Dehra Dun to Plaisance Flights

  About Dehradun

Nestled perfectly on the lap of the Doon Valley is the beautiful hill station Dehradun. The city is actually the capital of Uttarakhand as we and resides on the foothills of the majestic Himalayas. The hill station sees a mild climate thanks to its geographical location. The rivers Gangs and Yamuna also flow on either side of Dehradun. Bring the capital of the state, Dehradun has impeccable flight connectivity to and from other metropolitan cities. Not to mention, the city transport also allows travellers to explore other Himalayan destinations such as Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Auli, to name a few. Dehradun also boasts quaint accommodations. You can book hotels in Dehradun as a wide range of options are available.

Best time to visit Fehradun

The summers in Dehradun are pleasant as the sky is clear, and the air is refreshing. The months between March to June are ideal as the summers of Dehradun allow you to venture out exploring and don't put a damper on your travel plans. The maximum the temperature rises to is 35 degrees Celsius while it can drop ho to 17 degrees Celsius.

Interestingly, the monsoons are just as pleasant. The lush green expanses of Dehradun turn into pristine hues and worth visiting. The city looks lively with the nature springing to life during monsoon. The months between July to September are also a good bet for those who wish to enjoy piping hot kullad chais and exquisite views.

Although Dehradun doesn't experience snow as the maximum temperature drop is close to 3 degrees Celsius, it still offers a beautiful sight. The cold winds blowing across the city while the winter sun teases the landscape is yet again a picturesque sight. Besides, one can easily take this time to venture out and see more of what the hill station has to offer.

The concept of the best season to visit Dehradun does not exist as it caters to all kinds of audience and is open all-year-round.

Places to see in Dehradun

The leisure town of Dehradun perfectly connects with several beautiful places such as Mussoorie and Rishikesh, to name a few. While a majority of crowd chooses to head straight to these places instead, you should know about some of the highlights that make Dehradun touristy.

Tapkeshwar Temple

Uttarakhand has numerous temples and shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the famous temples in the State is the Tapkeshwar Temple. What makes this temple extraordinary is the fact that the Shivlinga has been sacredly placed within a cave. To visit the temple, you will have to go through thick forests and enter a cave as the deity's idol is placed within. The way the temple is constructed makes the setting quite the visual spectacle. The location is barely 6 km from the city centre and can be covered easily. The caves are especially lit during Shivratri as devotees from all corners of the world flock over to offer their prayers.

Malsi Deer Park

Malsi Deer Park is a zoological setting curated by the wildlife department of the State. It's a smaller version of the Rajaji National Park with more expansive areas to explore and excursions to be conducted. Aside from the natural beauty and the abundant flora and fauna that the park inhabits, the place also offers joyrides to engage kids. There are spaces of rides and games to entertain kids within the park. Deer Park is on the Mussoorie road and just 10 km away from the city.

Robber's Cave

Another favourite picnic spot in Dehradun is the Robber's cave. Well, technically, it is more of a romantic escapade for newlyweds or couples in love. These natural caves in Dehradun have unusual cold springs within that make it an attraction. Along with some eccentric attributes, there are quite a few waterfalls within the caves too which make for a refreshing experience. The beauty of the caves makes travellers visit the place more than once. Plus, it also gives people a chance to trek a little.

Aside from these highlights, there are various temples and monasteries within the city that should be explored. Places such as Shiv Mandir, Fun Valley, Maldevta, Tapovan are some tourist attractions in the town of Dehradun.

Things to do in Dehradun

Chopta Tungnath Trek

Doon Valley plays an excellent host to adventure junkies who wish to explore more of the valley's natural beauty and serenity. Chopta Tungnath trek is one such trek that you can pick as the summit is located at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level. The trekking trails through Tungnath is rich in biodiversity and makes for a fun expedition. On your journey, you will witness some gorgeous tall deodar and pine trees interspersed with coloured rhododendrons and silver oaks. As you reach the Chandrashila peak, you'll be met with the views of the snowcapped Himalayas with sunrays escaping through the gaps. The breath-taking sights would undoubtedly be worth all the trek. The locals would also tell you tales and folklore that connects Tungnath to Lord Shiva.

Har Ki Dun Trek

One of the popular treks often chosen by travellers is the Har Ki Dun Trek which leads to a combined view of Babdarpoonch, Ruinsara and Black peak mountain tops, also known as Swargarohini. A little away from the city of Dehradun, this trek is quite spiritually driven as the valley is tied to stories of Duryodhana from Mahabharata. The villagers believe and worship him and have some intriguing accounts to explain what makes him such a venerated personality.

