7 airports in India where the view is worth the flight

Most of us don’t exactly buy that plane window seat and lean over it to admire cargo terminals. It’s the views up there that make the journey more interesting. Of course, only if you don’t doze off the moment the plane is in the air. If you are the other kind that loves to see the clouds drifting away up in the air, this piece is for you.
Sure, airports are meant to be functional, fast security, shorter queues, decent coffee. But once in a while, the view from 30,000 feet to the tarmac is so stunning, you don’t mind the overpriced sandwich. And India, with its dramatic topography and coastlines, is home to airports where the view alone feels like a bonus vacation. From snowy peaks to turquoise seas, here are 7 Indian airports where the landing (or takeoff) is the true showstopper.

This one’s straight out of a postcard. Agatti Airport sits like a sliver of coral in the Arabian Sea, with runways so close to the water you’ll think the plane’s about to land on waves. As you descend, the ocean turns from sapphire to aquamarine, wrapping the island in gradients that would make you believe in the beauty of nature.

The runway is quite short, which might make you wonder if the pilot’s got a degree in stunts. Perched atop a ridge in the middle of pine-clad mountains, Shimla’s tiny airstrip offers the kind of landing that gets your heart racing, and your camera clicking. The airport is often surrounded by rolling mist and complemented with green valleys.

This is where your tropical holiday starts in the air. As you approach Port Blair, you’ll glide over sparkling ocean, emerald islets, and coral reefs. And with the Andaman Sea playing hide and seek through wisps of clouds, it’s the kind of view that reminds you why flying is still magical.

Built on a plateau and flanked by valleys on either side, this airport will offer you a mix of thrill and scenery in equal measure. Known for its tabletop runway, the approach here offers lush greenery, red-tiled houses, and glimpses of the Netravati River meandering like a silver snake. It’s rural Karnataka from the sky, breathtaking and bold.

It’s one of the country’s newest and most ambitious hill airports, which has been practically carved out of a mountain. It’s surrounded by velvety green slopes and snow-dusted peaks, often shrouded in a dreamy fog. If you're lucky with the weather, the descent will offer you views of the Eastern Himalayas that are so surreal that you might want to pinch yourself.

Flying into Kochi is like watching nature in action that too in bright colours. The lush Kerala backwaters snake through thick palm groves, paddy fields shimmer in the sun, and the coastline curves like it's being sketched in real-time. Also, it’s the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy.

If landing at Leh feels like a bit tricky, you’re not wrong. Set at a dizzying 10,682 ft above sea level, it’s one of the world’s highest commercial airports. Expect a breathtaking view of the jagged brown Himalayas dusted in snow, with barren beauty stretching in all directions. Pro tip: Don’t blink during descent, you’ll miss the sheer drama of cliffs and canyons, which are otherworldly to say the least.