Dehra Dun to Tokyo 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 Tokyo

Tokyo, one of the top cities in the world and the capital of Japan, is a busy hub for economic, finance, business, technology, culture and more. The city is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Best time to visit Tokyo

Tokyo's charm turns a notch more exquisite during the spring and autumn months. Come spring and the streets of Tokyo form blissful foliage of cherry blossoms. As for autumn, a new shade of beauty envelopes the city. September to November months in Tokyo are definitely the best time to visit Tokyo. As the summer heat and humidity declines, the city wraps itself with a new temperature that only gets better. While there is precipitation in the air with the possibility of light showers, the temperatures are quite friendly and ideal for tourism. Make sure to carry an umbrella with you when you peruse through the attractions of the city. Simultaneously, it is essential that you carry a light but comfortable jacket along with you during your trip. The light showers are often accompanied by brisk winter breeze. The city celebrates a different kind of air during the autumn season as it hosts Tokyo International Film Festival, Culture Day and Shichi-Go-San festival.

Spring actually starts seeing crowds, maybe not as much as summer, but tourists still flock over. Thanks to the appearance of the gorgeous cherry blossoms in the city parks, locals from and around Tokyo also head to the city. There are various special events that are held in the city parks to welcome the lovely spring and summer that follows. Not to mention how watching the cherry blossoms bloom is one of the biggest highlights that cannot be missed. The city doesn't just witness beautiful weather but also sees some events. These include AnimeJapan, Art fair Tokyo and Golden Week. You should know that AnimeJapan is a big deal in Tokyo and the city bustles with anime enthusiasts in Japan and international tourists too. Although it is known that spring is the best time to visit, it certainly comes with a humongous crowd, which means you will have to deal with the excess tourist crowd as well as high prices of hotels and travel scenes. No matter what the season might be, the hotel rooms and prices do not see a drop. So even if you do pick an offseason for your travel plans, you will still have to pay a hefty sum on hotels.

Places to visit in Tokyo

Tokyo has far too many tourist attractions that you cannot complete even if you stay there for a month. The neighbourhood is literally loaded with more than 13 million entertaining places to keep you engaged. You can start your day by checking out the Tokyo National Museum, to learn more about the country's history. To honour the culture and religious beliefs of the Japanese, it would be amazing to visit the Meiji Shrine and Sensoji Temple. From here, you can further head to the Imperial Palace, which is a major tourist attraction. The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation is also an interesting site to witness the fiery entrepreneurial spirit of young scientists. Edo-Tokyo Museum is another place which explores the past of the city and its architecture. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a vast expanse of over 144 acres with its traditional Japanese landscape that only add to the serenity of the place. Ghibli Museum is a totally cool place that you should check out if you are a fan of the studio that has created some award-winning anime movies. Also, do not miss Tokyo Tower, the remake of the famous Eiffel Tower.

Things to do in Tokyo

Tokyo's Ginza is what New York's Fifth Avenue is, or London's Oxford Street is, and Paris' Champs-Élysées is a haven for shopaholics. The town bustles with tourists and exquisite shops and restaurants. You can also opt for an authentic Geisha performance which can be followed by the traditional kaiseki course dinner. The city's karaoke parlours are a big hit too and something you should definitely try out. Tokyo also has robot show and kawaii monster cafes, tickets of which you can avail. Much like Ginza, Akihabara is a paradise for people inclined with technology. If you live and breathe gadgets, Tokyo's electronics district is the right place for you to go to. Aside from visiting the Imperial Palace, it would be amazing to pack a picnic and relish the tranquillity of the space. It is important that you get permission to visit the estate.

Food and Restaurants in Tokyo

Tokyo is known to have the highest number of Michelin-starrer food establishments in the world. That alone explains why it is revered to be the food capital of the world. Tokyo is a big hit among culinary critics and celebrated chefs from around the world. The city also boasts a whopping number of restaurants, 160,000, to be exact, to further strengthen its case as a stalwart in the culinary world. Tokyo reserves a very high position in the culinary world in terms of their choice of ingredients, their handpicked fresh products, quality of their ingredients and the careful precision with which they make their food. The remarkable consistency in their food validates the same and hence, helps its stand at a distinguished position. Many chefs actually spend their entire lives to perfect just one dish. In fact, Jiro Ono is one such chef who has mastered the art of making perfect sushi and is also the proud holder of the three-star Michelin restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro. Some of their top-rated dishes include ramen, udon noodles, tempura, miso and soba noodles, to name a few. These meals are traditional and a staple of the Japanese.

Much of these buckwheat noodles are dated to the Edo period, which is pretty ancient in the Japanese period. The city also prepares dishes such as yakitori, takoyaki, sekitori, to name a few. These meals can be found in fine dining restaurants as well as small joints around the corner of the street. For a more formal dinner setting, you should opt for kaiseki, which is basically a multi-course dinner served on seasonal small plates. You can make these indulgences possible by checking out food establishments such as Butagumi, Toritama, Shorisaka, Yakiniku Jumbo Shirokane, Ishikawa, Kotaro, to name a few. Not just Japanese, though, Tokyo also celebrates international cuisine and brings forth flavours from around the world in one city. In fact, they are so authentic that even the natives of the cuisine would be surprised by the immaculate precision in the food created. From Italian to French, Tokyo serves cuisine from around the world, and they do it even better than the native lands. You might want to save some extra money to visit some of these amazing establishments.

How to reach Tokyo

Flight connectivity to Tokyo is excellent with regular direct flights flying from India. The demand for travel to Tokyo is quite high and hence, has enough options for travellers. There are provisions for direct and nonstop flights to Tokyo from India. It is essential that you know where you are staying as accordingly, you will have to choose between the two airports in Tokyo, Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. Luckily, there are nonstop flights to Tokyo's Narita Airport as well as Haneda Airport from Mumbai and Delhi. Airlines such as All Nippon Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Vistara, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Japan. In fact, Vistara, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have direct nonstop flights to Tokyo from Delhi. The most popular route to Tokyo is from Delhi as the flight connectivity and options for direct flights is more. Not to mention how the city is well-connected as the capital of India. Many airlines take the international routes of Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, to reach Tokyo.

Not just the flight connectivity but even the duration of flights to Tokyo is less and available from India. The flight duration to Tokyo is approximately 7 hours 50 minutes from Delhi. The flight tickets to Tokyo are also cheap to expensive. Depending on which airlines and the flight duration you pick, the flight tickets would dwindle. However, there are provisions of cheap flight tickets to Tokyo. It is advised that you make prior flight bookings to Tokyo if you wish to avail some online flight deals. You can receive discounted rates for your flights to Tokyo as well as even accommodation. Since Tokyo is an expensive city, you will have to be extremely careful with your expenses. You cannot simply splurge if you're on a budget. Hence, try to make as many deductions in the travel and accommodation cost by making prior bookings. Hostels and homestays are not a big concept in Tokyo, so you must ensure that you are sorted with your accommodations before visiting the city. You might even find some combo deals for flights and hotels online. Tokyo doesn't require any transit visa as it is part of the same continent.

  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.