rail travel in Gujrat

tstan · Apr 3rd, 2004, 15:09

I am doing some preliminary research for my next two month journey to India next (northern) winter and I am considering spending more time in Gujerat - not simply because of my great hunger for the famous thalis but also partly because of the recommendations of two indiamike stalwarts, Steven and Bijapuri.

The more research I do, the more it becomes apparent that I could easily spend all my time in the state with just a connecting journey to Mumbai (preferably by catamaran) from Diu!

I am very familiar with Indian Railways' excellent web-site and know to avoid using it at certain periods - Friday afternoons (Indian time) and preceding holidays - but I am experiencing some difficulties with the lines servicing Junagadh and Bhavnagar (for Palitana). There don't seem to be any problems with the main lines from Ahmedabad to Dwarka, Porbandar and Veraval so I am wondering whether there are disruptions to services in the area because of the introduction of the broad gauge line?

Incidentally, the company offering a daily catamaran service from the Gateway of India to Panjim (or Panaji) in Goa is interested in linking Mumbai and Diu if there is enough interest among tourists and local people. This would make it possible to avoid a long back-track to Ahmedabad. Of course, it would be feasible to fly from Diu.

By the way, Steven_ber is referring to a small place near Nadiad - shown in the Lonely Planet travel atlas as Pihij - on the line to Cambay.

tstan · Apr 3rd, 2004, 15:11

Sorry folks -Gujarat!

SHIMLA · Apr 3rd, 2004, 15:51

What information are you exactly looking for, tstan?

What is your preliminary area of interest ? Just curious, as you wish to spend maximum time in Gujarat.

tstan · Apr 3rd, 2004, 17:22

Thanks for your prompt reply Shimla.

A lot of tourists by-pass Gujarat while travelling from Rajasthan to Maharashtra - earthquakes and communal tensions have given many bad impressions of the state - and when I was last on the sub-continent, in the winter of 2001-2, there were many compelling reasons to give western Rajasthan and Gujarat a wide berth.

On this occasion - being interested in the Gandhi story and the Gujarat connections,the Hindu places like Dwarka and Junagadh great Jain architecture at Palitana, colonial remnants such as exist in Rajkot,Goa, Diu, Pondicherry, Calcutta, Shimla and Daman and the totally unmaligned thali, the rehabilitation of Bhuj, and the natural attractions of Kutch - it would be easy to spend much longer in the state!

The reason for my original posting was to demonstrate my inability to extract information from the IR website about rail transport links within Southern Gujurat - for example information about journeys between Rajkot and Junagadh, or to the west of Una or from Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar. My 2001 edition of "Trains at a Glance" refers to trains which obviously do not now run - the 9923, for example - but please do not lose any sleep over this little conundrum. As I suggested, lines may be in the process of conversion to broad gauge.

I remain positive about the new sea llink between Mumbai and Diu.

Incidentally. I do not intend to spend most of my 2 months in thaliland - I hope to go up to Kashmir, and spend a decent amount of time at Macleod Ganj, Dalhousie, Amritsar,Shimla, Mussorie, Rajasthan, Ajanta and Ellora, Mandu, and Orchha. The rest will have to wait for my next trip.

SHIMLA · Apr 3rd, 2004, 21:29

Thanks for your reply, tstan. It is now clear why are you so interested in Gujarat.

However, IMHO, you are still trying to cover too much in two months. If I may suggest, you should spend maximum one week in Gujarat and then move on to Rajasthan for two weeks. The balance five weeks you should spend as follows:

Kashmir(situation permitting) - 2 weeks, including travel time.
Amritsar, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj - 2 weeks, including travel time.
Shimla - 1 week, including travel time.

I'm afraid you'll have to leave Mussoorie, Madhya Pradesh and Ajanta for your next trip.

The ideal months for your India visit will be November and December - spend X'mas and New Year at my favourite place!

SHIMLA · Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:30

Regarding trains on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar or Rajkot-Junagadh section, the latest "Trains at a glance" does not show any trains running, though the table (no.76) is shown !!

You refer to a place called Una in your post. Where is this located?
If I'm not wrong, Una is in Himachal Pradesh!

indiamike · Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:35

Quote:

Originally posted by SHIMLA
You refer to a place called Una in your post. Where is this located?
If I'm not wrong, Una is in Himachal Pradesh!

Una is just outside of Diu in Gujrat.

SHIMLA · Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:42

Thanks, indiamike!

SHIMLA · Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:50

http://www.westernrailwayindia.com/o....asp?d_c1=9838

steven_ber · Apr 4th, 2004, 12:17

The train lines you refer to are being converted to broad gauge at the moment and I have no idea when the conversions will be completed.

