Amazing Kutch and Saurashtra.....

Day Two continues................

We came across lots of birds,but at that time our focus was more on Wild Ass.
Could be a Long-legged Buzzard. Have posted another thread on Birds:

[Wonderful World of Birds of Kutch and Saurashtra through my lens._Oct_Nov_2011

When we went further in the LRK we came across this salt manufacturing unit. The workers offered us the local tea called kawa.
For a traveller "any time is tea time" so we tested kawa for refreshing ourselves.

There is traditional commercial salt panning activity in the region which the Gujarat's Forest department wants to discourage as it is considered a threat to ecology of the region, wildlife and to the endangered Indian Wild Ass.

The area is also being used to farm shrimp which is more profitable then salt panning, again this activity is discouraged by the forest department.


We returned Desert Coursers Resort from LRK in the afternoon.

Our next target was Dholavira .
Actually google map indicates a direct route to Dholavira via Radhanpur,Santalpur,Vauva.
No one from Zainabad supported this and we were forced to change our plan to respect the experienced white hair.(When we asked for this route we came to know no such road exists which RAVJIBHAI from Dholavira also confirmed subsequently.)

After lunch at about 1.15 pm,we left Zainabad for Dhrangadhra via Patdi.
The road condition is good.
On the way Swamy Narayan temple,Dhangdhra .


Then we proceeded via Halvad to join NH8A.
Before Samakhalli we turned right to join NH 15 till Chitrod.

While crossing LRK from Mallia to Samakhalli on NH8A

It is also home to various unique mammals apart from wild Ass such the Indian Wolf , Desert Fox and Nilgai

On the way to Rapar we found a Neelgai and calf crossing the road just in front of our vehicle.


From Chitrod taking SH51 we reached Rapar while the Sun was about to set and settled at govt. rest house Rapar

To be continued

Hi vinathorat. Did you get the PM I sent you regarding this message?

Saw this while reading through the thread. A little off-topic, but I'm curious as to why they would do something like this. Is this done for all external links?

Not really sure why they do this or for any other web-sites too? But I saw that the links in my Posts there to Google-Maps and Flickr do work fine there.
.

Received your PM and replied too.

Don't no, whythey would do something like this.

I think snonymous also faced the same problem for her links of IM when posted there.

Nice pics VinaT. I love the way you casually dismissed these flamingoes as "lots of birds" but thats because you saw so many, they became just 'birds'!!!

Separately, yes, I too observe that BCMT has selectively blocked just indiamike.com, the administrator there who is also a member here, must surely have his reasons for doing so. None of the other external sites seem to be blocked.

VinaT, do continue without a long gap!

Thanks Gitididi

At least one IM member consistently inspiring me to write something

Trying to post but getting one or the other problem while uploading the snaps.


Why this Why this Why this blocking business di

Why there should not be a fraternal relationship amongst the travelling community


Don't understand the reasoning of the BCMT

After experiencing the salt marsh and and salt water or brackish water,plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs, and viewing famous, the world's last refuge of the Indian Wild Ass (Khur)from LRK yesterday we covered 212kms. in about 5.30 hrs.and before dusk were comfortable at Rapar Vishram Graha.

Before retiring yesterday we visited Rapar main market area and purchased sundry items too

Rapar is the main town in the Vagad Region of the Kutch District and the eastern-most town of the Kutch District. It is very vibrant trading hub and shopping center for local people as there is no other major town within a 100 km radius.

The nearest towns are Gandhidham, Anjar, Kandla and Adipur in Kutch, and Morbi in Rajkot District and Radhanpur in Patan District. The district headquarters, Bhuj, is almost 140 km to the west.

Leaving Rapar behind, hit the road on 7 am for Dholavira.Today the aim was to reach Bhuj after visiting Dholavira which was about 100 kms. from Rapar.


The Saturday morning was charming one.


