Minneapolis to Raipur Flights

  About Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a city in the United States of America that has a lot of Scandinavian population. The farming city of the US has also given the world some very popular artists like Prince and Bob Dylan. Be assured that the music and nightlife scene is something you cannot miss. You will simply love holidaying in Minneapolis. Even though it has still maintained its old traditions and customs, Minneapolis and the people here have also welcomed the modern way of living. The city has also introduced some talented architects to the world like Jacques Herzog, Frank Gehry and Pierre de Meuron. One of the major attractions in the city that you can take your kids to is the Nickelodeon Universe. As the name suggests, it is a Nickelodeon-theme park and is quite big, too. Your kids will certainly love spending time in Minneapolis. There are quite a few art museums, too that you can visit if you are an art lover. The city also has quite a few parks that you can visit if you don't have any sightseeing plans for the day. The city is quite welcoming of its tourists.

Best Time to Visit Minneapolis

Like most vacation destinations, summer is a peak tourist time in Minneapolis. There are quite a few festivals and farmer's markets for you to attend. The city experiences summer from June to August, and you will find a lot of tourists in the city. The temperature ranges from 14 to 28 degree Celsius, July being the hottest month. You might even experience high humidity and occasional thunderstorms in July. Make sure you book your hotel in Minneapolis in advance or before the prices start surging. There are quite a few events and festivals that happen during this season that you must attend. Grand Old Day, Twin Cities Pride, Minneapolis Aquatennial, Basilica Block Party, Uptown Art Fair and Minnesota State Fair are some of the events that you can attend on your visit to the city. You will also need to book your flight tickets to Minneapolis in advance. If you don't mind the heat and a lot of tourists buzzing around, this is the best time for you to visit the city.

September to November is the autumn season in Minneapolis, and the weather is quite pleasant. There are fewer tourists in the city, and you can explore it without being hassled by tourists. You won't even have to wait in queues if you are heading to museums and other attractions in the city. The temperature ranges from -3 to 22 degree Celsius, November being the coldest autumn month. You will find a lot of college students buzzing around the city during autumn. You can attend events like Minnesota State Fair, Medtronic Twin Cities and Zombie Pub Crawl. You can also attend a lot of parties in the city during this time and experience the vibrant, happening nightlife. December to February is the winter season in the city, and this is also a low tourist season in Minneapolis. However, booking a hotel in Minneapolis at cheaper rates is like a cherry on the cake if you are planning a trip to Minneapolis in winter. You will also get cheap flight tickets to Minneapolis in winter. You can attend events like Holidazzle and Saint Paul Winter Carnival, but the Christmas celebrations in the city are also worth taking a trip. The temperature ranges from -13 to -1 degree Celsius. Make sure you pack all of your warm and festive clothes for the trip.

Spring season hits Minneapolis from March to May. Though it starts with a lot of snow, the weather becomes quite pleasant as the months progress. The temperature ranges from -4 to 20 degree Celsius. The hotel rates are reasonable during this time, and it won't burn a hole in your pocket. You will get to attend festivals and events like the Food and Wine Festival, the Minnesota Craft Beer Festival and Soundset Festival.

Places to Visit in Minneapolis

Basilica of St Mary is dedicated to Roman Catholics and was built in the early 1900s. Apart from the Catholic services, the basilica also hosts music festivals and concerts. If you are visiting the city with your children, you can visit the Minnesota Children's Museum. You can also head to the Historic Fort Snelling to get a glimpse into history. Walker Art Centre and Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is another place that art lovers would love to visit. If you want to experience the wildlife, you can head over to Como Park Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. You will get to see animal and plant exhibits for free along with educational classes and youth camps. It is a great place to go with your kids. Minnehaha Park is another popular tourist attraction that has the Minnehaha Falls. You can also catch a movie at the Fitzgerald Theater. It was built in 1910 and is the oldest surviving theatre in the city.

St Paul's Grand Avenue is where you can head to for a shopping spree. The place also has bars, restaurants and events that you can attend. The Weisman Art Museum is in the University of Minnesota campus and is free for all. While Minneapolis does have a happening nightlife, it has more museums and historical monuments that you can visit with your family. There are also quite a few locations in the city where you can go shopping and give the shopaholic in you a real treat. You can also binge on your favourite cuisine at some of the finest restaurants here. Minneapolis is the perfect destination to head to if you want a laid-back vacation and not indulge in a lot of adventurous activities. It is also the perfect place for you to head with your family. It has a lot of family-friendly attractions and educational ones, too, for your kids.

