29 December 2017

Bhavnagar-Ahmedabad Dec 2017 travelogue

Just returned from an awesome family trip to Gujarat! Wanted to pen the precious memories before they get blurred with time and newer experiences. My cousin is posted as District Development Officer (DDO) at Bhavnagar since last 3 years. We had put up at his place for 3 days and what eventful days they were! The next 2 days were spent in Lothal and Ahmedabad. This post is divided into highlights, kodak moments and food diary.

The DDO bungalow has a bevy of super-cuddly rabbits, lots of plants, a garden, veranda, swing, and many rooms. This meant that the kids (my daughter and nephew) could roam and explore at leisure.  It comes with a full staff of cook, gardener, handyman, etc. So there was never any need to worry about what to eat, what to make, what to do - we spent some quality time with our hosts despite the jam-packed itinerary.

We flew Pune-Ahmedabad and my cousin's car & driver picked us up at the airport. On the way to Bhavnagar (a good 3.5 hr drive), we gorged on gota, dhokla, poha & bataka vada at a local joint. On reaching my cousin's place we were greeted with coconut water served chilled. Lunch was prawns curry with hot chappatis, yummy salad and daal-rice.

On the first day, we visited the Black buck Sanctuary at Velvadar National Park. It was awesome to watch the black bucks, neelgai and many birds in the Savanna landscape. Due to my cousin's clout we had a private guide, who not only updated us on the park's secrets, but also took some awesome pics using the binoculars and cell phone camera (since none of us had a DSLR). The entire experience was akin to an Africa safari. We were treated to lots of fruits and snacks over tea at the park - guavas, bor, apples, bananas etc. In the evening, we dined at the Black Buck Lodge, founded by a local, rich businessman as a weekend resort for the elite. The campfire and tent experience at this lodge while dining was a memorable experience.

The next day was slightly lighter, we spent time at home in the first half with our hosts, chit-chatting over faafda-jalebi and a round of dumbcharades over umpteen cups of tea/coffee. In the late afternoon we started for the jungle of Jesar (again possible due to DDO clout as its not open to public) and reached there at twilight. The goal was to view lions in their natural habitat when they are out to drink water at the watering places. After searching high and low at various hangouts, we finally sighted them. There were 2 young male lions strutting along without a care. We parked as close to them as possible and then quietly got down from the vehicles to view them better. Photography was naturally not allowed. It was a mind-blowing experience, no one even bothered to comment - so busy were they in absorbing everything. The lions were roaring and walking majestically and if they were aware of our presence, they ignored us royally. A little farther ahead, we spotted 3 more lions. By then it was completely dark and we watched them with aid of the car headlights which the drivers pointed toward the lions. Eventually they got bothered by the lights and walked away from us. It was a nail-biting, hair-raising experience. We wrapped up the evening with authentic kathiawadi dinner(rotla, maakhan, gud, sev-tamata nu shaak, ringan nu bhartu & chhas) at a rural place. Even the kids sampled it despite it being spicy!

On the third day, we set off for Somnath temple (6 hr drive from Bhavnagar) at the crack of dawn. We crossed Diu on the way but did not halt. On reaching Somnath, we got VIP darshan of the jyotir-linga and were out within 15 mins! Had lunch and then set off for Bhavnagar again. This time we took the Sasan route and passed Gir National park on the way. Though we did not stop there (there wasn't enough time), we did some souvenir shopping. Finding something to eat on the highway back was a challenge, but after many false alarms we finally found something we all liked. We reached home at midnight and went to sleep as had an early start again the next day.

On the 4th day, we started back for Ahmedabad but stopped at Lothal for 45 mins. It was informative and a step back in time. After geography, botany and zoology, it was history time for the kids :-) As we neared Ahmedabad, the kids were heartened to see big buildings and signs of civilization they are used to finally. First thing they ate was pizza !!

Novotel was a welcome break after the rustic experiences of past 3 days. Hair washed and jackets discarded, we set off for Kankaria lake. But due to an ongoing carnival, it was too crowded, so we abandoned it, promising the kids we will visit the next day. We indulged in some retail therapy at Law Garden and spent a blissful couple of hours shopping ! For dinner, we tried the much-recommended "Agashiye" close to Sidi sayyed ki jaali but the waiting was 1.5 hrs. So we aborted and went to Govardhan thaal instead. The thali was awesome and we ate out of brass vessels.

On the last day, we did a round of Kankaria lake in the toy train and then went to Sabarmati Ashram. More history for the kids ! Lunched at Marutinandan - methi muthiya nu shaak and Gujarati kadhi were mind blowing. Bought some sweets, checked out khadi stores and then pushed off for the airport.

The best part of the trip is that we did not have to worry or plan anything for first 3 days. It was all taken care of and hence a real vacation. Kudos to our hosts for making our stay comfortable and interesting in the rural heartland that is Bhavnagar!! Also, the long open spaces until the eye could see, the various plantations of cotton, sugarcane, cattle fodder etc. on the highway, the salt pans and salt processing plants were a novelty. It was scary and exhilarating at the same time to not be able to see any buildings or civilization for long stretches. The sunrise and sunsets that we experienced on most of the days over this empty horizon are unforgettable. Last but not the least, both kids were amazingly cooperative and patient throughout the trip!





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