You can take this trek in all seasons as it is not risky. The Himalayan trails will acquaint you with some exotic alpine trees, Rhododendron flowers, expanses of green grass, glaciers, quaint temples, Tamsa river and more.

Paltan Bazaar

For the shopaholic in you, Paltan Bazaar with it's happening vibe is the best place to indulge in Dehradun after a long day. Starting from Clock Tower, the bazaar stretches up to the Dehradun railway station. From exciting and inexpensive handicrafts, clothes, bags, shoes, etc., street food binge, the Paltan Bazaar will keep you entertained.

Food and Restaurants in Dehradun

Dehradun's cuisine is a mix of Indian teamed with Tibetan, Chinese and South Indian too! From Chetan Poori Wala's lip-smacking platter to Kalsang's Momo magic, the hill station houses some of the best street food that you should definitely check out. The sheer variety of delicious food is wholesome and perfect for pleasant weather.

Kalsang has quite a few branches across the State where you'll be served some of the best authentic Tibetan and Chinese cuisine. The must-have dishes include thupka, thenthuk and chilli momos which come with spicey gravy made out of bell peppers and shallots. Plus, do not forget to try the Tibetan buns along with fruit beers.

Chetan Puri Wala is another major highlight of Dehradun's street food. Located at main Hanuman Chowk, the quaint shop gives wholesome meal plates comprising of chole, aloo, methi sabzi and more along with hot fluffy pooris. The shop has been covered by NDTV Good Times too by the foodie duo Rocky and Mayur's food show.

Besides these three famous shops, you should also visit Maggi Points, Kumar Sweet, Gaylord Ice cream Parlour, Bobby Fast Food Corner, Buffet Snacks Shop and Ellora Bakery, to name a few. You'll be thoroughly amazed by the variety and taste.

How to reach Dehradun

By Air

Dehradun's prominence as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in India has made its travel connectivity strong. The Jolly Grant Airport, located 22km away from the city of Dehradun, has excellent flight connectivity to and from major cities. There are direct flights from metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and more. Airlines such as SpiceJet, GoAir have regular flights flying to and from Dehradun, making it perfect for travel. You can book cheap flight tickets to Dehradun in advance to avoid the expensive costs. Simultaneously, you can also book hotel rooms in Dehradun, who can send vehicles to pick you up from the airport. The distance is not a lot, and there are transport services available at Dehradun airport too.

By Rail

As an established tourist destination in India, the train connectivity to and from Dehradun is also commendable. There are trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow and Varanasi that are directly connected to Dehradun Railway Station. The railway station is located within the city, so transport from the station becomes easier. Although the duration spent to reach Dehradun by train is more than one would want to pay. There are taxi cabs and vehicles that you can rent from the station during your stay in the popular hill station.

By Road

Bus facilities to Dehradun are also available and can be found from New Delhi's Kashmere Gate. Since the trip can be completed overnight, a majority of buses heading to Dehradun from Delhi depart from the city in the evenings. You can find a plethora of bus services from Kashmere Gate ranging from Deluxe AC buses to seater Volvo buses. In fact, the State-owned Uttarakhand transport service also has buses that depart and arrive in the city of Dehradun regularly. Many tourists even consider road trips to Dehradun from Delhi and can choose the domestic route via NH 72 for the same.

  About Mauritius

Snuggled up in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the African continent, lies the beautiful island country of Mauritius. The lovely island country is known to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It has strong Indian and African influences and is also known for its exquisite blue waters.

Best time to visit Mauritius

Mauritius' proximity to the Tropic of Capricorn brings forth a hot tropical climate. The weather is mostly warm and cool with summers experiencing hot and humid breeze. May to December becomes the best time to visit the island country of Mauritius. The days are longer during these months. The dry and sunny vibe of the place brings a soothing effect that would definitely work well with your vacation vibe. The seafood brims with fresh catch cooked to perfection. Even the hospitality and tourist attractions within the island are accessible. You can waltz around the city streets without having to worry about bad weather or humidity. In fact, the hot and dry combination can best be dealt with by taking a dip in the Indian Ocean. Overall, the place is perfect for a leisure vacation. However, the only big concern comes when you need to pay the price for the impeccable hospitality and views. Booking a hotel in Mauritius during the peak season could be quite expensive. Even flight tickets to Mauritius are quite steep as the demand for the island country is quite high.