Things to do in Minneapolis

Minneapolis is connected to St Paul, and both the cities are usually visiting together. The twin cities have quite a few tourist attractions that you must visit. You can sign up for a sightseeing tour with your family or explore the city on your own. Sign up for a food tour of the city and visit the best restaurants in Minneapolis. You can also try the cuisines at the local food stalls if you are attending any of the events. You can also find out more about the cultural and lifestyle of the locals here. You can head over to Mall of America or Nicollet Mall in downtown. You can also go jogging or boating. You can also sign up for a Minneapolis Riverwalk Food Tour or try the craft beer in the city.

Foods and Restaurants in Minneapolis

Minneapolis-St Paul has a very vibrant dining scene, along with a happening nightlife. You will find a lot of international cuisines, too, at most restaurants here. There are a lot of steakhouses and burger joints in the city, too, that most locals visit. Cathedral Hill area near St Paul is a popular place to head for pre- or post-dinner cocktails. The city is known for its craft beer, and there are a lot of breweries you can go to for a fun night. You can stop by Surly Brewing Co, Fulton Brewery or 612 Brew. You can also try Summit Brewing Company if you are in St Paul. Isles Bun and Coffee Company is the perfect place to go to if you feel like going out for a cup of coffee. Spoon & Stable, 112 Eatery, The Capital Grille, Red Cow North Loop are some of the popular restaurants that serve American food. Pizzeria Lola, Zelo, Broders' Pasta Bar and Bar La Grassa are some of the popular Italian restaurants in the city. You can also head to Kramarczuk East European Deli for a variety of options. You can choose between Polish, European, Czech and Ukrainian cuisines. You can also try Murray's and Cafe Lurcat for some American food and steak.

How to reach Minneapolis

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is about 16 km away from downtown Minneapolis. It is also the main hub for Delta Air Lines. The flight connectivity to Minneapolis from India is excellent. There are several American Airlines flights to Minneapolis daily. There are layovers in London, Chicago or Dallas. If you book at the right time, you can find cheap flight tickets to Minneapolis from India. Getting to and from the airport is quite easy and convenient. It is pretty easy to get taxis or hire car rentals from the airport. The airport is also well-equipped to make everything convenient for passengers. There are premium airport lounges, restaurants, cafes, dining areas, children's play areas and a lot more. If you are travelling during the offseason, you might even come across exciting flight deals to Minneapolis online. The airport also offers hotel services, and you can opt for one that is closer to the airport if you have an early flight to board and wish to avoid the commute.

  About Raipur

Raipur is the state capital of Chhattisgarh and is known to have tremendous religious significance. Owing to the many temples that the place inhabits while also being the town where reformer Swami Vivekananda resided for a brief period, there are many things that make Raipur a tourist spot. The city has an agreeable climate and beautiful greenery. The flight connectivity to Raipur from other major cities in the country is also exceptional. While the city is not as developed in comparison to the other big cities in India, Raipur has a charm of its own which makes it worth the visit.

Best time to visit Raipur

For Raipur, the winter months from November to January are considered as ideal. Thanks to the cold and pleasant atmosphere with temperatures ranging between 14 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius, it only adds to the beauty of the city. However, the summer months can get extremely hot with temperatures almost reaching 48 degree Celsius. Hence, the best thing to do would be to visit the city only during winters. The flight tickets to Raipur remain standard irrespective of the season.

Places to visit in Raipur

Purkhauti Muktangan

Purkhauti Muktangan is a beautiful park that aims at preserving the bio-cultural medley of Raipur. Inaugurated by the Hon'ble A.P.J Abdul Kalam, the park attracts people for its intriguing setting and the art exhibitions. The place with its stimulating environment has further caught the attention of filmmakers too, who continuously flock over to the park for film shootings.

Mahant Ghasi Memorial Museum

Mahant Ghasi Memorial Museum is a cultural heritage where you will find tribal artefacts, coins, inscriptions and other such objects of historical and cultural relevance. What makes the experience of visiting the Mahant Ghasi Memorial in Raipur special is how it is beautifully nestled amid lush greenery. The complex also has life-size sculptures.

