Showing 4 Gulf Airways Flights from Dhaka - Starting at Just ₹41,993

  About Dhaka

Nestled close to the lovely Buriganga river is the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. The city has an excess population and exquisite architecture, inspired by the Mughal, British and American rule.

Best time to visit Dhaka

The busiest months for Dhaka are June, January and February. The seasons of Dhaka are quite similar to the ones faced in the North Eastern locales of India. However, they are slightly tweaked depending on the impact of the rains and summer. June is the onset of summer and hence, a very comfortable time to visit. The air is continuously humid, which could be another reason to avoid this time of the year. March through May is spring for Dhaka and the weather is slightly tolerable. Expect some rain though even during spring as the city is known to face regular rains throughout the year. Spring becomes a favoured month among travel enthusiasts who wish to visit the city as the hotel rooms are cheap. Even if you don't make prior reservations, you will find cheap hotels in Dhaka during this season. The crowd in the city is also comparatively few, making it easier for you to venture around.

You will find many cheap flight and hotel deals to Dhaka if you opt for spring. Fall is another such season when the flight and hotel prices are low, allowing tourists to get the perks of good deals. September through November is not ideal for tourism though as the showers can get very risky. The torrential rains could even lead to floods and waterlogging in the city of Dhaka. The city witnesses excess rain from the winds arriving from the Bay of Bengal, which gets really murky. Tourism sees a tremendous dip during this season, making hotel prices very cheap and affordable. The best time to visit though, aside from spring is winter. With temperatures that stand at 223 degree Celsius as opposed to the exorbitant ones during summer, Dhaka's winters are very beautiful. However, as this is a busy time for tourism in the country, you might have a tough time finding decent accommodation in the city. Plus, the prices would also be quite high. The best thing to do to get cheap and affordable deals would be to make prior hotel bookings in Dhaka.

Places to visit in Dhaka

The city has a plethora of lovely neighbourhoods that can be explored. There are a few religious sites that you can start with when visiting in Dhaka. These establishments are top tourist attractions in Dhaka and definitely worth your time. You can start with the Armenian Church of Holy Resurrection which was erected back in 1781 by American missionaries. You do not need a specific tour guide to take you through this place. You also have the Holy Rosary Church to visit. Dhaka also houses many mosques as it is predominantly an Islamic country. You will find exquisite mosques in the city. Check out some prominent ones such as the Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Chawk Mosque, Hussaini Dalan Mosque, Musa Khan mosque and Sitara mosque. It is imperative that you follow some protocols of the religion before entering the mosque as they are very strict about their customs. The city also has a Hindu temple, Dhakeshwari Temple, which was built in the 12th century.

An important tourist attraction in the city is the Lalbagh Fort. The fort, built during the Mughal era, has witnessed some bloody wars in the old times. In fact, the spot has experienced some of the biggest iconic moments in Bangladesh's history and hence, holds a prominent position in their cultural heritage. You should also check out the Curzon Hall, which has now been transformed into the University of Dhaka. Also, do not miss the Banga Bhaban, the official abode to the president of Bangladesh. The palace has been heavily inspired by the British India era and reflects the same. The 1857 Memorial is a spot worth checking out. It is basically a vast expanse of memorial that has been built to honour the martyrs who perished during the first Liberation War that took place to oppose the British rule. Do not miss the National Poet's graveyard as well, which is the tomb of the revolutionary poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. The National Botanical Gardens is a beautiful location within the city which transports you from the excess noise of Dhaka to tranquillity.

Things to do in Dhaka

There are quite a handful of things that you can do during your stay in Dhaka. As part of your excursion to learn more about the city, you can visit the National Museum. The place will take you through the past and struggles of Bangladesh before being blessed with freedom and a separate nation of its own. You can also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and known more about Bangladesh's freedom fighter Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also called, 'Father of the Nation'. The Dhaka Zoo is another interesting place you can visit when in the city. The zoo has many species of exotic birds and animals including the profound Royal Bengal Tiger. The Sadarghat River Front is also a beautiful place where you can relax and unwind after a long day of indulging in tourist activities. The riverfront rests on the banks of the lovely Buriganga river. You can further elevate your experience by taking up boat rides.

