Nasik to Dammam Flights

  About the Nashik

The Wine Capital of India, Nasik (also pronounced as Nashik), is a popular tourist destination and pilgrimage in Maharashtra. The City not only has a lot of temples but is also famous for the Sula Vineyards. According to the Ramayana, the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik is where Laxman cut Shoorpanakha's nose after she misbehaved with him and Lord Rama. It is also how Nashik got its name. Nasik also has the Trimbakeshwar temple which sees devotees from all over the country travelling to offer their prayers. It is believed that this is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. The Trimbakeshwar temple lies between three hills, namely Nilgiri, Brahmagiri and Kalahari. The Kumbh Mela of Nashik also happens in this temple and has a lot of devotees attending the festival.

The Anjaneri Hills, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, is another major tourist attraction here. If you love yourself a nice trek, make sure you climb the hill instead of taking another mode of transportation. Not only is the view breathtakingly beautiful but you'll find peace as you reach the temple. The cave on top of the hill is where Goddess Anjana Devi gave birth to Lord Hanuman, as per beliefs. The hills are named after her.

While you are visiting the Trimbakeshwar temple, make sure you also visit the Dugarwadi Waterfall. It's like paradise for all nature lovers, and you'll only have to trek for 1 or 2 km amidst the forest to get to the waterfall. Nashik has become the most visited and a favourite tourist spot, thanks to the Sula Vineyards. You can go on a wine tasting spree or even learn more about how wine is made here, the right way to consume wine and a lot more. You can book hotel rooms near the Sula Vineyards or book a stay within the vineyard itself.

Nashik is also a popular destination for people to take a break from their urban lifestyle. You'll find a lot of homestays and farmhouses on rent in the City for a fun, relaxing weekend. If you want to club this with a tour of the Vineyards, you can book something closer to the Vineyards. You'll find everything in your budget and will have a good time. Nashik also has a Ramkund, a pond where Lord Rama had performed the final rites of his father, King Dashrath. A lot of people also disperse the ashes of their deceased loved ones, so they attain salvation. You can take a dip in the holy water to either wash away your sins or experience it.

Best Time to Visit Nashik

Winter is the perfect season for you to visit Nashik. It's pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. The winters start from October and last till March. The City experiences monsoon from June to September. While the weather is quite pleasant during monsoon but it's not the best time to travel. You can opt for a monsoon trek to one of the hills around the City, but you will have to be cautious since hilly areas can get a little slippery. April through May are the hottest months in the City. You might want to avoid travelling during this time. The streets will be dry, and it is favourable to plan any trip to Nashik during winter.

Places to Visit in Nashik

Trimbakeshwar temple is believed to be one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples and has lots of devotees coming to offer their prayers. Nashik has a lot of importance and prevalence in Indian mythology. The Anjaneri Hills is where Goddess Anjana Devi gave birth to Lord Hanuman, as per beliefs. The hill is named after her.

You can go trekking at the Brahmagiri Hills or opt for a sunrise trek at Kalsubai. There are options for water babies as well. The Dugarwadi waterfall, Dudhsagar falls, Vihigaon waterfall and the Gangapur dam are only a few places in the City that have a scenic view and will ensure that you have a great time with nature.

Do stop at the Sula Vineyards, too, before you leave from Nashik. It's a famous vineyard, and you will have a great time here. You'll find accommodation quite easily. You can also take some wine back home or grab a souvenir on the way. Panchavati is where Lord Ram, Goddess Sita and Lakshman stayed during their exile. You'll find a lot of places in Nashik where vital incidents from the Ramayana have taken place. Vaitarna River is a popular area to try out water sports.

Things to do in Nashik

From visiting temples to going on a wine tasting spree or going on a trek, there are myriad things you can do in Nashik. Visiting the Sula Vineyards for wine tasting is a favourite activity in the area. You also get to play your part in making more wine and fair warning: you might have to get your hands dirty to experience some wine-making. Go white water rafting at the Vaitarna river to satiate the water baby in you. You will not regret it one bit. You might also want to visit the different waterfalls that Nashik has to offer.

Plan a trek to Dudhsagar falls or the Vihigaon waterfalls, whichever suits you the best. You can also give traditional Maharashtrian food a try while you are in Nashik. You must try out the Missal Pav here, and a couple of other dishes like the Thalipeeth, sabudana vada, vada pavs and the list goes on. You will not regret giving these food items a try. Nashik is a trendy destination in Maharashtra for tourists. You can either hire a guide for yourself or hire a vehicle to get around the City. Either way, it is not very difficult to commute within the City and to the City from other cities.

