Toronto to Patna Flights

  About Toronto

Toronto is one of the popular cities in Canada and a tourist destination that you must add to your travel list. Even though the city is majorly known for its skyscrapers and modern buildings, you will love your time in the city. Toronto has a very eclectic dining scene and a great nightlife, too. It houses over 200 ethnic groups, who speak over 140 languages, and is known for welcoming a lot of people irrespective of their religion or ethnicity. While the city does have quite a lot of tourist attractions, you can explore the city like any other normal city. Since the city has a lot of diverse cultures, interacting with a lot of people should be on your itinerary if you love socializing. It is also home to one of the tallest free-standing towers in the world called CN Tower. You will also feel like you have explored a lot of other countries and cultures when you visit Toronto. You will also love the restaurants in the city and signing up for a food tour is something you must do.

Best Time to Visit Toronto

Even though the spring and fall seasons are the best times to visit Toronto, the city experiences peak season in summer from June to August. The temperature ranges from 15 to 26 degree Celsius. Since it is peak season, you will have to book your hotel in Toronto for several weeks in advance. You will also have to book your flight tickets to Toronto well in advance to avoid the surge in prices. Not to mention, it will also be difficult to find decent hotels at an affordable price at the last moment. You can attend events like the North by Northeast Festival, Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, Toronto Pride, Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival and Caribana. You might have to wait in long queues at some of the major tourist attractions since there are a lot of tourists in the city. If you don't like crowded places, this might not be the best time for you to visit Toronto. This is a busy time for the city with tourists buzzing around in Toronto. You can also add tourist sites closer to Toronto in your itinerary. Sign up for a tour of the city or explore it on your own.

April and May is the spring season in Toronto. It is also an ideal time to visit the city since the temperature ranges from 4 to 18 degree Celsius. There are fewer tourists in the city, and the weather can be quite chilly during early spring, so you might want to pack your warm clothes, too. You will also come across exciting flight deals to Toronto and discounts on hotels. Attend the Canada Blooms, Toronto Comic Con and Tastemaker Toronto during spring. September and October are when the fall season kicks in, and the temperature ranges from 7 to 20 degree Celsius. The weather is warmer initially, but since it heads towards winter, it might get colder towards the end of it. You can attend the Toronto International Film Festival and the Toronto International Art Fair in the fall season.

November to March is winter in Toronto, and it sees a dip in tourists. The temperature ranges from -7 to 4 degree Celsius, and the city experiences heavy snowfall. You can book a hotel in Toronto at the lowest prices and might even get cheap flight tickets to Toronto. Even though there are fewer tourists in the city, there are quite a lot of events that you can attend, like Cavalcade of Lights, Holiday Magic on Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto International Boat Show and Winterlicious. Make sure that you are carrying a lot of warm clothes. Christmas and New Year celebrations in the city are quite grand. Though dining at high-end restaurants might be pretty expensive, the festive spirit only makes you want to spend a little bit more. You can also make the most of all the shopping destinations in the city during the festive season.

Places to Visit in Toronto

CN Tower is one of the major highlights of Toronto. The 553m tall building is to Toronto what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. The breathtaking view of the city from up top is what attracts tourists to it. On a clear day, you might even be lucky enough to spot Niagara Falls and New York state from up there. The Royal Ontario Museum is home to an enchanting collection of art, cultural and natural history from different periods across the world. The architecture of the museum is stunning, and it has also become a recognizable building in Toronto. If you want to experience wildlife, you can visit High Park. You will find llamas, reindeer, bison and other animals. The park also has quite a few sunken gardens, nature trails, hanging basket gardens, natural ponds and streams where you can enjoy a peaceful time. The park also has quite a few activities for you like a train tour, swimming and wading pools and so on. Distillery District is a neighbourhood in Toronto that has a lot of boutiques, artists' studios, restaurants, galleries and the Toronto Christmas Market that is quite popular here. The outdoor scene here is eclectic, and you will love it.

