About Dubai

The Las Vegas of the Middle East, Dubai, is the place to go if you are looking for a lavish vacation. The city promises a lavish vacation and is worth every penny spent. The spectacular skylines, the larger-than-life attractions, beaches, and the food in Dubai will only leave you awestruck. Not to mention, Dubai is also a very popular destination for people to go shopping. Be it electronic products, high-end fashion accessories, gold jewellery or the spices, and it is a shopping paradise for everyone. The Dubai Mall is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city and is quite close to the Burj Khalifa, too. It is a well-planned city, and despite embracing modernity, the city has managed to retain its old charm. You can book a hotel in Dubai that is closer to all the tourist spots or something lavish that is a little farther away.

Best Time to Visit Dubai

Dubai experiences very extreme weather. It's difficult to step out when it's hot, and you will want to put on 2-3 layers of clothes when it is cold. November through March is the best time to visit the city since it is winter. The temperature ranges from 13 to 23 degree Celsius. This is peak tourist season, and you must book your hotel in Dubai in advance if you are taking off to the city during this time. It can get a tad bit difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Dubai, too, during this time. The cost does fall considerably by March-end and April. Since November to March is the high season, you will find a lot of tourist spots quite crowded. The nightlife scene in Dubai is also very happening, and the New Year celebrations in the city are grand. This is also when you will find a lot of crowd at Jumeirah beach. Not to mention, you'll reach right in time for the Dubai International Film Festival and the Dubai Shopping Festival.

April to October is summer in Dubai, and it is not the best time to visit the city. The temperature is above 37 degree Celsius, and the heat is simply unbearable. Though you may get a good flight deal to Dubai during this time, it won't be a wise choice since you won't be able to enjoy anything. May and July is Ramadan month, which only leads to a quieter nightlife and lesser hustle-bustle in the city. The scorching heat will make you cancel your plans to venture out and go sightseeing. Even heading to the beach won't help. However, if you are planning a trip to Dubai during this season, make sure you put on sunblock at all times and drink lots of water. The evenings and nights might seem a little pleasant compared to the day, but it is best to avoid travelling to Dubai during the summer. While there is scarce rainfall during summer, the city does not witness a monsoon season. It's only winter and summer here.

Places to Visit in Dubai

The Dubai Mall is one of the most popular places to visit in the city. Not only is it huge, but you can get a lot of high-end fashion brands here. The mall also has a fancy fountain in it which is a popular spot in the mall to take pictures. But make sure Dubai Mall is last on your itinerary because you will definitely want to swipe your credit card a lot at the mall here. The Burj Khalifa is an architectural marvel and one of the most popular places in Dubai that you cannot miss. The view from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa is unbelievably spectacular. You will have to pay around 125 to 400 AED to get up there, but it is completely worth every penny spent. The Jumeirah beach is yet another popular tourist destination in Dubai. You can book a hotel in Dubai close to Jumeirah Beach and know that you will be well taken care of by the staff. You will absolutely love the sunset view from the beach. The Burj Al Arab is the fourth tallest hotel in the world and is also one of the most expensive 7-star hotels that have the Skyview Bar on the 27ht floor. The exotic hotel offers you the best view of the Palm Jumeirah. Dubai Creek is one romantic destination that you cannot miss at all, though it is open for families and friends as well. You will find a lot of restaurants that have outdoor seating right next to the creek, so you get the best view of the water. You can also go boating here at a minimal price.

Dubai Aquarium at Dubai Mall is a famous place to visit for families and friends. It is exquisite, and you can even go cage snorkelling and shark diving here. Of course, you will have to pay a nominal fee to get in, but it is totally worth it. If Dubai Mall is on your itinerary, make sure you go during the Dubai Shopping Festival. Global Village is a popular tourist attraction in Dubai that is basically a compilation of all countries and cultures of the world. You can shop here, eat here and catch a few entertaining performances here. It happens from November to March every year. Next on your itinerary must be the Dubai Marina. It is an exotic place to visit and has gained popularity for being one of the biggest human-made marinas in the world. It also has a lot of activities in store, so you don't just drop in for some sightseeing and food. You can also head to Ski Dubai or better, book an accommodation at the resort to enjoy the indoor resort that is dedicated to snow. You can also visit the Snow Park here.

