The most beautiful airport on the world roof

Pakyong Airport in the Himalayas is not only the most beautiful airport but also a technical achievement for Indian architects.

Pakyong Airport, located at a height of more than 1,400m in the Himalayas, is the first commercial airport in the state of Sikkim, India, according to CNN. The inauguration of the airport was held on September 24, marking a milestone in the Indian aviation industry. The airport is only 30km south of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state.

"After Pakyong opened, there are now 100 airports operating in India. The airport, which was built at a cost of 68.7 million USD, is a testament to the capabilities of engineers and workers, the results from Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, spoke at the inauguration of Pakyong Airport.

Surrounding the 1.7km long runway and 30m wide of Pakyong are deep valleys. The airport terminal of 2,380m ² of the airport can accommodate 100 passengers.

Not only becoming a bridge for residents in remote areas with the world, also attracting much attention for other reasons. Sikkim State in the Himalayas in northern India is famous for its poetic landscape. Passengers can see the whole view from Pakyong Airport located by the valley. Therefore, Pakyong was also named the world's most beautiful airport.

However, it is the climate and geographical position of Sikkim which also becomes a challenge for construction projects. Heavy rain makes the lowlands become fertile and green while high mountains form a contrast. The mason must find a place that is windy and stable enough to not be washed away or landslide. Before the station and the runway, no building has been built here.

Surrounding the 1.7km long runway and 30m wide of Pakyong are deep valleys.

In places where heavy rains often occur, engineers must ensure a solid ground along the entire length of the runway. They have to build a high embankment wall of 80.38 meters. The ground is stabilized and shaped by ordinary earthwork method for highways and railways. The mason reinforced the ramps with earth embankment according to the geotechnical frame.

The airport went into operation on October 4. SpiceJet, one of India's largest low-cost carriers, opens two routes to Pakyong airport daily (Pakyong-Kolkata and Pakyong-Guwahati). The Pakyong-Kolkata flight will last about 1.5 hours while the Pakyong-Guwahati route will take more than 1 hour.