Lucknow to Raleigh Flights

  About Lucknow

Lucknow, the land of Nawabs, is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. There is a certain royalty, elegance and regality in Lucknow that you will not find elsewhere. The people here are quite polite and talk with what you call 'Tehzeeb' in Urdu. Lucknow is famous for its food, handcrafted artefacts and more importantly, clothes. Lucknowi kurtas, lehengas and dupattas attract a lot of tourists in Lucknow. The Chikan embroidery on kurtas is a speciality in Lucknow. It's also known for its culture, arts, music and poetry. You must experience the warm hospitality that the city has to offer, at least once in your life. Lucknow, like most cities in the country, was also ruled by the Mughals. However, the Nawabs of Awadh took over in the 18th century.

The city has a lot of architectural wonders that you cannot miss. It is also quite popular for its variety of biryanis and kebabs. In fact, the city is like a paradise for everyone who is a fan of chicken or mutton biryanis and kebabs. The Lucknowi chaat is also quite popular and something that you must not miss when you visit Lucknow. Since the city is known for its elegant and Nawabi architecture, you'll find some of it incorporated in hotel rooms as well. You can find and book a hotel room in Lucknow according to your budget, and you'll experience the Lucknowi hospitality everywhere.

Hazratganj Market is like paradise for shopaholics, and if you are good at bargaining, you're going to need another suitcase to pack everything that you shopped for. The Bara Imambara and the Chota Imambara are two famous monuments in the city. It is also an important place of worship for Muslims, who also celebrate Muharram here. Lucknow also has a Marine Drive that is inspired by the Marine Drive that you have in Mumbai. It's adjacent to the Gomti River and is a beautiful and romantic stretch of road. It's also a famous place for couples to spend some romantic time with each other.

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is yet another place to visit if you are in the city with your kids. Lucknow also has a bird sanctuary that you can visit with your family or alone. The Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary which is also called the Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad Bird Sanctuary is a dense forest in Unnao. You will find approximately 250 species of birds in the sanctuary. The Qaisar Bagh Palace, which was constructed in the 1850s, is the perfect example of the exotic Mughal architecture and elegance. You'll find a lot of monuments and palaces that were made by the Mughals and the Nawabs of Lucknow. The city is developing at a swift pace and has also managed to maintain the charm and elegance of the Nawabs. Well, it is one of their specialities,

Best Time To Visit Lucknow

The summers can get quite hot in Lucknow as the temperature rises to 40 degree Celsius. It starts from April through July. It's not the best time to plan a visit to Lucknow during summer. The city experiences monsoon pretty late, from July through September. The weather is quite humid, and it might affect a lot of your sightseeing and shopping plans. Winter, however, is the best time to visit Lucknow, which is from October to March. The temperature drops to 7 degree Celsius at night and the evenings are just perfect to go boating or for a fancy dinner. You can even plan all of your sightseeing during the day during winter. Since it is the peak season, the hotel prices are also likely to spike up.

Places to Visit in Lucknow

The Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara are two popular monuments in Lucknow. Since the Muslims also value the Bara Imambara as a place of worship, they celebrate Muharram here on a very grand scale. Festivals in Lucknow are a grand affair. The Chota Imambara was built by Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh in 1838, for Shia Muslims. It is located on the west of the Bara Imambara.

The Lucknow Zoo is another place you can visit if you are an animal lover. The Zoo houses approximately 447 mammals, 348 birds, 57 reptiles, royal Bengal tigers, bears, Indian rhinoceros and a lot of wild animals, too. Your kids will surely love visiting the zoo. You have to pay a nominal fee to get into the zoo, though, which is not a lot.

British Residency is one of the famous historical landmarks that marks the first stage of the fall of British Raj. It had served as a refuge place for 3000 British inhabitants during the uprising of 1857, which was India's first revolt for Independence against the Britishers. The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is yet another place that your kids will love and you will, too, if you can't get enough of the stars, planets and the cosmic wonders. The planetarium also puts on shows that will transport you to another dimension.

Hazratganj is a popular shopping area for tourists and residents of Lucknow, too. You'll find the best kurtas, shararas and lehengas with beautiful Chikan embroidery. Of course, make sure that you bargain well. The street food at Hazratganj is also quite delicious. Qaisar Bagh Palace was constructed in the 1850s by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and is a masterpiece that showcases the Mughal architecture. Do visit the palace when you are in Lucknow to experience the lavish lifestyles of the Nawabs.

