Mysore to Doha Flights

  About Mysore

Mysore is touted to be the city of palaces with the flourishing history of the Wodeyar dynasty. Located near Chamundi Hills, the city is known to be the winter capital of Karnataka. Mysore doesn't just enjoy beautiful climate but also excellent flight connectivity enabling good tourism. You can book a hotel room in Mysore's finest accommodations as the city has lavish stay options. The flight tickets to Mysore are also quite affordable.

Best time to visit Mysore

With a tropical climate, Mysore receives tremendous rain, as well as extremes of cold winters, can be experienced here. The months from July to February are considered to be the best time to visit Mysore. You can book a hotel at Mysore and enjoy the rains while they enhance the city's greenery. Simultaneously, you can also let the winter breeze envelop you as you stroll through the city streets.

Places to visit in Mysore

Palatial excursion

Mysore Palace is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Mysore. Once home to the Wodeyar dynasty rulers, the huge expanse of land is a treat to the eyes. The place with its rich history is a testament to how fascinating the lives of the royals were in the past. The palace literally sees a footfall of more than 2.7 million tourists every year. The illustrious history of the Wodeyar dynasty with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan taking centre stage is something that would definitely intrigue you. Besides the main city palace, you also have Lalitha Mahal, the second-largest royal residence, located on the foothills of Chamundi Hills. Relish the stunning scenic views from the palace and be amazed by the rich architecture with Belgian crystal chandeliers and elegant Persian carpets. Jagmohan Palace has been turned into an Art Gallery with works of artists such as Raja Ravi Verma and SG Heldnkr's artwork on display. The white structure is quite beautiful and definitely worth a visit.

Temples and churches

St Philomena Church is revered for being one of the largest cathedrals in South Asia. The structure has a goth-style architecture with orange tinge shades on the wall. The interiors of the church are also quite splendid with catacombs below the altar. One of the most famous temples in Mysore is the Nandi Temple located adjacent to the grand Chamundi Hills. Hindu mythology has stated Nandi, the sacred bull, to be a friend of Lord Shiva. The trails that take you to Nandi temple will further take you to the summit where the shrine of Chamundeshwari temple rests. Built in the traditional Dravidian-style, the temple has over 1000 steps to the summit. With a seven-tier gopuram, the stunning temple honours Goddess Durga and her form Chamundeshwari. You can further stroll through the hills and be amazed by the views. Another ancient temple located outside the famous Mysore Fort is the Trinesvaraswamy Temple. The three-eyed form of Shiva, known as Trinesvara, is worshipped here. The sanctum's gopuram was destroyed in the 18th century, but the charm and beauty of the temple continue to attract many devotees.

The vast expanse of gardens

Mysore's palaces might boast royalty, but the gardens further showcase the green expanses that could leave you mesmerised. From the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens with its natural wild habitats to the Bonsai Garden's variety of exquisite plantations, the city has some really scintillating gardens. You would be thrilled to see how some of these places, despite being crowded with tourists, have a calm and soothing ambience. A special mention goes to the legendary Brindavan Gardens which has been constructed opposite the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam. The beautiful expanse is perfect for nature lovers and photographers.

Things to do in Mysore

Planet X

Mysore isn't all about palaces and gardens but has some thrilling adventure sports too. Head to Planet X, a famous attraction in Mysore which is snuggled up at the foothills of Chamundi. The entertainment zone has been created to cater to the audience who like to indulge in activities such as go-karting, snooker, billiards and sports in general.

Government Sandalwood Oil Factory

Mysore and sandalwood's connection go way back in time. The city is literally known for its production of sandalwood products. Even a soap brand is named after the city and the commodity used. Sandalwood factory would be quite an experience as you will get to see how the oil is extracted from the sandalwood. Not to mention how the products are later made by incorporating the flavours of sandalwood.

Kukkarahalli Lake

The fact that Kukkarahalli Lake forms a J is intriguing enough for tourists to flock over to check out the lake. The sparkling lake is surrounded by lush green land, which only adds to the charm of the place. You can pack up a nice picnic basket and head over to relax by the lake.

Folklore Museum

The Folklore Museum is a lovely institution that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Mysore. As part of the Mysore University, the museum has astounding collections of folk art, products, artefacts and more that are displayed for tourists. Not just the history of Mysore but even Karnataka's tales from the past can be explored here.

