Rann Utsav - All you want to know

Rann Utsav welcomes you

Every year nature presents a clean white crisp canvas and invites the artists to use their wild imagination to colour it in the most vibrant shades. The canvas is the vast expanse of the Great White Rann of Kutch and the artists, us!

Rann Utsav is an amalgamation of everything cultural, energetic, rustic and charming. A festival that celebrates life and colour. People throng the Rann of Kutch in large numbers each year when the monsoons have receded leaving behind a crusty layer of salt covering the entire land of Rann. The salt is so pure and white that it glistens in the moonlight. A full moon night experience at the Rann gives an illusion of one being inside a snow globe. Magical, to say the least.

When does the Utsav happen?

Just when the Weather Gods bless the land of the dry Rann with an abundance of water to let the salt come up and form a crust and just when the Sun God decides to be kinder to the open land. In other words, the time is post-monsoons and through the entire winter season. The Utsav starts near Diwali time in October and is on till winters last i.e., February of the subsequent year.

What is the hullabaloo all about?

A travel experience like none other! Staying in a tent in a temporarily created village. Experiencing the essence of Gujarat in just a couple of days. A tent stay yet luxurious. A complete holiday experience with adventure, luxury, cuisine, shopping, sightseeing; all aspects are taken care of. Authentic flavours of Gujarat and from other parts of the country too prepared by chefs with a five-star experience. Folk dances and arts keep you enthralled. And when you are just too tired to walk back to your tent, a buggy ride through your make-believe village to your little hut/tent.

Need we add more?

How long must one stay there?

A two-night stay is definitely a must to be able to explore the regalia that Rann Utsav is. After these two fun-filled enriching days, you might get tempted to extend your stay by a couple of days more. The days at Rann Utsav are busy, very busy with action all around, evenings are engaging and entertaining and the dusk enhances the magic of the white desert. A wholesome experience can only be had over a couple of days.

Dhamaal - The Siddi Tribal dance

What can one do at the Rann Utsav?

1. First and most cherishable is the stay in a tent, rather a tent city. You have a neighbourhood which also stays in tents, now is that not exciting enough? Tents that are equipped with all the luxuries of a hotel room, beds, electricity, air-conditioning, tea-coffee maker, amenities and a spic n span washroom too.

2. Gujarat is known for its various arts and crafts. Visit the craft bazaar and interact with the artisans directly. Pick what fancies you. Home decor, accessories, home furnishings and pottery are among the most popular products here.

3. Utsav, mela and fair are synonymous with joyrides. Here too there are many rides available - big or small, fast or slow, high or low, take your pick and enjoy the ride. Past Rann Utsavs have seen para-sailing, ziplining as popular activities.

4. Gujarati cuisine is very popular world over. Who doesn’t prefer carrying methi theplas for a road trip? Indulge in the authentic Kutchi flavours cooked in pure desi ghee with the most aromatic freshly-grounded spices. A Gujarati thali is a must-have when at the Rann Utsav.

5. Close to the venue of Rann Utsav are the culturally rich and very famous villages of the Banni Grasslands. Visit these villages during the day and interact with the villagers who also are skilled herdsmen (goats, sheep, cows, buffaloes, camels too) and craftsmen and create wonders in needlework, lacquer, wood, leather etc. Meet the villagers and visit their workshops, learn a stitch to two too! And do not forget to taste the fresh and sweet Mavo at Bhirandiyara and Kutchi dabeli along the way.

6. Kutch must be visited during the full-moon phase though other days too are equally enchanting. But the charm of a full moon night in the white desert definitely stands out. The snow globe experience as you stand on the crusty white salty earth of the Rann and are engulfed by the pearly white light of the moon reflected by the shining salt crystals. This is the most serene and surreal experience that one can get at the Rann Utsav.

7. Mention of the desert brings the thought of camels instantly, they are in an eternal relationship with each other. Camels can navigate large expanses of deserts with ease, be it the sandy desert of The Thar or the salt-crust desert of the Rann of Kutch, camels can be seen loitering around on the deserts, sometimes taking a passenger for a joyride and sometimes just like that without any purpose.