Unless you've managed to win some big combo deals online for flights and hotels in Mauritius, it would be a tad bit cumbersome to get a cheap and affordable deal. The island does sell leisure luxury, so it would be unfair to expect the city to have cheap services. There is always the window of opportunity to snag some online flight and hotel deals to Mauritius which could slash off half your expenses. The tropical island can be ignored from January to March and definitely from July to August. These are wet cyclone seasons for Mauritius and will have some dire effects on your travel plans. During the cyclone season, the winds are quite strong to the point of destructive. They definitely don't spell vacation as the shores would be off-limits. With little to nothing to do on the island, you might be wasting your money in Mauritius during these seasons. Hence, before making your bookings, ensure to check the weather report and possibility of any kind of looming cyclones that might hit the shores of the African island.

Places to visit in Mauritius

Mauritius is a small island country and has many coasts that boast pristine blue waters and white shoreline. The first one that you can start with during your beach-hopping is to check out Île aux Cerfs. It is perfectly located on the east coast of the country and is known to be the largest lagoon in the island country. With its green trees and blue waters, the scenic beach is perfect for exploring. While the Île aux Cerfs is a private-owned island, Mauritius island is open for all. It is perfect for you to unwind with your partner. The Seven Coloured Earth is the next best beach to check out. What makes this beach a tourist attraction is the geological formation of sand dunes by the beach with hues of pink and purple. The seven distinct colours on the dunes is what gives the place its name.

On the extreme southwestern tip of Mauritius' island is the alluring peninsula, Le Morne Brabant. The natural caves and green vegetation surrounded by azure blue waters makes tourists flock over to the place. The mountain of Le Morne Brabant has actually been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. A little away from the Indian Ocean, nestled in the centre of the island is the Grand Bassin. It is a secluded area located in the Savanne district has many Hindu temples and idols of gods such as Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesh, Goddess Ganga, to name a few.

Things to do in Mauritius

The best way to explore more of Mauritius and soak in the beauty of the island country is by beach-hopping. The place is literally surrounded by the Indian Ocean on all sides. This means there are beaches everywhere in Mauritius. Some of the notable mentions include Flic En Flac Beach, Grand Baie, Mont Choisy beach, to name a few. At these beaches, you can take up a slew of water sports activities. From kitesurfing to scuba diving, there are a bunch of things that you can do on the beaches of Mauritius. Aside from the fun outdoor activities that can keep the beach bums busy, you might want to indulge in some of their exquisite seafood too. The place offers fusion food with influences from African, Indian, French and European cuisine. You can also hike at the Black River Gorges National Park as it has many green trekking trails.

Food and restaurants in Mauritius

Mauritius has quite a reputation in the culinary circle for offering a delightful spread to tease a man's gastronomical urges. The restaurants and food establishments in Mauritius are celebrated for their exquisite tropical flavours and a rich melange of cuisines ranging from French, African, Mediterranean, Indian and Dutch. The most famous food establishment in Mauritius is the Escale Creole, a place which brims with bespoke Mauritian cuisine. Not only are the dishes lip-smacking but even the vibe of the place is worth talking about. It would be quite an experience to indulge in food curated by world-class chefs. For a little French indulgence in Mauritius, you can visit Le Chamarel Restaurant. The vibe of the place is uber-romantic, and the food is just as delicious as the views of the ocean. Le Fangourin's flavourful fried rice with mushrooms is a big seller. The dish and even the restaurant should certainly be added in your list of places to visit for food excursions. The place is perfect for vegetarians and also has a lovely setting.

Le Château de Bel Ombre is a fancy food establishment that stands on the grounds of the Heritage Le Château, an ancient relic from the 1700s which has been recently refurbished to accommodate the restaurant. For an Epicurean holiday in Mauritius with succulent and aromatic food explosion, visit this specific restaurant in the city. Le Flamboyant is another raved restaurant which offers a fancy view of the ocean and makes scrumptious delicacies. Their highlights are ravioles de marlin fume and dim sum. For a continental buffet spread, visit Mon Plaisir Restaurant. It is the main restaurant of the Sugar Beach resort and certainly a place worth dining at. With a private pool that leads to the ocean, the setting is gorgeous and refreshing, especially for breakfast. Do not miss restaurants namely, Citronella Restaurant & Cafe, Safran Restaurant, Dix Neuf Restaurant, La Plage Beach Club Restaurant and Republik Beach Club & Grill, to name a few.

