Gujarat Jan 2014

This is my trip to Gujarat that I did in Jan 2014.

01-Jan-14, Wed Day,  19.55     Departure  by Train from Gurgaon by AC I in Shatbdi.  

02-Jan-14, Thurs Day,   09.30    Arrival Ahmedabad and  Departure for Dragndhara ,by Maruti Gypsy ,  

         125km, 3 hours with Tea Break.  Night Halt in Guest Room of my Army Unit..

03-Jan-14, Fri Day,  08.45  Departure  for Somnath, 390 km, Reached at  4.30 pm with one Lunch and

         Tea break. En route saw Chutila Mandir at its  Base

Mandir Enroute

and see this another big Temple 3 km on the road.

   

Rd Junagarh to Somenath via Keshod is under up-gradation, it will take atleast one more year to complete as on Jan 2014..

Take the road Junagrah , Sasan (Gir) Talala, 

 At Somenath check in Sagar Darshan Guest house. This guest house you can book on line with Somnath Trust. They will charge you Rs2000 on booking and you get Rs500 refund of your security on checking out. The Guest House is very neat and clean with AC. It has a very clean restaurant at reasonable price at its ground floor. The guest house is 100meters from Somnath Mandir.I then contacted Security Incharge and went to see Aarti at 7 pm.The Aarti is at 7 AM, 12PM and 7 PM. After evening Aarti you can see 1 hour light and Sound programme with a ticket of Rs25.

Somnath Temple

Somnath temple at Night

Sun Set at Somnath

04-Jan-14, Sat Day,  

      Went to see Trivane and sites of Lord Krishna & Balaram leaving this  world 1 Km from Somnath Temple.

Lord Krishna's  Departure Spot 

Lord Balaram Departure spot 

Then went to see Temple of Lord Krishna where he was hit with arrow in feet. It is 7 km from Somnath Temple in Veravel . The temple has one of the most beautiful statue of Lord Krishna  lying and exposing his feet.   Had  the Night Stay at Sagar Darshan Guest House.

05-Jan-14, Sun Day, 09.00  Dep for Drangdhara, 390km, reached at 16.40.

      Dinner with officers in Unit Officers Mess.

06-Jan-14, Mon Day,   Free Day. Dinner with Commnading Officer of the Unit..  

07-Jan-14, Tue Day,  0800 departure to see the  Little Rann. It is   40 km from Drangdhra.You should take a guide from Forest Office at the entry of the Rann else you may get lost in the little Rann.   

Soil of Little Rann

Wild Ass

Our Vehicle

Pelicans

You can also have a look at the Lakes full of Pelicans.
You need at least 3 to 4 hours.To see the Wild Ass, Pelicans and Salt Farming.
The Salt farmers are one of the poorest and carry out one of the most difficult jobs.
We retuned back at 1430 hours to Drangadhara.

08-Jan-14, Wed Day,   08.30 departed  for Mundra Port, 280km. We reached the port  13.40 at Port.

       Lunch was in corporate house of Adani Group. There after we went to see the most modern port in India spread out in 40km by 40km area.The coal to Power plant is sent directly from ship by a 17 km conveyor belt. The entire coal train can be loaded in 1 hour 30 mins from the ship with no labour involved in loading. We had the night stay at Adani Guest House in Mundra.

09-Jan-14, Thurs Day, 09.00 Departed  for Mandvi , 50 km. 1.30 hours.

Mandavi Beach

Jain Mandir at Mandavi Entry Point

   Saw Jain Mandir prior to entry to Mandvi , thereafter went and saw Swami Narayan Mandir. went to the  to Beach and had a Tea Break.Drove from beach to  to Mandvi Palace 12 km. Halted there for about for 2 Hours.You need to buy a ticket firstly for parking Rs 20 and then to enter the Palace Rs 20.You must go to the top of this three stored palace to get good views.

Mandvi Palace

Then drove to Jagdamba Mata Mandir 12km,and moved for  Bhuj at 13.30 hours   

      Reached Bhuj at 14.30 hours, had Lunch and went for shopping. The most popular shop is  Bhomi  in front of Bhuj Bus Stand. There is a small scope for bargain which you must use.Had our night stay at Army Officers Mess in Bhuj. 

      

10-Jan-14, Fri Day, 08.30 started and went to see massive Swami Narayan Mandir ,

Swami Naryan Mandir Bhuj

Sawami Naryan Mandir Bhuj

later went to see Aaina Mahal. This place has few relics .You have an entry ticket of Rs 20. The place is baldly maintained but you can have a look.Do not use the wash rooms , they are in terrible state.The Palace next door has a entry of Rs 20 but it is not worth visiting inside. It is better viewed from outside.

Palace at Bhuj

Kala Dongar View Point

We departed at 13.30 for Kala Dongar. we reached at 15.30.
You can have view of complete area as it has the highest point.You can spend about 30 to 50 mins.






Saw India Bridge and went to  Great White Rann.
We reached at 18.00. Saw the sun set, then the  Tent City of Gujarat Tourism.

The Great White Rann

Sun Set at Great white Rann

       Returned  to Bhuj.  The drive is 46 Km and takes 1 hour plus.

11-Jan-14, Sat Day,  08.30 Departed for Ahmedabad. 360 km . stopped for Lunch at Dhrangdhara from 13.15 to 14.15 pm. Then drove to Ahmedabad. Stopped in city, in a mall to buy few toys for my grandson.
The city traffic was terrible. It took us more than hour and half to cover 5 km to railway station.I think last 2 km we would have walked faster than going in a taxi.Just managed to reach Rly Stn at 18.15 for our train departure at.18.30 pm.(Ashram exp).

The Tour Details

  

12-Jan-14, Sun Day,   09.30  Arrived back in Gurgaon. Total travel by road was about 2200 kms.