સંજોગ

અનુકૂળ સંજોગો માં જીવતો માણસ સુખી હોય છે...

પરંતુ...

સંજોગો ને અનુકૂળ બનાવી ને જીવતો માણસ વધુ સુખી હોય છે...

Life

Life becomes more meaningful
when you realize the simple fact
that...
You will never get same moment twice.
⏳

ખર્ચા અને ચર્ચા

કમાણી પર્યાપ્ત ન હોય ત્યારે ખર્ચામાં લિમિટ રાખવી
અને
જાણકારી પર્યાપ્ત ન હોય ત્યારે ચર્ચામાં લિમિટ રાખવી.

અનુભવ

અનુભવ એ એક એવો કાંસકો છે
જે કુદરત આપણ ને ત્યારે જ આપે છે
જ્યારે આપણે ટાલીયા થઈ ગયા હોઇએ.

Live Life

मंजिल मिले ना मिले
ये तो मुकदर की बात है!
हम कोशिश भी ना करे
ये तो गलत बात है...
जिन्दगी जख्मो से भरी है,
वक्त को मरहम बनाना सीख लो,
हारना तो है एक दिन मौत से,
फिलहाल  जिन्दगी जीना सीख लो..!

છાયો

નમે એના જ છાંયડા હોય છે સાહેબ,

જોયો છે વિસામો કદી આસોપાલવની નીચે...

સંબંધ

નખ વધે તો ફક્ત નખ જ કપાય છે.
આંગળીઓ નહીં, તેવી જ રીતે...

જ્યારે સંબંધ મા કોઈ ભુલ થાય તો
તે ભુલ ને ભુલાય છે, સંબંધ ને નહીં...

समझ

जहाँ दुसरो को समझना
मुश्किल हो जाये,
वहाँ खुद को समझा लेना
बेहतर होता है।

Drasti evi shrusti

Some Fullforms of important words

Some Fullforms of important words  : -

1.) *GOOGLE* - Global Organization Of Oriented Group Language Of Earth.
2.) *YAHOO* - Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.
3.) *WINDOW* - Wide Interactive Network Development for Office work Solution.
4.) *COMPUTER* - Common Oriented Machine Particularly United and used under Technical and Educational Research.
5.) *VIRUS* - Vital Information Resources Under Siege.
6.) *UMTS* - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.
7.) *AMOLED* - Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode.
8.) *OLED* - Organic light-emitting diode.
9.) *IMEI* - International Mobile Equipment Identity.
10.) *ESN* - Electronic Serial Number.
11.) *UPS* - Uninterruptible power supply.
12. *HDMI* - High-Definition Multimedia Interface.
13.) *VPN* - Virtual private network.
14.) *APN* - Access Point Name.
15.) *SIM* - Subscriber Identity Module.
16.) *LED* - Light emitting diode.
17.) *DLNA* - Digital Living Network Alliance.
18.) *RAM* - Random access memory.
19.) *ROM* - Read only memory.
20.) *VGA* - Video Graphics Array.
21.) *QVGA* - Quarter Video Graphics Array.
22.) *WVGA* - Wide video graphics array.
23.) *WXGA* - Widescreen Extended Graphics Array.
24.) *USB* - Universal serial Bus.
25.) *WLAN* - Wireless Local Area Network.
26.) *PPI* - Pixels Per Inch.
27.) *LCD* - Liquid Crystal Display.
28.) *HSDPA* - High speed down-link packet access.
29.) *HSUPA* - High-Speed Uplink Packet Access.
30.) *HSPA* - High Speed Packet Access.
31.) *GPRS* - General Packet Radio Service.
32.) *EDGE* - Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution.
33.) *NFC* - Near field communication.
34.) *OTG* - On-the-go.
35.) *S-LCD* - Super Liquid Crystal Display.
36.) *O.S* - Operating system.
37.) *SNS* - Social network service.
38.) *H.S* - HOTSPOT.
39.) *P.O.I* - Point of interest.
40.) *GPS* - Global Positioning System.
41.) *DVD* - Digital Video Disk.
42.) *DTP* - Desk top publishing.
43.) *DNSE* - Digital natural sound engine.
44.) *OVI* - Ohio Video Intranet.
45.) *CDMA* - Code Division Multiple Access.
46.) *WCDMA* - Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access.
47.) *GSM* - Global System for Mobile Communications.
48.) *WI-FI* - Wireless Fidelity.
49.) *DIVX* - Digital internet video access.
50.) *APK* - Authenticated public key.
51.) *J2ME* - Java 2 micro edition.
52.) *SIS* - Installation source.
53.) *DELL* - Digital electronic link library.
54.) *ACER* - Acquisition Collaboration Experimentation Reflection.
55.) *RSS* - Really simple syndication.
56.) *TFT* - Thin film transistor.
57.) *AMR*- Adaptive Multi-Rate.
58.) *MPEG* - moving pictures experts group.
59.) *IVRS* - Interactive Voice Response System.
60.) *HP* - Hewlett Packard.

