Weekend Getaways from Ahmedabad
The fifth largest city in India, located on the banks of river Sabarmati, Ahmedabad is the commercial capital of Gujarat. The architecture of Ahmedabad is a blend of the ancient and the modern. This commercial capital of Gujarat has a lot more to offer and is surrounded with some amazing destinations as weekend getaways.
Kutch
The erstwhile princely state of India, Kutch is known for its splendid past. The Rann of Kutch has white salt dessert all round but gives a unique experience to the people. The best time to visit here is from November to February, when the Rann Festival is celebrated everywhere with many functions, cultural programmes, and adventure activities. It is best to visit on full moon night as the light of the moon on the white dessert increases the scenic beauty of the place. The distance between Ahmedabad and Kutch is about 370 kms. It is reachable via Bhuj; one can take a train till Bhuj followed by a taxi or cab to reach Kutch. If one wishes, private cab or taxi can also be taken from Ahmedabad to reach Kutch which is a 7-8 hour drive. The Wildlife Sanctuaries, Bahuchara Mata Temple, Modhera Sun Temple are few must places to be visited in Kutch.
Porbandar
Porbandar is popular as it is the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. But, there is much more which this place can offer - beautiful beaches, temples and dams. It is easy to reach Porbandar from Ahmedabad via different modes of transport. Direct trains and buses ply between the two cities to cover the distance of approximately 394 kms. One can also opt for a private taxi or cab which will take about 6-7 hours. The ideal time to visit Porbandar, as per climatic conditions, is from October to March. Rokhadia Hanuman Temple, Sudama Mandir, Ram Dhoon Mandir etc. are places of interest here. The weather remain pleasant throughout the year, therefore, it can be visited any time of the year.
Junagadh
Junagadh is an ancient city with a history which dates back to the times of reign of King Ashoka and Chandragupta Maurya. There are many historical monuments in Junagadh. A direct train is available from Ahmedabad to Junagadh and the distance between both the cities is approximately 315 kms. Many direct buses also ply between them and take about 5-6 hours. Buddhist Caves, Gir National Park, Sarkeswar Beach, Uperkot Fort and the Jain Temples are few of the places which must be seen in Junagadh. Many budget and mid range hotels are available for accommodation. Mango pulps are very popular item here.
Bhuj
The city of Bhuj has a profound history of empires and kings and is one of the spectacular historic places for a weekend getaway. It is a place where the roots of the Indus valley civilization were set and Alexander the Great marched with his gargantuan army. The distance between Bhuj and Ahmedabad is approximately 333 kms and one can easily cover this distance via train or bus. One can travel within the city by an auto-rickshaw. Lodging facility can be availed in the budget to the mid range hotels. Hamirsar Lake, Aaina Mahal, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Mata no Madh and Prag Mahal are few of the places of interest in Bhuj. The city is known for its handicrafts and the visitors can buy many of these items here.
Dwarka
The home of Lord Krishna and having one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Dwarka is a popular destination for pilgrimage and weekend holiday. The rich temples of Dwarka have significance and culture, surrounded with mythological beliefs. There are no direct flights between Ahmedabad and Dwarka, but many direct trains are available which can be boarded and will take about 8-9 hours. Many budget, mid range hotels and accommodations are available here where the visitors can stay. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Gita Temple, Dwarkadheesh Temple, Gomti Ghat and Rukshamanee Mandir are few of the places of interest in Dwarka. As Dwarka is a religious place it is advisable to dress properly and not wear shorts and sleeveless clothes. Decorative items made of marine shells can be bought as souvenirs.
Valsad
Valsad has a plenty of Banyan trees and the beauty of these trees simply mesmerises the visitors. The fragrance of the chikoo and mango orchards attracts the tourists. Another reason which attracts more people is the pleasant weather conditions which remain the same throughout the year. From Ahmedabad, the convenient source to reach Valsad is via direct buses which will take about 4-5 hours to cover a distance of approximately 336 kms. Tithal Beach, Parnera Fort, Parnera Hills, Dandi, Swaminarayan Temple, Shanti Dham Temple etc. are few places which must be visited during the tour to Valsad.
Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhagarh is basically popular for its Kumbhalgarh Fort, although it has its own historical importance as it is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap and had been under the patronage of Mewar King, Rana Kumbha. It is equally popular for the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. There is a distance of about 336 kms between the two cities, but there are no direct flights, trains or buses which ply to cover this distance. The most convenient way to reach Kumbhalgarh is by taking a private taxi or cab. Else, for an affordable journey, one should take a train from Ahmedabad to Falna and then take a taxi/cab from there. There are many budget and mid range hotels to offer accommodation to the tourists. October to February are the best months to visit Kumbhalgarh due to the weather conditions as other months are extremely hot. Besides Kumbhalgarh Fort, Neelkanth Mahadeo Temple, Badal Mahal and Mammadev Temple are some other places of interest here.
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Last Updated on : September 22, 2014