Things to do in Lucknow

Monument hopping is not a widely used term, but we are hoping it catches on. You plan a day just to visit the monuments and end it with an authentic Lucknowi dinner. Take a tour of the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary. You can walk around and spot birds you've never seen before. Tour guides also organise Heritage Walks in the city for tourists. You can either get in touch with a local tour guide through a travel agent, find one online or enquire at your hotel desk.

The mutton biryani, different types of kebabs, shawarma and a variety of chaats is what is popular in the city. Whether you are a vegetarian or crave for meat, Lucknow does not disappoint you at all, when it comes to food. But the place is quite the paradise for non-vegetarians. Catch the shows put up at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium. After the show, you can spend some time at the Gomti River to admire the sheer beauty of the city.

Go on a shopping spree at Hazratganj. This is one of the most popular areas to shop at in Lucknow. Make sure you pick the right shops and have good bargaining skills.

Food and Restaurants in Lucknow

There is a lot of hype over Lucknowi food and for a reason. You'll know why it is famous in the country once you try it for yourself. Moti Mahal Restaurant and Royal Cafe are two places in Hazratganj that you must eat at when you are in Lucknow. End your shopping spree or stop for a break at one of the two or both the eateries. They are popular for their North-Indian and Mughlai cuisines. You can also try out Oudhyana at Vivanta By Taj for authentic Mughlai food. Don't forget to try out the meat delicacies, kebabs and roomali rotis at this eatery. It won't burn a hole in your pocket at all. Have breakfast at Rati Lal's Khasta Kachori. The barras, pooris and the chickpea sabzi will satiate you and how!

Prakash Ki Kulfi is a popular dessert store in Lucknow that specialises in kulfi. Treat yourself to the best kulfi you'll ever have. While you are visiting Gomti Nagar, make sure you stop to have some basket chaat. It's a popular chaat in the city and one of a kind. You can't not have biryani in Lucknow. Have the mouth-smacking Awadhi biryani at Wahid's Biryani.

How to reach Lucknow

By Air

The nearest airport to Lucknow is the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. Lucknow airport is about 14 km away from the city, but the flight connectivity is pretty good. Domestic flights from Lucknow are well-connected with cities like Mumbai, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Patna and other important cities. It's easy to reach Lucknow by air from any other city in India. Look for good flight deals and cheap flight tickets. If you are visiting the city during its offseason, the fares might even drop.

By Rail

The Lucknow Railway Station at Charbagh connects the city with all the other cities and is also the main station. You'll also find rickshaws or taxis from outside the station quite easily. The city has also introduced a metro, but it has only fewer stations within the city so far.

By Road

Buses from domestic routes like Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, Delhi and other cities run quite frequently to Lucknow. The city is also connected to major highways like the NH25, NH28 and NH56.

  About Raleigh

The capital city of North Carolina, Raleigh's fame comes from its important universities such as North Carolina State University. The city is one of the best in the US for encouraging scholarly institutions pertaining to the fields of science, technology and art. Over the years, Raleigh has also turned a new leaf on its culinary front and has emerged into a foodie's paradise.

Best time to visit Raleigh

Raleigh's spring and fall are two beautiful seasons which see the city in a pleasant view. The temperatures during these two seasons are extremely favourable, and the city's landscape is quite pristine. Colours of red and yellow take over the streets and the scent of blossoming flowers take over the city. The whole air of the place is vibrant and brimming with life and excitement. The months September through November have an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius which is quite ideal for indulging in tourist activities. You can step out in the city and soak in all the beautiful weather as well as the lively atmosphere. It is essential that you carry a light jacket along with you as the brisk winter breeze would surprise you. This is also a good time to walk through some of their parks such as the Umstead State Park or Pullen Park. This time of the year, the accommodation prices also see a good discount. Booking hotels in Raleigh during the fall would be cheap and affordable. Plus, the city would also be celebrating Bugfest, North Carolina State Fair, Hopscotch Music Fest and SPARKcon, to keep you engaged.

