Mandvi: Beaches, Palaces and Windmills

Mandavi: Palaces, Beaches and Windmills

Being at Mandvi

Gujarat has only recently after a spate of "Kuch Din to gujariye Gujarat mein" has recently arrived at the tourism scene like a big boy and this is because there is so much on offer that a week's journey is required to explore just one district. The jewel in Gujarat's crown is invariably the district of Kutch and one of the must visit destinations while you do your desert circuit is the beachy Mandvi

What to visit/do in Mandvi

       

        Mandvi Shipyard: This shipyard is a teleportation device it seems, the minute the vistas of the shipyard open you feel you have been transported back 500 years. Wooden ships in various stage of their building process are a delight to behold and reinforce the reputation of Kachchi fisherfolk as renowned seamen.

       Vijay Vilas Palace: There are multiple things worth mentioning once you visit the palace, let's list down individually. One, the architecture is distinctly of Rajasthani origin and it seems for once that you are standing somewhere near Jodhpur or Bikaner. Second, the palace has a well maintained garden, which poses itself for a venue of a perfect stroll. This expanse of greenery is extremely rare in this arid district. Third, the magnificent views from the rooftop. One can stare endlessly at the stark changes in the scenery lying ahead. There are beaches, sand , gardens, windmills, dusty houses, wooden ships, clear blue waters, fishermen nets, painted camels and what not. The words seem to be of utter disuse to justify what can only be witnessed with one's own eyes.

       Windfarm Beach: The beach seems to be a reincarnation of Juhu beach with all the food stalls selling famed Gujarati and Mumbai snacks and ofcourse it comes with associated plates,glasses and plastics strewn around. You can throw in the horse and camel manure too as they are aplenty offering you rides of different lengths as per your pocket. If riding a horse into the sunset is your dream, Mandvi provides the perfect backdrop for doing so. And the beach has windmills. WINDMILLS on a beach!! A truly picturesque setting after all

         The abovementioned description of Mandvi might have portrayed a pretty banal picture of a beach. If what's so special here is the question looming in your mind, then let us put that curiosity to rest. This has the best possible sunset. Period. How? There is a small manmade cement trip which separates the shipyard from the beach, which stretches reasonably far into the ocean. So what you should do? Exercise your muscle and hop on (You might need someone else's help to do so) and walk till you reach till the end and then what!! Nothing, you don't need anything else where water surrounds you from three sides and there is a picture-perfect sun in your foreground.

Where to eat?

You should definitely, I repeat, definitely drop in at Osho Lodge for arguably the best Thali of your life and if not, then definitely the best Value-for-money Thali during a roadtrip. The lodge is situated at one of the most congested areas of town hence it is a bit difficult to reach via a 4-wheeler which one needs to park at a nearby road. The restaurant from the outside seems to be in a dilapidated condition but these notions come to naught once you enter the establishment. There is only thali available on menu and you definitely need nothing else, the variety, the taste, the cordial service will make you curse yourself later on why you didn't eat more or on the contrary why you ate so much. The choice is yours but the outcome is the same, a satisfied self.

So…

Gujarat is a land of deserts, vegetarian cuisine, temples, modi, industry and progress. What doesn’t figure is that it is a state with the longest coastline and hence in addition to ports it is bound to have magnificent beaches too. T1his post was aimed at providing that small window into the beachy world of Gujarat.

!Mandvi Tip!

The Mandvi shipyard is extremely difficult to find and Google maps are upto no good here. Only follow the main roads as they are wider and the remainder of the town is extremely congested which makes navigating a 4-wheeler downright frustrating

Reaching Mandvi 

Okha: Gujarat's lost Kanyakumari

Being At Okha 

Nestled between giant touristy neighbors such as Bet-Dwarka and Dwarka, Okha is one of the most visited and yet most often overlooked gem. The only reason for majority of the travellers to remember the town is the terminal station of northern-saurashtra broad-gauge line which by all means is unimpressive but clean nonetheless. 

What to do/visit in Okha?

In all probability, you don’t have this question bugging you, after all, this place is only meant to be a pit-stop on your journey towards Bet-Dwarka. Right? Well you are committing a cardinal sin without being aware of it. Just take a break and immerse yourself in Okha. You won’t be disappointed. Let’s start on what one should explore.

     The Rocky Beach at Khodiyar Mataji Temple :- 

As you disembark from the railway station, hit the highway till its fruition, pass by a by-lane or two and search for European guest house from which the temple is a mere 5 mins walk. Now you have reached and before you give me a shout-out for bringing you to the not-so-picture-worthy temple, just walk a few more steps and look beyond. This is what we came here for. The cleanest un-beach which you can ever hope for!!!

Here is your Welcoming Squad

There is no sand bed but rather a rocky outcrop sparingly interspersed with dead corals. Let all your worries drop dead and just walk into the ocean. After all, that is the only sane thing to do at the moment. The beach descends gradually , the water is absolutely transparent, so just pick up a rock or two and fling it far in the turquoise waters. If you are lucky, there might be a ship or two to provide a backdrop for your long awaited Instagram pic. One just can’t crave for more

     Okha Jetty :-

Throngs of tourists, massive amounts of ferry activity, calls for embarking and a multitude of voices are floating in the atmosphere. Is there cacophony? Yes, but this is sheer melody as illustrated in the eagerness of faces of devotees seeking a blessing from the divine at Bet-Dwarka island, which looms at the horizon.

Brace yourself for one of the grandest welcomes you can ever witness with a horde of seagulls hovering above you demanding their share of the prasadam. Expected? No, Wanted? Yes!! So what are you waiting for, grab a bag of murmure(puffed rice) and be ready to help our avian friends satiate their hunger

Where to Eat?

There are few budget restaurants , no restaurant extraordinaire,  but in order to satiate your tummy, Raj Parathawala is the best amongst the lot, conveniently located on the Okha Main Bazaar road.

So....

As it is always said, one should always focus on experience and not on things, Okha, the Western India's very own Kanyakumari where the waters of Arabian Sea and Gulf of Kutch amalgamate, stands true to this testament. The rest is best left unsaid.

!Okha Tip! 

The shards at the rocky beach are sharp. Be sure to carry floaters, crocs to avoid injuries. One should also be careful while navigating oneself from the temple to the seashore as walking on rocks overboard seems to be a bit trickier than walking on them underwater. 

Reaching Okha

The best method of reaching Okha is by train which is well connected with the rest of the country. The train schedule can be found at Okha Train Time Table. If you are planning your onward journey towards Kutch then Okha presents with an option of ferry ride towards Mandvi, which is a must-visit destination on its own, 43 kms away by sea and 442 kms by road. More details about the superfast ferry service can be found at Okha Mandvi Ferry. One can also avail various tour options available at Dwarka (30 kms by road).