[KartJ]

We are three friends working in Ahmedabad and were frustrated by the chaos and challenges of job and daily life. Apparently our wives moved to their hometown due to kid’s school break and we were all alone in the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where we work and stay.

One fine evening two of us decided to travel Diu and the programme was informed to third friend over phone.

The itinerary was finalized with the help of Google maps. We decided to go by Ahmedabad-Dholka-Rajkot-Junagadh-Somnath-Diu route as it is a proper two way/ 4 lane highway till Somnath. Indeed the route we selected was longer as compared to Ahmedabad – Bhavnagar – Diu route but it in fantastic condition and traffic is also not much. Ahmedabad – Bhavnagar – Diu route is a two lane common highway and here road in also not in good shape as compared to standard roads of Gujarat.

Route by Google - Ahmedabad-Dholka-Rajkot-Junagarh-Somnath-Diu





DAY -1

We started our journey by 8.30 AM from out skirts of Ahmedabad and after getting our vehicle full tanked we zoomed on State Highway 4 then National Highway 8 A and 8 B and then towards Rajkot. We reached Rajkot merely in 3 Hrs. Rajkot is approx 220 Kms from Ahmedabad.


We continued on National Highway 8 B, crossed Gondal and then we moved on National Highway 8 D and reached Junagadh. Junagad is just 102-108 Kms from Rajkot and again the road conditions are very good. Junagad is beautiful city and if one has time they can very well visit the Junagad Fort and Girnar Hill. Girnar Hill is a huge hill having jain and hindus temples.


Our next check point was Somnath, which is just 95-100 Kms from Junagad. We reached Somnath in no time as again the roads are very very good. We reached Somnath by 2.45 PM had easy Darshan as it was not crowed and we finished the entire darshan program in less than half an hour.


After having nice coconut water in the out skirts of Somnath we moved towards Diu. From Somnath we moved on National Highway 8 E, which is a two lane highway and road conditions are also good. From Somnath onwards one can feel and see the changes in vegetation. Somnath onwards you feel like, you have entered in oceanic area.


Diu City and Nagoa Beach

We entered Diu by 4.00 PM and went directly to Nagoa Beach by 4.30 PM.

Diu is very clean and well maintained city, it’s very much evident from the video that the local authorities have left no stone unturned in keeping the city clean, green and properly maintained.

Little Grand Canyon

We crossed the Nagoa Beach and moved to a hilly location which is surrounded by sea and its somewhat gives a impression of “little grand canyon”.

Pictures of “little grand canyon”



































After spending few minutes we started the hunt for Hotel. We saw some 5-6 Resorts around Nagoa beach. Just 2-3 properties are good otherwise rest are all basic. We got 440 watt shock when we got to know “Chocra ne hotel maan room nathi aapta” means we do not provide rooms to boys.

On Nagoa beach we found one property in Tents, which was very lucrative but very limited in terms of facilities.




Due to Saturday there was crowd and it was difficult to get hotel or resort on Nagoa Beach, after having searched 6-7 hotels and resorts we went to Diu city and there we checked in Hotel Samrat, It’s a decently good hotel with Swimming Pool, Bar and restaurant within it.


After refreshing ourselves we moved to Nagoa beach for beach tourism. There one can enjoy lot of water sports facility. Bargain is a must.

Pictures of Nagoa Beach

















We spent quality time of about 4 hrs in the beach. Food is not good in nearby restaurants. Returned back to the hotel by 10.00.

Just wait for Day 2 Travelogue.

[KartJ]

DAY - 2

Woke up late in the morning and had nice time in the pool and afterwards checked out the hotel by 10.00 AM. Second day we kept for local site seeing and local food.

Following places we visited:

Zampa Gateway – It’s a entry gateway to old Diu, Our hotel was also situated near to this. When you enter through this gateway and enter the city you feel like you are visiting a old parsi town, with narrow streets and typical Parsi houses. One thing we noticed that majority houses in this locality were locked. Almost 60-70 % houses were locked. There is also a cricket stadium in the surrounding.

Photographs of Zampa Gateway




Naida Caves – These caves are just in the middle of the city and housing colonies are there surrounding the caves. The way sun light enters through the holes, creates very mesmeric watching experience to the visitors. Same grand canyon type landscape and some hokka trees nothing else but the experience is quite good.

Photographs of Naida Caves










































Jalandhar Beach – Nothing special about this beach. Just few structures near the beach.

Photographs of Jalandhar Beach




















To Continue...

[KartJ]

Update 3..

Diu Fort – It’s a good historical place to visit. I like the canal surrounding the main entry gate, the pathway which leads to various corners of the fort. For me the main attractions of this fort are the Canon Room and the Light House. We spent good 2 hrs in the fort. There is a Mini Church at the end of the fort facing towards the sea, I was fortunate to see some Dolphins in the sea, swimming in their natural way and habitat.

Photographs of Diu Fort




















































Panikotha Fortim Do Mar - You'll need to hop onto a ferry boat to reach this fort, which is about 1 nautical mile from Diu. Ferries are available from Diu Fort, Ghoghla Village or from Diu proper.

Photographs of Panikotha Fortim Do Mar




St Paul’s Church – A white church building typical in catholic architecture.

Photographs of St Paul Church










To Continue....

[KartJ]

Update 4...


INS Khukri War Memorial - It’s a memorial in the memory of 1971 Indo Pak War Heros of Indian Navy. One can read the history and the entire incidence in the attached photograph. Hats off to Indian Brave soldiers who never thought for their lives before serving the nation. A true memorial of Indian Bravery and Sacrifice. I felt my goose bumps while visiting the place.