Things to do in Dubai

You can hire a car to go sightseeing around the city or just take the metro to get around the city. The metro is a far affordable way to commute within the city. You can have dinner at one of the restaurants at the Dubai Creek. Post dinner, you can just walk around the area and be marvelled at the clean, beautiful streets. The Burj Khalifa is highly recommended, and the view from up top calls for great pictures and a few more followers on social media. It has also proven to be a popular spot where romantic proposals have taken place. You can visit the local markets to buy spices, which is a speciality in Dubai. The city is known for its lavish and exotic nightlife. You can party till wee hours and be assured that you will have a lot of fun. You must also try the Desert Safari, a popular activity taken up by tourists here. Shopping is one of the main highlights of Dubai, and it would be a shame to not visit the Dubai Mall during the shopping festival that happens around January.

Food and Restaurants in Dubai

Dubai is a paradise for food lovers, and the various cuisines will only leave you wanting for more. In case you want to try the speciality of the Middle East instead of settling for Indian or Chinese cuisine, there are quite a few restaurants that you must try. A few popular Middle Eastern cuisines include the Manousheh, Iranian Sangak, Baba Ganoush, Tabbouleh, Chelo Kebab, Fattoush, Falafel, Taboon break, Madrouba and so on. The Local Bites Cafe in Jumeirah is popular for serving Luqaimat, hot dumplings that have a doughnut-like texture. You can head to Ruya to try Turkish cocktails like the Anatolian Fizz. Cafe Bateel is popular for its signature Qahwa and a complimentary Arabic coffee. Aseelah at Radisson Blu is known for serving the best Margoogat, a tomato-based stew rich with special spices.

How to reach Dubai (Transportation)

Dubai International Airport is not very far from the main city. The flight connectivity to Dubai from India is excellent. There are quite a lot of direct flights to Dubai, too, and it only takes 3 to 4 hours to land in Dubai. It is one of the busiest airports in the world for passengers and quite efficient, too. AirArabia, AirIndiaExpress, EmiratesAirline, FlyDubai are some of the airlines that frequently fly to Dubai. The Dubai airport is quite huge, and the Duty-Free stores inside the airport are a treat to all your shopping needs. Getting a taxi from the airport to reach your hotel is not very difficult. Make sure you book your tickets way in advance if you want a good deal on flights to Dubai. The metro is also quite close to the airport, and you can choose to take a metro or a bus instead of a taxi if you don't have a lot of baggage. Connecting flights to Dubai stop at Mangalore, Delhi, Ahmedabad and a couple of other cities. A lot of flights also land in Sharjah instead of Dubai, depending on which airline you choose.

  About Gwalior

Gwalior is known to be one of the major cities in Madhya Pradesh with pivotal cultural and political significance. The city is illustrious concerning the history, culture and royal appeal. The city has seen rulers from the 13th-century Tomars to the Mughal Empire to the Marathas to the 18th-century Scindias. Although the Scindias do not rule the city of Gwalior anymore, the descendants of the royal family continue to stay in the palace built by their ancestors. Gwalior easily becomes one of the most important as well as developed cities in India.

Best time to visit Gwalior

Gwalior sees cool winters as the temperatures range around 25 degrees Celsius but can even go to subzero levels. Thanks to such temperatures, the air is cool, and the vibe is quite pleasant. This makes it one of the best seasons to visit the city. Pick any months from October to March, and you'll have a good time in Gwalior. Between November and December, there is a lovely Tandem Music Festival that takes place to celebrate classical music. If you are a music enthusiast who would enjoy some classical tunes, then you should opt for these months.

Gwalior has a reputation for enjoying a subtropical climate. This means the atmosphere is hot and mildly humid as well. It does increase during monsoon, though. As the heavy rains take over the streets of Gwalior, the humidity in the air also escalates to an unbearable level. The temperatures too see an erratic change as it ranges between 25 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. If you can handle the humidity then going to Gwalior would be fun.

Summers are the worst in Gwalior as the temperatures skyrocket to 48 degrees Celsius, which is pretty bad. People have often succumbed to heat strokes and other such health hazards. Even though the flight tickets are cheap as it is off-season, avoid going to Gwalior during this time unless you have some professional commitment that needs to be addressed. For tourism, summers aren't the best.