Food and Restaurants in Mysore

Mysore is not just a green haven with the palatial setting but also a paradise for food lovers. The city has some really glamorous restaurants with fine dining scenes. From expensive hotels to budget-friendly joints, the city has a few highlights that you should definitely check out during your stay. Mysore is primarily dominated by South Indian cuisine with a variety of dosas, idlis, seafood, all served on a long banana leaf. Thanks to the place being a Kingdom of Hyder Ali and Tip Sultan, the food culture has some wonderful mix of cuisine too. Over the years, Mysore has managed to expand its cuisine from the primary South Indian fandom to cafes and bistros. Mysore has developed its taste in cuisine and is now selling the same.

La Petite France is a quaint cafe that recently came into existence but has already risen to the top. Thanks to the light food with a comfortable vibe, the restaurant easily becomes a favourite. Hakka's lip-smacking Chinese cuisine is definitely something you should try. With simple decor, much of their focus is on improving the quality of food served. Do try their Tao special noodles and momos. Spring by Radisson Blu Plaza is another great place for fine dining. They serve North and South Indian dishes along with some Continental favourites too. Plus, the vibe is very relaxed and soothing.

While these fancy places will make you happy, the traditional essence of Mysore can only be tasted at the Anima Madhva Bhavan. The place only sells food inspired by the Mysore heritage without using commercial products to spruce up their dishes. Some other names to remember would be Oster Bay for seafood, Vinayaka Mylari for South Indian dishes and hotel RRR for a meat excursion.

How to reach Mysore (Transportation)

By Air

Mysore has its very own airport called Mandakalli airport. It is famously referred to as Mysore Airport as it is more convenient for people to remember the name. The Mysore airport was constructed in the 1940s by the Kingdom of Mysore. However, the commercial services and flights to and from Mysore started just recently. The flight connectivity to and from Mysore is quite decent as there are regular flights to metro cities in India. The domestic route from Mysore to Bangalore, Goa, Kochi, Chennai and Hyderabad is quite strong. The airport has reserved some flights to reach these cities on a regular basis.

There are three airlines, namely IndiGo, Alliance Air, TruJet, that serve flights to Mysore. Flight tickets to Mysore are quite affordable, except for during peak seasons. The closest international airport is the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore which has an excellent connection. There are no international flights from Mysore. Since the airport is located 10 km away from the city centre in the Mandakalli village, you will have to hail taxi cab services.

By Rail

Mysore Junction railway station is extremely popular as many trains from different parts of the country halt at this station. The connectivity of Mysore by train comparatively better than flights to Mysore as major express trains and even mail trains pass through the city. Regular trains from Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Varanasi, Jaipur, Tuticorin, Tirupati, Hubli and more are directly linked with Mysore. Often people do choose travelling to Mysore from Bangalore. Since it is the state capital and has many options to reach Mysore, it becomes convenient.

By Road

The bus services to and from Mysore are exceptional. The city is connected and accessible from many other cities in the country thanks to the bus services. Many deluxe and semi-deluxe buses are available and serviced by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). The buses connect Mysore to big cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Goa, Ooty, Kochi, Coorg and more. People also opt for booking rentals from Bangalore, Chennai, Ooty, Hyderabad and cities close to Coorg.

  About Doha

Qatar's capital, Doha, is one of the most famous and populated cities in the Middle East. It is nestled along the coast of the Persian Gulf and has brilliant connectivity with several international cities in the world.

Best time to visit Doha

Desert nations often enjoy exquisite winters making them the peak months for tourism. Doha too enjoys the brisk winter winds as it hosts various fun events. December to January is considered the ideal months for a travel pursuit to Doha. The weather is a beautiful amalgam of warm and cold. As a desert, the winter days are pleasant while the nights are cold in Doha. It is certainly inviting as the luxurious setting of the city with expanses of scintillating brown sand would make anyone happy. So much that the hotel prices skyrocket during these months. It would be extremely difficult to find a cheap snazzy hotel in Doha during winter. Unless you make prior hotel bookings in Doha, you might not be able to find the ideal accommodation. The same goes for flights as well, so best would be to book them months in advance.