How to reach Mauritius 

Mauritius is one of the most famous international honeymoon destinations for Indians, after The Maldives. The exquisite azure blue ocean with resorts over waters and palm trees forming a line to the shore paints quite a picture. The setting makes for a great postcard background, not to mention how the luxurious setting is also a good place to spruce things up, romantic styles. The flight connectivity to Mauritius from India is hence, quite good. There are many flights to Mauritius from Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, to name a few. Although there are no direct flights connecting Mauritius and India, a majority of international airlines with layovers form a good connectivity to the African island country. Airlines such as Emirates, Saudia, Vistara, Kenya Airways, Malindo Air, Air Mauritius, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Air Seychelles, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Mauritius. The most popular international route for Mauritius from India is via Dubai. Emirates Airlines provides many flights to Mauritius, making transport convenient.

The flight duration to Mauritius from India is close to 13 hours and fifteen minutes. This also includes the layovers or connecting flights that one might have to take from international cities. The popularity and demand for Mauritius has also made its flight tickets rather pricey. Come peak season, and you will find a massive surge in the ticket prices to Mauritius. However, they are still decent and affordable. A round trip would cost you approximately INR 80,000. This is without the additional discounts or online flight deals. If you spend some time on the internet to find the best flight deals to Mauritius, you will end up saving much more. Also, the hotel bookings in Mauritius is quite steep, owing to the luxe setting and hospitality services they provide. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel reservations in Mauritius. The best thing to do here would be to book hotels and flights to Mauritius together. There are many online deals and honeymoon packages (if a romantic rendezvous is what you're going for), that you can avail.

  About Dehradun Airport

Dehradun Airport or Jolly Grant Airport is located about 25 km away from the main city of Dehradun. The airport's commercial operations kicked off in 2008 after the runway was extended with a view to accommodating larger aircraft. Later in 2009, Dehradun Airport introduced the new terminal building and opened operations for the same. Jolly Grant Airport is only 20 km away from Rishikesh and about 35 km away from Haridwar. The airport access from these towns in Uttarakhand is quite strong. You can drive down to the airport from Rishikesh and Haridwar in approximately 30 minutes and 40 minutes respectively. Dehradun Airport is known to be the 37th busiest airport in the country with annual passenger traffic of 1,240,173. The airport is also called the Air Gateway of Garhwal and plays a pivotal role in contributing to the tourism of Uttarakhand. Jolly Grant is actually the name of the place in Dehradun district where the airport has been established. It is close to 27 km away from the main city. In the initial years of the airport's genesis, a regional airline called Vayudoot was operated to connect to cities such as New Delhi, Pantnagar and Lucknow.

Vayudoot operated services from 1982 to 1995. Later in 2004, Air Deccan started flight operations between Dehradun and New Delhi. The flights were operated on a daily basis and eventually, in 2006, a second flight was also added. As the Airport Authority of India toom charge, they eventually suspended all flight operations from 2007 and ordered to execute a renewed airport modernization plan. The airport authority also extended the runway of Dehradun Airport from 3,500 ft to 7,000 ft. Simultaneously, they also broadened the runway from 23 metres to 45 metres. With this, they have managed to enable accommodation of narrow-body jets such as Boeing 737 as well as Airbus 320. The airport also started a night landing system with a new terminal building as well as an Air Traffic Control tower was developed. By 2010, Air India also launched its flight connection from Dehradun to Delhi, followed by SpiceJet in 2012.

About Dehradun Airport Terminals

Jolly Grant Airport has one domestic terminal that was refurbished to bring forth the New Domestic Terminal Building. The terminal is sprawled across 4,200 square metres made of glass and steel. The structure has central air conditioning, and heating facilities are available. A specific Flight Information Displace System (FIDS) is also present within the premise of the airport. Not to mention a CCTV surveillance system that ensures strong security. The airport is known to have a capacity of handling close to 150 passengers per hour. It has been recorded that the airport can handle about 122,000 passengers annually. Currently, the new domestic terminal has 11 check-in counters, three security booths in the departure section, an X-ray baggage scanner and two conveyor belts for baggage claim. Meanwhile, the airport apron that is adjoined to the terminal has two category 'C' type of aircraft. With respect to the expansion plans as proposed by the Airport Authority of India, they will be constructing a new integrated terminal along with allied facilities to make travel efficient for passengers.

