[sridhga]

I plan to go to Somnath from Ahmedabad and back. The distance is about 400 km one way. I heard the road is good until Rajkot. Can this round trip be covered in one day? Any one knows?

[ramkya1]

Originally Posted by sridhga

I plan to go to Somnath from Ahmedabad and back. The distance is about 400 km one way. I heard the road is good until Rajkot. Can this round trip be covered in one day? Any one knows?

Hai Sridhga,

I did this sector in 2005, took 3 days for Dwaraka, Somnath, could have easily done it in 2 days. The trip log is attached herewith so that you would know the distances.

http://www.arkzsol.com/TRIP%20LOG%20%20DWARAKA1.htm

The A'bad Rajkoat section is generally good, lots of switch-backs, 4 laning is going on, I did the A'bad-Chotila section 3 times in the last 6 months (chotila to Rajkoat is about 20 Kms)for some business purposes to Thangadh. From Rajkoat to Dwaraka and to Saomnath thro the Porbandar section would be a beautiful drive, roads are OK, single track.

Stay in hotel GuruPrerna @ Dwaraka, they are OK. If you start early in the morning you can reach Dwaraka, cover Bed Dwaraka, stay for the night, drive to Somnath, visit temple and drive back to Ahmedaabd.

Happy Driving,

--Ramky
=========

[sridhga]

That was an excellent log Ramkya Thanks a ton. By the way how safe is the boat ride in Dwarka? Especially during the rainy season?

[condor]

Ramky, he's looking for AMD-Somnath only. I guess it can be done in 24 hrs, with sufficient time for darshan.

Is there some new work on the AMD-RAJ section ? IIRC, there was just a couple of switch backs.

[ramkya1]

Originally Posted by condor

Ramky, he's looking for AMD-Somnath only. I guess it can be done in 24 hrs, with sufficient time for darshan.

Is there some new work on the AMD-RAJ section ? IIRC, there was just a couple of switch backs.

Hai Condor,

I remember, last time you were in Rajkoat, I was in Thangarh, we missed each other by a whisker

Last week someone went to Rajkoat, there are still 5/6 switchbacks, specially after Shyla, road work going on. They have just declared this corridor, 225 kms, to be upgraded to a 6 lane, more chaios to follow!!!

Yes, Ahmedabad-Somnath can be done in a day; it would be much more enjoyable if one can do it on a Saturday+Sunday, stay at Dwaraka on saturday night, you can cover Bed Dwaraka, cover a Jyothirlinga temple (don't remember the name now), evening darshan at Dwaraka proper, early morning to Samnath, cover Sashan Gir Safari too and be back to Ahemdabad by 6/7 pm.

Sridhga,

I dont think there's any danger, its just a short ride away, you can reach the boat-jetty, see the scene and decide.

--Ramky
==========



--Ramky

[phamilyman]

There is a forest route via Velavadar.

abad - bagodara - valabhipur - Amreli - Dhari - Una for Diu or the kodinar route for somanath.

Do post pics when you return. This would be a lovely time in the forest.

/misses amdavad.

[ramkya1]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

There is a forest route via Velavadar.

abad - bagodara - valabhipur - Amreli - Dhari - Una for Diu or the kodinar route for somanath.

Do post pics when you return. This would be a lovely time in the forest.

/misses amdavad.

Phamilyman,

This route is the most scenic, if you have the time and a good SUV. My son went to Diu, June 2nd week, with friends, the section from Amreli to Diu was not so good, their Qualis had to struggle thro. potholes, bumpy roads on this section; smaller cars would be pounded.

Moreover, after June, there has been heavy rains in and around this section, bound to have worsened. Don't know this moths updates.

--Ramky
===========

[condor]

ramkya1 : Ahmedabad-Somnath can be done in a day; it would be much more enjoyable if one can do it on a Saturday+Sunday, stay at Dwaraka on saturday night, you can cover Bed Dwaraka, cover a Jyothirlinga temple (don't remember the name now), evening darshan at Dwaraka proper, early morning to Samnath, cover Sashan Gir Safari too and be back to Ahemdabad by 6/7 pm.

Will need about a day in Dwarka itself to cover Dwarka, the Jyotirling temple & Bet Dwarka.

It should take about 4-5 hours to cover the 200 km from Dwarka to Somnath (Veraval). If you are going to do Gir also, then two days will not be enough.

Just in case you do drive through Amreli, then pls dont expect the roads to be all good. The regular roads were fine. But the ones through the forest & interior areas can be bad

ramkya1 : I dont think there's any danger, its just a short ride away, you can reach the boat-jetty, see the scene and decide.

The boat ride to Dwarka should not be a problem. If the weather is too bad, then the boats would not be taken out by the operators. These boats are big enough to take atleast 50 people.

