A Trip to Kashmir – Paradise on Earth

I recently concluded a fun and adventure filled trip to Jammu and Kashmir. At first I was hesitant to undertake this trip with family as several people warned me not to go ahead in view of the ‘alleged’ disturbance in that area. However I am happy that I insisted on going ahead, Kashmir being one of the important places in the list of my must-visit destinations.

Yes, you might get scared initially as you will see army-men all over the place. They are paranoid about security with multiple and thorough checks of your bags and vehicles. However you get used to these soon enough.

We landed at the Srinagar airport and the drive to the hotel (Lalit Grand Palace) through the road besides the famed Dal Lake was enough to mesmerize us. There was a blast at the Dal gate on the previous day and most of the local people were indoors but we faced no problem at all in reaching the hotel. A shikara ride and surf boarding in the evening were clear signals that this will be a trip to remember.

We spent the next day visiting the Nishat Garden and Shalimar garden and lazing around the hotel, conserving energy for the next day’s trip to the holy cave of Amarnath. We also took the royal buggy ride in the evening, which has a historic appeal of its own. It is said that the buggy belonged to Maharaja Hari Singh on whose palace property, the hotel is built.

The helicopter ride to Amarnath through Baltal was very exciting as it was the first time we were riding a chopper. We could see thousands of pilgrims going to Amarnath, on horses and on feet.

The helipad at the holy cave is a small flat area built in the middle of a snowy plateaue. A steep climb of about 200 steps and we were at the feet of a large snowy Shivlinga (about 20-25 feet in height). The ground under our feet was freezing and we had to constantly keep walking to avoid frost-bite.

It was a dream come true for us – both religion and adventure wise. On the way back, I got to sit with the pilot in the cockpit. Amazing experience it was, seeing the fantastic landscape from the vantage point.

My country Nepal

My country Nepal is surrounding by two countries. China lies in the east side and west, north and south is cover by India. It is in the northern hemisphere. It has three geographical zones. Himalayan, Mountainous and tarai. We have monsoon climate. It is very cold and dry in winter and hot, stormy and rainy in summer. It is rich in natural beauty and resources. It has long and wide rivers like koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali. We have large lakes like Rupa, Begnas, and Rara etc. like-wise we have green valleys, lovely water falls etc.  It is rich in religious and historical heritages. Lumbini, Gorkha,   Janakpur, Kathmandu are the famous examples.

Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Sagarmatha, known in English as Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft. (6,096 m) above sea.

People of many    castes and religions leave here. About hundred languages are spoken. Our popular foods are dal bhat, dhindo, gundurk etc. dashain, tihar,losar,Id etc. are the most popular festivals. They observe these festivals very happily.

Most people are farmers. They grow rice, corn, wheat,millet,barley,potato etc. some people in the cities are businessmen. Some have industries. They are very laborious and polite.

Due to the reach in natural resources, tourists love to visit your country. They can see endangered birds and animals here. They can see natural beauty, too. So tourism is our potential industry.

Nepal is small but rich in natural resources although it is poor by economic condition. Nepal is developing country. To develop soon, from today we have to aware all of the citizenship of country. Give to education equally both men and women, government should have to bring advance program and help citizen by providing different facilities which gives benefit to both citizen and government. Nepal is a beautiful country. So, we have to publish it all over the world which directly or indirectly helps to attract tourist and we can control our economic condition.  Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses.

Attraction Not To Miss in Mount Abu

Mount Abu is located in Sirohi District in Rajasthan. This is the only hill station in the whole state of Rajasthan. It lies on the Aravalli mountain ranges which is about 1200m above sea level. This is one of the popular hill stations in North India. This is a wonderful tourist destination that every tourist should visit at least once in his life time. Here are the top attraction that you should visit in Mount Abu.

Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary

The forest that stretches between the mountain ranges has been declared as a sanctuary, a few decades ago. This is a sub tropical region where you can find enormous amount of exotic plants and animals. Starting from lion, tiger and other well known animals to Samba, Pangolin, Jungle cat, Hyena, Indian hare and other exotic animals; you can find a lot of interesting animals here. If you visit during the late summer, you can find a lot of animals out of their hiding spots. This is the right time to visit the speciality of this sanctuary, the grey fowl. Apart from grey fowl, there are a lot of other birds that are unique to this place. If you are into bird watching, choose early morning for spotting a lot of exotic birds in this region.

Also Read : 

• Best Places to see in Mount Abu
• Things To Do in Mount Abu

Nakki Lake

Mount Abu is one of the top honeymoon destinations in North India. One of the most romantic spots in this place is the lake Nakki. This lake has links to the mythologies of Hindu religion. Apart from religious elements, this lake is the best place to have an early morning or evening picnic. There are a lot of trekking spots near this lake where you can have either a relaxed stroll amidst serene nature or a challenging track. There are a lot of water related activities near this lake including boating. Apart from these, there are a few monuments, restaurants and hotels nearby. One most important spot to hit near the lake is the fountain which is aesthetically pleasing.

Achalgarh

Achalgarh is an ancient fort that was built in 15th century. Alchalgarh means immovable. The fort is in ruins today. The tourist attraction in this place is the entrances of the fort which stands till today. The entrance is made of granite and stands as a memorial to this fort. This place also has a religious appeal. A temple near this fort has the foot print of Lord Shiva. If you are not into religion, you can visit this temple to get a panoramic view of mountains, lakes and other surroundings.

Know More About

• Best Time to Visit Mount Abu
• How To Reach Mount Abu
• What to Eat in Mount Abu

Guru Shikar

Guru Shikar is the highest peak in Mount Abu. This is one of the romantic spots in the place. It is also an important tourist destination as it gives a panoramic view of the whole place and has a nature filled serene atmosphere. There are a lot of temples here and the place is known for its relaxing beauty. You will not be able to find any eateries here and thus, it is better to pack a lot of water and food with you.

