Day 1 – Reaching Dwarka
Finally, “it was time for another here we go again”, a family excursion to Ahmedabad! The Char Dham yatra was our first priority; however, due to harsh climatic conditions in the month of October, we chose the Ahmedabad—-Dwarka—-Somnathpur—-Ahmedabad route. It was our first family outing outside Karnataka. We were all thrilled to experience a new culture and the food diversity in the state of Gujarat.
The wait was almost coming to an end. The time had finally arrived for us to board the flight. My mom was super excited (as it was her first flight!) We took a morning flight with Indigo from Bangalore to Ahmedabad (135 minutes of flying time). We could manage to grab only one window seat. A joyful smile was plastered on my mom’s face as she occupied the window seat with plenty of excitement. In my experience, it was one of the smoothest take offs from the captain. It calmed down any nerves that we may have had and, particularly, the anxiety of my mom’s maiden flight experience. The delightful expressions on my mom’s and dad’s faces at a height of 30,000 feet were unbelievable. It hit me and made me realise that one should also explore new places with their parents. As time was ticking by and landing was fast approaching, I was slightly distressed thinking about how smoothly the plane was going to land. Again, a great show from the captain; the captain nailed the effortless landing. We arrived on time at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The airport looked well-tended to. We could notice multiple flights preparing for takeoff on the runway. Dad was busy clicking pictures of everything around him. After a small walk and a photo session, we reached our baggage collection aisle. It took us close to 30 minutes to walk out of the airport with our luggage. Using the services of Uber, we managed to arrive at our next destination – the Ahmedabad Railway Station. The plan ahead was to reach Dwarka by train, which was scheduled to start from Ahmedabad at 4.20 pm. Due to some delay encountered with the train’s arrival, we reached Dwarka by midnight. The local auto rickshaw arrived as anticipated and was present at the right time to pick us up from the railway station. It was the end of Day 1. We reached Dwarka and stayed at Shri Maadhwa Mutt. Overall, things were progressing fine.
Day 2 – Elysian
We began a new day with ample and peaceful sleep. I was the last one to get ready (as usual). We rushed for breakfast at the Mutt. We were served idlies and two varieties of chutney (the chutneys complemented one another so well!) The head of the Mutt had appointed a guide to take us through the Dwarka Temple. It was a sunny day, and we opted for a walk of between 12 and 15 minutes from the Mutt. As we were getting closer to the Dwarka Temple, we could see the rush caused by a throng of devotees coming together for the holy pilgrimage of Dwarka. The first sight that greeted us at the Dwarka temple was of an orange flag hoisted on top of the temple. All electronic devices were to be handed over at the entrance. Photography inside the temple was banned. As we approached the entrance to the Dwarka Temple, a mandatory security check was carried out. Men and women were segregated and the queue was split. Dwarka means gates of heaven. The vision almost becomes true when you have a look at the entrance of the Dwarkadhish temple. Unlike other temples, this one has two entrances: the northern one is called Moksha Dwara, and the southern entrance is called Swarga Dwara.
As we entered the temple, we were filled with copious amounts of positive energy. There were so many colourful decorations. Pundits at the temple were emphasising the history of the temple and some were chanting and singing praises for Lord Krishna. After 20 minutes, we managed to witness the Dwarka Krishna. The first sight of Lord Krishna was fascinating. The statue was sculpted with a black shining stone. It had a marvellous décor. A vast variety of food was on offer to Lord Krishna – an absolute treat for everyone gathered there. Since it was a weekday, the temple was partially crowded and that helped us stay for a longer duration of time. My parents were positively overwhelmed with everything happening around them; they wouldn’t have minded spending the next five days at the temple too. The temple showered us with loads of positivity and peace to our souls. After spending some blissful moments at the temple, we arrived at the Mutt for lunch.
We hired a taxi to our next destination – the Nageshvara Jyotirlinga (18 km from the Dwarka temple. It took us between 25 and 30 minutes). The Nageshvara Jyotirlinga is one of 12 Jyotirlinga’s in India. For us, it was the second out of 12 since we had previously visited Rameshwara in 2003. It was relatively hot and humid to step out of the car; we were enjoying driving with the air conditioner on (but we eventually let go of this comfort and stepped out). We encountered a huge statue of Lord Shiva as we entered the premises of the temple. We followed the queue to offer special offerings to the Jyotirlinga.