Places to visit in Gwalior

Gwalior Fort

One of the most impressive attractions in Gwalior is the Gwalior Fort. The structure is visible from all corners of the city, much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Perched over a high cliff, the impenetrable fortress stares down at the beautiful city of Gwalior. It'll take you an entire day to complete a tour of the fort but the time will undoubtedly be worth it.

Jai Vilas Palace

Built by Jayaji Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, the Jai Vilas Palace came into existence to flaunt the opulent culture and heritage of Madhya Pradesh. While the descendants of the royal family continue to live in the majestic palace, there is a segment that is open for tourism. The state has also installed a museum within the palace premise which sheds light on the history and British influence as well.

Man Mandir Palace

Man Mandir Palace is built within the vicinity of Jai Vilas Palace, by Man Singh Tomar. Although, some segments of the palace have turned into ruins, nevertheless, there are some relics of the royal Tomars, who lived in the palace. The structure should definitely be explored as it offers a glimpse at some fun history.

Teli Ka Mandir

Teli Ka Mandir is another important tourist attraction that should be visited in Gwalior. The Hindu temple has some illustrious architecture with an amalgam of inspirations from North as well as South. The temple is built for Lord Vishnu. It is said that the temple grounds were used to process oil, which is how the temple got its name.

Sun Temple

The famed Sun Temple is located in the city of Gwalior. The temple was constructed by industrialist GD Birla in 1988 and has since been a tourist place that attracts many devotees. Be it the architectural bliss and the tranquil environment that the temple possesses, it manages to see a lot of ardent followers of Sun God, who visit the place to seek blessings.

Tomb of Mohammad Ghaus

Mohammad Ghaus was a 26th-century Sufi saint who played an advisor to King Babur as well as helped train Tansen, who went ahead to become a music prodigy. The tomb has been built in honour of the Saint who played a pivotal role during King Babur's rule. Hence, the architectural style of the tomb is very Mughal-inspired and continues to see tremendous visitors.

Things to do in Gwalior

Explore the Scindia Museum

Take a tour through the quaint European-style Scindia Museum to learn more about the Gwalior history. There are glass furniture's, model trains and exhibitions of intriguing artefacts from the Scindia Dynasty that you'll find in the museum. Take this time to delve into the history and learn and the cultural heritage of the royal family.

Langar at the Gurdwara Bandi Chor Sahib

Aside from being a spiritual expedition, the biggest highlight of gurdwaras is the lovely langars that the authorities host to ensure that no person leaves the premise hungry. While you learn about the sixth guru of the Sikhs at the Gurdwara, you can further enjoy the delicious Langar food too.

Shopping spree at Sarafa Bazaar

Gwalior's famous market place, Sarafa Bazaar, beckons all shopaholics to come over and peruse through the authentic collection of souvenirs, collectibles, clothes and other such commodities. What makes the shopping experience engaging is how you can also indulge in some street food while you're purchasing beautiful things from the marketplace.

Stroll around Phool Bagh

The garden was originally built by Madho Rao Scindia and later inaugurated by the Prince of Wales during his visit in 1922, the vicinity has a sacred space dedicated to prayers. While the premise of the Phool Bagh is beautiful owing to the plants and flowers, it will also put you in a state of happy trance as it also boasts tranquillity.

Food and Restaurants in Gwalior

Gwalior's restaurants have managed to find fame in some of the big metropolitan cities. For an exquisite thali venerating the cuisine of MP, visit Panchvati Gaurav. They only serve thalis with unlimited refills. You will ask for more as the thali has some of the finest dishes from the laps of Madhya Pradesh. Moti Mahal Deluxe is another famous restaurant in Gwalior that offers some of the best delicacies in the city. Similar to Panchvati Gaurav is the Rajasthani Bhojanalaya, where you will get the authentic cuisine of the desert state of India.

Stuff yourself with the lip-smacking daal bhati churma, various flavours of daal, jalebi with rabdi and many such flavourful dishes. Other venerated restaurants with a strong legacy in Gwalior include The Mansingh, Alfanzo and Volga Restaurant that had consistently kept customers happy.

How to reach Gwalior

By Air

Rajamata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport, or better known as Gwalior Airport, is actually an Indian Air Force Base which was later converted into a commercial airport. Intending to enhance the connectivity of the state of Madhya Pradesh, the state government transformed the essential Air Force Base station into an airport. This has actually helped better the flight connectivity to and from Gwalior. Although an Air Force Base stationing Mirage fighters is also prevalent in the area, the bigger expanse has been given to the airport.