Jatmai Temple

Jatmai Temple is nearly 85 km away from the main city of Raipur. However, the popularity of the Jatmai temple often makes tourists take up that travel expedition. The temple is ideally located amid a dense green expanse and is dedicated to Devi Jatmai. The temple brings together nature, culture, cuisine and calmness.

Kevalya Dham Jain temple

Your pilgrimage can further continue in the city as there are a lot of beautiful temples to check out. The Kevalya Dham Jain Temple is located a little away from the city and is one of the main tourist attractions. What makes this temple an architectural bliss is how it has been constructed entirely with marble. The serenity in the air would certainly do you right.

Things to do in Raipur

Explore Nandan Van Zoo

The Nandan Van Zoo houses a plethora of wildlife and conserves various species from extinction. The zoo also expands into a safari with four main zones. The park can be visited at all times, and you can also book your safari rides to explore more of the wildlife found in the zoo.

Educate yourself at the Energy Park

Also known as Urja Park, the vast expanse of Energy Park follows the theme of renewable energy and propagates the same. The idea behind coming up with such a park is to promote and encourage the use of renewable source of energy. It is an educational tour with special emphasis given to promoting the idea of investing more in renewable energy sources. Visiting the park would be quite an experience as you will get to learn a lot about how renewable energy sources work, how you can incorporate a mechanism to sap energy and more.

Trek up to Champaran

Originally known as Champajhar, Champaran is an important religious site for Hindus. The site is known to be the birthplace of Saint Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya. He was the founder of the Vallabh sect and also a renowned reformer. Around the vicinity, two temples have been constructed, namely Prakatya Baithakji Temple and Mood Prakatya. The temples see a whole new light during festivals conducted by the locals.

Swami Vivekananda Sarovar

The influence of Swami Vivekananda is quite strong in Raipur. Not only is the airport named after the philosopher, but even a structure has been constructed to honour him. The Swami Vivekananda Sarovar is basically built close to the Burha Thalab, which is a lush green lake. It easily becomes one of the most-visited attractions in Raipur as it has a serene and tranquil atmosphere. The lake's calmness adds to the charm of the place. You can actually take up boating on the lake as well as delve into consuming street food that is found close to the Sarovar.

Food and Restaurants in Raipur

Chhattisgarh cuisine is what comfort food is all about. Much of their dishes involve rice, jowar and bajra interspersed with spices that make for a wholesome meal. Right from their classic muthiya, which is a famous breakfast dish, to their spin on the traditional Punjabi chole bhature, their recipes are basic and comfortable. The diversity of their food culture comes from their inspiration from the dishes made in the rest of India. You will find bafauri, a dish made from chana dal and spices is a love substitute for pakodas that the other parts of India enjoy. This dish abounds with flavours that would stay with you even after the plate is empty. Other famous dishes include Dubki kadhi, which is basically kadhi with dumplings prepared from chana dal and Chousela, a sort of poori prepared from rice dough which is usually consumed with masala chhole.

Finding authentic Chattisgarh cuisine could be a challenge in Raipur as the city side has accommodated more popular recipes. Some of the places that you should definitely visit when in Raipur are Dialogue in the Dark, Nukkad, the Teafe, Girnar Restaurant, Cafe Junoon, Pashmina, Sukhsagar, to name a few. These places offer multitudes of cuisine that would satiate the craving for every different mood. For amazing Asian cuisine, you should opt for Yo China. The Arabian Oasis would give you the traditional Arabic treatment with a melange of Chinese and European cuisine as well. If the heart wants some chole bhatures or sweet lassi, then don't think much and directly visit Amritsari restaurant. As for some rendezvous with Italian or Mexican cuisine, check out The Monet. Raipur's food culture is quite interesting as it would give your palette a taste to some of the best dishes and cuisine that can be made available.

How to reach Raipur

By Air

As the state capital, Raipur has an airport of its own called Swami Vivekananda Airport. It is located between Raipur and Naya Raipur and is not one of the busiest airports. The airport is equipped with a single runway. Although the airport was originally it was called Raipur airport, the state re-christened it to honour Swami Vivekananda, who is known to have spent his two teenager years in the city. The airport is relatively small but has recently been reconstructed with the authorities adding a new terminal. The flight connectivity to Raipur from major cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Goa, Kochi, Hyderabad, etc., is quite good. In fact, these cities have regular flights flying in and out of Raipur.

