Destination : Ahmedabad (1n) | Bajana (1n) | Bhuj (2n)
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- Day-5
Ahmedabad
Morning Arrival At Ahmedabad Airport / Railway Station, Meets, Greet And Transfer To Hotel, Later City Tour Visits Of Gandhi Ashram, Hathee Singh Jain Temple, Adalej Step Well, Akshardham Temple.
Adalaj Step Well
The Step Well Was Built In 1499 A.D. By Queen Rudabai Wife Of Veer Singh, The Vaghela Family. The Designs On Its Walls And Pillars Include Leaves, Flowers, Birds, Fish And Other Breathtaking Ornamental Designs. In The Past, These Step Wells Were Frequented By Tourists And Caravans As Stopovers Along Trade Routes. The Five-Storied, Step-Well Located In The Sleepy Village Of Adalaj Is A Marvel Of Architecture. This Unique Water Work Is An Excellent Blend Of Hindu And Islamic Styles. The Intricately Carved Monument Served Religious And Utilitarian Purposes Of The People Around Though Its Origin Is Marred By Tragedy. The Indo-Islamic Style Of Architecture, Which Developed In India In The Early Centuries Of The Medieval Period, Is Neither A Local Variant Of Islamic Art Nor A Modification Of Hindu Art, But It Is An Assimilation Of Both The Styles, Though Not Always To An Equal Degree. The Architecture Of This Well Also Shows The Influence Of The Earlier Solanki Rulers Of Gujarat. Built Entirely Of Sandstone, One Can Enter Into This Step-Well From Three Sides, Which Consist Of Octagonal Landings With Huge Carved Colonnades And Intricately Carved Niches. The Step-Well Served Both Ritualistic As Well As Utilitarian Needs.
Sabarmati Ashram - Gandhi Ashram - Harijan Ashram - Satyagraha
It’s Located On The Western Bank Of The Sabarmati River. Ashram Was The Residence Of Mahatma Gandhi. From This Ashram Gandhi Started The Dandi March In 1930. The Ashram Now Has A Museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. 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. Exhibits At The Museum Includes: Gandhi Quotations, Letters, And Life Size Oil Painting Gallery.
Hathee Singh Jain Temple
It Was Built By Seth Hathee Singh In 1850. It Is Easily Distinguished By Its High Carved Column, Visible From Road. Built Entirely Of White Marble Embossed With Smooth Carvings Of Dancers, Musicians, Animals & Flowers, This Serene Temple Is Dedicated To Dharmnath, Whose Statue Stand In The Main Temple. It Has A Paved Courtyard Surrounded By An Imposing Row Of Cloisters Containing 52 Shrines, Each With An Image Of A Tirthankara, Profusely Decorated With Rich Carvings, One Containing The Marble Image Of The 15th Tirthankara. The Temple Is A Two-Storied Structure With Elaborate Porches On Three Sides And Front Porch Crowned By A Large Dome.
Akshardham Temple (Monday Closed)
Akshardham Is A Unique Cultural Complex That Celebrates The Past, Addresses The Present, And Blesses The Future. It Upholds The Universal Values Of Humanity And Symbolizes The Glory Of Indian Culture. It Is A Huge Temple Built In Pink Stone And White Marble. The Central Attraction Of This Temple Is Idol Of Swaminarayan Is Sitting Posture Of 3.3 Mtrs. Universal Ideals Of Indian Culture Are Brought To Life Through The Most Modern Exhibition Technology. Shows, Walk-Through Dioramas, Audio-Visuals, Light And Sound Programs, And Surround Experiences Within The 45,000 Sq. Ft. Of Exhibition Space, Educate And Enthrall Visitors. The Sahajanand Hall Depicts The Life Of Lord Swaminarayan. The Mystic India Addresses The Quest For Eternal Happiness Through A 14-Screen Multi Media Show. The Nityanand Hall Visualizes Values From The Upanishads, Ramayana. The Audio Animatronics Show Features The Lifelike Assembly Of Statues That Sing And Speak. The Water Show Reveals India’s Ancient Secret Of Inner Light Through An Upanishad Story Of Nachiketa, A Nine Year Old Boy, Who Bravely Confronts Yamraaj, The God Of Death, And Receives From Him The Knowledge That Has Made India, A Land Of Enlightenment. Performed By Live Actors, With A 70-Feet High Water Screen, Water Features, Fire Spreading On Water Along With Several Fireballs, Powerful Lasers, All Enhanced By A 10.2 Surround Sound System, It Is A Uniquely Entertaining And Educational Show With A Spiritual Message. The 45-Minute Show Takes Place Every Evening (Except Monday) At Akshardham.
