Chandigarh to Paris Flights

  About Chandigarh

Located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, is the gorgeous city of Vancouver. It is famously known to be one of the most densely populated cities in the country. Not just the population but even the ethnic diversity sets the city apart from the others. Vancouver has a plethora of gardens and parks, along with museums and galleries. The city has managed to find fame amid travellers in recent years. Owing to the landscape scenery and thriving food establishments, Vancouver has grown into becoming one of the most important cities in Canada. It is easy to connect flights to Vancouver as well.

Best time to visit (Vancouver)

Vancouver is predominantly a cold city with temperatures barely exceeding 22 degree Celsius. However, the spring, summers and fall are pleasant in Vancouver, giving way to tourists. Since summer is the peak season in Vancouver, often you will find a plethora of tourists from around Canada to flock over for some fun. The city's thriving culture and lifestyle, topped with the slew of amazing festivals such as TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival, Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Bard on the Beach, further make people want to head to the city. With so many events and lovely weather to take in, the hotel prices and flight tickets also tend to get expensive. Plus, with the crowd, it might be difficult for you to enjoy a quiet and quaint environment. The cruise port also gets busy as the travellers need to be accommodated. However, the spring season will get your spirits high and your pockets happy. From March to May, the city turns lively as the cherry blossoms bloom and the whales pass through the Vancouver waters. It is a beautiful sight and certainly comes with great perks.

There are some fascinating events such as the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Vancouver International Dance Festival that take place during spring. It is certainly the kind you shouldn't miss as the streets turn carnivalesque. Autumn is just as favourable as spring as the city prepares for the winters. It is easier to book hotels in Vancouver during this season as people are departing from the summer fun, reducing the demand for the city. Just as the temperatures go down, even the hotel prices and flight ticket costs drop, making it easier for tourists with a strict budget to traverse. While the city folks continue with their fairs and events, a new wave of budge tourists come over to be entertained by what the city has to offer. The temperatures would require you to carry jackets and coats along with you. It can get super cold, especially if you're from a hot country and are not used to the drop in temperatures. The experience of autumn in Vancouver is just as beautiful with the city streets turning crimson red as maple leaves flood the streets.

Places to visit (Vancouver)

Life in Vancouver is on the outside and not indoors. The city bustles and brims with opportunities for tourists to engage in. The Stanley Park is one sweet place from where you can begin your Canadian tour. Granville Island is the one place that will give you trendy restaurants, theatres and alluring galleries. All you've got to do is to hitch up a ferry ride and ho to the island. Another lovely place to visit would be Queen Elizabeth Park, a famous outdoor attraction in Vancouver. Famously known as the Kitsiklano 'Kits' Beach, the stretch of shores finds itself in the lines of an LA or Venice beach, thanks to the pristine water it touches. Spanish Banks Beach is another thrilling spot that would make you happy, especially if the water is something you love. The city has far too many gardens so you will never be tired of the greenery around you. The VanDusen Botanical Garden also deserves to be visited as it is one of the pretty places. It's not just gardens and beaches though, the city also has Yaletown, a chic neighbourhood to indulge in some upscaled lifestyle.

Things to do

One of the best things to do in Vancouver is easily the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. It is 450 ft long, and 230 ft elevated from the ground that offers a stunning view of the river flowing under. It is quite thrilling and definitely poles apart from the feeling the gardens in Vancouver invoke. You can indulge in some leisure sightseeing and shopping at the Lonsdale Quay Market. Another fun thing to take up in Vancouver would be to indulge in a food tour. As the city does brim with a vast opportunity for lip-smacking food, you will not be disappointed with the establishments the city has. Sailing is another activity that you can take up in the city. It would be fun, and you will get to learn something new. Plus, for the outdoorsy kind, you can visit Grouse Mountain for some adventure fun.

Food and restaurants (Vancouver)

Vancouver is nestled along the Pacific coast, making seafood as it's the staple food. In fact, much of their food has fish and other aquatic life as the base. That includes the classic fish and chips too, which is otherwise a London speciality. These can be found in the city's markets such as Granville Island. The place is ideal for you to explore their seafood delicacies. While Granville has some of the basic but delicious street meat, Yaletown upscales the whole experience, which would be ideal for you if you're on a romantic rendezvous. The setting at Yaletown is formal and posh. Some of the food establishments that you should visit during your trip are Rodney's Oyster House, Blue Water Cafe, to name a few. These are the best seafood restaurants in the city which you will surely like. You can also check out YEW Seafood + Bar, which is located at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver. Their speciality includes Sidney Island venison and Qualicum Bag scallops. These are a big hit in the city, and something many would recommend.