Trevor’s crocodile park

This is a crocodile breeding spot where you can find a lot of crocodiles in lush greeneries. Even though the purpose of the place is kind of alarming, the nature at this place is very serene. It also serves as a very good picnic spot during November and December. You can also spot a lot of animals here like the black bear. If you are a bird watcher, you can spot a lot of beautiful birds here. This is the right place for photo-enthusiasts. This place would remind you a lot of Rivendell.

There are a lot of other attractions in Mount Abu like, Dilwara temples, Toad rock, sunset point, Saumukh temple and many others. This is the only hill station in this whole state of desert. If you are looking for a variant of elements in your vacation, Rajasthan is the right state for you and Mount Abu would be your pinnacle.

A weekend trip to Amritsar

Though I had been in Chandigarh for 6 months, I had not travelled much within Punjab. The pull of the hills had been strong, and I had used every free weekend to travel to places in Himachal Pradesh.  However, with parents visiting and my traveller mom already having been to Shimla and Manali, we decided to drive up to Amritsar for the weekend. I was excited at the idea of driving through the Punjab countryside, and of visiting the Golden Temple and Wagah Boder. More exciting though was the prospect of all the dhabas on the way, and the legendary tales of gastronomy that I had heard that Amritsar was famous for! Capturing below the highlights of the trip – the drive, the stay, the experiences & the gastronomy – in case you too want to experience the brilliant trip we had.

The Drive

The drive from Chandigarh to Amritsar is on great roads, and you can stay at 80 kmph (or more – I’m a safe driver!) throughout the trip. The distance from Chandigarh to Amritsar is about 240 kms, and we could easily do this distance in 5 hours, with a stop for breakfast. On the way back, there was a bad accident on the road, and so the drive took us about 7 hours, with the wait of stopping for the road to clear up & then choosing to take an alternate route.

The route we took is: Chandigarh – NH21 to Kharar – NH205 to Phagwara – Jalandar – Amritsar.

Highlights

• There are a number of dhabas along the way. We stopped at one before Phagwara for a breakfast of Aloo & Gobhi parathas and glasses of Lassi!
• The countryside is flat and featureless, with fields on either side of a broad highway. The detour on the way back took us on narrow roads through small villages and right through the middle of the fields,  a far more interesting drive than the highway roads.
• There is a bridge ahead of Kharar where you’ll cross the Sutlej river. You can spot a gurudwara on the other side of the bridge, and there is a drive through wooded roads once you cross over. This was a beautiful part of the drive.
• Between Phagwara and Kharar you will spot the Golden Arches, and can stop for a bite at McDonalds, KFC or do what we did – stop at Haveli, which has great food, entertainment for kids and some shopping!
• The route from Amritsar to Jalandar is on a two lane road with many trucks and aggressive drivers. This was a difficult part of the drive.
• We had to drive at night on the way back because of the accident. There was a lot of aggressive overtaking, with people driving with high-beam, and this kept me on tenterhooks.
• There are lot of toll stops on the way, and we must have spent about Rs. 500/- in tolls. Be ready with your pocket change!

Trivia:

• Look out for various palatial “castles” done in Tudor style on the way from Kharar to Phagwara. These have names like Bath Castle and Willington Castle!
• Keep your eye out for stretch limos – yes, stretch limos – in the villages of Punjab! These are used for marriages and parties, and we were lucky enough to spot a couple of these on the way.
• You may want to look at the ambulance before giving way – we saw many regular cars, even Maruti 800’s with blue VIP lights and the wail of an ambulance.
• I found many of the cars I saw on the road very interesting – cars with Canada flags, a few cars with a sticker that said “Mr. Singh’s Car” (um, who?) and cars blaring loud Bhangra music with heavy bass!
• We saw the weirdest, strangest house decorations I have seen – many of the houses seem to have what appear to be statues of footballs or large birds on top of the house. What are these? I do not know, though my guess is that may be used to conceal the disk antenna.

The Stay

We stayed at a lovely guest house, Mrs. Bhandari’s Guest House, in the quiet and clean cantonment area of Amritsar. This is a wonderful estate, with well attended gardens, a play-area with swings and see-saws, and large rooms with high ceilings, patterned tiles and antique, wooden furniture. The estate itself has a lot of history, and it was interesting to read about Tehmima Bhandari, the fiesty lady of the house who used to live in Amritsar and go shopping in Lahore during pre-independence India!

Highlights

• We stayed at Mrs. Bhandari’s guest house, at No. 10 Cantonment. The other hotels in Amritsar seemed very functional and business-like, and we preferred the laid back feel of this guest house.
• Things I liked:
  • The rooms: high ceilings, patterned tiles, chairs you can sit on and ruminate and desks you can sit at and write, no television, outdoor verandah with tables to sit at, massive bathrooms with bathtubs and walk-in closets – all of this, with the modcons of the wonderful invention of air-con!
  • The garden, play-area, the swimming pool and the buffaloes! : great for kids of all ages! I loved walking through the garden path, which had the scent of flowers. The play area with the merry-go-around, swing and see-saw was great for my daughter. There is a clean swimming pool; unfortunately, we didn’t know about this and hadn’t taken our swimming gear and so couldn’t go for a swim. They also have buffaloes on the estate, which is great fun for children.
  • The staff: the staff were polite, helpful and great to talk to. I loved that they were not fawning, like the over-trained staff in some of the new hotels.
• Things I didn’t like:
  • The price for food: The room rates were Rs. 2500/- + tax, which is a great deal for the stay. However, the food prices at the guest house seemed expensive for this room rate – Rs. 50/- for a cup of tea, and Rs. 450/- for a lunch of rice, dal and roti seemed expensive.
  • The musty smell in the rooms: There was a bit of a musty smell in the rooms we were staying in (perhaps they had been closed for a while?), and this caused K’s allergy to act up and she had a bad bout of sneezing.

