Stories from Gujarat

INDIAN STORIES

Welcome to Gujarat

The Republic of India was one of the last countries on my bucket list, but the challenge was knocking on my door and when a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade, right?

As a woman travel photographer always loaded with all the heavy photo equipment I have my fears and concerns before every travel adventure, but I am always trying to go above them.

I guess a decade of constant travels living everywhere around the world made my skin ticker, made me stronger I could ever imagine. I took the chance, packed my camera gear and traveled to India.

You see my friends India is a vast country. It is the second largest nation in terms of population and seventh largest in therms of area. To be more precise my path lead me to the Western coast of India, to Gujarat.

I didn’t expect to hear one of my dearest and politest greetings- Namasté for quite some time. For a minute I flown back to beloved Nepal.

What a beautiful and delightful blessing to start my travels to the unknown.

MY MISSION WAS…

to meet the ancient inhabitants and access the tribal villages in the rural India. I wanted to spend some time with both highly advanced and medieval tribes.

to climb over 3,750 stone steps and supposably attain nirvana at the world’s largest Temple Complex, Palitana, considered to be the most sacred pilgrimage place by the Jain community. (over 900 temples)

to experience an ancient old charming heritage hotel. Seen the movie “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”? Yeah, something similar but in Darbargadh Heritage Hotel in Poshina, Gujarat.

to drive to one of the largest salt deserts in the world, Great Run of Kutch. After off roading the Gobi and Sahara desert, there was one major desert missing on my list, the white desert lying between Gujarat, India and the Sindh province, Pakistan.

to see the heavily patrolled international border between India and Pakistan. Unsuitable time I know (all the airports has closed down at the time of my staying) but there is no easy way to satisfy my curiosity isn’t it? Yeah, photography is strictly prohibited! This time I listened, I didn’t want to get in trouble.

to visit an exceptional example of technological development, zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rani-ki-Vav a stepwell constructed for utilising groundwater resources.

My first stop was in the capital city Ahmedabad, the largest state in Gujarat, home to Mahatma Gandhi.

Rustic architecture in Ahmedabad was quite charming, especially before the sunset, when the golden light pointed out all the structures and shined the glory of the life on streets.