A little away from Vancouver is Richmond (in British Columbia), where you'll find more seafood with wild salmon, tuna, mussels, crab and halibut too. What makes this place special is how the fish are fresh catch of the day which the fishermen get from the docks. These you can find at Steveston Village. Not just seafood but Vancouver also has its own version of Chinatown where you will find some of the best Asian dishes. In fact, you can also experience the little India that is settled in Vancouver. There is a Punjabi Market which is basically an Indo-Canadian neighbourhood located in the South Vancouver. Rest assured, all your cravings for Indian curries and delicacies shall be fulfilled here.

How to reach Vancouver (Transportation)

There are no direct flights from Indian to Vancouver. However, the flight connectivity to Vancouver from India is exceptional. Canada, in general, receives a lot of tourists and potential residents from India. Due to this, the popularity of flights to this route is quite high. In fact, every second day, there are people travelling to Vancouver or other parts of Canada. Since there are no direct or nonstop flights to Vancouver from India, many airlines do have services to reach with layovers in other international cities. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Air France, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways have some dedicated flights flying to Vancouver. As there are no direct flights, many have layovers in their origin countries. For example, Air France has flight connectivity to Vancouver from Paris, so there is a layover in the city. Similarly, other cities with layovers are in Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Newark, Istanbul, to name a few. The most popular route for flights to Vancouver is from Paris and Frankfurt. However, some of the flights need a second layover which either takes places in Montreal, Toronto or Newark.

To fly to Vancouver from India, you will require to apply for a transit visa. Since the international routes connecting Vancouver and India are from cities like Paris and Frankfurt, they require a transit visa from the passenger. To make things easier, the Canadian Embassy has allowed for online applications. All you need to do is fill up the application online and submit the same. The process is easier and less time-consuming. Besides, the status of the application is received promptly. The flight tickets to Vancouver are considerably on the expensive side. The distance is quite a lot and travelling through certain airlines is why the prices are steep. However, you can always find exceptional flight deals online. There are provisions of miles as well which enable the ticket prices to reduce. You can find cheap flight tickets to Vancouver online, especially if you book them well in advance. Simultaneously, you can make your hotel reservations too. Booking in advance always comes with its perks and booking your hotels in Vancouver will also be cheap if you do it beforehand.

  About Paris

The City of Love and capital of France, Paris is one place where you would literally want to stay back. It is a global hub for fashion, art, culture and gastronomy, which only makes it more desirable. The city is also an abode to many of the biggest tourist attractions in the world such as Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the famous Musée du Louvre.

Best time to visit Paris

Summer is undoubtedly the most ideal time to visit Paris. The city opens its tourist avenues for the crowds that arrive from different parts of the world. The city of love bustles with joyful travellers soaking in all the lovely vibe. Not to mention how the sun is pleasantly adding to the fervour while you wrestle through queues to see some tourist attractions. Lovely as everything about a summer in Paris might sound, you should know that it comes at a whopping sum. The peak season comes with exorbitant accommodation charges. To book a hotel in Paris during this season, you will have to have a lot of savings or enough budget reserved. The city does witness some of its fun holidays and festivals such as Tour de France, Bastille Day, fete de St-Denis, Fête de la Musique, to name a few. It also rains during this period so best to carry an umbrella or a raincoat if you wish to go ahead for a summer trip to Paris. However, for those who want to keep away from all the excess touristy crowd and experience a quaint Paris, you should pick September and October.

Paris in fall is typically cheaper with fewer tourists and more space to soak in the romantic city. Much like how the temperatures start to drop in these months, the prices of hotels and hostels also fall. This is definitely the best time to visit Paris, especially since you will get to see the top attractions of the city without having to wait in long queues. However, make sure that you book your hotels and trip in advance if you're rooting for September. The month hosts the famous Paris Fashion Week in September, so getting a cheap hotel in Paris would be difficult.

