Dubai to Pondicherry Flights

  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 Pondicherry 

Officially known as Puducherry, Pondicherry is the capital of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. The city is on the coastal side and touches the Bay of Bengal. Known to have heavy Dutch, Portuguese, British and French influence, the city is also known as India's Little French City. Much of Pondicherry's lifestyle, culture, infrastructure, architecture and more, have tremendous influence of the French. In fact, you will feel like you're walking around a little French town when you visit the city.

Pondicherry has its own airport with decent flight connectivity. There are flights from Bangalore that fly to Pondicherry. The city majorly runs on tourism and hence, has some of the best accommodations and travel highlights. You can book your hotel in Pondicherry and probably opt for a sea-facing room.

Best time to visit Pondicherry

Pondicherry does see a spike in temperature during summers and hence, should be avoided at all cost. Even the lovely beaches and water will not be able to help you feel cool as the temperatures rise to 40 degree Celsius. The best time to visit Pondicherry is undoubtedly during winters as there are several perks that it comes with the season. The city witnesses winter from October to March. During winters, Pondicherry actually sees the temperatures drop to 15 degree Celsius sometimes, making it pleasant for tourists. The ambience of the place is certainly vibrant and peaceful.

Places to visit in Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a city of pristine beaches. As part of your Pondicherry diaries, you can start with beach hopping when you're in the city, much like what you would do in Goa. However, while you're on a beach expedition, do visit the Paradise beach. It is considered to be one of the best beaches in the city. From checking out the Karaikal Beach to visiting the Mahe beach, you will find some interesting attribute about all of them. Not to mention the amazing food that it follows.

The most famous establishment in Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Shri Aurobindo, a spiritual philosopher who carved a niche for himself in the world as a phenomenal personality. The ashram sees the highest number of tourists as his story is intriguing and quite inspirational. The ashram has exhibitions of his life and works.

Established by Shri Aurobindo's spiritual endowment is a posh settlement in Pondicherry. The complex is basically a way of harmonious living among people from different backgrounds, cultures, race, etc. It can be called a modern village for the astounding cultural fusion the people bring along with them. There are eclectic cafes, gorgeous boutiques, a bookshop and a bunch of restaurants serving global cuisine. The village comes with a sea view too as the Auroville Beach is located within the village premise.

Things to do in Pondicherry

With Pondicherry being a coastal city, water activities easily top the list of things to do. From natural coral reefs to acquainting with manta rays, kingfish, crustaceans, lionfish and more, scuba diving is a must-do activity in Pondicherry. You will be amazed by the beauty of marine life that resides in Pondicherry's coast. Add snorkelling, swimming, boat rides, surfing to the list of things to do, and you've got yourself a perfect itinerary for Pondicherry. Better known as Osudu Lake, at the Ousteri Lake you can actually go for a ferry ride and birdwatch. This is originally a human-made lake which comprises of mudflats and marshy lands. If you manage to wake up early then, you can also watch the sunrise while you're chilling around the lake. It is quite the experience.

One fun activity that many tourists opt for is to take a bicycle and explore the city with its gorgeous architecture and vibe. It is so quaint and stunning that you'll have a good time coming across new cafes and beaches. You should also catch the sunrise or sunset at the Promenade Beach.

Food and Restaurants in Pondicherry

Being called the Little France of India puts Pondicherry's food culture in the limelight. Well, the French do believe that they are the best artists of culinary in the world. So when people do visit Pondicherry, it is with the hopes to be surrounded by the sparkling Bay of Bengal on one side and French cuisine on the other. Interestingly, the city doesn't just acquire the French cuisine but also influences from other colonial powers such as Portugal, England and Netherlands. The blend of international flavour in the quaint city of Pondicherry is exciting and will be memorable. From whimsical cafes to eclectic cuisine, the city will acquaint you with some of the finest food for which, you wouldn't have to travel to Europe.

To experience the best of French culinary in India, Le Dupleix is the place for you. Right from the white walls and European setting to the aroma of onion soup and baked croissants, the restaurant will take your senses through a French rendezvous. Its location is a little away from the city centre's hustle bustle but close to the shores. For Italian cuisine, head straight to Tanto Pizzeria which is on Auroville main road. The restaurant's highlights are Mediterranean pizza, Romana, Funghi and multitudes of dishes that you'll have trouble choosing from. Cafe Xtasi's wood-fire pizzas give Tanto quite the competition. Xtasi also has over 25 types of pizzas along with the special house pizza called Xtasi. If Mediterranean food is not something you relish then don't worry, the city also has Asian restaurants for your gastronomical delights.

Bay of Buddha is one of the best as it combines Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines with the advantage of facing the bay. The setting is romantic and beautiful for an evening of fine wine and dine. Lighthouse Rooftop Grill is yet another favourite of the city with a seaside setting and lip-smacking food. Satsanga's organic menu teamed with a refreshing vibe, makes it one of the best restaurants in the city. They grow their own vegetables and serve fresh catch of the day to their customers. Run by an all-female crew of cooks is Kasha Ki Asha, a restaurant known for its creative setting, menu and best breakfast. Everything about the restaurant, including the fusion food, will leave a smile on your face.

How to reach Pondicherry

By Air

Pondicherry does have its airport called Pondicherry Airport in Lawspet. The airport is located over 8 km away from the city centre (exact distance measured is from the Aurbindo Ashram). The flight connectivity to Pondicherry from other cities is not up to mark. In fact, Bangalore is the only airport from where you can find direct flights to Pondicherry. Airlines Air Pegasus has stationed flights to Pondicherry from Bangalore. This means for your trip you will have to board a connecting flight to Pondicherry from Bangalore. This is the only option by air that you can pick to travel to Pondicherry. Earlier, SpiceJet had dedicated flights to Pondicherry from Bangalore and Hyderabad. But the services have stopped and instead Bangalore is the only airport that connects flights to Pondicherry. There are airport shuttles from Pondicherry Airport to the city centre so traversing within the city is comfortable.

By Rail

Although flights might reach at a quicker duration in comparison to trains, the connectivity of Pondicherry to other big cities in India is exceptional. The Puducherry Railway Station has excellent network of trains connecting to cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Mangalore, Bangalore, etc. There are numerous express trains that halt at Pondicherry, making travel convenient. Flight tickets to Pondicherry are usually on the expensive side as you are expected to change flights from Bangalore. Compared to this, trains, especially express trains such as Auroville Express, Delhi Superfast Express, Mangaluru Express, Kanyakumari Express and more, will reach you without much hassle. Another alternative that many opt for is to take a flight to Chennai and then catch a train from the Chennai Central or Egmore station. Chennai is the closest city to Pondicherry and has phenomenal flight connectivity, making travelling to the Union Territory easier.

By Road

Chennai city has excellent roadway connections to Pondicherry from the popular East Coast Road route. The domestic route to Pondicherry passes through Mahabalipuram and is the most preferred route. There are regular buses from Chennai serviced by the Tamil Nadu State Transportation (TSRTC) which connects the city to Pondicherry. This route is further connected to other cities and small towns in Tamil Nadu namely, Cuddalore, Velankanni, Tiruvannamalai, to name a few. Even cities such as Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mysore are connected to Pondicherry via road and several national highways.

The state, as well as private companies, offer bus services for Pondicherry as many travellers opt for the Chennai route to Pondicherry. You can find AC, Non-AC, Deluxe, Semi-Deluxe and many such options of buses heading to and returning from Pondicherry. If you're an avid rider, then you can also get your motorcycle out and reach Pondicherry. The roads are not as well-maintained as one would hope. But they will reach you to the beautiful city.

  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.