The Kutch Full Moon Escape (7th to 12th February, 2017) Small Group Tour

After our arrival in Bhuj, we head to the Swaminarayan Mandir, also known as ‘Bhuj Mandir’. The Temple was ravaged and damaged during the massive 2001 Gujarat earthquake but from its debris, followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday built a brand new temple that stands bathed in pure white marble and gold that is stunning with intricate carvings of Ramayana and Mahabharata that never cease to amaze you no matter how many times you look at it. Then we head back to the hotel and check in at Bhuj, and have a delicious Gujarati dinner there.
                                      

                                                    Bhunga at the White Rann Resort
                                                         Picture credits- ABC Tours & Travels

The next day we leave for Dhordo to discover the unending White Rann of Kutch and its perils. After driving for two hours we check in to the Bhungas, then spend the day discovering the resort and it’s adventures like Camel Cart rides, Segway, Parasailing (if weather permits) interspersed with large vegetarian meals and snacks along the day. We set out late in the afternoon to visit the Kalo Dhungar and Gandhi Nu Gham. Kalo Dhungar or Black Hills is the highest point in Kutch that has the panoramic view that feels like the Great Rann and the sky have merged together. At Kalo Dhungar is the 400-year-old Dattatreya temple (Lord Dattatreya is an incarnation of the Hindu holy trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh). Legend says that when Dattatreya walked on the earth, he stopped at the Black Hills and found a band of starving jackals. Being a god, he offered them his body to eat and as they ate, his body continually regenerated itself.

    

Full Moon White Rann 

Picture credits- ABC Tours & Travels

The third day after breakfast we visit the villages of Khavda and Ludiya which are famous for intricate handicrafts, pottery and embroidery work, then we head back to Rann for Lunch. The rest of the day is spent relaxing and watching the famed White Rann Sunset. After 7pm we will indulge in the Rann Utsav performances, handicrafts and other activities while we soak in the magnificent moonlight view of this stunning area hugging the Indo Pak border.

Saying goodbye to one of the bucket list experiences of one’s lifetime, we head back to Bhuj. En-route we visit Mandvi beach, the Vijay Vilas Palace (where the Royalty of Kutch still live). Once we reach Bhuj and check in to our hotel, we continue unravelling Bhuj and visit Prag Mahal, Aaina Mahal and Kutch Museum (if time permits)

                                                                              Mandvi Beach
                     Picture credits- http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/339

The fifth day we leave early for Dholavira, the second largest Harappan sites in the Indian sub-continent and remains of the Indus valley civilization. Our guide will take us on a journey back into the history on our adventure. After lunch, we leave early evening back to Bhuj in time for dinner.

                                                   Dholavira Archaeological Site
                    Picture credits- http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/339

We Leave back home on the sixth day with a heavy heart, but enriched with stories of another era and treasures along with memories from one of the world’s largest deserts across two countries.

Please email us on cheindia5000@gmail.com for itinerary and pricing for this trip or call us on +919845077065(Seema S Jaising) if you are interested. Bookings open until 15 Jan, 2017 unless spots fill up!

The writer is the owner of a travel experience company (Che Travel)

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 Sri Lanka- Colombo, (islands capital) Galle (beaches, contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine at Kaema Sutra, Peace Pagoda)

Sri Lanka has been written about for ages, the birth place of the famous demon Ravana from the Ramayana. This island country has more to it, with a stark scattering of stunning beaches, scented tea mountains and amazing forests all within this small country, is the most Exotic place to even visit as I felt during my trip there last year to celebrate the coming of 2015. We started the last day of 2014 i.e., my hubby, Arjun Pandalai Enthu friend Rura Edekar and always spirited mother Bindu Lulla Jaisingh with Colombo of course, shopping of course high on our agenda, we started off with Odel. Then dropped by for coffee and cake at Dutch Hospital (yes that’s a shopping village) and boasts of local boutique stores like Ayirate, barefoot (with best tea and cinnamon based products including cinnamon toothpastes) and of course The Ministry of Crab that serves the best black pepper crab this side of the world.  

We started the New Year by visiting the Buddhist Temple of Seema Malaka bang in the centre of the chaotic and colourful Colombo.  Apparently, the original Seema Malaka Temple had sunk into the lake, and the Government Commissioned, famous Architect- Geoffrey Bawa to design a replacement in the 1970's, that is to say the least is one of the most gorgeous Buddhist Meditation Centres I’ve ever visited.  Thus, this part of our visit was the much needed Serenade to a noisy partying we did the night before ending 2014.             

                                     Picture Credits - http://eatingcoventgarden.com/fabulous-sri-lankan-dishes-at-kaema-sutra-in-colombo/

Sri Lankan food is both delicious and spicy with a lingering taste of fresh herbs, spices in the sea, as the country is famous for all of them in abundance. My friend Angelo, who is a resident of Colombo, took it upon him to indulge us to the best food that his city had to offer, and like all hospitable Sri Lankans, introduced us to Kaema Sutra (literally means art of food) a joint venture of the glamorous Bollywood actress and model Jacqueline Fernandez – a chef Darshan Munidasa, located in the stunning Arcade Independence Square. Our meal of fresh cashew curry (my favourite), freshwater prawn curry (the size of their prawns would pat our shrimps to shame), boneless goat curry, chicken kothu (they even have a non-crab version of this though I wonder why you would like to be health conscious with all these yummy smell, taking over) with both plain and egg hoppers which kicked us into a definite state of food coma, a fitting end to our Colombo trip.

 

The next day we took off to the less touristy beaches in Vaskodava and the Dutch city of Galle, two hours from Colombo.  Enroute to Galle, we had a quick stop to Ambalangoda and boarded some mask’s for our homes (we can shop anywhere obviously grabbing another spicy Sri Lankan meat at a roadside shack, starting mindlessly a that clear blue Arabic Sea hugging it.

The quaint town of Galle is a must to visit for its cobbled stone streets. European style deserts in the cafe, (their cheese cake was even better than the one I have eaten in the town of Lake Como) and the Rumassala with a Peace Pagoda. The Ramasalia as legend would have it, is a spot where Hanuman, the Monkey God dropped some medical herbs that he was carrying to treat the wounded, fighting the war against Ravana. Right next to the Hanuman Idol, there is a glistening peace Pagoda built from the four stages of life of King Siddhartha to Lord Buddha on gold through statues. This is also one of the sights that had the most beautiful view of Galle Bay and the Dutch and the post also from there.

All in the Sri Lanka was a treat to all our senses and we left definitely wanting to return to discover many more of her hidden treasures to be uncovered and to come back for the taste of their fragrant cuisine and famed friendly hospitality.

 

For any queries contact- Seema S Jaising

Che Travels/ Chhe Events
India
Mob: +9198450 77065(Blr)
email - cheindia2000@gmail.com