Gujarat - out of the public ( read heavy tourist flow ) places

and i have a place in baroda, use to go there every year for the kites (14th Jan) pure Magic!!! now they even do garba (dance on rooftops) and have fireworks in the evening as well. So best time to go to Gujrat. Although pollution has forced me to go to goa now

From what I know, Baroda has one of the best Navaratri's. I haven't been to one myself but my family back in Gujarat tell me this.

Utharan (kite day) is one of the best in Baroda. I always do my Utharan in Baroda. Once, I did it in Anand and it wasn't very fun. Pollution in Baroda isn't bad has Anand, Nadiad and Ahmdabad.

Err... apart from the Poppadums and the Navratris... I was looking for some out of the way places... which you guys might have explored..!!

Any ideas..??

i want to visit gujarat this year. i was in Baroda last year and this year i will go there first. I really liked Baroda. This year i want to go to other places around Baroda as well.I hope to get suggestions from here.I think Baroda is nice city in every way, very nice people.

About time we updated this list

Dangs Forests are a absolute delight... am not talking about Saputara trip pics from my last ride to Dangs are here also the previous ride is posted here...

Then there's the forests near Ambaji... the main route is go via either Palanpur or Himatnagar.

I LOVE the alternate route via the Balaram Forest Sanctuary... amazing vistas and colourful locals... had gone there during the Bhadarvi Poonam festival... about 25 Lac people visit Ambaji during this period spread over 5 days....!!!!

For the animal lovers and not wanting to wander away from Ahmedabad, the perfect place is Velavadar Black Buck sanctuary... lots of Black bucks, Nilgaai and other species...

whew.... i guesss that's enough for now...

And add one more...

For those interested in animal fairs... Gujarat has its own version akin to Pushkar )) though this one deals only in DONKEYS...!!!!

The Vautha Animal Fair...!!!!

Background history :

Vautha fair, or Vautha Mela, is an annual donkey fair held at Vautha Village near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Legend has it that Lord Kartik or Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, visited the site. Kartik, popularly known as Muruga, is the commander of the army of the Devas. The fair is dedicated to Kartikeya and is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the Gujarati month of Kartik (October – November). In 2008, Vautha fair dates are from November 10 and 14.

Vautha fair site is also known as Saptasangam as it is at the confluence of seven rivers. The temple of Siddhanath dedicated to Lord Shiva is an important shrine here. On the day of the Kartik full moon night, pilgrims take dip in the Saptasangam and make offerings.

Vautha Mela attracts more than 500,000 people and is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat. The only animal traded here are the donkeys. Donkeys are painted in different colors and decorated and this is a major highlight of the fair.

Camels too have found a place to be traded over a period of time..

I've been in Ahmedabad (living at the Gandhi Ashram)for over a week, and I don't see "heavy tourist flow" yet. There are SOME, but the Ashram is rarely crowded, the crowds are only there when we bring the kids over for school in the afternoon (to the NGO I'm with).

How about 'Kevadia Colony' i.e. the Narmada dam site - I was there few years back and it is worth a visit - going from Baroda to Dabhoi and onward to Kevadia colony.

Hi there..
Have read almost all the threads but have not noticed anyone mentioning Velavadar..A National Park..the sanctuary of rare
Black bucks.! It is near VAllabhipur on Ahmedabad Bhavnagar highway. I grew up quite close to this place and remember as a
child how we used the horns as hooks on the walls to hang clothes etc..No No dont worry..! People used to collect the horns
of dead animals from the fields.

I would add palitana and modhera to this list. These aren't exactly off beat but i have hardly seen any tourists at these places. Generally visited by day trippers or pilgrims these haven't found their way to being "tourist destinations" like udaipur or so.
Also patan is a nice place. So is siddhpur/sidhpur near modhera.

For anyone who is interested in the excavations of the Indus civilization Dholavira is a must.
It is a little difficult to get there but just the journey through the Kutch is great.

This thread lists down many places in Gujarat which are worth visiting. My native place is a village called Kunbhasan (Near Palanpur) which I frequent regularly where one can enjoy good bird life during winter months & one can go for long walks in the farms.

Has anyone visited Marine Sanctuary near Jamnagar ?

Ronak.

@jay
I am staying in Ahmedabad and i like the natural places to visit. Can you suggest few places that can be visited within two days (sat-sunday).

i found your suggestion (regarding to dang remote area) but i am not sure about distance and places. can you provide some details if possible.

Hello -- Would greatly appreciate input from Gujarati experts on Mundra. I am in Diu at the moment and will be heading to Bhuj and then Mandvi and Mundra within the next few days. So far I've not found any place to stay in Mundra except for the expensive Shiv Nautica. Any suggestions? Thanks for any tips.

Hi all - I was very pleased to see this thread too. I'm going to be staying in Ahmedabad in a few weeks and was wondering about the best things to do on a day trip - would love to go and see some nearby different places. Thanks a lot.