Various domestic airlines fly via domestic routes connect Gwalior to big cities in India. While Air India has flights to and from Delhi, Mumbai and Indore, SpiceJet has dedicated flights flying to and from Bangalore, Jammu, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Overall, exceptional flight connectivity makes it easier to travel to Gwalior. One can book flight tickets to Gwalior for a cheap and affordable rate. Peruse a little more, and you will be able to snag some online flight deals for your flight tickets to Gwalior.

By Rail

Just like the flight connectivity, Gwalior' railway is also well-connected across the country. There are dedicated direct trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jammu Amritsar, Kanyakumari, Patna, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Dehradun, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and more major cities. The Gwalior Railway station falls under the jurisdiction of Jhansi Rail Division and is one of the major railway stations in Madhya Pradesh.

Getting ticket reservations is a little tough as the line is busy and always on demand. Nevertheless, trains are an easy way to reach Gwalior, and they are comfortable as well. From the railway station, you can easily venture into the city as there are auto-rickshaws, auto tempos, prepaid taxi cabs and more available. The city is entirely developed with fancy hotels to book. Make your hotel bookings ahead of the travel though.

By Road

The big city of Gwalior has impeccable roadway network too. The National Express Highway as well as the National Highway 3 (famously known as the Agra-Mumbai road) help connect Gwalior to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Indore and Agra. There are many bus services, both state-owned and private, that run within the city. However, the roadway could get time-consuming and hence isn't always the first option.

  About Dubai Airport

Dubai International Airport serves as the primary airport located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airport is touted to be one of the world's busiest airport concerning international passenger traffic. Dubai International Airport is the fifth busiest airport in the entire world in terms of passenger traffic. It follows Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Tokyo Haneda Airport. Dubai Airport also boasts of being the busiest when it comes to operations of Airbus A380 and Boeing 777. The airport is known for its massive capacity. It managed to handle a capacity of 88 million passengers in 2017 as well as 2.65 million tonnes of cargo as well as a registered aircraft movement of 409,493. Much recently, the management also installed a solar system for energy to enhance the functioning of the airport. Dubai International Airport's mission is to reduce the energy consumption to 30 per cent by 2030. Located in the Al Garhoud district, the airport is sprawled across 7,200 acres of land. The airport's Terminal 3 is also known to be the second massive building in the world with respect to floor space.

The airport also caters to the Emirates Airlines with an entire terminal dedicated to its operations. The terminal has three concourses and is shared with flydubai. Emirates hub is recognized as the largest airline hub in the Middle East. The airlines takes care of about 51 per cent of the overall passenger traffic as well as 42 per cent of aircraft movements of the airport. Dubai International Airport has a collective capacity to handle 90 million passengers on a yearly basis. The airport has undergone various upgradations in the years. It is currently aiming to enable a 37 per cent economic contribution from Dubai's aviation sector to further enhance the city's overall GDP.

About Airport Terminals

Dubai International Airport is said to be one of the busiest airports in the world. In fact, the infrastructure is also known to be one of the largest in the world. Dubai International Airport has three terminals, numbered as Terminal 1, 2 and 3. Terminal 3 caters completely to the Emirates airline. Terminal 1 and 3 have been perfectly connected to the common transit area. There is also an airside area reserved for passengers to walk through the two terminals without the necessity of undergoing immigration processes. A shuttle service is also present between the terminals for passengers. The terminal 1 was built originally to accommodate 18 million passengers in a year. However, it was expanded to handle more passenger action. The terminal currently has 28 remote gates, and the airport has undergone quite a few developments too. A fourth terminal is also in works, and the plans to expand Terminal 3 to accommodate more than 90 million a year in the terminal is being aimed. Terminal 3 is partly underground and is exclusively reserved for Emirates airlines. The terminal is also capable of handling the massive Airbus A380. Currently, though, it shares the terminal with Qantas.

