Indroda Nature Park

Indroda Nature Park, also know as "Indroda Dinosaur and Fossil Park" is spread over 400 hectares in Gandhinagar. It is regarded as India's Jurrasic Park and is one of the only two dinosaur museums in the country, other being Balasinor Dinosaur Museum. Dinosaur replicas and a massive skeleton of a blue whale are the two key attractions of the park.

Apart from these, the park consists of a zoo and a vast botanical garden as well. Once can see a variety of birds, reptiles, nilgais, langurs and peafowls at the park. Zoo has animals like leopard, lion, spotted deer, sambar, blue bull, blackbuck, chinkara, jackal, crocodile, porcupine and more. Kids just loved this place.

My Verdict:

A great place for half a day picnic with family and school going children.

Best time to visit:

Around the year. However considering the hot weather, winter is considered as the best time to visit.

Places around:

Adalaj Stepwell, Akshardham Temple

Tips:

• Avail the golf cart facility if you are unable to walk for an hour or so
• Don’t try to feed the animals

This place on map:

IndrodaNature Park

Tags:

Weekend Trip, Half day picnic, Dinosaur Park, Blue Whale Skeleton

  

   

 

 

Note: Ticket and Golf Cart instructions as of April 2021

Sarkhej Roza

At the time when Ahmedabad wall city was built, Sarkhej was a village with a population consisting of weavers and indigo-dyers, who were predominantly Hindus. It became associated with the name of Shaikh Ahmed Khattu Ganj Baksh, a Sufi saint and an advisor to Sultan Ahmed Shah, who in his later years retired to the quiet environment of Sarkhej, away from the city.

Sarkhej comprises one of the most elegant architectural complexes of Ahmedabad. Grouped around a great stepped tank is the tomb to the saint, Ahmed Khattu Ganj Baksh (1445), the mosque, the tombs of Mehmud Shah Begada and his queen, and the palace and pavilions. 

The architectural style of Sarkhej Roza is a precursor to the Mughal period in a true amalgamation of Hindu, Jain and Islamic styles. Hindu craftsmanship and construction know-how was overlaid on Islamic sense of geometry and scale. The Islamic architectural reflects the influence from Persia with indigenous Hindu and Jain features forms a composite “Indo-Saracenic” architectural style.

Visiting Hours: 09:00 am to 06:00 pm everyday

Location: Sarkhej Roza

 

Ghoradeshwar Temple

Ghoradeshwar Temple:

Ghoradeshwar temple is a holy shrine of Lord Shiva on a hill top. The Shivling (Shivalinga) is inside a cave. So you need to climb around 350 odd steps to reach at the hilltop. If you are in a good shape, then it shouldn’t take more than 20-25 mins. There are few caves on the hilltop, so walk around in both the direction and check out all of them. The caves are carved from big rocks, the architecture is similar to the other Buddhist caves in this area. I wonder if these caves were initially carved by Buddhist Monks and later turned into a Shiva temple or it was always a Shiva temple! I couldn’t find much authentic information around it, so my question remains unanswered.

Being a hilltop, you could get a nice view around. This place is generally not much crowded, except special days like Savan month, Shivaratri, etc… You could feel the tranquility at this place. At the same time, you could see the glimpse of the modern world as well. From one end of the hill, you can see the express highway and the cricket stadium.

This place is situated on the old Pune-Mumbai highway at Ghoarwadi village. That is how the name Ghoradeshwar has come, I guess!! If you approaching from Pune, then it comes on your left side, just before the Somatane toll plaza and Talegaon. It is very easy to miss this place, so if you reach toll plaza then you have missed it. :) The vehicles can be comfortably parked at the foothill, off the highway. There is enough space for parking.

My Verdict:

A perfect family outing place, good option for a half day trip from Pune.

Best time to visit:

Any time of the year. Roaming around Sahyadri ranges is a real treat to eyes in monsoon (Jul-Sep) and it applies to this place as well.

Places around:

Lonavala, Caves - Bhaja, Karla, Bedse, Forts - Tung, Tikona, Lohgad, Visapur

Tips:

• Carry some snacks and a chatai (mat) with you and this could turn out to be memorable picnic for you and your family
• Being a Shivling many devotees carry milk with them for Abhishek. A humble request to all - please don’t throw milk packets, plastic bags or any other garbage around.

This place on map:

Ghorwadeshwar

Tags:

Weekend short trek, Half day picnic, Pune Outskirts, Pune Getaways