Places to visit in Paris

You will need a good number of days in hand to cover the majority of tourist attractions in Paris. The city of love is quite gifted in terms of attractions which include the Eiffel Tower, the Notre-Dame, the Louvre, to name a few. You can start with the Notre-Dame Cathedral. It is easily one of the iconic locations of Paris that are on par with the fame of the Eiffel Tower. Speaking of which, your next destination could be the Eiffel Tour. As part of the staunch Wonders of the World list, Eiffel Tower architecture and the romanticism it has followed over the years makes it a landmark. One can simply not skip the Eiffel Tower. In fact, if you've got enough euros in your kitty, you can further go to the top of the structure and indulge in some fine dining while looking down at the stunning city. Little needs to be told about Paris' Musée du Louvre, one of the biggest art museums in Europe and the most colossal museum around the world. The museum has actually been converted into one from the palace of the 13th-century French king Philip II. With a grand exhibition of over 35,000 artwork, including the famous Mona Lisa painting, the museum is too beautiful for words and brings back history and art culture from ancient times.

These might be the iconic sites to visit, many other lovely locales deserve your attention too. Le Marais is one such place to visit as it has been related to the famous French author, Victor Hugo (who authored The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables). The place has the tendency to take you back in time to medieval Paris. Musee de l'Orangerie is a museum that has been brought into existence to feature a variety of impressionist and post-impressionist art. Many artists have dedicated their lives to emulating the works of famous artists. The museum basically celebrates these heroes for their work. It might be odd to add a cemetery in the list of places to visit in Paris. However, the Père-Lachaise Cemetery is so stunning with a maze of cobblestone pathways that it automatically brings forth a charm to space. Palais Garnier - Opera National de Paris continues to send a vibe of architectural opulence and grandiose after all these years.

Things to do In Paris

Balancing between sightseeing, shopping, exploring the city, attending the opera, delving in the culinary bliss of Paris is all too much to do. You will need to fix a good plan to at least cover the big attractions before you settle to go on your own Paris expedition. You can take your loved one on a lovely river cruise by Bateaux Parisiens. It will be just as dreamy as it sounds. Not to mention A walk down the Champs-Élysées is all you need to invoke the shopaholic in you. From luxury stores of Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss to widespread establishments such as Gap and Zara, the street has a treat for all your shopping needs. You can splurge by taking home a designer Chanel Number 5, or you can resort to just walking the streets and marvelling at the sights of what is considered as one of the fashion industry's meccas. You can also take a stroll around Paris and stand atop the bridge over the Seine River. It is a beautiful and romantic site. Indulging in winery and visiting a vineyard is something you shouldn't miss as the best wines come from France.

Food and restaurants in Paris

Parisians or rather the French in general, pride themselves for being food connoisseurs globally. Thanks to their contribution towards the culinary world, the food in Paris is nothing short of Très Bien. The city of Paris, with its extra rich landscape, has some exquisite establishments that celebrate food the French style. Places such as Marais, Champs-Elysées and Eiffel Tower are places where you will find upscale fine dining experiences. Meanwhile, 2ème arrondissement (second district) is reserved for cheap and affordable eateries as well as cafes. Wherever you travel in Paris though, the lovely scent of French onion soup, steak frites, croque-monsieur and coquilles St-Jacques will follow you. Their patisserie scenes are just extraordinary. With desserts like macarons, crêpes, pain au chocolat and puits d'amours, you cannot escape those urges to rake in more calories during your trip. Well, you might as well read celebrated American foodie Julia Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" or watch Meryl Streep-Amy Adams' starrer Julie and Julia, to know more about French cooking.

French food is an experience and a culture you should learn more about. It just gets more fascinating as you divulge into their styles and tastes. To get some upscale dining experience in Paris, make reservations at Guy Savoy, Chez Andre, Bistrot Paul Bert and Allard. As for some cafes that fall in your budget, visit Cafe Pinson, Semilla, Du Pain et des Idées, Frenchie Wine Bar, La Tête dans les Olives, L'Ami Jean and L'Autre Café, to name a few. The city has a flourishing food culture with new restaurants and culinary establishments cropping up in corners of every street.

