Tampa to Mangalore Flights

  About Tampa

Nestled on Tampa Bay is the quaint and quintessential city of Tampa in Florida's Gulf Coast. Due to its proximity to Cuba, much of the culture, cuisine and lifestyle is Cuban-influenced. Tampa is a famous tourist destination which sees a huge crowd of travellers visiting during peak season.

Best time to visit Tampa

Tampa's busiest months are from May through August as the weather is hot, just the way some people like it. However, it is the months of September to December that you should root for as the weather is very pleasant and the hotel prices are also cheap and convenient. The temperatures range from 22 degree Celsius to 31 degree Celsius, which is quite ideal if you are travelling from India. The hotel reservations in Tampa during these months are also affordable as they have discounted rates, making the trip perfect. You might even end up getting rooms facing the water, which is quite the sight. Plus, the city also sees fun events such as Oktoberfest Tampa and Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. You should know though that summer is also a good time when it comes to hosting events in the city. They have some really amazing events such as Sunset Music Festival, BeeFest and Bolts Brew Fest. Basically, Floridians of Tampa like their beer chilled and crafted. It reflects perfectly with the way they celebrate beer several times in a year. Despite being hot, the city does manage to attract a lot of crowds and along with them, heavy hotel prices.

The winter and spring months at Tampa are exquisite. Even though the temperature falls to 11 degree Celsius sometimes in January, the season still sees a good amount of tourist activity. Due to this, the flight and hotel charges are also quite steep. In fact, it would be best for you to start looking for hotels and accommodations along with your flight tickets, well in advance. You might still get expensive rates for flights and hotels in Tampa, but it always seems like you can manage to get some online deals. It is recommended that you start three months in advance to book flights and hotels in Tampa for a lush vacation. There are some fun festivals too that take place in the city such as Tampa Pride, Taste @ the Straz, Tampa Bay Beer Week, Gasparilla Pirate Fest and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. While the prices might be steep and even the streets might be full of crowded tourists, you should still opt for this time of the year for a trip to Tampa. The city's vibe is certainly something that would make you want to relax and have a good time.

Places to visit in Tampa

Tampa is ideal for a family vacation and especially for animal lovers. The place has a lot of tourist attractions that would keep anyone engaged. From the Florida Aquarium to the Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa continues to bustle with tourists as there are many natural locales to explore. You can start with the Riverwalk which is located along the Hillsborough River. You can walk it up or use a bike. The Florida Aquarium is recognised to be one of the best in the world and houses a colossal number of marine life with over 14, 000 residing within. It will take you a long time to complete your tour in the Florida Aquarium, but it will be quite an experience. You can also engage in some interesting shows at the Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Centre ZooTampa at Lowry Park is a fun expedition to explore with the family. The zoo has some beautiful animals, including African elephants, orangutans, tigers, koalas, penguins, to name a few species. You can also check out the Henry B Plant Museum, which is located on the campus of the University of Tampa.

Things to do in Tampa

Busch Gardens is a theme park which is sprawled across 297 acres of land. There are many live shows, roller coasters games and shops that would hold your attention. To enjoy the entertainment sphere of Tampa, you should try to get a ticket to watch a show at the Tampa Theatre. The theatre is recognised to be one of the most elaborate theatres in the world. The city also organises several boat tours, and all you have got to do is to pick a cruise or yacht trip and make the most of Tampa. Another fun amusement park is the Adventure Island where you can unwind with your family. Even though the beach is right there, you should visit the amusement park as your kids will definitely love the entertaining activities and rides present. Not to mention how you should indulge in some of the festivals and food tours.

Food and Restaurants in Tampa

Tampa's food is heavily Cuban-inspired. It is Cuban food and waterfront dining that the locals recommend and for all the right reasons. You can enjoy the lip-smacking seafood with Cuban flavours while watching the sunset. It is quite a sight and the ideal dining experience one can ask for. One of the best waterfront seats that you can find in Tamp is at the Oystercatchers, which is associated with Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. The place has the freshest and best seafood that you'll find in Tampa. While Oystercatchers does have a great view of the water and the best waterfront in Tampa, you can also opt for Cafe Dufrain which is located in the Harbour Island. The establishment gives a fancy spin to locally sourced dishes. For some exquisite Cuban food, you should visit Ybor City and make reservations at Columbia Restaurant. The establishment is recognised as one of the top-notch in all of Florida for serving the best Cuban cuisine. Besides Cuban, you will also find Spanish and Caribbean meals from the respective kitchen. What's fascinating is how you'll find flamenco performances while you relish the food.

