Photos clicked by Prathamesh Narvekar and Purva Narvekar

Written by Purva Narvekar

DAY 1: Traveling from MUMBAI to JAUNAGADH by Saurashtra Express

Maximum travel time from BORIVALI STATION to JAUNAGADH is 15 hours. This train has no pantry and you can have your food from railway station itself when the train stops. But that food is not that hygenic so I prefer you to have your homecooked food like paratha, sandwich, cookies, thepla (it is a tasty gujrati dish), idly etc.

DAY 2: At Junagadh station at sharp 1:30 pm

From Junagadh Station to Club Mahindra Hotel Gir (a 3 star hotel) I had traveled through Innova (5 seater car). It is approximately a journey of 60 km i.e. 1 hour. Hotel is well maintained, has good quality of food, has many mango trees, swimming pool, fun zone and daily entertaining fun activites in evening. So remaining day can be well spend itself in a hotel like this.

DAY3: Visiting GIR FOREST and DEVALIA SAFARI PARK

From Club Mahindra to GIR FOREST its a distance of 10km i.e. 20 minutes approximate. Club Mahindra has a travel desk which arranges open jeeps for us on our request for Gir Forest. We can visit Gir in any of the three timings i.e. either in morning at 6:00am or 8:30am or in evening at 3:00pm. I prefer visiting in morning at 6:00am because the temperature is quite cool and the animals and birds are seen near artificial ponds or lakes. It is a very beautiful forest, it has 523 Lions, 300 Species of Birds, 37 Species of Reptiles and other animals like Leopards, Jackal, Mongoose, Deer, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Langur Monkey etc.

Among reptiles you can find crocodiles, indian garden lizard, chameleon and many more. There are even many peacocks found in Gir. It is worth going to Gir Forest because you can see many animals and birds and hear them loud and clear. You will enjoy your entire forest journey of 3hours.

*If you have your DSLR camera you must carry it to have such beautiful pictures.

Returning to your hotel by 9:30am if you visit Gir Forest at 6:00am you can rest till 3:30pm and then at 4:00pm you can visit Devalia Safari Park which is approximately 20 minutes from Club Mahindra Hotel and exactly in opposite direction of Gir Forest. Here again the caged jeeps are arranged either by the hotel or Gir Forest booking office or you can have other option like bus which which you can book at Devalia Safari Park booking office. I prefer having jeeps because first reason is that duration for bus is just 15 minutes while jeep’s duration is for 55minutes and secondly buses stops at some particular location while you can ask the driver of the jeep to stop the jeep at any place you want to and watch that animal or bird as long as you wish. It is definitely worth going to this park. You can see Lions, Antilope, Peacock, Deer, Leopards, Jackal and many more different aniimals and bird which you may or may not find in Gir Forest.

Here also there are three timings i.e. in morning at 7:30 am-11:00 am for buses (each bus 15 mins) and 7:00 am-10:55 am for gypsy (each jeep 55 mins) and in evening buses start at 3:00pm-5:00pm (each bus 15 mins) and gypsy starts at 3:00 pm-5:55 pm (each jeep 55 mins). You can have either early morning time or late evening time so that you can enjoy your traveling, temperature and find more animals and birds.

DAY4: SHREE SOMNATH JYOTIRLING TEMPLE

The above picture is not clicked by me as camera is not allowed inside the temple. This day you can relax in morning till evening and then visit this beautiful temple shining in laser light in evening. It is located in Prabhas, near Veraval. It is a Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of India. Here there is a confluence of 3 rivers: Saraswati, Kapila, Hiran which meet the mighty Arabian Sea because of this confluence of these river it is said to be Triveni Sangam which is belived to be a very sacred Moksha Thirtha for Hindus. Here you are not allowed to carry your phones, cameras or any electronic instruments, you can have electronic lockers charging 10rs per electronic instrument like if you carry 2 mobiles and 1 camera you will have to pay 30rs and other is the normal locker which is free. You can place your sandals, slippers or floaters at the shoe rack near the temple. The Aarti here takes place three times a day 1st at 7am then at 12pm and then in evening at 7pm. I prefer evening time at 7pm because you can enjoy the enthusiasm of devotee and even watch the Laser-based Light and Sound show which starts at 8:00pm till 8:30pm.

