Vadodara to Pittsburgh Flights

  About Vadodara

Vadodara, earlier known as Baroda, is a flourishing city in the state of Gujarat. The city is nestled on the banks of the river Vishwamitri and close to NH 48 (renumbered from 8) which connects Mumbai and Delhi. Over the years, Vadodara has seen extreme infrastructural growth. Be it their extensive airport or the tourist attractions within the city, Vadodara has managed to climb up the ranks to be one of the cleanest cities in India. In fact, after Kochi, Vadodara is the second airport in India to have acquired a sustainable energy source, which makes it a green airport. Travelling to the city is quite easy as the flight connectivity to Vadodara or even rail and roadway has an excellent network.

The city is quite famous and sees tremendous tourists flocking over during weekends for a break. Aside from the beautiful structures and tourist attractions, the city also has great staycation options. You can book hotels in Vadodara for reasonable costs and benefit from their top-notch hospitality and services. The food culture of Vadodara is something that is worth talking about as it brings together a global fusion cuisine.

Best time to visit in Vadodara

Vadodara witnesses the hottest summers. In fact, it is said that the summers in Vadodara are the hottest in the entire country. Knowing this should be enough for you to contemplate whether to visit Vadodara during summer or to avoid it. The temperatures sometimes go up to 42 degree Celsius which could be too much for some people to handle. The months between April to July see the hottest temperatures. Often people are unable to leave their houses too because of the heat and the health problems that follow. It is not surprising that the flight tickets to Vadodara are quite cheap and affordable during this season. Even the accommodation scenes are affordable with hotel bookings in Vadodara dropping room charges. Unless you have the strength to deal with the harsh rays of the sun, venturing to the city is not a good option.

The city does experience monsoon as well, but it is quite moderate. However, because of the rains, the terrain becomes cool and the atmosphere, a lot more bearable. The months from July to September see temperatures ranging from 24 degree Celsius to 38 degree Celsius. While it is still on the hotter side, the air and vibe turn more agreeable. The city does not see excess rainfall so that the moderate showers wouldn't affect your travel plans.

Winters are the best in Vadodara. The city is comparatively colder and has a very refreshing environment. With temperatures between 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, the city air turns pleasant. Even the winter sun is soothing and manages to put a smile on everyone's faces. October to March undoubtedly have the best weather in Vadodara. Not to mention how the months also come with festivals. From Navratri to Diwali, the festivities make the city vibrant with decorations and lit ambience. You can indulge in wearing Navratri clothes and perform Garba in the city. Also, you can taste undhiyu, a dish popularly made only during the winter season by Gujaratis. Overall, the place certainly turns into a lovely carnival. The flight to Vadodara and hotel bookings in the city automatically spike up with the peak season. However, with a little more scouting on the internet, you will be able to find some amazing online flight deals to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Vadodara

With its agreeable temperatures during winter, Vadodara has some lovely places that should be checked out. There are green gardens in the city that would definitely blow your mind. You can check out the Makarpura Palace, Sayaji Garden, Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, Sur Sagar Lake, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nyaya Mandir, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Jambughoda Wild Life Sanctuary, Champaner and Kirti Mandir. As a city that is constantly rooting towards expansion and development, Vadodara is also acknowledged as one of the cleanest cities in India.

Things to do in Vadodara

Vadodara has some of the best gardens and parks in the city. From the famous Kabirwad to the colourful Ajwa Nimeta Dam Garden, these places are lit with exquisite maintenance. Theme parks such as Ajwa Fun World and S Cube Water Park are also cool places to unwind with the family. As for those who wish to be close to nature, you can head to the Zarwani and Hathini Waterfalls. When in the city, you must check out the Narmada Canal, which is an impressive structure.

Food and Restaurants in Vadodara

One can never go to Gujarat and not have their celebrated cuisine. Gujarati food is known to be one of the best and the Gujaratis, food connoisseurs. The state's city Vadodara is no different to this idea. Aside from catering to the diverse range of tourists and visitors, Vadodara also propagates their vegetarian food, Gujarati thalis and fascinating delicacies. Most of Gujarat follows a vegetarian diet and hence, is tough to find non-vegetarian food joints. However, here in Vadodara, you will find a handful of restaurants that serve mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes that would make you a happy person.

