Dibrugarh to Colombo Flights

  About Dibrugarh

The largest city of Assam, Dibrugarh, is approximately 400 km away from Guwahati. The city also has an airport that connects to other major cities in India. Dibrugarh is gaining popularity as a tourist hub and a preferred destination for business trips, too. Assam is popular for producing tea and for its greenery. The city also has a tributary of river Brahmaputra, Buridihing, which divides the district from east to west. It is one of the longest rivers in the world. Apart from tea, the city is also known for transporting oil and timber. Assam is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful states in the country and one you must certainly visit. You will fall in love with the scenery, the people and the culture.

The Raidongia Dol is one of the most important and famous monuments in the city. It is located in the Kalakhowa region and is approximately 45 feet tall. You can also visit the Barbarua Maidam, an ancient burial mound that has graveyards of high ranked officials and dead soldiers, too. It is approximately 13 km away from Dibrugarh. You cannot visit Dibrugarh and not take a tour of the tea plantations. With the lush green scenery and the mighty river comes the wildlife. Visit the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary and the Joypur Rainforest to experience nature at its best. You will be amazed at what you see. Both of these destinations are highly recommended for tourists and nature lovers. The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is also called the Amazon of the East.

There are quite a lot of activities for you to explore in Dibrugarh. You can opt for Kayaking or River Rafting in the city. You'll get to experience kayaking at the Lohit or Subansiri rivers. River rafting at the Brahmaputra river is an experience you'll never forget. There are a lot of water sports and adventurous activities for tourists. It's a paradise for all you water babies out there.

Dibrugarh sees a lot of tourists throughout the year, which makes it a famous tourist destination. You'll find a blend of traditional and modern lifestyles in the city. If you visit the city right in time for the Bihu festival, you can experience the traditional side of the city.

Since it is an important tourist destination, it is well-connected with all of the major cities like Delhi and Kolkata; not just by air but by road and by train, too. You must also visit the Radha Krishna Temple in the city. You'll not only be at peace, but you can embrace your spiritual side here at the temple. Indulge in tales of Radha and Krishna's love story. Shri Jagannath temple in Taor Gaon is the replica of the one in Puri. It is considered as a very religious place and is known for its calm atmosphere. You can also sit and meditate at the temple for some time.

Best Time to Visit Dibrugarh

The climate in Dibrugarh is pleasant throughout the year. The summer is not too hot, winter is not too cold, and the city experiences rainfall as every other state does. Though you can visit the city throughout the year, summer is quite ideal. In fact, you'll find it easier to book cheap flight tickets and find great flight deals during this time. You can also book a hotel room in Dibrugarh as per your convenience and find great deals depending on the season. The winter starts from October through March and is the best time to go for a jungle safari. June to September is when the city experiences rainfall which is moderate sometimes but can also be high. The city looks far more beautiful and green during the monsoon, but it might affect your sightseeing plans. April and May are hotter since it is summer. The afternoons can be a little harsh because of the humidity but the evenings are quite pleasant. This is an ideal time to visit the city if you want to be a part of the Bihu festival that happens during this time.

Places to Visit in Dibrugarh

The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is a highly recommended tourist spot. Dehing Patkai is the only rainforest in Assam and is divided between Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. It is called the Amazon of the East and also falls under the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve and Dibru - Deomali elephant reserves. You can spot animals like Pig Taled Macaque, Hoolock Gibbon, Asiatic Elephant, Black Panther, Tigers, Black Bear, different species of butterflies, mammals and birds. This is the perfect spot for all you wildlife photographers. September to March is the ideal time to visit the sanctuary. You can also be a part of the Dehing Patkai festival that happens in February.

The Namphake Village is yet another tourist attraction. The whole vibe of the place is serene and positive. People of Namphake follow Buddhism, and you will also find a beautiful Buddhist Monastery, which is a popular meditation center here. The Naharkatia town is where you go if you want to know the whole process that goes behind bringing you your refreshing cup of tea. The place has a lot of tea gardens and villages. It's a treat for all tea lovers. Make sure you visit the place during Durga Puja. It will be a wonderful experience, for sure.

