Day 1:
Arrive Ahmedabad / Rajkot - Drive to Bhuj
your first stop will be at Maliya for fresh n up. Tea Break
at Maliya and continue to Kutch - This is an panoramic drive
to salt pans and wind mills. you may also see some migratory
birds at salt pans, On way to Bhuj stop at Dhaneti for
Rabari Embroidery and Block printing. Reach Bhuj by lunch.
Post Lunch visit Aina Mahal, Prag Mahal and Bhuj Museum.
Evening attend aarti at Swami Narayan Temple. If the group
is fond of eating junk food - please try some Mirchi Vada
near ST stand. Dinner on your own at Prince. Stay at Hotel
Day 2: Bhuj
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Banni Region - Visit Nirona
Village for Rogan arts on piece of cloth- The word Rogan
comes from Persian and means ‘oil-based’. The process of
making the natural colors used in the art gives it such a
name. Castor oil is heated on fire for about 12 hours and
then cast in to cold water to give a thick residue called
the Rogan. This is then mixed with stone pigments to lend it
different hues. Next, the artisan uses a six-inch metal
stick to paint with a fine thread of Rogan on cloth. Seeing
it live made us realize how delicately the Rogan thread has
to be led with precision to give shape to one’s imagination.
, Copper Crafts - The Luhars in Nirona have been preserving
the craft of making copper bells over seven generations.
From the 65-year-old head of the family
to his 18-year-old grandson, Faruk, the Luhars are
passionately taking the art forward. Faruk who is pursuing
his college education is keen on giving a new spin to the
art. As a result, you can see some heart shaped wind chimes,
a xylophone made of bells and even a few fauna inspired bell
pieces. And Lacquer Works on wooden utensils. Continue to
Hodka. Lunch at Shaam E Sarhad and post lunch visit Dhordo
for Sunset at White Rann. Return to Hodka for Dinner and
cultural evening. Stay at Shaam E Sarhad OR Rann Utsav Tent
City OR White Rann Resort
Day 3: Bhuj -
Mandvi
Early breakfast at Shaam E Sarhad - Village Walk in Hodka
for Halepotra Community engaged in leather crafts making
walled and purses, continue to Khavda to see pottery works,
Karo Dungar for Dattatrey Temple and India Bridge for the
last civilian point between Indo - Pak Border. Proceed to
Mandvi - Post Lunch relax and have fun on a private beach
camp.Day 4: Mandvi -
Jamnagar
Breakfast at Beach Camp later visit Vijay Vilas Palace and
Mandvi Town - Mandvi is known for its 400 year old ship
building centre. The local carpenters still make ocean going
Dhows in much the same way that their ancestors had done a
century ago. One can go and visit the men at work, shaping
the great vessels with hand tools and coaxing the seasoned
timber into shape. The carrying capacity of these boats can
vary from 250 tons to 1000 tons. The predecessors of these
very same ships had roamed the Indian Ocean and made Kutch a
maritime power. Handmade models of these Dhows can also be
procured from local artisans. Continue to Jamnagar – Stay in
Jamnagar. |
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Day 5: Jamnagar -
Dwarka
Today after breakfast proceed to Dwarka. Visit Nageshwar
Jyotirling { Nageshwar was believed to be known as 'Darukavana',
which is an ancient epic name of a forest in India. Below
are two well-known legends attached to this mystical temple:
According to the first legend, 'Balakhilyas', a group of
dwarf sages worshipped Lord Shiva in Darukavana for long a
time. To test their devotion and patience, Shiva came to
them as a nude ascetic wearing only nagas [serpants] on his
body. Wives of sages got attracted to the saint and went
after him, leaving their husbands behind. Sages got very
disturbed and outraged by this. They lost their patience and
cursed the ascetic to lose his linga [one of the limited
meanings is Phallus, but it has a deeper theistic
symbolism]. Shiva linga fell on the earth and the whole
world trembled. Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu came to Lord
Shiva, requesting him to save the earth from destruction and
take back his linga. Shiva consoled them and took back his
linga. Lord Shiva promised his divine presence in Darukavana
as Jyotirling forever.}. Later visit Beyt Dwarka { Beyt
Dwarka, also known as Beyt Shankhodhar, is a small island
and was the main port in the region before the development
of Okha. It offers opportunities to spot dolphins, marine
excursions, camping and picnicking. Most of the
archaeological ruins excavated here and religious
manuscripts correspond with Beyt Dwarka as the original
abode of Lord Krishna. In order to get there from Dwarka,
one might need to first get to Okha port jetty (32 km), by
either rail or road and then take a ferry or small boat } On
way to Dwarka visit Rukmani Temple and further drive to
hotel. Lunch on your own, Later visit Gomti Ghat is situated
at the mouth of the river. A bath in these waters is
believed to purge the soul. The solemnity of this belief
contrasts with the lively atmosphere of boys jumping into
the waves and turning somersaults as people photograph them.
