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India’s External Engagement a
Whopping 500 Billion
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07. TRAVEL |
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Gujarat,
A Celebration of Life |
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In a landscape marked
by marshes and desert, its brightly costumed people have added colour.
Not to be missed are the beaches and ancient temples. And the Navratri
Festival, which transforms the entire state into one large fairground. |
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If there is
one state where you can see India in all its colours,
it’s vibrant Gujarat. Gujarati women traditionally
deck themselves in bright ghagras (skirts) and cholis(blouses),
the men sport colourful waistcoats. There are three distinct
regions: the industrial mainland, the Saurashtra peninsula
and magical Kutch –part desert, part marsh.
The Gujaratis are known the world over for their business
acumen. This has made Gujarat one of India’s leading
industrial states. It’s investor-friendly with a
sound infrastructure. Among its natural treasures, Gujarat
counts the Asiatic Lion, being the last natural habitat
of this majestic beast.
AHMEDABAD
Gujarat’s capital is Gandhinagar, but its premier
city is Ahmedabad, twentyfive kilometers away and a former
capital. A textile center since the fifteenth century,
it was once called the ‘Manchester of the East’.
Ahmedabad’s Old City is maze of lanes, pols(residential
areas designed by large gateways), temples, mosques and
subterranean step wells (called vavs). The Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation organizes Heritage Walking Tours here. The
Siddi Sayyad Mosque is renowned for its intricate stone
latticework. Not to be missed are the Hatheesing temple
and Dada Harir Vav, a fine step well specimen. The Sabarmati
Ashram used to be the home of Mahatma Gandhi, and has
a son et lumiere.
NAVRATRI – THE WORLD’S
LONGEST DANCE FESTIVAL
Gujarat is replete with vibrant festivals. Most energetic
of these is Navratri, or ‘Nine Nights’, held
around October –November. The festival, dedicated
to the Divine Mother Goddess, is held all over India,
but in Gujarat it reaches a pitch unseen elsewhere. For
nine nights in a row, sleep takes a backseat as millions
of Gujaratis immerse themselves in a celebration and dance.
Men, women and children dance in the streets through the
night.
Religious songs—bhajans and garbas—are sung
in praise of the goddess beside a lamp placed in an earthen
pot, the garbo. The magical garba is danced by women only,
while in raas everyone joins in. Dandiya raas is the most
entrancing version, where men and women strike lacquered
batons, giving the dance its distinctive tempo.
Bhavai or folk drama is another crowd-puller during Navratri.
The dance costumes themselves are eye-catching –
made from exquisite patola and bandhini fabrics.
As a gesture of warmth and hospitality, home stay with
Gujarati families is an added attraction. The Tourism
Corporation of Gujarat has worked out a comprehensive
Navratri package to highlight the culture, cuisine, costumes
and crafts of the state. Kishore Rao D., M.D., Tourism
Corporation of Gujarat says, ‘Navratri is going to
be a global event. The Chief Minister has sent over fifty-two
lakh emails inviting people from all over the world to
visit Gujarat during Navratri.’
A special Integrated Circuit has
been planned for the Navratri season, involving
key places of cultural and
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archaeological
significance including
Ahmedabad, Adalaj, Sun Temple
(Modhera), Patan, Dholavira, Porbandar, Somnath, Palitana
and Lothal. Similarly, a Temple Circuit has been devised
, including Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Dwaraka, Porbandar, Somnath,
Ahmedpur-Mandvi, Sasan Gir, Junagadh, Palitana and Bhavnagar.
“ If there is one state where you can see India in
all its colours, it’s vibrant Gujarat.”
HERITAGE SIGHTS
Built by Rudabai in 1499, Gujarat’s
finest step well is Adalaj Vav, near Ahmedabad.
Patan was the capital of Gujarat between the eighth and
fifteenth centuries. It is noted for the eleventh century
Rani ni Vav , one of the largest vavs, with around 800
sculptures. Home of the famous patola silks, this beautiful
old town boasts Jain Temples and carved wooden houses.
Ancient Lothal (‘Mound of the Dead’) was once
a flourishing port trading with Egypt, Mesapotamia and
Persia. At Dholavira extensive remains of a city over
3000 years old have been discovered. Situated in the Rann
of Kutch, Dholavira along with Lothal, is the largest
known Indus Valley site in India.
Balasinor, where a large concentration of dinosaur fossils
has been found, will be the site of an international-standard
Dinosaur Theme Park.
MAGICAL MYSTICAL TEMPLE
TOUR
Gujarat offers some of the most stunning examples of Indian
temple architecture. The Somnath Temple and the Jain Temples
of Palitana are must-sees. Other temples include Ambaji,
Dakor and Dwarka Temples.