Visit the Radha Krishna and Shri Jagannath temples in Dibrugarh. The architecture of both of these places. You can also visit the Dinjoy Satra and the Dehing Namti Satra that are an important tourist attraction here.

Things to do in Dibrugarh

River rafting in the Brahmaputra river is a must if you are visiting Dibrugarh. It's exciting and quite safe, too, if you are worried about it. Brahmaputra is the longest river in the world and even admiring the waves and flows of the river by sitting near it can get quite overwhelming. Visit the Namphake Village to experience the Buddhist way of living. The people in this village follow Buddhism and the whole village has a sense of tranquillity that will give you a lot of positive vibes.

Visit the Radha Krishna temple and read more about their eternal love story. We bet you will spend a lot of time thinking about love and Radha, Krishna's unconditional love for each other. Meditate at the Shri Jagannath Temple, which is a replica of the one in Puri. You can go on a shopping spree on the streets of Dibrugarh. Make sure you take a day out to visit the different tea gardens. You can learn a thing or two about the whole process and even take some back home. Just the fragrance of the tea leaves and the final product will rejuvenate you. Assam is also popular for its food and is a delightful place for non-vegetarians. Since the main ingredient here is rice, you'll find a lot of variety with rice.

Go on a walking tour at the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary. Not only will you spot a lot of exotic wildlife here, but it is also the perfect place to take loads of pictures and take back more memories. You can also visit the Joypur rainforest, which is near Dibrugarh and is also called Green Paradise.

Food and Restaurants in Dibrugarh

Masor jool (fish curry), mangso (meat curry), chitol are just some of the dishes that are popular here. Dibrugarh is popular for seafood. Riddhi restaurant is a popular restaurant in Dibrugarh. It's affordable, and the service is also quite good. It is the best place for Indian and Chinese cuisine. De Rock Cafe is yet another cafe that you must visit. It is the first live music venue in Upper Assam. The ambience compliments the food perfectly here.

Chiphoong, which is located in the Boiragimoth area of Dibrugarh, is a very homely restaurant that serves ethnic food. You will enjoy the homely ambience of the place and leave satiated. If you are looking to grab a quick bite on the way, do stop at Flavours and don't forget to order the Shikanji here. H20 restaurant, at Mancotta Road, is famous for the warm, inviting ambience along with good food.

How to reach Dibrugarh (Transportation)

By Air

Dibrugarh Airport is the main airport that connects with all major cities. It, however, connects Dibrugarh to all domestic routes. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport or the Guhawati airport connects the city to all the international routes. Look for good flight deals online, and if it's offseason, you might even get cheap flight tickets.

By Rail

The city has two railway stations namely, Dibrugarh Town station and Dibrugarh station, which has been built recently. You can also board the Rajdhani Express that starts from here. You can soak in the beautiful hilly views during your train journey. Though flights might be a more convenient option, the train journey promises a scenic experience.

By Road

Buses from Guwahati, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Kohima and other nearby cities to Dibrugarh run frequently. You can also avail taxi services.

  About Colombo

Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is one of the holiday destinations that you must add to your travel list. It is also known for its eclectic dining scene and its nightlife. It is also a great place to shop for clothes, wedding invitations and indulge in spa treatments. Sri Lanka is also known for its wildlife and elephant sanctuaries. It is the perfect place to go to if you want to club your luxurious, relaxing holiday plans with adventures. You can either volunteer to help out at an Elephant Sanctuary or sign up for a walking tour. Do try the ayurvedic spas in the city to relieve yourself of all the stress. You can book a hotel in Colombo at an affordable price. While it is not exactly the cheapest holiday destination in Asia, it is worth every money spent. The city is also known for its temples and no matter which religion you follow, you will find a temple of your choice of deity/religion here.

