Tirupati to New Orleans Air India Flights

  About Tirupati

Tirupati or Tirumala as a lot of people call it, is one of the most visited temples in India. It's also one of the richest shrines in the country. Tirupati is the place of worship for Lord Balaji or Sri Venkateshwara, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Hundreds and thousands of devotees visit Tirupati daily to offer their prayers. It is a tradition among a lot of people to shave their heads and offer their hair at his feet to seek his blessings. It is believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth as Balaji to save mankind from all the troubles in Kali Yug. People wait for hours in a queue to get a glimpse of God and offer their prayers. The temple is located on seven hills in Andhra Pradesh, which is yet another speciality about the temple. Though Tirupati is majorly known for its religious significance, there is a lot more than you can do here.

You can visit the Sri Venkateswara National Park after your darshan. The beautiful landscape and view of the valleys will take your breath away. The Sri Venkateswara National Park was built in 1989 and was declared a National Park in 1998. The national park is home to a lot of exotic animals like the Nilgai, Flying Lizard, Hyena and Golden Gecko. You have to pay a certain price for tickets to enter the park and spending some time here will definitely be a treat to the eyes and the mind. If you are in Tirupati with your family and kids, the little ones will definitely be delighted to spot the animals. In addition to this, the holy place also boasts of a Deer Park. You'll find different species of deer and might even get to feed them. You'll find solace from the crowd and spend some time with nature and nature's best here.

You can also immerse in the holy waters of Papavinasam Theertham. It is believed that taking a dip in this holy water will rid you of your sins. Just being here calms your mind and takes you to your happy place. You will also find a lot of waterfalls like the Talakona waterfall, Vaikuntha theertham and so on. There will be several places in the complex where you can sit and meditate. The early morning aarti is one of the most overwhelming and divine feelings. The chants and devotional mantras echo through the hills early in the morning. Swami Pushkarini lake is also a highly recommended place to visit in Tirupati.

Though you will have to adhere to certain decorum and rules when visiting the temple. A strict dress code to wear something traditional must be followed in the temple vicinity. You are also not allowed to consume alcohol or non-vegetarian food while you are in the temple premises. Not to mention, the queue can tend to get on your nerves, so avoid getting into any fights or heated arguments. You will not be allowed to bring any of your gadgets like the camera or phone. While a lot of people believe that shaving their head off and donating their hair is essential, it entirely depends on you and whether you want to do it. It will be fairly easier for you to find and book a hotel in Tirupati.

Best Time to Visit Tirupati

September to February is an ideal time to visit Tirupati. This is when the city experiences winter and the weather is quite pleasant during the day. It can get quite nippy in the night and early mornings can be quite chilly though. The summer will be pretty unpleasant to handle since the southern part of India does experience scorching heat during April and May. It rains in Tirupati from July to September, and while monsoon does make the weather quite pleasant, it won't be the best time to climb the hill even by a car or bus.

Places to Visit in Tirupati

Apart from the main temple of Tirumala Balaji, it is also mandatory to offer your prayers at Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple. It is believed that your prayers will not be complete unless you pray to the Goddess, and according to scriptures, it is important that you pay respects to the Goddess first before heading to Tirumala. Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple is not very close to Lord Balaji's temple. After offering your prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, you can visit the Srivari Museum to know more about Tirupati's inception and how it became one of the most popular temples in the country.

Head over to Papavinasam Theertham to take a dip in the holy water. It is believed that it will wash away your sins, and it also calms your mind instantly. It's the sheer sanctity of the place that makes you embrace your spiritual side. Tirupati is also home to many exotic animals. The Sri Venkateswara National Park houses animals like Hyenas, Nilgai, Golden Gecko and more. You can visit the National Park with your family or alone. You must also visit the Deer Park that has deers of different species, and they're quite friendly, too. If you're lucky, you might get to feed the deers.