Overall, this is a brilliant place to have a leisurely stay over a weekend, especially if you have kids. Be warned though – your kids will probably not want to leave the house and go into the crowded marketplaces of Amritsar!

Trivia:

• It is impossible to ask for directions “Cantonment” and get people to understand you! Punjabis seem to say this as “Cunn ton nuh mant” with a heavy voice and a rolling sound – though I tried to imitate this when asking for directions, I was never successful!

The Experiences

In Amritsar, we experienced five sights – Khalsa College, Wagah Border, the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and the shopping in the old city. Of these, I enjoyed Wagah Border the least, with all its bravado and show, rousing the jostling crowds into shouts of nationalistic pride. In fact, I was more moved and felt more truly patriotic at Jallianwala Bagh, and felt a deep gratitude to those who had given their lives in a struggle so that we could enjoy freedom today. The Golden Temple was exquisite and divine, a truly beautiful and moving sight, especially at night. Khalsa College was the surprise of the package; we went in for a quick look since we were early for the parade at Wagah Border, and Khalsa College falls on the way, but we stayed on, marveling at the huge lawns, the beautiful architecture of the buildings and the cool and dimly lit marble tiled rooms inside. Shopping in the old city is an experience in itself, with shops for textiles, jewelry, dry fruits and of course, the famous Panjabi wadi and papad.

Highlights:

• Khalsa College, on the way to Wagah Border: do stop and walk around. There are wide lawns and beautiful buildings. I would love to study in a place like this!
• Wagah Border: everyone who comes to Amritsar, goes here now – and it felt like it!
  • Plan to get there by about 4:15 (especially on weekends).
  • You will have to park about 1 km from the entrance. There is a government approved parking place at the end; go there, rather than parking early where the touts tell you to. Leave your bags in the car.
  • There are many vendors here selling water and snacks. This is a good time to get a bottle of water (they will tell you that you can’t get water ahead – but you can!). This is also the place to buy India flags and hats for the kids!
  • There are large, jostling crowds at the entrance, waiting to get in at about 5:00 pm when the gate is opened. There is a special ladies line (not much better) and a VIP entrance (which we didn’t know of before – you may want to research this).
  • Once you push your way through this gate, there will be a wild rush of people running ahead. However, there is another security check-point, where men and women will be made to stand in separate lines and will be frisked as they pass through security. The line for men moves faster, so I went ahead and waited for K.
  • Once you pass through security, you will no longer have cell phone signal and will return to the dawn of society. You will survive through it. However, it is best to talk to people in your party and tell them about a place to wait at, in case they get lost.
  • After security, it is a free-for-all run to the gates – there are two viewing galleries, with a separate viewing gallery for women. Since we were with parents, we were late and the galleries were packed by the time we go to them. There were still about 1000 people behind us it seemed, and it felt like an impossibility to see anything. This is where the women left us to go to the “ladies gallery” (which was also packed).
  • We managed to clamber some stairs (we had about 1 sq ft space for our feet) from where we had a view of proceedings in the distance. My daughter was hoisted on my shoulders, and stayed there for the next couple of hours.
  • It was seriously crowded – think Mumbai Local or Puri Jagannath or Khumbh Mela or your favorite bone-crushing experience – and it stayed like that for two hours.
  • We saw the parade and heard the music, but it was all faint (maybe because I was faint!). There was a lot of wild cheering, but I couldn’t catch what the cheering was for.
  • Once the parade was over, we met near the cafeteria where there was water, stale samosas and bad tea.
  • Overall, Wagah Border was a bit of a let-down – good as a once in a lifetime experience, but not a great thing to go to with parents and kids, unless you’re willing to brave the crowds and push your way about. Do explore the VIP entrance if you are planning this.
• Golden Temple: this is the must visit place in Amritsar. In the heart of the city in its old area, the Golden Temple is serene, beautiful and could offer a lesson in crowd management to the folks at Wagah Border.
  • We went to Golden Temple at about 9:30 at night. The temple stays open 24 hours a day, though things quiet down after 11 pm.
  • There is a government multi-tiered parking complex about 1 km from the temple (beyond which vehicles aren’t allowed), which is where we parked. The parking is well organized, and they charge Rs. 20/- for parking.
  • From the parking, we took cycle rickshaws to the temple complex. The rickshaws here were great – they charge Rs. 20/- to the temple and are great fun to experience.
  • There is a spot to leave your slippers ahead of the temple, where they give you a circular metallic numbered token with which they can find your slippers later. Hold on to that token!
  • From here, it is a 5 minute walk into the temple complex. There are lines, and though it is crowded, it was orderly.
  • You will see the Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, as you climb the stairs and enter the central area of the temple. It is a moving sight.
  • The central temple square with the Golden Temple in the middle of a pool of clean water is serene and sublime.
  • There are many pilgrims sleeping, meditating or praying on the sides.
  • You can walk into the Harmandir Sahib, but we chose not to, given that we had had a long day and the parents were tired and my daughter was asleep in my arms.
  • There is clean water being served in various spots around the central square; there is also a place to buy prashad.
  • Once you exit, there is a spot where langar is being served. We got a langar of khicchidi which was literally quite heavenly!
• Jallianwala Bagh: very close to the Golden Temple, this is a must visit. Though the gardens themselves aren’t special, it was moving to see the Jallianwala Bagh memorial, see the well that women and children had plunged into when the shooting started, see the Amar Jyoti flame and visit the museum which has a history of the clashes leading up to the Jallianwala Bagh incident. This closes at 6:00 pm; the visit itself will possibly not take more than 45 minutes, unless you want to spend more time in the museum, watch the movie that is screened on the hour or view the sound-and-light shown in the evening.
• Shopping in the Old City: this is quite an experience, we didn’t have too much time for shopping however. I love the old city areas – whether it is Delhi’s Chandni Chowk or Hyderabad’s Charminar, I love wandering about aimlessly, stopping for street-food and then stopping to shop and then stopping for a bite again! Amritsar’s old city, just outside the Golden Temple is similar – a warren of narrow roads through which only people or cycle rickshaws can pass, filled with interesting shopping and even more interesting street food! Given our limited time, Kanchuki and her mom shopped for cloth for salwar suits and some sarees, while I looked at Amristari wadis  and papads. A tip – we hired a rickshaw, and paid him hundred rupees at the end, and he took us everywhere – to the shops which he claimed had the best rates for cloth, the best saree shops and even the best places to eat!