8. Gujarat holds the distinction of having the longest dance festival in the world - Dandiya / Garba lasts full 10 days! There are other dance forms too from Gujarat that are famous for their history and style. Siddi tribe from the jungles of Sasan Gir perform a vitality-infusing Dhamaal dance, do not miss their live performance. They originally hail from Africa, but have settled in Gujarat for long.

What’s more, you also get a sightseeing tour of other attractions of Kutch on the last day of your stay at The Rann Utsav. While you carry on with an engaging tour which takes you to the villages, the local artisans’ homes, the many museums and other attractions, do not forget to get down from your ride and take a picture at the Tropic of Cancer which cuts across the road that connects Dhordo to Bhuj. There is a magnetic field too along the way where if left in neutral, the car moves slightly backwards.

The bazaar at the Utsav

How to reach?

Bhuj is your nearest railway station as well as the airport. If you are booked to stay at the Rann Utsav, their pickup buses will meet you outside the railway station / airport. Similarly, you will also get a drop to the railway station / airport on the day you check-out.

Rann Utsav can easily be called a tour of all of cultural Gujarat in just a couple of days. For other destinations, monuments, wildlife parks, pilgrimages and other attractions though one needs to take a tour of the state. There is so much that one can see and explore in Gujarat. Truly a vibrant state.

Patan and Modhera - A day excursion

Ahmedabad - visited, revisited, explored, seen, experienced, said the one who travels often to this World Heritage City. Suggest someplace new, please. “How about a walk through chapters of history, stanzas of exquisite carvings, paragraphs of architectural marvels, and tattered dog-eared papers of thousands of years ago?”, suggested another.

And off we embark on this one-of-a-kind excursion which takes you to two of the most beautiful architectural wonders from thousands of years ago, one of these wonders was obscurely hidden from the world and buried under the silt of the now extinct Saraswati river and the other is a creation that can amuse a common man and a scientist alike. I am taking you to Modhera and Patan today. Let’s go!

A hearty breakfast is a must before you embark on this day-long excursion. Leave early so that you get leisurely time at both these monuments and yet return to Ahmedabad in time for your evening tea.

First, Patan: The world-famous Patola weave haven

Patan is on the World map for two major reasons - one, the GI tagged Patola weave sarees are from this small village of weavers, and second, the World Heritage site of Rani Ki Vav is located here. The same monument that has marked its presence on a hundred rupee note too.

Step wells are the motels of yore. Tired weary travellers would rest here where there was an abundance of fresh drinking water, food, and a recharging station for their e-vehicles (alright, not exactly an ‘e’ vehicle but green and sustainable nonetheless- the horses, camels and the likes). Step wells were also the cafés where kitty parties were organised, well in a way. Women would meet up at step wells on the pretext of ‘fetching a pail of water’ and unlike Jack n Jill, they did not fall down but sat down to have those saas-bahu chats. Am assuming that saas-bahu matters must be as old as time immemorial.

Imaginations galore! Step wells were perfect examples of rainwater harvesting, community service, and a civilisation thriving in harmony. 

UNESCO World Heritage monument of Rani Ki Vav - Built in the memory of 11th-century Chalukya King Bhima-I by his loving consort Rani Udyamati, is adorned with beautifully carved relief sculptures of Gods and Goddesses, and other articles of everyday life of those times. The Vav unexpectedly rises in front of your eyes as you search for it in the beautifully manicured surrounding gardens. Silted over and hidden from the world, this majestic stepwell has been painstakingly, one brushstroke at a time, revealed and brought to us by The Archaeological Survey of India. The ASI maintains the pristine beauty of the monument with utmost care. Unlike the usual step wells, Rani Ki Vav has just one facade that rises or rather dips down majestically in front of your awed eyes! From atop the well, you can have a complete view of the monument, take innumerable pictures and indeed exclaim in amazement. A closer look reveals the exquisitely carved sculptures, those of Gods and Goddesses and of other celestial beings. These sculptures symbolise water and fertility. Many apsaras and nagakanyas adorn the inner walls and vertical panels of the well. Other celestial beings like the Digpalas (custodians of the directions), asuras, yoginis, and other birds and animals are also beautifully depicted on the walls. Another major attraction is the depiction of Lord Vishnu (the water God) in three niches of the well. 