Photographs of INS Khukri War Memorial












Hokka Trees – You will find these trees everywhere in Diu. Hokka is fruit like coconut smaller in size and somewhat green and black in colour .it is also used as a medicine. These tree dot the shoreline of Diu and look similar to the palm trees. Hokka Beach is named after these trees.


Photographs of Hokka Trees







After having visited all the above places, we concluded the trip by visiting again the Nagoa Beach and rested there for some time and returned back via Diu – Bhavnagar – Ahmedabad route.

[Omkar]

The three musketeers!

Three friends and a car seems like the perfect recipe for a road trip!

Originally Posted by KartJ

“Chocra ne hotel maan room nathi aapta” means we do not provide rooms to boys.

I would have banged my head against the counter! IMO this is Ridiculous. Group of guys aren't animals that they'd turn the whole place upside down. (Had a similar experience once)

The fort seems stunning with the weapons still on display!

Seems like a perfect getaway from the routine worklife. Loved reading the travelogue, just one thing though. No pics of the car was a bummer. Sometimes, journey is more important than the end or the start.

Keep posting.

[7heaven]

Kartj, Nice pictures... but you forgot to post the picture of the car you took for the tour. Long journey with friends, nothing like it. Never been to those areas, except for Ahmedabad. You had given a very detailed set of pictures. Think now I need not visit these places.

[RPM1500]

Great pictures! Hope you enjoyed! It seems like a good place to visit.
Would you mind sharing what car you drove and FE you got (if you noted it).

Had a hearty laugh at
“Chocra ne hotel maan room nathi aapta”.

[KartJ]

Originally Posted by Omkar

The three musketeers!

Three friends and a car seems like the perfect recipe for a road trip!




I would have banged my head against the counter! IMO this is Ridiculous. Group of guys aren't animals that they'd turn the whole place upside down. (Had a similar experience once)

The fort seems stunning with the weapons still on display!

Seems like a perfect getaway from the routine worklife. Loved reading the travelogue, just one thing though. No pics of the car was a bummer. Sometimes, journey is more important than the end or the start.

Keep posting.

The Car which we used was Toyota Etios. Pics of three musketeers with the Car.. Blurred the pictures for reasons known.

Originally Posted by RPM1500

Great pictures! Hope you enjoyed! It seems like a good place to visit.
Would you mind sharing what car you drove and FE you got (if you noted it).

Had a hearty laugh at
“Chocra ne hotel maan room nathi aapta”.

We used Toyota Etios (Diesel). FE was 19 with 100% AC on all the time.

Originally Posted by 7heaven

Kartj, Nice pictures... but you forgot to post the picture of the car you took for the tour. Long journey with friends, nothing like it. Never been to those areas, except for Ahmedabad. You had given a very detailed set of pictures. Think now I need not visit these places.

Just posted the Pics of car, Its true that there is nothing like a long journey with friends. You should visit diu once, Its very good place, very clean, calm and cool. These pictures are taken using my Mobile Phone otherwise if i have had used my DSLR then the result would be somewhat different.

[deveshshukla53]

Good travelogue! I have been to Diu like 5-6 times and majority of the times have stayed at Hotel Palms at Kodidhar beach. The best part of this hotel is that it is a little secluded right after Nagoa Beach and has more like a private beach it being the last on that road. Hotel is decent and food is great, too!

[STraiTDriVE]

Exciting excursion coverage KartJ.. The place seems to be stunning. Reading your travelogue am really keen on visiting Diu sometime soon. Nagoa Beach, Diu fort and Naida caves seems to be places of real interest. Thanks for drawing attention to such a nice place.

[bhavik.1991]

Nice Travelogue

I am planning Ahmedabad-Diu this weekend.
Can you please comment about the road condition of via Bhavnagar route? Mahua-Una stretch used to be very bad couple of years back as it was under construction.

Also there is one more route Ahmedabad - Bavla - Bagodara - Dhandhuka - Vallabhipur - Dhasa - Amreli - Chalala - Khambha - Una (through Bediya) - Diu

Can anyone provide any info regarding the road condition of this route as well?

The safest (but 120kms longer) option is via Rajkot-Junagadh-Somnath.

The vehicle would be VW Jetta with 4 persons on board and we plan to leave around 5am from Ahmedabad.

Please suggest me which route is recommended.

[KartJ]

Originally Posted by bhavik.1991

Nice Travelogue

I am planning Ahmedabad-Diu this weekend.
Can you please comment about the road condition of via Bhavnagar route? Mahua-Una stretch used to be very bad couple of years back as it was under construction.

Also there is one more route Ahmedabad - Bavla - Bagodara - Dhandhuka - Vallabhipur - Dhasa - Amreli - Chalala - Khambha - Una (through Bediya) - Diu

Can anyone provide any info regarding the road condition of this route as well?

The safest (but 120kms longer) option is via Rajkot-Junagadh-Somnath.

The vehicle would be VW Jetta with 4 persons on board and we plan to leave around 5am from Ahmedabad.

Please suggest me which route is recommended.

As per me and if you want to enjoy the drive then go with Rajkot-Junagadh-Somnath route. Bhavnagar route is also good but majority routs in this highway Single Track, Two Lane road, so time taken by both the routes would be same.

The Ahmedabad - Bavla - Bagodara - Dhandhuka - Vallabhipur - Dhasa - Amreli - Chalala - Khambha - Una (through Bediya) - Diu, i have travelled on this route 3 yrs back but i wen till Amreli only. This route till amreli was good as per my memory. Beyond that point i don't have any information.