How to reach Paris (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Paris from India is excellent thanks to the demand for the city. There are three airports in Paris which connect the city to major international and European cities. The Charles de Gaulle airport receives all international flights coming from major global cities. There are regular flights to Paris from Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. In fact, there are dedicated flights to Paris that fly from Mumbai daily. Air France, Air India, Etihad, Vistara Airlines are some of the airlines that have services to Paris. Air France has direct flights to Paris from Mumbai, without any layovers. However, depending on the ticket price of the airlines you choose, the duration will increase. In fact, you might have to opt for connecting flights from Munich or Zurich to Paris too, depending on which airlines you choose. The most popular international route to Paris from India is over the Middle East. Hence, much of the layovers and connecting flights can be taken from the cities within the Middle East. Istanbul, Dubai, Doha are some of the cities where layovers and connecting flights to Paris are available.

For a European trip, tourists often opt to travel to several countries and cities. Hence, the EU Union has also made travelling to other cities and countries in Europe possible via trains. There are some lovely express trains that connect cities, including Paris. The fashionably posh city comes with a plethora of accommodation options ranging from high-priced luxury living to budge-hostels. With such a varied choice, you can make your hotel reservations in Paris or book hostels or small quaint hotels. The ticket price of flights to Paris is not very expensive, provided you choose an off season time.

  About Chandigarh Airport

Chandigarh International Airport is a custom airport that also serves as a passenger airport to the Union Territory Chandigarh. Along with the city, the airport also serves Panchkula, Mohali and other cities in the states of Punjab, Haryana and a few southern districts of Himachal Pradesh. The airport runway is situated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. In contrast, the international terminal falls on the south side of the runway, close to the village of Jhiurheri in Mohali, Punjab. The international airport has all its civil and commercial operations conducted from the civil enclave of the Indian Air Force Station. In the 1970s, the airport witnessed tremendous flight activity and operations from Indian Airlines. There were regular flights connecting Chandigarh to Delhi.

Following the construction of a new airport building in the civil enclave in 2011, all operations were diverted to the new terminal. This special air terminal was announced as a customs airport in 2011, giving it the international stature. Although it became an international airport, the terminal never witnessed international flight activities operate from its premise. In 2008, the Government of Punjab acquired a land area of 304.04 acres to construct the new international terminal. Over its completion in 2015 and a few Public Interest Litigation case hearings that took place at the Punjab High Court and Haryana High Court, the airport finally witnessed international flight activities from 2016. IndiGo and Air India Express became the first airlines to commence international flights to fly to Dubai and Sharjah from Chandigarh International Airport.

About Chandigarh Airport Terminal

The new international terminal came into existence in 2015 and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The new terminal has been built in an eco-friendly manner with several features validating the same. Larsen and Toubro constructed the airport's new terminal. The airport's interiors have an abundance of plants which gives a rather botanical garden feel. The earlier domestic terminal now caters to VIP flights and is also reserved for flying club. Meanwhile, the new terminal includes two link taxiways that connect to the terminal as well as the cargo complex. There are four aerobridges apron reserved for parking of four in contact, and eight remote parking stands for aircraft. The terminal is divided into two levels with the first level taking care of all departures while the ground level has arrivals. The first phase of the airport terminal has the capacity to handle about 1,600 passengers at a time with a parking space to accommodate 150 vehicles. Although the airport is not a greenfield airport, it does use the runway of the current Indian air force base. The departure section of the terminal has relevant facilities such as ATMs, WiFi and a duty-free shop. Much recently, the terminal's check-in counters have also been expanded from 24 to 26.

About airport authority

Chandigarh International Airport is jointly owned by the government of Punjab, the government of Haryana and the Airports Authority of India. In fact, they have formed a consortium as the airport's operations are handled by Chandigarh International Airport Limited. In the consortium, Airports Authority of India holds a maximum stake with 51 per cent equity while the Government of Punjab and Government of Haryana hold 24.5 per cent of shares respectively. Chandigarh International Airport Limited is responsible for all the management, maintenance and other such operations of the airport terminal. Ever since the airport's genesis, CHIAL has been working towards expanding the airport's premise and providing world-class facilities to attract more flights and passengers. After quite a lot of struggle with cases going up to the high courts of both the states, Chandigarh International Airport finally even received international flight operations. Currently, the airport caters to a slew of domestic airlines, some of them catering to Indian as well as international cities.