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is one of the most pleasant places to visit. The museum has an underwater tunnel with a moving sidewalk that attracts most tourists to it. Casa Loma is a castle in Toronto that was built in 1914 and was transformed into a winter wonderland later. It is one of the best attractions to visit, especially during winter. St Lawrence Market was built in 1850 and came with a rich history. It was the first-ever permanent farmer's market, and you will love the cheese and bacon sandwiches here. You can also head to the nearby beaches like Bluffer's Park, Kew-Balmy, Woodbine, Cherry and Sunnyside Beach.

Things to do in Toronto

You can go on a sightseeing tour of the city to cover all the major museums and parks. You can also sign up for a tour of the Toronto Islands. You can head to the beaches near the city and indulge in a lot of water activities. You can also head to St Lawrence Market that has a lot of shops and outdoor restaurants. You can also sign up for a luxury bus tour of the Niagara Falls from Toronto. The city is also known for its diverse food culture and signing up for a food tour of the city. If you are planning a trip to the city during high season, you might even get to attend a lot of parties. The nightclub scene in the city is quite exciting, and you will certainly have a lot of fun here. You can also take a French language class or a cooking class to learn a few French cuisines.

Foods and Restaurants in Toronto

Toronto is one city where you will find cuisines from a lot of cultures. Whatever you feel like eating, you will find it in Toronto. The city has a Little Italy, Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Iran, Greektown and the Bazaar neighbourhood that has restaurants serving delicious Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. St Lawrence Market is yet another locality where you will find a lot of great restaurants that come with a lovely ambience. Scaramouche Restaurant is a popular restaurant that serves authentic French cuisine. You will also love the ambience and service at the restaurant. New Orleans Seafood and Steakhouse, as the name suggests, serves the best seafood and steaks. You can also head to Moxie's Grill and Bar for a nice time. Kit Kat is an Italian restaurant that has a unique decor, and you can head here for a delicious meal. If you feel like heading to a pub or a bar, The Tilted Dog Pub and Kitchen is a great place to visit. It offers traditional Canadian food, and you can order whatever you want with a glass of beer. You can also try Rasa on Harbord Street if delicious food with beer is what you have in mind. Lavinia restaurant is popular for its Spanish cuisine.

How to reach Toronto

The Toronto Pearson International Airport and is the largest, busiest airport in Canada. The airport is named after the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lester B. Pearson. The flight connectivity to Canada from India is excellent. Canada is a very popular destination for Indians. KLM, British Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways have frequent flights to Canada from India with layovers at Amsterdam, London and Hongkong. If you book at the right time, you might even get exciting deals on flights to Canada online. It is very convenient to get taxis and car rentals from Toronto airport. The airport also has a lot of facilities like premium lounges, restaurants, cafes, duty-free shops, currency exchange, prayer area, children's areas and smoking area, too. The airport staff will also help you with last-minute hotel accommodations if your itinerary has any unforeseen changes.

  About Patna

Patna is yet another city that is located along the banks of the river Ganges. It is also the capital of Bihar. The city is not only a popular tourist destination but also has spiritual significance. There are pilgrimage sites for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, too. It was earlier called as Pataliputra and also had quite a few monuments to its credit. It is a blend of modernization and a glorious past. The Gandhi Ghat is a very popular tourist spot here since the ashes of late Mahatma Gandhi were also immersed here. The Ganga aarti performed here is also one of the highlights of the city.

Best Time to Visit Patna

Like a lot of other cities in India, the best time to visit Patna is also winter. The summer here is extremely hot and the monsoon unfavourable. The city witnesses winter from December to March. This temperature ranges from 12 to 32 degree Celsius during these months, and it is also the most ideal time to go sightseeing. The end of November and the seventh day after Diwali has people of Bihar performing the Chhath Puja. This is also a peak travel time to Patna. Since it is peak travel season, you can find great flight deals to Patna online. Make sure you book your hotel in Patna well in advance. You will also find quite a lot of tour packages during winter and at affordable prices.

July to September is when the city witnesses monsoon. The rainfall is quite irregular in the city, and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 28 degree Celsius. The city looks beautiful during monsoon, and while it is a pleasant time to visit the city, it might affect your plans to go sightseeing. However, since it is off-season, you might get cheap flight tickets to Patna.