La Teresita Restaurant is another fun establishment that makes lip-smacking food and offers a great vibe. For special occasions, you should visit Bern's Steak House. The dining scene of the said restaurant is exquisite, and the food is divine. Far off to the other side of the spectrum is the Rooster & the Till, which basically has beautiful farm-to-table dishes to cater to the American tapas. Ulele is also a lovely joint which is perfectly nestled on the Tampa Riverwalk. They specialise in Native-inspired cuisine which includes charbroiled oysters with garlic butter and cheese. Tampa Riverwalk also has many other food joints that would get your attention. They favour Cuban food interspersed with wood-fired pizzas. Hillsborough River is another famous point where the foodies will have a good time indulging in classic to modern dishes.

How to reach Tampa

Flight connectivity to Tampa from India is quite good. Although there are no direct flights that fly to Tampa from India, a plethora of connecting flights and layover options are available. Thanks to a slew of flights that fly to Tampa from the US as well as some European cities, travelling to Tampa is not cumbersome. Instead, it is actually very convenient. Some of the airlines such as British Airways, Swiss, United Airlines, Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Alitalia, Delta Air Lines, Qatar Airways, United Airways, American Airlines, Air France, Vistara, have impeccable flight connectivity to Tampa from India. The most convenient and popular route to reach Tampa from India is by flying to Miami and getting a connecting flight from there. As both the cities are in the Florida state, travelling via domestic routes becomes easier if Tampa is the destination. From India, there are various international routes to reach Tampa, such as from London, Zurich, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Rome, Toronto and Newark, to name a few. Some of the cities require a transit visa.

Specific countries have rules that require the travellers to hold a transit visa. If you have layovers or connecting flights from cities such as Zurich, Frankfurt, Toronto, Paris, London, Newark, to name a few, you will have to produce a transit visa. This visa cannot be used to step out of the airport as it is only to showcase that you are visiting the said city's airport to board a connecting flight. Flight tickets to Tampa are not cheap. Rather, they are quite expensive. One of the main reasons why travellers opt for Miami instead of flying to Tampa is because of the expensive flight tickets. However, if you have managed to save well and have enough in your bank account to make the trip happen, then you might be able to snag some flight ticket deals to Tampa online. It would be convenient if you also booked your hotels in Tampa while booking your flights. The accommodation in Tampa is just as expensive, which means you will have to make prior bookings, probably more than six months in advance. This way you will get amazing deals online plus you will get to save up for the same in the city.

  About Mangalore

Nestled amid the lap of the Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other, is this quaint paradisiacal city, Mangalore. It is the chief port city of the state of Karnataka and an important contributor to the economy as well as cultural heritage.

Best time to visit Mangalore

Mangalore's charming weather continues to stay between September and April, making it the best months to visit the coastal city. The humidity is minimal, and the temperature barely crosses beyond 30 degree Celsius, making it ideal for travellers. Summers do get too hot to handle as the humidity in the air soars. The monsoon is also quite unfavourable owing to the excessive rainfall that the city experiences. Perhaps skip the months July and August too. It is noted that the flight tickets to Mangalore drop during the off-season, which makes it convenient for travellers to visit the city.

Places to visit in Mangalore

Panambur Beach

The coastal city of Mangalore has a plethora of beaches to check out. However, the one that manages to stand out is the Panambur beach. In a popularity race among all the beaches in Mangalore, Panambur certainly takes the cake. Annually, the beach organises an International Kite Festival which witnesses a throng of participants and audience. There are other competitions like boat race, sculpture making contests and more.

Kudroli Gokarnath Temple

The Gokarnath Temple, also known as the Gokarnatheshwara Temple, has been built to honour Lord Shiva. With Dravidian-style architecture and gorgeous golden Gopurams, the temple's beauty is worth mentioning. Devotees often come here to seek blessings of Lord Shiva, who is known for his kind heart. By evening, the temple lights up the premise with yellow lights, adding to the aesthetic beauty of the structure.

