Vijayawada to Jeddah Flights

  About Vijayawada

Situated on the banks of Krishna River is the city of Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Surrounded by dense greenery of the Eastern ghats, the city has exquisite scenery to cherish. The industrial city is known to have the second-largest rail junction connectivity, making it an important city in India. It is the hub of transport connection to South India. The city enjoys a beautiful melange of cultures and heritages, making it a good tourist place. Flight connectivity to Vijayawada from other major cities further enhances its importance.

Best time to visit Vijayawada

Vijayawada's climate is usually moderate all-round the year. However, winter months make it the best time to visit. Winters arrive in October and stay till February, giving people ample time to plan a trip to Vijayawada for a small excursion. The November and December months are especially favourable for travelling as the sun is pleasant, as is the vibe of the place. Thanks to the favourable weather, it manages to attract a lot of tourists to Vijayawada city. Even the flight tickets to Vijayawada see a spike during the peak-season, being winter. You will have a good time during winter in Vijayawada as the streets are lit with many hawkers selling some of the finest street food. Plus, it would be easier to visit tourist attractions in and around the city.

While the winters are inviting and beautiful, the summers are equally scorching and terrible. The temperatures often spike up to 43 degree Celsius, which can be tough for some people to deal with. The weather is extremely hot and humid. It definitely would not allow you to traverse within the city as the pesky heat and humidity would come in the way of your mood. Not to mention how it could have some have implications such as heat strokes and dehydration too. Best thing to do would be to avoid summers in Vijayawada for one's own safety. Besides, if travel and leisure is your purpose of visiting Vijayawada, then it is all the more important that you do not opt for Vijayawada for vacation. It certainly wouldn't be a good trip, and you might end up feeling more worked up than before.

Interestingly, the monsoons are not good but not as bad as summers. The city witnesses torrential rains between the months of July and September. Due to the extreme downpour, the travel plans that you may have had might need alteration. The erratic nature of the rain will have an effect on the temperature of the city. It could be favourable, or it could be bad. Hence, the best way to go about it would be to only pick winter as the time to visit Vijayawada. It is ideal, and the city also has more life to it that would do well with your vacation mood.

Places to visit in Vijayawada

Vijayawada has a plethora of beautiful tourist attractions that would make for a good itinerary. Bhavani Island is one such place where the Krishna river would surround you while you enjoy fine dining. It is the perfect leisure setting that one can ask for. Aside from it, you can further explore some of the temples and pilgrimage that is situated in the city. Places such as Kanaka Durga Temple, Subramanya Swamy Temple, Hinkar Tirtha, ISKCON Temple, to name a few, are places that would transport you to a serene environment. Exploring ruins at the Kondapalli Fort is also a good way to spend time in Vijayawada. As is visiting the Victoria Museum to learn more about the Vijayawada empire and the historical significance of the city.

Things to do in Vijayawada

Not just food and tourist attractions but the city also cater to one's recreational needs with a slew of things to do. Shopping being the primary attraction for many, tourists often flock over to the Besant Road for some street shopping. Getting souvenirs for your peers could be something fun to engage in. For those who are interested in flexing calf muscles and engaging in some adventure activities, you can pick trekking to the Mangalagiri Hills or Gandhi Hill as an option. Further to rest easy, packing a picnic basket and heading to the Kolleru Lake is also a comfortable idea that you can undertake.

Food and Restaurants in Vijayawada

Vijayawada's food culture would be agreeable to all. The city brings together some of the finer shades of Indian cuisine in one platter. Although the city is predominantly South Indian and would cater to the said cuisine, they do come with variations. Vijayawada accommodates Udupi-style restaurants, exquisite fine dining experiences with global fusion and more. You will thoroughly be overjoyed by the plethora of food options that the city has for you. Traditional food joints have also been transformed into fine dining experiences that cannot be missed. The foodie in you would certainly agree with some of the food that the city offers. It is a known fact that people in Andhra Pradesh hold a special spot for rice and pickles. Do make a note that the food quantity is abundant, so prepare your stomach for an adventure.

The city has a bunch of mess and caterer services where you can eat to your heart's content. Sr Ramayya Mess and Caterers is one such place which would give you some delicious authentic South Indian spread. It is purely vegetarian and one of the famous places in Vijayawada. Make sure you taste their bread halwa and gongura pachadi, you will not be disappointed. Babai Hotel in Vijaywada is not just prominent for being a breakfast joint since 1942 but also for serving food to bigtime celebrities such as Sri N.T.Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Chandra Mohan, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, to name a few.