Best Time to Visit Colombo

January to March is ideal for taking off to Colombo on a trip since they are the driest months of the year. The best season to visit, however, is winter from November to March. Winters are quite chilly, and it is the best time to go sightseeing, too. The rainfall does not affect any of your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activities. It is also an ideal time to head to the beaches and indulges in a few water activities. Colombo also has a very vibrant nightlife that is best experienced in winter when there is barely any rainfall. You can book a hotel in Colombo that is either close to the beach or the nightclubs, depending on how you intend to spend your holiday. The temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degree Celsius. January to March is the high tourist season in Colombo, and a lot of attractions will be filled with tourists. Colombo is also filled with festive spirit during these months as they celebrate festivals like Thai Pongal, Independence Day of Sri Lanka, New Year and Duruthu Perahera Festival. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Colombo well in advance if you are on a budget. If you are planning to go to Colombo on your honeymoon, this is the best time to go.

Colombo experiences summer from May to October, and it is considered as an off-season for tourists. Not only is it unbearably hot in the city, but it is also quite humid, so much that you won't feel like stepping out of your hotel at all. The temperature ranges from 28 to 32 degrees and will only make you uncomfortable. However, since it is offseason, you will get great flight deals to Colombo online. It also rains during this season and might lead to a hailstorm sometimes. If you are not an outdoorsy person and prefer indoor activities, this might be the best time for you to head to Colombo. You will also get really good hotels at a reasonable price during this time since it is offseason and the demand is low. You can sip cocktails by the pool in your hotel or indulge in relaxing spa treatments. You can also explore the Pettah market during this time without being hassled by the tourist crowd. It starts raining from May to August, and it rains intermittently in September and October. The temperature ranges around 28 degree Celsius during this time.

Places to Visit in Colombo

Galle Face Green is a popular beach park in Colombo that you can visit. You can also indulge in a lot of water activities at the beach. Pettah Market is another popular destination where you can go on a shopping spree and walk away with high-end luxury items at the lowest prices. Fort-Colombo is an important tourist attraction in the capital of Sri Lanka. It is the political and cultural heritage of the country and is also known for its vibrant nightlife. A major part is shut because of the turbulence caused by the Civil War. You will also find a lot of casinos here. The National Museum of Colombo is the largest one in Sri Lanka. It was founded by the British Governor of Ceylon from 1872 to 1877, William Henry Gregory. You will find artwork that dates back to the British Colonial and Portuguese era, along with a lot of artefacts. The Gangaramaya temple is famous for its blend of culture and architectural styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese and India. It was built in the 19th century and is a place of Buddhist worship and learning. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is another Buddhist temple that was built in the 5th century, which holds a lot of historical importance. The temple sees a lot of tourists and devotees during the Duruthu Maha Perehera every January and on full moon days of every month. The paintings and sculptures in the temple will tell you tales from Lord Buddha's life and the Jataka Tales.

Beira Lake is another popular landmark in the city where you can head to if you want to relax and soak in the beautiful views. It is also a highly recommended place for couples to head to in Colombo. Colombo Zoo also called the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka, houses over 300 different species of animals, birds, marine life and reptiles from all over the world. Casino Marina started in 2013 and is usually filled with elite tourists in the evenings. You can gamble away till wee hours of the night or enjoy the view of the sea from here. World Trade Centre is one of the most famous colonial buildings that you will find in the Old Fort area. St Lucia's Cathedral got its name after the saint martyr, St Lucia, who is believed to have protected everyone with eye problems in Colombo. It was built in 1760, and the Gothic style architecture draws tourists to it every year. Panadura and Crow Island Beaches are quite popular in the city and the best spots to indulge in recreational activities. You will find a lot of beach parks and temples in the city that are worth a visit.

Things to do in Colombo

Sign up for a city tour of Colombo and indulge in all the activities that come with your tour package. You can also get a customised tour of places that are of interest to you and activities that you have listed in your itinerary. Sri Lanka is known for its seafood and treating yourself to fresh seafood at Mt Lavinia Beach is highly recommended. While you can always rent a taxi for the entire day to get around the city, you can also enjoy a tuk-tuk ride, which is a popular way for locals to get around the city. Pettah Market, Good Market, Paradise Road are some of the popular places in the city for you to go on a shopping spree. You can also indulge in rejuvenating massage therapies at the spas in Colombo. The city also offers scuba diving at certain locations. If you want to give water sports a try, make sure you try this one. Most beaches also have boating, surfing and other water activities for you to try.