One can only marvel and wonder at the scientific knowledge of the masons and architects of those times who brought this beautiful creation to life, even leaving their signatures here and there in the form of mason’s marks. Wooden pegs that held the rock bricks together, supporting pillars that gave strength to the structure and prevented it from caving in, are all examples of ancient architectural knowledge.

Each sculpture that one sees inside the well has a certain explanation and story to it which of course should be left for the guide to share when you physically visit the monument. One particular pattern that one can not miss is the geometrical designs on the walls of the well that have proudly taken a spot on the famous Patola sarees. The unmissable patterns are intricate lattices of Swastikas, Triangles, Rectangles, and other geometrically symmetrical patterns.

A little bit about Patola :

The world-famous weave takes a lot of planning and calculations to be put together. First and foremost is to prepare the “blueprint” of the pattern. Blueprint - because we are creating an exceptional marvel in each saree and it requires as thorough a planning as is required while creating a skyscraper maybe! The thread then is dyed as per the pattern; measured, marked, dyed to accuracy so that the colours fall corresponding to their respective places. Phew! So much of an effort and we bargain for a discount! One double-ikkat Patola takes anything between 3-9 months to complete and no two Patolas are alike. Now there are only a handful of weavers who are carrying on with this legacy, the younger generation is not motivated enough to join the family tradition of creating these Patola weaves.

Our second attraction - The Sun Temple at Modhera.

Older than the other famous cousin, Sun Temple of Konark, Modhera precedes Konark by around a hundred and twenty-five years. The temple comprises three components- a Gudhamandapa (prayer hall), a Sabhamandapa (assembly hall), and a Kund (reservoir). The wonder though lies in the fact that the Tropic of Cancer bisects the Temple complex (yes all three components) in equal halves, and during the equinoxes, the rays of the rising sun fall straight where once the deity graced a throne, passing through yes! you guessed it right - all three components again.

The temple from the Solanki dynasty era was built around the time when the forces and elements of nature took the center stage as Gods and Goddesses. Air, water, fire, earth, sky were venerated and worshipped. The temple complex exudes a certain peace and charm and radiates certain energy which would leave you calm and composed and would serve as the biggest de-stressor. 

As one crosses over the main gates of the complex and walks towards the temple, the first marvel to greet is the Kund, also known as the Ramakund. Served as a purifying and cleansing water body for the weary visitors who undertook days or weeks-long journeys to come here, the Kund also has 108 small and big temples/shrines. The rectangular reservoir has comfortable steps that lead one down to the water level and are built in such a pattern that the bathers get privacy too.

Next is the Sabhamandapa, adorned with beautifully carved pillars and walls, with twelve Adityas all around - the twelve versions of the Sun, each representing a month of the calendar. Scenes of Mahabharata can also be seen carved on a few pillars. 

An expert tip: Do take a selfie with the ceiling of the Mandapa, that comes out exceptionally well.

The most magical of the three components of the temple is the Gudhamandapa, the throne of the deity. Though now, the spot where God once presided is empty, the straight piercing rays of the Sun during the equinoxes penetrates the three components and brightly illuminates not just the spot but the entire shrine. This isn’t all to marvel at, hold the compass on your phone and be equally amused. The tropic of cancer passes through the temple and bisects the whole complex in two equal halves. 

The Gudhamandapa, like the other sections, is equally beautiful with carvings on its pillars and walls. The pillars are covered with intricately carved statues of men and women, one particularly noticeable is that of a mother holding a baby in her arms.

After the Gudhamandapa, step out to take a leisurely walk around the temple, marveling at and clicking pictures of the carvings on the outer walls of the temple. Surya (Sun God) is shown in many different avatars, dancers, apsaras, animals and birds and many other interesting sculptures are sure to hold your attention for long.

