Named after Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore's Maratha Empire; the Indore airport was constructed in 1945 to serve Indore and its neighboring regions in the state of Madhya Pradesh. The airport is the busiest in the state and is located 8 km away from Central Indore. Indore airport ranks as 20th in the list of the busiest airports in India. Runway expansions took place in 1996 and thereafter the airport commenced international operations as well.
Flight Information
Air India, Jet Airways, JetKonnect, SpiceJet and IndiGo offer regular domestic flight services at Indore airport. The domestic flights connect Indore to major cities in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bhopal. Mumbai and New Delhi are the most flown-to destinations from Indore with 40 and 30 weekly flights respectively. International flights services connect the city to Sharjah, Kaula Lumpur and Bangkok.
Terminals
Indore airport operates 2 terminals. The domestic terminal of the airport is well equipped to handle heavy volumes of domestic arrivals and departures. The new international terminal was inaugurated in 2012 and has an hourly capacity of accommodating at least 700 passengers. The new terminal also caters to 46 flight services every day and has 16 check-in counters as well as 16 immigration counters.
Traveling in and around
There is a bus station just outside the airport on Aerodrome road from where buses and pre-paid taxis are available to reach Indore city. The central Indore bus station is located at a distance of 13 km from the airport and either of the destinations is well connected to the other with frequent bus services and taxis. The Indore railway station is situated 11 km from the airport from where public transport can be availed of at very reasonable costs.
Services and Facilities
The new terminal at Indore airport is well-constructed with modern amenities and state-of-the-art facilities to cater to international flight operations and expansion in domestic flight services. Both the terminals in the airport are complete with hi-tech baggage services at no extra cost, escalators, immigration counters, car rentals and hotel booking counters.
Things to Do
Passengers who wait at the airport for boarding their flights can put their time to good use with the limited but engaging facilities available at the airport. There are duty-free stores within the premises for last minute purchases. The airport also has stores that sell jewelry, newspapers, magazines and stationery besides other merchandise as well as a good range of restaurants, cafes, fast food centers and bakeries to satiate your hunger.
Hotels
The list of hotels in Indore is quite exhaustive and eclectic to suit every travel requirement and budget. Radisson Blu, Lemon Tree, Hotel President and Fortune Landmark are the recommended choices in Indore for luxury accommodation. Hotels such as Apna Palace, Kanchan Tilak and Hotel Surya are more reasonably priced and offer comfortable stays for price-conscious travelers.
Helpful Tips
Indore is a year-round flying destination with moderately extreme climatic conditions. The summers are extremely hot and the temperatures drop to as low as 1.5 degree C in the winters. Dense fog has caused occasional flight delays and cancellations during the winters. It may be a good idea to accommodate such contingencies in monsoons and winters while making your travel plans to Indore.
Nearby Attractions
The city of Indore, like many other Indian cities, is home to many beautiful temples and palaces. The most recommended places of worship in the city include Khajrana Ganesh Mandir, Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Kanch Mandir and Maa Vaishno Daam. The city also has many interesting forts and palaces that are very popular heritage sites and these include Rajwada and Lal Bagh Palace.
