there are a few dedicated international cities in the Middle East that the airport does accommodate, predominantly, it is Indian cities. Airlines such as Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara operate from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. These airlines cater to connect to cities such as Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Surat, Varanasi, Ranchi, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Raipur, Bagdogra and Jaipur. The five airlines have active flights flying to and from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. The schedules of the flight are not limited as the airport can accommodate them. Since the airport has a single terminal, the capacity is considerably limited. However, it is spacious enough to cater to the five airlines that operate from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport.

How to reach Patna Airport

Pre-paid taxis and autos

The most convenient and viable means to reach Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is by auto-rickshaws and pre-paid taxis. Since the airport is perfectly connected by various national highways, it is easy to reach Patna Airport by means of road transport. There are no dedicated bus services that connect to the airport. Pre-paid auto-rickshaws usually have a set fare to reach the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. Hence, it would help if you discussed the rates with the driver before you start your journey. Meanwhile, the taxis are also available in every part of the city. You can hail a cab from anywhere to reach Patna Airport. The airport has also made car rentals available to the travellers. You can book a rental at the airport when you reach the city. The same car can be dropped off at Patna Airport. Although the city does use the iconic horse-drawn trams to travel within the vicinity, the same cannot be used for the airport journey.