The temperature often soars up to a maximum of 41 degree Celsius during summer. Patna experiences summer from March to June. The heat is so bad that you will get tired and exhausted from sightseeing or even venturing outside soon. Since there are also not that many festivals celebrated during this time, it is not the best time to experience the rich culture and traditions of the city. If you do plan a trip to Patna during summer, make sure you are well-hydrated.

Places to Visit in Patna

Gandhi Ghat is a major tourist attraction in Patna. It is majorly popular because late Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were immersed in the ghat here, which is also how it got its name. Another major highlight of this ghat is the Ganga aarti that happens in the evening. You'll see approximately 51 lighted lamps held by priests while performing the aarti. It is the most beautiful sight. Patna also has the Bihar Museum for the history geek in you and Patna Planetarium for the ones interested in astronomy. You will have to pay a nominal fee to get into both the places, but it will be totally worth it. You can also visit the Patna Museum, also called Jadu Ghar, which has Indian artefacts that date back to the middle ages and the British Colonial Era. You can visit the Patna Sahib Gurudwara that was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh since Patna is also Guru Gobind Singh Ji's birthplace.

The Srikrishna Science Centre is the perfect place for you to take your kids. The Japanese Peace Pagoda is another tourist spot you must visit. It is a 125 feet tall statue that was built by the Buddh Vihar Society. It is also surrounded by greenery, which makes it a pleasant place to go to in Patna. You can also visit the Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan. It is a botanical garden that was established in 1969, and it is also a zoo. If you are here with your kids, you can also treat them to a toy train ride. Golghar, which is in the heart of the city, was constructed in 1786 by Captain John Garstin and was initially used as a storehouse. If you want to enjoy your solitude and soak in the beautiful scenic view of the city, this is the best place to go to. The Patan Devi Mandir is also a popular place in Patna. Dedicated to Goddess Maa Patneshwari, it is one of the oldest and a sacred place in the city. Locals also believe that the name of the city was derived from the Goddess' name. Chhoti Dargah is another historical site that you must not miss. The 3-storeyed mausoleum is where Makhdum Shah was buried in 1616. It is a popular tourist spot and a place of worship for Muslims.

Things to do in Patna

Patna was earlier called Patalipura and came into existence in the 5th century. While this may not be the best place for adventure lovers, it is apt for a fun, family vacation. You can either hire a taxi to go sightseeing around the city or use the public transport. Golghar is an architectural marvel in Patna. The dome structure was built by Captain John Garstin in 1786. It was used as a granary for the British Army but has now become a historical site. You climb up the spiral stairs inside the Golghar, and you will be treated to a scenic view of the city. Since Patna has a lot of temples, you can also add visiting those in your itinerary. The Sree Patna Sahib Gurudwara is also an important place of worship. You can sit here and meditate for a while after offering your prayers. You can also go to the Pataneshwari temple, dedicated to Goddess Maa Patan Devi.

You must also visit the ruins of Nalanda University. The university was established and run by Buddhist monks and had at least 10,000 students. It was also hosted by Buddha Siddhartha himself. It is about 80 km away from the main city of Patna, and even though it is in ruins, you will enjoy the tranquillity here. Visit the Gandhi Ghat and go boating here. Catch the beautiful sunset while you are boating here. Take an artistic piece of Patna back home with you. Stop by at Ajanta on Fraser Road to buy some genuine Madhubani paintings. The city also has a lot of shopping malls for you to please the shopaholic in you.

Food and Restaurants in Patna

You will mostly only find restaurants and stalls that serve vegetarian food in Patna. Not that you won't find any restaurant that serves non-vegetarian food. You will also get to satisfy your chicken, mutton or seafood cravings here. Litti Chokha is one of the most popular delicacies that you get here. The city is also popular for its desserts and snacks like Gujjia, Kesar Peda, Malpua, Chana Ghugni, Jhaal Mudi, Choora, etc. The street food is just as good as the dine-in restaurants. You will also find restaurants that serve Bengali, North Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines in Patna.