Facilities at the Chandigarh Airport

Food court - Chandigarh International Airport may not have a slew of fancy restaurants installed in its vicinity; it does have a dedicated food court. Passengers can avail lip-smacking dishes from the airport's food courts. They have local and globally recognised food joints available. From burgers to chole bhatures, you can find all kinds of cuisine.

Trolleys and wheelchairs – Trolleys and wheelchairs are available at the airport. While the trolleys can be found at every junction of the airport's arrivals and departure section, wheelchairs need prior intimation. You will need to speak with the airlines and inform them about the requirement for a wheelchair at the entrance of the airport's departure gates. Following the same, the airport will send trained staff to help out the passenger in need of the wheelchair.

Baggage – The baggage system and services at the Chandigarh International Airport include trolleys, baggage wrapping services, storage facilities and more. There are dedicated reclaim baggage conveyor belts located in the arrivals section from where passengers can get access to their checked luggage.

ATMs and currency exchange – As an international airport, Chandigarh International Airport has installed currency exchange booths in the arrivals section of its international terminal. International travellers can get their currencies exchanged and also make money transfers at the forex counters. Plus, there are ATM kiosks also available in the airport premise. Passengers can withdraw money if needed, especially if they are travelling within any liquid cash.

Medical facilities – The airport also has medical facilities available for emergency cases. It is essential to have medical experts on the airport campus at all times. Hence, the airport has ensured to keep a team of dedicated medical professionals. There are medical rooms also available at the airport. You can avail these services for free. There are pharmacies also available at the airport. They provide medicines as well as toiletries that you can purchase.

Child care room – Parents travelling with infants can avail the child care room facility. These rooms have been reserved for parents to help tend to their infant babies. Activities such as breastfeeding and changing diapers can be done in these rooms as it offers privacy. Simultaneously, the child can be put to sleep in the room while they wait for boarding. These rooms are kept well-sanitised.

Smoking zones – Chandigarh International Airport does not allow smoking in public. Hence, they have provided special smoking zones for passengers. These can be found at the departures and arrivals of both the domestic and international terminals. It is essential for passengers to adhere to these rules and smoke within the premise of the smoking lounge provided by the airport.

Special assistance – The airport caters to special assistance for disabled travellers. Prior intimation needs to be given to the airlines by the traveller if they wish to avail these services. You can also specify the requirements for the traveller to the airlines, and the airport will make the necessary accommodations for the same.

International SIMs – For travellers who are visiting Chandigarh and do not have a local SIM number, you can get hold of the same at the airport. There are dedicated counters at the arrivals section of the international terminal where counters have been installed to provide temporary SIMs. Mobile phones are also available, in case you need one.

Top airlines flying from the Chandigarh Airport

Chandigarh International Airport currently enables operations of seven domestic airlines and caters to connect two international destinations. Presently, the airlines that operate from Chandigarh International Airport are AirAsia India, Air India, Alliance Air, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara. These airlines have excellent connectivity with various Indian cities along with designated international destinations. Chandigarh International Airport connects flights to cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Dharamshala, Pune, Jammu, Chennai, Kullu, Dubai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna and more.

How to reach Chandigarh Airport

By Bus

The new terminal of Chandigarh International Airport is close to 14 km away from the main city of Chandigarh. The city of Chandigarh has excellent bus transport facilities that help connect to various parts of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Himachal Pradesh too. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking has AC buses that operate from the main city to the airport's new terminal. The buses take Route 38 and 36 to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It is easily one of the most sought-after ways to reach Chandigarh International Airport. The ticket fare is also quite affordable and ideal for travellers. Besides, the buses have been designed in such a way that they offer a comfortable journey to the airport. The transport service also has a mobile app from where you can book tickets and get details about the bus schedules and routes to reach Chandigarh International Airport.

By Taxi cabs

Taxicab services are also present within the city to reach the Chandigarh International Airport. You can hail a taxi cab from anywhere around the city or the other surrounding states to reach Chandigarh International Airport. It might be challenging as you will need to communicate with the drivers and ensure that they don't make you pay an exorbitant amount for the journey to reach the Chandigarh International Airport.