Take a tour of the Srivara Museum. You'll get to read more stories about the inception of the temple and the Gods and Goddesses. Since the temple is located on seven hills, each hill has been named after a God or devotee of mythological importance. There is Vrushabhadri, which is also called as the Hill of Nandi, the biggest devotee of Lord Shiva and also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Anjanadri is the Hill of Hanuman, Neeladri is the Hill of Neela Devi, Garudachalam is the Hill of Garuda, Seshadri is the Hill of Sesha, Narayanadri is the Hill of Narayana and Venkatadri is the Hill of Venkateswara.

There are also a lot of sub-temples and shrines that you can visit along with the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari and Sri Venkateswara temples.

Things to do in Tirupati

Find a spot in the temple after your darshan and just sit in peace to meditate for a while before you make your itinerary. Do not forget to take the famous Tirupati laddoo that is served as the prasad. The temple also serves puliogare, a savoury rice, that is also served as the prasad. The temple city can get noisy, so get away from the hubbub of the crowded places and visit one of the famous waterfalls. You can quietly sit and admire the nature around you. The serene aura of the place and the breathtakingly beautiful scenario makes for the perfect place to take pictures, too.

The National Park and the Deer Park make for the perfect locations to put your wildlife photography skills to the test. While a lot of people rent a car or take a bus to get up to the hill, some even walk or climb all the way up. Though some do it because they love a nice trek, a lot of people do it out of pure devotion to the Gods. Don't just go to Tirupati to offer your prayers to God but also make the most of it by getting to know more about the place and visiting all of the other places mentioned here. Being close to nature is also one of the best places and moments to introspect or to just leave all your worries behind and live in the moment. You will surely be able to leave all your worries behind and be optimistic effortlessly once you visit Tirumala.

Food and Restaurants in Tirupati

While there will be no non-vegetarian food served within the temple premises or on the hilltop, you will find restaurants serving non-veg food a little away from Tirumala. Andhra Spice and Hyderabad House are some of the popular restaurants that serve non-vegetarian food. It goes without saying that it will be quite easy to find South Indian food in the area, and the food will not disappoint you one bit.

How to reach Tirupati (Transportation)

By Air

While there is no international connectivity of flights directly, the domestic flights frequently run to and from Tirupati Airport. You will get pretty good flight deals and cheap flight tickets, too, if you book at the right time. Don't forget to look for offers on flights online. You can also land at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad and take a bus or hire a cab from the airport to Tirumala.

By Rail

Tirupati Railway station is connected to domestic routes like Bangalore, Chennai, Vishakapatnam and Madurai. Renigunta station is also quite close to Tirupati and an easier way to get to Tirupati.

By Road

You will find multiple bus services that run from cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and every part of Andhra Pradesh to Tirupati. It is advisable to carry a few medicines or chocolates with you if you suffer from motion sickness because the way to go up the hill is going to be full of twists and turns.

  About New Orleans

New Orleans is a popular tourist destination in the United States of America. It is known for its Creole cuisine and European-style architecture. The city is known for its dynamic music scenes, too. You will hear a lot of jazz, rock 'n' roll, blues and Zydeco music in the city. Mardi Gras is one of the main reasons for tourists to plan a trip to New Orleans. Parties are happening in the city throughout the year with or without Mardi Gras. You can head to the clubs at Bourbon Street if you want to go partying till the wee hours. There is always one festival or another happening in the city. The city has also been victim to environmental disasters like Hurricane Katrina, BP Oil Spill and Hurricane Isaac, but it stands strong. A lot of tourists prefer taking a walking tour of the city. You can walk through the French Quarter and other major architectural sites. You can end your day with a delicious plate of jambalaya and a couple of drinks. You will have the time of your life in New Orleans.

Best Time to Visit New Orleans

February to May is a popular time to visit New Orleans, majorly because of Mardi Gras. Make sure you book a hotel in New Orleans several weeks in advance because not only will the hotels be packed but also, you will find it difficult to get cheap flight tickets to New Orleans. Since it is also when Mardi Gras takes place, a lot of popular tourist attractions are shut. If you want to add sightseeing for your trip, it is best not to plan it during Mardi Gras. The temperature ranges from 10 to 29 degree Celsius and is quite pleasant. It is comfortably warm, though the days can get pretty hot towards the end of the spring season. While Mardi Gras is one of the most popular reasons for people to visit New Orleans, you can attend the other festivals in the city, too, during the spring season. Tennessee Williams/Literary Festival, French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and New Orleans Wine and Food Experience are some of the other popular events that you can attend during these months.