*Do we know actual full form of some words?*

*🔗News paper =*
_North East West South past and present events report._
*🔗Chess =*
_Chariot, Horse, Elephant, Soldiers._
*🔗Cold =*
_Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease._
*🔗Joke =*
_Joy of Kids Entertainment._
*🔗Aim =*
_Ambition in Mind._
🔗Date =
_Day and Time Evolution._
*🔗Eat =*
_Energy and Taste._
*🔗Tea =*
_Taste and Energy Admitted._
*🔗Pen =*
_Power Enriched in Nib._
*🔗Smile =*
_Sweet Memories in Lips Expression._

*🔗SIM =*
_Subscriber Identity Module_

*🔗etc. =*
_End of Thinking Capacity_
*🔗OK =*
_Objection Killed_

*🔗Or =*
_Orl Korec (Greek Word)_

*🔗Bye =
_Be with you Everytime..

मुश्किल काम

दुनिया के सबसे मुश्किल कामो में से एक है...
समझदारो को समझाना।

Don't Give up

મનુષ્ય નો સ્વભાવ

Zindagi

Dikri

कड़वी बात

Khushi

નમે એ સૌને ગમે

Mirror

અધુરું

Zarwani Eco Campsite

This campsite is situated in the Narmada District. It is 28 kms from Rajpipla towards Kevadia Colony at the Narmada Dam site. It is 7 kms from the Thawadia checkpost. It is situated inside the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to a gamut of flora & fauna. The wildlife attarction include leopards, wild sloth bears, hyena, various species of Deers and wild dogs. One can also see the rhesus monkey and the barking deer or muntjac which are rarely found in other parts of the country.

One can arrange for day picnics or treks with the help of the forest department, with the forest, waterfalls and other natural beauty within easy reach. Other sightseeing areas nearby include the Zarwani waterfalls, the Shoolpaneshwar Temple, the Gheer Khadi.

Facilities:

• Orientation Centre
• 2 Cottages with attached bath & toilet facilities
• Tented Accomodations with separate bath & toilet facilities
• 2 dormitory which can accomodate 10 people at a time each
• Separate Kitchen & Dining places
• a fully developed eco campsite
• Veg & Non-Veg Food available with the help of ETC (Eco Tourism Committee)
• Separate area for Campfire
• Machaans for landscape & wildlife viewing
• The campsite has a beautiful Nature Walking Trail

Tips:

• Being a responsible nature lover is our way of showing reverence to Mother Earth, a few tips for you to remember -
• Make sure to visit the orientation centre first before you start exploring the campsite as that would give a good picture of what you are about to experience during your stay.
• Most of these Eco Campsites use electricity which is generated by using solar energy, hence please use it responsibly.
• No smoking whatsoever (cigarette butts cause many forest fires.)
• No flash or intrusive photography (for example, don’t pluck leaves to clear a better view; reposition the camera instead.)
• Do not carry any music system or sound making device along with you and remember to keep them switched off if you are driving around.
• Picking plants or insects is prohibited in any area; do not remove anything from the parks or sanctuaries.
• Do Not indulge in any quick or sudden movements to scare off wildlife.
• Do not try going too close to the animals.
• No pets should accompany you.
• No littering. Trash is only to be disposed of in proper receptacles.
• No hunting devices or other weapons should be carried, as well as used.

How to reach:
The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Vishal Khadi (Eco Campsite)

Vishal Khadi Campsite is a campsite situated on the way to Rajpipla-Netrang road. It is around 20 km away from Rajpipla. The site is surrounded by several forest areas, namely, Karjan forest area, Dediyapada forest area and Dang forest area, and fertile agricultural plains and river valleys. The sightseeing includes the bathing ghats on the River Narmada at Chandod and Garudeshwar, the fort at Dabhoi, waterfalls, the Jain temples of Jagadia. One can also go for boating to the nearby Karjar River as the back waters of the river extend till the campsite.