Winter might be peak season but so is fall in Doha. September through November is actually ideal weather as the city transitions from hot to cold. The experience during the fall in Doha is exquisite. What makes this very convenient is how tourism doesn't reach its peak in these months. You will be able to enjoy the pleasant weather, and at the same time, you wouldn't even have to splurge massively. Prior hotel bookings in Doha always come in handy as it would help you save more to spend in the city. Besides, the flight and hotel deals in Doha ahead of winter are aplenty. You will find many flight deals to Doha online with some room for accommodation combos too. As long as you spend enough time to find the right deal with an exquisite hotel room, your Doha trip would be a good one. Note though that many tourists start planning for a fall vacation in Doha thanks to the climate and the possibility of getting cheaper rates in Doha.

Places to visit in Doha

Doha's popularity doesn't just come with its Middle East heritage but also fancy locales and tourist attractions. To get the feel of Qatari heritage, you should start your tourist endeavours from the Museum of Islamic Art. It is an architectural delight and definitely worth the pursuit. You will be amazed by the exquisite location with its tree-covered facade. Doha Corniche is the second most important tourist attraction of Doha. The location is basically a waterfront which has a fascinating promenade forming the Doha Bay. The Corniche often sees a lot of events and festivities as being an important hub of the city of Doha. You can also make a day plan to visit Doha's artificial island, The Pearl-Qatar. It spans across four kilometres, the island is still under work as the officials wish to stretch the coastline to 32 kilometres. The National Museum of Qatar is located within the city premise and would take you through the history and cultural train of Doha and Qatar. Speaking of history, the AlKoot Fort would definitely catch your fancy as a military fortress that was built in 1927.

You can add Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in your list of places to visit in Doha. The gorgeous infrastructure has been built with modern and contemporary influences of art and creativity. The complex has been recently created and has already managed to rake in a lot of attention and the position of one of Doha's famous attractions. Aspire Park is another interesting place that you can check out. It is located in the southern district of Baaya in the city of Doha. Covering over 88 hectares of land, it is recognised as Doha's largest parks, featuring lovely fountains, green expanses and the view of the Aspire Tower.

Things to do in Doha

The city of Doha has quite a few things that you can indulge in when you visit the place. Some of the tourist attractions are aesthetically pleasing. To make your trip a little lavish, you can head to the Racing & Equestrian Club to check out and bet on horses. Since horse racing is one of the legal gambling scenes in the world, you will be able to get an idea of high-end living. You can also visit the Al Wakrah Public Garden and relish the exquisite spread of colourful flowers and green landscapes that the park boasts. It also has a waterfront, which only adds to the garden's beauty. Oxygen Park is another green spread where you can enjoy some fresh air and lovely vibe of the place. Nightclub hopping is one activity you can take up when you're in the city. Meanwhile, shopping is another fun activity that you will want to do because the city flaunts its Dior and Gucci showrooms like it flaunts the lovely waterfront.

Food and Restaurants in Doha

Doha's diversity in terms of food culture comes from its accommodation of international cuisine. The place has a plethora of international food establishments to cater to the foreign tourists that visit the city on a regular basis. However, while you do indulge in the lovely global cuisine, do not miss out the classic and Qatari food that can be found in Doha. Qatari food is recognised for its exquisite home-cooked styled stews and impeccable delicacies. Much of the Qatari food is heavily influenced by North Africa, Levant, Bedouin and flavours from the Indian subcontinent. Dishes such as Saloona, Warak enab, balaleet, majboos, to name a few, are from the authentic Qatari kitchen. They would certainly leave quite an impact on you. You can find the best of these dishes at food establishments such as Al Jasra, Walima, Al Manchab, Easair Cafe, Shisha Garden and Chai Halib.

While you're indulging in their meals, do not miss their ubiquitous savouries with luqaimat taking the cake. It is a traditional sweet dumpling that is stuffed with flavours of saffron and cardamom and is drenched in sugar syrup. Umm Ali is also a fancy dessert that you should check out when in Doha. Some of the Indian influences in their Qatari dishes include the famous rogag. It is a thin layer of batter, inspired by dosa, filled with minced meat, vegetables or egg. The dish is traditionally consumed as a breakfast item. Shay Al Shoomos in Souq Waqif serves the best rogags, you should probably write down this name in your list of culinary expeditions in Doha. Another interesting savoury by the Qatari cuisine is the kunafa, quite famous in the Middle East belt. To experience the best of Doha's culinary delights, the ideal thing to do would be to check out the Al Souq Street in the city. They are literally swamped with exquisite food joints and establishments.