About Airport Authority

Dubai Airport is owned by the Government of Dubai and is operated by Dubai Airports Company. It is basically the airport authority handles all the management of the Dubai International Airport but also has shares in the business. They handle Al Maktoum International Airport along with Dubai International Airport. The company came into existence in 2008 with duties to take care of all management activities of the Dubai International Airport, Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village. Under their administrative power, Dubai Airport has seen a lot of improvement in terms of safety and efficiency of flight and cargo operations. A modular data centre that facilitates accumulating data availability has also been installed at the Dubai International Airport. The airport alone plays a strong role in contributing to the economy of the city of Dubai. The airport authority has further expanded Terminal 3 to make it the second-largest building in the world with respect to floor space. It has been recognized as the largest airport terminal, too, worldwide.

Top airlines flying from Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport accommodates a slew of international and domestic airlines. As one of the most important airports in the world, the connectivity of Dubai is excellent with other cities and countries. Not to mention how they also have Emirates, which is one of the biggest and most important airlines available. Along with it, the airport also helps operate some Indian airlines as the demand from some of the Indian cities is quite high. Dubai International Airport has Indian airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara, that operate from the city. These airports have direct connections with Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Mangalore, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and more.

Along with some Indian airlines, the Dubai International Airport extensively caters to a plethora of international airport. A majority of the airlines that operate from Dubai Airport cater to various Middle Eastern, African and Central Asian cities. The most prominent airlines that operate from Dubai International Airport include African Express Airways, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Azerbaijan Airlines, Azur Air, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern Airlines, Druk Air, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Finnair, flydubai, Flynas, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, Kuwait Airways, Nepal Airlines, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Saudia, Sichuan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Ural Airlines and Thai Airways. The airport also caters to reserving terminals for cargo flights. Carriers such as Emirates SkyCargo, Iran Air Cargo, Silk Way Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, FedEx Express, Spice Xpress and UPS Airlines operate from the Dubai Airport.

Facilities at the Dubai International Airport

WiFi - One of the major upgrades of the Dubai International Airport is the installation of a high-speed WiFi system across all terminals. You will need to follow some instructions available at the airport's website.

Currency exchange - You can find many exchange services across the terminals. The foreign exchange bureaus have good deals to help get good exchange rates as well as some more perks where you can reserve the rate and collect the amount later.

Baby care rooms - There are reserved rooms for baby care across all the terminals. You can attend to the child's needs with privacy at the rooms. In fact, you should visit the information desk or ask for help from one of the staff to guide you to the room.

Baggage - The airport has baggage storage facilities in the premise, and you can make use of the same. These services are open at Terminals 1 and 3. You can peruse through the airport's maps that would take you to the storage space.

Prayer rooms - There are Muslim prayer rooms available everywhere at the airport. Signs have been put up that direct you to the rooms.

Smoking lounges - The airport prohibits smoking in public and has reserved smoking lounges for the same. They are comfortable and have been located at various spots in the airport.

Showers - You can refresh yourself with some shower at Terminal 3. The facility is for free, so you can easily avail it.

Medical services - There are medical services and pharmacies available 24/7. You can visit the information desk to ask for help, or you can ask any of the airport staff to direct you to the medical centre. There are buggy ambulances also available at the Dubai International Airport.

Special assistance - The airport provides special assistance for passengers with mobility issues and special needs. For this, you will have to inform the airlines in advance.

How to reach Dubai International Airport

Dubai Metro

There are direct rail links from the Dubai Metro and the Dubai International Airport. A dedicated Red Line is connected directly to Terminal 3 and 1 of the airport. These services are run from 6 AM to 11 PM. The stations are accessible from the arrivals sections of both the terminals. Meanwhile, a Green Line has also been stationed close to the Airport Free Zone. The Terminal 2 and the Green Line is accessed conveniently. Currently, the airport authority is working on the Purple and Blue Lines to construct lines that would further connect the terminals better.

Bus

There are RTA-run Dubai Buses too that directly connect to the main city from the Dubai Airport. You can reach the Dubai International Airport by taking the inter-terminal shuttle bus service. These links operate on a frequent basis and are perfect for passengers who wish to transfer between terminals. A complimentary coach service is also available to reach the Dubai International Airport and is provided by Emirates.

Taxi and rental services

Government-owned and operated Dubai Taxi Agency can be availed to reach the Dubai International Airport. They have 24/7 services which can be found at the arrival terminal. There are counters and booths at the arrivals where you can book your ride to reach the main city of Dubai from the Dubai International Airport.