Proceed to Dwarkadish Temple - also called Jagat Mandir,
located in the heart of Dwarka, is a Vaishnav temple. The
temple is also the location of Dwarka Pith, also called
Sharada Math/Peeth and "western peeth". One of the four
peeths established by Adi Shankaracharya. It was built by
Raja Jagat Singh Rathore, hence it is called Jagat Mandir.
It is conjectured that this temple location is 2,500 years
old and is where Krishna built his city and a temple.
However, the existing temple is dated to the 16th
century).It is a five-storied edifice built over 72 pillars
(a sandstone temple with 60 pillars is also mentioned. The
temple spire rises to a height of 78 meters (256 ft), and a
very large flag with symbols of the sun and moon is hoisted
on it. The temple layout consists of a garbhagrah The main
deity deified in the sanctum is of Dwarkadish, which is
known as the Trivikrama form of Vishnu and is depicted with
four arms. Attend evening aarti at Dwarkadish Temple.
Evening free. Dinner on your own. Stay at Hotel.
Day 6: Dwarka -
Somnath
Early morning attend morning aarti at Dwarkadish Temple
later after breakfast leave for Somnath enroute visit to
Porbander Birth Place of Mahatma Gandhi, Sudamapuri and
Bharat Mata Temple, later proceed to Somnath Visit Somnath
Temple - is first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlings of
India. It has a strategic location on the western coast of
India. Ancient Indian traditions maintain a close
relationship of Somnath with release of Chandra (Moon God)
from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati. Moon
was married to Twenty-Seven daughters of Daksha. However, he
favored Rohini and neglected other queens. The aggrieved
Daksha cursed Moon and the Moon lost power of light. With
the advice of Prajapita Brahma, Moon arrived at the Prabhas
Teerth and worshipped Bhagvan Shiva. Pleased with the great
penance and devotion of Moon, Bhagvan Shiva blessed him and
relieved him from the curse of darkness. Pauranic traditions
maintain that Moon had built a golden temple, followed by a
silver temple by Ravana, Bhagvan Shree Krishna is believed
to have built Somnath temple with Sandalwood. Attend evening
aarti; see the sound and light show at Somnath Temple
premises, Dinner on your own. Overnight at Hotel in Somnath.
Day 7: Somnath -
Gir
Today early morning attend Mangla aarti at Somnath Temple,
Later visit Bhalka Teerth on the site where Krishna is said
to have been mistakenly shot in the foot. Nearby is
Dehotsarg, where he succumbed to his mortal wound. The
temple at Bhalka Tirth is known as Mahaprabhuji's Bethak,
and a tulsi tree has been planted in Lord Krishna's memory.
At the Dehotsarg Tirth, in the 9th century AD Shri
Vallabhacharya gave discourses on Shrimad Bhagvat Gita for
seven days, as well as the revered Gita Mandir, which has
eighteen marble pillars with a chapter from the Bhagvat Gita
inscribed on each one. The temple also contains a beautiful
tribhangi idol of Lord Krishna playing his flute. Proceed to
Gir National Park, Lunch at Gir Resort prebooked., Enjoy the
afternoon game drive by open Gypsys in Gir National Park. to
spot Asiatic Lions, Leopards, Spotted Deers, Peacocks, and
various spicies of Birds, Evening free for nature walks for
birding. Overnight at Gir.
Day 8: Gir -
Ahmedabad
After breakfast proceed to Ahmedabad, enroute visit sights
such as Mohabbat Makbara, Edicts of Ashoka, Upperkot Fort in
Junagadh, Palaces of Gondal { Naulakha Palace & Vintage and
Classic Car Collection } Lunch can be prebooked at Orchard
Palace – Drive to Ahmedabad to catch evening flight / train
back home with sweet memories of Gujarat. For more details and cost of the Gujarat
Vibrant Gujarat Tour (Kutch & Saurashtra Tour) please send us your
Query ! |
