Nashville to Varanasi Flights

  About Nashville

Nashville is a popular getaway for everyone who loves heading to the East Coast and Midwest in the US. It is the perfect place for travellers who are also food enthusiasts. It is also a great spot for people to throw bachelor and bachelorette parties. You can enjoy country music, head over to the nightclubs to party and numerous cafes. The city attracts a lot of tourists every year and for all the right reasons. There are also high chances that you might run into your favourite celebrity in Nashville. Whether you are at a grocery store or a popular restaurant if you are lucky you might even meet your idol here and be assured that they will pose for a picture with you. The city also has some of the best restaurants that serve everything from hot chicken to barbecue. Combine it with a glass of beer or wine, and you will have a full meal for sure. You will never be left empty-handed with no chores to do in Nashville as the city makes sure that none of the tourists is bored. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Tennessee State Museum are two important landmarks in the city that are worth visiting.

Best Time to Visit Nashville

Nashville is one city that you can visit throughout the year. However, April to October is considered to be the best time to visit the city since the city experiences spring and summer. July is the hottest month while the weather turns quite pleasant in October. The weather conditions in Nashville, however, are unpredictable, and there will be high humidity with increased chances of thunderstorms. Make sure you book your hotels in Nashville several weeks in advance since the prices surge at this time of the year. Book your flight tickets to Nashville in advance to avoid the surge prices. You will also find a lot of tourists heading to Nashville in early spring and summer. The temperature ranges from 8 to 32 degree Celsius. You can attend events like Rock' n' Roll Nashville Marathon and Nashville Comedy Festival in April, Country Music Festival and Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman in June, AmericanaFest and Music City Food and Wine Festival in September.

November to March is the winter season in Nashville, and the temperature ranges from -3 to 16 degree Celsius. Nashville witnesses snowfall from December to February. Make sure you pack your warm clothes. You can attend events like the CMA Awards in November, A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland and Music City Bowl in December and Jack Daniel's Music City Midnight: New Year's Eve in Nashville in January. It is not the most popular tourist season, and you might get exciting flight deals to Nashville during this time. The hotel prices also drop during this time, so if you were to head to Nashville in winter, you might get a great deal on accommodation. You can book a hotel in Nashville at the last moment or even plan an impromptu trip to the city and not worry about where to stay.

Places to Visit in Nashville

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Orlando. You will also learn a lot about the history of country music. Ryman Auditorium is yet another tourist spot that you must visit. It first opened in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle for Samuel Porter Jones, who was a revivalist. It is now a popular venue for live music concerts and seats over 2362 people. Wildhorse Saloon is a popular attraction that offers free line dancing lessons and also hosts live music events and parties. Nashville Parthenon was built in 1897 and is a replica of the 42 feet Athenian replica. It is also an art museum that showcases the works by 19th and 20th-century artists. While you enjoy the vibrant music scene in the city, you can also head to the Arrington Vineyards. It was established in 2003 and became officially open for business from 2007. It is owned by country music artist Kix Brooks, industrialist John Russel and winemaker Kip Summers. They also have a wine club with exclusive membership. Frist Center for the Visual Arts showcases new artworks quite frequently, and you must head over to the centre if you are an art lover.

Belle Meade Plantation is an architectural and historical landmark in Nashville. It was founded by John Harding in 1807 and is spread across 34 acres of land. Tennessee State Capitol is another important tourist attraction in Nashville. It was built in 1859 and inspired by Greek ionic temple architecture. You will find a lot of monuments on the Capitol grounds and opt for a historical tour of the place. If you are visiting cathedrals, you might also want to visit the Cathedral of the Incarnation. This was the third cathedral that was built in the city and has undergone several renovations, but it remains to be one of the most charming places in the city. You can also visit the Tennessee State Museum and Cumberland Park, and both are great places for you to head to with your kids to make the trip a tad more educational.