Bejai Museum

A trip to explore a city is incomplete without a visit to the museum. At the Bejai Museum, you will be amazed by the collection of artefacts, weapons, coins and basically historical paintings and sculptures that depict the history of the city. The museum came into existence in 1955 and was founded by Col. VR Mirajkar. The city's museum is certainly an interesting trip that you should take up.

St. Aloysius Chapel

One of the main tourist attractions in Mangalore is the stunning white St Aloysius Chapel. People of faith visit the church to seek blessings while some who are marvelled by the pristine architecture take a tour of the church complex. Either way, the best part about the church is the setting and ambience. St Aloysius faces the sea, which brings forth a scenic backdrop. There are some lovely paintings within the church too that have been painted by Antonio Moscheni, an Italian artist.

Ullal Beach

While the Panambur beach's fame could attract far too many tourists, the Ullal beach would be able to give you the peace and tranquillity you've been looking for. The exquisite coast of the beach lined with palm trees is a scenic bliss that would stay in your memory. Although the beach is a few kilometres away from the main city, the calm and quiet ambience certainly makes all the travelling worth it.

Kadri Manjunatha Temple

The city does have a handful of temples and religious institutions. The Kadri Manjunatha Temple is more than ten centuries old and has been constructed in a classic Vijaynagari style. It's intriguing to note that there is some Buddhist-influenced architecture too that can be found in the temple premise.

Sultan Batthery

You will come across this suggestion to visit Sultan Batthery when you visit Mangalore. It is one of the most fascinating locations and has an interesting story too. The watchtower was constructed by Mysore prince Tipu Sultan to keep an eye on the ships that would possibly arrive to invade the city.

Things to do in Mangalore

Surfing

Mangalore has some enthusiastic water sports organisers who conduct activities like snorkelling, surfing and more. They are certainly making the most of their coasts by indulging in water activities. You can also do the same.

Indulge in Konkani-Mangalorean cuisine

Mangalore's food scene is simply top-notch. The variety of cuisine or the dishes from their own Konkani-Mangalorean roots is beyond amazing. You will be thrilled by the tastes and flavours the food has to offer. From Gajali's lip-smacking seafood to gadbad ice cream, the streets of Mangalore city are waiting for you to splurge on their cuisine!

Spindrift

Mangalore's very own brewery, Spindrift is one such place that you would totally enjoy if quaint setting with mindful music is your scene. It is the city's first brewery and enjoys an excellent reputation for amazing drinks and great food. Spindrift would easily be considered one of the best places in the city to unwind and relax.

A day at the Pilikula Nisargadhama

Pilikula Nisargadhama is a melange of educational entertainment which works for kids and adults. The vast complex has a zoo, an amusement park, a massive golf course, a heritage village and even a planetarium! You can use an entire day to explore the park and enjoy what they have to offer.

Food and Restaurants in Mangalore

As a coastal city, the staple food of Mangalore is undoubtedly seafood. However, as a city with multitudes of religious amalgam, the Mangalorean cuisine is also quite intriguing with the spice being the centre of attention. You can indulge in the lip-smacking Konkani-styled fish thali followed by the famous Gadbad ice cream during your trip to Mangalore. Mangalorean and Konkani seafood isn't the only thing that will keep you busy. There are some famous joints which also emulate the famous Goan dishes such as vindaloo, pork and more. Plus, eventually, as a South Indian city, there is bound to be the classic idli, vada, sambar cuisine that many adore.

To get the best of Konkani Mangalorean food, head straight to the New Taj Mahal Cafe, Machali Restaurant, Mangala Restaurant and Gajalee. Sagar Ratna is a famous chain of restaurants that you can find in the city. Indulge in some delicious Udupi cuisine with ragi dosas and neer dosas while sipping a glass of kaapi. Speaking of which, you should definitely visit Hotel Karthik for the exceptional filter kaapi with tuppa dosa. It would be a crime to leave the city without tasting the popular Gadbad ice cream at Pabba's Ice Cream Shop.

How to reach Mangalore (Transportation)

By Air

Mangalore International Airport is perched upon a hilltop and is 15 km away from the city centre. The airport witnesses numerous flights coming in and out from within India and overseas. Flights for Mangalore are aplenty, and it is the second busiest airport in Karnataka. Flight connectivity from Mangalore to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Hubli are impeccable. Various domestic airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet have dedicated flights to Mangalore that fly daily. The domestic and international routes of Mangalore does witness air traffic as flights are coming in from within India as well as abroad.

