Srinagar to Charlotte Flights

  About Srinagar

Called as the Paradise on Earth, Srinagar is located in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, near the banks of river Jhelum. It is a significant tourist attraction along with Ladakh. The city is known for its enchanting lakes, colourful boats, Kashmiri handicrafts and their culture, of course. Since it is one of the most popular tourist locations, it is well-connected with all the major cities in the country. The town also plays muse to several poets and lyricist who use the river Jhelum a lot in their poems or songs. The markets in the city will also ensure you take a piece of the town with you back home through a souvenir of sorts.

Best Time to Visit Srinagar

No matter what season it is, Srinagar is a sight to behold throughout the year. Different seasons come with different kinds of activities for you to do. Summer, which is from March to June) is the apt season to visit the city if you are on your honeymoon. The tulip garden that blooms during the summer adds to the beauty of the town. Booking a hotel in Srinagar if you are on your honeymoon comes with a lot of offers. You can choose from a lot of options. The summer is not too harsh here. The maximum temperature touches 30 degree Celsius, and the lowest is 14 degree Celsius. You will also come across excellent flight deals for Srinagar during this time.

It does not rain a lot in Srinagar, but the monsoon is from July through September. Autumn sets in from September to October, and this is the most beautiful season, too. The weather is pleasant, and the entire city turns into a spectacular garden. Though it will be a tad bit cold, so do pack your winter clothes. Visiting the Dal lake during this season on a Shikara ride is an experience you won't forget.

October to February is winter and the temperature ranges between 0 to 15 degree Celsius. Winter is a peak season and ideal for multitudes of tourists to fly to Srinagar. The locals of Srinagar celebrate Shivratri and Nuroz (an Armenian festival) by the end of winter. You will have to book flight tickets to Srinagar during this season since most roads are blocked, thanks to heavy snowfall. Travelling by road is also not a very popular route to reach Srinagar during winters. This is also one of the best times to go trekking in Srinagar. You can either find a group within the city itself and join them, or you can book one online, in advance.

Places to Visit in Srinagar

Dal Lake is one of the major attractions of Srinagar and for all the right reasons. Be amazed at the reflection of the mountains that fall on the lake. Take a gondola ride and lots of pictures, too. You cannot go to Srinagar and not visit the Tulip Garden. The Shalimar Bagh, a garden built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his wife Noor, is another major tourist attraction. While you are visiting Dal Lake, make sure you also pay a visit to Char Chinar, an island that is in the middle of the lake. It is one of the most visited places in the city.

The Shankaracharya temple, built to honour Lord Shiva, is on the top of a hill in Srinagar. It is recognised as one of the most sacred shrines in the city. For all, you adventure lovers out there, do go for the Tarsar Marsar trek in the Aru Valley of Kashmir. You will find quite a few tour guides and packages to go trekking in the valley.

Things to do in Srinagar

You can take a Shikara ride across the Dal lake and be mesmerised by the beauty of the city. The city also has floating markets, which is a kind of experience you will only get in this part of the country. Paragliding is one of the activities that the city offers to its tourists. It is one of the adventurous activities that you must try here. If you are not too keen on booking a hotel in Srinagar, you can also choose to stay in a houseboat. It is one of the most sought options in the city and who wouldn't want to wake up to the view of the mighty mountains and the scenic Dal Lake. Srinagar is a city with a lot of gardens and greenery.

Visit the enchanting Mughal gardens and the Tulip garden, too. You can take a heritage walking tour of the city or go paragliding if you are a fan of adventure sports. You can also opt to go on a shopping spree in the local markets or for a street food crawl. Try the local cuisines and explore the culture further. With the rising political tension, make sure you also study the current scenario of the city along with that of its neighbours before you plan a trip to Srinagar. You do not want to get stuck amid a difficult situation.

Along with its spices and food, Srinagar is also famous for its rich culture. If you are in the city during any of the festivals celebrated here, make sure that you attend it and be a part of it. You won't regret it at all. No matter what season it is, the city never fails to cast its spell on you with its beauty.

Food and Restaurants in Srinagar

It's no secret that Kashmiri food is rich in flavour and a lot of spices like saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. are used to serve that aromatic food. It's a treat for your taste buds. The Kashmiri Biryani, Kahwa, even Dum Aloo is worth a try when you visit the city. You will come across a lot of Mughlai cuisines with a blend of Kashmiri spices in the food. Mughal Darbar is one of the most popular places to dine in the city.