Trivia:

• It was great fun reading the notice board at Khalsa College. In one very polite notice the principal had “rusticated the following five students for causing  commotion near the college gate”. Apparently, 3 boys from B.A English had a fight with 2 girls from B.Sc Computer Science, and all 5 were to be suspended!
• It is impossible to tell the polite, sweet-talking cycle rickshaw drivers that you don’t want to see more. Much as we tried, they insisted on being with us while we ate breakfast, and then showing us around the best spots for shopping. It was quite a bargain for the price – but beware trying to get them off your back and walking the streets instead!

The Gastronomy

Yum! Lassi, Jalebi, Chhole-Kulche! I had been looking forward to the food on the trip, and it was really good – though it did have a few let-downs. I drank Lassi at breakfast, lunch and dinner; the one thing I now know for sure is that while all of them were great, there is a wide variance in Lassi’s and more have to be sampled by me before I declare the winner! I ate parathas and kulchas, and chhole at every stop, and these were delectable too.

The most poignant moment of the trip for me was the Jalebi’s I ate at Jalebi Chowk – they were crunchy, sweet but not overly so and piping hot, sublime and divine. There were tears in my eyes, of joy, but also of sadness – the jalebis I had eaten during my college days on Sunday mornings near the Gurudwaara in Chandi Chowk had finally met their match and had been dethroned from the position of the Best Jalebis in the World. How sad. Pass me another jalebi.

  

Highlights

• Gobi and Aloo parathas on the way from Chandigarh to Amritsar, at any of the numerous dhabas. Quite yummy, and served with lots of butter! The lassi here was thick and frothy, very good.
• Lunch was at Pritam Dhaba near the Railway Station at Amritsar. It is a dark, dingy establishment – but the food was great. Hot parathas, and delicious chhole with paneer mashed into it. The lassi here was thin, but topped with lots of cream and butter. Yucky, and yummy!
• Dinner was at the famous Bharawan Dhaba. The place is clean, and the food is delicious. The chhole here was especially good, and reminded me of the flavour of the chhole kulche in Delhi. The lassi here was very thick and a bit too sweet for my liking.
• Langar prashad at Golden Temple. Simple, tasty, served piping hot, and divine!
• Jalebi and Jalebi Chowk: Stupendous. Do I need say more?
• Haveli, on the way back from Amritsar to Chandigarh: a mish-mash of Chinese, south-indian and chaat. Surprisingly good!
• Let-downs: Kesar da dhaba – I was looking forward to chhole bhature here, which they didn’t have on the menu! Further, we had gone at breakfast time, when the service was indifferent and we were told that nothing was available. Had to leave without  a bite!
• Didn’t try: Ahuja lassi wala, supposedly the best lassi in town. He’ll have to wait for my next visit!

Trivia

• The jalebis at Jalebi Chowk are made with pure Desi Ghee. No wonder they are heart-cloggingly good!

The Feeling

Overall, the trip to Amritsar was a very good weekend getaway from Chandigarh. The drive is pleasant and comfortable, the place we stayed at was fantastic, the experiences were worth the effort (I would go back for Golden Temple and shopping in the city), the food, especially the jalebis and langar, were great.

My Trip to Gujarat

About Gujrat: Gujarat – The Land of the Legends, stands bordered by Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north east, Madhya Pradesh in the east, and Maharashtra and the Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the south. The Arabian Sea borders the state both to the west and the south west.
The State took its name from the Gujjars, who ruled the area during the 700’s and 800’s. Stone Age settlements around Sabarmati and Mahi rivers indicate the same time as that of the Indus Valley Civilization while Harappan centres are also found at Lothal, Rampur, Amri and other places. 
Rock Inscriptions in the Girnar Hills show that the Maurya Emperor Ashoka, extended his domain into Gujarat in about 250 BC. With it’s fall, the control of the region came under the Sakas or Scythians.
The state has witnessed many great historical events starting from the age of Sultan Allauddin Khilji to establishment of British East India Company to freedom movement by Gandhiji, Sardar Ballavbhai Patel, Morarji Desai.
The great sons of our nation like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, K.M. Munshi, Narhari Parikh, Mahadev Desai, Mohanlal Pandya, Bhulabhai Desai and Ravi Shankar Vyas all hailed from Gujarat. Gujarat was also the site of some of the most popular revolts, including the Satyagrahas in Kheda, Bardoli, Borsad and the Salt Satyagraha. Strategically located on the West Coast of India, Gujarat is also a Gateway to the rich land-locked Northern and Center Vicinity of the country. Gujarat spearheads the Indian march for the “Global Economic Super Power” status with access to all Major Port based Countries like UK, Australia, China, Japan, Korea and Gulf Countries, etc.

Duration of the Trip: This was a trip of 7 days and 7 nights from Rajasthan to Gujrat and from there back to Asansol.

Transportation: We travelled Gujrat by car as I as I already have told in Rajasthanpost. For returning back to Asansol we had board “Garba Express" (12937), at11:25 pm on Saturday night from Ahmadabad and reached Asansol railway station at 10:10 am on Monday morning. Ticket cost Rs 514/- for Sleeper classes, Rs 1390/- for 3 tiers AC and Rs 1906/- for 2 tiers AC for each.