Drive from Rapar to Dholavira is amazing .Well laid traffic free road leads you to Dholavira.Enjoying the beautiful nature,wonderful bird world, reached Dholavira at 10.30am.




Though a bleak landscape it is rich in biodiversity and is an ecologically important area for wildlife and many local and migratory waterbirds like cranes, ducks, pelicans , flamingos and land birds like sand grouse,frankolins and the Indian bustards.

We could locate and identify the birds like Greater Short -Toed Lark,Demoiselle Crane,Greater Flamingo, Black-tailed Godwit,Bar-tailed Godwit,Blackwinged Stilt,Greater Knot, Painted Stork,River tern,Black Drongo,European Roller,Western Reef Heron,Barn Swallows, White –eared Bulbul,Indian Robin.

For viewing the birds that we enjoyed, see THIS

To be continued

Dholavira is an archaeological site in Khadirbet in Bhachau Taluka of Kachchh district of Gujarat state in western India, which has taken its name from a modern village 1 km south of it.

The site of Dholavira, locally known as Kotada timba contains ruins of an ancient Harappan city.
It is one of the largest and most prominent archaeological sites in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization.

It is located on the Khadir bet island in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in Great Rann of Kutch.

The site is surrounded by water in the monsoon season.


The site was discovered in 1967-8 by J. P. Joshi and is the fifth largest Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent, and has been under excavation almost continuously since 1990 by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Eight large urban centers have been discovered: Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, Ganeriwala, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan, Rupar, Dholavira, and Lothal.


The ancient site at Dholavira, is flanked by two storm water channels; the Mansar in the north, and the Manhar in the south. Excavation was initiated in 1989 by the Archaeological Survey of India under the direction of R. S. Bisht.

The excavation brought to light the sophisticated urban planning and architecture, and unearthed large numbers of antiquities such as seals, beads, animal bones, gold, silver, terracotta ornaments and vessels linked to Mesopotamia.

Archaeologists believe that Dholavira was an important center of trade between settlements in south Gujarat, Sindh and Punjab and Western Asia.

The most significant discoveries at Dholavira were made in one of the side rooms of the northern gateway of the city.
The Harappan had arranged and set pieces of gypsum (a kind of mineral) to form ten large letters on a big wooden board.
At some point of time the board fell down flat on its face.
The wood decayed, but the arrangement of the letters survived.
The letters of the signboard are comparable to large bricks that were used in nearby wall.

See This :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:T...ra_citadel.jpg



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dholavira

Panoramic view of Kala Dungar side and view of GRK from Khadir bet Dholavira.

One of the remarkable features of Dholavira is the sophisticated water conservation system of channels and reservoirs, the earliest found anywhere in the world and completely built out of stone, of which three are exposed.

They were used for storing the fresh water brought by rains or to store the water diverted from a nearby rivulet.

Snacks, tea/ coffee/ cold drinks etc.is available in the canteen.

Rooms at the Toran guest house are in the shape of Bajania huts. Rs.350/- for non-AC and Rs.500 for AC.



To be continued

Great trip report. There are more admirers of your writing & photos on IM then you think. Please keep writing.

I went to Lothal after returning from Velavadar last December. I think it is a very small site as compared to other names mentioned by you. Excavation is still under process & going on at a very slow pace.

Ronak.

Thanks ronak

VinaT, Why this, why this, why this DiDiDi?

You are too modest. I, like many others, admire your long road trips - Kashmir to Kanyakumari - and now this Gujarat episode. You have undertaken these long drives in a humble Suzuki, not in some fancy SUV or expensive car, thereby you inspire so many others to do road trips, maybe not such long ones but within their own limitations.

As I said before and say again, the effort taken to compile all those names of flora and fauna make your threads encyclopaedic in nature and worthy references.

It is very true that of late, some people here desperately want others to comment on their threads but are very miserly in reciprocating on threads posted by others whom they perceive to be in competion. I do not understand why these people feel threatened, merely by adding their comment on other people's threads. Theyyam was right when she said elsewhere that a trend of unhealthy competition is now prevalent on IM.