Overnight Stay Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad – Patan – Modhera – Bajana. (260 Kms / 6.5 Hrs)
Patan – Patola - Patan Patola Of Weaving
Patan Is Famous For Patola Weaving. Salvi Community Of People Is Working With Patola. The Queen Of Textiles Is The Patola Woven By Only Few Families Of Patan. The Technique Used To Weave The Patola Is The Rare Double Ikkat Style Which Involves Dyeing Both The Wrap Threads In The Pattern Of The Final Fabrics Before Setting Them On The Loom. Patan Is Also One Of The Centers For Mushroo, Fabrics Woven As A Combination Of Silk & Cotton With The Latter Forming The Backing. While In PreparingPatolaColouring And Design Pattern Are Evolved On Each Thread. Different Colour And Pattern Are Matched Exactly On Horizontal And Vertical Threads In Weaving. The Patola Was Traditionally Woven In A Sari Length Of 5 To 9 Yards By 45" To 54" Width. The Range Now Extends To Include Tablecloth Borders Scarves, Handkerchiefs.
Patan Timings 09:30 Am To 06:00 Pm / Closed On Special Festival
Rani Ki Vav, Patan Step Well - Architecture
It Was Built By The Queen Udaymati, The Wife Of Bhimdev. It Is The Best Example Of Such Architecture For Water Wells That Is Peculiar To Gujarat. There Are Wonderful Carved Images In The Niches Of The Walls Of This Multi Storied Step Well. It Was One Of The Largest And The Most Sumptuous Structures Of Its Type. It Became Silted Up And Much Of It Is Not Visible Now, Except For Some Rows Of Sculptured Panels In The Circular Part Of The Well. Among Its Ruins One Pillar Still Stands Which Is The Proof Not Only Of The Elegance Of Its Design, But Also Excellent Example Of This Period. A Part Only Of The West Well Is Extant From Which It Appears That The Wall Had Been Built Of Brick And Faced With Stone.
Modhera – Sun Temple
Modhera Sun Temple Is Finest Example Of Hindu Architecture In Gujarat. The Sun Temple At Modhera Dates Back To Early 11th Century Ce And Was Built By King Bhimdev I In 1026 Ce. The Sanctum Was Designed To Allow The Sunlight To Illuminate The Main Statue, No Longer In The Temple. The Quality & Quantity Of Carvings Along Its Walls Describing God, Other Figures & Erotic Positions Are Exceptional. In Front Of The Temple Is A Colossal Tank, Which Was Once Known As Surya Kund Or Rama Kund. The Tank Has A Series Of Carved Steps Leading To The Bottom. Several Miniature Shrines Adorn The Steps Of The Tank - Which Is An Art Gallery In Itself.
Later Proceed To Little Rann Of Kutch. Overnight Stay Dasada / Bajana / Patdi / Zainabad.
Little Rann Of Kutch – Bhuj. (260 Kms / 6 Hrs)
Dasada / Bajana / Patdi / Zainabad (Little Rann Of Kutch)
The Little Rann Of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary 100 Kms From Ahmedabad. This Is One Of The Largest Wildlife Sanctuaries In India, Spanning Some 4950 Sq. Ft In Area, And Comprising A Range Habitat From Saline Desert Plains, Arid Grasslands, Rocky And Thorn Scrub To Lakes And Marshes.