Details of the Trip:
Day 1: We started from Mount Abu for Porbandar by 7:30 in the morning.
On the way we visited Ambaji, one among the 51 ancient Shakti piths. The Great Miracle of this Holy Place is that there is no idol or picture in the Nij Mandir the Temple of Shri Arasuri Mata Ambaji, but a simple cave like Gokh in the inner wall, in which A Gold Plated Holy Shakti Visa Shree Yantra having kurma back convex shape and 51 Bij letters therein, connected with that of the original Yantras of Nepal and Ujjain Shakti Piths, is also ritually installed in such a way it can be visible for devotion. The worship of this Visa Shree Yantra is done only after tying a bandage on the eyes.
We reached Ambaji by 9:30 am and offered puja there and again started for Porbandar. We reached the Ambaji 9:30 offering puja there n started for porbandar. Though the way was long but the natural beauty of Araballi range throughout the path made the journey worth. Finally we reached Porbandar around 9:30 pm and checked into
“Hotel Silver Palace” 
Silver complex, S. T. Road
Porbandar: 360575
Gujarat
Ph.: + 91-286-2252591
       + 91-286-2249991
       + 91-286-2251393
Email id: odedrab@yahoo.in
            Silverpalace77@hotmail.com
            h_silverpalace@yahoo.com
Day 2: We started for local site-seeing of Porbandar around 7 in the morning. The places we visited throughout the day were,
Sudama Mandir, a beautiful shrine dedicated to Sudama, the best friend and devotee of Lord Krishna. The temple, located in the center of the Porbandar city, is said to be the only temple in India dedicated to this ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. The Sudama Mandir at Porbandar, constructed between 1902 and 1907, holds a great historic and religious significance. The temple has a maze within its complex. According to common belief among the devotees, if a person crosses this maze all his sins are forgiven. A large number of devotees, especially the newly wed Rajasthani Ksahtriya couples, flock to the place every year.
Kirti Mandir, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama, holds great historical and religious importance. The place has emerged as one of the major tourist attractions of Porbandar.
The Kirti Mandir is situated close to the ancient Haveli belonging to the Gandhi family. Also known as the “Temple of Peace”, the Kirti Mandir is counted amongst the popular monuments of the nation.
In the year 1950 Shri Nanji Kalidas and Shri Puru Shotam Mistry, in reverence to Mahatma Gandhi, renovated the building, adding a new dimension to the place. This building has three stories. A symbol of Swastik, in one of the rooms in the ground floor of the building, demarcates the actual place where Gandhi took birth. It is said that Mahatma Gandhi lived here till the age of twelve. The upper story of the temple which houses Gandhi’s room and a Gandhian library is connected by a wooden staircase. There is also a big prayer room, a nursery and a spire. The spire has a vast collection of pictures depicting the life of Mahatma Gandhi. It also has various pictures of his wife Kasturba Gandhi. The walls of the temple are decorated with 79 Diyas (lamps). These Diyas symbolize the age of the great leader at the time of his death. Navi Khadi, the birthplace of Kasturba Gandhi, is located just beside the Kirti Mandir.

Tara Mandir is one of the popular tourist destinations of Porbandar. There is an overhead round screen inside the Tara Mandir planetarium with celestial bodies depicted on it. The scientific projection of these stars and planets, with the help of special effects, adds to the interest of the viewers. The Tara Mandir Planetarium is said to be built by the donations of Shri Nanjibhai. It not only interests the children but also catches the interest and attention of all age groups. The tourists visiting Porbandar should never miss to visit the planetarium.
Bharat Mandir, is the mirror of Indian tradition Pictures, sculptures and symbols and portraying Indian culture and religion have been exhibited in this place.
Chowpati, a white sand beach of Porbandar. The magnificent view of the sea, with an exotic ambiance, brings in a lot many tourists and residents to the beach.
The Huzoor Palace at Porbandar was built by Natwar Shah. This sprawling structure resembling a European mansion is located at the end of the beach. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and water fountains, the palace faces the Arabian Sea. The neo- classical pillars and the porticoes with a semicircular design, the terraces with beautiful rails and the slopping timber roof add to the grandeur of the building.
The porticoes and pillars, of this magnificent palace built in the European style, mark the entrance of the palace from different sides. The large windows and wings of the palace, interconnected with the front and back yard, give a panoramic view of the sea. 
The architecture, beauty, and the picturesque view of the sea attract a large number of tourists to the Huzoor Palace. Being located on the sea side it is visited by both residents and visitors of Porbandar. 
After visiting all the major places of Porbandar, we started for Dwarka by 9:30 am and reached there in an hour or so. The major attractions of Dwarka are, 
Dwarkadheesh Temple, the temple of Jagat Mandir, with the presiding deity of Shri Krishna known as Dwarkadheesh, is an imposing edifice and a superb architectural monument. The temple consists of a shrine that is supported by 60 pillars made of granite and sandstone. Photography is not allowed inside the Temple.

After visiting the famous Dwarkadheesh temple, we started for another famous temple of Lord Krishna in Bet Dwarka. The only way to reach Bet Island is by boat or rather say steamer from Okha Port. We reached there by 12:15. But unfortunately the temple was closed by the time we reached. 
Hence we decided to take bhog and wait till the temple door opens in the afternoon. But one person in temple suggested us to visit some places like, Hanuman Garh, Kam dev temple in the re opening of The Temple door.
Though Hanuman Garh is not very famous, but as per legend this is the place where Hanuman met his son Makardhavaj who is part reptile and part Vanara. The story of Makardhwaja's birth is said to be that when Hanuman extinguished his burning tail in the ocean, a drop of his sweat fell into the waters, eventually becoming Makardhwaja, who perceives Hanuman as his father. There is a statue of Hanuman which is said to be sinking inside the ground, ans will completely go inside the the end of Kaliyug. 