The Archaeological Survey of India ensures that these monuments are immaculately preserved and taken care of. Click to your heart’s content as they generously allow the tourists to take as many pictures as they might want. The only request: be a responsible tourist.

Time for us to head back to Ahmedabad after a drink of cool and refreshingly clean water. Though there are a few eating joints along the road, we recommend you carry a packed lunch with you. 

An expert tip: A visit to a place like Modhera and Patan must not be forgotten with time, it should be chronicled in a journal with photos and illustrations.

Tea at one of the on-the-way places or your hotel at Ahmedabad - the choice is yours. Our promise: this is one excursion that you would want to take over and over again. Cherish the day’s experience till we come back with yet another account of yet another interesting outing.

Till then, happy holidaying!

Concealed Underground library - Largest in Asia

Villages after villages blur past as we make way to the temple of the Kuldevi of the Bhati Rajputs - Shri Bhadariya Rai Mata Ji. The temple sees thousands of visitors each day, all the year-round. Newly wedded couples who come to seek blessings from the Goddess for a blissful matrimonial life can be seen in large numbers. In the middle of the Thar, this temple and its surroundings are truly an Oasis of relief, respite, faith, love and knowledge.

A newly wedded couple seeking the blessings of Shri Bhadariya Rai Mata ji

Knowledge- We are talking about a library that houses more than 900,000 books, and is sixteen feet under the ground, and is the largest library in Asia! Owing to its design and construction, with no air-conditioning inside, the library remains significantly cooler than the environs outside. The holding capacity of the library is an astounding 5000 people at the same time!

Brief History

Sant Shri Harivansh Singh Nirmal, fondly known as Nirmal Baba or Bhadariya Maharaj, came to this small village in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan some seven-eight decades ago. Little is known about him and his life prior to his coming to Bhadariya Ji. He was an avid reader and was fond of collecting books. He believed that the greatest God / Goddess of all is “Knowledge” and with that thought in mind, he envisioned a library that would house every printed book on every research-worthy subject. And thus was born the idea of creating this library. 

Another notable contribution of Nirmal Baba is the Gaushala (cowshed) at Bhadariya Ji. Babaji, a believer of Gau-seva would leave no stone unturned to save the indigenous Indian Cow from the abattoirs and butcheries across the then porous international border. He even bought these cows from the tribals who felt they could make more money by selling the cows to those who found a dead cow more useful than a living one. Thus came the gaushala into existence. From those few cows now the Gaushala is spread over 1 lakh bighas (1 bigha in Rajasthan equals 27,225 sq ft) of land. Run on the donations received from devotees, the Gaushala tends to more than 45,000 bovines. And yes, this is one of the largest Gaushalas in the country.

The library

Spread over acres and acres of land, oops(!) correction, spread under acres and acres of land, the access to the library is through a humble but wide stairway. Once inside, you are greeted by rows and rows of neatly arranged books in glass-covered cabinets, 562 to be precise. The shelves reach up to the ceiling, with the top ones still empty and awaiting the arrival of more books. Maharaj ji’s ambition was to have a copy of every printed book on every subject here in this library. The library is a treasure trove for book lovers, bibliophiles and research scholars. Rare manuscripts and scrolls are also painstakingly preserved and given a place of their own. The treasure here holds books on varied subjects including literature in many languages, science, history, politics, world religions (literature and religious books of 7 out of a total of 11 major religions of the world), geography, philosophy and even dictionaries and atlases. One can even find the original unedited copies of the holy books here. The ones we buy from the market are usually translations and concise copies. 

There is a restoration room as well, where the book-doctors mend and tape the tatters and tears if any and re-write where an ageing book requires a little assistance with the blurred words. They come in old and worn-out and leave fresh, crisp and securely bound :)

Comfortable and easy to navigate and explore, the library as I mentioned earlier, remains cool all through the year. Long corridors have huge mirror walls at the ends, giving an illusion of them being infinitely never-ending.