For impeccable non-vegetarian dishes, you should head to GAD Restaurant, Sweet Magic, TFL and RR Durbar. These places serve the best non-vegetarian spin that is Andhra Pradesh's speciality. Much of their menu has kebabs and biryanis for food enthusiasts. You should not miss out the street food that also defines Vijayawada's food culture. At Kit-Kat Bakery, relish their masala burgers and bread omelettes. Visit Shahana's juice point to get some refreshing fruit juice.

How to reach Vijayawada (Transportation)

By Air

Vijayawada is an international airport and entertains international flights along with domestic ones. Located in the Gannavaram area, Vijayawada International Airport was originally built as an army base to serve during the Second World War. Since the airport's location is right on NH 5, it connects with various cities in the South such as Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, to name a few. Major airlines such as TruJet, Air India, SpiceJet and Air Costa function from the Vijayawada airport. Flights from Vijayawada fly to prominent cities in India, including Bangalore, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Varanasi, Kochi, Kolkata and more. Direct flights to Mumbai from Vijayawada are also available and are serviced by Air India.

Despite being an international airport, there are no flights from international routes that connect to Vijayawada. In fact, to book an international flight, you will have to check for connecting flights from Hyderabad. Flight tickets to Vijayawada are not extremely pricey. You can easily book your flight ticket to Vijayawada and get some fantastic flight deals. Better accommodations are available in the city centre, but it would be best to book your hotel room in Vijayawada before your journey.

By Rail

Vijayawada's railway connectivity is legendary. In fact, the city's railway junction is known to be the second biggest in India. Vijayawada railway station is an important station in India as a majority of the train connections from North to South of India pass through the city. The rail is actually a hub that enables connecting all the cities in South of India more convenient. The station is abundantly crowded with trains coming from all corners of India. While there is a Howrah-Chennai mainline that passes through Vijayawada, there are other lines like Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, too that pass through this. Vijayawada is a popular rail route that has excellent network.

Express trains such as Chennai Express, Shatabdi Express, Coromandal Express, Guwahati Express and Jaipur Express, to name a few, take a halt at Vijayawada. The station's location is in the city centre, making travelling within the city comfortable. Due to the fantastic connectivity of trains, the rail is considered over flights to Vijayawada by tourists.

By Road

The roads are just as brilliantly connected as the air and rail to Vijayawada. National highways such as NH 5, NH 9, NH 30 and more passes through Vijayawada, making it a popular route for road transport. A state-run bus facility for inter-state travelling is also available. As for intra-city and inter-state buses, private services to connect cities via AC/Non-AC buses. While traffic congestion can be expected on the highways, the road conditions are favourable, making travelling by road a lot easier. As a developed city, Vijayawada's transportation is quite immaculate. Traffic and other concerns do erupt owing to the crowd.

  About Jeddah

Jeddah is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia and is also very close to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Its proximity to these cities is what attracts most tourists and pilgrims to Jeddah. It is also the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia. The country is known for standing by its customs and traditions strongly. You will get to witness the Islamic culture and their lifestyle first hand on your trip to Jeddah. There are, however, quite a few rules that every tourist must follow. But apart from these, Jeddah is also known as one of the hottest shopping destinations after Dubai. Jeddah is right along the Red Sea and also has beaches that tourists can access. You can either head to the beach to watch the sunrise or catch the sunrise by the beach. You can also make the most of all the water-based activities that the city has to offer to tourists. You can sign up for a tour of the city or explore it on your own. Jeddah is also known for its luxurious dining experience. You will find a lot of restaurants with a palatial decor and services that make you feel like royalty.

Best Time to Visit Jeddah

While Jeddah experiences summer and winter, it has very little chance of seeing rains throughout the year. August is the hottest month in the city, and January is the coldest one. It is recommended that you head to the city in the colder months. October to March is the best time to head to Jeddah. The days are warm, but the nights get really chilly. Make sure you pack your warm clothes while heading to Jeddah during winter. You will also have to book your hotel in Jeddah several weeks in advance since availability can be quite the issue at the last minute. You will also have to book your flight tickets to Jeddah well in advance before the prices increase at the last moment. Summer begins from April and lasts till September. While the early spring or summer is not all bad owing to the increase in temperature, if you can't bear the chilly nights, this is the perfect time to plan a trip to Jeddah. If you are travelling during the summer, make sure you carry an extra sunblock with you and stay well-hydrated. With Jeddah being a desert, the weather doesn't get too humid as such in summer. It's scorching hot, and it will only leave you too exhausted to venture out. The city does see a lot of tourists who are visiting Jeddah mainly to head to Mecca and Medina. Since winter is the high tourist season for Jeddah, a lot of restaurants and museums will have long queues. However, if you visit during early spring or late autumn season, you will find interesting offers and discounts here. You can attend the Red Sea International Film Festival in March, Al-Hemma Celebrations, Fireworks Shows and Kingdom of Stars in September. These are a few additional reasons for you to plan your trip to Jeddah in winter instead of summer. The temperature can reach a maximum of 45 degree Celsius during summer.