Food and Restaurants in Dhaka

Dhaka has an abundance of food varieties ranging from traditional Bangladeshi food to Chinese, Indian and even Mexican cuisine. Most of the food is served in buffet style at these restaurants with fixed prices so you should carry enough cash with you. To get the best of Dhaka's fine dining scene, you should visit Gulshan, Baridhara, Lalmatia, Banani and Dhanmondi. These streets have elite food establishments with international cuisine. You would be surprised and amazed by some of the astounding joints that these streets have in Dhaka. La Forchetta is one such restaurant that brings the flavours of Italy on a platter. It is one of the best Italian joints in the city and definitely recommended. The city also has steakhouses with a food establishment called Steakhouse.

A&W is one of the famous burger joints with special American-style burger served with fries and a rootbeer float. They also have a jukebox in the background that would take you back in time. Bamboo Shoot is another fantastic restaurant especially in Chinese and Thai food. Adding to the authenticity of the joint are a number of Chinese expats who seem to relish the food here. Bella Italia is another food restaurant that was founded by an individual who served at an Italian restaurant. For some local food, you should check out Dhanshiri, located in Gulshan street. The food served here celebrates the Bangladeshi food and is served at a reasonable price. You can also check out Gulshan Khabar Ghar for some more local food. The cafe scene in Dhaka is also quite good and something you would enjoy. Mermaid Cafe, Bittersweet Cafe are some places where you will get good coffee and baked goods. The ambience served is just as exquisite.

How to reach Dhaka (Transportation)

By Air

Flight connectivity to Dhaka from India is excellent. As a neighbouring country, a majority of flights to Bangladesh sees a layover in Kolkata. In fact, you will find direct and nonstop flights to Dhaka from Kolkata. The city's proximity to Bangladesh's capital makes it possible. This is the most popular route to Dhaka often chosen by travellers visiting the city from India. There are no direct nonstop flights to Dhaka from any other city in the country. If you are travelling from Mumbai or Delhi, you will have to change flights at Kolkata. From Delhi though, Biman Bangladesh is the only airline that has reserved a nonstop direct flight to Dhaka. Besides this, much of the airlines opt for a layover in Kolkata. Many Indian airlines such as SpiceJet, IndiGo and Vistara, have regular flights to Dhaka. However, they all travel till Kolkata, from where Biman Bangladesh takes the passengers to Dhaka. Flights to Dhaka from India also take international routes with layovers in cities such as Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and Istanbul, depending on the airlines chosen.

The flight tickets to Dhaka are extremely cheap from India. You can get flight tickets to Dhaka for as less as INR8,000. The flight duration is also quite decent with popular airlines reaching in less than five hours. Of course, these flights are expensive as compared to the ones who reach Dhaka in 12 hours.

By Rail

Flights are not the only way to reach Dhaka, though. There is a special dedicated train that connects Dhaka and Kolkata. The Maitree Express is touted to be the first international railway line connecting Dhaka with an international city, i.e., Kolkata. It is a full-AC train which is quite posh and has luxurious services available.

By Road

AC buses to Dhaka are also available, owing to how close the cities of Dhaka and Kolkata are. Much of these buses are government-run as it has to do with international borders. These buses travel to Dhaka on alternate days and are super cheap.

  About Gulf Air

Gulf Air is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain with its headquarters located in Muharraq. The airline operates services to connect to about 52 destinations across 28 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Gulf Air's main hub is Bahrain International Airport. The airline is the official sponsor of a slew of events including the Bahrain Grand Prix as well as Bahrain International Airshow. Initially, the airline was jointly owned by Bahrain, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Qatar before the Kingdom of Bahrain took over complete ownership of Gulf Air. In 2005, a decision was made to make Emirates of Abu Dhabi withdraw from Gulf Air and instead establish the United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways. Gulf Air's operations were changed to a dual-hub based between Bahrain and Muscat (Oman) airports. Despite the omission of the United Arab Emirates from the picture, Gulf Air continued to extend its appreciation and support to the said Middle East nation. Claiming how the country has been quite supportive and thanking them for the contribution for more than 35 years.