Things to do in Nashville

Nashville is known for its country music, and if you love the genre, you will love visiting Nashville. You can sign up for a guided tour of the city with a local to cover all the best spots in the city. You can also explore the city on your own. However, if you are visiting the city with your family, it is best to hire a local guide who will not only show you the best spots in Nashville but also tell you all the interesting facts and stories about the place. Head over to Broadway, a vital part of the city with pubs and lounges that also have live music. You can also go bar hopping here since all the clubs are quite close to each other. You can take a tour of the Grand Ole Opry where the country's top performers like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley have also performed. The Belle Meade Plantation is one of the best places in Nashville where you can take a ton of pictures. The mansion is also home to several animals like horses, bison, etc. Sign up for a Jack Daniel's Distillery tour that starts from Nashville, and you will also get to go for the free tastings here. To add more romance to your trip, try the General Jackson Showboat lunch or dinner cruise.

Foods and Restaurants in Nashville

Fried chicken and barbecued pork dominated the dining scene in Nashville earlier, but the city has welcomed all kinds of foods with open arms. You will be happy to hear that the restaurants in the city serve delicious food while making sure that your cholesterol doesn't shoot up. The food here is quite healthy so you will only have to make certain alterations to your diet if you are on one. You will find a lot of Mediterranean, Indian, Italian, Mexican and Cajun cuisines in the city. It is best to sign up for a food tour to get to the best restaurants in the city. Prince's Hot Chicken Shack Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish, Hattie B's are some of the popular restaurants where you can try Nashville's hot chicken. You can also sample some delicacies at Black Rabbit and a lot of other Southern food and burger joints in the neighbourhood. Dining at Butcher & Bee and The Treehouse Restaurant is highly recommended. Nashville has an impressive line-up of breweries and distilleries that you must visit. You can also go bar hopping along the Broadway. The Cupcake Collection and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams are the best places for desserts. You can head over to Five Points Pizza for a delicious Italian meal. Rodizio Grill is also pretty popular for its steak and Brazilian cuisine. If you are in the mood to try some Mexican food, head over to Bartaco.

How to reach Nashville

Nashville International Airport is the nearest on to the city and was built in 1987. The flight connectivity to Nashville from India is quite good. American Airlines and British Airways have frequent flights to Nashville from India with layovers at New York, Chicago, Dallas and London. It is not very easy to get cheap flight tickets to Nashville, and the journey can be a tad strenuous since it is over 20 hours. However, if you book well in advance, you might get exciting flight deals to Nashville online. To celebrate the musical culture of Nashville, the airport hosts live music events for passengers, and there couldn't be a better welcome to the city than this. You will also find premium lounges, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas and children's play areas at the airport. The taxi and car rental service from the airport are convenient and easily accessible, too. You can either pre-book your ride to the hotel from the airport or find one at the airport itself.

  About Varanasi

India's spiritual capital, Varanasi, is one of the holiest cities in the country. It is also called Kashi or Banaras and is located on the western banks of the Ganges. The Kashi Vishwanath temple, which is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of the most important and oldest temples in the city. It is also considered as one of the most auspicious places to die and is believed that you will get salvation or liberation from the cycle of life and death if you die here. The Ganga aarti that happens here in the evening is a sight to behold. The chants reverberate across the city, and it's a wonderful experience. The city has a lot of devotees and international tourists visiting considering the fact that it is a holy and popular city. Not just Hindus but Varanasi is an important city for Buddhists, too.

Best Time to Visit Varanasi

Winter is considered to be the best time to head to Varanasi. The temperature is low, and it is breezy all day, making it the right time to venture out. Winter here starts from November and lasts till February. The temperature ranges from 5 to 15 degree Celsius. This is best for you to take a stroll outside or explore the city. Chilling by the ghats with a cup of tea is simply ideal during this season. Since it is peak season, you might come across interesting flight deals to Varanasi online. Book a hotel in Varanasi that is closer to the main tourist spots so you won't have to spend additional time travelling. If you are in the city during this season, don't miss out on being a part of the Mahashivratri celebrations here.

July to October witnesses the monsoon season in Banaras, and the city receives torrential rainfall. Despite the heavy rains, the city sees a lot of pilgrims coming to offer their prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The temperature ranges from 25 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius. Even though the monsoon can put a damper on your plans to go sightseeing or venture out altogether, it does add a lot of charm to the beauty of the city. You can get drenched in the rains and enjoy the view from the ghats. In fact, river Ganga looks the best during monsoon, and it will surely please the water baby in you.