The friendliness in Gujarat is amazing, though there is little English spoken, I am very lucky, I only come to Pij to play an April fool joke on a friend in England, and am having the most amazing time, and I have never felt so relaxed in my life.

Apart from Diu and Gandhi's Ashram (both on a previous trip) I have not visited any tourist places, so can't comment on them.

Pij is just a village of 7000 with nothing for 'tourists', but a whole life experience for those lucky enough to know somebody there, apart from God I am the only person who smokes in Pij, also there is no alcohol allowed in Gujarat.

I am up at 6 every morning to go to a Krishna temple for prayers, tomorrow I have to be up at 3 am for a 10 km walk for special prayers, this happens every month on the 5th. Those people who know me will be shocked to know that I'm looking forward to this.

I would advise to be in Gujarat on the 14th January, everybody here is looking forward to the Kite festival on that date.

I would forget the idea of a catamaran service from Mumbai to Diu, it is probably just a dream by the company, I think they will struggle to make money from the Goa service never mind a service to Diu, also, I think Diu wouldn't be the same place if it had easy access, too many tourists would change the place forever.

Quote:

but also partly because of the recommendations of two indiamike stalwarts, Steven and Bijapuri.

I had to laugh when I read that, If you want info about playing pool in India, or about finding bar's I'm your man, tourist info, look elsewhere, I’m the idiot who abandoned my Itinerary in Dibrugarh just to play an April fools joke in Gujarat.

tstan · Apr 4th, 2004, 18:58

Thanks guys for your informative and humorous replies.

I long suspected that broad gauge conversion was the cause of the problems in Southern Gujarat. If this is not completed by the end of the year, buses will provide links for my shorter journeys in the area.

You are right Steven about infrastructure developments undermining the charm of places like Diu - so perhaps I shouldn't place too much faith on an imminent sea link with Mumbai! I heard echoes of this argument when I was in Northern Laos at Christmas - regarding the prospect of a new international border crossing to Vietnam which, at a stroke, would wipe out a very tedious backtrack and some 800km of extra travel on an uncomfortable bus.

By the way, your preparedness to set aside your itinerary on a whim meets, I am sure, with the great approval of contributors to this forum. I used to play a bit of pool while off-duty when I drove double decker buses in Sydney in the 1970s for a couple of years - in stressful jobs like that, it is necessary to unwind! I am pleased that you are joining the local Hindu people at prayer at such early hours and that you are not too inconvenienced by the strict Gujarati licensing laws - Diu is not that far away.

Shimla, thanks for your reference to westernrailwayindia.com which confirmed Steven's comments about the gauge work on the lines. Since I will be arriving at and departing from Delhi - having booked my tickets through travel.com.au ( open jaw tickets in Oz are quite a bit more expensive than simple return tickets) - I think that the broad details of my itinerary are achievable in 8 weeks, if only just. Three weeks for the hill stations (Srinagar, Dalhousie, MacLeod Ganj and Mussorie) with a side trip to Amritsar, two weeks in Rajasthan. just over a week in thaliland, and a fortnight to get back to Delhi by way of Ajanta (perhaps not Ellora), Mandu, Orchha and Shimla (leaving the best until last!).

Apr 3rd, 2004, 15:09	#1
tstan power brake keep distance Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: sydney Posts: 195	rail travel in Gujerat I am doing some preliminary research for my next two month journey to India next (northern) winter and I am considering spending more time in Gujerat - not simply because of my great hunger for the famous thalis but also partly because of the recommendations of two indiamike stalwarts, Steven and Bijapuri. The more research I do, the more it becomes apparent that I could easily spend all my time in the state with just a connecting journey to Mumbai (preferably by catamaran) from Diu! I am very familiar with Indian Railways' excellent web-site and know to avoid using it at certain periods - Friday afternoons (Indian time) and preceding holidays - but I am experiencing some difficulties with the lines servicing Junagadh and Bhavnagar (for Palitana). There don't seem to be any problems with the main lines from Ahmedabad to Dwarka, Porbandar and Veraval so I am wondering whether there are disruptions to services in the area because of the introduction of the broad gauge line? Incidentally, the company offering a daily catamaran service from the Gateway of India to Panjim (or Panaji) in Goa is interested in linking Mumbai and Diu if there is enough interest among tourists and local people. This would make it possible to avoid a long back-track to Ahmedabad. Of course, it would be feasible to fly from Diu. By the way, Steven_ber is referring to a small place near Nadiad - shown in the Lonely Planet travel atlas as Pihij - on the line to Cambay.

