#WildlifeAndMore !!!

Gujarat, India’s westernmost state, has varied terrain and numerous sacred sites. Its capital city is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad.  In its urban center of Ahmedabad is the Calico Museum of Textiles, displaying antique and modern Indian fabrics. Gujarat is one of the four Indian states to prohibit the sale of alcohol. Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat is home to the only wild population of the Asiatic lions in the world. Gujarat has some of the major mountain ranges of India, including Aravalli, Sahyadri (Western Ghats), Vindhya and Saputara. Girnar is the tallest peak and Saputara is the only hill station in the state. One of the major tourist attractions in Gujarat is The Statue of Unity. It is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Independent India and the chief adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement. It is the world’s tallest statue with a height of (597 ft) 182 meters. It is located on the river facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada in the Kevadiya colony in the state of Gujarat. Here is the list of places we’ve visited during our trip:

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Hotel Imperial Somnath

Hotel Imperial Somnath is a beautifully designed hotel with luxurious room interiors and spacious rooms equipped with all modern amenities. This luxurious property is 4 km away from Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple and 1 Km from Somnath Railway Station. This hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. At the hotel, all the rooms are well equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a mind-blowing view. The daily breakfast offers buffet and vegetarian options. Guests can grab a bite to eat in the in-house restaurant, which serves a variety of Indian and International food dishes.

The Fern Gir Forest Resort

India’s favorite resort when visiting the famous Asiatic lions at Sasan Gir, The Fern Gir Forest Resort is a 5-star resort that offers 40 well-appointed, air-conditioned villas, suites, cottages and tents, and a very memorable vacation. True to an authentic experience of living in undisturbed nature, this property ensures the environment remains protected with its award-winning, environmentally sensitive programs. The resort is built in an ethnic style inspired by local design that has evolved the best balance in Gir’s hot summer and chilly winters.

#GIR Forest Safari

Gir Forest National Park is a wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, western India. It was established to protect Asiatic lions, who frequent the fenced-off Devalia Safari Park, along with leopards and antelopes. Gir Jungle Trail, outside the fenced area, traverses deciduous forest and is home to wildlife including Vultures, Sambar deers, Blue bull, Wild Boars, Blackbucks, Peacock, Pythons, Indian gazelle, Chowsinga and more. The Open Gypsy Wildlife Safari is definitely worth your time and never to be missed.

Mahatma Gandhi Museum

Rajkot was Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi’s primary family home in India until 1915, including during those years when he stayed in London and in South Africa. Gandhi Museum, commonly referred to as Mahatma Gandhi Museum is located in the city of Rajkot. As evident by its name, the museum is an attraction documenting and exhibiting the life and work of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was an activist of Indian origin who fought for the country’s independence against the British colonizers, by employing non-violent techniques thereby inspiring freedom fighters all over the world. Gandhi Museum, a significant heritage spot is frequently recommended for tourists visiting the region as it provides one with a background of Indian culture, mentality, and history. One may explore the museum consisting of 39 galleries in order to obtain enriching and interesting information about Gandhi and his ideologies. The museum also accommodates a souvenir shop, delightful food court, relaxing garden and facilities that can be availed as needed such as tour guides, parking, ATMs, an extensive library, information center for any concerns and restroom facilities among others. The ticket price is 25 INR per person and timings are 9 AM – 6 PM. Please plan your visit accordingly.

Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple

The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Junagadh in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. It is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot of Gujarat. This temple attracts millions of visitors from all around the world and has quite a picturesque view at night. Cameras are strictly prohibited inside the temple. The authorities have made a separate arrangement of digital lockers for the devotees right outside the temple. Have a wonderful time with your loved ones and may God bless you all.

Here are the most recommended dishes from our end:

• Honest Gujarati Thali

Gujarati Thali from Honest Restaurant in Gujarat is one of the most recommended #THALI from our end. This limited thali contains a variety of food items including dhokla, salad, papad, potato sabzi, Gujarati dal, rice, buttermilk, mutter & cauliflower gravy, undhiyu, sev tomato sabzi, samosa, jalebi, green chili, and butter roti. The price of this delicious vegetarian thali is 220 INR inclusive of all taxes.

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Overall Experience and Rating

We planned this amazing trip to Gujarat for 4 Nights and 5 days. We commenced our train journey from the Mumbai Central railway station in Mumbai towards Rajkot station in Gujarat. We hired a 6 seater AC vehicle from Rajkot station for a duration of 4 days. From there on, Hotel Imperial Somnath was our first staycation experience. We visited Somnath Jyotirlinga temple and a couple of restaurants nearby this property. The very next day we headed towards the Sasan Gir area in the state of Gujarat. We had booked two wintergreen cottage rooms at the Fern Gir Resort for 2 nights and 3 days. All the meals were inclusive as a part of this special package. You will be allowed to purchase alcohol in Gujarat provided you are a resident outside Gujarat and you have carried original address proof and pan card along with you. You can register for e-permit at http://eps.gpeonline.co.in/ and are allowed to purchase 13 cans of beer per permit. If you wish to consume wine then you can buy one bottle of wine (750 ml) and 8 cans of beer or you could opt for 1-liter whiskey and 4 cans of beer. On the second day, we went for Devalia Wildlife Gypsy Safari from 5 PM to 6 PM where we spotted a bunch of wild animals including leopard and lions. On the third day, we went for a 3 hour long Gir Forests Open Gypsy Wildlife Safari from 4 PM to 7 PM in the evening. It was an amazing thrill to be out in the open jungle and witness the wild animals hunt for their prey. If you happen to know someone from the forest department in Gir then you can have the privilege of experiencing a night wildlife safari with the government officials. On our way back to Rajkot airport, we visited the Mahatma Gandhi Museum and dined at our favorite thali restaurant. We had an amazing time in Gujarat experiencing the Gir wildlife safari and would love to come back again.

Ambience – 4.8/5

Food – 4.6/5

Service – 4.9/5

Stay & Comfort – 4.8/5

Address: SH-26, Malia Sasan Rd, Sasan Gir, Gujarat 362135.

The Food Punch Recommendation – 4.8/5

Contact us regarding any queries – thefoodpunched@gmail.com

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