The site consists of separate cottages with attached toilets and bathrooms and it also has tent accommodations. It can be reached easily as regular State Transport buses are available from Rajpipla in the morning. It can also be reached by Jeeps or sharing auto rickshaws.

Facilities:

• Orientation Centre
• 4 Cottages with attached bath & toilet facilities
• 5 Tented Accomodations with separate bathing & toilet facilites
• Separate Kitchen & Dining places
• Food available with the help of EDC (Eco Tourism Development Committee)
• Separate area for Campfire
• Machaans for landscape & wildlife viewing
• A Watch Tower

Tips:

Being a responsible nature lover is our way of showing reverence to Mother Earth, a few tips for you to remember -

• Make sure to visit the orientation centre first before you start exploring the campsite as that would give a good picture of what you are about to experience during your stay.
• Most of these Eco Campsites use electricity which is generated by using solar energy, hence please use it responsibly.
• No smoking whatsoever (cigarette butts cause many forest fires.)
• No flash or intrusive photography (for example, don’t pluck leaves to clear a better view; reposition the camera instead.)
• Do not carry any music system or sound making device along with you and remember to keep them switched off if you are driving around.
• Picking plants or insects is prohibited in any area; do not remove anything from the parks or sanctuaries.
• Do Not indulge in any quick or sudden movements to scare off wildlife.
• Do not try going too close to the animals.
• No pets should accompany you.
• No littering. Trash is only to be disposed of in proper receptacles.
• No hunting devices or other weapons should be carried, as well as used.

How to reach:

The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Vadodara

VADODARA PLACES WORTH VISITING IN 100 KMS AREA 

PAVAGADH 50KMS VIA HALOL	GALTESHWAR 80 KMS
CHANDOD 60 KMS VIA DABHOI	DAKOR 60 KMS
KHAMBHAT 100 KMS VIA ANAND	NARESHWAR 60 KMS
KABIRVAD SHUKALTIRTH 75 KMS	SANKHEDA 60 KMS
KAYAVAROHAN 30 KMS	SOKHADA-HARIDHAM 10 KMS
NATURE PARK 15 KMS	BHADARVA 19 KMS
CHHOTA UDEPUR 100 KMS	DABHOI 34 KMS
SAVLI 37 KMS	BODELI 20 KMS

************************************************************************************************************************************************
CHANDOD

A place of great sanctity due to the confluence of Narmada, Orsang and mythological Saraswati. People come here to perform Pitru Shradhha. There are number of temples and Vaishnav bethak. Kapileshwar Mahadev temple is believed to be of great antiquity and has interesting wall paintings. A fair is held on Chaitra Sud 15.
Access : 155 kms. from Ahmedabad, 50kms from Vadodara, 21 kms from Dabhoi, and 12kms from Rajpipla, S.T.Buses/Rly.

Narmada Ghat , Chandod
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KAYAVAROHAN
It is an ancient town believed to have existed through each of the four ages. According to a popularly held belief it was from here that Lord Shiva in the guise of a child transmigrated after death and his body disappeared. Thus the place came to be known as Kayavarohan. A number of copper coins and a stone quern have been found from here. A beautiful head of Tapas, the image of Kartikeya and an idol of Uma Maheshwara are some of the archaelogical specimen discovered from here.
Access : Dabhai 11kms Vadodara 29kms.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
NARESHWAR
Famous for its Ashram established by Saint Rang Avdhoot who came here in 1925 after discontinuing his studies at Gujarat Vidyapith. He worked as a social worker in the villages of Panchmahals. The Ashram has a library with a rich collection of books.