Kya karega? Some are like that only ....

Do not be disheartened and keep posting Vina BHAU not BOW!!!

EDIT: Must say those Toran Guest Houses are extremely reasonably priced, compared to MTDC and other state govt. holiday homes.



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Quote:

Originally Posted by vinathorat Why this Why this Why this blocking business di
Why there should not be a fraternal relationship amongst the travelling community

Don't understand the reasoning of the BCMT

Let us not spoil your lovely thread by debating this matter which is really an issue between the administrators of the two sites.

After having Gujarathi Thali, consisting typical Bajra roti, with green vegetable, Kadhi khichadi, ghee and buttermilk,left Dholavira for Bhuj @ 1.30pm.

Distance to be covered was about 245 kms.
Reached Chitrod via Rapar and again joined NH 15 for Bhachau.
At Bhachau took right turn on SH42 and I think that was wrong decision,the road condition was very bad,it took more than 2 and 1/2 hrs.to cover about 80 kms.

Tried as many lodges, guest houses,caravanserais,rest houses,but all was in vain.
When asked an auto driver he said being weekend and due to diwali vacations every lodge and hotel was over crowded.

After wasting about an hour or so we went to see Swamy Narayan Temple.



Some one informed us that the Trust is having very good facility for devotees at reasonable charges.
By the time it was 9.30pm and the office was to open next day morning .
We were just discussing what to do now? As we were having necessary bedding with us,one way was to spend the entire night in car as our car was safe in parking lot of the Swamy Narayan Temple Bhuj.So we asked the security person whether we can spend the night in our car as there is no room available any where in the town.

Being aware of the situation he politely said no to me but was kind enough to spare the varanddha within the complex after 11pm.
That was a great relief for us.

We then had our dinner at nearby hotel.Wondered aimlessly around till 11pm.and then finally entered the Swamy Narayan complex.
We found few more 4 wheelers and families in search of night shelter.Subsequently found that those families were also got accommodated next to our bedding space. God is great is't it.



When returned the guard took us inside and showed us the very clean place with toilet facility nearby.A ceiling fan,plug to recharge your mobile and camera batteries was also there;with a bottle of cool drinking water he provided good quality bedding too.

'O my God!!!!!!!!!!! what else you need for a night shelter when Swamy Narayan himself is resting there in front of you?

Being a trekker,mountaineer, nature lover, have spent many nights anywhere in mountains.in dharamshala,railway platform,in tents,in temple,in garden,beside Lukla airstrip,Nepal in 1978 and what not!

Even during June 1979 benighted at the altitude of about 17000 msl in Nandadevi inner sanctuary while returning from camp III of Devastan II.

So spending a night under the roof of Swamy Narayan temple was not only a luxury but also blessings of Almighty for us.


Next day it was Sunday 30th October, attended early morning prayer and witnessed few ritual at Swamy Narayan Temple Bhuj.

After the pryer had breakfast at the canteen which was free to all devotees and visitors.

Afterwards got one room from the authorities near old Swamy Narayan temple complex Bhuj.

As soon as got the room, off loaded the luggage & went off to have a look around .

Old Swamy Narayan Temple complex


To be continued

After settling in the room while looking out of the window found an old severely damaged palace like structure.
When inquired came to know that it was the backside of the 19th-century " Pragmahel Palace ".
So after visiting Old Swamy Narayan Temple straight away we went to see the Pragmahel Palace.


As other monuments from Bhuj area, one can notice the damage caused by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake to this palace too.


Bhuj Town as seen from the Watch tower of " Pragmahel Palace ".

In 2006, the palace was burglarized, with thieves stealing antiques worth millions of rupees and damaging other items throughout the palace.


Today, the palace is in a "ghostly", "forlorn" state.

For more information See THIS:


To be continued

More to come ???