gujarat off the beaten trail'

den77 · Oct 1st, 2006, 05:21

...namaste...
i'm planning my second trip to india...i think i'll stay for about 6 months(like my first trip)...i want to buy a scooter in bangalore and go on....
Someone could give me some good tips for quite..possible not really turistic sites in gujarat?????...i love indian architecture
and indian historical towns(with old buildings...markets...good food stalls..lots of temples...gentle people(not used to tourists)...in other
words i love OLD_SCHOOL india...
i hope someone could help me....

TimMakins · Oct 1st, 2006, 14:05

Why don't you start by buying a good guidebook on India, such as Footprint Book's 'India Handbook', and seeing what recommendations it makes? Show us a list of the places that interest you, and I am sure someone will give their own opinions of the places you have highlighted.

Tim in England

den77 · Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:34

...i still have guidebooks...and i still read a lot of this stuff..but the last time i've visited india i realized that lot of times places that aren't on the guides are more interesting than the famous turistic spots

thaneb · Oct 10th, 2006, 22:49

Generally all of Gujarat is off the beaten track. I spent three months in Vadodara and spent a lot of time in the Chota Udaipur area (an hour or two from Vadodara). En route you can visit Champaner which should be interesting if you are in to ruins and architecture.

iwanttogoback · Oct 11th, 2006, 09:33

there is a lot of amazing architecture in and around ahmedabad, both old and new.

places that i visited and would recommend:

ahmedabad: corbusier buildings: city museum, cotton owner's association building

siddi sayed mosque - tiny little jewel with gorgeous jalis

pol area - old part of town, densely packed houses similar to medieval
european towns

huseething jain temple;

sarkhej mosque - gorgeous

gandhi ashram, a simple but moving museum in a rather lovely building

indian institute of management by louis kahn.

one of the interesting architectural features is that corb and kahn have worked here and add another level to the city. and if you can, check out sangath, the atelier of balkrishna doshi, one of the most beautiful buildings i have seen.

step wells around ahmedabad, particularly adalaj and patan and the sun temple at modhera

if you want to see something really unusual visit siddphur, home of the vohra community: a mix of hindu, islamic and european influences.

i picked up a book 'the ahmedabad chronicle' by the vastu-shilpa foundation. an amazing chronicle of the architectural history of ahmedabad. not sure how easy it might be to get one, but it is incredibly comprehensive, nearly two hundred pages of text and pictures. there is an absolute feast of architecture in and around the city.

there are pictures of quite a few of these places in my gallery here, and i think jorge reverter has quite a few photos of gujarat as well.

beach_comber · Oct 27th, 2006, 00:03

Hi

Try the kutch region of Gujarat. Great place as yet quite unspoilt with all the things you looking for. Its got palaces, tribal art, old towns quite a few with their town wall and the best unspoilt beaches WITH NO CROWDS

Jorge Reverter · Oct 27th, 2006, 01:19

den77,

Pobably you are right and the best places sometimes are not in the guidebooks. Last February-March I've stayed one month moving around Gujarat and full experience was very good.

The places I've enjoyed were Bhuj, Mandvi and Mundra in the Kutch area, I was dissappointed about the tribal area in the Rann of Kutch. I have spent only two days in Ahmedabad because was not my favourite town in India, the only interesting things for me were Sharkej and Adalaj Vav both in the outskirts of the city, you can do it by motorickshaw. I loved Patan and the Sun Temple in Modhera.
Junnagadh also very "off the beaten trail" with great ambiance. Diu is a place to rest for a couple of days but a litle boring. Palitana is very well known and a must if you are in Gujarat. Stayed few days in Baroda but....., I don't like big cities. Dhaboi not far from Baroda was a discovery for me, lovely place and people. Champaner (World Heritage Site) was a big disappoint for me. Some monuments in quite bad condition spread here and there in a dusty small village.
In my gallery and in my son's gallery (jorge jr) you can see some pictures of the area.
Jorge

den77 · Oct 27th, 2006, 01:51

...thanks a lot jorge...it seems you've enjoyd gujarat...good tips

kotharitextile · Nov 19th, 2006, 11:29

Hi I live in Gujarat at a town nearby to ahmedabad. Let me know if you require any help. contact me at kotharitextile@rediffmail.com.

Bye

den77 · Nov 23rd, 2006, 10:33

thanks kotharitextile

Shark · Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:39

I spent a month in Gujurat last year and loved it. Bhuj, Mandvi, Junnagadh are great places. No hassle, no hard sell, no arguing over the price of anything really. Bhuj would have to be one of the best relaxing cities that I have experienced in my six trips to India. No tourists or very few. Rajkot - keep going. Diu OK but plenty of local tourists. All in all I really enjoyed Gujurat. Bhuj is a must.

mineja · Nov 25th, 2006, 20:28

i´m gonna do rajastan and gujarat in feb 2007.How is Diu?is there possible to wear bikinis or too much attention for blond pink skin female from north europe?

Shark · Nov 28th, 2006, 05:53

I would avoid the bikini at the tourist beaches. You will be getting more than your fare share of attention without attracting it.

himadventures · Nov 28th, 2006, 07:12

No- bikini is fine in Goa..we all are used to it.Only fare with figure attracts our eyes...they stop moving.

You can wear bikini in places like GOA- just have a look around.and enjoy.

Shark · Nov 28th, 2006, 08:01

[quote=himadventures]No- bikini is fine in Goa..we all are used to it.Only fare with figure attracts our eyes...they stop moving.

What does all that mean? Hey Mineja stick with my original advice about the non wearing of bikini at Diu. I was there last December with my wife and a couple of other female travellers who were NOT wearing bikinis and they were hassled like you wouldn't believe - until my wife served it up to them big time.