Apr 3rd, 2004, 15:51	#3
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	What information are you exactly looking for, tstan? What is your preliminary area of interest ? Just curious, as you wish to spend maximum time in Gujarat. __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Apr 3rd, 2004, 21:29	#5
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	North India in Winter Thanks for your reply, tstan. It is now clear why are you so interested in Gujarat. However, IMHO, you are still trying to cover too much in two months. If I may suggest, you should spend maximum one week in Gujarat and then move on to Rajasthan for two weeks. The balance five weeks you should spend as follows: Kashmir(situation permitting) - 2 weeks, including travel time. Amritsar, Dalhousie, Mcleodganj - 2 weeks, including travel time. Shimla - 1 week, including travel time. I'm afraid you'll have to leave Mussoorie, Madhya Pradesh and Ajanta for your next trip. The ideal months for your India visit will be November and December - spend X'mas and New Year at my favourite place!

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Apr 3rd, 2004, 15:11	#2
tstan power brake keep distance Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: sydney Posts: 195	Sorry folks -Gujarat!

Apr 3rd, 2004, 17:22	#4
tstan power brake keep distance Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: sydney Posts: 195	Thanks for your prompt reply Shimla. A lot of tourists by-pass Gujarat while travelling from Rajasthan to Maharashtra - earthquakes and communal tensions have given many bad impressions of the state - and when I was last on the sub-continent, in the winter of 2001-2, there were many compelling reasons to give western Rajasthan and Gujarat a wide berth. On this occasion - being interested in the Gandhi story and the Gujarat connections,the Hindu places like Dwarka and Junagadh great Jain architecture at Palitana, colonial remnants such as exist in Rajkot,Goa, Diu, Pondicherry, Calcutta, Shimla and Daman and the totally unmaligned thali, the rehabilitation of Bhuj, and the natural attractions of Kutch - it would be easy to spend much longer in the state! The reason for my original posting was to demonstrate my inability to extract information from the IR website about rail transport links within Southern Gujurat - for example information about journeys between Rajkot and Junagadh, or to the west of Una or from Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar. My 2001 edition of "Trains at a Glance" refers to trains which obviously do not now run - the 9923, for example - but please do not lose any sleep over this little conundrum. As I suggested, lines may be in the process of conversion to broad gauge. I remain positive about the new sea llink between Mumbai and Diu. Incidentally. I do not intend to spend most of my 2 months in thaliland - I hope to go up to Kashmir, and spend a decent amount of time at Macleod Ganj, Dalhousie, Amritsar,Shimla, Mussorie, Rajasthan, Ajanta and Ellora, Mandu, and Orchha. The rest will have to wait for my next trip.

Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:30	#6
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Regarding trains on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar or Rajkot-Junagadh section, the latest "Trains at a glance" does not show any trains running, though the table (no.76) is shown !! You refer to a place called Una in your post. Where is this located? If I'm not wrong, Una is in Himachal Pradesh!

Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:42	#8
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	Thanks, indiamike!

Apr 3rd, 2004, 22:50	#9
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,125	http://www.westernrailwayindia.com/o....asp?d_c1=9838

Apr 4th, 2004, 18:58	#11
tstan power brake keep distance Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: sydney Posts: 195	Thanks guys for your informative and humorous replies. I long suspected that broad gauge conversion was the cause of the problems in Southern Gujarat. If this is not completed by the end of the year, buses will provide links for my shorter journeys in the area. You are right Steven about infrastructure developments undermining the charm of places like Diu - so perhaps I shouldn't place too much faith on an imminent sea link with Mumbai! I heard echoes of this argument when I was in Northern Laos at Christmas - regarding the prospect of a new international border crossing to Vietnam which, at a stroke, would wipe out a very tedious backtrack and some 800km of extra travel on an uncomfortable bus. By the way, your preparedness to set aside your itinerary on a whim meets, I am sure, with the great approval of contributors to this forum. I used to play a bit of pool while off-duty when I drove double decker buses in Sydney in the 1970s for a couple of years - in stressful jobs like that, it is necessary to unwind! I am pleased that you are joining the local Hindu people at prayer at such early hours and that you are not too inconvenienced by the strict Gujarati licensing laws - Diu is not that far away. Shimla, thanks for your reference to westernrailwayindia.com which confirmed Steven's comments about the gauge work on the lines. Since I will be arriving at and departing from Delhi - having booked my tickets through travel.com.au ( open jaw tickets in Oz are quite a bit more expensive than simple return tickets) - I think that the broad details of my itinerary are achievable in 8 weeks, if only just. Three weeks for the hill stations (Srinagar, Dalhousie, MacLeod Ganj and Mussorie) with a side trip to Amritsar, two weeks in Rajasthan. just over a week in thaliland, and a fortnight to get back to Delhi by way of Ajanta (perhaps not Ellora), Mandu, Orchha and Shimla (leaving the best until last!).

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