Kamdev Temple is also not a very famous place but according to mythology 108 famous saint completed their Tapashya. 

The is also a very beautiful sea beach

After visitng all those great places, again we came back to the Bet Dwarka temple by 3:45 and waited for the temple to resume at 5 pm.
Bet Dwarka, also known as Bet Shankhodhara, is famous for its temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and is of great importance in the ancient Hindu tradition. It and other coastal sites have ample antiquities, mainly potsherds, suggesting maritime trade and commerce with the Mediterranean countries around the Christian era. This flourishing harbor and religious capital is believed to have submerged under the sea after the Krishna left dwarka for vaikunth. 
Photography is not allowed inside the Temple. 

By 5:45 we again took a boat to reach back Okha port. 
Upon reaching there, we started for another round of Dwarka visit.
The places we visited in our second innings of the day are, 
Gopi Talaw, has a strong connection with the stories of Lord Krishna's childhood abound with youthful pranks and romance. As a young boy he used to dance the raas with the Gopis in Vrindavana. When he moved to Dwarka, the Gopis could not bear the separation and came to visit him. They united with their Krishna at the Gopi talav, 20 km north of Dwarka on the night of Sharad Purnima and once again danced the raas with him. Legend says that, unable to part from Krishna, the Gopis offered their lives to the soil of this land and merged with their beloved. It is said that they turned into yellow clay, known as Gopi Chandan. Even today the soil of the Gopi talav is extremely smooth and yellow in color. 

Rukmini Mandir, stands 2 km away from Dwarka City. The local explanation given for this distance is an old legend. They say, once Lord Krishna and his wife Rukmini went to the sage Durvasha to invite him for dinner at Dwarka. He agreed on the condition that Krishna & Rukmini would have to pull his chariot instead of any animal. The couple happily obliged. While pulling the chariot, Rukmini became thirsty so Lord Krishna prodded his toe into the earth to draw a spring of the holy Ganga water. Rukmini took a sip without offering Durvasha. Annoyed by her impoliteness he cursed Rukmini that she would be separated from her beloved husband. Hence Rukmini temple is located 2 kms away from Dwarka's Jagat Mandir. Maybe 2500 years old, but its domed mandapa and stepped sanctuary cannot be older than the 12th century in its present form. 
The exterior of the Rukmini Temple is richly carved. It has a panel of sculpted naratharas and a panel of sculpted gajatharas at the base. The traditional spire of the main shrine contrasts strongly with the hemispherical dome of the pavilion. The garbhagriha has a recessed seat on which the present image of Rukmini, wife of Lord Krishna, was consecrated. The usual sculptures of god and goddesses, along with male and female figures, are seen on the exterior of the shrine. 

Nageshwar Jyothirlinga Temple is located on the route between Dwarka city and Beyt Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat is this important Lord Shiva Temple. It is enshrined by one of the 12 swayambhu (self-existent) jyothirlingas in the world, in an underground sanctum. A 25 m tall statue of a sitting Lord Shiva and a large garden with a pond are major attractions of this rather serene place. Some archaeological excavations claim five earlier cities at the site. 
Finally we reached Dwarka at 8:30 pm check and in, 
Hotel Dwarka Residency  
Near Iscon Gate 
Dwarka 361335 
Gujarat 
Ph.: + 91-2892-235032 
Email: info@dwarkaresidency.com 
Day 3: We started for Somnath Temple around 8:30 in the morning. We reached Somnath around 1 pm. The places we visited there are, 
Somnath Temple is one of the very ancient temples and stands as a famous landmark in Indian history. The temple is located about 79 kilometers from Junagadh in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval. Study of history reveals that the Somnath Temple was invaded by the different conquerors who came to India whereby some looted its wealth and others destroyed some parts of it. Many legends are attached to the Somnath Temple regarding its origin and existence. This town, unaffected by the modern luxuries and concrete jungles, still holds its historical, mythological and religious appeal to masses of Hindu devotees. Placed at the extreme southwest Arabian Coast in Sourashtra, Somnath town encloses a serene beach, few streets and a bus stand. It is believed that Somnath is located at a place where the holy River Saraswathy flows into the Sea.
This sacred temple town vibrant with ‘Shiv Bhajan’ is visited by millions of tourists every year..
Time of Darshan: 6.00am to 9.00pm; Timing for Aarti : 7.00 am, 12.00 Noon and 7.00 pm 
Photography is not allowed inside the temple. 
Veraval Beach, situated just about 5 km from the Somnath Temple is an amazing beach and great place to relax and refresh your body, mind and soul. Though not recommended for swimming but it offers some active patches where you can enjoy a camel ride and light snacks.
Triveni Sangam Ghat in Somnath is at the confluence of three holy riversKapila, Hiranya and a mystical River Saraswati (also known as GuptaSaraswati) from where the rivers flow to the ultimate destination of Sea.This is a sacred place to take bath and it is believed that the bath in thewaters at this Ghat offers relief from all curses and ills happened.It is considered to be a Moksha theertha. It is also a sacred place to payhomage to ancestors and offer Pitru tarpana. In Chaitra and Bhadrapadamonths of Hindu calendar huge crowds are seen here. The ghat has beennamed after Morarji Desai former Prime minister of India who was also thechairman of Shri Somnath Trust for several years. The Ghat has goodarrangements for bathing and changing of clothes.