How to reach

By road, it takes barely an hour and a half to reach Bhadariya from Jaisalmer (79 km). Jodhpur too isn’t very far, at just around 220 km (close to 3 hours). And both these cities are well connected by air, rail and roads.

Once here

We began with Bhadariya Rai Mata Ji’s Darshan. Next, we visited the temple dedicated to Nirmal Baba and the museum that gives a glimpse into his personal life through carefully preserved articles and belongings of Maharaj Ji. Besides his personal articles of daily use, the museum also has his collection of currency (coins and currency notes) and stamps. 

Done with the temples and the museum, we returned to the office of the trust near the main entrance. A lassi Prasad at the office is a must-have. Keep the appetite for a tall glass! Having given permission by the office, we were escorted by one of the attendants into the library. We spent a leisurely time there scanning through shelves upon shelves of the invaluable treasure of knowledge. Our guide shared anecdotes and further information about Maharaj Ji with us while patiently taking us around the library.

When planning a visit

The library is yet to be formally inaugurated and is also awaiting the addition of very many books hence visiting without prior permission might turn out to be a futile effort. It is suggested that you reach out to the temple trust under whose management the library falls, and seek an appointment before taking that journey through the picturesque golden landscapes of rural Rajasthan.  You may either drop an email to them or seek an appointment telephonically. The library sees an average of 60,000 scholars from around the globe each year.

A bibliophile’s paradise, a book lover’s utopia, and to all the others a wonder to be visited. Include a quick trip to Bhadariya Ji during your next quest of Rajasthan, and be mesmerised by another “Jaane Kya Dikh Jaaye” wonder!

Vadodara In A Day

The city that is believed to have been named after The Banyan Tree holds rich Art, Architecture, History and Culture in its cupped and caring hands. Vat-Vriksha, the Banyan Tree gave the name to the city and it came to be known as Baroda or Vadodara. The third-largest city in the state of Gujarat, perched on the banks of River Vishwamitri, is a very important economic hub with many large-scale industries having sprouted and flourished here. 

I take you on a “just-a-day” tour of this magnificent city. Though Vadodara can not be capsuled in just one day, I club the highlights together for those who are short on time. 

First, the architecture, history and art because all of this comes together in Vadodara as an all-in-one package! 

The Mesmerising Laxmi Vilas Palace

Start your day with a hearty breakfast and head straight to the Laxmi Vilas Palace. Rows of flowers- lilac-pink-orange, greens of the golf course and splendour of the Majestic Palace welcome the wide-eyed curious traveller in you. A short driveway later, the ticket counter would fall to your left. The ticket fee includes an audio guide service and you may choose the language that you are most comfortable in. The audio guide is thorough and detailed and easy to comprehend and goes at a slow pace allowing you ample time to savour the sights that delight your visual senses. 

The tour begins at the rear garden of the Palace, the vast expanses and the life-size statues that adorn this beautifully manicured Italian garden with its pretty water fountains are sure to hold your gaze for long. But just as you turn around to have a look at the palace, your jaw would drop with a gasp! The Palace is a magnificent Indo-Saracenic wonder which is the largest private home to be built in those times, an astounding four times the size of the Buckingham Palace. The fine architecture against the azure skies is a picture postcard that you would soon walk into. 

I am not giving details of the artefacts on display because 1. There are way too many for anyone to remember and 2. It kills the anticipation of visiting a museum. Click away to your heart’s content and just follow the location numbers that your audio guide takes you through. Once inside, you would be taken through chambers upon chambers filled with artefacts, weapons, paintings and portraits from the private collection of the erstwhile Maratha rulers of Vadodara, who still reside in a section of the Palace. There are paintings galore, weaponry section stashed with the finest of the swords and shields of the time, statues so lifelike that they might just wink at you and make you turn around for a second look and chandeliers so exquisite that you might get dizzy looking up marvelling at them! While the insides of the museum give you a glimpse of the opulence, eminence and glory of the Gaekwads of Baroda, the outdoors would keep you enthralled with piece after piece de resistance! The statues of beasts and wildlife placed all over the gardens and the Golf Course make for a very interesting around-the-palace tour. 