Wild Ass Sanctuary (Morning Safari)
The Sanctuary Is Well Known For Its Group Of The Stale Joke Brown Asiatic (Wild Ass), Which Does Not Live Elsewhere In Indian Lowlands. We Can See With Little Rann Of Kutch Blackbuck (Indian Antelope), Nilgai Or Blue Bull (India’s Largest Antelope) And The Graceful Chinkara (Indian Gazelle) Are Other Mammals. The Main Carnivores Of The Little Rann Of Kutch Are The Endangered Indian Wolf, Desert Fox, Indian Fox, Jackals, Desert And Jungle Cats, And A Few Hyenas; Also We Can See During The Visits Flamingoes, Pelicans, Ducks, Cranes And Storks.
Aina Mahal – Bhuj
Aina Mahal Means A Mirror Palace. It Was Built By The Artists Ramsinh&Gaidhardevshi During The Rule Of Rao Lakhpat Ji. The Heritage Of Kutch Art And Culture Is Displayed In The Aina Mahal. The Great Master Piece Of Ramsingh Is The Hall Of Mirrors In The Aina Mahal. The Walls Are White Marble Covered With Mirrors Which Are Separated By Gilded Ornaments. The Hall Is Lit By Elaborate Pendant Candelabra With Shades Of Venetian Glass. The Hall Of Mirrors Is On The Second Floor Of The Aina Mahal. Ramsinghmalam Who Is Specialize In Kutchi Architecture, Enamel Work, Jeweler, Tile Work And Interior Decoration. The Hall Is Filled With A Miscellaneous Collection Of Objects; A Dutch Clock, English And French Celestial Globes, Some Antique Pictures, Mechanical Toys, Glass And China. On The Walls Of The Corridor Are A Variety Of Pictures, Some European And Many Indian.
Village Safari
We Can Do Excursion Safari Tours Of Pastoral Settlements And Villages Along The Rann Of Kutch. The Tours Visit The Rural Vadiara And Kharapat Rabaris Of Little Rann Of Kutch, Known For Their Embroideries, The Silk-Weavers Colony At Dasada / Bajana, And Ambala Village Of The Bharward Shepherds And Goatherds. The Weaving Cooperative At Bajana / Dasada And Other Artisans’ Workshops Can Also Be Included In The Tours. Other Societies Near Dasada / Bajana Are Padhars (Primarily Fishing People), The Siddis And The Semi-Nomadic Mirs, Jaths (Muslim Herders), Bajanias.
Later Proceed To Bhuj. O/N Stay At Bhuj.
Prag Mahal - Bhuj
The Prag Mahal Was Designed By The Well Known Architect Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins. Prag Mahal Is A Splendid Palace Made Of Italian Marble And Sandstone. It Took 10 Yrs To Build The Monument, At An Astounding Cost Of Rupees 10 Lakh. The Palace Serves As A Fine Example Of Italian Gothic Style, Combined With Some European Style Elements. The Corinthian Pillars And Jali Work Which Depicts European Plants And Animals Are Also Worthy Of A Mention.
Kutch Museum
The Kutch Museum At Bhuj Initially Formed Part Of The School Of Art Established By Khengarji On 1st July 1877. At The Time Of Khengarji’s Marriage In Feb – 1884, An Exhibition Of Kutch Arts & Crafts Was Exhibited. Exhibits Worth Rs. 3300 Were Given To The Museum At The Termination Of Exhibition. These Exhibits Necessitated The Construction Of A New Building. The Foundation Stone For The Present Museum Building Was Laid By The Governor Of Bombay, Sir James Fergusson. After Independence The Museum Came To Be Known As The Kutch Museum. It Also Has A Fine Collection Of Kutch Silver, Golden And Enameling Work, Textiles Wood Work, Coins, Cold Utensils, Arms & Other Archeological Objects And A Section On The Communications Of The District.
Overnight Stay Bhuj.
