1Terminal parking lot
From the terminal parking lot you can not see the runway. Aircraft taking off can be seen though as they climb out over the base perimeter wall. The first floor of the terminal offers a glimpse of the approach as well, through glass and at a 90° angle to the runway centre line, so a very short 'window' when an aircraft comes in to land.
2Southeast side approach
Go back to the NH-21 and make a right. After 1 km there is a road to the right, try to get into this road, Indian style! Follow it until it meets the wall that borders the shelter area on the north side. Take the sand path that goes left away from the perimeter wall. You will now be parallel and to the south of the approach to runway 29.
3Northwest side ramp view
Time to explore the west and southwest side. Best option is to take the NH-21 into Chandigarh town and go left. Go straight at the first roundabout, second exit. You pass underneath the railway line shortly after. Make a left at the next big roundabout (Purv Marg). This
road makes an s-turn and runs roughly parallel to the railroad after that.
You will have to find a place to underpass the railroad. This is not going
to be simple. At 30°41'6.61"N, 76°45'37.71"E you can eventually go right using the Jagatpura underpass to cross the railroad track. Go straight and into the small small village, over the water and bending left. Shortly after that, the through road bends right but you should go straight. Continue on this ever worsening road until you reach the last buildings and follow the path right. It bends left and right again towards some farms. Make another left and right and you are in the middle of the farmland, and behold, the airfield perimeter wall. The helicopter maintenance area and transport ramp are within 1 km to the east. Also, you are fairly close to the runway 11 approach albeit on the wrong side, facing the sun.
4Southwest side approach
There is a way to get to the south side of the approach and the farmland bordering the airfield there. To that end, go back to the spot were you left the road to reach spot 4 and make a left. This is the through road. This is a very straight road that leads to another small village. Upon reaching that, go left and when the main road bends right, make a left into the farmland track. There is a fork and you can take either one, the western one seems most useful. You will be about 400 metres off the centreline of the runway 11 approach.
5South side ramp view
Next spot is one that can be used to try to get a view of the main ramp. From spot 5, go back on the path to the small village and make a left. After leaving the last building behind, there is a road to your left, 250 metres from the aforementioned village. Take that and you will be heading to another small village. Before you reach that, there is a path going into the farmland on your left hand side. Take that and drive for about 400 metres. If you can gain some height, you should be able to see some tails of the transports parked on the other side.
Alternatively, there is a better spot but that is just in front of a watch tower. Go on to the village. Again the road is squared along the perimeter of the village, as is the custom in this region. Make a left at the village instead of entering it. Shortly after, the road bends right, around the corner of the village. Go left here into a dirt track. After 400 metres, it bends right. Go on for a bit longer, about 250 metres. The elevation is slightly more there. You are at a convenient 350 to 750 metres range of the ramp as well. Unluckily the aircraft are very tail-on here.
6South side distant ramp view
For another south side view, slightly less risky but further away, go clockwise around the village mentioned near spot 6. After the last houses the road bends right and left immediately after. In that last bend you have to go straight into a track. Go for about 400 metres and try to catch a glimpse of the transport ramp, which is some 1.25 kilometres from here.
Alternatively, you can follow the road and as you see the brick 'factory', an oven and a chimney basically, you will have an even more distant view of the ramp (over 2.3 km).
7From taxiing aircraft
Yes, not an actual spot but a left hand side seat in an arriving aircraft will give ample opportunities to view the aircraft on the ramp. Obviously, this is especially the case when landing from the east at runway 29. The aircraft will back track on the runway and the main ramp starts a mere 180 metres from the centre line of the runway... Frankly, this is the easiest and most productive spot of all!
