Raipur to London Flights

  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 London

London is recognised to be one of the most famous cities in the world, known to be the capital of the United Kingdom. It is also known to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. London is a city that has traversed through time to see history in the making. Much like New York City, London is also recognised as one of the biggest economic, cultural, political, education, finance, healthcare and more. London is also raved to host some of the biggest names in the education business.

Best time to visit London

London is known to be rather dreary with a dull climate that takes up most of the year. However, the spring season in London is lovely and something you'll definitely fancy. March through May are months where the city breathes air under the bright sun sans the clouds. The temperatures are between 10 degree Celsius to 17 degree Celsius, which makes for a perfect vacation. It does manage to grab the attention of potential tourists from within the UK as well as internationally. The late spring and summers in London especially get a lot of tourists. Not to mention how the city also thrives with amazing festivals such as Virgin Money London Marathon, Museums at Night State Opening of Parliament, London Coffee Festival, St Patrick's Day Festival and Parade, to name a few. This time in the city is simply super pleasant and something that many tourists would want to experience. You can further see many gardens and parks blossom while the summer makes its way within the city. Of course, it also comes at a rather harsh cost which will affect your pockets. The hotel prices in London during peak season is just as expensive. Thanks to the humongous crowd that the city witnesses, it is not surprising that the hotels and accommodations also spike up their charges.

Prior booking of hotels in London will help you deal with this conundrum. However, the packed streets and city bustle could be a tad bit annoying. Considering how London is a big city with streets always full of people, it is something you're going to have to adjust with. September to November also sees a considerable number of tourists in the city as the fall weather is just as pristine. The autumn foliage forms quite a scenery that travellers would appreciate. The hotel accommodations are also decently priced. You might even get cheap hotel rooms in London during this time. It is essential that no matter which season you choose to visit London, there is going to be some amount of rain. Basically, you will have to pack in such a way that you are able to show off your winter wardrobe and at the same time protect them from the rainy weather. Rains in London are notorious and have a mind of their own. It often starts showering when you least expect. Hence, an umbrella would be the best companion for you during your London trip.

Places to visit in London

As one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the world, London has far too many tourist attractions within the city. It does house the royals, after all. You can start your trip by checking out the famous British Museum, which is an archaeological treasure trove. You can further go ahead and visit the Tower of London, an important structure in the city. Learn about its historical significance because it is quite interesting. Without a doubt, the Buckingham Palace should be on your list as it is where the royals of the UK live. It is the London home of Queen Elizabeth II and has its gates open for tourists. Westminster Abbey is another beautiful and archaic church which is known for the weddings and coronations of the many royals of the UK. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are posh and relaxed areas in the city where you can visit to relax. While you're here, do not miss the National Gallery, comprising of a labyrinth interior that would certainly intrigue you. The Tower Bridge has found itself in several movies by now and should be on your travel list too.

Things to do in London

The city has far too many places that would attract tourists for shopping. The Camden Market would be a good place to start the excursion. This market caters to over 200 stalls and has everything one looks for in London. The West End Theatre District is an astounding place that is quite the rendition of New York city's recognised Broadway. Several big production houses and artists flock over to put up their shows, and you should witness them all. Piccadilly Circus is another lively part of the city, basically the heart of London, where you can indulge in street shopping or bar hopping. You will be thoroughly entertained by the lights and life of the city. Speaking of which, pub crawls are a big thing that happens in London, something you should totally try as they are fun. Plus, it would be a great way to network with people and return home with some fine memories.

Food and Restaurants in London

London's staple food fish and chips, bangers and mash and mince meat pies. However, over the years, the city has managed to upscale its culinary establishments to encourage a plethora of global cuisine. The city now houses the classic British cuisine and the curry magic from the Indian kitchen. With so many choices to pick from, the city only gets better for a foodie. It is important that you know where you should go when in London. The best way to do that would be to opt for a food tour, which is available in the city. In London, high tea experiences are a big deal, and you should definitely get some of that action. The Langham, London, Claridge or even The Lanesborough, are some establishments that would give you the experience that you seek. Make sure to book prior reservations and dress up for the outing. If you've got enough pounds in your pockets and wish to further explore the upscale dining experience, you can view some of the city's Michelin-starred restaurants in the Clerkenwell neighbourhood. While you're on your food voyage, do not miss St. John, a place recognised for its ability to utilise every part of the meat.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay also has a slew of restaurants and food establishments in the city that you could indulge in. Plus, Jamie Oliver also has his own set of restaurants within the city to upscale your dining experience. Other fancy locations in London include Sketch who have egg pods in place of traditional washroom stalls, The Attendant Cafe, Sushi Samba and Duck & Waffle, to name a few. To indulge in some lovely Indian cuisine, you can visit some of the curry houses located on Brick Lane. UK's pub culture is something you simply cannot miss. It defines the British lifestyle and is also one of the top attractions. You can either go to traditional pubs such as Magners or a little modern like Strongbow.

How to reach London (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to London from India is exemplary. There are regular direct flights as well as connecting flights reserved for London. Since the city witnesses a lot of tourists from India, provisions to service a regular flight to London has been made by various airlines. The best thing about flights to London from India is how they have the option of a direct flight, which reduces the duration of travel. British Airways is one such airline that has nonstop direct flights to London from cities in India, such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Chennai. Other airlines that fly to London from India are Turkish Airlines, IndiGo, Lufthansa, Emirates, Oman Air, Etihad Airways, Air France, Swiss, KLM Royal Dutch, to name a few. These airlines follow the international routes of the Middle East and Europe to reach London. Hence, their layovers and connecting flights are from cities such as Munich, Amsterdam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Zurich, Muscat, Paris and more. The duration of a layover is not too much, which makes travelling easier, even if there are direct flights to London.

A nonstop flight to London from Mumbai takes approximately nine hours and ten minutes, barring the weather conditions and other delays. Flight tickets to London are quite cheap and affordable. Many airlines begin their flight tickets to London from INR 30,000. There is no major compromise in the flight duration as the maximum it can go up to is 13-14 hours. It is essential that you pick the right airlines to fly to London as the possibility of longer layovers is high. If you manage to get some online flight deals on tickets to London, your budget will further get a nice bonus. In fact, you can use this opportunity to book your hotels in London as well. It is a known fact that London accommodations are exorbitant, as is travelling within the city. To avoid splurging extra on hotel rooms in London, you can make hotel reservations ahead of time along with your flight tickets to London. That way, you will end up saving a major chunk of your money, which can be used to travel more within the city and to purchase loads of souvenirs.

  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.