Oct 1st, 2006, 05:21	#1
den77 Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: venice italy Posts: 82	gujarat off the beaten trail' ...namaste... i'm planning my second trip to india...i think i'll stay for about 6 months(like my first trip)...i want to buy a scooter in bangalore and go on.... Someone could give me some good tips for quite..possible not really turistic sites in gujarat?????...i love indian architecture and indian historical towns(with old buildings...markets...good food stalls..lots of temples...gentle people(not used to tourists)...in other words i love OLD_SCHOOL india... i hope someone could help me....

Nov 28th, 2006, 08:01	#15
Shark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 158	What? [quote=himadventures]No- bikini is fine in Goa..we all are used to it.Only fare with figure attracts our eyes...they stop moving. What does all that mean? Hey Mineja stick with my original advice about the non wearing of bikini at Diu. I was there last December with my wife and a couple of other female travellers who were NOT wearing bikinis and they were hassled like you wouldn't believe - until my wife served it up to them big time.

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Oct 2nd, 2006, 08:34	#3
den77 Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: venice italy Posts: 82	...i still have guidebooks...and i still read a lot of this stuff..but the last time i've visited india i realized that lot of times places that aren't on the guides are more interesting than the famous turistic spots

Oct 10th, 2006, 22:49	#4
thaneb Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 65	Generally all of Gujarat is off the beaten track. I spent three months in Vadodara and spent a lot of time in the Chota Udaipur area (an hour or two from Vadodara). En route you can visit Champaner which should be interesting if you are in to ruins and architecture.

Oct 11th, 2006, 09:33	#5
iwanttogoback is sorry Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth Posts: 1,577	there is a lot of amazing architecture in and around ahmedabad, both old and new. places that i visited and would recommend: ahmedabad: corbusier buildings: city museum, cotton owner's association building siddi sayed mosque - tiny little jewel with gorgeous jalis pol area - old part of town, densely packed houses similar to medieval european towns huseething jain temple; sarkhej mosque - gorgeous gandhi ashram, a simple but moving museum in a rather lovely building indian institute of management by louis kahn. one of the interesting architectural features is that corb and kahn have worked here and add another level to the city. and if you can, check out sangath, the atelier of balkrishna doshi, one of the most beautiful buildings i have seen. step wells around ahmedabad, particularly adalaj and patan and the sun temple at modhera if you want to see something really unusual visit siddphur, home of the vohra community: a mix of hindu, islamic and european influences. i picked up a book 'the ahmedabad chronicle' by the vastu-shilpa foundation. an amazing chronicle of the architectural history of ahmedabad. not sure how easy it might be to get one, but it is incredibly comprehensive, nearly two hundred pages of text and pictures. there is an absolute feast of architecture in and around the city. there are pictures of quite a few of these places in my gallery here, and i think jorge reverter has quite a few photos of gujarat as well.

Oct 27th, 2006, 00:03	#6
beach_comber Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: India Posts: 10	Hi Try the kutch region of Gujarat. Great place as yet quite unspoilt with all the things you looking for. Its got palaces, tribal art, old towns quite a few with their town wall and the best unspoilt beaches WITH NO CROWDS

Oct 27th, 2006, 01:19	#7
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,152	den77, Pobably you are right and the best places sometimes are not in the guidebooks. Last February-March I've stayed one month moving around Gujarat and full experience was very good. The places I've enjoyed were Bhuj, Mandvi and Mundra in the Kutch area, I was dissappointed about the tribal area in the Rann of Kutch. I have spent only two days in Ahmedabad because was not my favourite town in India, the only interesting things for me were Sharkej and Adalaj Vav both in the outskirts of the city, you can do it by motorickshaw. I loved Patan and the Sun Temple in Modhera. Junnagadh also very "off the beaten trail" with great ambiance. Diu is a place to rest for a couple of days but a litle boring. Palitana is very well known and a must if you are in Gujarat. Stayed few days in Baroda but....., I don't like big cities. Dhaboi not far from Baroda was a discovery for me, lovely place and people. Champaner (World Heritage Site) was a big disappoint for me. Some monuments in quite bad condition spread here and there in a dusty small village. In my gallery and in my son's gallery (jorge jr) you can see some pictures of the area. Jorge

Oct 27th, 2006, 01:51	#8
den77 Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: venice italy Posts: 82	...thanks a lot jorge...it seems you've enjoyd gujarat...good tips

Nov 19th, 2006, 11:29	#9
kotharitextile Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surendranagar Posts: 15	Hi I live in Gujarat at a town nearby to ahmedabad. Let me know if you require any help. contact me at kotharitextile@rediffmail.com. Bye

Nov 23rd, 2006, 10:33	#10
den77 Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: venice italy Posts: 82	thanks kotharitextile

Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:39	#11
Shark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 158	I spent a month in Gujurat last year and loved it. Bhuj, Mandvi, Junnagadh are great places. No hassle, no hard sell, no arguing over the price of anything really. Bhuj would have to be one of the best relaxing cities that I have experienced in my six trips to India. No tourists or very few. Rajkot - keep going. Diu OK but plenty of local tourists. All in all I really enjoyed Gujurat. Bhuj is a must.

Nov 25th, 2006, 20:28	#12
mineja Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: estonia Posts: 66	i´m gonna do rajastan and gujarat in feb 2007.How is Diu?is there possible to wear bikinis or too much attention for blond pink skin female from north europe?

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Nov 28th, 2006, 05:53	#13
Shark Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia, New South Wales Posts: 158	I would avoid the bikini at the tourist beaches. You will be getting more than your fare share of attention without attracting it.

Nov 28th, 2006, 07:12	#14
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	No- bikini is fine in Goa..we all are used to it.Only fare with figure attracts our eyes...they stop moving. You can wear bikini in places like GOA- just have a look around.and enjoy.