A Getaway To Gujarat✨

With green valleys and artistic structures, spending a weekend in the city of Kevadia in Gujarat is all one needs to soothe the ever inquisitive heart. The small yet insanely developed city of Kevadia has been planned to the last detail in such a way that tourists from all over the world are bound to leave awestruck. From the wide clean roads to the affordable and accessible transport, this city is extremely tourist-friendly and buzzing with them all around the year mainly because of its renowned attraction - the Statue Of Unity. However, apart from the Statue, there are many more hidden gems to visit in this city which will most definitely grant you an experience like never before.

On 10th March, we had an evening flight to Vadodara (also known as Baroda) which was barely an hour long. From there, we had a 2-hour car journey to Kevadia through Vadodara. Vadodara, like any city, was filled with the horns and smoke of the vehicles, yet at every circle it was decorated with hilarious statues, like that of a lion holding a mic and presumably singing. We stopped at a restaurant called Spice Kraft where both - the service and the food - was top class. After stuffing ourselves with endless versions of paneer and rotis, we were on the road once again. The roads from Vadodara to Kevadia were amazing, quite unlike our expectations. In Kevadia, there are mainly two hotels - Tent City 1 and Tent City 2. Tent City 2, that is, the place we were staying at, is located on the top of a mountain and has many more facilities than the first one. On finally reaching the hotel at 12:00 am, we were damn tired but excited to see our room. Our room was basically a small cottage which was covered in a tent from the inside and the outside. Instead of doors, there were tent flaps with zippers and all in all it was quite comfortable and a different experience.

The next morning we were up by 8:00 am and had an okay-ish breakfast at the hotel. Our ticket for the Statue was not until 4:00 pm, so we decided to explore the vicinity. Not too far from the hotel was the Sardar Sarovar Nauka Vihar where we booked a boat ride for 10:30 am. One amazing thing to note about Kevadia is that wherever you go, the tickets need to be booked online. Not only is there absolutely no paper money, but the prices are also quite low. Our guide for the boat ride was very friendly and well-informed who told us that dykes one and two were reserved for the crocodiles that swam in these waters in the winter and monsoon months. Coincidence or not, but according to Hindu mythology, Mother Narmada's main ride is actually the crocodile. The guide knew the names of all 193 bird species that surrounded us and also pointed out the Vindhyanchal range which separates north India from south. We were unfortunate that we couldn't spot a crocodile in the canal, however, we did spot many wire tailed swallows as we were passing through the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.

After the 45 minute boat ride, we went back to the hotel to freshen up and then reached the Food and Nutrition Park for lunch at 1:00 pm. Grabbing a quick bite, we made our way to the Miyawaki Forest which was literally a stone's throw away from the park. Miyawaki is a Japanese technique of growing large tracts of forests on small pieces of land in very less time. After exploring the forest, we then made our way to the Ekta Cruise which would be dropping us at the Statue at 4:00 pm. Also, one interesting fact: in Kevadia, not only were all the rickshaws running on electricity, but also were pink coloured and had women drivers.

The one hour cruise was an experience in itself. There was a very entertaining garba show for the guests which kept the mood lively and active. We went to stand on the top deck so that we could properly see the Statue - and boy, did we see it. The Statue Of Unity is 182m high (the number of seats in Gujarat's Vidhaan Sabha) and is the highest statue in the world. The delicate features such as the folds of the dhoti or the wrinkles in the skin are intricately carved and so beautifully displayed that one might mistake it for Sardar Vallabhbhai himself if it wasn't so huge. Once we reached the Statue, our express ticket allowed us to skip the long queues and take the lift to the 45th floor. The Statue is made facing the Sardar Sarovar dam because it was Sardar Vallabhbhai's dream to build the dam which now supplies water to four states of India. It's hard to believe that such a magnificent piece of art was built just within forty-six months. Next we went to the viewing gallery below the Statue where the process of building it and Sardar Vallabhai's life was deeply and wonderflly explained with the help of photos, videos, and old newspapers.

By around 6:00 pm, we were done with the viewing gallery so we decided to go to the light and laser show which would be taking place near the statue. The fact that most of the seats were occupied at 6:00 pm for a show that started at 7:00 pm meant that it was something worth watching. After "booking" our seats we decided to grab a quick bite from the food court beside us. The light and laser show is designed in such a way that no matter where you sit, you will experience the same view and quality. So there is really no point in sitting and wasting your one hour. The show is an integral part of the Statue and it was one that left us with a feeling of proud nationalism. After another half an hour, that is, when the show ended, we once again headed to the Food and Nutrition Park food court for dinner because frankly, we were too tired to go anywhere else.

The next day, our plan was to go to the Jungle Safari which is not really a safari unless you count riding a buggy in a zoo a safari but it is something definitely worth visiting. However, en route we stopped at a view point and saw the gigantic controversial Sardar Sarovar dam in its entirety. After clicking too many photos of the dam, we reached the Jungle Safari. As soon as we reached the spot, we realised our luck. The Jungle Safari, the Petting Zoo, the Glow Garden, the Maze Garden, and the Valley of Flowers - they were barely walking distance from each other. I mean, all you had to do was cross the road! This was amazing for us as we had to be back at the hotel at 10:30 am for checkout so we wanted to cover as many things as possible.

From jurassic park-style aviaries to exotic animals like ostriches and white tigers, the zoo had it all. After spending almost an hour in the safari, we made our way into the Maze Garden. Let me tell you, from a teenager's point of view, this was the best thing that I've ever done. So, the Maze Garden is basically a huge ginormous maze designed like a garden. Without nothing but your five senses (and the occasional sixth sense) to guide you, you had to make your way to the fountain located in the centre of the maze and then come back out. I can proudly say that I was the first person to reach the centre of the maze and come back out - so yay! After the Maze Garden, we hurried off to the Valley of Flowers because now we were seriously lacking time. With just a quick tour of the valley we had to return back as we realised this is not a place you simply visit; it is a place where you sit back and relax.

After checking out of the hotel, we were back on the road, this time, to Poicha to visit the famous Swaminarayand Mandir. Calling the Swaminarayand Mandir huge is the understatement of the century. I mean, I've seen football stadiums smaller than it! Not only was the temple ginormous, but it was beautiful - adorned with gold like a rich merchant's daughter. After saying our prayers, we were out of there in around half an hour because now it was scorching hot and the sun was unbearable. Our next stop was the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, the official residence of Vadodara's royal family. Most people tend to skip this one as they think that there is nothing much to see there, however, I would say, if time persists (and if you are a history buff) then please do not skip this place! Not only was the palace in itself beautiful, but the audio guides that they gave us were definitely fun and informative. I mean, even my 11-year old brother liked it! Since we had to be at the airport by 7:00 pm, we still had time to kill. So we decided to eat at McDonalds in the Seven Seas Mall, not too far away from the airport. After stuffing ourselves and reaching the airport barely on time due to the unexpected traffic, it was time to say goodbye to this magical city.

So even if it is for a day, for a weekend, or for a week, do visit Gujarat! This city is not only the epitome of development, but it is an achievement that all of us as Indians should be proud of. This world-class city with its wide and clean roads, cashless economy, and tourist-friendly destinations is one that should occupy the first spot on your bucket list. So, don't think twice, and book a ticket

Some additional pics 'cause I clicked too many :)