This is where the King’s throne was, this is where the Royalty assembled, here the musicians enthralled their audience and that’s where the dancers pirouetted, portraits of the British teachers who taught the young princes and princesses also adorn the walls of this hall that has seen many distinguished gatherings, we are inside the magnificent Durbar Hall. Adorned with Belgian stained glass windows that depict beautiful paintings, with a large Royal Regalia on the tiled floor, and busts of the various Maharajas who ruled over Vadodara displayed along the walls, this hall has witnessed many events and cultural shows where eminent musicians and artists performed.

As I said, the Palace is sure to hold you in awe. The audio guide tour will now guide you toward to facade again and this is where a masterpiece awaits your attention. This is a Venetian Ceramic Mosaic that is said to depict the joyous embrace of Lord Ram and Devi Sita after she emerged from the Agnipariksha. This work of art took 18 months to be meticulously and painstakingly put together. 

The tour of the Laxmi Vilas Palace ends here and one must return the audio guide back to the office where it was received from.

Rendezvous with Raja Ravi Varma at Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum

After having an all-engaging and fascinating tour of The Laxmi Niwas Palace museum, I was sure nothing else can now hold me in awe anymore; might hold my attention for a while, yes, but not leave me bewitched for sure. But oh, I was wrong, so wrong; for The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum can keep an art aficionado for hours in there with so many chambers filled with so many originals, be it the sculptures or the paintings. I feel this museum requires repeat visits to properly soak in all the treasure that it showcases.

This is where my eyes met an original Raja Ravi Varma for the first time. And painting after painting I kept stepping back to the times when these paintings were commissioned at the behest of Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Vadodara. There are the originals from Indian Mythology for which Raja Ravi Varma was known and then there are so many portraits of members of the Royal Family. The intricacy and detail in each painting is beyond anything that you might have seen elsewhere. 

Nal-Damyanti by Raja Ravi Varma, image sourced from Internet

This building was constructed as a school for the Maharaja’s children and had a tiny toy train too, which in its time ran on its specially fixed rails all across the vast compound that surrounds the museum building. The World’s smallest locomotive engine of this train can be seen just near the main entrance of the museum, carefully parked in a glass enclosure.

The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. Image source: Incredible India

This museum is a paradise for art connoisseurs. There are more than 30 original works of Raja Ravi Verma, besides other breathtaking paintings by other renowned artists. A treasure trove of marble and bronze statues, busts and exquisite vases grace the two floors here. Another artist whose remarkable work is displayed in abundance is the Italian artist Fellicci, who too was commissioned by the Maharaja for creating various art pieces that can now be seen in this museum. An Oriental gallery showcases ornate vases, exclusive toys and other artefacts from China and Japan. Photography is prohibited inside the museum complex.

All this intense museum hopping is sure to make one hungry, and a Gujarati thali would just be the saviour. 

Coming together of Art and Architecture in a garden - The Sayaji Bagh

A one day trip to Baroda has to be centred around the art and architecture of this beautiful city. Post lunch, I recommend you visit The Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery which is located within the 100 acres of the largest garden of western India - Sayaji Bagh! This architectural marvel is designed on the lines of London’s Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Reflection of Maharaja’s penchant for all things art can be seen here as well with artefacts related to Geology, Archaeology and Natural History displayed in the various halls, besides many other pieces of art from the personal collection of the Maharaja himself.

The evening can then be spent in the magnificent garden which houses more than 98 species of trees and also has a majestic floral clock.

The Floral Clock at Sayaji Bagh. Image source: VMC

A day well spent and leaving you longing for more - that’s an ideal day in Vadodara. Do not forget to pick up some lip-smacking farsaans and Gujarati snacks from here for munching on later and reminiscing your Baroda trip. I would ideally love to end a day like that with some Sev Usal and loads of Aamras!