It is mandatory for men to wear a dothi and shalya while offering prayers. I had to quickly change my dress to maintain sanctity and reverence. Spare dothis and shalyas are available inside the temple. It was a very holy experience to offer prayers in one these shrines.
Our next destination for the day was Bet Dwarka. To get to Bet Dwarka, we had to first reach Okha (20 km from the Nageshvara Jyotirlinga, a 40-minute drive). After reaching Okha, we took a ferry to Bet Dwarka, which is one of the oldest cities submerged in water and has left a few footprints. It is believed that Lord Krishna dwelled in Bet Dwarka during his ruling in Dwarka. According to an archaeological scientist, Bet Dwarka has a 9000-year-old history. Sculptures and monuments were found in the Arabian Sea (below 120 feet). We witnessed a fascinating sun set when we were getting back to Okha. The cool breeze was an icing on the cake. One needs to get back from Bet Dwarka before darkness setting in, as the last ferry leaves by approximately 6.30 pm.
After a quick tour of Bet Dwarka, we got back to our taxi and had to cover 50 km to reach Dwarka. It was time to explore the traditional and authentic food of Gujarat. I absolutely love street food! It was 8.30 pm and we could notice that many restaurants were opening for business in the streets of Dwarka. It was time to treat our taste buds to some authentic Gujarati thali; the thali we had was so appetizing! My brother and me were going bonkers. We ordered everything on the evening menu and we made sure we finished everything! After stepping out of the restaurant, it was a 15-minute walk to the Mutt. I felt that the walk was necessary after feasting on some heavy Gujarati food.
Day 3 – Shadowing Arabian Sea
We made some last-minute changes to our itinerary; we wanted to carry less stress in our journey. Our new plan was to drive directly to the Somnath Temple, a five-hour drive (233 km from Dwarka via NH 51). The next morning, we visited Dwarka temple again to seek blessings from Lord Krishna. We left Dwarka around 9 am, as we wanted to explore a few other places. The drive towards Somanath was stunning. We were travelling with the Arabian Sea on our right. On our left, we could witness hundreds of wind mills. After passing through these eye-catching sights, we realised that our new plan had paid off. The list of places that we visited are mentioned below:
Kirti Mandir, Porbandar – Kirti Mandir is the memorial house of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi. It has been converted into a small museum that displays items used by Gandhi ji along with some really old photographs. The museum houses a library, which has books written by Gandhi ji, including books relating to his philosophies. As you enter the house, you will encounter large paintings of Gandhi ji and his wife Kasturba, some of which include the rare black-and-white pictures of the couple sharing lighter moments. The Kirti Mandir reflects Gandhiji’s life events.
Jambuvan Caves – The Jambavan cave is a historical place located at Ranavav village, 17 km from Porbandar, off the Rajkot–Porbandar highway. It’s a huge space and within the premises, we can see plenty of tress and temples. After taking a few steps inside the premises, we were in front of Jambuvan caves. The caves were sheltered by a massive tree. An iron staircase was visible. Without a second thought, I rushed down and entered the cave and my parents followed suit. Inside the cave, the lighting was decent. A few bulbs were fitted and were working in fine condition. The cave looked massive. There were idols of Lord Shiva and photographs of various Hindu Gods in the cave.
Upon further research, I realised that Lord Krishna and Jambavan had fought over the Syamantaka jewel for 28 days non-stop, day and night. On the 28th day, Jambavan realised that he was fighting with the supreme Lord Sri Krishna (who is non-different from his beloved Lord Ramacandra). There is an exact spot in the Cave where Jambavan handed over the Syamantaka jewel to Lord Krishna and also gifted his daughter Jambavati for marriage to Lord Krishna.
There are two tunnels inside the cave: one tunnel leads to Junagarh, which is two hours away from Jambuvan Caves; the other leads to Sri Dwarka Dhama. There is a naturally formed Shiva linga, made out of sand, inside the cave. Outside, there is a Lord Rama temple and the samadhi of Guru Ramdas ji, who performed tapasya here.
