Ahmedabad Chronicles I - Adalaj Ni Vav...

Being in Mumbai I always preferred exploring surrounding Gujarat and near by state than Southern states, with the feeling that South can be explored anytime when we move back to Bangalore for good. My vacations anytime to native are accompanied with trips around anyways. As part of a recent extended weekend we planned our trip to Ahmedabad and Vadodara. Though we had plans of driving down, we had to settle with bus journey at the nth moment. We had planned for 4 days trip with 2 days each at Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

We reached Ahmedabad by 8 in the morning and started with our tour by 9:30. We had booked taxi for the first day to explore places around Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Our driver suggested us to take the tour of other places and reach Akshar Dham temple at Gandhinagar by 4, so that we could have enough time to spend time at temple and watch the light and sound show. One of the best part in Gujarat for a foodie like me is the pure vegetarian food the state offers at almost every nook and corner. So with no hazzle I could wander around anywhere in Gujarat. After breakfast we drown to Adalaj ni Vav.

Built in Indo Islamic style in 1496AD by Ruda, wife of Vaghela chief Virasimha, this octagonal shaped well has five storeys. Each floor has pillars with intricate carvings, highlight of which are a king seated on a stool under parasol with two chauri - bearers in attendance, scene showing churning of buttermilk, Bhairava, dances, musicians, birds, animals. The carvings of god and goddess are worshiped even today. There is lot to look for and admire the work gone in, decades ago.

The weather was perfect during our visit and was bit crowded too being an extended long weekend. Managed to click these avoiding the crowd.

Travel Tips:

Adalaj Ni Vav is around 18km from Ahmedabad and 5km from Gandhinagar. You can hire a taxi for the tour of tourist places around Ahmedabad or there are autorickshaws too, which take you to Adalaj Ni Vav from both Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Nearest railway station is Kalupur.