If it is snacks and coffees that you are in the mood for, you can visit the Cafe De Linz or Coffea Arabica. Both of these cafes are the perfect combination of ambience and good food. Ahdoos is also a popular joint that offers authentic Kashmiri food at affordable prices. If you are in the mood for a luxe dining experience, head over to The Chinar at The Lalit Grand Palace for an exquisite dinner. Not only do they serve mouth-watering delicacy, but the outdoor restaurant adds to the pleasant ambience while dining. Jade Dragon at Vivanta by Taj is yet another restaurant that you must definitely try if it is a five-star treatment that you want to experience. The Kashmiri Kahwa, which is a kind of tea made in Kashmiri style, is also highly recommended when you holiday in Srinagar.

How to reach Srinagar (Transportation)

By Air

The Sheikh ul Alam International Airport or the Srinagar International Airport is about 15 km away from the city. Srinagar airport also serves as a military airbase to the Indian Air Force. While the airport welcomes domestic flights with excellent connectivity, it does have designated airlines or space for international flights despite being recognised as one. There are domestic flights from Srinagar that regularly fly to Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chandigarh and other major cities. However, international flights from Srinagar are comparatively less to non-existent. The flight connectivity from Srinagar to other cities nationally and internationally is excellent. Some great domestic airlines such as AirAsia India, GoAir, SpiceJet, Vistara, IndiGo, Air India and more have dedicated flights to Srinagar. If booked earlier, you will even get cheap flight tickets to Srinagar and exclusive flight online deals. The airport is about 12 km away from the central city of Srinagar. But thanks to fantastic inter-city transport such as government-run buses and taxi cabs, it is convenient for tourists to reach the central town and check into their hotel rooms.

By Rail

Jammu Tawai is the closest railway station to reach Srinagar. It is about 290 km away from the city. You will have to hire a taxi from the station and enter the beautiful city. Travelling by train will not burn a hole in your pocket at all, and you'll also get to enjoy the stunning scenic views of the lush green valley. The domestic route to Srinagar also connects to Banihal, which is on the other side of Pir Panjal, thanks to the new Banihal tunnel that has been constructed. The tunnel is 11 km long and has found fame for the same. In fact, it is known to be the longest rail tunnel to have been built and takes approximately 9 minutes to cross to the other side.

By Road

The most popular routes to Srinagar by road are connected from Chandigarh, Gulmarg, Jammu, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Delhi. Though a road trip does sound like a lot of fun and easier way to travel, the roads are closed during late winter because of heavy snowfall. It is advisable to travel by air during winter.

  About Charlotte

Charlotte is known to be the most populated city in the state of North Carolina. The city is the most recognised economic, cultural and transportation hub of the state. It is also one of the fastest-growing metropolitan cities in the country. Charlotte witnesses a great crowd during peak seasons as it has a favourable climate and boasts impeccable tourist attractions.

Best time to visit Charlotte

Charlotte's weather from March through May and September through November is practically perfect for a visit. The biggest perk of these months is that Charlotte's hotel prices drop tremendously, making it easier on the pockets. Spring is ideal as it invites warm temperatures and sets a base to the summer that is about to take over eventually. Despite being cold during spring, the transition of the weather is beautiful and definitely worth experiencing. April is considered the best by other tourists too, making travelling and hotels a little expensive. Only slightly though. The city welcomes amazing festivals such as Tuck Fest, Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte Craft Beer Week, St Patrick's Day Parade, Charlotte Wine and Foods Weekend and Kings Drive Art Walk. These are some attractions that do get many tourists to flock over to Charlotte. This is followed by the summer, which is the peak season. The city is hot and quite expensive during summers, which could reflect badly on your pockets. Not to mention how it is jam packed with far too many tourists who come over from different parts of the world.

September to November in Charlotte is another ideal season. The summer crowd start to depart as the autumn season takes over the city. The best part is the hotel prices in Charlotte also drop during autumn as the tourist crowd disappears. The fall foliage at Charlotte is a visual spectacle that shouldn't be missed. The city's events calendar continues to celebrate many more festivals as more events are hosted during autumn. Activities such as Festival in the Park, Great Grapes! Wine, Arts & Food Festival, The Great Pumpkin Fest and Yiasou Greek Festival are some of the highlights. Overall, there are far too many beautiful sights to soak in when visiting Charlotte. You can make your hotel bookings in Charlotte done prior to the visit. In fact, if you do it months in advance, even if it is offseason, you will be in for some lovely online deals. From flights to hotels in Charlotte, you will manage to find some compelling online deals that will reduce the cost and leave you with more money, which you can splurge on food and other fun activities in the city.