Madhavpur Beach – Throughout our drive, the Arabian Sea provided us with stunning views. It was time we headed out into the sun and ingested some Vitamin Sea. It was 4 pm. We took a short break to enjoy the glorious sights on offer. Tender coconut was being sold. We couldn’t resist and drank one each while enjoying the views of the beach.
We reached Somanath around 7 pm and rushed to the hotel. It was a long day. We had covered 233 km and explored some popular tourist attractions. It was time for us to rest well and visit the Jyotirling at the Somnath temple in the morning.
Day 4 – Nine more to GO!!!
It was a sunny day in Somanath. We marched towards the temple. The temple premises were maintained neatly. There was strict security at the boundaries of the temple. The Indian army was serving to protect us all. After walking a few steps, we were in touching distance of the shrine. Positivity was flowing through our veins. We noticed a very systematic approach to manage the crowd; directions and signboards were visible in bold typeface to help all devotees gathered at the temple. Among the 12 Jyotirlingas, Somnath holds the apex position in the list. We were in the quest of witnessing three Joytirlingas. (We still have nine more to go, though.) We offered Rudrabishek to Aadi Jyotirling Shree Somnath Mahadev and prayed for good health and prosperity.
The present temple is built in the Chaulukya style of temple architecture (or the Kailash Mahameru Prasad style) and reflects the skill of the Sompura Salats, one of Gujarat’s master masons. The temple’s śikhara (or main spire) is 15 metres in height. It has an 8.2-metre-tall flagpole at the top. The temple is situated at a location, where no land can be located if a straight line is drawn between the Somnath seashore and Antarctica. An inscription in Sanskrit is found on the Bāṇastambha (translated into Sanskrit as arrow pillar) erected on the sea-protection wall. The Bāṇastambha mentions that it stands at a point on the Indian landmass, where it is the first point on land between the North and South Pole at that particular longitude.
After spending some peaceful moments in front of the shrine at Somanth temple, we walked out of the temple filled with a sense of accomplishment and a strong determination in our hearts. It was humid and hot at Somanth. We figured out where we could have the best Gujarathi thali in Somnath and we reached the venue. It was a multi-storeyed hotel (with the ground floor converted into a restaurant). The lunch menu was endless. The food was tasty; its quality was supreme.
We hired a local auto rickshaw for sightseeing in Somnath. We visited the Gita temple, Shri Golok tirth, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Surya mandir and Triveni Sangama. We were back at our hotel early since we had to check out. With the help of an auto rickshaw, we reached Veraval Junction and boarded the Somnath to Ahmedabad train. The train was scheduled to depart at 7 pm. The journey lasted for 10 hours and we covered over 400 km. We managed to have an early and light dinner from the canteen at the railway station. It was time we all rested well and woke up with a strong mindset.
Day 5 – Exploring Ahmedabad
It was time to meet my friend Jatin Mali (who hails from Ahmedabad) and who currently lives in the city with his family. Both of us worked together for 12 months in Bangalore; this resulted in a deeper bonding between the both of us. It was a fabulous and a warm welcome to the city. We were glad to witness plenty of trees on either side of the road. After a warm acquaintance with Jatin’s family, it was time for us both to recall fond memories of the times we spent together in Bangalore. It was also time for an authentic home-made Gujarati breakfast at Jatin’s place. Our cab was ready at 9 am. We were slated to visit the below destinations for Day 5:
Matrugaya – Matrugaya is located 110 km from Ahmedabad. It took us two and a half hours to cover this distance. As mentioned in the Hindu Scriptures, Siddhpur (known as Matrugaya Tirth) is renowned as a place where people offer their tarpan or clear their debts towards their mothers. A life lived selflessly for her home, husband and children, a mother is worshipped by the Gods, too. The tarpan is a form of thanksgiving and is a liberation process of our ancestors and our mothers from the vicious circle of life and death. It is believed that this pious place – Matrugaya Tirth – enables our ancestors or pitru to attain salvation (moksh). Therefore, regardless of one being a son or a daughter, it’s our duty to help parents attain liberation. This puja is a form of repayment of mothers’ debts. The name Matrugaya is mentioned in the Bhagwat Gita as well.