About airport authority

Dehradun Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India, a statutory body that functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Government of India. The statutory body is basically responsible for management, upgradation and maintenance of the infrastructure of Dehradun Airport. Along with Dehradun Airport, the Airports Authority of India manages a total of about 126 airports in India. These include 11 international airports and 11 customs airports with 89 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves located on military airfields. After its initial installation, AAI has been working on the expansion of the airport. Their plan is to expand the runway to accommodate more aircraft and passenger traffic. They also wish to get more airlines to fly in and out of Dehradun Airport. The new integrated terminal building that the airport is building right now is worth INR 3448 million.

Facilities at Dehradun Airport

Lounge - The airport has a dedicated waiting lounge for the passengers. The waiting lounge has a clean and hygienic restrooms and comfortable seating for passengers. The airport's lounge also provides WiFi services as well as good food. Travellers can relax in the lounge while they wait for boarding. The lounge also has modern amenities to cater to the needs of the passengers.

Baggage - The airport's baggage facilities include trolleys, wrapping services and more. The baggage services can be access at the Pantnagar terminal. The airport's terminal also has trolleys available to help passengers. The airport also has baggage claim conveyor belts to get hold of the checked luggage.

Food joints - Although Dehradun Airport doesn't have a proper restaurant facility, it does have enough food stalls and snacks joints. One can get coffee, tea and other hot beverages at the airport's departures and arrivals section of the terminal. You can avail some light refreshments while you wait at the airport for boarding.

ATMs - There are ATM kiosks also available at the airport. To help passengers withdraw money and avail some snacks or keep money in hand, the airport has installed ATM kiosks of domestic banks. The kiosk accepts all kinds of cards so the passenger would not have to worry about it.

Special assistance - Special assistance for passengers with mobility issues or other health concerns are also available. One might need to inform the airlines beforehand to get hold of special assistance from the airport. The staff is helpful and would provide wheelchairs and other assistance required.

Smoking zone - Smoking is not allowed in the premise of the airport. The airport has installed a dedicated room for smoking. Individuals can make use of the room to smoke. Purchases of cigarettes are also available at the airport, in case the passenger cannot get hold of them.

Duty-free shops - To kill time at the airport while you wait to board the flight, the airport has also installed some duty-free shops where you can get some authentic goods and items that are famous in Uttarakhand. These include perishable goods such as sweets and dry fruits as well.

Top airlines flying from Dehradun Airport

The top three airlines that are currently operating from Jolly Grant Airport are IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet. While IndiGo has three dedicated flights flying in and out of Dehradun Airport daily, both, Air India and SpiceJet have two flights respectively. Earlier, Jet Airways also operated from Jolly Grant Airport and had the highest number of flights functioning from the airport. They have six daily flights flying to and from Dehradun Airport. However, following the airline's shut down, the airport now witnesses only three airlines functioning from their airport premise. The airlines have been given slots for functioning. Since the airport's runway is small and the terminal cannot accommodate a big crowd, the schedules of the flights of the airlines have been shared on the respective airline's websites. It is essential that you go through the timings ahead of the travel. In case there are any changes in the schedules of the flights, following a weather condition, the airlines and the airport would intimate passengers about the same.

How to reach Dehradun Airport

By Bus

Dehradun's primary mode of transportation is the bus. The state also promotes its bus services. These interstate buses are available at all times during the day and have an exemplary connection. In fact, to reach Dehradun Airport, taking a bus is the best and most viable option. The buses will directly reach you to Jolly Grant Airport as they have a dedicated bus stand right outside the airport. These buses can be taken from anywhere within the state, including Rishikesh and Haridwar. Along with buses, you can also avail the services of taxi cabs and private vehicles that are present at the hill station. It might cost you more than the bus fare, but you will have a comfortable journey as you reach Dehradun Airport. It is recommended that you haggle with the private cab or taxi before you start your journey. They might charge exorbitant amounts for smaller distance. Taxicab services to reach Jolly Grant Airport can be availed from within anywhere in the state. Reaching Dehradun Airport by road is quite convenient and comfortable.

By Train

The train is another viable and cheap option to reach Jolly Grant Airport. Dehradun and Haridwar are the nearest railway stations to reach Jolly Grant Airport. The railways are also well-connected to the airport and see scheduled trains coming in from other parts of Uttarakhand. If you plan to save some money, it is advised that you take up the train as the mode of transport to reach Jolly Grant Airport. In case you are trying to reach Dehradun Airport from places in the Garhwal region such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Gangotri and Mussoorie then you can find cabs to reach the nearest railway station.