The ride takes about 10-15 min.

ramkya1 : I remember, last time you were in Rajkoat, I was in Thangarh, we missed each other by a whisker

Yes, Ramki - too bad. We tried so much in AMD-GNR too, but just were not able to meet. When are you coming down to BLR next ?

ramkya1 : They have just declared this corridor, 225 kms, to be upgraded to a 6 lane, more chaos to follow!!!

Exactly - more chaos on what has so far been a really good stretch of highway. But got to appreciate Guj for the work that's being done on their roads & highways.

[sridhga]

Thank You all of you, Ramky, Condor and Phamilyman. I managed to cover Dwarka, Somnath and drove through Gir forest in two days. I will give a detailed report in a couple of days. Right nw am caught up with work. Once again thanks for all the advice.

[phamilyman]

oh okay.

Well once upon a november in 2004, I did diu to ahmedabad in all of 8.5 hours through that route including pics/asking around. And I was on my trusty caliber

PS: Time to update your signature mileage?

[ampere]

Opening an old thread.

Need the following information:


- Is this E-W corridor 4-laning complete till Rajkot? Where does it extend to? Is it 4-lane all the way till Veraval?
- How is the Somnath-Dwarka road condition via Porbandar?
- How is Dwarka-Rajkot?


- Bypass info for all the routes would be useful
- What are the places to break for all the three sections.

(I am looking at AMD-Somnath-Dwarka-AMD)

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

Opening an old thread.

Need the following information:


- Is this E-W corridor 4-laning complete till Rajkot? Where does it extend to? Is it 4-lane all the way till Veraval?
- How is the Somnath-Dwarka road condition via Porbandar?
- How is Dwarka-Rajkot?


- Bypass info for all the routes would be useful
- What are the places to break for all the three sections.

(I am looking at AMD-Somnath-Dwarka-AMD)

I omitted Somnath from my list during my last trip in Oct 11 due to bad road conditions reported between Junagarh and Somnath. I opted to drive From Rajkot all the way till Porbandar and then took the coastal highway to Dwarka.
The condition of this road is good and drive-worthy (2 lane).

From Ahmedabad all the way till Porbandar is excellent 4 lane road and no issues with that. Rajkot has a bypass and Porbandar IIRC does not but it usually is not a pain to pass the Gandhian town.

You can wait for some responses on the road conditions between Junagarh-Smomanth and then Somnath-Dwarka (last I heard was this 2 lane was in good shape too) and then decide on the final route plan.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by paragsachania

I omitted Somnath from my list during my last trip in Oct 11 due to bad road conditions reported between Junagarh and Somnath. I opted to drive From Rajkot all the way till Porbandar and then took the coastal highway to Dwarka.
The condition of this road is good and drive-worthy (2 lane).

Thanks Parag.

Plans for Somnath are already firmed up (for whom I seek information) . So no escaping the bad roads.

Meanwhile what are the decent places to break on the highway?

[paragsachania]

Originally Posted by ampere

Thanks Parag.

Plans for Somnath are already firmed up (for whom I seek information) . So no escaping the bad roads.

Meanwhile what are the decent places to break on the highway?

I am sure the road conditions between Rajkot-Junagarh-Veraval(Somnath) will be good now.

I may not be the right person to help you with places to break since I stayed at my in law's place while in Rajkot and I drove each of these places staying overnight at my relative's place.

Ahmedabad-Rajkot can be sedately done in 3 hours and you can break at one of many hotels on the highway where you spot Volvos and cars parked. I forgot the name of the place but will be closer to Limdi.

Since I don't have info on Somnath, I may not have details again.

But in Dwarka, I will highly recommend Kolila Dhiraj Dham where we stayed. It is a dormitory run by RIL and total value for money.

Some more info on the place:
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Revi...a_Gujarat.html

EDIT: Additional info while in Dwarka, please have Bet Dwarka and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga though I am sure you will have this in your itinerary.

[ramkya1]

Originally Posted by ampere

Opening an old thread.

Need the following information:


- Is this E-W corridor 4-laning complete till Rajkot? Where does it extend to? Is it 4-lane all the way till Veraval?
- How is the Somnath-Dwarka road condition via Porbandar?
- How is Dwarka-Rajkot?


- Bypass info for all the routes would be useful
- What are the places to break for all the three sections.

(I am looking at AMD-Somnath-Dwarka-AMD)

Hai,

Let me know what help you'd need in Ahmedabad, around. Here's a thread from which you'd get loads of information on distance, road conditions and options etc.,

No worries on A'bad Dwaraka, 4 lane all the way, toll most of the way, 5-6 hrs. From there to Somnath is also pretty good.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...lion-king.html

Happy Driving,

--Ramky
=======