My dad offered shraddha to our late grandmother. This is the only place where shraddha can be performed in remembrance of one’s beloved mother. The shraddha rituals were performed at Uttaradi Mutt. Following lunch, around 2 pm, we resumed our journey back to Ahmedabad. The Adalaj Stepwell is located in the village of Adalaj, close to Ahmedabad city, in Gandhinagar district. It is considered as a fine example of Indian architectural work. It was built in 1498 in the memory of Rana Veer Singh (the Vaghela dynasty of Dandai Des) by his wife Queen Rudadevi.
History – The Adalaj Stepwell or Vav, as it is called in Gujarati, is intricately carved and is five stories deep. It was built in 1498. Its construction was started by Rana Veer Singh of the Vaghela dynasty of Dandai Desh. However, he was killed in a war. Subsequently, the Muslim king Mahmud Begada of a neighbouring state built it in an Indo-Islamic architectural style in 1499. The cultural and architectural depiction in the deep wells at various levels are a tribute to the history of stepwells (built initially by Hindus) and subsequently ornamented and blended with Islamic architecture during the Muslim rule.
Architecture – Built in sandstone in the Solanki architectural style, the Adalaj Stepwell is five stories deep. It has an octagonal plan at the top and is built on intricately carved large number of pillars. Each floor is spacious enough to provide for people to congregate; the floors are chiselled into a circular well. Above the square floor, columns, beams, walls and arched openings spiral around – a feature that continues to the top. The top part of the well, however, is a vertical space open to the sky. The four corners of the square are strengthened by stone beams, set at 45-degree angles. The motifs of flowers and graphics of Islamic architecture blend very well with the symbols of Hindu and Jain gods carved at various levels of the well. The walls are carved with women performing daily chores, such as churning of buttermilk, adorning themselves, scenes of performance of dancers and musicians and the king overlooking all of these activities.
Swaminarayan Akshardham – Akshardham literally means the divine abode of God. It is an eternal place for anyone to offer devotion and experience everlasting peace. Swaminarayan Akshardham at Gandhinagar is a Mandir – a Hindu house of worship, a dwelling place for God, and a spiritual and cultural campus dedicated to devotion, education and unification. Timeless devotional messages and vibrant Hindu traditions are echoed in its art and architecture.
Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show – As the sun sets, take your seat in the outdoor amphitheatre and experience enlightenment through the Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show. Transport yourself to the land of death and watch the fearless Nachiketa confront Yama (the God of death) and ultimately receive from him the knowledge of immortality and eternal happiness.
Entry for adults – 100 INR
Show begins at – 6.30 pm
Show duration – 45 minutes
It was time to wrap up day 5 with some delicious dinner at Akshardham with Jatin’s family. It was a self-service type of a restaurant, offering a variety of lip-smacking authentic food. The place was maintained well. The dining area was huge and is spacious enough for anyone to relax with their family and loved ones.
Day 6 – See you again
Today, Jatin was our tour guide. He took us all on a day tour to explore Ahmedabad city.
Dandi Kutir (The Gandhi Museum) – Dandi Kutir is India’s largest (and only museum) that centres around the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The museum depicts Gandhiji’s powerful ideas for people across lines of class, gender, age and community; these ideas assert their common right to salt itself: a symbol to inspire a pluralistic society to march towards independence.
It was time for the last part of our trip – shopping, yeah! We explored a few shops with the help of Jatin. Eventually, all we ended up buying was a few kilos of sweets and snacks.
It was time say goodbye to Ahmedabad. I am so thankful to Ahmedabad for creating some lovely memories over the last six days. A zillion thanks to Jatin Mali for hosting us. I just fell in love with the food at your place. I wish you good luck buddy, and I hope to catch up with you soon. All the best!
Modes of transport used:
Flight: Bangalore – Ahmedabad – Bangalore – Indigo
Train: Ahmedabad – Dwarka and Somanth – Ahmedabad
Taxi: Hired through locals in Dwarka and through Jatin’s recommendations in Ahmedabad
The trip cost us approximately 60,000 INR (for the four of us, including the cost of flights for six days).
I would strongly recommend a visit to Dwarka and Somnath with your family and loved ones (any time soon, if possible). Please do share your comments and feedback.