30 September 2016

Skywatch - Shades of Colour!!!

For this weeks skywatching is this photograph from Shilma clicked from Mall road. The blue sky, white snow capped Himalayan peak, the green pines and the colourful roof tops made it a great sight.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Skywatch, skywatching, India, Himlayas, Himalayan Peak, Snow capped Himalaya, Mall Road,
Happy Skywatching!!!

15 September 2016

Ahmedabad Chronicles II - Trimandir, Auto World, Akshardham...

When we planned our trip to Ahmedabad, all my hubby had in mind was a visit to Auto World, Vintage Car Museum. When we planned our day tour of Gandhinagar and around, we planned for Museum. It was around 30mins drive from  Adalaj ni Vav to Auto World, and on the way we planned our visit to Trimandir of Adalaj. 

Trimandir, Adalaj

Adding to the list of Trimandirs by Dada Bhagwan, the temple at Adalaj has 13ft tall marble idol of Simandhar Swami in main sanctum, along with Adinath, Ajithnath, Parshwanath and Mahavir bhagwan. For the first time I had entered a spiritual place, with both Jain and Hindu idols. The temple also has meditation center and cafeteria. Its so refreshing to sit and meditate in the beautiful marble structure.

Auto World Vintage Car Museum Ahmedabad

A personal collection of Mr. Pranlal Bhogilal, the museum has over 100 luxury cars from finest brands like Rolls-Rocyces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langondas, Mercedeces, Maybach, Packards, Cadillacs, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Lancias, Lincolns, Chryslers. Its just not the cars but also other vintage bikes, antique vehicles like goat art, horse art, bullock carts which add to the collection. Its a must visit place if you love automobile. They also have fun rides in vintage cars around the museum. There is a cafeteria as well, but it looked no good. There is a small play area for kids too.
Rolls-Rocyces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langondas, Mercedeces, Maybach, Packards, Cadillacs, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Lancias, Lincolns, Chryslers
 
Rolls-Rocyces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langondas, Mercedeces, Maybach, Packards, Cadillacs, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Lancias, Lincolns, Chryslers

Rolls-Rocyces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langondas, Mercedeces, Maybach, Packards, Cadillacs, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Lancias, Lincolns, Chryslers

Rolls-Rocyces, Bentleys, Daimlers, Langondas, Mercedeces, Maybach, Packards, Cadillacs, Buicks, Auburns, Cord, Lancias, Lincolns, Chryslers

Akshardham


We reached the temple by 4 in the evening and had accordingly planned for the temple tour and the Water Show in the temple complex which was suggested by many of our friends when we planned our visit to Ahmedabad.
We had visited Akshardham Delhi back in 2014, but being a weekly off, we didn't get to visit inside the temple. When we saw the Akshardham temple of Gandhinagar, it looked way smaller than the Delhi one, but its architectural marvel was no less. A beautiful pink sand stone temple stood in the center of a garden. The temple has the idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the founder of Swaminarayan faith. The temple complex has a museum, which depicts the life of Swaminarayan, a souvenir shop and Sat-chit-Anand Water Show. The museum is quite hug and takes around 3 hours for a detailed visit, you can visit as per your preference and time constraints. By the time we were done with the museum, it was already dark and the temple was light with thousands of candles for diwali celebration. It was completely different sight to view the temple in lights. After spending some time we headed to water show, a must visit show especially if you are visiting with kids. Laser beams, water fountain and showers, fire, timing between the lights and human intervention, makes it a perfect show. Its a limited seating show, so better get your tickets as soon as you visit the temple.
By the time the show was done, there was hug traffic at the temple road and around. On the way we had dinner at Honest Restaurant, a well known vegetarian restaurant chain of Gajarat, on Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad Highway and reached Ahmedabad by 11 in the night.

Travel Tips:
Trimandir:
Timing 5AM to 10PM
Entry free

Auto World:
Timings: 9AM to 9PM
Entry Fee: Rs. 50/- and Rs. 100/- for photography
Vintage car ride: Rs. 500/- for 4 people

Akshardham:
Temple complex:
Entry free
Timings 9:30AM to 7 :30PM(Closed on Mondays)
Exhibition, Museum Timings 10AM to 6PM
Temple is light on Saturdays and Sundays
Water Show:
Timings depending on sunset, usually 7PM. 
45min show.
Fee Rs. 60/- for kids and Rs. 90/- for adults
Due to security reasons mobiles, cameras are strictly restricted in the whole temple complex.