At the city's barbecue junction, The Barbeque Grill, you will find some well-cooked Mughlai cuisine with kebabs, biryanis and other such dishes. Plus, they do have a buffet system too. Sasumaa's Gujarati thali is famous across the state. This chain of restaurants only have Gujarati thalis, and they are all you need to get the best of the cuisine. Not to mention how hospitable the staff is that it would further enhance your experience. Vadodara also has provision for global cuisine such as Mexican, Chinese and more. You should visit Salsa Habanero to get the best of Mexican flavours in the city. The chef of the restaurant was raised in California and surrounded by Mexican cuisine, which brought about this institution.

Some of the other places in Vadodara that should be visited include Azure, Mandap, Peshawari, Kai Asia, 22nd Parallel and San's Sizzlers. If you do manage to get time aside from checking out these restaurants, it is recommended that you also check out the street food culture of Vadodara. You will be surprised by their active food scenes on the streets.

How to reach Vadodara (Transportation)

By Air

Vadodara Airport is located 6.2 km away from the main city of Vadodara. After Ahmedabad and Surat, Vadodara is the third busiest airport in the state. The airport is touted to be the cleanest in the whole country. Interestingly, the airport recently inaugurated its international terminal and has since been witnessing a tremendous surge in passenger footfall. The flight connectivity to Vadodara is excellent as various major cities have dedicated flights flying in and out of the city. Flying to Vadodara easily becomes the best option as there are many flights to Vadodara from cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Not to mention how the flight connectivity to and from Vadodara enables easier transportation for travellers. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have designated flights to Vadodara from Bangalore, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and more. The fact that the airport is clean and has top-notch facilities further makes it a favoured option. You can book flight tickets to Vadodara at a reasonable price, irrespective of whether it is peak season or off-season. Plus, the city has exquisite accommodation too. You can book fancy hotels in Vadodara and enhance your trip experience.

By Rail

Vadodara railway station is just as well-connected as the flights to Vadodara. You can simply travel to the city in Gujarat from anywhere in India. The railway station is known to be the biggest one in the western railways belt. The city's railway station has excellent connectivity with several domestic routes connected to Vadodara. The railway station witnesses various express trains from corners of India. Some of the regular express trains include the Howrah-Ahmedabad Express and Navjivan Express. However, it is best to book tickets to Vadodara well in advance, owing to the popularity of the place. From the railway station, you can easily venture around in the city, which is perfectly connected thanks to the auto-rickshaw, buses and cab services. You can even book a hotel in Vadodara's city centre area and be assured that transit would be convenient.

By Road

Many tourists opt for roadways to travel to Vadodara. The highways and domestic routes connecting Vadodara to other big cities are extremely immaculate. The highways and roads are regularly maintained to ensure that the aesthetic beauty remains intact. This has given many travellers the option to take up road trips to the city. Even bus rides to Vadodara are good as the scenic views, and travel duration is decent. If you do have a budget issue and need to save enough money to book a hotel in Vadodara, then you should opt for bus travel. They are comfortable and will lead you directly to the city centre. Here, close to the bus stand, you will find many accommodation options that would help with your wallet.

  About Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is known for its cluster of universities like the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon. It is the main hub for the steel industry, but it also has a lot of tourist attractions and is slowly turning into a tourist spot, too. A lot of artists like late Pop Art master Andy Warhol, Broadway star Patti Lupone are also from Pittsburgh. The city also has quite a few restaurants that serve the most delicious food. You can visit the museums in the city if you are an art lover and history buff. You can go bird watching or on a museum tour. You can also sign up for a historical tour of the city. You'll always find something to do here and a holiday in Pittsburgh will only make you want to come back again. You can also learn about Pittsburgh's diversity, along with its rich history. It is the perfect place for sports and adventure enthusiasts to visit. The city is also known for being a culinary delight. Even if you are not a foodie, you will find yourself enjoying the food and craft beer here. Pierogi is a Polish dish that people absolutely love. It is a highly recommended dish for all the right reasons.