But perhaps the most spectacular is the Sun Temple at
Modhera. The sheer profusion of figures, religious and
erotic, may leave you breathless.
Built in 1026, the position of the temple, on a mound
facing East, allows the rising sun on equinoxes to shine
straight through the sabhamandapa (pillared entrance hall)
into the sacred shrine of the sun god. In a fitting tribute
to this breathtaking monument, every winter a festival
of classical dances is held here.
Located by the Arabian Sea, sacred Dwarka is an important
pilgrimage for Lord Krishna;s devotees. Its five-storeyed
temple is supported on sixty columns and is crowned by
a soaring spire.
Palitana is known for an extraordinary cluster of 863
Jain Temples, which crown of twin summits of Shatrunjaya
Hill here.
Next to the Arabian Sea, the Somnath Temple is one of
the twelve most sacred Shiva shrines in India, destroyed
and rebuilt several times. After hearing of its legendary
wealth, Mahmud of Ghazni plundered it in 1026. The current
Temple was built in 1950.
An ancient fortified city rich in legend, Junagadh is
noted for Uparkot Fort, Ashokan rock edicts, Chorwad |
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Beach,
Mahabat Maqbara and the haunting Temples of Girnar.
BUDDHIST CIRCUITS
Gujarat has little explored Buddist destinations too. Besides
the rock edicts at Junagadh, there are around forty Buddist
cave at Teleja in Bhavnagar, a former haunt of monks. Even a
sanctified Buddhs cave under a cascade has been found. There’s
much else besides.
THE ROYAL ORIENT
For a royal experience, take the luxurious Royal Orient, as
its winds its way through Rajasthan and Gujarat. A quaint locomotive
that pulls thirteen luxury coaches, its every details is attended
to, from the exquisite tapestry down to the brass screws. The
trip includes visits to Gujarat’s scintillating beaches
and safari trip into lion city.
NATURE
Once ranging the length and breath of India, the lion is now
confined to Sasan Gir National Park, its only natural habitat
outside Africa.
The Little Rann of Kutch Sanctuary is an expanse of salt flats
and grassland. The salt crystal is the sand glitter magically
in the daytime, while at night they cover the landscape in a
blue haze. During the monsoons, when the rivers and the sea
flood this region, saltwater marshes are created, the patches
of high ground forming grassy islands called bets. Four thousand
eight hundred of this curious ecosystem forms the wildlife sanctuary,
one of the last refuges of the Asiatic wild ass. The sanctuary
also boasts a rich avifauna including flamingoes, demoiselle
cranes and pelicans, which visit the Rann in winter.
Nal Sarovar Sanctuary, based around Lake Nal, is one of the
largest bird sanctuaries in India. It hosts over 250 species
of birds, including flamingoes, demoiselle cranes, ibis, etc.
BEACHES
Gujarat has 1600-kilometre long coastline replete with fine
beaches. Some of the best beaches are at port town of Ahmedpur-Mandvi
providing great swimming and even camel and horse rides along
the shore. South of Dwarka, the picturesque port of Porbandar
(birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi) has nice beaches. Gujarat’s
coast also has the beautiful union territories of Daman and
Diu, great for coastal holidays. Bet Dwarka, Somnath, Veraval,
Madhavpur and Gopnath are just some of the other beaches.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Navratri may be Gujarat’s biggest bash but it’s not
the only one. The Kite Festival (14 January) is ever popular.
Kutch Utsav (February – March) showcases the art and the
culture of the region. Dangs Darbar (March-April) is a popular
tribal fair held before Holi. The Tarnetar Fair (August –
September) is one of Gujarat’s most colourful fairs. People
in the traditional garb can be seen holding large colourful
umbrella in this matchmaking fair.
CUISINE
Gujarat has a vegetarian but varied cuisine. In India’s
culinary tradition there are six tastes – sweet,sour,salty,
bitter, pungent and bland. The Gujarati thali (platter) combines
all six tastes in a single meal. The signature Gujarati dish
is the healthy kadhi, gravy of gramflour and yoghurt, with fried
gramflour dumplings dropped in. Even an ordinary meal is embellished
with an array of pickles, chutneys and salads.
The 2001 Bhuj earthquake dealt heavy blow to Gujarat. Many people
lost their homes and loved ones. Heritage was damaged too. It
is to the credit of the enterprising Gujaratis that they managed
to bounce back. The Tourism Corporation is hopeful that Gujarat
will emerge as a fresh alternative to the nearby states of Goa
and Rajasthan, where saturation has occurred. To boost tourism,
emphasis will be laid on infrastructure and wayside amenities.
Lots of student packages have been devised to educate the young
about the heritage. The Tourism Corporation also plans to tap
the large and prosperous Gujarati diaspora. The excitement is
only beginning. |
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