Gulf Air's large customer base is derived from Abu Dhabi, and hence, the airline has reserved special flights to Abu Dhabi as well as Muscat. This act has further strengthened Gulf Air's network. In 2007, Gulf Air saw another tremendous management switch as the government of Bahrain claimed complete ownership of the airline following the withdrawal of Oman to focus on its flag carrie3r, Oman Air. The change in ownership brought forth a second restructuring program to cease the losses it had been facing a whopping USD 1 million in a day. While Gulf Air's battles in the management continued, in terms of operations, they introduced a non-stop daily direct flight to London Heathrow Airport in 2007. Following the autonomy of falling just under the government of Bahrain instead of varied partners as investors, Gulf Air started acquiring many aircraft to expand its fleet and to enhance its domestic and international routes. They took in a bunch of Boeing flights as well as Airbus A319s and A330-200s as part of their expansion strategy.

Further, as part of the restructuring plans, Gulf Air introduced its Falcon Gold cabin, basically a premium cabin that combined the business and first-class. The same came into existence in 2010 and offered higher standards of comfort during transit. The airline also made a few changes in the cabin's amenities to bring forth world-class services and make it perfect for premium fliers. Despite working on several methods to expand the business, Gulf Air has been recorded to be a loss-making venture, owing to the political unrest in the country of Bahrain. Further, the airline also changed its approach to become a boutique airline, making it stand out from its competition. Basically, as a boutique airline, the focus for the airline is on lifestyle and branding that fall in the lines of upscale hospitality. The experiences offered by Gulf Air are no short of luxury.

Fleet size of Gulf Air

Gulf Air is known to accommodate a fleet of 34 aircraft, as of 2020. The airline only has Airbus and Boeing as part of its fleet. They have about 27 aircraft of Airbus family while seven aircraft manufactured by Boeing. Currently, the airline has Airbus A321ER, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320ER, Boeing 787-9, Airbus A320Neo and Airbus A320DNeo. In the past, Gulf Air did accommodate a slew of aircraft from various manufacturers. However, with tremendous changes in expansion strategies, the airline now only has Airbus and Boeing.

Gulf Air Baggage Allowance

Gulf Air's baggage allowance varies from the ticket fare family and the possible airline membership. Falcon Gold, which is part of Gulf Air's frequent flyer plan, allow two checked baggage which can weigh no more than 32 kg each. This means travellers who are using the Falcon Gold are allowed to carry a total of 64 kg, which can be divided into two pieces of luggage. Travellers who are going from the economy are allowed to carry not more than 23 kg. The airline accommodates two pieces of luggage which add to a total of 46 kg. These provisions are only available for Falcon frequent flyers. The baggage allowance for economy class is perfect for those who are travelling on budget tickets. In case there is additional checked-in baggage, you will need to purchase at the airport's World Wide Contact Centre. You can also purchase on the website of Gulf Air as they also have some extra details about the deal. Despite the standards set by the airline, the rules and protocols do have some exceptions. These exceptions can be found on the official website of Gulf Air.

As for the cabin baggage, the rules applied include 9 kg weight for Falcon Gold members and 6 kg for Economy passengers. The airline allows one bag out of which Falcon Gold gets an additional small bag which could be a handbag or a briefcase or a laptop bag. However, the dimensions of the cabin baggage must be adhered to as they need to fit in the overhead bin and under the seat space. For Falcon Gold, the airline allows dimensions of 55 x 40 x 30 cm. Meanwhile, the dimensions for economy bags are 45 x 40 x 30 cm. Gulf Air does offer a deal where additional personal items, including a purse, laptop, umbrella, reading book, etc., are permitted in the cabin. The airline has also shared a list of personal items that can be carried in the cabin baggage for free. These include a crutch, an overcoat, a blanket, a laptop, pocketbook or handbag, bag with camera, pair of binoculars, reading matter and more. Travellers with infants also get some perks as they can carry additional bags with baby products for changing, feeding and more.

Gulf Air In-flight services

Gulf Air's in-flight services are quite amazing as they cater to the cabin class with good hospitality. They recently came up with a brand new flatbed for their premium class cabins. The reclining seats also have features such as built-in massage. Further, you can put on the noise-cancelling headsets that are available with the seat. Tune out the noise around you and enjoy the unlimited entertainment that the airline has to the office with its 22-inch screen. The beds are large and can extend up to accommodate 6 ft, tall individuals. The in-flight meals are complimentary for premium members. This also includes a priority for check-in and boarding. Not to mention how the airline also enables access to the passengers to their lounges. The economy class seats are also quite comfortable. They provide decent legroom and recline. The airline also offers a personal entertainment system for all passengers to have a good time. They do have a slew of entertaining content that one can enjoy. You can pick any content from their screen and put on the headset to be entertained during the flight.