Best Time to Visit Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh experiences summer from July to August, which is also a high tourist season in the city. The temperature reaches an average of 27 degree Celsius. If you don't mind the scorching heat, you can plan your trip to Pittsburgh during summer. Since this is high tourist season, book a hotel in Pittsburgh several weeks in advance before the prices rise. It is also recommended that you book your flights to Pittsburgh in advance. You might come across exciting flight deals to Pittsburgh online if you book your tickets in advance. Do make sure that you stay well-hydrated and use sunblock regularly, so you don't get sunburnt or get sunstroke. If you are visiting in June, you might also want to pack your umbrella since it is the wettest month of the year. It rains regularly and might put a damper on your sightseeing plans or any other outdoor activity that you might have planned for the day.

September to November is fall season in Pittsburgh and is an ideal season to visit the city. The temperature ranges between 10 to 21 degree Celsius and is a very pleasant time to head to Pittsburgh. The climate is neither too hot nor too cold. It is the perfect time to head out and give your favourite outdoor activities a try. The hotel prices drop considerably during this time since there are fewer tourists in the city. You might even get cheap flight tickets to Pittsburgh during the fall season. It provides relief after a hot, scorching summer. October is a dry month with little rain, but you also experience the city's first snowfall in October. You can also attend the Hundred Acres manor tour during Halloween here if you are ready to get spooked out.

December to February is when Pittsburgh experiences winter. While the winter is not as cold as it is in the other cities or states in the US, it does snow for some time in January when the temperature reaches an average of -7 degree Celsius. Pack your warm clothes if you are planning to head to Pittsburgh during winter. January is a great time to head to Pittsburgh. You can attend Restaurant Week in January and get the best discounts and offers at the restaurants here. Since it is a low tourist season, this is a great time for restauranteurs to make the most of it and attract more people to the restaurants. You can also attend the Pittsburgh Beerfest in February. March to May is the spring season in Pittsburgh, and the city experiences heavy rainfall during this time. The days are warm and windy but the evenings are cool. If you are heading to Pittsburgh in May, you can attend the Pittsburgh Wine Festival and Pittsburgh Marathon. You can attend the Spring Carnival organised by the Carnegie Mellon University in April or the Spring Flowers Show or St Patrick's Day Parade in March. With events being hosted in the city throughout the year, you will never get bored here for sure.

Places to Visit in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has outdoor activity opportunities to attract more tourists. You can hike up to Mount Washington, which is right across the river from downtown Pittsburgh. You will be treated to a magnificent view of the city from up top, and it is the perfect place in the city to take lots of pictures. Senator John Heinz, Pittsburgh History Center, is another major tourist attraction that you must visit. The exhibit here showcases 250 years of Western Pennsylvania history and also throws light on how immigrants helped shape the city, and you can also learn more about the Underground Railroad. It is a seven-storey museum, and you will love it.

You can head over to the National Aviary for a little birdwatching tour or to the Andy Warhol Museum. Pittsburgh also has an Arcade Comedy Theater that you can visit. You can catch a show while you are at it. Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is one of the six zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States. You'll see about 4000 animals of 500 different species in the zoo, which is situated at Highland Park. The Church Brew Works was built in 1902 and turned into a brewery in 1996.

Things to do in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is not only an ideal place for families to head to for a vacation but also with your friends. You can sign up for a sightseeing tour of Pittsburgh, or you can go exploring the city on your own. You can choose between going on a historical tour of the city or covering all the locations that are close to nature. You can also combine both of them and cover all of the major tourist attractions. Going hiking or trekking to Mount Washington is one of the popular activities that tourists can take up when they visit the city. You can also catch a game of baseball at PNC Park if you are a sports enthusiast. To end your day on a relaxing and pleasant note, you can head to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. You can just take a stroll in the garden and admire the place, or you can rent a bike and ride around the park. Visiting the Carnegie Science Center is another popular thing for tourists to take up. You will be amazed at everything that you come across at the centre. Strip District used to be an industrial neighbourhood but has now transformed into a popular place for tourists to head to if they want to go on a shopping spree or binge on delicious food at the restaurants. You can also walk alongside the River Allegheny or go for a jog. You can also catch a beautiful sunset from here.