The Marvel revisited - Statue of Unity after three years

The last article was written when this marvel of a tourist-destination-dream had just seen its fruition and opened its gates to one and all. I revisited the Statue of Unity now after three long, with one non-year in between due to the tiny havoc-wreaking being called Covid-19, years. The attraction, the magnetism, the charm has all grown multifold since I last visited The Statue of Unity. Now the Statue is not “just a statue” anymore but a full-fledged tourist destination with as many as 36 state-of-the-art attractions / activities in place. Everything is though nature and local centric and promotes nature in all its beautiful forms - be it the Wildlife Safari Park or Jungle Safari, Petting Zone, Cactus Garden, Valley of Flowers, Butterfly Park or just a serene cruise over the waters of Sardar Sarovar Dam. The local tribals have been employed and trained to run this ecosystem called Kevadia with unmatched efficiency.

What’s New

Let me take you through my experience of re-visiting SoU after three years.

Started as a day excursion option, but now Statue of Unity is easily a two-day if not three-day destination. An attraction suited to all age groups, young and old alike. Facilities and attractions are planned keeping every age group in mind. With wheel-chairs being available to travellators to take you to the Statue, details have been thought through to keep seniors also equally engaged and interested. The stay options have mushroomed in and around Kevadia, accommodation to suit all pocket sizes is available. An ultra luxurious tent city, a hotel of class, a budget tent city, even a few lodges and tribal-homestays, there is something for everyone to choose from. 

Bookings are available online, reducing your dependency on the “ask-around" option. Go online and in three easy steps book your tickets. Make bookings for your stay at one of the many options that suit you and you are ready to live a grandeur of an experience!

A quick re-cap of the must-knows

Dedicated to The Iron Man of India, The Architect of the Unified India and The Farmers’ Leader, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the Statue of Unity stands 182 meters tall, approx. 600 feet. This is the tallest statue in the world. As a true symbol of national unity, about 5000 tonnes of iron from farming implements and soil from villages across the country was collected and utilised in the construction of the project. Completed in record time, the Statue stands as a tribute to the visionary Sardar Patel and is a paragon of artistic expression and engineering excellence.

The Statue is a three-level engaging wonder, with a museum and theatre at the base, an open deck at the mezzanine and an observation deck inside the statue at an astounding height of 500 feet. The tickets are available with two options - one that allows you to visit the base and the mezzanine and the second one that allows you a trip up the elevators to the observation deck as well, where you can get a panoramic view of the valley from and witness the Sardar Sarovar Dam and Narmada in all its glory. The tickets have time slots mentioned and one must stick to the allotted time in order to have a smooth and glitch-free “statue-darshan”!

The Base

The museum at the base is now more vibrant and has a few newer additions, one being an “I-pledge” console. The digital console allows you to fill a brief form with your name and place of residence and a section where you write a pledge that you wish to take when you visit the memorial dedicated to the Iron Man of India, the one who united us all- Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The pledges are displayed on a screen above the console. Next to this console is a beautiful collage of all the rulers of various princely states of India who joined hands under the able guidance of Sardar Patel to make one big united nation that India today is. Imagine the mammoth task of bringing the recalcitrant princely states together to become one to form a Unified India!

Besides these there is a wall mural of Sardar Patel’s silhouette that is made up of a collection of various farm equipments. And indeed the prototype of the head of the statue too. Queue up for your elevator ride, and be ready for that view from up above.

The Observation Deck

There hasn’t been any change here in the last three years. The deck is as clean as it was then. If you are punctual as per your ticket time-slot, you can get ample time to walk around and have a good view of the river flowing below and the Steadfast Dam standing afar. Do not hesitate to use that camera!

The Mezzanine

The elevators bring you to the open deck at the mezzanine floor, which is the pedestal of the statue. Yes, you are now where the feet of the grand statue are. You get a good panoramic view of the valley from here too. The location has been chosen keeping the climate in mind and the temperature here remains moderate all the year round. Spend some leisurely moments marvelling at the grandiosity of the vision that now stands towering over you, riveting the gaze of one and all who come here to Sadhu-Bet to visit the memorial to India’s Iron Man.