DAY5: JUNAGADH MUSEUM, SAKKARBAUG ZOO, ORCHARD PALACE, SHOPPING

Junagadh Museum is one of the finest museums in Gujrat at Duruvesh Nagar. It has preserved the possessions of the Junagadh Nawabs and Maharajas. you can have look at the olden time Weapons, Armour, Howdahs present during Nawab’s time, beautiful Chandelier, Silver Items, Jewellery of olden times and paintings depicting lifestyle of Nawabs.

On the way to Sakkarbaug zoo you can have a look at Mahabat Makabara which is a heritage place and is protected under the Gujrat Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.

Sakkarbaug Zoo has a large display of animals and birds of different species. Here you can find Asiatic Lions, Panther, Deer, Cheetahs, Malabar Giant Squirrels, Marmosets, Green Pheasant, White Tiger, Snakes, Bear, Ostrich and many birds like Hornbill, Owl, Eagle, White Peacock etc. This is a well maintained zoo and is 2nd oldest zoo in India and 4th largest zoo in India.

Orchard Palace is the beautiful place where you can stay or just have lunch or dinner. It is located in Gondal in Rajkot District. The food quality is excellent and prices about 675rs both veg and non-veg, but the order for food is supposed to be given least 2hours before reaching time. You can also enjoy excellent collection of Vintage Car or Old Maharaja Cars and the Private Train. This palace has its own organic farm with various vegetables and fruits. Here even many bollywood movies shooting has took place. This place must be visited.

If you wish for doing some shopping for women at Rajkot then you must have a look at Bandhani Material Sarees or Dress Material having some minute work on it. This is even comfortable to wear and has rich look with those sparkling minute work on it.

This way by evening you will finally be done with day 5.

DAY6: GHANDHIJI’S BIRTHPLACE, SHREE DWARKADHISH TEMPLE

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in Porbandar. He was one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders at the time of British Rule through nonviolent resistance. He had lived beside Kirti Mandir, which is now a tourist spot. Gandhiji’s house has 3 floors having many rooms, windows and terrace like area. There is no entry ticket here.

Dwarkadhish Temple also known as Jagat Mandir which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is located at Dwarka in Gujrat. The city of Dwarka is regarded as the ‘Gateway of Moksha (Salvation).’ The pooja there is conducted by Aboti Brahmins (a caste in Brahmins who have been performing pooja for centuries). Janmashtami is the major festival which is celebrated there. The flag at top of the temple is changed 5 times a day by a pilgrimage itself and now it is said that if we wish to hoist the temple flag we need to wait for least 5 years for our turn to come.

The above picture is not clicked by me as electronic things were not allowed there. This is a very beautiful temple in Dwarka and must be visited. Here you are not allowed to carry your phone, camera or any electronic instrument. You can have lockers for the same. I suggest you must have a guide there to help you understand the temple more deeply.

DAY7: RUKMINI MANDIR, BET DWARKA MANDIR

It is said that Sage Durvasa was invited by Lord Krishna and his wife Rukmini to their palace when on the way to the palace Rukmini had got tired and pleased Lord Krishna to provide her with some water. No sooner did Lord Krishna provided Rukmini water than she drank it without asking Sage Durvasa who felt insulted about this. He immediately cursed Lord Krishna and Rukmini that 1] This land will never have drinking water in it, and till now there is no clear drinking water found there due to which no vegetation there and 2] Lord Krishna and Rukmini can never stay together, due to which this temple is at a distance of 2km from Shree Dwarkadhish Temple.

Bet Dwarka is called so because it is surrounded by water on all side and has to be traveled through boat which carries around 130 people, each one has to pay 20rs to reach to the other side by boat and it takes around 20 minutes. It is said that it is a place where Lord Krishna stayed and Dwarkadhish temple was the place where Lord Krishna worked. This is also a very positive place where 10,000 people stay. People there deeply believe in Lord Krishna and chant Mantras.

DAY8: Traveling from DWARKA to MUMBAI through Saurashtra Express

The train reaches Dwarka by 1:30pm and has no pantry and u can have your food from railway station itself when the train stops. But that food is not that hygienic so i prefer you to have your homecooked food or some healthy food like fruits or something else possible. The train reaches Borivali by 6:30am.

The shrine makes you realize the power of prayers and fills even most skeptical minds with feeling of calm and spirituality. SAURASHTRA must be visited, it is one of the most beautiful place in India.

With this we end our tour to Saurashtra. I hope you liked my blog.