Food and Restaurants in Colombo

Seafood, especially prawns, is popular in Colombo since it is a coastal city. Curry Leaf and Seafood's Cove are some of the popular restaurants for you to binge on seafood or other types of meat. The city also has a lot of Indian restaurants; a lot of them have a vegetarian menu, too. Spice Coast is known for its biryani, Chana's for delicious North Indian cuisine and Shanmugas for its vegetarian menu. While you are trying seafood in the city, make sure you also try the chilli crabs. Paradise Road Gallery Cafe is a lovely cafe that is set in a walled garden and also has rotating exhibitions by local artists. It is considered as one of the most romantic restaurants in Colombo and is popular for its cakes. Rare is a chic and modern restaurant in Colombo with wonderful service. The restaurant uses organic produce to cook their unique, delicious cuisines and also boast of a wine cellar with over 150 labels. The lagoon is one of the best seafood restaurants in Colombo, and the fish curries, lobster Thermidor and raw sashimi are their speciality dishes.

How to reach Colombo (Transportation)

Bandaranaike International Airport, also called Colombo International Airport, is about 32 km north of Colombo. The flight connectivity to Colombo from India is excellent. While there are only a few direct flights to Colombo from India, most of the flights have layovers in Chennai or Bangalore. GoAir, Indigo and Spicejet have the maximum number of flights from India. However, Vistara and Srilankan Airlines have direct flights that help you reach the city in 2-3 hours instead of 6 hours. It is also quite easy to get cheap flight tickets to Colombo from India.

  About Colombo Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport, popularly known as Bandaranaike International Airport is the international hub that serves Sri Lanka. The airport is situated at Negombo and has been named after SWRD Bandaranaike, the former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

About Airport Terminals

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport stretches about 32.5 km at Katunayake. The airport accommodates three passenger terminals with Terminal 1 being reserved for international airlines and flight activity. Terminal 2 also caters to international activities while Terminal 3 is set for domestic airline functions. Terminal 1 is the oldest and largest terminal in the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport with 12 gates. It opened back in 1967. Departure and arrival are also located in the same terminal and separated horizontally. Currently, all the international operations take place from this terminal. The terminal is connected to one concourse which has all the 12 gates. The terminal also has two lounges with Srilankan Airlines' famous Serendib Lounge being installed. Along with this, the Palm Spirit lounge is also located in proximity. Terminal 1 also has a dedicated cafeteria, day-rooms, showers, duty-free shops and a smoking lounge.

Terminal 2 has been constructed and opened much recently. It has eight gates and accommodates departure and arrival areas which are separated vertically. As per expansion plans, the airport plans to build an extension to Terminal 2 which will be built in stages and phases. The new terminal is set to have eight boarding gates along with 14 passenger boarding bridges. The proposed development plan also has bridge accommodations for Airbus A380. Terminal 3 came into existence in 2012 and has since been used for domestic operations. The departure and arrival zones are strategically separated in a horizontal manner. There is a dedicated Cargo Terminal that takes care of all cargo airline activities. The arrival and departure are separated in the same way as terminal 1, horizontally.

About Airport Authority

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport is owned by the Government of Sri Lanka while it is operated by Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL). AASL is a government body that has statutory powers to administer, manage and work on the development of the airport. The statutory body is also known to be a big contributor to Sri Lanka's economy as the civil aviation industry has witnessed tremendous financial revenues from the airport. Other airports that also fall under the AASL umbrella are Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Batticaloa Airport and Jaffna International Airport.

The airport has been going through some tremendous expansion plans and developments with a view to accommodating more airlines and flights. A split-level passenger terminal building is being constructed which would be separating both the departures as well as the arrivals vertically. Further on the same, there are constructions for a passenger boarding bridges that would directly connect to the new Airbus A380. Adding to the infrastructure would be a remote apron along with nine parking bays to facilitate air traffic movement. Stage II of the expansion seeks to acquiesce 600 hectares of land for construction of a new runway that can accommodate newer airplanes as well as aircraft maintenance and repair centre.

