A year that ends with a weekend calls for a weekend trip. However, even though the idea has landed a little late, Gujarat still has a lot to offer for all the late planners out there.  

These places, at an arm’s length to Gujarat’s metropolitans, offer a perfect weekend getaway to end the year on a memorable high.

Ahmedabad

The UNESCO World Heritage City of Ahmedabad is itself a place to explore. You can take a leisurely, interesting, and history-buff-friendly heritage walk in Ahmedabad before the next year starts!

55 km away from all the bustlings of Ahmedabad, there rests the nonchalant district of Patan, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rani-ki-Vav. The streets of the city, which still sing tales of the Chavda, Solanki, and Chalukya dynasties, is also home to ‘Paris of Gujarat’:  Sidhpur. 

While it is famous for the Rudra Mahalaya Temple, the town also holds importance for the rich, pastel-aesthetic havelis and mansions of the affluent community of Bohra Muslims. A stroll at ‘Bohra Vad’ will remind you of 19th-century Europe, imitating Victorian architecture.

If nature is your calling, Sabarkantha’s Polo Forest is a must-go picnic spot. It’s home to 450 species of plants and herbs, more than 250 species of birds, and over 60 species of animals, including mammals and reptiles.

Vadodara

If you’re in Vadodara  and do not want to opt for the  crowd-favourites like Sindhrot and Kotna, a few interesting getaways are awaiting.

Once again, a UNESCO heritage site, Champaner, and Pavagadh are go-to places for Barodians, merely 54 km away from the city. Attractions include Nagina Masjid, Kevada Masjid, and Jami Masjid. Pavagadh, one of the Shakti Peeths, is where the temple of goddess Kali stands tall in the Vindhyachal mountain range.

For adventurers, camping along the riverside area of Chanod is a good option  to go with friends and family. The area along the river Orsang is 58 km from Vadodara.

Surat

The diamond city of Surat may lure you with its attractions, including malls, skyscrapers, and the new Diamond Bourse in the town. Away from the rattle-tattle of the city, natural locations include Kadia Dungar and Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The famous 182-metre Statue of Unity is located around 154 km from Surat, near Kevadia, a part of the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The sanctuary also has waterfalls to visit on weekends, including Zarwani waterfall and Ninai waterfall in Dediapada taluka.

Kadia Dungar Buddhist Cave is one of seven rock-cut caves situated near Bharuch. It is believed to be the place where Hidimba and Bheem, the Mahabharata characters, met and got married. Folklore has it that one of the caves here has the footprints of Bheem.

Surat also offers two of the beach getaways among these cities, with Daman and Dumas.

Rajkot

Near Rajkot, the Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary is where you can visit with friends and family and also take a detour at the famous Hanuman temple in Sarangpur.

The Hingolgadh Fort treasures a natural view of the surrounding lush green landscape.

In a three-hour drive to the south of Rajkot, the holy hill of Shatrunjaya is home to Palitana Jain temples.

Prominent pilgrimage sites, including Somnath, Dwarka, Khodaldham, and Girnar, are also located in Saurashtra to visit from Rajkot.

For more such updates and news on the go, follow us on Instagram | YouTube | Facebook