Interestingly, Gulf Air's in-flight services include a Sky Nanny, for travellers with infants. The sky nanny would take care of your children on board and keep them entertained, so they do not disturb the other passengers in the flight. The meals provided on the flight come from Gulf Air's multi-award winning catering service, Sky Chef. The airline offers a slew of meals on their menu that one can pick from. This ranges from non-vegetarian to vegan food. You can pre-book the meals ahead of the flight on their official website. The airline's Boeing Dreamliner 787 is the most exquisite aircraft in their fleet. The Falcon Gold cabin, as well as the Economy class cabin, are both gifted with impeccable interiors and great facilities at the same time. Some of the in-flight services in Gulf Air's Dreamliner include 22-inch of an entertainment system with power supply attached to the seats. They also have a decent seat pitch for the first class as well as the economy class that would enable a comfortable journey for the passengers.

Popular routes and top cities for Gulf Air

As of 2020, Gulf Air connects to 52 international cities sprawled across 28 countries. The airline is well-connected and has services to quite a few domestic routes and international routes. These include Africa, Europe and Asian continents. Cairo, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Dublin, Amman, Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Nairobi, Muscat, Karachi, Manila, Moscow, Doha, Colombo, Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and London. The airline's airport lounge is also prevalent in three of the international airports including, Dubai, Bahrain and London-Heathrow.

Why travel by Gulf Air?

Gulf Air's phenomenal flight connectivity to the cities in three continents is what makes it a perfect choice for travellers. The airline has exemplary connectivity with several Middle Eastern cities and sees a strong flight activity in the domestic routes and international routes. Not to mention how the airline's website has also been upgraded to cater to some of the needs of the travellers. You can book your Gulf Air flight online and even get a web check-in done for efficiency. The flight status and Gulf Air's flight schedules are also present on the website as well as other travel portals.

  About Hazrat Shahjalal Airport

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport is the most prominent international airport that is installed in Dhaka. It is situated about 17 km from Kurmitola. The airport is also part of the BAF Bangabandhu Base which is being utilised by Bangladesh Air Force. The airport was previously known as Dacca International Airport, which later changed to Zia International Airport, to honour Shah Jala, one of the most venerated Sufi saints from Bangladesh. Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport caters to Bangladesh's flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines, as a primary hub. It is also known to be a hub for many private Bangladesh-based airlines such as Regent Airways, US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair. It currently accommodates a whopping 18.5 million passengers. The first landing strip was constructed in 1941, at Kurmitola, by the British government and used for World War II's airfare.

About Airport Terminals

There are two functional terminals available at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A third one is being constructed to expand the passenger capacity and to add more features to the airport. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 both have international flight functions. They are located in the same building. Terminal 1 is on the ground floor, and it is used as an international arrivals hall. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 is on the upper floor and serves as the departure hall for international travels. In the domestic terminal, the arrivals and departure halls are present on the same floor. A designated VIP terminal has also been constructed with a view to accommodate Bangladesh's delegates. The terminal is only 200 meters away from the international terminals.

Terminal 3 is currently under works, the foundation of the same was laid in 2019 by Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The terminal is slated to complete on 2022. A portion of the financial assistance is being provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The new terminal is said to include passenger terminal with a floor that is sprawled across 64,000 sq ft, a VVIP complex, a multi-level parking bay in the building terminal and the capacity to accommodate 20 million passengers.

About Airport Authority

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport falls under the ownership of the Government of Bangladesh. It is currently operated by Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB). The statutory body functions as a regulatory frame to cater to all activities that relate to aviation in Bangladesh. CAAB is recognised nationwide and is the central aviation authority. It operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. The authority is headquartered in Dhaka's Kurmitola. Over the years, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has witnessed several upgradations and development schemes to make it better.