Places to Visit in Jeddah

Apart from its proximity to the holiest cities, Jeddah has quite a few things in store for tourists. The Al-Rahma Mosque and Bait Al Balad are some of the popular tourist spots in the city. Al-Rahma mosque boasts of Venetian-style architecture and is also called 'The Floating Mosque'. It was built in 1985 and is one of the most important places in the city. Jeddah Corniche is another tourist attraction in the city that you just can't miss. You can enjoy the scenic view of the Red Sea along with the fountains, sculptures and recreational areas that are present in the area. This is the perfect place to end your day at and make sure you catch the sunrise from here. Jeddah also has museums for all the art and history lovers in town. Abdul Raouf Khalil Museum of Jeddah is another tourist spot you won't regret visiting at all. It has a castle, mosque in it along with a museum that showcases the Pre-Islamic and Islamic artefacts. It is located in the centre of the city and reaching the museum will not be troublesome at all. Mecca Gate, which is also known as Quran gate, is located on the Jeddah-Makkah highway and was built back in 1979. The gate resembles the holy Quran to tourists and passengers headed to Mecca for their pilgrimage. It would be best if you also visited the Jeddah Waterfront, an important seaport in Jeddah. It has been serving as one for centuries now. It is also called the 'Bride of the Red Sea'. Don't be disappointed thinking that you won't be able to satisfy the shopaholic in you. Head over to one of the malls, especially the Red Sea Mall, and you can shop till you drop. It would be even better if you visit the malls during the sales season.

Souq-al-alwali is one of the best places in the city to go on a shopping spree. You will find genuine Islamic art, clothes and Arabian jewellery at a reasonable price if you know how to bargain. Naseef House used to be the royal residence of King Abdul Aziz. It is a restored coral house and a very beautiful one at that, too. However, make sure that you call ahead and make an appointment before you leave your hotel.

Things to do in Jeddah

You can either sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city or explore the main tourist spots in Jeddah yourself. Dune Bashing at the desert is a popularly taken up activity in Jeddah, and you will certainly not regret it. You can also opt for camel rides along the desert. A lot of tour companies will also be organising overnight camps at the desert that you can sign up for if you are up for it. Head over to the Red Sea to enjoy the most beautiful sunset. Al-Shallal is a theme park that attracts not only tourists about locals of the city but also the locals. Al-Shallal is a theme park and has quite a few human-made waterfalls and lakes. You can also go o a food tasting tour of the city and try some of the most delicious shawarma at the local food stalls. You can also have lots of beach fun while you are in Jeddah. If you love water and want to explore marine life, you can join the Desert Sea Divers and sign up for guided snorkelling or diving tours to the coral reefs of the Red Sea. You can also participate in other water-based activities like windsurfing, jet skiing, boating and fishing. Jeddah is known for making sure that tourists don't leave the city without falling in love with the traditional middle eastern cuisine. Sign up for a food tour of the city and dine at some of the finest restaurants in Jeddah.

Food and Restaurants in Jeddah

Middle Eastern cuisine is popular all over the world, and there is nothing better than experiencing it in the Middle East itself. Jeddah has an extraordinary culinary scene with kebabs and sushi with a touch of middle eastern spices. Al Khayam is a popular restaurant in Jeddah where you can dine like a king. Red and gold colours dominate the decor of the restaurant. You will find a variety of kebabs and masto-khiar here with a selection of caviars. Piatto prides itself in serving authentic and the most delicious Italian cuisine. For all you vegetarians out there, The Bellevue is a diner that serves not only middle eastern food but also has vegetarian food on its menu. You can head over to Ajji next door to try sushi and other Asian food. Toki is another popular restaurant that serves Chinese, Malaysian and Thai food. You can also head to Ginza I Chome if you are craving for some sushi. You can also try some authentic Turkish cuisine at Khayal. Don't forget to save some room for kunafa dessert if you are visiting this restaurant.

How to reach Jeddah (Transportation)

King Abdulaziz International Airport is the main airport in Saudi Arabia. The flight connectivity to Jeddah from India is excellent. Gulf Air, Oman Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines have frequent flights to Jeddah with layovers in Manama, Muscat and Al Madinah. If you book your flights well in advance, you might come across decent flight deals to Jeddah. In fact, you will get cheap flight tickets to Jeddah quite easily. The airport has a separate Hajj terminal for the pilgrims who are travelling to the city to head to the holy city of Mecca. Jeddah is quite close to Mecca, which is a very important place of worship for Muslims. The Hajj terminal can accommodate up to 80,000 passengers at a time and has facilities for people to perform their rituals for the annual Hajj.