You also get to live a part of the Ramayana while you are here since a lot of essential chapters from one of the most famous mythological stories have happened here in this City. You can plan a day of temple hopping and embrace your spiritual side. You can sit and meditate for a while at one of the waterfalls or hills that you plan to visit. It will be a scenic and serene environment for you to introspect and will leave you with a smile on your face.

Food and Restaurants in Nashik

Nashik is famous for the plethora of Maharashtrian food that it has to offer. Thalipeeth, Maharashtrian thali, misal pav, sabudana vada, vada pav, are some of the favourite dishes that you must try when you are here. While you might easily get these in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, too, Nashik adds its charm to the food, and you'll relish every bite of it. Heramb is a favourite restaurant when it comes to authentic Maharashtrian food. Have the thalipeeth or modaks at this restaurant whenever you visit it.

Have misal pav at Ambika Misal. You can either make your misal spicier or request for a less spicy misal while you are here. Misal is a prevalent dish, and you can't leave the City without trying one out here. Jogger's Pavilion, Arabian Express are a few places that serve non-vegetarian food and have quite the reputation of serving delicious food.

How to reach Nashik (Transportation)

By Air

Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport Mumbai is the nearest airport to Nashik. The flight connectivity from Mumbai is pretty good through all domestic routes and international routes. After landing in Mumbai, you'll have to take a taxi or hire a car or take the t rain to Nashik. You'll get pretty good flight deals online and if you're lucky, cheap flight tickets, too. Book flight tickets from any metropolitan or small city to Mumbai, the frequency is quite good. Since there are no direct flights to Nashik, especially international ones, Mumbai is the best pitstop. The Indian Armed Forces is currently using the Nashik airport for tests and trials. It is also used as a Customs airport.

By Rail

Nashik has its railway station and the frequency of trains that run to and from Mumbai are quite high. Pick a favourable time and your budget and book a train. You'll also get buses and rickshaws outside Nashik station that will drop you to your hotel rooms.

By Road

Plan a road trip from Mumbai, Pune, Shirdi or Aurangabad to Nashik, and it might not be that bad an idea. If you are not taking out your vehicle, you can hire one or take a bus that starts from these cities. The frequency is quite good, and the experience won't be too gruelling if you are travelling by road. However, if you want extra comfort, we would suggest hiring a car or taking the train. You'll get your personal space while travelling, too.

  About Dammam

Dammam is the sixth-largest city of Saudi Arabia and capital of the Eastern Province of the kingdom. It got its name from the Arabic word 'Dawwama' which means whirlpool. The city has grown potentially and now accounts for about a quarter of the world's total oil reserves. It was the discovery of oil wells in this region that led to its overnight growth and quick success. The city has a growing population of about 1.5 million. The locals here follow their culture and traditions strictly, no matter how much they embrace modernisation in terms of their standard of life. As the city is developing, it is also focusing on making it more tourist-friendly. Dammam has quite a lot of tourist attractions in the city, mainly for you to go with your families. The Dolphin Village has become quite popular and is one place your kids will definitely love. Like most cities in UAE, Dammam also has a vibrant and active shopping scene. You can buy from the top brands, or you can go shopping in the local markets, the choice is yours. Not to mention, you will love the food here.

Best Time to Visit Dammam

Most cities and countries in the UAE witnessed only two seasons, extreme summer and extreme winter. November to April is when Dammam experiences winter. The temperature ranges from 13 to 30 degree Celsius and while the days are warm, the nights get chilly. This is a high tourist season for Dammam. Make sure you book your hotel in Dammam several weeks in advance because the prices will increase closer to winter and availability also might be an issue. You will also have to book your flight tickets to Damman in advance. If done at the last moment, it might get difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Dammam. All the tourist attractions will be accessible during this time. The weather is slightly warmer in March and April as compared to the previous month. Dammam has a couple of diving academies that you can visit during this time if you want to learn diving. The water will not be too cold as compared to December, January and February. It will neither be too cold nor too hot. You can also go on a food tasting tour in winter.

May to October is summer in Dammam, and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 41-degree Celsius. June to August are the hottest months in the city. The scorching heat makes it unbearable for you to step out or sign up for any sightseeing tours for the day. However, evenings and nights are comparatively pleasant. Since the locals also observe fast during Ramadan, a lot of them are given week offs from work. This is a low season for tourism in the country, and you won't even get access to all of the tourist attractions in the city. Needless to say, the hotel prices drop during summer, courtesy the low season. You might, however, come across interesting flight deals to Dammam online and at better prices. It is highly recommended that you travel to Dammam only during winters.