Access : On the bank of river Narmada, 23 kms from Karjan. S.T.Buses.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
SANKHEDA

The town is famous for its beautiful age old handicraft of lacquer work on wooden articles and furniture like cradles, chairs, sofa-sets etc. The polish and color of the handicraft are fast and fascinating and last long without fading. This craft enjoys a national and international market.
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BODELI

Neolithic site of considerable importance on the Orsang river where agate cores and glassy white quartz are found. It is also a trading and industrial centre.Access : 20 kms from Sankheda, and Jambusar- Chhota Udepur Rly. line, S.T.Buses / Rly.
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BHADARVA

Erstwhile princely State, the town is know for its buildings with exquisite wood carvings. A couple of buildings with exquisite wood carvings. A couple of buildings have wall paintings depicting various deities. At a short distance from this town on the bank of the river Mahi is an ancient temple of Rusheshwar Mahadev with shrines depicting scenes of Puranic stories.Access : 19 kms. from Vadodara, S.T Buses / Rly.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
CHHOTA UDEPUR

The town was founded by Baji Raval whose descendent Rayasing built a fort in 1813 A.D Being smaller than Udapur it is called Chhota Udepur. There are historical old palaces and temples. The visitors can make Chhota Udepur as their base for visiting tribal belt.Access : 100 kms from Vadodara, S.T.Buses / Rly.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************
DABHOI

Originally known as Darbhavati, it is an ancient town believed to have been established in the sixth century A.D. Its fort was built by King Siddhraj of Patan in the early twelfth century. The architectural style of the fort resembling Rudramala at Siddhpur supports this school of though. Construction of Shiva and Join temples added grace to the flourishing town.

Solanki Rajput Fortress, Dabhoi

The three story Kalika Mata Temple is famous for its rich wood carvings and beautiful sculptures. There are also several Jain temples of architectural beauty of which there is Adinath Shraman Samadhi Stupa with foot prints of Shree Adinath.

Access : 34 kms. from Vadodara, S.T.Buses / Rly.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
SAVLI

The village has a beautiful temple of Bhimnath Mahadev on a raised platform in the midst of a big and beautiful will-laid out garden. An ideal specimen of modern architecture, the temple has an impressive entrance. It houses a seat of Shri Harirayji, the fourth descendent from Vallabhachrya. Idol of Lord Krishna standing on a lotus is captivating.Access : 37 kms. from Vadodara. S.T.Buses / Rly.

Courtesy: http://www.gujuland.com/vadodara/excursions.html

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Lakshmi Vilas Palace (Vadodara)

• The Lakshmi Vilas Palace: 

Maharaja Sayajirao III commissioned Major Charles Mant (also known as ‘Mad’ Mant for his eccentric work) to build the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, which was later finished by R.F. Chisolm. It was built in the Indo-Saracenic tradition, with an eclectic mix of Indian, Islamic, and European elements, as if, as Philip Ward writes, “an architectural Paul Klee had taken solid lines for a walk”. The imposingly impressive interior is full of multi-colored marble, mosaic tile and various works of art and the courtyards of palms and fountains have arched entrance-ways big enough for “the tallest elephant with the largest howdah on his back” to pass through, as reported by Edward Weeden, one of the earliest Europeans to stay in the palace. The palace grounds include a golf course and Sayajirao’s personal museum, containing, among other displays, original paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. While less impressive than the Vadodara Museum, this one is still worth a brief visit.The museum is open from 10:30am – 5:30pm and the entrance fee is Rs. 25/- for Indians and Rs. 100/- for Foreigners.

The palace is open from 11am – 5pm and entrance fee is Rs.100/-. To view the palace you must ask for a permit from the Maharaja’s secretary in the palace office or call +91 265 242 6372. Both palace and museum are closed on Mondays.

• The Nazarbaugh Palace:

Nazarbaugh Palace was once a royal guesthouse, and now houses royal family heirlooms for public viewing (though the building is a little dilapidated). The former royal residence at Pratap Vilas Palace, now converted into the Railway Staff college, has an free entry, but you must ask for permission from the authorities who can also arrange a guided tour from 9am – 6pm.

• The Makarpura Palace:

Makarpura Palace, the supposed royal summer palace, though the royal family mostly spent their summers in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu, is now used for Indian Air Force training and is not open to the public. Still, the striking 3-storey Italian Renaissance structure is worth peeping at from the outside.

How to Reach:

By road: Vadodara, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai, is located on National Highway 8. There are various state transport (ST) buses and private luxury coaches from all over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Ahmedabad-Vadodara intercity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes. There are also several private bus companies on or near Station Road. Tickets vary according to the type of bus, but the average rate is Rs 100/- to Ahmedabad and Rs 200/- to Mumbai. You can also rent a car with a driver to explore the city and its surroundings at the Express Hotel. Rates range from Rs. 650/- without air-conditioning to Rs. 2200/- for luxury vehicles, for 8 hrs or 80 km per day.

