Flight Destinations for Flights to India

India currently has 125 airports, but when selecting your India Flight Destinations, be aware that just 12 of these are designated as international airports. This guide to the India City Airports will help you to get an understanding of the various destination options. Each of these international airports have domestic terminals in close proximity to them for ease of onward travel by air. There are also extensive road and rail networks easily accessed from most of the major airports. Travelling by road and rail is cheap and offers the chance to see this magnificent country at ground level.

Most Popular:

The Indira Gandhi International Airport of Delhi and the Chattrapati Shivaji International airport of Mumbai handle more than half of the air traffic in South Asia and are considered to be the major gateways into India. The vast majority of flights to India from the UK are between London Heathrow and one of these two destinations.

North India:

Delhi or New Delhi, is the heaving capital of India, a constantly evolving city of contrast and diversity, a city with a rich and tremendously varied past. Delhi is the number one gateway into India with the landing at The Indira Gandhi International Airport being just the start of an adventure for many thousands of people each year. But do not regard Delhi merely as a staging post, it has much to offer within the city, the suburbs and the surrounding areas.

Situated in the Punjab region of northwest India, Amritsar is the centre of the Sikh religion and home to the holiest Sikh shrine, the magnificent Golden Temple. Flights to The Amritsar International Airport are very limited. None of the major Middle Eastern airlines currently appear to have any plans to offer flights to Amritsar from the UK.

India's West Coast Region:

The Chattrapati Shivaji International airport of Mumbai as stated above is one of the two most popular international destinations in India. Nicknamed the “City of Dreams”, Mumbai formerly known as Bombay is also one of the busiest locations in India. It is a thriving port, a centre for haute couture (the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing), architectural development, and the Bollywood film industry.

Ahmedabad is to be found higher up the western coast and is the biggest city in the state of Gujarat in western India. Ahmedabad attracts visitors keen to explore the city’s links with Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Ashram, on the banks of the Sabarnati river, has been maintained as it was left by the great man. Here you will find street markets, forts, temples and mosques proving ever popular with travellers.

Also gaining in popularity and becoming more accessible as a tourist resort is the relatively small state of Goa, a beach lovers paradise. The Goa International Airport is strategically located at Dabolim, midway between the city of Vasco da Gama approximately 4 km (2 miles) away, and Dabolim town. It is unlikely that you will find a direct scheduled flight from the UK to Goa. Goa is however one of the few Indian destinations serviced by regular charter flights. These charters are operated by Holiday companies such as Thompson Holidays and Thomas Cooke Airlines.

Hyderabad is renowned the world over for it's Information Technology, Pharmaceutical and entertainment industries. In recognition of this, British Airways recently launched a service to Hyderabad from London Heathrow. No other airlines fly a direct route here.

South India:

Southern India is a fantastic destination for some great site seeing or to enjoy the exotic coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The three principal airports for flying into Southern India are Bangalore, Kochi (Cochin) and Chennai.

Although becoming infamous as 'The IT Capital of India' and "The Silicon Valley of India' Bangalore has more to offer than just business. It is a city rapidly becoming one of the most modern and upmarket destinations on the Indian subcontinent, popular with the young and trendy modern generation. The trendy discotheques and pubs are making it one of the most "in" places to be in the country.

There are no direct flight services to Kochi (Cochin) from the UK and direct flights to Chennai are limited to just a small number from London. Again, as is the case with most of the international Indian airports, indirect flights are plentiful. Alternatively, fly to Delhi or Mumbai then travel to your chosen destination by internal flight, road or rail.

Eastern India:

Way over in the East you will find Kolkata, still reffered to by many as Calcutta. Nowadays when referred to as "Kolkata", it usually includes the suburbs, whereas Calcutta is usually regarded as the central area of the city. The old Calcutta served as the capital of India during the British Raj up until 1911 when the British moved the capital to New Delhi. It was once the centre of modern education, industry, science, culture and politics but then witnessed intense political violence, clashes and economic stagnation.