The second-best wave of the season to marvel you would be spring, between March to May. The temperatures ascend from cold to hot but in a very comforting and pleasant manner. You wouldn't feel the excess heat or humidity on your face. The parks and streets perk up with blossoming flowers and leaves, that further adds to the aesthetic beauty of Raleigh. Festivals such as Brewgaloo, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Art Festival and Raleigh Rock' n' Roll Marathon & Half Marathon also take place during this time of the year. It would be quite fun to indulge in a marathon or just cheer for the participants. The hotel prices are also not too steep or unaffordable. You will easily be able to make reservations for rooms in Raleigh during spring. In fact, you can book your hotels and flights to Raleigh and gain some lovely online deals too. Summers in Raleigh are not as pleasant as they come with humidity. You will feel the pesky sweat and oiliness on your skin. Plus, the heat would make it difficult to venture out for touristy activities.

Places to visit in Raleigh

Raleigh is a haven for art and science. If you are interested in the two subjects, you will have a good time visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. To get a peek at the history of North Carolina, you should further continue your museum excursion by visiting the North Carolina Museum of History. The city's government structure, also known as the North Carolina State Capitol, is also a good place to visit. The structure is inspired by Greek architecture and reflects a white building with tall pillars. The tour within the capitol will give you a peek at some of the pasts of the state of North Carolina. Marbles Kids Museum is another fun place which was built to enhance the thinking of a growing child. Basically, it is a perfect recreational centre for kids during the trip.

Things to do in Raleigh

Neuse River Trail is a cool neighbourhood where you can rent a bike and explore the trails. The path is actually white and follows the trails of the Neuse River. The place is beautiful as the trail paints a perfect picture for photography. To further continue with this kind of environment, you can also visit the William B. Umstead State Park. Sprawled across over 5,579 acres with wooden trails and lakes flowing, the park is definitely the kind to excite you. You would have a good time riding the bicycle in the trails or opting for a hike. Meanwhile, the place also has opportunities to take up paddle-boating and canoeing. It won't cost you an excessive amount to take up this activity. Pullen Park is highly known for being the first-ever public park built in the state and is recognised to be the fifth oldest amusement park in the United States. The amusement park's entry is very cheap, and the recreational activities are quite engaging. You can also indulge in their food culture. The city has a plethora of restaurants and food establishments that would take you through quite the gastronomical experience.

Food and Restaurants in Raleigh

Raleigh is inching closer towards being a foodie's haven with a growing and flourishing food culture. Much of the credit to this positive change in the city goes to celebrity chef Ashley Christensen. Over the years, she has managed to establish five restaurants and change the face of the culinary world that Raleigh has been acquainted with. Much recently, the city managed to get validation for their culinary excellence by becoming American's favourite cities for barbecue food. Famous publications such as Travel and Leisure and Forbes have credited Raleigh for being one of the best cities to venture into a food expedition. The city has brought forth a slew of restaurants and food establishments that have helped them add a feather to their hat. Ashley's Joule Coffee has also been recognised to be the best in the city. North Carolina's fame in the culinary world stands with their exquisite take on barbequed meat. To get hold of the juicy and smokey meat, you should head to Clyde's Cooper. It is a local favourite and has found fame for its cooking style.

Another famous food establishment that raves barbeque delights that North Carolina is known for is The Pit. The location of this establishment is just as intriguing as the food that they have to offer. From baby back ribs to fried chicken, you will get to explore a slew of barbequed meat with tasty sides. The city has a plethora of international cuisine too that are definitely worth checking out. From Sono's Japanese delicacies to Cheetie Kumar's Garland, these places bring together some extravagant flavours and cooking style to marvel their customers. You should check out Gravy, known for its authentic Italian-American fusion with their signature gravy being the big seller. You should also explore the menu at Jose and Sons, who bring forth their Mexican heritage to add more spice and grills to the platter. While you're stuffing yourself with delicious food, don't forget down some chilled craft beer too. Raleigh Brewing Company or Crak Arm Brewing are two places which serve some impeccable flavoured craft beer that you will certainly enjoy.