June to August is when summer kicks in and the days can get pretty hot. The temperature ranges from 24 to 33 degree Celsius. Since there is barely any precipitation leading to humidity, the heat will be quite uncomfortable and scorching. It also rains a lot in summer, so you will have to pack your umbrellas, too. It is not the best time to visit the city if you can't deal with the blistering heat. You can attend the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, New Orleans Pride Festival, COOLinary New Orleans, Satchmo Summerfest and Red Dress Run in summer. Make sure you are well-hydrated and carry sunblock with you at all times. September to November is the autumn season in New Orleans, and it is an ideal time to visit the city. The temperature ranges from 13 to 30 degree Celsius. It gets colder towards the end of autumn, but there is also the risk of hurricanes from June to November. Despite the hurricane threat, there are quite a few events hosted in the city. You can book a hotel in New Orleans at a low price since it is not peak tourist season. You will also come across exciting flight deals to New Orleans online. You can attend events like the Louisiana Seafood Festival, Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, Oak Street Po-Boy Festival and Celebration in the Oaks.

December to January is winter in New Orleans and is another good time to visit the city. The temperature ranges from 8 to 17 degree Celsius, and the city gets relief from the scorching heat. This is the perfect time to get good deals on hotels, and you can also witness the festive spirit of New Orleans first hand. Sugar Bowl is a very popular event that has families hooked to their televisions. You will also find a lot of pubs and sports bars in the city screening it so that you can enjoy it with lots of beer.

Places to Visit in New Orleans

Bourbon Street is one of the most happening places in New Orleans. It is one of the oldest streets in the cities. If you want to go out partying, Bourbon Street has a lot of pubs and nightclubs. You can also go club-hopping here and have the time of your life. The French Quarter is another place in the city that is worth a visit. You can catch street performances here and a lot of historical buildings that you can visit like the St Louis Cathedral, Cabildo and Presbytere. French Quarter has a very Bohemian feel to it. Add a little spook to your trip by visiting the Voodoo Museum. It has historical and mystic relevance to it. It is believed that in the 1800s, an amalgamation between Creole culture and Voodoo dancing created jazz music. You can also visit the Moonwalk Riverside Promenade. Take a stroll by the Mississippi River and enjoy a romantic sunset. New Orleans also has a lot of museums for art lovers, nature lovers and history buffs. Make sure you attend the New Orleans Jazz Museum, too, if you are a fan of the genre.

Your sightseeing and outdoor plans might get affected a lot if you are heading to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. A lot of sightseeing spots are shut during Mardi Gras since the entire city wants to enjoy it and ensure that tourists do the same. The city also has a lot of beautiful swamps that offer activities like fishing, kayaking and air boating. Preservation Hall is a popular spot in New Orleans where a lot of live music events and jazz brunches are hosted. St Louis Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks in New Orleans and was built in the 1700s. The cathedral was destroyed twice but was rebuilt again.

Things to do in New Orleans

Mardi Gras is a big reason for people to fly to New Orleans. Apart from enjoying the carnival, you can also try a lot of things to spruce up your holiday. New Orleans has a very active and vibrant nightlife. Bourbon Street and Frenchmen street are quite popular party destinations. You can go partying or shopping at one or both of these places. You can also sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city or a New Orleans Swamp tour. As strange as it might seem, the city also organises cemetery tours. Make sure you also visit the Voodoo Museum for a spooky tour.

