Gujarat

suzanne

We are thinking of going to Bhuj during Feb. also interested in Little Rann. Has anybody been to these places and if so can you tell us a bit about your experiences there. Anyone know wot goes on at Mandvi? Apparently there is a beach there. Wots it like and does anyone hang out there. Also considering going to Diu - how easy is it to rent a house for a couple of months there. Any info at all would be great.

wonderwomanusa

I was in Bhuj before the earthquake -- well, more than 10 years before. It was a lovely town and I hear they are working at restoring some of the old buildings.

We were the only foreigners in town at the time of that visit; it's quite a long way from Ahmedabad and not many get there.

__________________
The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

-m2-

Alan D visited Bhuj this past year and posted an excellent report here:

Bhuj - Two years after E-Day

As far as Mandvi as a beach resort -- it didn't look too promising to me, but the day I passed by there was a strong onshore wind and I kept on going. I really like Diu though, but don't know about long term rentals, perhaps someone else can help.

If you are interested in wildlife, the Sasan Gir Lion Sanctuary is not too far and definitely worth a visit as well.

indiamike

Indiawise is our 'man of knowledge' in Diu. You could try sending him a private message about long term rentals.

I have been to Diu quite a few times and have never really seen any houses for rent to foreigners. I am not saying that there isn't any, just that I asked about it once and most of the places are let out to people who come to work on the island during the high season. In places like Goa it's pretty easy, in Diu not so easy.

Myself I usually stay a month or two in a hotel...Star TV, hot shower, pot of coffee in the morning, newspaper, clean sheets everyday.....not a bad life at all.

Mike

suzanne

Thanks Mike - what kind of budget do we need to stay in such accomodation? Have you been to any other places in Gujarat that you would recommend? Is Diu relatively easy to get to?

indiawise

alan d stayed at a place, in mandvi, owned by one Mr. vinod bhatt. excellent he said. you could get in touch with alan as he has a fair good idea of gujarat. Diu is easy or difficult to get to depending on your direction of travel and mode. If you fly then its just 1 hour from mumbai. there are overnite direct 'sleeper' busses from ahmedabad about 10 to 11 hours. I've spent a while travelling around kutch bhuj. Really liked it. Except Mandvi and the beach is nothing much. Palitana is another place worth visiting. About rentals mike has said it like it is. You could get a place to rent if you looked around and there have been western tourists staying in rented places off and on. The budget for a decnt place would vary between rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000 per month.
Will be a pleasure to answer your queries....

Baisab

I have been to Bhuj 10 Years ago. Had a great time. It was maybe THE most friendly place I have been to, and very atmospheric as well.
I managed to hire a motorbike there and took the ride out to Mandvi and beach. Very nice ride and very nice town. The beach was excellent and deserted (for the best). On the way out of the beach my motorbike got stuck, and I found myself sleeping in a country house with the family of the mechanic's apprentice. Excellent time spent.

suzanne

Thanks so much to both of you for your info. I get the feeling not many people go to this area, so it was great to hear from you. I'm really interested in the crafts and the tribespeople. It sounds like the landscape is pretty out there too. How hard is it to get to Bhuj and the Kutch region and how much time do you think we could spend there?

Baisab

I set out to Bhuj directly from Delhi and it took me 1.5 days. A night train to Ahmedabad, arriving around noon, then spent the afternoon around the railway station there (actually in the station's dormitory), then another night train to Gandidham, arriving in the morning, then another two-three hours by local train to Bhuj arriving around noon time. I spent in Bhuj and the area most enjoyable 8 days.
Also took the bike out the kutch village area, not too far from Bhuj though. It was a nice enough ride, as is any country side trip.
I was not too much impressed by the tribal culture and crafts work - but maybe it's just me.

butterball

I went to Bhuj before the earthquake.. lovely and relaxed and some great places to eat !

Very sad after the quake..

I managed to get on the wrong bus to get back to Ahmedebad ( I was told it WAS an express service .. ) and it took FOREVER turning off at every opportunity into EVERY villiage - I really can't remember how long but at least 15hrs ! I also sat next to a one legged man who spent the whole journey trying to ge me to take him back to London... He just could'nt understand that he may just not get a visa !

Got really ill in Ahmedebad. ( hence not much good to say about the place.. )

Alan D

suzanne

About the only place in Gujarat you will meet any number of other travellers is in Diu and even then very few, compared to Goa and Kerala.

Mandvi is definitely not a beach resort. It has sandy beaches on both sides of the town where you can walk for miles but I can't recall seeing people swimming there and there have only been a couple of foreigners around.

We all travel for different reasons and Caroline and I find it a good place for bird-watching. It's a pleasant, small, Gujarati town where wooden boats are built, with a few restaurants, a few hotels, a busy market (good for buying tie-dye work) where the people from the surrounding villages shop and that's about it!

I'm not trying to put you off the place but from what you said in your original post I think Diu would be a more ideal spot for you - there's a good beach at Nagoa and a quieter one nearby and I recommend the Resort Hoka (see the hotel listings) if you decide not to rent a place on the island.

There's plenty of info on Diu on this site and in various guidebooks. Enjoy your visit.

Actually Diu is not a part of Gujarat but you probably knew that. Diu is "wet" and Gujarat is "dry".