Foods and Restaurants in Pittsburgh

Pierogies are one of the staple dishes in Pittsburgh, and you will find a lot of restaurants serving this Polish dish. Pierogies Plus, The Church Brew Works and Penn Brewery are some of the popular restaurants that serve the most delicious pierogies. You will find a lot of variations to pierogies in all of these three restaurants. Not to mention, the craft beer in their restaurants are a delight. Pittsburgh is not exactly popular for its culinary brilliance, but it does have quite a few restaurants that serve the most delicious foods. You will also find restaurants that serve authentic Turkish, French, Italian and Chinese cuisines, among others. Turkish Grille serves the best Turkish, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. You can also head to the Jean-Marc Chatelier's French Bakery for your sweet-tooth cravings. You can head to Everyday Noodles to try some Chinese, Asian or Taiwanese cuisine. Gaucho Parrilla Argentina and The Capital Grille are some places you can head to for delicious steaks. You can also try Eddie V's Prime Seafood for authentic American food and Condado Tacos for Mexican food and a couple of drinks.

How to reach Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh International Airport is about 15 km from downtown Pittsburgh. The flight connectivity to Pittsburgh from India is excellent. American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa have frequent flights to Pittsburgh with layovers at London, Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago and Munich. If you book well in advance, you might come across exciting flight deals to Pittsburgh online. You might even end up getting cheap flight tickets to Pittsburgh if you are travelling during the offseason. The airport has quite a lot of facilities for passengers like restaurants, cafes, shopping areas, ATMs, currency exchange and a lot more. It is also quite easy and convenient to get a taxi or car rental service from the airport to your hotel. If you haven't pre-booked your taxi, you can approach any of the car rental service stalls at the airport, and they will help you out.

  About Vadodara Airport

Vadodara Airport, also known by the name, Civil Airport Harni, is situated in the suburb of Harni, which is in the north-east of Vadodara, Gujarat. The city is the third largest in the state of Gujarat in terms of population. The city follows Ahmedabad and Surat in the list of populated cities in the state. Vadodara was originally a domestic airport which recently received the stature of an international airport. Vadodara Airport has started operations of international flights. Additionally, the airport also has its state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility.

About Vadodara Airport terminals

Vadodara Airport has one domestic terminal which has been named after the Maharaja of Baroda State. The terminal's decor has been inspired by the architectural nuances of mixed styles ranging from Gujarati to dome-shaped roofs, etc. As the airport is small, so is the terminal. It cannot accommodate a large throng of passengers and barely manages 250 in an hour. Hence, to expand the capacity of the terminal and to incorporate international flight operations, the airport announced to construct a new integrated terminal building in the vicinity. A competition to design the new terminal was introduced on an international scale. Following this, a US-based consortium Gensler, Frederic Schwartz Architects and Creative Group from India bagged the project to design the new terminal. Works to accommodate the new integrated terminal commenced in 2009 as the foundation was laid.

After nearly seven years of construction work, the terminal was completed and inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in the same year. The new integrated terminal sprawls across an area of 18,120 square metres and can accommodate about 700 passengers in an hour. Other features of the terminal include 18 check-in counters as well as a night parking facility. The parking bay can accommodate close to nine Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This has enabled a reduction in the burden at Mumbai Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and Ahmedabad Airport (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport). It has also made it economical for several airlines. Presently, Vadodara Airport does not accommodate cargo. It is also recognised as the second airport in the country, after Cochin International Airport, to be a green airport. In fact, the airport's new integrated terminal also holds a global record for being the only airport with the longest single sheet rooftop which measures about 164.2 metres.

About Airport Authority

The airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body, which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has been founded to cater to the upgradations, maintenance and management of various civil aviation infrastructure in the country. It is thanks to the work of the Airports Authority of India that Vadodara Airport has managed to expand its airport terminals and to accommodate both domestic and international flights. In fact, the exemplary work of the AAI has enabled Vadodara Airport to bag the Swachh Bharat Award for being one of the cleanest and safest airports in the category of airports that can accommodate passenger capacity of 1.5 million. As part of the expansion plans, Airports Authority of India has brought Vadodara Airport in the maps of one of the most accomplished and well-developed airports in India.

Facilities at the Vadodara Airport

Wheelchair accessibility – You can request for a wheelchair with your airline, and the airport would cater to the same.

Medical facility – Vadodara Airport has a designated team of medical professionals to deal with emergency cases that might crop up at the airport premise. They are trained doctors and professionals. Medical rooms are also present as are pharmacies.

