TRAVEL BLOG - Saurashtra - January 2020

2nd Jan 2020

Started from my house at 5 AM for the Ahmedabad flight. The flight started at 8:37 AM. Gopal Krishna and Radhika joined me from Hyderabad. Geetashree was waiting for me at the airport. By mistake, I had noted Latha's arrival at 10:05 AM. Actually, it was from Bangalore. Ravi and Kamlesh Parti came by train, they took a cab and reached teh hotel. They were allotted a room. We reached the hotel at 12 pm, Lalitha reached at 1:15 PM. We had lunch in the hotel. Ginger hotel was not very good, rooms were very small. 

Started for Akshardham at 3:30 PM. We had to deposit our mobiles and shoes outside the temple. We bought tickets of Rs. 60 each for seeing five galleries. It was worth seeing. There were various arrangements - kathputli show, slide show, murals, etc depecting Mahabharat and Ramayana scenes by idols. Overall, it was good.

I had bought laser show tickets Rs.100 each. After seeing all the five galleries, we saw light and sound show. It was the story of Nachiketa. By 8:30 PM it got over. On the way back, we had Gujarati thali Rs.180 each. Food was good.

3rd Jan 2020

Started at 9 AM from our hotel for Statue of Unity. As lunch was not available inside, we had out lunch before reaching the place. Our driver dropped us out Kevadia city. From there, we went by a bus to the Statue of Unity, it took nearly 15 minutes. After reaching there, they checked our luggage. Avoid food items and big bags, they had to be deposited at the counter. I had to deposit my backpack. First we entered the museum gallery. There was a big queue near the lifts. There are two lifts to go upto teh chest height (Rs. 380). I had booked tickets online. They scan the tickets while entering the premises and also whle entering the lift. In 1 minute, we reach the 54th floor, the view from there was beautiful. There was a girl guide who explained about the statue. We got down and again took 5 escalators to reach the feet of the statue. I clicked a few pictures from down, all were looking like lillputs. The view overall, was beautigul.

Then we walked all the way for getting into the bus for valley of flowers. The queue was very long. The gate closes at 5 PM. I was worried that we might have to go back witghout seeing it, but finally we made it. First we saw the dam, which was inactive. Then we went to see the valley if flowers. It looked nice when the lights were on. Again we had to stand in queue of the bus. The bus dropped us near Statue of Unity. From the parking area, we dot into another bus and went to the main road. It was 7 PM. On the way we had dinner at Bahurani, not at all good. Food was too oily. Reached the hotel past midnight.

4th Jan 2020

We checked out from hotel at 9 AM. Breakfast was just average.

First we saw Hutheesing Jain temple, it was beautifully carved. No photography was allowed inside. Took few pics on the steps. 

Next, we saw Sabarmati Ashram, the Government had diverted Narmada river water to Sabarmati river. It looked beautiful. We went round the museum. Overall it was nice.

Next, we went to see Vintage Car Museum. It belonged to Pranlal Bhogilal Patel. There were 112 old cards very well maintained. Now, this property is owned by his son.

Next, we saw Adlaj Step Well. The entrance was very dirty but it was nice inside. The carvings were beautiful.

Then, we started for Rakjkot, enroute we saw Chandi Chamunda, the main temple was on the hill 300 steps, we viisted the temple which was down. We checked in to hotel RPJ at Rajkot at 8:30 PM, it was very nice. Had dinner, it was good but expensive. 

5th Jan 2020

Started from Rajkot at 8:45 am to Dwarka. Our first halt was Bal Hanuman Temple where they have been chanting Ram Nam non-stop since 1st Aug 1964. Just adjascent to it was Dakholia lake, very beautiful. There was a palace inside the lake which looked beautiful from outside. They said it will open at 12PM, so could not see it. A fish aquarium and museum was also there, but we did not like it, as all around pigeons had made it very dirty and it was smelling too bad.

First, we saw Nageshwar temple, it opens at 4 PM, so lot of rush was there. This is one of the Jyotirlingas. If you do pooja here, you can go and touch the Lings. They sell thali with all pooja items for Rs 200 and to perform pooja Rs 300, and extra dakshina. All the three couples did pooja. After 5 pm, it became very empty, there was no rush at all (mobile phones not allowed).

Next, our visit was to Beyt Dwarka. Driver dropped us near the boat. We all got into the boat, people around were throwing food in water and plenty of birds surrounded the boat. The boat charged Rs 20 each, after getting down from boat we had to walk a lot. There are also pushing cart which charges Rs 50, takes us upto the temple. Mobiles are not allowed inside. We deposited all teh mobiles upstairs just near the entrance. The temple closes by 7 PM, saw Shree Krishna idol, which was small in size, but beautiful.