Pondicherry to Madurai Flights

Madurai Airport (IATA: IXM) is one of the most important airports in South India. It is located about 19 km away from the city's centre, which helps with easy travel to and fro the airport. Opened in 1957, this airport has been continually serving people with the best of its services. Madurai Airfield was the first used by the Royal Air Force during World War II. The domestic network at Madurai Airport is substantial and typically serves more than 125,000 people each month. Madurai Airport has two terminals - a domestic and an international terminal one, which can accommodate 250 passengers each for arrivals and departures. It has eight immigration counters and 16 check-in counters, for arrivals, four for departures, two security counters and five customs counters. Major Indian metropolises like Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore and Tier-II cities like Rajahmundry and Tirupati are all directly accessible to the Madurai airport. Madurai has direct flights to Singapore, Dubai, and Colombo internationally. Madurai Airport provides services like immediate medical attention and wheelchairs for senior citizens and specially-abled people, free trolleys, childcare, a first-aid room and a Lost & Found Counter. Different showrooms, outlets, cafes, restaurants, bookstores, and gift shops are found at the airport. The best ways to travel to and from the airport include rental cars and city buses. Some good hotel properties near the airport include AMIKA Hotel, Astoria Hotels by Sparsa, Regency Madurai, The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai, KFour Apartments and Hotels, etc.

Madurai, previously known as Madura, is an important city in Tamil Nadu state located on the banks of river Vaigai. It is known to be one of the oldest and most populous cities in Tamil Nadu. Madurai lies southeast of the Eastern Ghats and is known by various names like Malligai maanagar, Koodal nagaram, Koil maanagar, and Naanmada koodal. Ruled by the Pandya Kings, it was once the Pandyan capital. Since its annexation, Madurai has been ruled by many kingdoms, including the Cholas, Muslim, Vijaynagar, and British rulers. It was also the centre of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1940. Madurai is a major transportation hub and an industrial region with massive development in the manufacturing and transportation of tobacco, sugar, cotton spinning, weaving, and equipment. Railways and roadways are very systematically spread all across the city to ensure smooth connectivity with other cities. This temple town is home to numerous poets and craftspeople and is rich in ancient and contemporary Tamil literature. Along with Tamil, Saurashtrian, a language that migrated with the Gujarati people in the early 16th century, is also widely spoken in the city. It is also known for its Tamil Sangam, a literary society. Madurai experiences a harsh wet season, and the dry season becomes somewhat cloudy. May is the hottest month, whereas the weather is comparatively cooler from October to January. The best time to visit Madurai is between December and February when the climate is most suitable for sightseeing.

The Pondicherry Airport [IATA: PNY] is located at Lawspet at a distance of about 3 km from the Pondicherry city centre. It was constructed in 1989 and has been operational ever since. Expansion of the Pondicherry airport took place in 2007 to accommodate more people and provide better services. It had a new terminal inaugurated in 2013. Its daily operations are controlled by the Airports Authority of India and it also has charter flights and a local flying school. Pondicherry Airport has one terminal which handles domestic flights which can accommodate about 300 passengers during peak hours. It has flights connecting cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, etc. The primary airline carrier operating via the airport is SpiceJet. Pondicherry Airport has shops and eating places for travellers waiting for their flights inside the airport premises. Some other important services and facilities provided by Pondicherry Airport include drinking water cooler with RO filters, mobile charging points, trolleys, conveyor belts, tourist information centre, assistance for differently abled people, etc. Pondicherry Bus Main Station is located very close to the airport whereas the Pondicherry Railway Station is located about 7 km away from the airport. Some of the best hotels near the airport are RKN Beach Resort, K Resort, Beach Villa, Bonjour Bonheur Ocean Spray, Le Pondy Beach and Lake Resort, etc.

Pondicherry, now known as Puducherry, is a Union Territory located in the southern part of India. It is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Because of its proximity to Tamil Nadu, it shares many common features in its culture and cuisine. Established in 1674, it has been one of India's most visited Union Territories from a tourism perspective. It has immense beauty and historical significance making it a popular tourist destination. The history of Pondicherry is classified into two periods - Pre Colonial period and Colonial Period. The Pallavas dominated the pre-colonial period whereas the influx of Portuguese traders marked the colonial period. A French pioneer Francois Martin laid the foundation of successful and prospering trade in Pondicherry. Pondicherry experiences a tropical wet and dry climate that marks a time of fluctuating and diverse temperatures. Winters here are very warm, attracting many people during the colder months. The best time to visit Pondicherry is between November and March when the temperature fluctuates between 21 and 32∞C and is most apt for sightseeing. Sharing the same topography as coastal Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry supports farming rice, cotton, sugarcane, and pulses. The food of Pondicherry has a strong Tamil and French influence and some local delicacies include assad, soya dosa, tandoori potato, coconut curry, stuffed and curried vegetables, palpayasam, podanlangkai, etc. The most widely spoken languages in Pondicherry are Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu. Some important cultural festivals celebrated here include Bastille Day, Pongal, Easter, etc.