The city experiences summer from March to June. April and May are the hottest months, and the temperature rises to 45 degree Celsius. Planning any outdoor activity during the summer can turn into a bad decision. Though the areas near the ghats are somewhat pleasant, you won't be able to do any of the activities that you would otherwise take up in winter.

Places to Visit in Varanasi

The Kashi Vishwanath temple is among the top places to visit in Banaras. Since Banaras is considered as a holy city, you will find a lot of temples and spiritual places in the city. Apart from the temples, the city also has a lot of ghats you must go to. The Dashashwamedha ghat is of utmost importance and is also where the Ganga aarti takes place. The Hindu myth states that Lord Brahma sacrificed 10 horses in a yagna at this very spot, which is how the ghat got its name. The Assi Ghat is where you can soak in the view of the holy city and embrace your spirituality. A lot of pilgrims worship Lord Shiva here by praying to a huge lingam that is under a peepal tree. The Manikarnika Ghat is considered to be an auspicious place to be cremated. The Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple is also a popularly visited place of worship.

You will also find Buddhist temples in the city like the Tibetan temple. Folklore suggests that this is the spot where Lord Buddha guided his disciples to follow the path of spirituality. The Panchganga ghat is yet another ghat worth visiting. This is believed to be the meeting place of holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kirana and Dhutpapa. A lot of travellers come here to experience all the positivity and peaceful vibes of the ghat. Kedar Ghat is considered to be the cleanest ghats in the city to bathe before offering your prayers in a temple. You will find a palace and an observatory built by Maharaja Man Singh and Savai Jaisingh 2 respectively, in the 17th century, at the Manmandir Ghat. The view of River Ganga from the palace and the observatory is simply spectacular.

Things to do in Varanasi

The Kashi Vishwanath temple is known to be one of the oldest temples in the city and is also one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the world. Take a tour of all the temples in the city during your trip to Banaras. Apart from temples, you can also take a tour of the ghats to soak in the beautiful view of the Ganges. Most ghats in the city are of mythological and historical importance. Some even have religious and spiritual significance. The Dashashwamedha ghat, Assi Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat and the list goes on. Taking a bath in the holy Ganges is something that every pilgrim does in Banaras. It is believed that taking a dip in the Ganges relieves you of all your sins. It will certainly be an experience of a lifetime for you. Go boating at river Ganga and catch the most mesmerizing sunset. You will feel rejuvenated instantly.

Don't forget to visit Sarnath, which is approximately 13 km away from the city. The Dhamek Stupa is of spiritual importance, and a must-visit if you want to learn more about Buddhism. You can also visit the Tibetan temple, another sacred place of worship for Buddhists. You cannot miss the Ganga aarti that happens in the evening before dusk. It is the most magnificent thing to experience, and no videos on the internet do justice to how spectacular it is when you watch it live. Varanasi is also known for its street food and the delicious aloo puris. Banaras is also popular for its Lassi, and you can't leave without treating yourself to a glass of lassi. Banarasi silk sarees, chikankari work and items that can be used for your pujas; you will find everything you need at the markets in Banaras. The local bazaars are the best places to go on a shopping spree.

Food and Restaurants in Varanasi

Varanasi is famous for its desi delicacies that will be a delight to your taste buds. The Kachori sabzis, chena dahi vada, choora matar, thandai, lassi, baati chokha, tamatar chaat, etc. are some of the popular street foods in Banaras. The city also has a lot of cafes and restaurants that serve great food with a relaxing ambience, and some even have a view of the Ganges. You must definitely try the lassis and thandais in the city. Since this is considered to be a sacred city of religious importance, it will be difficult to find any alcohol here, especially anywhere near the temples.