The airport is currently working on several extension and up-gradation plans. There is a passenger extension apron that is being constructed from foxtrot taxiway to the export cargo apron recently concluded. Along with this, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has also laid new asphalt concrete on the runway. Along with this, consultancy services have also upgraded the airport's premise. Meanwhile, some of the works in action are improving the security system of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Additionally, there are works to develop the entire airport and expand it to accommodate more airlines.

Top airlines flying from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

Bangladesh's proximity with India has enabled the functioning of several direct flights to the city of Dhaka. There are three Indian airlines that operate from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. In fact, the Indian airlines that operate from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport are Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Along with some Indian airlines, there are a few international airlines to that function from the airport. Airlines that fly from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport include Air Arabia, Air Asia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Cathay Dragon, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Druk Air, Emirates, Gulf Air, Himalaya Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines. The international airlines mostly connect with Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Cities such as Abu Dhabi, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Medina, Riyadh, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Colombo, Istanbul, Doha and more, are well-connected with Dhaka.

Facilities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

Baggage - The airport provides several baggage services that one can avail. At the entrance of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, you can find trolleys to take your luggage inside the airport with ease. There are baggage wrapping services also available along with porter facilities and storage. For baggage wrapping, you might have to inform the airlines beforehand so they can fix it for you.

Lounge - The terminals also have a lounge. The airport lounge has services such as restaurants, relaxing spaces, complimentary shower booths and more. You can avail all of this along with their good hospitality, provided your ticket or premium membership at any of their airlines allows.

Medical services - With a view to providing services in times of medical emergencies, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has also ensured to keep clinics in their premise. Along with clinics, the airport also has pharmacies as well as an ambulance. This is to make sure that there are enough amenities available in times of emergencies.

ATM and banks - The airport also offers some of their local banks at the premise to help with transfers and withdrawals of money. You can get access to your personal funds from the airport and avail their bank services. Further, there are foreign exchange facilities also available at the banks. They give decent rates too, making the currency exchange easier and affordable. ATMs are also present at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport so you can withdraw money and use it for currency exchange.

Hotel booking - At the airport, there is a dedicated travel agent booth. They basically help travellers with information about the city along with tours and travel packages that one can avail. The booking booth also has hotel recommendations and accommodation facilities. You can book your hotel at the airport itself. It's convenient and easy as you wouldn't have to traverse through the city a lot before finding the ideal place to stay. They have a range of hotels from mid-range to luxury.

WiFi - Free WiFi is a perk the airport gives away. This is mostly at the international terminal for passengers travelling from other countries. You can get details on how to log in to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's network at their information desk or even the official website.

Entertainment deck - With a view to indulging and entertaining the travellers who are waiting for their boarding, the airport has also facilitated entertainment decks. These dedicated spaces have TVs that you can watch. You might have to share the space with other passengers as well since the entertainment deck's area is limited.

Prayer room - Multi-faith rooms are also available at the airport but separated for men and women. These can be found at the arrival as well as departure zones of the terminals.

Restaurants and cafe - At the departure and arrival sections of the terminals, there are many restaurants and cafes also installed. You can find dedicated restaurant spaces as well as a food court for affordable munchies and snacks. The same can be availed at the airport lounge as well. However, the lounge comes with an exorbitant cost and is exclusive to specific ticket holders or premium members.

Visitor's facility - A special deck has been installed which is called as visitor's faculty. Basically, all visitors who are dropping off passengers or expecting them, use this space to relax.

How to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport

Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has a perfect connection with downtown Dhaka. The government has constructed an eight-lane Airport Road to directly connect the airport and the main city. You can take this route to reach the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. There are many ways to reach the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from the city centre.

Public transport

There is a dedicated railway station that directly connects with the airport. In fact, the station called Airport Railway Station is located juxtaposed to the airport. The train can be taken from within the city. You can take the train to reach the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Since the airport is currently undergoing tremendous expansion plans, the entire city has been engulfed by the airport. This means you can easily make it to the airport from anywhere in the city.

Taxicabs

Taxicab and rental services are also available at the airport and from anywhere in the city. In fact, if you have checked into one of the big hotels with airport shuttle services, you can make use of the same facility. The prices are reasonable, but you might have to haggle with the driver before getting into the car. There are many hotels located in proximity to the airport so you can easily get a room in one of these accommodation services. Rickshaw services are also available that would reach you to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.