Around Ahmedabad!

Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Just 65 kms. Southwest of Ahmedabad, is the delightful bird sanctuary of Nalsarovar nestling around the Nal Lake, extending over 11,500 hectares. Established in 1969 A.D., it is known to harbour over 250 species of wetland birds. Nalsarovar sees winter migrants from the north that includes Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons.

A pair of binoculars and a person well -versed in the local bird life will surely make it one of your best outings. Visitors are ferried in small boats to experience a sunrise or sunset while gliding gently through the silent waters. The nearest airport and railway station are at Ahmedabad, 65 kms. away. Nalsarovar can be easily accessed from Ahmedabad by state and private buses.

Lothal
Located 87 kms from Ahmedabad, is a place of tremendous archaelogical significance. Excavations have uncovered a planned city of Harappan civilisation of the 2nd millennium B.C. with an intricate underground drainage system. An on site museum displays beads, bangles, painted bowls, goblets, jars, terra-cotta toys and ivory and shell objects which were unearthed during the excavations. Lothal would have been a very important port on the subcontinent, indicated by a dockyard revealed in excavations at Lothal. It also shows a very high degree of town planning, like other sites in the Indus valley. An unusual discovery was made here of two bodies found in a single grave. At least three such instances show that double burial was a common feature among the people who lived in Lothal. The people also appear to have worshipped fire and believed in some from of animal sacrifice as is apparent from the presence of sacrificial altars.

Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, named after the Father of the Nation, is the capital city of Gujarat. Built on the river Sabarmati it is just 32 kms away from Ahmedabad. In 1960 when the old Bombay state was partitioned into Maharashtra and Gujarat, the city of Bombay went to Maharashtra. It was then decided to construct a new capital for Gujarat. Thus came into being Gandhinagar, the second planned city in India after Chandigarh. It presents a spacious, well designed look of an architecturally integrated city. It has 30 sectors with each sector having its own shopping, health, community center and housing colonies. Extensive planting of trees and large recreational areas along the river gives the city a fresh, green garden city atmosphere. The famous temple of Swaminarayan is also built in Gandhinagar.

Akshardham
Akshardham is a unique cultural complex built in Gandhinagar in memory of Lord Swaminarayan. Inspired by H. D. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Akshardham is a miracle worked by the service and devotion of thousands of volunteers. It is an intricately carved, majestic monument of 6000 tons of pink sand stone. The entire monument was built without the use of steel. Besides a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan and his holy relics, there are three exhibitions on Indian Culture with light and sound shows, a multimedia show and an animatronic show. The wisdom of the Vedas, the epics, the Puranas is depicted on a crowded canvas by the exhibition. The visitor comes face to face with personages who have made this land what it is. It is a perfect mix of modernity and ancient values. Apart from Lord Ram going in search of his kidnapped wife, the visitor can see Shravan, the dutiful son, the Pandavas losing the game of dice in the Hastinapur palace, etc. Besides the visitors can see Sabari's long wait for Ram and Draupadi's humiliation in the Kauravasabha. The Hall of Harmony projects world religious side by side. The monument is ringed by aparikrama containing 365 stone pillars. Nearest airport is located at Ahmedabad. Nearest railway stations are at Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat. Games, rides and food refreshments are other attractions of Akshardham.

Shamlaji
One of the principal Vaishnava shrines in Gujarat, it is situated 126 km from Ahmedabad

Ambaji
Ambaji (Banaskantha district) is the seat of Ambe Mata, the mother goddess. Hers is a household name in the state. People pay homage to her during Navratri in song and dance. Navratri in Gujarat is comparable to the worship of Saraswati in Bengal. Ambe Mata is the Adya Shakti- the primordial female power the mother goddess. The Ambaji temple which is situated on the Arasur hill in the Aravali Range does not contain any idol. It has only a yantra engraved in a niche. The shrine is made of marble. Large number of devotees visit the shrine during the Purnima fairs held on the full moon day of Kartik, Chaitra, Bhadrapad and also Navratri is celebrated on a grand scale here. Ambaji is one of the 64 Shakti Piths. The Shakti Piths have been established at those places where the pieces of Sati's body fell. It came about this way. Shiv's father-in-law Daksha Prajapati felt insulted when the son-in-law did not stand up to receive him. In order to slight him he organized ayagna and did not invite Shiv. Sati went to the yagna uninvited. She too felt slighted when people failed to take note of her presence. According to Puranas she fell into the sacrificial fire. Shiv picked up her body and rushed about in great grief. Vishnu had to intervene. He cut up the body with his discus, so that Shiv may regain his composure. According to tradition one of the pieces fell at Ambaji. A short distance from Ambaji is the Gabbar Hill. It is said that the goddess revealed herself on the Hill and left her footprints.

The nearest airport is located at Ahmedabad approximately 179 kms. from Ambaji. The nearest railhead to is Palanpur located 60 kms. by road from Ambaji. Palanpur is 144 kms. by rail from Ahmedabad. Ambaji is 179 kms. by road from Ahmedabad.

Mehsana (Rani ki Vav)
Located at Mehsana, Raniki Vav believed to have been constructed by Udayamati, the queen of Bhimdeva I (1022-63 AD) and the mother of Karnadeva the Queen's step-well, is the most magnificent step-well in Gujarat. It has a deep octagonal shaft, wide flights of steps, and exquisite figures and foliate designs etched into dark gray stone wall and pillars. The well shaft has been decorated by a bevy of voluptuous and shapely maidens. Several sun motifs adorn the well shaft, dating from the era of pre-Hindu sun worship, but these are far outnumbered by sculptures of Vishnu and his various avatars, or incarnations. Look out for elephant-headed Ganesh figures and richly carved sculptures of the mother-goddess. Becharaji is an another important seat of Mother Goddess in Mehasana district. Hindu devotees especially childless women visit the temple.