Places to visit in Charlotte

The Queen City is recognised to be a big deal among petrolheads who are passionate about racing. The city also has some prestigious museums and food establishments to keep people engaged. You can start your trip with Discovery Place. It is a science museum which is great for individuals who are interested in science and concepts like physics and more. Mint Museum Uptown is an abode to some varied European and American art. The exhibits are contemporary and look really interesting. Billy Graham Library is one such place where America's Pastor, Billy Graham, grew up. It has been converted into a Christian book store and also a mini library with exhibits of Graham's life. You also have Levine Museum of the New South, which focuses on post-Civil War history. Of course, it would be a shame to not visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The museum has exhibits of plaques dedicated to drivers who have made an impact on the race track. While you're at the NASCAR museum, you can also check out the Charlotte Moto Speedway, probably even catch a race show in action.

Things to do in Charlotte

You can head straight to US National Whitewater Centre to engage in some fun kayaking and whitewater rafting. The place has the Catawba river flowing through Charlotte where often adventure junkies head to for some activities. You can also take up paddleboarding as one of the activities. Carowinds is another compelling space which is an amusement park with fun and engaging rides. Aside from this, you can always make the most of the city by going on a food and wine tour. The city's food and wine culture are quite thriving and interesting. Plus, it is also an excellent way to meet up with new people and interact with them. You can also participate in brewery crawls to check out some of the fascinating breweries around Charlotte.

Food and Restaurants in Charlotte

Charlotte's food culture is a beautiful melange of modern with Southern as its main attractions. Farm-to-fork menus are popular as they resonate the most with the traditional background of the city. But Charlotte also has a plethora of food establishments that rave international cuisine. To experience the city's best Southern taste and fried chicken, you should visit Price's Chicken Coop. Although the ambience and services might not be the best at Price's, the fried chicken certainly make up for what they lack otherwise. You should make sure to carry cash instead of a card payment at Price's because they're still primitive when it comes to the exchange of money. Plus, you will also have to wait in a long line as the restaurant's fame comes with a price, that of excess customers. Another cheap and tasty restaurant to check out is Midnight Diner. You can expand your menu from fried chicken to some Carolina-styled barbequed meat. Check out Midwood Smokehouse, Mac's Speed Shop and Queen City Q to get a whiff of the smokey barbequed meat and even a bite of the same.

The city also raves fine dining and steakhouses, which is perfect for business travellers who wish to take their clients to a place with lip-smacking food. Upscale food establishments can be found in the Uptown area of Charlotte. As long as you're ready to splurge a good amount, you can visit Halcyon Flavours From The Earth. You can also get away from the city and head to places such as Good Food On Montford, Fig Tree and Stagioni, for an intimate yet delicious setting and food. Soul Gastrolounge is one such establishment that you simply cannot miss. The place offers an array of beautiful dishes and is perpetually busy, which only means it's as good as people say. Queen City Charlotte also has a thriving crafted beer scene that you should indulge in along with some lovely appetisers. There are many breweries such as NoDa Brewing Company, Birdsong Brewing Company and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, to try some of their crafted beer and food. You will not be disappointed by the beautiful flavours and tastes that you will get to experience in the city.

How to reach Charlotte

Flight connectivity to Charlotte from India is decent. Located in North Carolina, the city does see a decent number of travellers flocking over from India. However, travelling to Charlotte comes with some challenges, mainly to do with flight layovers and connectivity. While the airport is perfectly with other cities in the US, for an international traveller, they will have to change flights from domestic cities in the US. Domestic routes to Charlotte from Boston and New York City are quite ideal. Airlines such as Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines, have regular flights flying to Charlotte from across the globe. There is one United Airlines flight from Delhi that has only one stop at Newark before heading to Charlotte. The best thing about this flight is how it will take only 20 hours 53 minutes to reach the city. Air Canada's flight to Charlotte from Delhi also has only one stop at Toronto, and the journey can be covered in 21 hours and 4 minutes. Rest all the airlines have two stops and layovers in various other international cities.

Depending on the international routes chosen by airlines to reach Charlotte, the layovers and flight connectivity take place. Some countries require a visa. Hence, make sure to first check all the stops where the flight will by halting for layovers. Depending on the travel policies of the cities or countries, you will accordingly have to issue for a transit visa. You can do this by submitting an online application or get in touch with the embassy to do the same. Flight tickets to Buffalo is actually quite expensive. Irrespective of the flight duration, the airlines or even the connectivity, the ticket prices of Buffalo are quite steep. You will have to mentally prepare yourself and your bank balance that there will be some spending done. You can opt to book flight tickets to Buffalo well in advance. You might even receive some great deals online for flights and hotels in Buffalo. Booking hotels in Buffalo shouldn't be a problem as there is a range of cheap to expensive accommodations available in the city. As long as everything is done before time, you will have nothing to worry about.