Offbeat GIR District
Offbeat GIR District I admiringly got up to the chirping of birds early in the morning with merciful gusts in the handcrafted cottage which is made of dry grass & traditional outdoor jhula. The alluring surroundings of coconut trees. It was an amazing experience to eat out heavenly desi food cooked with home-grown ingredients. Woahh wondering where will you get such a stay in Gir? http://www.mandeepresort.com/ I’ve been traveling to Gir district and collecting memories, there’s been a lot of self-talking as well as group discussions about these offbeat places to explore. It was a great pleasure, the anonymity of being somewhere nobody knew me. In case you all have read my previous blog- Gir Somnath. You all know I truly enjoyed the Gir a lot in Gir and it influenced me to explore the places in Gir from there. Here are some spots to be added to the GIR trail. Let’s jump on to my itinerary. Which will help you plan your itinerary when visiting Gir. This is one of the most aesthetically pleasing districts of India. Trust me. These places are one of the most culturally and historically rich spots of Gujarat. Places to see in Gir District As mentioned before, this district is filled with amazing architectural gems and historical spots which makes this a fascinating district to visit. Here are a few places that you must visit when exploring this stunning Gir district. You will fall in love with grandness and timeless architecture. The energetic and colorful markets will beckon you to buy beautiful ancient fabric, shoes, jewelry, and so on. Seashore puts a mind at ease: Along with the world-famous Gir Temple, Gir Beach forms an important part of the itinerary for a visitor. It is famous for its beautifully sparkling waves and long stretches of grey sands. Travelers can unwind here after a long day of sightseeing, although, swimming is not recommended. Sunsets are particularly beautiful and add a fascinating touch to the end of a great day. Beauty, Truth & Meaning of our pilgrimage -Prabhas Patan: This is well worth a stop. This museum has protected the parts of the earlier Gir Temple. It is a great job by the Gir Trust. Archaeology lovers must visit this place and see the sculptures from the old Gir temple. This museum is a hidden gem of Somnath. It is about 15 minutes’ walk from the Gir Temple. It is maintained by the government of Gujarat. It was found in 1951. There are nearly 3500 objects exhibited in a raw. The museum also houses an assortment of seashells and pottery shards. Heavy stuff the museum is closed on Wednesdays/public holidays and open from 10:30 to 17:30 hrs on other days. As we entered, rows of fragments from pillars and walls of the destroyed temple of Somnath, greeted us. Left open to the elements they were blackened and severely eroded. They were a depressing sight. But there are two covered buildings, the one to the left, housing the stone slabs with inscriptions collected from around Prabhas Patan, and the one directly in front where the Gujarat government has reconstructed the temple chambers with pillars and domes. Though the labelling is pretty poor so you need to have an eagle eye to find the museum. Some of the exhibits seem to have been restored (faces restored but the body damaged). We spent more than an hour here. In the end, we were left wondering what would have caused the attackers to damage such beautiful sculptures. Don’t forget to Immerse yourself in Triveni Sangam Very nice view especially in the evening and don’t forget to feed something to the birds to see their Gathering. The confluence of the three rivers Hiran, Kapila, and Saraswati is the point where the rivers meet the mighty Arabian Sea. At Triveni Sangam, you will see a lot of white birds which make it a very beautiful place as birds will be all around you flying chirping, etc. Another corner which can make you rejoice- Kamnath: Stunning, that’s what came out from this Rahee’s heart and I started dancing while capturing the beauty- just like a peacock, who dance with an open mind and loving heart. The unbelievable truth here is, this Shiva linga is self-proclaimed and it’s 5000 years old. This spot has crazy footfall in Savan month. It has been said that Lord Krishna stayed back a night here to do Pooja as it was the last visited place of Krishna’s avatar. From this, lord Krishna headed towards Bhalka tirth for another green of god. Tirth which can’t be seen with material eyes but by mercy- Bhalka Tirth: I fondly remember walking up to this I was wondering how they did this. What an incredible architecture. It is the most recognizable scene of my so-called heard virtual story of Bhalka tirth. Is the place where Krishna was hit by an arrow shot by a hunter named Jara, after which he is said to have left the earth for the heavenly abode, an act referred to in the Puranas as Shri Krishna Nijdham Prasthan Leela. It has the everlasting mesmerizing moves of Lord Krishna. Devalia Park Did you assume another famous spot of Gir, from my background?? Apart from Somnath! A nature reserve in Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary. Which is Located 13 km from Sasan. Devalia Park provides a whole wildlife experience to tourists and reduces tourist overload from Gir National Park. Sighting of the Asiatic lion and other wild animals of Gir is easy, within a short period, and at cheaper charges. Do you all know? What can make this nature trip even kin- Savni waterfall: It was the last day of our one-week-long trip and there was no way I was going home without admiring this stunning waterfall at Savni. I truly agree with Roland R. “There’s no better place to find yourself than sitting by a waterfall and listening to its music” Savni waterfall is a must-visit