Bhaluka Tirtha (Bhalka Teerth) is a holy tirth (pond) in Somnath along Prabhas-Veraval highway. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Krishna was hit by an arrow shot by a hunter known as Jara. Lord Krishna was sitting under a Banyan tree in meditation when the hunter mistook the legs as a dear and shot at.
This tirtha is placed at the confluence of three holy rivers including the river Hiran. There is a small temple built under the Banyan tree on the bank of the tirtha with a majestic white idol of Lord Krishna. The pink colored foot of the Krishna and an image of the hunter Jara with folded hands are also seen in the temple.
Photography is not allowed inside the temple. 
Kamnath Mahadev Temple: It is said that, this was the place where Rathi Devi wife of Manmatha also known as Kamadev did severe penance to get back the life to her husband.Earlier Manmatha who had disturbed Lord Shiva from his penance became a victim to his wrath and got converted into ashes. Pleased with Rathi Devi’s prayers and penance, Lord Shiva blessed her husband life back without physical body and fulfilled her desire. Thenceforth the Lord Shiva at thisplace came to be known as Kamnath Mahadev.
Panch Pandava Gufa is a temple situated near Lalghati in Somnath. This is a marvelous temple founded by the late Baba Narayandas in the year 1949. This temple is dedicated to five Pandava brothers. This temple, located at an elevated place, offers a beautiful view of surrounding holy city. Imposing idols of five Pandava brothers are enshrined. The idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Rama and Goddess Durga are also installed in this grand modern temple. The temple is built in a scenic environment and the ambiance offers a calm and cool spiritual atmosphere. A Sanskrit college is established in the compound of this temple.
Suraj Mandir, also popularly known as Sun Temple, in Somnath is also an ancient temple dating back to the origin of Somnath temple. This temple is situated at the north of the Triveni Ghat, the confluence of three holy rivers. The temple was set up to offer prayers to Sun God.
The temple architecture is amazing with many images of elephants, lions and other birds and animals. This temple also was attacked many a times by Muslim foreign invaders. But later it was renovated to present structure. The temple is a rare specimen of worshiping to nature and is praise worthy symbols of Hindu cultural heritage. 
Once finished visiting all the above places, we started for Ahmedabad. We checked in to a well mentained Dharmasala at Chotila, Surendranagar. We took our dinner at a dhaba in front of the dharamshala.

Day 4: There is a famous Chamunda Mata Temple, situated at top of hills of Chotila but as we didn’t had ample of time in our hand and moreover to visit that temple one has to cross 800 stairs by no other way to reach there is available , we decided to skip the place. We started for Ahmedabad by 8 am. On the way we visited, 

Divya Saraswati Temple, the temple of goddess Sawaswati. The peace full surrounding and the beautiful architecture of the temple is worth of spending sometime in the place. 

Finally we reached Ahmedabad by 11:30 am and checked in to 
Hotel Kingsway 
G.P.O Road, 
Near Relief Cinema, 
Ahmedabad – 380001 
The places we visited in Ahmedabad are 
Adalaj Step well is five storied high, or rather rather five- storied under the ground step well. There are three entrances leading to the stepped corridors which in turn have an octagonal opening on the top. As one steps down each storied, is confronted with some of the most beautifully crafted flower motifs, elephants, peacocks and fishes adorning the walls reminding one of the carved temples of ancient India. But even before one begin appreciating the intricate carvings on the walls, what catches attention first are the erect pillars, 16 in all standing in perfect symmetry and supporting the whole magnificent structure. Even these flaunt some exquisite designs of flowers, and other frenzied motifs. 

Akshardham Temple was built in the dedication of Lord Swaminarayan, in 1992; is one of the most magnificent edifices of modern India. It measures 240 feet in length, 131 feet in width and 108 feet in height. It is 3 storied building. In the first floor there is a seven feet long idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the chief deity at the Akshardham temple. Top floor is enriched with vanis of Swami Narayan. Underground floor is a museum of different things which were used by the Lord. Within the complex of Akshardham, lies a beautiful garden known as Sahajanand Van. The temple is open 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Monday to Friday and is closed on Sunday. 
Photography is strictly prohibited here.
Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha is located at the bank of River Sabarmati, hence named so. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. This ashram is now a national monument established by the Government of India due to its significance for the Indian independence movement in the form of the Dandi March in 1930.
The ashram now has a museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay. In 1963 the museum building was erected (designed by architect Charles Correa), and memorial activities were then started here.One of the important activities undertaken is the establishment of a Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. Initially started in 'Hriday Kunj,' Gandhi's own cottage in the Ashram, the Sangrahalaya has now shifted to its own well-designed and well-furnished building which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, on 10 May 1963. 
The places to visit inside Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram are, 
Magan Niwas - Magan Gandhi - A Soul of ashram also introduced different design of charkhas. 
Upasana Mandir - Prayer Ground Where ashramite listened to bhajans-hymns and reading from Holy Gita, Quran & Bible. 
Hriday Kunj - Like heart in a body this centrally located abode supplied energy to the entire place. Vinoba-Mira Kutir - One hut where Vinoba Bhave & Ms. Madeleine, British admiral's daughter stayed. Nandini - This was the guest house of Ashram. 
Udyog Mandir - A Temple of industry symbolizing self reliance & dignity of labour.
Somnath Chattralaya - It is cluster of rooms occupied by ashramities who forsook family affairs and shared Ashram. 
Teacher's Niwas - Bapu's associates stayed at teacher's chali 
Gandhi in Ahmedabad - The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya (Museum) was opened in 1963. This gallery exhibits major events of Gandhiji's life from 1915 to 1930 in Ahmedabad. 
Painting Gallery - Eight life size paintings have been displayed. 
My life is my message - Events which were turning points in Gandhiji's and which ultimately changed the history of India are depicted through oil painting and photographs. 
Library & Archives - Archive preserves legacy of eternal Gandhi in 34,000 manuscripts, 150 felicitations, 6,000 photo negatives, 200 files of photostats etc. And Library has 35,000 books including 4,500 books from Mahadevbhai Desai's personal collection and books on Gandhian thought. It is a valuable resource for researchers. 