Bhuj – Banni Villages (Culture / Art / Craft / Tribes)
Banni Villages
Banni Consisted Of Grasslands That Once Covered More Than 4000 Sq Km And Supported A Rich LivestockCulture In About 30 Villages. Banni Communities Also Top In Woodcarving, A Variety Of Embroidery Styles, Patchwork, Quilting And Leather Work. We Might Get To Hear The Local Sufi Music. Visits Of Villages Like Sumrasar, Bhirandiyara, Ludiya, And Khavda, Nirona And Many Villages.
Bhirandiyara
A Stop Along The Road Between Bhuj And Khadva, This Town Is Most Famous For Its Fresh Maavo, Milk Reduced To A Thick Fudge-Like Consistency And Sweetened With Sugar-Best When Eaten Hot. You Can Purchase It From A Few Of The Roadside Stalls Clustered Around The Bhirandiyara Bus Stop And Maybe Even Catch One Of The Men Stirring A Pot Of This Delicacy Over An Open Fire. The Local Meghwal Community Is Known For Its Fine Embroidery And Bhunga. To See Sample Of Their Leatherwork, Meet With Craftsman Arjan Vela. From The Rains, Shallow Lakes From Along The Road To Bhirandiyara, Attracting Flocks Of Flamingoes In The Winter.
Ludiya
Located About 1 Km Off The Main Road To Khavda, Ludiya Is Divided Into Several Hamlets. Gandhi Nu Gam, Inhabited By The Meghwal Community, Boasts Of Beautifully Painted Circular Huts Organized Around The Temple. Between The Vibrant Kanjari Blouses Of The Women And The Men Hunched Over In Various Corners Carving Woods, The Village Is An Aesthetic Delight. In The Effort To Curb Exploitation And Experiment With Community Marketing, The Hamlet Has Set Up An Otlo Or A Roofed Platform Next To The Temple, Where Each Household Brings It Embroidered Goods For Sellings. Please Respect This Effort And Avoid Browsing Through Items In Individual Households. The Remaining Hamlets Belongs To The Samma Community, Who Are Primarily Herdsmen And Slightly More Conservative Toward Tourists.
Hodka
The Hodka Village Is Believed To Have Been Set Up By The Halepotra Clan. ‘Halepotra’ Literally Means The ‘Son Or The Descendant Of Halaji’ Muslims, The Hindu Meghwals Have Also Settled In Hodka. The Halepotras – Belonging To The Bigger Group Called Maldharis, Or Cattle Breeders – Believe Their Ancestors Originated From Saudi Arabia And Reached Kutch Via Iran, Baghdad And Sindh. The Meghwals- Also Known As Marwada Meghwals- Believe Their Ancestors Came From Marwar, Rajasthan. They Are Traditionally Leather Craftsmen And Settled In Banni Which Was Rich In Livestock. Today There Are 8 Nokhs (Sub Castes) Of The Meghwals Community Residing In Hodka.
Khavda
The Main Town Of The Pachchham Region, Khavda Is A Good Stopover For Picking Up Bottled Water And Fruits. There Are Also A Few Rustic Lodges That Serve Kutchi Food. Opposite The Bus Stand Is The Home Of Ibrahim Kaka, Whose Family Potters Create Amazing Earthenware. Visit Khatirvas For Artisans Printing And Selling Ajrakh; There Are Also Skilled Leather Craftsmen In Town. Off The Main Road Towards The Public Health Center Is A New Women Hospitals Built By Kmvs. The Organization Has Trained Traditional Midwives In Modern And Locally Appropriate Practices. The Kmvs Office In Khadva, On The Other Side Of The Road Heading To Bhuj, Is Run Almost Entirely By Local Women And Has A Small Retail Outlet Selling Beautiful Embroidered Products And Handmade Dolls.
Later Proceed To Somnath
Overnight Stay Bhuj.
Bhuj To Ahmedabad Drop. [ 400 Kms / 8 Hrs ]
Today In Time Transfer To Ahmedabad Airport / Railway Station To Board Flight / Train For Your Hometown. Let’s Stay In Touch On Facebook/Email And Meet Again On Another Memorable Holiday. See You Soon!