Food Court

Once out, the food court will signal a “come-hither” and no force of any resolution can then stop you as the wafting aroma from deep-fried goodies will guide your path to a table inside this coming together of flavours. Savour the local dishes or just grab a cuppa to recharge yourself for the trip ahead, you have options galore. When I last visited this food court, there were only three outlets with one being solely for bottled water. Now you have many options here with some International brands also making their presence felt.

So much to See, so little time

I must mention that a few attractions charge a nominal entrance fee while others are free of charge.Tickets can be bought at the entrance gates of these attractions.

Hop on to the next available bus (there are 17 bus stops in all, along the circular sightseeing path) and embark upon a journey through the valley of Kevadia. There are bicycles available for renting if the cyclist in you wants to get adventurous. Next big attraction definitely is the Jungle Safari. At the jungle safari, a ticket is required to be bought. Queue up to take your ride in an electric cart and go meet the various carnivores, herbivores, reptiles and avian fellows that live here. The Safari Park is a unique zoological park and is home to many indigenous and exotic animals and birds. You can walk through the huge dome of the aviary and can see the many rare and exotic birds up close. The deer park too has many species in their respective enclosures. Animals from far and wide have been brought here, one can see a Rhinoceros, a White Tiger, Emus, Wildebeest and even a Giraffe! Children are sure to have a fun filled experience at this attraction at the Statue of Unity. The domestic animals are kept separately in a Petting Zone, where one can feed, touch and play with these animals. Close to the Jungle Safari is the Dino Trail, very much worth taking.

The Cactus Garden, the Valley of Flowers, the Butterfly Garden, are all huge crowd pullers. Exotic species of flora and fauna add their uniqueness to this tourist hub. 

Indulge in some boating over the Panchmuli Lake in Kevadia, or take a cruise over the Sardar Sarovar Dam and get a closer look at the Statue from your boat as you sail past Sadhu-Bet. Adventure seekers, there are water sport activities too, the details of which can be sought once you plan your trip.

The highlight : Light and Sound Show

As the day progresses with one activity after another, a sumptuous lunch later one can either take a short break and rest in their room / tent or can further carry on exploring the other remaining activities, while reserving energy for the light and sound show, because that is one attraction that should not be missed. Gather at the Statue at the theatre that has been specially created for the show, and sit back while the 20 minute show takes you through the life and times of Sardar Patel. A slice of history that will fill you up with tank-full of inspiration!

Post the show, take a bus ride to the Dam promenade for another light and sound show, of a different kind. This one is a stage performance by some very talented artists, the artists being colourful laser beams dancing across the horizon to the tunes of very popular peppy songs. DO NOT MISS THIS SPECTACLE! 

Talking about all things light, there is a Glow Garden too that should not be missed. Though, I being very tired wanted to skip this one but the thought of “when will I visit again”, dragged me inside the gates of the Glow Garden. A beautifully lit garden spread over 3.61 acres of land where light and colours play together to create a visual-sensory delight. Walk along to marvel at illuminated installations, figures and optical illusions. A dance floor where one can hop and dance and try catching the glowing tiles by jumping onto them, as I said earlier, there is something for every one here. Old and young, each member of your family will return delighted and pleased from this vacation with a difference.

Statue of Unity, has established itself as a very popular tourist destination already. Now, with huge banquet spaces coming up all around, vast expanses of open spaces for hosting events and large inventory of rooms to accommodate many guests, the destination is also emerging as a wedding and events venue. Corporates are considering hosting their off-sites and incentives at Kevadia, Destination weddings are being planned around it and other meets and conventions are already being hosted here. The plus plus is the fantastic connectivity, with trains connecting Kevadia to Surat, Vadodara and Mumbai, Seaplane connectivity from Ahmedabad and of course the good expressways from Vadodara and Ahmedabad, bringing your troupe over to Kevadia is not a difficult task anymore.

If you already have visited the Statue of Unity, go visit again and experience the newer attractions, if you haven’t yet, hey what have you been waiting for?