Restaurants and cafes – There are quaint cafes and restaurants installed in the airport premise. They can be found in the departure sections of the airport. Smaller joints and food establishments can also be found in the arrivals section. For tea, coffee and other such beverages, you can check out some joints located in the airport.

Baggage – The baggage services at the airport include trolleys and porter systems. You can ask for a porter service, wherein an airport staff would escort your trolley of luggage and even get the security checks done on your behalf. Trolleys are available outside the airport as well as in the airport premise.

Shops – There are small shops also present at the airport premise. You can find some impeccable paintings, books, magazines, artefacts and souvenirs at these shops. They basically glorify the culture of Gujarat and also have exquisite ethnic items that you could purchase. In fact, for passengers who need to pass their time at the airport can actually visit these shops and be entertained by the lovely collection of items that they have for sale.

Lounge – The airport has a luxury lounge present in the departure section of the terminal. The lounge can be accessed by passengers who have special passes or a certain ticket type. As for others who wish to spend time in the lounge and enjoy their benefits, the airport has tariffs that the passengers will need to pay to get access to the space. There are TV sets, WiFi services, good hospitality and great lounge seats available in the lounge.

Special assistance – There are special assistance services that have been reserved for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities. These services can be availed at the airport. It is recommended that the passenger inform the airlines prior to the journey. The airport will be able to accommodate the necessary services and trained staff to cater to the same.

Smoking zones – Vadodara Airport has strict laws against smoking and to make sure that the protocols to not smoke in public are followed, they have installed zones in the premise. The airport has designated smoking zones for passengers to avail. These spaces also have cigarettes for sale. The smoking lounges are kept clean and sanitised with fresh air being pumped at every interval.

Top airlines flying from Vadodara Airport

Vadodara is a big city within the borders of Gujarat. However, it does not have excellent connectivity with other Indian cities. As an airport that only caters to domestic flights, Vadodara Airport accommodates operations of airlines namely Air India and IndiGo. These airlines fly to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, to name a few.

How to reach Vadodara Airport

By Bus and taxi

Vadodara as a city is perfectly connected with several modes of transportation. The airport is also just as well-connected as it is very close to the city centre. You can opt for buses to reach Vadodara Airport. There are designated bus stops available in proximity to the airport. These buses can be taken from anywhere around the city. As one of the important cities in Gujarat, Vadodara's bus services are handled by the state government. Hence, the connectivity is immaculate. Aside from the buses, you can also reach Vadodara Airport by hailing a taxi cab. There are provisions of the same in the city. In fact, you can also opt for car rentals and travel in the same to reach Vadodara Airport.

By Rail

Baroda Railway Station is barely five kilometres from Vadodara Airport. Hence, if you are travelling from neighbouring towns by train and have a flight to catch from Vadodara Airport, the best way to reach would be by getting a rickshaw or taxi ride from the railway station. As it is in the city centre, you can easily find taxi cabs and rickshaws at the Baroda Railway Station to reach Vadodara Airport. It would take you about 15 minutes to reach Vadodara Airport from the railway station. Hopefully, if there is not much traffic on the street, the travel duration would further be reduced. The road conditions are rather conducive.

About Vadodara

Vadodara, popularly known as Baroda, is the third-most populous city in the state of Gujarat. The city is named after the presence of Banyan (Vad), that grow and flourish in the city. Vadodara is perched atop the banks of the Vishwamitri River and is roughly 120 km away from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Vadodara's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer has enabled the city to have a tropical climate at all times. It is extremely hot and often deals with scorching summers too. Although the city witnesses tremendous passenger traffic owing to the industrial establishments, there are dedicated peak months when you can visit Vadodara.

The best time to visit the city is from March to April. It is considerably hot and humid, but the heat is bearable. The city is blessed with lovely temples and exquisite palaces and historic structures. In fact, it is even recognised as the cultural capital of Gujarat. Thanks to these attractions, the city witnesses tremendous tourist action. Some of the highlights of the city include the Lakshmi Vilas Palace which is the residence of Baroda Stat's Maratha regal family, the Gaekwads, from the Gaekwad Dynasty. Vadodara is home to the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The city is heavily invested in various power and oil and gas corporations.