How to reach Raleigh (Transportation)

Travelling to Raleigh would mean to invest a lot of time as it takes close to 24 hours to reach the city. The flight connectivity to Raleigh from India is not good but thanks to connecting flights from various airlines, the journey is possible. British Airways, United Airlines and Air Canada are the three airlines that have only layovers and no changing flights business to Raleigh. In fact, British Airways can reach you to Raleigh in close to 24 hours. There is one layover at London's Heathrow Airport. As for United Airlines and Air Canada, where there are no connecting flights that you would have to take, there are lengthy layovers. In fact, you will also require a transit visa if you are travelling from these airlines. The airlines have layovers in European cities such as Frankfurt and Munich, aside from their domestic cities Toronto and Newark as well. The duration though is quite similar to the one offered by British Airways. These are the most popular routes to reach Raleigh from Indian cities. Mumbai and Delhi offer the best airline connectivity to reach Raleigh.

Other airlines such as Air France, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Finnair, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Gulf Air, All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, to name a few, also have flights to Raleigh. They use other international routes to reach Raleigh that mostly consist of a layover at their cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Newark, Hong Kong, to name a few. The flight tickets to Raleigh are rather expensive. A round-trip would cost you a staggering amount. However, if you have some miles in your kitty, this would be a good time to make more or use the ones you have been saving up. You can opt to book flight tickets to Raleigh in advance to get hold of cheap prices. While you are booking your flight tickets, it is recommended that you also book your hotels in Raleigh. Combining the two expenses would give you some great online deals to Raleigh. Besides, it would be convenient to spend on flight and hotel bookings well in advance to avoid excess expenditure during the trip.

  About Lucknow Airport

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport or better known as Lucknow Airport is an international airport that serves Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. The airport was previously called the Amausi Airport as it is located in the Amausi area of Lucknow. However, it was later renamed as Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, after the fifth Prime Minister of India, by the Government of India. The main idea behind constructing the airport in 1986 was to expedite aid for government and corporate officials in the state. As the number of passengers and air traffic increased with time, the Airports Authority of India worked around upgrading the structure to accommodate passenger footfall. The airport received international stature in 2012 and witnesses airlines catering to international cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Muscat, Jeddah, Bangkok and Sharjah. The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport introduced the concept of private sectors to operate the airport to get better management and funds. The latest terminal has been constructed in such a way to accommodate about 2000 passengers at once.

About Lucknow Airport Terminals

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport has two operational terminals while the third one is in the planning stage. T1 is the original airport that was built to complement the architecture of the Charbagh Railway Station. It is currently being used for international operations and flights. There are three departing gates and two arrival ones at the international terminal with two dedicated immigration counters. Terminal 2, on the other hand, has been allocated for domestic flights and activities. Terminal 2 has five boarding gates and witnesses high passenger traffic each year. Due to the heavy activities as well as air traffic, there has been some pressure on the aerodromes. Hence, an expansion plan to develop and enhance the terminal building has been proposed. The Minister of State for Civil Aviation has granted permission to expand the existing terminal building along with some allocated funds. The project management consultant would be focussed on catering to the extension of the terminal. The domestic terminal was inaugurated in 2012 by the then civil aviation minister Ajit Singh. The extension project's funds have been estimated at INR 880 crore.

About airport authority

The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is owned by the Airports Authority of India. Much recently though, they have passed the baton of operations to the Adani Group. All expansion and management operations are now being handled by the Adani Group. The airport is also undergoing extension plans with a proposition to build a new terminal, T3, by the Adani Group. Lucknow Airport received Best Airport under the Airports Authority of India (AAI) along with Rajasthan's Jodhpur Airport, in 2012. It has also been recognized as the second-best with respect to small airports that can accommodate about 5-10 million passengers in a year. The same was awarded by the Airports Council International, which is a global non-profit organization that works for airport operators.

Facilities at the Lucknow Airport

ATMs and currency exchange: The Lucknow airport has dedicated counters and desks for foreign exchange. Lucknow sees a lot of international tourists and travellers. Hence, it is essential to have forex counters to make the currency exchange done. Also, airports are known to have better rates compared to forex firms outside in the city. ATM kiosks are also available at regular intervals in the airport.

VIP lounge: VIP lounges and guestrooms are available at the Lucknow airport. The airport has witnessed infrastructural development with provisions for lounge and rooms for upscaled experiences. The VIP lounge in the airport has an excellent ambience and hospitality services. As long as you have first-class tickets or premium access to the lounge, you wouldn't be allowed to enter.