Top airlines flying from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport accommodates various airlines as it is recognized to be one of the best tourist destinations. With its proximity to India, the airport sees a good amount of flights flying to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from the Indian cities. Some of the biggest Indian airlines operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. These airlines have dedicated direct flights to Sri Lanka. Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, to name a few, have provisions of direct flight connections to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.

Similarly, various international airlines are also linked to Sri Lanka. In fact, some of the international airlines that operate from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport are Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Cinnamon Air, Edelweiss Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Salam Air, Saudia, Silkair, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and SCAT Airlines. A majority of the flight activities come from the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries. A handful of cargo carriers also fly in and out of the airport. These include Cathay Pacific Cargo, Turkish Airlines Cargo, SriLankan Cargo and Etihad Cargo.

Facilities at Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

ATM, banks and currency exchange - The airport has a bunch of local banks and ATM services available. If you need to make the currency exchange for travelling within Sri Lanka or if you need some cash in hand for your destination outside the country, it can be arranged at the airport's premise.

Communication services - If you are in need of a local SIM service for your trip, you can get hold of the same at the airport itself. There are booths at the arrivals where they have telecommunication services. With necessary identification documents, you can get hold of the SIM.

Free WiFI - There are free WiFi services available at the airport. You will need to go to the website of Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport to avail the same. Or you can visit the information desk to learn more about how to work around it.

Medical services - To ensure that medical emergencies at the airport are resolved quickly, the airport has also installed designated medical rooms and services. You can find them as well as pharmacies also at the airport. In case you are unable to find them, you can visit the nearest information desk and get more details. The airport paramedic services are known to be of good quality.

Baggage - With respect to baggage services, the airport offers a slew of facilities that would be beneficial. You can get hold of services ranging from wrapping plastic on the luggage, trolleys, storage facilities for the luggage, delivering luggage to the specified destination and more.

Pet assistance - There is room for pet services at the airport too. In case you are travelling with pets, there are professional staff who can take care of your pets as well as their needs. They would require authorized papers and documents from the Department of Animal Production and Health.

Porter service - You can avail porter services at the airport. Basically, you will have to inform your airlines well in advance to book a porter service. The airport staff will escort you through the terminals and take care of your luggage. This would include a security check of the bags, wrapping services, etc.

Airport lounge - There are three lounges at the airport, namely, Lotus, Araliya and Executive. The lounges have been designed in a way to enhance tranquillity and excellent hospitality. You can relax in the lounge, and at the same time, you can avail their services too. These include rich culinary delights, good resting space and complimentary showers and spa.

Restaurants and cafe - Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport has many restaurants and cafes available. The departures and arrivals have good food establishments located perfectly to cater to passengers. Along with restaurants, the airport also as dedicated food courts that is in proximity to the lounge area.

Smoking zone - Smoking in public space is prohibited in Sri Lanka. Hence, the airport has also reserved a space for a smoking lounge. You can make purchases for cigarette boxes at nearby shops within the airport premise.

Transit Hotel - The airport's transit hotel is named Serendiva and offers world-class contemporary decor, aesthetic construction, modern amenities and top-notch hospitality. The interiors are known to bring about the rich culture of Sri Lanka. It is situated on the main pier of the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport's arrival/departure zone. The hotel is also surrounded by duty-free shops, lounges, immigration counters, cafes and more.

How to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport

The airport offers exemplary transport services and is well-connected to the main city. Although you would be required to travel a little depending on your itinerary and which part of the country you'll be visiting. But you will be able to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from different parts of the country. There are public buses, transport services and taxicabs available.

Buses

Express public buses are available within the city that can reach you to Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. It would only take about 25 mins to reach Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport from Colombo (Pettah) bus stand. From here, you can traverse through all parts of the country without any hassle. You will need to get used to the crowd because the buses are always packed.

Taxicab services

The city is well-connected by taxicab services that can be availed to reach the Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport. In fact, the airport also sees counters and lanes with taxi services outside the airport's arrival section. The arrival porch allows a fleet of 600 vehicles with fixed rates. With the taxicab, you can reach any part of the country, but it might get expensive depending on the distance from Colombo-Bandaranaike International Airport.