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Published: December 16th 2020
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Statue of Unity (SoU): World’s tallest statue and Gujarat’s one of the best tourist destination is located 90 Km from Vadodara and 210 Km from Ahmedabad at the Sardar Sarovar Dam site.
Although I called it the ‘one of the best Tourist Destination of Gujarat’, it is far from access to the common man. Facilities are poor (though developing), guidance to the Tourists is non-existent – typical of (Gujarat) Government.
How do you reach? Only if you are RICH – you have to have your own vehicle or afford taxi. GSRSTC (state transport) is running special buses from Gandhinagar / Ahmedabad, one always has doubts about their regularity.
If you want to enjoy all the attractions, one day is not enough. Staying overnight – again expensive – but must be worth it – I have not tried.
In these Covid times, tickets are available on-line only. I hope it remains so in post-Covid times. It is a sure way of controlling traffic. We were lucky to get last two tickets for Sunday 10:00 am slot. First slot is for 9:00 am.
On-line Tickets are available for the following each having specific time slots:
·
SoU Viewing Gallery / Entry Ticket only – without Viewing Gallery
· Jungle Safari
· River Front Cycling / Couple Cycling / Electric Cycling
· River Rafting (Khalwani)
· Children Nutrition Park
· Nauka Vihar (from Dyke-3)
· Khalwani to Zarwani Eco Tourism Bus
· Ekta Nursery
· Cactus and Butterfly Garden
· Ekta Cruise
· Vishwa Van
· Glow Garden
· Arogya Van
They are listed in this sequence on the website. To know what is the right sequence logistically, you have to visit once, next time you will do it the right way!
We selected the following sequence:
· SoU Viewing Gallery / Entry Ticket only – without Viewing Gallery – 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
· Cactus and Butterfly Garden – 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
· Nauka Vihar (Dyke-3) – 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
· Jungle Safari – 3:00 to 4:00 pm
· Glow Garden – 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm
We didn’t get time to eat….! It wasn’t a good sequence. Because (i) we didn’t know the location of these
spots, especially the Cactus and Butterfly Garden – which is 15 min of fast driving one way from SoU, (ii) Nauka Vihar starting point is also far – 10 min by bus, (iii) one hour is not enough for Jungle Safari, and (iv) food is not available at every location.
Even if we had time, we would have remained hungry – because there is no decent restaurant in the vicinity of main tourist attractions. There are a few branded food stalls in SoU main complex, in Jungle Safari and near Parking. That’s all.
Now this ‘Parking’ is mysteriously located 1.5 Km
beyond the main SoU complex and there is NO sign board to tell you that it exists. Although you get free buses from Parking to almost every place, it should be
before the main complex – not
after it! This has led to illegal private parking and shanty Dhabas in front of SoU. One should park private vehicle in main Parking lot located 1.5 Km
beyond the main SoU complex and use free bus services to come back to SoU. Tourist guidance service is glaringly lacking in this main parking lot. Because of
that we ended up paying for both private parking (Rs. 100) and official parking (Rs. 150) and travelled between Parking and SoU to-and-fro
twice.
Near Parking there are two ‘attractions’: Dam View Point and Valley of Flowers. No entry tickets are required. We saw more flowers and better gardens elsewhere. Valley of Flowers can be skipped.
Now the good part:
The Statue is simply magnificent. After a long walk (or travellator) you reach the Statue. Museum at the base level is so-so. If you have Viewing Gallery ticket, you can go to the Viewing Gallery by lift and see panoramic view from a hight (chest level of the Statue) – if weather is clear. Then take another lift to come down to pedestal level on which the Statue stands. Escalators then take you to the ground level.
You have to just see the Statue to realise its magnanimity, it cannot be described. Worth the effort and money well spent.
We started first with SoU in the morning at 10:00. We came out of SoU complex at 11:30. Most people do this because we go there
to see SoU. In hind sight, it is not a good idea. Preferably keep the time slot for SoU around lunch (because of cafeteria in the complex) or the evening slot because of the light and sound show (which we missed) starting after sunset.
May be one should start with Cactus and Butterfly Garden which is on the opposite side of the river. To reach there the Bridge to Gora Colony is on the right just
before you reach Kevadia. That saves time. We had taken 12 o’clock slot for these – immediately after SoU. On asking we were mis-informed that buses are available from Parking. On reaching Parking, we learned that bus tickets have to be booked on-line beforehand. So, we returned to SoU – private parking, took out the car and went back to Gora Colony bridge and Gardens. To-and-fro took 30-40 min extra driving time.
Cactus Garden has three parts: Cactus Garden, Cactus Trail and Butterfly Garden. The Cactus Garden has nearly 400 varieties of Cactii. Magnificently arranged indoors and outdoors. We skipped Cactus Trail. Butterfly garden is a good collection of flowering plants. On way to Cactus Garden, there is
a small View Point called Selfie point.
Back to Parking. Already 1:45 pm. No time for lunch. From Parking we were told to go back to SoU bus stand from where catch Route-11 for boating. So, back to SoU, boarded the bus which passed by the Parking (!) and on to Dyke-3 for boating. 15 min free ride – included in Boating Ticket.
Boating in Sardar Sarovar reservoir is a different experience. When the Dam filed up, many forest and mountain (hills) areas were submerged which formed the reservoir. Some hill-tops have remained out of water. The boat passes through the two submerged hills. A different experience.
Back to Parking at 3:30, 45 min behind schedule – no lunch.
Two of our next destinations were walking distance from the Parking: Jungle Safari and Glow Garden.
Jungle Safari is well developed and well kept. Battery operated vehicles are available for part of it. Major attractions are African and Australian animals like Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest and Emu. Best part of Jungle Safari are the two domes where some exotic birds are kept free and you are allowed
to walk through.
4:30 already and dead tired. One more destination: Glow Garden.
Time slot was ideal – near sunset. Because that is the time when you can see the Glow – the lighting. Garden is very good. But we had already walked 8.75 Km and just wanted to call it a day.
Back to Parking. Munched some fast food to last for the next 3 hours of driving home and finish a wonderful trip.
Summary:
· The Statue is awesome.
· Lay-out is haphazard and maps or driving information are not available.
· There is no restaurant nearby and you don’t get a decent meal. Carry your own food and eat it in the vehicle.
· We covered just 5 of the 15 odd attractions in a day and even then, the pace was hectic.
· All the staff – security, housekeeping – all were very polite and courteous. Some info-booths would have made our day a lot easier.
· Cleanliness all around was excellent.
· Over-all cost is a bit high: tickets for the five spots cost Rs. 1030
per person. In other words, it is a tourist place with Rs. 1000+ per day entry ticket.
· Worth it.
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