Information desk: The airport also has several information desks. The information desk holds all necessary details about the flights that are departing, arriving, schedules, airlines, connecting flights and more. You can further learn more about the layout of the airport too at the information desk. You can get a guide and map to the airport as well as details about the city of Lucknow.

Luggage storage: Lucknow airport's luggage services are also quite good. There are dedicated storage areas where one can keep their luggage while they wait to board their flights. There are locker facilities available that could be very beneficial to you if you want to safeguard some of your essentials. Not to mention, the airport also has baggage packing facilities available so you can safeguard your bags from theft and other concerns.

Child care room: A devoted child care centre is available at the Lucknow airport. The space is perfect for new mothers with infants. Since they require privacy for feeding and changing of the diapers, space has been reserved for mothers and their kids. The centre is also well-maintained and regularly sanitized to avoid health hazards. The place is kept hygienic by the airport officials.

Restaurants and cafes: Lucknow airport also has some good food establishments. There are famous joints such as KFC, Burger King, Subway, to name a few. The place also has some Mughlai-themed restaurants that glorify the city's flourishing culture. Although there are no roasteries available at the airport, they do have cafes and coffeehouses with quick bites and refreshments.

Medical aid: The airport also has provisions for medical aid. To ensure that medical emergencies are treated immediately, the airport has medical services stationed at proper intervals. Plus, they also have ambulances, in case the patient needs to be taken to the hospital for better services. You can also ask for medical kits at the information desk or the security.

WiFi: The Lucknow airport has WiFi services available as well. As long as you have your Indian phone numbers, you can get access to the WiFi services. The services of WiFi can be availed for approximately 45 minutes after which you will have to pay for it. You can get premium paid packs of WiFi connection from the information desk.

Entertainment centre: Interestingly, the airport has an entertainment centre with a big TV too. Although the channels cannot be changed as it is for all the public, there are Indian TV shows and movies that play on the gigantic TV at all times. You can keep your kids engaged and distracted, so they do not cause a ruckus at the airport.

Local calls facilities: In case you have network issues or do not have enough balance in your mobile phone, you can make use of the free phone that is available at the airport. You can use to this connect with families or people who will be picking you up from the airport. It only caters to local calls so you will not be able to make STD or ISD calls from the phone.

Top airlines flying from the Lucknow Airport

The Lucknow Airport lacks impeccable connection as fewer domestic and international airlines operate from the city. Very few flights even connect the domestic cities from Lucknow airport. Major Indian metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad, to name a few. Lucknow airport does have better connectivity with cities of North India thanks to its geographical location. However, only fewer domestic airlines operate from the city, considering how it is one of the big cities in India. Domestic airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, Air India Express, IndiGo and Vistara, operate from the Lucknow airport. The airport's connectivity with Southern cities is fewer and only caters to Bangalore, Chennai, Goa and Hyderabad. For other cities, connecting flights would be required.

In terms of international airlines, the city again only caters to a handful of airlines. Airlines only catering to cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Muscat and Bangkok. Airlines such as flydubai, Flynas, Oman Air, Saudia and Thai Smile, are the few that operate from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. For better international airlines connection, people often fly to Delhi from Lucknow airport. Cities such as Mumbai and Bangalore are also considered to connect to a wider range of international airlines.

How to reach Lucknow Airport

The Lucknow Airport is brilliantly connected with the Lucknow Metro line. The best way to reach the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. There is a dedicated station called the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport metro station which falls on the Red Line stretch. It further connects to the Munshi Pulia metro station. The metro project is known to be the most expensive mode of the transport system in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Depending on how close you are to any of the stations on the Munshi Pulia and Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport stretch, the duration changes accordingly. However, the long stretch takes about 50 minutes to reach. The fare is also quite decent with the maximum fee going up to INR 60. Often travellers use the metro to reach Lucknow airport as it is the best and most convenient way to reach in the city.

Another way to reach Lucknow airport is to hail a taxi or rental. There are many prepaid taxi counters available at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. All three of the terminals have taxi counters from which you can book your ride. There are no direct buses available from the city to the airport. Although reaching the Lucknow airport by vehicle will take some time, it is convenient as you can rest assured about the luggage's safety.