The airport is touted to be one of the fastest developing airports in India owing to how it has managed to expand its terminals. The airport is also surrounded by some fancy accommodations with hotels like VW Canyon and Courtyard by Marriott. If business is what you're travelling for, then you can simply book your hotel close to Raipur airport with one of these options. There are private taxi cabs also available to hire from the airport. Airlines, namely IndiGo, Air India and Vistara operate from the Raipur airport.

By Rail

Flights to Raipur easily become the best way to reach the city. However, the trains also have good connectivity. Raipur Junction is the railway station that operates inter-state trains. In fact, Raipur is touted to be the highest grossers in India with respect to train collections. Thanks to its impeccable connection with various other cities and the convenient domestic routes that connect to Raipur railway station, it receives a majority of tourists via trains. Not to mention how its connectivity enables people to travel to various parts of the country. There are express and well as mail trains that travel in and out of Raipur. Cities such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow and more have a great connection with the Raipur station. It is best to book tickets to Raipur ahead of time as the demand for trains to the city is quite high.

By Road

Raipur's road connections are also quite impressive. The highways are perfectly maintained, and the connectivity is also remarkable. From National Highway 26, travellers can take up road trips to visit Raipur from Vizag. There are government-run bus services too which connect Raipur to cities such as Nagpur, Amravati, Sambalpur, Mandla, Ambikapur, to name a few. The location of the bus station is also within the city centre, making transportation easier. You can book your hotels in Raipur's city centre and reach your rooms without any hassle. The local transportation is mainly by rickshaws, taxi cabs and public buses. You can transit various corners of the city via either of these modes of transport.

  About Raipur Airport

Swami Vivekananda Airport or better known as Raipur Airport is the primary airport that caters to the state of Chattisgarh. It is situated between Raipur and Naya Raipur and is close to 15 km and 10 km away from the two cities respectively. The airport has been acknowledged as the 28th busiest airport in the country with respect to passenger traffic. It is also recorded as the 29th busiest airport in terms of aircraft movement. The airport, originally called Raipur Airport, was renamed as Swami Vivekananda Airport, to honour the venerated saint, Swami Vivekananda, who spent a brief period of his teenage years in the city of Raipur. The airport accommodates one integrated terminal which was upgraded to handle international and domestic operations. Currently, there are not many international flight activities that are witnessed by Swami Vivekananda Airport. Despite being an airport with international stature, the authorities haven't been able to attract a lot of international airlines. However, with their expansion plans and regular upgradations, they aim to upscale the airport and get more flight activities.

About Raipur Airport Terminal

The airport has one integrated terminal that was inaugurated in 2012 by former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. The new integrated terminal was built at the cost of nearly INR 158 crore. The building area is sprawled across 4.9 acres and has been designed to accommodate 1300 passengers at once. This number excludes the 400 international passengers that the airport seeks to handle. The new terminal is blessed with better modern amenities to enhance the passenger experience and to attract more airlines to operate from Swami Vivekananda Airport. Currently, there are two aerobridges, eight boarding gates, eight X-ray baggage machines, 20 check-in counters and four security counters that have been installed to cater to the efficient functioning of passenger services.

Further, they have also installed two baggage claim conveyor belts as part of their grand airport upgradation scheme. The airport also has a cargo terminal that was brought in the picture in 2016. The Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal was inaugurated in 2016 after the constant demand for an air cargo operation by the state of Chattisgarh. The Airports Authority of India worked to convert one of the old terminal buildings into a Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal to accommodate cargo operations. The project was handled by Ahmedabad-based firm, GSEC Limited. Presently, the airport has a single runway which measures approximately 10,666 ft in length and 148 ft in width. Much recently, the airport also facilitated the airfield with night-landing options. The apron of the airport has seven parking bays which can accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 type of aircraft, along with a helipad.

About airport authority

Swami Vivekananda Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The government body has taken up the responsibility to manage the airport's expansion and management operations. Over the years, they have been able to make quite a few changes in the airport's infrastructure. This includes the installation of a new integrated terminal that caters to handle more passengers. Not to mention, they have also worked on accommodating parking bays that would enable handling of aircraft from the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 carrier family. The equipment of the airport has also seen a consistent upgradation. Further, to make the airport accessible from both the cities, Raipur and Naya Raipur, the Airports Authority has brought forth services and installed them in the airport premise.