Mangalore along with Lengpui and Kozhikode are the only three airports in India that have tabletop runways. For travellers, this would be quite the visual spectacle to see the flight land on a mountain plateau. The old terminal of Mangalore is used for direct international flights to Madinah in Saudi Arabia and is mainly reserved for pilgrims who undertake to go to Hajj. There are international routes from Mangalore connecting flights to Dubai as well. The flight connectivity from Mangalore to Middle Eastern countries as well as domestic cities is exemplary and hence, makes it one of the busiest airports. There are bus shuttle services from the airport to the main city. You can also take taxi cab services to reach the main city.

By Rail

The city also has a dedicated main railway station called the Mangalore Junction Railway Station. The railway is brilliantly connected with various cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Karwar, Delhi, Pune and more. There are express trains as well as mails. Due to the heavy demand that Mangalore-bound trains have, it is best to book tickets to the city in advance. You can also book a hotel ahead of your visit to Mangalore. Since the railway station is located within the city, transit around the main area of Mangalore is convenient. You can simply get a rickshaw or bus to take you around the city.

By Road

There are direct buses from various cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Ooty, Coimbatore, to name a few, that travel to Mangalore. Most of them are private-owned buses with AC and Non-AC Volvo options for the passenger to pick. You can even opt for sleeper or seater buses depending on which one is comfortable for you. The travelling time to Mangalore by bus is slightly high as it is in a corner. However, as long as you opt for a ride that falls in your schedule, you can reach without any hassle. Plus, the bus halts at various junctions within the city, so it is very convenient to the passenger.

  About Mangalore Airport

Mangalore International Airport serves as the second international airport in the state of Karnataka, aside from the Kempegowda International Airport of Bangalore. It is the second busiest airport in the state and serves to the coastal city of Mangalore in Karnataka. The Mangalore International Airport serves to domestic destinations as well as major Middle Eastern cities. The airport opened back in 1951 and was named as Bajpe Aerodrome. The former Prime Minister of Jawaharlal Nehru arrived at the Mangalore International Airport on a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Located about 13 km away from the city centre of Mangalore, it is perched up a hilltop near Bajpe. The airport one of the three airports in India with a tabletop runway. Besides Mangalore, Calicut International Airport and Lengpui Airport are the only ones who have a tabletop runway. In 2012, the airport received its international stature after successful operations of Air India Express to and from Dubai. The Mangalore International Airport is known to charter flights for the Hajj pilgrims as well. The connectivity has been enhanced with flight services to major Middle Eastern cities, including Jeddah, Riyadh and more.

About Mangalore Airport Terminals

Mangalore International Airport has two runways and a single passenger terminal. However, for flights reserved for Hajj pilgrimage, the old terminal has been reserved. The terminal has recorded to be one of the biggest in the would accommodate about 34 million passengers in a year. The terminal has a ground level for arrivals as well as a first-level dedicated to departures. The terminal has the capacity to operate 26 domestic flights and about 52 international flights every week. An air traffic control tower has also been installed at the Mangalore International Airport. The first runway is made up of concrete. The second one is about 8,038 ft long and has acquired a taxiway that is parallel to the new runway. A route to connect the new terminal from the city has also been brought forth. This actually reduces the distance between the city centre and the airport by close to 8 km. An automated air traffic management system has also been incorporated at the airport that replaces the older inefficient system. The new system helps in providing flight safety, has direction finders and has perfect air-ground-data link alerts. This has been acquired to reduce the possibility of accidents on the runway.

About airport authority

Mangalore International Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India as well as Adani Group. Initially, the airport was owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). However, much later, the project bid was acknowledged and won by Adani Group. Several projects to increase the passenger volume and construction of new passenger terminal have been in the works. The two parties are also working on the expansion of the Mangalore International Airport to enable safer means of landing and passenger accommodation. The airport does have a bad reputation for being one of the most unsafe airports in the country. This is due to multiple accidents that have happened at the runway. This includes the infamous 2010 accident of Air India Express Flight 812, Boeing 737-800. The flight en route Dubai-Mangalore succumbed to a runway mishap which resulted in the death of about 158 people with only eight survivors. The accident resulted in the delay of expansion plans as newer proposals were asked to be submitted to avoid more possible casualties. From various expansion plans by the two bodies, runway lengthening has also been worked upon.

