Bhubaneswar, Nov 9 (IANS): Hindu holy city of Varanasi and temple town of Bhubaneswar are now connected by air with the long-awaited Air India flight between the two cities starting on Sunday.

According to sources, the flight will operate four times a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Odisha Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said the flight operation to Varanasi would attract more Buddhist tourists to the state, which has a lot to offer in Buddhist tourism, and tourists would also get attracted to the diamond triangle - Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri and Udaygiri hills.

He also said the government is in talk with various flight operators to start international flights from and to South Asia countries.

Tourism Secretary L.N. Gupta said Odisha tourism would organize a road show at Varanasi soon to attract Buddhist and other tourists to the state.

With this new flight, air connectivity is now established between Bhubaneswar and seven cities of the country by flight operators Air India, Indigo, GoAir, and Air Vistara.