Facilities at the Raipur Airport

Baggage – The baggage services that can be availed at Swami Vivekananda Airport is quite good. They have baggage wrapping services which you can take up to avoid mishandling and theft of items from your bag. The airport also offers storage facilities for bags, but there are some conditions that need to be adhered to. Trolleys are also present at the airport vicinity to help you take your luggage around at the airport.

Lounge – The airport has a fancy lounge called the Cinnamon Lounge. The facilities at the Cinnamon Lounge have been designed specifically to help ease the passengers who are waiting for boarding. The leather seats installed at the lounge space is cosy and very comfortable. Not to mention, the restaurant in the lounge also offers exquisite food and good hospitality services. One can relax at the lounge and even pay a sum to enter the space.

Restaurants and cafe – Although the airport is considerably small, it does have a bunch of restaurants and cafes for travellers. They are located in the departure as well as the arrivals section. Some of the globally recognised food establishments are also present at the airport's food court. Not to mention how budget snacks corners are also available at Swami Vivekananda Airport. Further, as part of its facilities, you can find small joints which serve coffee, tea and other beverages.

Duty-free shops – Even though Swami Vivekananda Airport is predominantly not an international airport, it does facilitate duty-free shops at the departure section to cater to the entertainment needs of the passengers. One can check out the shop with all its culturally rich textile goods as well as artefacts. The place is perfect for purchasing souvenirs, in case you might have missed out on shopping for the same.

Retail store – Shoppers Stop, a famous retail shop chain in the country, owned by Tata Group, has a franchise at the airport's departure section. The shop offers a plethora of goods and commodities from the clothing and lifestyle segment. You can peruse through the shop and even make some purchases at the shop.

ATMs – One of the perks of Raipur Airport is the installation of ATM kiosks at the departure and the arrival gates. This is to ensure that you are able to withdraw money as and when needed. It also becomes convenient to travel within the city from the airport by withdrawing cash directly at the airport premise. You can also make purchases in the airport.

Medical services – To assist in medical emergencies, the airport has provisions for medical services as well. There are dedicated rooms for medical services as well as professionals available on duty at the airport premise. Along with this, the airport also has pharmacies with common medicines.

Special assistance – The airport provides special assistance to cater to the needs of passengers. You can ask for the airport to send staff to escort the passengers with special needs. The special assistance is usually reserved for travellers with mobility and physical disability. They cater to senior citizens, pregnant women and individuals with mobility concerns. It would be best to intimate the airlines about the special assistance needs so that the airport staff can be prepared for the same.

Top airlines flying from the Raipur Airport

The airport mainly caters to domestic airlines with a few provisions for international airline operations. Presently, Swami Vivekananda Airport has operations of airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, IndiGo and Vistara. These airlines have direct flights connecting to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Vizag, Nagpur, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Patna, Srinagar, Ranchi, Jaipur, Indore, Goa, Jagdalpur, Jharsuguda, Bhopal and more. According to the official website of Swami Vivekananda Airport, the airport is scheduled to cater to United Airlines, which has a scheduled flight to Delhi.

How to reach Raipur Airport

By Rail

Swami Vivekananda Airport is a little away from the city centre. It is approximately 16 km from the Raipur Junction railway station and 14 km from the main bus terminal. Hence, if you are travelling to Raipur from other parts of Chattisgarh, from the railway station, you can avail taxi cab and rickshaw services to reach Swami Vivekananda Airport. Due to the distance from the railway station to the airport, the prepaid taxi and rickshaws might charge an exorbitant amount. It is advised that the traveller fix a final fare to reach the Swami Vivekananda Airport before starting the journey.

By Bus

Dedicated bus services are available to reach Swami Vivekananda Airport from within the city of Raipur as well as nearby destinations. You can find buses heading to Telibandha, Pachpedinaka, Tatibandh and Durg Railway Station too. A schedule of the buses travelling to Swami Vivekananda Airport has been shared on the official website of Raipur Airport. Private buses can also be booked at a price that has been mentioned on the website. These luxury buses will be air-conditioned and have individual seats, high definition LED screens, and trained staff take you to the Swami Vivekananda Airport.

By Taxi cabs and ridesharing apps

One of the best ways to reach the Swami Vivekananda Airport from the main city is by hailing a taxi cab service or by booking a ride on a ridesharing app. The city offers Ola and Uber cab services. You can make your bookings and reach Raipur Airport without much hassle. Further, the city is also blessed with enough prepaid taxi cab services that can be availed. These services can be found within the city as well as the airport.