Foods and Restaurants in New Orleans

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans, make sure you give your diet a rest. It is a culinary delight, and you won't forget it for a long time. You can enjoy cuisines from all over the world in New Orleans. However, it is known for its Creole and Cajun cuisines. You can try traditional New Orleans dishes like red beans and rice and PO-boys, Cajun and Creole jambalaya and gumbo are some of the popular dishes you will find in menus here. Cafe du Monde is a popular cafe that serves the best Beignets in the world. It also got featured in the popular Hollywood film, Chef. The French Quarter has quite a lot of Creole restaurants and French restaurants, too. It is best to sign up for a food tour or attend one of the food festivals. You might come across discounts and offers on the menus during festivals. If you are in the mood for dessert, head over to Angelo Brocato Ice Cream. You can also try Olde Nola Cookery for traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine along with some seafood. Paladar 511 is popular for serving the best pizzas in the neighbourhood. Head over to The Rum House for the Caribbean and Latin food.

How to reach New Orleans

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is owned by the New Orleans city and is about 18 km from downtown New Orleans. The flight connectivity to New Orleans from India is quite good. KLM, American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa have frequent flights to New Orleans with layovers at Amsterdam, London, Chicago, Dallas and Newark. If you book well in advance, you might get exciting flight deals to New Orleans from India. You will get a taxi or car rental service from the airport quite easily. The airport has quite a lot of facilities like premium lounges, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas, currency exchange and so on. You can also book a hotel in New Orleans near the airport if you have an early flight to catch or if you want to avoid the commute. You can also get cheap flight tickets to New Orleans if you book several weeks in advance or if you are travelling during the offseason.

 About Air India

Air India was the first Indian airline that went by the name Tata Airways when it was launched. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata launched it in 1932 in Karachi. The first flight was from Karachi to Mumbai and then to Chennai. The airline became a public limited company after World War II, under the name Air India. In 1948, a Lockheed Constellation L-749A called the Malabar Princess landed in London Heathrow from Bombay, which was the airline's first international flight. Air India got its first Boeing 707-420 and became the first Asian airline to enter the Jet Age. It launched services to New York in 1960. It took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200B in 1971 and named it Emperor Ashoka. It acquired its first Airbus A310-300 in 1986 and Boeing 747-400 in 1993 which was named Konark later. The airline also operated its first non-stop flight between New York and Delhi during this year. In 2007, Air India merged with Indian Airlines under Air India Limited. They acquired their first Boeing 777 that year. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is Air India's main hub. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai is the secondary hub. Chennai International Airport, Cochin International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and Trivandrum International Airport are its focus cities domestically.

Air India made Frankfurt Airport its international hub in 2009 for onward connections to the United States of America from India. Still, they had to shut it down because of high operating costs. In 2010, Air India decided to open a new hub for its international flights in Dubai. The airline's financial growth has been a topic of conversation for decades. For years, there were debates around the privatisation of Air India, but the Government of India refused to go ahead with it. When it did decide to hand over responsibility to private companies, no one came forward. Air India launched its low-cost airline, Air India Express, a couple of years back that majorly flew to countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Despite suffering losses in the market and going through a lot of ups and downs, the airline is functioning since it is the national carrier.

Air India has also gone through a lot of modifications with its brand logo and mascot. The Maharajah is the main mascot of the airline and was created by Bobby Kooka, the commercial director of Air India then and Umesh Rao, who was an artist with J Walter Thompson Limited in 1946. The mascot was given a makeover in 2015, and the airline decided to go with a younger version of Maharajah. Since India's colour scheme is red and white, the airline's logo also incorporates the same in its logo. The name of the airline is written in Hindi and English in red. The first logo of the airline was a centaur shooting an arrow in a circle which represented the wheel of Konark. However, the airline decided to give its logo a makeover in 2007, which was a flying swan with the wheel of Konark in it.

