If you thought Gujarat was just a land of deserts, temples and snacks, think again. Peppered with animal and bird sanctuaries, Gujarat is a must visit for bird lovers and travel enthusiasts and it is not just the world famous Gir Sanctuary, home of the Asiatic Lion that attracts travellers. This week we showcase three places around Ahmedabad that can be visited in the space of a day.
Nalsarovar lake: Located 45 kms from the main city of Ahmedabad, Nalsarovar is one of the largest wetland bird sanctuaries in the country with a lake measuring over 120 km.
Nalsarovar lake attracts more than 200 species of birds during the winter seasons between November and February.
Some of them travel distances of over 3000 kms all the way from Central Europe to come spend the winter at Nalsarovar.
Declared a bird sanctuary in 1969, the interested birdwatcher will be overwhelmed with flocks of Grey-lag geese, Open Bill Storks, Glossy Ibis’, Coots, Cranes and Rosy and Dalmatian Pelicans who will make a beeline for the lake during winter.
The lake plays home to 360 islets most of which are exposed to the sky when water levels are low.
It is possible to go boating around the lake and the local population will offer boat rides for as low as `50-100 for an hour’s ride through the lake. The local cuisine is another attraction here.
The rowboat operator will usually throw in lunch at an additional rate and you can have it in peace amongst one of the islets straight from a wooden ‘Chulha’ or stove.
The most popular dishes to have would be ‘Bajra’ roti with a spicy chutney made from red chillies.
The best time to visit Nalsarovar is during winter between October and January and considering its closeness to Ahmedabad, tourists can also consider visiting the city during ‘Navratri’, when the whole city is lit up and the people dance the nights away for nine days.
Background: The Nal region is a low-lying area between the plains of the Central Gujarat and Eastern Saurashtra.
Owing to its low lying topography, it is believed to represent a filled up sea link, that previously existed between the Little Rann in the north and the Gulf of Khambat in the south.
Remnants of this sea are thought to be represented by the Nalsarovar.
How to get there: By road: The Nearest bus stations are at Ahmedabad (64kms), Viramgam (40 kms) and Sanand (42 kms).
By rail: The Nearest Railway station are Viramgam - 40 kms & Ahmedabad - 64 Kms By air: The Nearest airport is Ahmedabad (64 kms).
Thol Lake: A birder’s paradise located a mere 25 kms from Ahmedabad towards Mehsana district, Thol is a shallow freshwater body surrounded by marshes and scrubby forest.
The lake area is 7 square kilometres and has been declared a bird sanctuary.
Thol plays host to around 50 bird species of which close to 10 or so are migratory birds.
Birders and bird photographers can get to observe Greater Flamingoes, Greater White Pelicans, Common Teal, Northern Pintail and permanent residents like Green Bee-eater, Purple Sunbird, etc.
Located so close to Ahmedabad, Thol is also perfect for a day picnic and offers mesmerising views of the sunset to visitors.
How to get there: By Road from Ahmedabad From the Thaltej Crossroads (near Drive-in theater) take the route going towards Thaltej, continue on this for about 20km and once you get in the Thol village, follow the signs for the ‘Thol Lake’
Lothal: The southern most outpost of the Harappan Civilization, Lothal’s history dates back to even before the Harappan’s arrival in 2400 BC.
Lothal is located around 80 kms from Ahmedabad and is popular for its lockgated dockyard which was perhaps one of maritime architecture’s greatest achievements.
The city boasts of separate baths, residential houses, workshops for blacksmiths and even factories. Also the entire city is linked by an excellent sanitary drainage system which dates back to 1900 BC.
Background: Lothal developed as a centre of the bead industry until 1900 BC when the great flood resulted in 300 years of decline.
However, the civilisation survived here in the 1600s and 1500s, after it disappeared from the northern provinces, and the result is a high maturity in town planning and a fine insight provided by less derelict ruins.
How to get there:
By road: Lothal is 78 kms from Ahmedabad. Buses from Ahmedabad take 3 hours.
By rail: Ahmedabad is the nearest railway station.
By air: Ahmedabad is the nearest airport.
The site is open from dawn to dusk, and entry is free.