Takshila is one of the most popular restaurants in the city that is within hotel Chanakya. You will absolutely love the Mughlai, Afghan and Tandoori food in this restaurant. Biryani Mahal is another very popular restaurant in the city, so much that you will either have to wait in a long queue to get a decent table or book one in advance. It's not a very big joint, but the food will leave you satiated. Basant Vihar is popular for its paneer cutlets and veg curries. You might have to wait a tad bit to get a table on weekends, but otherwise, you will have a smooth experience here. The city also has popular franchises like Pind Balluchi and Mainland China that serve delicious food with a great ambience. The dine-in experience and the local street food both will make sure that you leave the city happy.

How to reach Patna

By Air

The Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Airport, also called the Patna Airport, is the nearest airport in Patna that has both domestic and international terminals. The flight connectivity from Patna to other major domestic cities is excellent and quite frequent, too. While there are a lot of direct flights to Patna from major cities, connecting flights from Delhi, Bangalore, Varanasi and Lucknow are popular routes to Patna by air. Direct flights will only take about 2.5-3 hours to land in Patna, depending on which city you board the flight from to get here.

By Rail

Patna is connected to major cities in the country like Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Varanasi, Bangalore, Chennai and Amritsar. Not only express trains, but you will also get super fast trains to and from Patna. It is advisable that you make your ticket bookings to Patna in advance to avoid any last-minute inconveniences.

By Road

NH31 connects Patna to other cities. You will also find a lot of private and government-run buses or taxis from nearby cities that will help you reach Patna or leave from here. Though the bus services are frequent and it is also a far cheaper way to travel, taking a train or a flight would be more convenient than anything else.

  About Patna Airport

Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is predominantly a customs airport with restricted international operations. The airport is located in Patna, the state capital of Bihar. The airport's name came from independence activist, Jayaprakash Narayan. The airport's runway is quite short and cannot accommodate heavy aircraft operations. Hence, it is known to be classified as a restricted international airport. Patna Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country with their passenger traffic increasing by 30.6 per cent, as of 2018-2019. Despite the infrastructural restrictions, the airport has managed to see a spike in the passenger traffic. Hence, the Airport Authority of India has proposed a measure to expand and modernise the external and internal facilities. Expansions projects have already begun and are reportedly set to complete by 2021. Additionally, the airport authority has also planned to develop a joint-use airport to be used by the Bihta Air Force Station too. The plan is to use civil enclave as the second airport for the city of Patna.

About Patna Airport Terminals

Currently, Patna Airport has only one terminal which is divided into domestic and international sections. You can find the arrivals and departures on opposite ends of the terminals. The airport is not massive and is rather stuck between two famous establishments, making expansion plans a challenge. The current runway length stands at 7,000 ft. The surface has been constructed with asphalt and measures about 1,954 x 148 ft. Much recently, the airport managed to complete the new terminal building's parking garage, which now accommodates more vehicles. The new terminal is set to complete construction by 2022. The new terminal is set to have more space and would be able to accommodate more facilities and even passenger traffic. The airport is also rooting to handle more flights, which can be done after the expansion plans are complete.

About airport authority

As part of its expansion plans, the airport currently stands at a runway length of 7,000 ft. The airport is right in the middle of Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan as well as Phulwari Sharif railway station. The terminal building's area is being increased from the current size, which is 7,200 square metres to a new size which will be 57,000 square metres. The new terminal building is slated to have two levels and will be equipped with six aerobridges along with an apron to park about 14 aircraft. Currently, the airport only has a small parking bay to accommodate six aircraft. To conduct expansion work, Patna airport has demolished several of its buildings, including the Airport Colony as well as IAS Bhavan. The airport also plans to accommodate several utility buildings which include the meteorological centre and Bihar Flying Club. Following this, Patna Airport also plans to construct a new Air Traffic Control tower which would be located adjacent to Birla Institute of Technology. A world-class terminal building will also be installed on the premise of the airport.

About 13.1 acres of land that is close to Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is being utilised for the two-levelled terminal building. The Airports Authority of India has also proposed to extend the terminal further, view a view to sustaining air operations. The terminal extension will be completed by 2035 and is set to handle about 6 million passengers in a year. The new terminal building would be connecting to the existing building with the help of a sky bridge. The civil enclave at Bihta Air Force Station is also under construction and stands about 20 km away from the city. The second airport is being worked on to cater to large aircraft. For the same, the Bihar government acquired about 126 acres of land to construct Bihta Airport. The new airport terminal is being designed by Singapore firm Meinhardt, accommodating about 4.5 million passengers annually.