How to reach Doha (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Doha from India is excellent and very regular. The city in Qatar has a massive demand in the city with many tourists flocking over on a daily basis. Hence, the number of flights are also excessive, not to mention the connectivity and convenient duration. There are a plethora of direct flights to Doha from India. In fact, many airports have been specifically constructed in India to cater to the demand for Doha and other Middle-Eastern countries. Airlines such as IndiGo, Srilankan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, to name a few, have daily flights to Doha. Even though there are many direct nonstop flights to Doha from India, many often take the international route to Doha from Muscat or Dubai. The flight duration to Doha from India is also quite decent as it takes about three hours to reach the city. This depends on the flight and airlines that you choose. Although the time duration is perfect since it leaves a lot of time in hand to explore the city, it comes with a price.

Flight tickets to Doha range from cheap and affordable to expensive. A majority of how much you spend on booking flight tickets to Doha depends on the airlines you pick and the flight duration. For cheap and inexpensive flight tickets to Doha, you will get them in the range of INR 17,000. However, you will end up spending about nine hours travelling. By adding an extra INR 1000 to the ticket expenditure, you will not just save up on flight duration to Doha but also receive better flight services. Booking flight tickets to Doha come with a plethora of online deals. You might be able to make the most of travel discounts by booking flights and hotels in Doha. Depending on the season, the hotel prices in Doha might vary and hence, to acquire cheap and affordable deals, you should make prior bookings. Interestingly, while Doha is easy and convenient to reach from India, many opt to drive down to Doha from Bahrain as the long stretch of highways in the Middle East are perfect for petrolheads to go on a driving excursion.

  About Hamad Airport

Hamad International Airport is the only international airport that caters to the state of Qatar and is situated in its capital city, Doha. The airport has replaced the former international airport, Doha International Airport, to be the principal airport that serves the city of Doha and the country Qatar. Earlier, the airport was referred to as the New Doha International Airport, the airport was renamed as Hamad International Airport. It was supposed to open for business and flight operations in 2009. However, due to some cost delays and a series of conundrums, the airport finally reopened in 2014 with a grand ceremony of Qatar Airways' flight landing from nearby Doha International. Following the same, several of Qatar Airways' aircraft and other flights functioning from the old airport were shifted to the new airport, a month after Hamad International Airport opened. The airport has been named after Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar. Since its genesis, the airport has been raking tremendous praise and accolades for being one of the best airports of the Middle East. In fact, it was voted as the Best Airport (in the category of 30-40 million passenger accommodation in a year) and Best Airport Staff in the Middle East in 2020.

Talks about constructing an all-new international airport in Doha started in 2003 with constructions commencing in 2005. Hamad International Airport is located about 5 km the east of older Doha International Airport. The airport is spread across an area of 5,500 acres of land. Initially, the airport was set to only cater to airlines that do not have lounge access to be utilised. The airport was designed to balance out the increase in passenger volume and air traffic witnessed by the city. Initially, the annual capacity of passengers as proposed was 29 million. However, upon completion of the new airport, the capacity also extended to 50 million passengers in a year. Some estimates suggest that the airport has the capacity of accommodating over 93 million passengers in a year, as opposed to the 50 million stated. With this fact, Hamad International Airport becomes the second largest in the region, following Dubai International Airport. The new airport is also set to handle over 320,000 aircraft movement along with 2 million tonnes of cargo in a year.

About Hamad International Airport Terminal

Hamad International Airport only has one terminal but is spread out in about five concourses that have been named alphabetically. These concourses have been designed by the American design, architecture, engineering and urban planning firm, HOK. Meanwhile, the contract to develop the airport was awarded to Bechtel. Here are details of the concourses at the Hamad International Airport.

Concourse A - The concourse has the ten passenger gates that are connected to jet bridges. It is located west of the check-in section of the main terminal. The two gates have been designed specifically to accommodate Airbus A380.

Concourse B - This concourse accommodates ten passenger gates which are connected to jet bridges, located at the east of the main check-in area. Out of the ten gates, two have been reserved to accommodate Airbus A380. Ten airlines operations form the old Doha International Airport has been shifted to Concourse B. Further, some facilities include smoking rooms, duty-free stores and family lounge areas.

Concourse C - The concourse consists of 13 gates which are connected to jet bridges and yet again, two of them are reserved for Airbus A380. The concourse was opened in 2014.

