Bhuj to Solapur Flights

Pune Airport (IATA: PNQ, ICAO: VAPO) is a customs airport located 254 km from Solapur. Since Solapur Airport (IATA: SSE, ICAO: VASL) is closed, Pune Airport is the closest airport to Solapur. Pune Airport is located in Lohegaon, 10 km from Puneís centre. The airport has a single terminal that handles flights to multiple major cities in India, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, etc. The airport also has flights to and from international cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Frankfurt. Pune Airport provides standard passenger amenities like baby care rooms, ATMs, currency exchange counters, a post office, smoking lounges, shops, and restaurants. The airport has many transport options, including taxis and buses, which can be used to travel to Solapur.

Solapur, also called Sholapur, is a B1-tier city and district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra. The city lies close to the state border with Karnataka. Solapur is the hub of Maharashtraís beedi industry. Apart from beedi, the city is also well-known for its textile industry. Solapur is famous for its cotton chaddars (blankets) to the point that Solapuri Chaddars is a household name in Maharashtra. As a byproduct of the booming textile industry, Solapur also happens to have Asiaís largest (the worldís second-largest) cotton spinning mill. Industry aside, Solapur also has a rich history. It is said that Solapur has been ruled by various ancient dynasties, such as the Andhrabhratyas, Bahamanis, Chalukyas, Rashtrkutas, and Yadavas. It was believed that the cityís name was derived from the words Sola (Sixteen) and Pur (Village) because the city was formed by combining 16 villages. But recent evidence has shown this to be untrue. Solapur was never formed by combining villages, but rather the place was called Sonnalagi during the time of the Yadavas. After that, the name was changed to Sonalpur, and during the Mughal period, the name was mispronounced as Solapur. The British used to call the place Sholapur. After independence, both Sholapur and Solapur were used interchangeably, although Solapur is the official name. Solapur played its role in Indiaís struggle for independence. The arrest of Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 started a major protest against the British. The protest in Solapur was so fierce that it turned violent, and the protestors managed to drive out all the police from the city for three days. The city basically became independent during this short time, ruled by local Congress leaders. After independence, Solapur used to be under the jurisdiction of the Ahmednagar, Pune, and Satara districts. In 1960, the district of Solapur became an official district of Maharashtra. Solapur is also widely known as the home of the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary. The Bustard is one of the heaviest birds capable of flight. Since Solapur Airport is closed, the nearest airport is in Pune.

Bhuj Airport (IATA: BHJ, ICAO: VABJ) is a domestic airport located 3 km to the north of Bhuj city. The airport has a single terminal with a passenger capacity of 200. The airport handles domestic flights to multiple cities in India, including Pune, and direct flights to Mumbai. After the 2001 earthquake, the airport was repaired, which required an outflow of INR 400 million. The airport was dedicated to Lal Krishna Advani, the former deputy Prime Minister of India. Bhuj Airport has standard airport facilities like free trolleys, wheelchair services, a lost and found baggage counter, a childcare room, a smokerís lounge, and assistance for the elderly and the physically challenged. Buses and taxi stands nearby offer easy access to surrounding places.

Bhuj is a city in Gujarat and the administrative headquarters of Kutch District. The city is located in the northwest part of Gujarat, approximately 331 km from Ahmedabad. Bhuj is the second-largest city in Kutch. Bhuj became prominent in the Indian media since it was near the epicentre of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. An earthquake of 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale devastated the city, killing over 12,000 people in Bhuj alone. This wasn't the first time either, as Bhuj had been hit by an earthquake in 1956 as well. After the 2001 tragedy, the city has rebuilt itself into a modern Indian city. Bhujís history has mythical roots. It is believed that Bhuj was once ruled by the Nagas (mythical snake-human hybrids). The city is named after Bhujia Hill and also after the snake god Bhujang. Historically, the city was founded by Hamir Rao in 1510 and became the capital of Kutch in 1549 under Khengarji Rao I. The city was attacked six times between 1700 and 1850. Because of this, it was surrounded by walls that were nearly 35 feet high and mounted with 51 guns. Despite the defences, the city fell four out of six times. During British rule, Bhuj had a formidable army garrison, with over a thousand British troops and thousands of Indian sepoys. After independence, Bhuj was the capital of the state of Kutch from 1947 to 1960. In 1960, Kutch became a part of Gujarat. Bhuj is close to the Rann of Kutch, and hence, it has a hot, arid, desert-like climate. The average temperatures in summer (March to July) can go up as high as 38∞C. The winter (December to February) temperatures range from 12∞C to 20∞C. Despite the desert climate, Bhuj receives an annual rainfall of roughly 13 inches. Traditional Kutch handicrafts and the cityís rich history make Bhuj an attractive tourist destination. Bandhini prints and handicrafts are the city's most sought-after souvenirs.