The place will take you to freedom fighting movement days. We returned to our hotel with a heavy heart after visiting the place. 
Day 5: We started for another round of Ahmedabad site-seeing. The places we visited during the day were Swami Narayan Temple, situated in Kalupur, is the first and foremost Swaminarayan temple. Being the most prominent temple, it is always thronged by people. People come from different parts of the country and congregate here in this temple to seek the blessings of the deity. Dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, the temple boasts of its exquisite wooden carvings. The structural design of the Ahmedabad Swaminarayan temple is mesmerizing. The interiors and exteriors of the temple have been adorned with the typical Gujarati designs that depict different aspects of the Gujarati culture and lifestyle. The architectural style of the temple is commendable and truly has an unbeatable charm. Standing royally behind the huge gates across the Relief road, the Swaminarayan temple of Ahmedabad has beautifully decorated domes and galleries. 

Jain Temple, built in the year 1850 AD, the Hathee Singh Temple is dedicated to the 15th Theerthankara of Jains, Dharmnath. This temple is named after Sri Hathee Singh, a rich jain merchant of yesteryears, who had under took the great task of such an amazing construction. Famed for its brilliant structural designs, this two-storied white marble structure provides a delightful experience to the beholder. Elaborate porches on three sides are a specialty of this temple. A lovely dome on the front porch gives a peculiar appeal to this architectural splendor. Other two porches displays prolifically carved patterns. 
Another unique aspect of the temple is its tiled courtyard, which is encircled by daunting row of pergolas with 52 shrines. Each shrine shows remarkable designs and fine carvings and all of them encompass an image of a Tirthankara. One of the prettiest Jain shrines in India, Hathisingh Temple follows the usual architectural pattern of the Diwara Jain Temples of Rajasthan. 
Asaram Bapu set up his first ashram at Ahmedabad, known as the Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram, in the year 1997 in the riverbank of Sabarmati. Presently, the Ahmedabad ashram is the main Bapu Asaram Ashram in India. It comprises of an ayurvedic clinic, gaushalas (cow sheds) and a sadhana (prayer) hall. One of the unique features of the Sant Shri Asaramji Ashram of Ahmedabad is its Maun Mandir (temple of silence). Individuals coming here for the purpose of meditation are locked inside and provided with only with food and water. The time you spend inside the Mandir is for you to discover yourself. 
Photography is not allowed.
Bhadrakali Temple, situated inside the famous Bhadra Fort, was constructed during the rule of Aazam Khan. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, worshiped by its devotee to acquire prosperity and wealth. Being one of the cogent deity in Hindu pantheon, the Bhadrakali Temple is visited by hordes of devout from across the country throughout the year. During the Navaratri Festival, which is considered as the major festival of the city, the Bhadrakali Temple is thoroughly decorated. The nine days festival is celebrated with great pomp and show in the temple premises. During this period, the Bhadrakali Temple witnesses thousands of tourists thronging in the temple to worship, dance in colorful outfits and enjoy the festival. Ahmedabad Bhadrakali Temple is worth visiting during this festival of song and dance. The Bhadrakali Temple is one of the oldest temples of the city that still survived the ravages of time. The temple is as old as the city of Ahmedabad. 
ISKCON is the abbreviation for International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This temple depicts Lord Krishna with his beloved lover Radha, who is regarded as the epitome of true love. Also called as the Hare Krishna Temple, ISKCON temple situates in a vast area with lovely trees, which gives a serene and tranquil environ to the devotees. 
Temple has much spacious interiors compared to its exterior portions. Huge halls decorated with beautiful chandeliers attribute the devoutness of the shrine. Prayer sessions in the temple provide a soothing feeling to the devotees as the entire ambiance would be filled with the chanting of hymns and Keertans. Janmashtami and Nand Mahotsav are the two auspicious days in the temple, which witnesses’ great participation of devotees. 

Photoghraphy is not allowed inside the temple. 
A very ancient temple, located in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad, Jagananth Temple has the chief deity worshipped as Lord Jagannath. Others coming in line are Balaram and Subhadra. The focal point of this temple is the ratha yatra. Every year in the months of June/July a substantial procession is taken out, in the lines of the Puri Jagannath Temple. Chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra are the principal attractions of the procession, beginning in the morning. The chariots are garlanded, beautified with elephants, gymnasts, acrobats, saints and devotees, all joining in as part of the huge festivity. 

Kankaria Lake, an artificial lake dates back to the time of Sultans, is a crowd puller in recent times. It was constructed by Sultan Qutab-ud-Din in 1451 AD. Formerly known as Hauj-e-Qutub, this lake was the bathing ghat of late Sultans and their queens. Mughal Emperor Jahangir and his empress wife Noor Jahan frequently visited the lake. 
Nagina Wadi, an island garden set in the midst of the lake is just picturesque that adds the bewitching beauty of the lake. One of the banks is connected to this island by virtue of a pathway. Another interesting pass time in the lakeside is the boating facilities. Adventurous lots and fun lovers can engage themselves with this water sport. The lake witnesses large crowd in weekends, especially in the evenings of weekends. One would not get a better place to watch sunset than Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad. Children can enjoy the facilities in the children’s park and the adjoining zoo. 
A toy train facility is available to take rounds around the lake. Ticket cost is Rs. 25/- for each. Other than the toy train, entry ticket for the lake is Rs. 10/- and the children park is also Rs. 10/- 

Day 6: It was the last day of our trip. We went to city market to shop famous articles of Ahmedabad like sarees, badam, lehenga etc. 
We had board our train, “Garbha Express” at 11:25 of night from Ahmedabad station and reached Asansol on next to next day i.e., on day 8 by 11:10 in morning. With this a great travel came to an end.