By rail: Vadodara, a major railway junction is located on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

By air: Vadodara is connected by various domestic airlines to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Daman, and Pune.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

************************************************************************************************************************************************

Vadodara Museum

One of the two museums in the Sayaji Baug is the famous Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, built in 1894, one of the various buildings peppering the city that was commissioned by Sayajirao and designed by Mant and Chisholm (see following section on palaces). Sayajirao traveled widely and commissioned various dealers and scholars to find objects to build a wide-ranging collection with everything from Mughal miniatures, to sculptures, textiles and objects from Japan, Tibet, Nepal, and Egypt and coins from all over the world to exhibits of the Indian musical instruments. There are also exhibits on Earth Sciences, Natural History and Zoology. One of the highlights is the 22m long blue-whale skeleton found in 1972 at the mouth of the River Mahi, most likely washed up in a storm. The Ethnography section has exhibits about tribes from Gujarat: the Rabaris, Gamits, Bhils, Chaudhuris and Wagharis. The museum library has nearly 23,000 books and periodicals on a range of subjects, some of them extremely rare.

The Picture Gallery displays paintings by European masters, mostly from Sayajirao’s private collection. There are also two wings on modern paintings.

This is a great place to learn from before traveling to other destinations, with displays such as sculptures removed from sites at Roda and Shamlaji in Eastern Gujarat, architectural fragments and pottery from Champaner, pieces from the carved ceiling in Sheikh Farid’s tomb in Patan, glazed ceramics from Ahmedabad, and the unique patolasaris from Patan, and a collection of bronze images of Jain tirthankars found at nearby Akota

The museum is open from 10:30am-5pm. Entry for Indians: Rs. 10/-, for Foreigners: Rs. 200/-.

How to reach:

By road: Vadodara, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai, is located on National Highway 8. There are various state transport (ST) buses and private luxury coaches from all over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Ahmedabad-Vadodara intercity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes. There are also several private bus companies on or near Station Road. Tickets vary according to the type of bus, but the average rate is Rs 100/- to Ahmedabad and Rs 200/- to Mumbai. You can also rent a car with a driver to explore the city and its surroundings at the Express Hotel. Rates range from Rs. 650/- without air-conditioning to Rs. 2200/- for luxury vehicles, for 8 hrs or 80 km per day.

By rail: Vadodara, a major railway junction is located on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

By air: Vadodara is connected by various domestic airlines to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Daman, and Pune.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Vadhvana Wetland & Eco Campsite (Vadodara)

This irrigation reservoir and wetland located 10 kms from Dabhoi & 20 kms from the Jambughoda village, is the water source for 25 nearby villages, and a popular birdwatching site for species including stork, tern, ibis, and spoonbill. To get here you will have to rent a vehicle from Dabhoi, taking the Nanderi Gate road.

Apart from being a wetland, it also has an eco tourism campsite. The best time to visit the wetland is from October to March cause that is the main migratory seasons for birds which migrate here from all over the world.

Facilities at the Campsite:

• Orientation Centre
• Cottage accomodations with bath & toilet facilities
• Tented Accomodations only with separate bathing & toilet facilites
• Separate Kitchen & Dining places
• Observation Towers for bird watching
• Also has boats available for boating on the wetland to enhance the experience of bird watching
• Separate area for Campfire

Tips:Being a responsible nature lover is our way of showing reverence to Mother Earth, a few tips for you to remember -

• Make sure to visit the orientation centre first before you start exploring the campsite as that would give a good picture of what you are about to experience during your stay.
• Most of these Eco Campsites use electricity which is generated by using solar energy, hence please use it responsibly.
• No smoking whatsoever (cigarette butts cause many forest fires.)
• No flash or intrusive photography (for example, don’t pluck leaves to clear a better view; reposition the camera instead.)
• Do not carry any music system or sound making device along with you and remember to keep them switched off if you are driving around.
• Picking plants or insects is prohibited in any area; do not remove anything from the parks or sanctuaries.
• Do Not indulge in any quick or sudden movements to scare off wildlife.
• Do not try going too close to the animals.
• No pets should accompany you.
• No littering. Trash is only to be disposed of in proper receptacles.
• No hunting devices or other weapons should be carried, as well as used.

