Chicago to Paris Flights

  About Chicago

Located on the West coast of Gujarat is the quaint little city of Porbandar. The city is highly regarded for its pilgrimage as it has a strong mythological relevance. Many pivotal incidences from the tales of Mahabharat and Ramayana have taken place in the city, or so says the folklore. As the city is on the Saurashtra's coastal side, the city is blessed with a brilliant climate and geography. There are hills, coasts, rivers, lakes and more such geographical benefits that make Porbandar a beautiful city. Historically, the city adds another feather to its illustrious cap by being the birthplace of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. With such intriguing stories that the city has to tell, it easily becomes one of the most visited places in Gujarat.

The flight connectivity to Porbandar from other major cities is also excellent. The coastal town connects with the rest of India through popular routes, making travel easy and convenient. Booking hotels in Porbandar are also useful as the city comes with exciting accommodations.

Best time to visit Chicago

Porbandar enjoys fair weather throughout the year. The temperature is mostly at a pleasant range between 23 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. Depending on the year and the humidity, the temperatures do see some changes, but mostly, it's sunny positive. The winters in Porbandar are quite enchanting as the cold breezy air adds quite a romantic charm to the place. The temperatures usually range from 10 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. When you do plan for your Porbandar trip, try to choose this season. The pleasant weather will make sightseeing more comfortable. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar are also cheap and affordable, irrespective of the peak season. December and January are considered as best months to visit Porbandar.

The monsoon months in Porbandar are just as enjoyable as the winters. Between July to September, the monsoon drenches the city with a cool but humid atmosphere. While the humidity does increase during monsoon, the strong winds that pass through the city during the season help normalise the temperature to a pleasant level. You can book a hotel in Porbandar during this time and take in all the monsoon magic. You certainly wouldn't regret it.

Summers, though, could be a little hot. In comparison to the pleasant weather the city experiences throughout the year, the summer winds come with high temperatures that sometimes reach 40 degree Celsius. While it is not ideal for visiting Porbandar during summers, if you are already used to such temperatures and climate, you wouldn't have much trouble. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar during summers see a drop in prices.

Places to visit in Chicago

Porbandar does not have many tourist attractions as such. The place is a pilgrimage with many temples and shrines. During your trip, you can visit some of the temples, namely, Sri Hari temple, Krishna-Sudama temple, Kirti temple, to name a few. These temples have strong connections with the Hindu mythology tale Mahabharat. The city also has some relics from the Harappan civilisation which could add to a good historical venture.

One of the big highlights of Porbandar's tourism is the Huzoor Palace, built in the early 20th century by Rana Natwarsinhji, the last Maharaja of Porbandar. The structure has derived architectural inspiration from European styles and is quite beautiful. The vicinity also has fancy fountains and well-maintained gardens.

Things to do in Chicago

The city might have only pilgrimage as the most prominent tourist attraction, but you can tweak your itinerary and add some personal excursions of your own. Located a little away from the city are the Jambuvan Caves, known to be the resting place of the famous warrior Jambuvan, who has played an essential role in the mythological tales of Mahabharat. The caves are also known to have Ramayana relevance with Hanuman spending time in the caves. You can also visit the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary and indulge in some photography. The sanctuary has a scenic setting which adds to the charm and beauty of the place. The biggest attraction of the bird sanctuary is how it inhabits migratory birds such as jacanas, little cormorants, whistling teals, avocets, coots, grebes, pelicans, terns, to name a few.

Food and Restaurants in Chicago

Porbandar is famous for its Gujarati cuisine. The city, much like the rest of the state, is rich in vegetarian Gujarati delicacies. From lip-smacking dhokla with green chutney to divine khandwas, one can never get tired of these dishes. Porbandar also follows the Jain-style cuisine by eliminating potatoes, onions, etc. from their dishes. They substitute potatoes with bananas which manage to do the job perfectly well. In fact, Jain cuisine is just as tasty as a regular vegetarian cuisine. You should probably give Jain food a try when in Porbander.

Travellers with a taste for vegan and vegetarian food can head to Flavours. The restaurant is famous for its take on vegan-friendly dishes as well as a slew of global cuisine. You will definitely be happy and satiated with their take on international cuisine. The place is extremely healthy and something worth considering. If exquisite fine dine is in your itinerary then you should head to Blue Coriander and book a table. The place with its classy interiors has great food reviews. You can get some lovely Gujarati thalis here or even the sweet daal that they're fans of. The food is known to be fresh and tasty with a plethora of choices for vegetarians. You can also get a spicy vada pav at Goli Vada Pav. Mumbaikars know their vada pavs well, and they sure love Goli Vada Pav.

Finding a non-vegetarian restaurant in Porbandar might be challenging as the city primarily has a vegetarian population. However, there is one place where you can get some lovely Indian spin on dishes, including seafood. SaltWater, located on the Dwarka Porbandar highway, has the best seafood that you should certainly try. As for those who are tired of all the spices and want something savoury, you should check out Shiva Baker's Point and Midday Munchies.

How to reach Chicago(Transportation)

By Air

Porbandar Airport is located along the coast of the state of Gujarat. The airport is open for commercial use but also has a military presence. The city's airport is well-connected with some of the big cities in India such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, June, Jaipur and Bangalore, to name a few. Thanks to the consistent infrastructural development, the city has managed to find great connectivity with other cities in India. The flight connectivity to Porbandar is excellent as many flights from big cities have direct flights. SpiceJet and TruJet are the two airlines with dedicated flights flying to Porbandar. Even though it is a domestic airport, there are provisions of duty-free shops within the airport that one can avail goods from at a reasonable cost.

The airport also provisions a slew of restaurant chains and fast food shops to keep the passengers entertained. The most popular route to Porbandar is from Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi as these three cities have regular flights flying in and out. The location of the airport is also convenient, enabling easy access to the city centre. You can hire a taxi cab from outside the airport, or if you have booked a hotel in Porbandar, they will probably send the airport shuttle, if you request it.

By Rail

Porbandar Railway Station is perfectly connected with major cities within Gujarat. There are dedicated daily trains to and from Porbandar to Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Somnath and more. The railway also connects well with other domestic routes from Porbandar to big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Jaipur. Weekly trains to cities in the South such as Hyderabad and Kochi are also available. It is essential to know the train schedule before booking the tickets. Specific express trains are not reserved for Porbandar so you might end up spending a lot of your time in transit. The station is around 5 km from the city centre.

As frequent trains are entering and leaving the city regularly, transport via train is also considered to be a good and affordable option. Flight tickets to Porbandar could be expensive sometimes depending on the season in which you are booking your flights.

By Road

Major cities are connected to Porbandar through the domestic route of NH 8B. The national highway brings cities such as Ahmedabad and Rajkot closer to Porbandar. Public buses are also available to connect Porbandar to the rest of the cities in Gujarat. You can find them at the bus station where buses to Vadodara, Jamnagar, Surat and even Mumbai are available. Many travellers opt for roadways to reach Porbandar, especially if they are travelling from the coastal areas of Maharashtra. Tourists even drive down to Porbandar from Jaipur and other cities in Rajasthan as it is a good drive. From the bus station, rickshaws and buses are also available that can take you to the hotel you have booked in Porbandar. Taxi cabs are also present in the city, so transportation in the city is extremely convenient for travellers.

  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.