Fleet Size of Air India

Air India had started its operations with a de Havilland Puss Moth aircraft back in 1932. It inducted its first Boeing 707-420 later on and named it Gauri Shankar. It became the first Asian airline to add a jet aircraft in its fleet. Since it is the oldest airline in the country, it has both Boeing and Airbus aircraft in its fleet. It inducted its first Boeing 747-400 in 1993 and named it Konark. The airline inducted its first Airbus A320-200 aircraft in 1989 which now covers both domestic and international short hauls. The airline has a total of 70 Airbus aircraft including one A320 Classic, 4 A320ceo, 19 A319 aircraft, 20 A321, 5 A320ceo (Single Configuration), 27 A320neo and 3 A319 (Single Configuration). It has a total of 172 narrow-body aircraft and 49 wide-body aircraft. Air India uses one of the five Boeing 747-400s as VIP flights. Air India grounded its last Airbus A320 classic fleet in 2019, and the last flight flew from Delhi to Mumbai.

Air India had also sold five of its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to Etihad Airways in 2013 to make up for its financial losses. The airline also had plans to introduce long flights to Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco but had to cancel, owing to weak demand and high fuel prices.

Baggage Allowance

Air India has certain baggage allowance rules and regulations that every passenger must follow. As per Air India's baggage allowance rules, you cannot carry cabin luggage that exceeds 8 kg, and your check-in luggage cannot exceed 20 kg. If you are flying internationally and if you are a premium club member, you will be allowed up to 40 kg of baggage. Even if you are ready to pay extra, your hand baggage cannot exceed 10 kg. First Class passengers are allowed a maximum of 40 kg baggage while Business Class passengers can only carry 35 kg. If you are travelling by the Economy Class, your baggage cannot exceed 25 kg. However, if you have an infant travelling with you, an extra 10 kg baggage allowance is offered by the airline. Make sure you inform the airline staff well in advance if your luggage is going to exceed the allowed weight. The airline has also made web check-in quite convenient for its passengers. You can either log in to the website and get it done, or you can get in touch with the call centre. The executives will help you get your web check-in done. It is best to get your web check-in done in advance, so you get to pick the right seat instead of settling for something chosen by the staff at the airport.

In-flight Services

Air India's First Class is royalty and luxury personified. The seats recline up to 180-degree, and the interiors are a sight for sore eyes. In addition to the ultra-comfortable seating, Air India's in-flight services are extremely efficient, and the best part is that the first-class cabin only seats 12 passengers. You can order your favourite cocktails and cuisines that are a treat to your taste buds. You can also do all of your duty-free shopping onboard. The first-class and business class cabins are also equipped with the Thales i3000 in-flight entertainment system. You can access five channels in Hindi and English. You can also browse through Air India's in-flight magazine called Shubh Yatra. First Class and Business Class passengers can also access the Maharaja Lounge. Business-class passengers are treated to plush seats and lip-smacking entrees that are accompanied with wine. You also get an exclusive check-in and lounge facility. Don't fret if you are not travelling by the premium class. Economy class passengers have complimentary refreshments and meals on all of their flights. You will also get complimentary liquor or wine on the international flights. The airline staff makes sure that passengers have a great time during their journey.

Popular Routes and Top Cities for Air India

Air India connects to various domestic and international routes daily. Since it is one of the oldest and the first airlines, it connects to more cities domestically and internationally. It connects to approximately 102 destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and so on. It also flies to international destinations that cover the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Air India has frequent flights running to other destinations and makes sure you have had a great journey as well. Do make sure that you get your web check-in done well in advance.

Why Travel by Air India?

Air India is the national airline and has been in the airline industry since 1932. The airline makes sure that you have had a comfortable journey and seldom leaves any room for complaints. It has maintained its legacy of making sure that every passenger gets a royal treatment. It is also one of the very few airlines in the country that offers first-class flights to its passengers. You can check Air India's flight schedule and your flight status on their website. Even if you cannot access the website for some reason, you will certainly get updates and messages from the airline regarding the same. It also makes web check-in quite easy for its passengers. The staff is well-equipped to solve any grievances or requests put forth by passengers. You can book an Air India flight from the website. You can also get in touch with your travel agent and get them to book the ticket for you. It would be best if you experienced the royal treatment and luxury of being Air India's first-class passenger at least once in your life. The airline has come a long way and continues to give its passengers the best services and experience. The airline also makes sure that the flights run on time.