How to reach:
By road: Vadodara, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai, is located on National Highway 8. There are various state transport (ST) buses and private luxury coaches from all over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Ahmedabad-Vadodara intercity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes. There are also several private bus companies on or near Station Road. Tickets vary according to the type of bus, but the average rate is Rs 100/- to Ahmedabad and Rs 200/- to Mumbai. You can also rent a car with a driver to explore the city and its surroundings at the Express Hotel. Rates range from Rs. 650/- without air-conditioning to Rs. 2200/- for luxury vehicles, for 8 hrs or 80 km per day.

By rail: Vadodara, a major railway junction is located on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

By air: Vadodara is connected by various domestic airlines to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Daman, and Pune.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Birds having affinities with Himalayan and Western Ghats, a variety of raptors, the hills of Satpuda range, the thrill of coming across a python or flying squirrel, pangolin or big/ lesser cats and the scenic beauty of moist deciduous forest… all this can be enjoyed by an eco-tourist at Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary encompasses an area of 607.71 sq. km in Narmada district, which comprises a major watershed, feeding the Sardar Sarovar and the Karjan reservoirs. Hilly tract of the Sanctuary bordering Narmada supports some of the best forests in Gujarat. The physical aspect is dominated by the Rajpipla hills. DhamanMal, the highest peak located in the eastern portion, is about 882 m in altitude. The general slope of the area is towards the west.

The forests are some of the best and the densest in the State and are known for richness of biodiversity. The sightings of various bird species, which have more affinities with Himalayan and Western Ghat, have unfolded a hitherto unknown, but interesting aspect of the area. Moist deciduous forests have very high scenic and aesthetic values. The flora of the ecosystem represents remnants of semi-evergreen to moist deciduous forest. Much of the vegetation is modified due to influence of the biotic pressure and forestry operations.

Moist teak forest, moist mixed deciduous forest, dry deciduous scrub, dry bamboo brakes and dry tropical riverine forest, constitute varied habitats in the Sanctuary. These forest types merge into each other imperceptibly. Teak is the principal species. Patches of pure bamboo dominate the western and north-western parts. A study documented 575 species of flowering plants in the Sanctuary.

How to reach:
The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Sasan Gir

Sasan Gir Forest is today the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in his natural habitat. The forest also harbours a variety of smaller animals and birds. Other predators are the Panther and the Hyena. The Indian Deer, Sambar, Chital (spotted deer), Nilgai (blue bull), Chinkara and the Chowsingha (four horned antelope) are found here, alongwith the bear and the long tailed langur.

Season:

The Sanctuary is open to visitors from Mid October to Mid June, While during monsoon months the Sanctuary remains closed.Permission to visit the sanctuary is given by Forest Department, Sasangir on arrival.

How to Reach: 

By Air:
Nearest airport Keshod is connected with Bombay.

By Rail: 
Sasan is the railway station, on the meter-guage line. However, the most convenient railhead is Junagadh (65 kms).

By Road: 
Sasangir to Ahmedabad 895 km,Rajkot 160 km,Junagadh 65 km,Veraval 43 km

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Near Rajpipla, 1163 km away up the river from the sea, is Sardar Sarovar dam. At the reception center there is a map and an interpretation center. You can book a guided tour which will take you through six points around the dam site: a garden; the foundational stone laid by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961; a site with a side view of the flow of the water from the dam; a lake where boating takes place; the first lock gate of the main canal; a trekking site with a nature education camp for students. Near the site is also the Surpaneshwar Shiva temple that the Government had built to replace the original ancient temple that was submerged by the dam. At the foot of the dam is the Kevadia colony, where the employees of the dam live and where there are also places for visitors to stay. For more information contact the office at Tel: 02640232599 or 02640232533.

At a height of 128 m and growing, Sardar Sarovar dam is the largest dam on the Narmada. The dam builders state their mission as “harnessing the untapped waters of the Narmada for survival of millions of people and environmental sound sustainable development of the western India by providing the essence of life-Water and Energy.”. The dam provides water for irrigation and drinking water supply, hydropower, and flood protection across the state of Gujarat.

