Varanasi, or Kashi, is considered one of the spiritual places worldwide where people come to find their souls.However, it is not like most developed cities but a home for most people. You will get the feeling of staying nearby to God. It is just a beautiful vibe you will get here. So, suppose you are planning to experience the wonderful feeling by visiting here. In that case, you should know about the famous and biggest airport here, “The Varanasi Airport,” also widely known as “Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport” at Babatpur. This city has a great airport full of facilities that every airport has. The airport was renovated due to the rising tourism seen inthe past few years. Here, in this article, you will know how this airport got its new name also the rich culture of Varanasi through it.
A brief History of the Varanasi airport
The airport was established in 1924 by the name of Varanasi Airport. When it was built, people never knew that it would become one of the biggest airports in Uttar Pradesh. However, in 2005 when it was renamed Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, our former Prime Minister. However, it was not that popular due to not having essential facilities. After a few years of renaming, recently, in 2019, a statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri was inaugurated by PM Modi. Since then, its renovation started from its outlook to the facilities it provides its passengers. And here we are, the airport has all the international and national flights connecting cities of India and some of the popular neighboring countries.
Facilities provided in the Varanasi airport
You can get all the common facilities, such as free Wi-Fi, clean sitting areas, popular food courts, etc., here. The outer appearance of the airport is itself commendable. Babatpur is an area of Varanasi where you don’t find shops and markets, but the airport has all the facilities that a typical passenger expects. If you visit the airport and your flight is delayed by 2-3 hours, you don’t get bored while waiting for your flight.
Varanasi Airport Expansion Plan
There are three overall terminals used in the airport; one is for international operations,and the otheris for domestic ones. The third one is for Cargo movement that contains goods and heavy baggage. In 2019, the Modi government came up withan extension of the Varanasi Airport that has a plan for renovating the whole airport by adding new terminals and expanding the facilities. This airport is now connecting a few neighboring countries, but when this plan is completed, which is expected in 2024, creating a connection between more countries. Other facilities, such as paid lounges for passengers and more popular food courts and shops, will be added according to the plan. The Varanasi Airport Expansion Plan aims to expand the airport and provides the full facilities that any international airport has.
Conclusion
Varanasi Airport, or Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport inthe Babatpur area, is a popular airport in Uttar Pradesh. It connects all the cities in India with a few neighboring countries such as Thailand, SriLanka, Nepal, etc. The government plans to expand the airport, including all the facilities with more connecting flights. It is also designed to add more terminals with the increment of connecting flights for passengers’ safety and benefits.
FAQs
Q: How to reach Varanasi airport from Varanasi Railway station?
Ans: The distance is around 19kms can be reached by taking the bus or a personal auto or taxi. Depending on the traffic, it will take 30-45 minutes to reach the airport.
Q: How to reach the airport from Dashashwamedh Ghat?
Ans: You can take a private taxi or cab to reach the airport. The distance is around 24 km which will take 1 hour, depending on traffic.
Q: How to reach Varanasi Babatpur airport from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple?
Ans: It is slightly far from Ghat, so around 25 km will be a little more than 1 hour. You can book a cab or taxi that will cost you around 500. However, you can reach the railway station and then take a bus to the airport. It will be the cheapest way to get there.