The Brown Bread Bakery, near the Dashashwamedh Ghat, is the city's first organic bakery and is also a rooftop restaurant. It is popular for its European Breakfast Buffet, and the view from the rooftop restaurant only adds to the ambience. The Lotus Lounge is yet another popular terrace lounge in the city that's right next to the Mansarovar ghat. The whole decor of the place will lift your mood instantly. Make sure you also order the hot chocolate here. Rooftop Restaurant at Assi Ghat is another restaurant that you must go to in Banaras. The restaurant has Chinese, Continental and Indian cuisine on its menu. Kashi Chaat Bhandar at Godowlia Chowk is the place to go to if you are in the mood for some chaat. The tomato chaat here, which is served in mud pots, is worth a try and you will definitely love it. Though it is a small place, it is always crowded early in the morning and in the evenings. In fact, some travellers even agree to wait in the queue for hours to try the chaat here.

How to reach Varanasi (Transportation)

By Air

Banaras has its own airport called Varanasi Airport. The flight connectivity from Varanasi is quite limited, though, and it is only connected to major cities like Mumbai and Delhi. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the closest international airport nearby. You will easily get taxis or buses from Delhi. In fact, a connecting flight from Delhi is one of the most popular routes to Varanasi by air. Make sure you book your flight tickets to Varanasi well in advance.

By Rail

The Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction connect to the various other major cities in the country. The Rajdhani Express also passes through Varanasi. It's also a very convenient and budget-friendly way to travel to Varanasi.

By Road

The city is also well-connected by roads. Buses and taxis from other cities of Uttar Pradesh and nearby cities run frequently to Varanasi.

  About Varanasi Airport

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport or popularly known as Varanasi Airport is located in Babatpur, located about 26 km away from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Initially, the airport was called Varanasi Airport. However, the airline was renamed as Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport to honour the second Prime Minister of India, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The change of name took place in 2005. It is known to be the 20th busiest airport in India, with respect to passenger traffic. The airport is also the second-busiest airport in Uttar Pradesh, following Lucknow, the state capital. Varanasi Airport is recognised for its passenger traffic that comes from domestic as well as international routes. As a holy city, the airport has been witnessing a growth in passengers and even cargo traffic. The airline features a single runway made of asphalt with two exits and one main apron. The airport connects to prominent domestic cities and international ones too that are in proximity to the country.

About Varanasi Airport Terminals

Currently, Varanasi Airport has three terminals, one reserved for domestic, one for international and one for cargo. The domestic terminal is perfectly equipped with modern technologies and the most modern facilities. These include escalators as well as baggage handling systems. Meanwhile, the international terminal has exemplary operations which connect to various cities abroad. Not to mention how the airport is also equipped with the necessary facilities to cater to the comfort of the passengers. The cargo terminal is half a kilometre away from the passenger airport terminal. The cargo does have facilities such as warehouse and transportation facilities for the cargo goods. The cargo terminal also has strong security that ensures to keep the goods safe. The floor area of the domestic and international terminals as measured, rounds up to 26,500 square metres. The terminals have been kept clean and spotless. Many travellers have advocated for the same by stating how Varanasi Airport is neat and has some of the finest facilities.

There are about 16 check-in counters and are also equipped with CUTE (common-user terminal equipment), four immigration booths as well as emigration counters, two baggage-claim conveyor belts and enough snack stalls. The terminal also has a seating area in the upper-level with aerobridge gates. Meanwhile, the ground-level terminal directly reaches the aircraft apron.

About airport authority

Due to the demand for Varanasi Airport has increased over the years, the Airports Authority of India has planned to expand the runway. The current runway is sprawled across 9,020 ft, but the AAI plans to expand it to 13,369 ft. An underpass to connect to the airport is also being constructed as part of the expansion plan. This underpass will be intersecting with National Highway 31. The new terminal that the airport authority has proposed is speculated to be completed by 2024. Overall, the area of the newly expanded airport would be 58,691 square metres. The passenger capacity would also be increased to 4.5 million annually.

Facilities at Varanasi Airport

Baggage - There are excellent baggage facilities available at the Varanasi Airport. Some of them include provisions of free baggage cost, trolleys, wrapping services and more. The airport does not have a storage facility as such for baggage. However, it does have dedicated security checks for bags as well as wrapping services. You can safeguard your bags from damage by wrapping them with plastic. Plus, you can use the trolleys, present at regular intervals, to keep all your bags together.