How to reach:

The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary

“Sir, do not walk alone or in ones or twos in this jungle; It is a risky and unpredictable beast. It is fearless; so quick to charge and so fast running. It can climb up the trees. It is very mighty and its sharp nails can cause very serious injuries”. If you go to Ratanmahal Sanctuary and talk to some tribal they would most probably describe the sloth bear in the manner mentioned above. Sloth bear indeed is more dangerous than the leopard at times. But, it is a thrilling experience to have a glimpse of the bear in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary.

It is never a ‘killing-experience’ if you have a vehicle and if you are accompanied by guards! This is the place, where you may come across a leopard, a palm civet, an Indian civet, four-horned antelope, langurs, Loten’s sunbird, large green barbet, yellow checked tit, crested serpent eagle, grey junglefowl and a pit viper…! A visit to Ratanmahal is indeed rewarding.

About 55.65 sq. km area of the Sanctuary is a triangular landmass, which covers reserve forests of 11 villages. Forest originally belonged to ex-ruler of Devgadh Baria State. Eleven villages with a population of about 7000 are located in and around the Sanctuary and 41 villages are located in its interaction zone. An area of 150 ha is in possession of irrigation department. Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh constitutes boundary in south and east of the Sanctuary, whereas forests in west, and revenue areas in north surround the Sanctuary.

This sanctuary harbours maximum population of sloth bears in the entire state, which is the star attraction in the wilds of Ratanmahals. The sanctuary falls in the Dahod district of Central Gujarat and is located very close to the tribal towns, Baria of Dahod district and Chhota Udepur of Vadodara district. This area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in March 1982. The sanctuary falls on the border of Gujarat with Madhya Pradesh. The actual habitat of the Sloth bear, therefore, extends into Madhya Pradesh. The pristine beauty of forests in this small tract with rugged topography gives the feel of a hill station to wildlife enthusiasts.

For learning the habits and behaviour of the sloth bear, this sanctuary offers a unique opportunity as they are densely populated here. The sanctuary also has a large population of leopards.

The forests include dry teak forests at the foothills and mixed deciduous forests with dry bamboo brakes on the periphery. There are pure patches of timru and sadad as well. The high concentration of mahuda trees provides a favourite food to sloth bears.

Contact
Deputy Conservator of Forest,
Bariya Division, Bariya,
District Dahod. Gujarat.
Ph: (O) 02678 220425.

How to reach:
The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com & http://gujaratforest.org

Pavagadh

At the summit of Pavagadh hill, 762 m above sea level, is the temple to Mother Kali, which is the oldest in the area, dating from the 10th-11th centuries. Hindu pilgrims were coming to visit this temple from long before the development of Champaner as a major city, and they continued for hundreds of years after its decline, right up to the present day. To reach the temple at the summit is about a 5 km walk along a jungle footpath to the top of the hill; otherwise, there is a cable car which will haul you to the summit from about the midway point, which is the last place accessible by road. The temple has large fortifications and an open chowk in front, with two altars for sacrifices, and an array of lights for special occasions. The idol of Kalika Mata in the inner sanctum is only the head, the mukhwato, painted in red. Also present are full idols of Mahakali and theyantras of Bahuchara. The temple is open from very early to quite late, to accomodate pilgrims arriving at all hours. The Machi Haveli is a rest house available for pilgrims.

How to reach:

By road: Champaner is 45 km from Vadodara, accessible by bus or private vehicles. Cars can be hired in Vadodara to drive to Champaner-Pavagadh, which is the best option if you want to combine the journey with other sites like Jambughoda.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Kadia Dungar Caves

Seven rock-cut caves and monolithic lion pillars are present at Kadia Dungar, near Bharuch. The caves suggest that they were viharas. A Brick stupa was also found in the foothills. These caves were in use during 1st and 2nd century AD.

How to reach:
By road: Vadodara, 112 km from Ahmedabad and 420 km from Mumbai, is located on National Highway 8. There are various state transport (ST) buses and private luxury coaches from all over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Ahmedabad-Vadodara intercity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes. There are also several private bus companies on or near Station Road. Tickets vary according to the type of bus, but the average rate is Rs 100/- to Ahmedabad and Rs 200/- to Mumbai. You can also rent a car with a driver to explore the city and its surroundings at the Express Hotel. Rates range from Rs. 650/- without air-conditioning to Rs. 2200/- for luxury vehicles, for 8 hrs or 80 km per day.