Meanwhile, Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited, a Hyderabad-based firm, has been selected to execute the layout. The new terminal is set to be completed by 2022. Patna Airport also has a multi-level parking garage.

Facilities at Patna Airport

ATMs - Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport has installed domestic ATM kiosk to ensure that passengers can withdraw money when they wish to at the airport. It is a convenient location and is required too. The same can be found at the departures and arrivals of the airport terminal.

Payphone booths - Pay phone booths have also been added to the list of facilities at the airport. The idea behind maintaining phone booths is to help passengers with no mobile phones or networks to make use of the facility. You can make local calls and connect with the required contact to reach within the city. You will need to pay a small nominal fee to avail the benefits of the phone booth.

Forex counters - As the primary international airport in the state, Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport also has currency exchange counters. Travellers who are venturing from outside India can get their currencies exchanged at the airport's arrivals terminal. The facility has been added recently after the airport underwent some refurbishing. At the forex counters, travellers can also transfer money and receive the same from outside the country.

Medical services - Following the mandatory clause to have medical services in the premise of the airport, Patna Airport has also reserved a special room for the same. In case of any medical emergencies at the airport vicinity, one can directly reach out to their medical room for assistance. A team of dedicated professionals are constantly present at the airport in case of emergencies. Also, there are pharmacies present in the departure section of the terminal.

Hotel booking counters - Right outside the arrivals section of the terminal is the travel agent's booth. At the counter, you will be able to make bookings with respect to your travel and accommodation within the city. The agent will provide all the required details to venture within the city. Starting from top attractions in the city to modes of transport that would be convenient, the travel agent would guide you through all the necessary information about the city to ensure that your stay is comfortable and your experience is good.

Child care room - Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport has also allotted rooms for child care. Many travellers who travel with infants often find it challenging to cater to their child's needs in public. Activities such as changing of the diaper and breastfeeding require privacy in a safe and hygienic environment. Hence, the airport has reserved a child care room to enable the same. They have also installed comfortable chairs and changing tables in the rooms. You can find baby products also at the airport's child care room.

Special assistance - You can request for special assistance with your airlines, and the airport staff would be present to help you out. The trained staff will take you through the procedures of security checks and boarding without much hassle. Wheelchairs are also available, and a dedicated professional would accompany you around the Patna Airport.

Baggage - The baggage facilities at Patna Airport are quite exemplary. They cater to all kinds of baggage needs ranging from the wrapping of the luggage to storage. Trolleys are also present at the airport to help travellers take their luggage through the airport facility. You can also opt to store your luggage at a safe spot if your flight witnesses delay or if there are any layovers.

Top airlines flying from Patna Airport

Patna Airport majorly caters to domestic flights and airlines that fly to top cities within India. Although there are a few dedicated international cities in the Middle East that the airport does accommodate, predominantly, it is Indian cities. Airlines such as Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara operate from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. These airlines cater to connect to cities such as Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Surat, Varanasi, Ranchi, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Raipur, Bagdogra and Jaipur. The five airlines have active flights flying to and from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. The schedules of the flight are not limited as the airport can accommodate them. Since the airport has a single terminal, the capacity is considerably limited. However, it is spacious enough to cater to the five airlines that operate from Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport.

How to reach Patna Airport

Pre-paid taxis and autos

The most convenient and viable means to reach Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is by auto-rickshaws and pre-paid taxis. Since the airport is perfectly connected by various national highways, it is easy to reach Patna Airport by means of road transport. There are no dedicated bus services that connect to the airport. Pre-paid auto-rickshaws usually have a set fare to reach the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport. Hence, it would help if you discussed the rates with the driver before you start your journey. Meanwhile, the taxis are also available in every part of the city. You can hail a cab from anywhere to reach Patna Airport. The airport has also made car rentals available to the travellers. You can book a rental at the airport when you reach the city. The same car can be dropped off at Patna Airport. Although the city does use the iconic horse-drawn trams to travel within the vicinity, the same cannot be used for the airport journey.