Restaurants and cafes - Although designated entertainment zones are not available at the airport. However, it does have some restaurants and cafes within its premise. Passengers after check-in can find some food joints at the waiting lounge. The restaurants are mostly local cuisine-based and made in a hygienic environment. The meals are fresh and made right in front of the customers. The prices of the meals and refreshments are also quite reasonable and affordable. Unlike how some of the big airports have exorbitant rates for the meals, Varanasi Airport has considerably affordable prices for their meals. You can find them at the departures and arrivals sections of the airport.

Shopping outlets - Further, to enhance the entertainment quotient and to add to the tourism of the state, the airport has reserved some stalls for shops. You can find local handicrafts, jewellery, books, magazines, newspapers and more such products. These can be found after the security-check, at the departures lounge. You can make some last-minute purchases too if need be. The prices vary, depending on what you wish to purchase.

ATMs - Varanasi sees a lot of international travellers who need to return to Delhi for their flights abroad. Hence, the airport has ensured to provide ATMs and foreign exchange services. You can find these booths at the airport's arrivals section of the terminal. The ATMs are enabled to read all types of debit cards, and money can be withdrawn. As for money transfers, the currency exchange counters are available for the same.

Special assistance - At the airport, you can ask for special assistance if you have mobility issues or need help. The airport staff has been trained to cater to the needs of the passengers with respect to traversing within the vicinity. This includes getting the baggage checked or to pass through the security check. Provisions of wheelchairs have also been made as part of their services to the passengers. Senior citizens and individuals with mobility concerns can avail the same. Informing the airlines with special requirements would be ideal as that way, the airport would be prepared with all the necessary equipment.

Medical services - With a view to attending medical emergencies, Varanasi Airport has also reserved special provisions for the same. Although there are not many medical rooms or paramedics available at the airport, they have on-call doctors plus staff to help with the medical emergencies. The airport also has pharmacies, in case you have run out of any specific medication from your list. Information concerning the medical services can be found at the airport's information desk.

Smoking rooms - Smoking lounges are available at Varanasi Airport. Although smoking is prohibited in public, the airport has installed one smoking zone where passengers can smoke. There are provisions for cigarette boxes also present at the airport's premise.

Top airlines flying from Varanasi Airport

Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport sees a tremendously good connection with major cities in India. The airport also accommodates a slew of airlines and has international flights too. The major domestic airlines that operate from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport are Air India, Alliance Air, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara. As for international flights from Varanasi Airport, these include Air India Express, Buddha Air, Malindo Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Smile. The airport connects to domestic cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Agra, Chennai, Gaya, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Jaipur, Goa, Khajuraho, to name a few. Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport also sees flights connecting to international cities such as Bangkok, Colombo and Kuala Lumpur.

How to reach Varanasi Airport

By Bus and taxi

The bus stand is centrally located in Varanasi and is away from the airport. There are no bus stands or direct buses that would reach the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. The only way to reach the airport would be to hail a taxicab or get a car rental. You can find rentals at the airport's arrivals section. The perks of rentals are that once your trip concludes, you can directly take the transport service to the airport and drop it there. This way, you avoid the concerns of being stranded without any transport. The best way to reach Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport is by hailing auto rickshaws. The city has an abundance of rickshaw services that travellers can avail.

By Rail

The distance between Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport and Varanasi Railway Station is approximately 18.9 km. Often travellers who are travelling from other parts of Uttar Pradesh use the railway as a means to reach the city. Hence, for you to reach Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport from the railway station, it is essential to take a taxi cab. Auto-rickshaws are also available outside the railway station that you can hail to reach Varanasi Airport. It will take more than 30 minutes to reach Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport from the railway station though. You will have to prepare yourself for the travel time as it heavily depends on the traffic situations too. Luckily, the railway station always has rickshaw and taxi services available to connect to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.

About Varanasi

Varanasi, popularly known as Benares or Kashi, is a holy city that is perched on the banks of the Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is about 320 kilometres away from the state capital, Lucknow. It is considered to be one of the seven holiest cities and sees tremendous significance in Hinduism and Jainism. The city is served by Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport and Varanasi Junction railway station. The city also has connections with Buddhism and is considered to be one of the most visited holy cities in the country.