By rail: Vadodara, a major railway junction is located on the Western Railway, which connects Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.

By air: Vadodara is connected by various domestic airlines to Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Daman, and Pune.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com

Kabirvad

Kabirwad is a famous place situated on an island in the middle of the river Narmada.It can be reached by boats which operate to and from the Shuklatirth Shiva temple. It is an incredible grove of a Banyan tree which has grown over the years and now occupies an area of almost 3 kms. The place is named after the famous Saint Kabir who lived here for many years. It also has an imposing Kabir Temple where visitors & worshippers come to pray. Thus people visit Kabirwad not just for historical reason but also to enjoy the solitude and sanctity offered by this huge Banyan Tree.

This place which is related to Sant Kabir holds a special importance for devotees. As per one belief, it is believed that sant kabir while wondering came to Mangaleshwar area. He stayed over here. As per folk tale two brothers named Tatva Jiva washed the feet of Sant Kabir. Then this water when poured on dry tree, the tree bloomed with greenery. From this the huge tree was created. On all the four sides by the touch of mother Narmada tree covered a lot place. Due to this its origin cannot be reignited. 18 kms away from Bharuch, to see this place which is located in the middle of the following waters of heavenly Narmada is a lifetime opportunity.

Kabirvad is located on the banks of river Narmada which meets the Arabian Sea, near Bharuch in Gujarat. Kabirvad means the Banyan Tree in name of poet and philosopher Saint Kabir. Kabirvad is spread in over 2.5 acres. It is said that the original tree grew up with the touch of Saint Kabir or grew up from an ancient brush ‘Datun’ that was thrown by saint Kabir. The main trunk’s roots over the years have grown into many woody trunks and have now become unrecognizable from the main trunk. The mother tree is believed to be over 600 years old.

Another story is that Saint Kabir had meditated under a Banyan tree. That tree has never aged and gradually multiplied in number. Banyan tree is also the national tree of India and also the tree which Lord Krishna vouched for in Bhagwad Gita.

That is the history of Kabirvad. After reaching Bharuch, we stopped for a short time near a restaurant at 8 am, where we had morning breakfast and cold drinks. We then resumed our journey and proceeded to Shukaltirth one of the destinations before proceeding ahead to Kabirvad.

DISTANCE TO KABIRVAD From Baroda

The Road distance to Kabirvad from Baroda is about 64 to 70 km while the distance from Ahmadabad to Kabirvad is 200 kms. The distance from Bharuch to Kabirvad is only 15 to 20 kms. You can travel by car or rent a car. You can also take the state transport public bus. If you are coming from Ahmadabad then turn Left at “Jadeshwar Chowkdi” before the Toll plaza on national highway 8 towards Ankleshwar city.

How to reach:

The Narmada river runs through Narmada district, along the border of Vadodara district, and through Bharuch district, emptying near the city of Bharuch into the sea. There are various sites along the way, and therefore various ways to visit the river.

By road: Bharuch, Rajpipla, Chanod, and Dabhoi are accessible by buses. The Sardar Sarovar dam site can be reached by private vehicle.

By rail: Bharuch is the nearest railway station.

By air: The closest airport is at Vadodara.

Courtesy: http://www.gujarattourism.com & www.indiantravellers.co.in

Galteshwar

About 16 km from Dakor is a Shiva temple of the Solanki era, situated on the alluringsangam (confluence) of the rivers Mahi and Galati where it is said lived Galav MuniChandrahaas of Puranic fame. At present the lovely rocky bank of Mahi and the beautiful old Shiva temple on it has one spring of the River Galati constantly sprinkling water on the Shiva linga. Rich in art and architecture, it has a unique eight-sided hall. The walls have carved figures of Gods, gandharvas, humans, rishis, horse riders, elepant riders, chariots, doli (palanquins) and the events of a human life, from birth to death, are all depicted in these carvings.

How to reach:

By road: Dakor is in Thasra taluka of Kheda District, 43 km northeast of Anand, and 35 km east of Nadiad. Private and ST buses are available from Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Anand.

By rail: Nadiad and Anand are the nearest major railway stations. There is also a slow-train branch line terminus at Umreth, 7 km away.

By air: The nearest airport is in Vadodara- 78 km south, but the Ahmedabad airport- 90 km to the northwest, is not much further and has far more flights.