Concourse D - The concourse is divided into two levels, gates 1 - 4's operations being conducted on the first level while gates 18 - 24 have their operations on the ground level. This concourse is fully functional.

Concourse E - The concourse is fully functional and has a similar layout as Concourse D. It has been stated that Concourses D and E are due to be extended with talks of an additional Concourse F that is set to be installed. However, the plans haven't been finalised yet.

The terminal also has facilities of First Class and Business Class lounges installed. One of the biggest highlights of Hamad International Airport's terminal interiors is the prominent gigantic bronze statue of a teddy bear with its head inserted in a lamp. Often referred to as Lamp Bear, the sculpture is the creation of Swiss artist Urs Fischer. It has been put for display at the grand foyer and is surrounded by the airport's duty-free shopping hall. The Lamp Bear statue initially belonged to the Seagrams Building plaza in New York City. However, it was later purchased by a member of the Qatari royal family at an auction for a whopping USD 6.8 million. The structure weighs about 18-20 tonnes and is seven meters tall.

About airport authority

Hamad International Airport is owned and operated by Qatar Airways. The airline is responsible for bringing forth a whole new airport and replacing the old Doha International Airport. The airport authority has been striving to make Hamad International Airport as one of the best in the world by offering world-class amenities and aircraft perks. They aim to create new records and break many more with constant expansion plans. Qatar Airways has also initiated Hamad International Airport to be the first in the world to design structures specifically to accommodate Airbus A380.

The airport authority plans to expand the airport to accommodate the footfall of passengers who will be visiting the city to watch the FIFA 2022 World Cup. It has been speculated that the airport will need to accommodate a massive passenger capacity as the world cup would bring more passengers and travellers from around the world to Doha. Further, as part of their expansion plans, the airport authority also aims to beautify the central building by adding a tropical garden and a 268-meter tall water feature. They plan to emulate the water feature that is found at Singapore Changi Airport's Jewel complex. Qatar Airways also has proposals to expand its lounge space and make it the world's largest airport lounge.

Facilities at the Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport has a slew of exquisite and world-class services and facilities that make it one of the best airports in the Middle East. With various facilities such as baggage wrapping, porter services, first-class and business class lounge experience, airline-specific lounge, spas, airport hotels and more, travelling to Hamad International Airport is an experience.

Top airlines flying from the Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport caters to a massive number of international destinations by accommodating a slew of airlines. Apart from reserving space for the national carrier, Qatar Airways, some of the airlines that operate from Hamad International Airport include Air India, Air India Express, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, GoAir, Himalayan Airlines, IndiGo, Iran Air, Kuwait Airways, Nepal Airlines, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Jordanian, SalamAir, SriLankan Airlines, Syrian Air, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines. These airlines operating from Hamad International Airport has flights to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Kannur, Mangalore, Dhaka, London, Addis Ababa, Bangalore, Kuwait City, Kathmandu, Muscat, Islamabad, Manila, Paris, Venice, Seoul, Tokyo, Sydney, Zurich, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Colombo and more.

How to reach the Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport is blessed with a slew of connections to the main city of Doha. Travellers can take public bus services, personal taxi cabs, metro and hire car rentals and chauffer-driven limousines.

By Bus

The bus services in Doha have excellent connections to the airport. The buses are operated by Mowasalat, which is the state's transport company. Some of the routes covered by the bus services also include a route to the airport. You can catch a bus to reach Hamad International Airport at affordable rates and the comfort of an air-conditioned bus. The vehicles are clean and maintained perfectly. Not to mention details of the bus with schedules have been shared on the airport's official website.

By Metro

Hamad International Airport has a direct Metro connection. The airport has fast and frequent Metro services that are available on all seven days of a week. You can reach Hamad International Airport from any of the tourist attractions in the city of Doha. You can also use the Metro line and plan a travel itinerary to check out some of the exquisite tourist attractions of Doha. Live updates of the Metro train as well as their schedules are flashed on the station's monitors.

By Taxicab and car rentals

From booking a car rental to hailing a taxi cab, there are many such transport options that you can avail at the airport. You can even opt for airport shuttle service at the hotel you are staying in (provided they have this facility) to reach Hamad International Airport. Further, to upscale your trip, you can book a chauffer-driven limousine service also. The airport has travel booths where you can figure out the ideal transport facility for your budget.