Places to Visit in Dammam

Dammam has a couple of beautiful corniches and also houses a human-made Coral Island. The city is slowly rising as one of the hot vacation destinations and already has a couple of interesting things lined up for tourists. Dolphin Village is one of the major attractions in Dammam. It is situated at the entrance of Coral Island and offers air-conditioned lounge seats so you can catch the dolphin and seal shows with your family and friends. You will have to pay a nominal fee to enter, but it is worth every penny. Make sure you get the best seats though, and to get that, you might have to reach quite early. You can also head to Adventure World that has indoor games, rides and play areas for kids along with some dining options. You can also head to Murakkabat Mountain Park to enjoy the lush greenery amidst a desert. You can either jog here or take a stroll in the park. Share Al-Hob (Love) Market is another tourist spot that you must head to if you want to go on a shopping spree. You can buy a lot of traditional goods here and a couple of souvenirs for your family and friends, too.

Coral Island is a human-made wonder in Dammam that you cannot miss. This is one of the best tourist attractions in the entire city. You can also head to Heritage Village to get a feel of the Saudi culture. Tarout Castle is yet another marvellous tourist attraction that was built in 1600 BC. You can also visit the Dammam Regional Museum. The speciality about the museum is that there are six halls here, each of them showcasing six different categories from the stone age. You can head to Half Moon Bay if you want to learn how to dive and King Fahad Park to relive your childhood.

Things to do in Dammam

One of the first things to do in Dammam is to try the food here. Middle Eastern cuisine is popular all over the world, and there is nothing better than trying it in the Middle East itself. You can either sign up for a guided tour of the city or explore the city on your own. Head over to Heritage Village to get a glimpse of the Saudi culture. Dammam is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and even though it has embraced a modern way of living, the locals make sure they keep their tradition alive. Dammam is the perfect place to head to for a family vacation, especially if you have kids. The Dolphin Village and Adventure World are two of the most entertaining attractions in the city. You can also head to the Tarout Castle, which was built in 1600 BC. If you go for a guided tour of the castle, you will get to know more about the inception of the castle and interesting stories around it. The King Fahad Park is another tourist attraction you can head to spend some leisure time with your family and to relive your own childhood. The city also has several diving academies that you can enrol into and learn how to dive. However, this might only be possible during early winter and late summer when the temperatures are normal. It might get a tad uncomfortable to dive underwater during winter when it is already cold outside, and while summer is the best time to go underwater diving, that's probably the only thing you will get to do on your trip.

Food and Restaurants in Dammam

Dammam is popular for its middle eastern cuisine. Though you get to try cuisines from all over the world in every city in Saudi Arabia, it is the middle eastern food that people love the most. Heritage Village is a very popular restaurant with a very comfortable decor that makes the dining atmosphere delightful. If you are in the mood for some American-style steaks, you can head to Steak House. Manoosha Alreef is popular for its fast food and Lebanese cuisine. Head over to Brasa de Brasil Churrascaria for authentic Brazilian food and to Fayrouz Lebanese Restaurant for lip-smacking middle easter and Lebanese cuisine. You can also try some of the high-end restaurants in the city like Asahi Oan-Asian Restaurant for Japanese and Asian food, Kunefeci for Turkish cuisine, View Cafe for Indian and Arabic cuisines, and Al Diwan for barbecue. Finding a decent restaurant that serves vegetarian food might be a tad difficult since most tourists and locals, too, are meat lovers. However, the food scene is barely disappointing in Dammam, and you will leave both impressed and satiated.

How to reach Dammam (Transportation)

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia is the third major hub for Saudia, which was called Saudi Arabian Airlines before. The flight connectivity to Dammam from India is excellent. Gulf Air and AirArabia have frequent flights to Dammam from India with layovers at Manama and Sharjah. Getting cheap flight tickets to Dammam is not very difficult if you book at the right time. You can also look up exciting flight deals to Dammam online. You might end up getting a good deal if you have planned an impromptu trip. Getting a taxi or shuttle service from the airport to your hotel is quite convenient and not much of a hassle. The staff at the airport is also quite helpful. If you have to wait for a long time to board your flight, you have lots of options inside the airport to help pass the time. The airport is well-equipped with WiFi, smoking areas, restaurants, lounges, cafes, duty-free shops, currency exchange, ATMs and a lot more. In fact, you will also get through immigration and all the other formalities quite quickly since the staff is very efficient.