Facilities at the Mangalore Airport

WiFi: Mangalore airport has good WiFi connectivity. The main idea behind providing the service is to make sure that the people are able to receive good network and continue with their work commitments from the airport. Often many business professionals use the time at the airport after check-in to work on some emails and other work that require connectivity. Hence, the demand for a WiFi has led to the airport ensuring good network. While you can enjoy free WiFi for 30 minutes, you will have to pay for services exceeding the time limit.

ATMs and currency exchange: Mangalore airport sees a lot of tourists and travellers returning from the Middle East. They are basically families and professionals who have been working in the Middle Eastern countries. Due to this, it is necessary to have a foreign exchange counter at the airport. The currency exchange services can be availed at the arrivals and departures. The airport also has ATM kiosks to help people withdraw money so they can travel within the city. You can find the ATM kiosks outside the airport and are majorly operated by Karnataka Bank.

Information desk: Having an information desk is of utmost importance at an airport. The Mangalore airport also has dedicated information desks located at various junctions. The desk caters to all the questions regarding the airport facilities such as flights, schedules, boarding gates and more. You can also learn about the necessary places within the airport, including the medical centre and the smoking zone. A tourist counter is also available at the Mangalore airport. You will find tour guides to help you peruse through your options on what to do in the city.

Restaurants and cafes: There are a handful of restaurants and cafes that are available at the airport. You might not find a lot of prominent joints, but the few famous ones such as McDonald's and Domino's are available at the airport. The airport also has small joints for snacks and coffeehouses.

Child care facilities: The airport has child care facilities too. The room is specifically built to give mothers and infants privacy for feeding and diaper changing. The room is kept clean and sanitized to avoid the child from contracting any bad disease. Not to mention the room is also made to be comfortable for the mother. There are diapers and other baby products also available at the child care room, in case the parent runs out of them.

Prayer rooms: A devoted prayer room is also available at the Mangalore airport. The space is reserved for travellers to engage in religious practices. It is a shared space and does not have specific rooms depending on the faith.

Smoking zone: The airport also has a smoking zone reserved. There are enclosed rooms and lounges where you can smoke. You are not allowed to smoke anywhere else in the airport terminal but the smoking lounges. They are available at all the terminals in the airport.

Luggage: In terms of luggage, quite a few services are available. From lost luggage counters to baggage wrapping counters, these facilities are available at the Mangalore airport. You can ask for a baggage wrap before the check-in. There is a separate counter that you should approach to wrap your luggage with plastic. The main reason why people opt to do this is to ensure that the baggage is safe from mishandling, theft and other concerns. The airport also has trolleys available for you to take your luggage around.

Postal services: There are postal services available at the airport. You can avail the services to post documents and important letters.

Medical services: The airport has medical aid and services also. All airports must have medical services as part of their facilities to deal with medical emergencies.

Top airlines flying from the Mangalore Airport

Mangalore Airport has both domestic and international terminals. However, they do not have the international airlines flying from the city. However, they do have domestic airlines that cater to international destinations. Domestic cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hubli, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi and Coimbatore are connected with the Mangalore Airport. The airport witnesses domestic airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Interestingly, some of the domestic airlines such as Air India Express and SpiceJet, have international cities connected. Mangalore airport does see decent passenger traffic. A majority of their flights are reserved for international trips to cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain. The Middle Eastern countries see a lot of demand from Mangalore as many opt for cities in those countries for professional opportunities.

How to reach Mangalore Airport

Mangalore International Airport is known to be the second busiest airport after Bangalore Airport in Karnataka. The airport is about 13 km from the city centre of Mangalore. The tabletop runway is very popular in the country as it is one of the few to have the specific-styled structure. The best way to reach Mangalore airport is by booking a taxi ride. There are prepaid taxis and fare taxis available near the airport and in the city as well. There are prepaid taxi booths and counters available at both the terminals. You can make your cab bookings at the airport itself. The cabs will directly drop you outside the airport and vice versa. There are bus services also that traverse from the city to the airport. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has regular bus services from the airport and the Central Railway Station, making connectivity extremely convenient. There are no direct railway connectivity or stations close to the station. Hence, after the prepaid taxi, the bus is the second-best option to choose to reach Mangalore International Airport.