[vattyboy]

For the past few days, I was thinking to make a plan for a short 2-3 day trip for some enjoyment plus a New Year celebration.
For the people living in Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and nearby locations Statue Of Unity is just a Perfect destination.
So finally I decided to visit the Statue of unity on 1 January 2023 and I booked Ramada Encore, Statue of Unity for the New Year Celebration and overnight stay for 31 December 2022.

Route:



There are 2 route options from Surat:

1. Via Bharuch ( ignore this)
I will suggest ignoring this route due to the very high traffic volume on the highway between Surat and Bharuch, Long traffics jams and bad road conditions.

2. Via Bardoli
For the people living in Surat, people coming from Maharashtra and south India. I will suggest they should take this road.

On the Way to SOU via Bardoli

This route contains smooth tarmac with less load of traffic, Natural Beauty, farms along the road, ghats some twisties, and a Lake. Both routes merge at Rajpipla.

Banana Farms along the way

Lunch At Jagdish Multicusine Restaurant

The food taste was good. You can find many good restaurants after Rajpipla. Jagdish is a very famous food chain from Vadodara.

Ramada Encore

If you want the most luxurious stay near the Statue of Unity then Ramada and The Tent city are the most luxurious hotels, The Fern comes next.


Narmada River View from Ramada






After taking some rest, we visited Narmada MahaArti at Narmada Ghat.


Arti is followed by a fountain show


Beautifully Decorated Road Median


After the arti and fountain show, we were back in the hotel to celebrate new year's eve.

Glipse of New Year Celebration

First Glimpse of SOU

All the visitors have to park their vehicles in the common parking which is about 4 km away from the statue and have to come here and go to different tourist points by a common bus for free or electric auto on a chargeable basis. The public and the quality of the buses are very very bad, I suggest everyone take the autos.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada River in Navagam near the town of Kevadiya, Narmada District, in the state of Gujarat, India. The dam was constructed to provide water and electricity to four Indian states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan
Source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardar_Sarovar_Dam

Jungle Safari, Sou


Unity Glow Garden




Valley Of Flowers




I suggest everyone that buy an Express Entry ticket of SOU costing INR1100 vs 150 for a normal ticket otherwise there is so much crowd and a queue of about 1 km long at the entry gate and 500m long queue for elevators which will take a whole day to clear. With the express ticket, we were free in just 30 mins.




Closer Look


Picture from the Viewing Gallery( from the top of Sou)

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[jigar1791@gmail]

Originally Posted by vattyboy

For the people living in Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and nearby locations Statue Of Unity is just a Perfect destination.

Nice and a crisp travelogue, @Vattyboy.

Few Questions for our upcoming trip to SOU and Manilaxmi (Jain Tirth) we have planned from 14th - 17th Jan!

1. We arrive at BRC from Mumbai in Shatabdi. ETA is ~10.45 AM. Any idea if GSRTC Volvos are available from BRC station to SOU/Kevadiya? GSRTC website shows no Volvo/ACs on this route. If not, any alternate mode of transport ?
We are a group of 8 adults and 4 toddlers, from 10 months upto 11 years. So a Tempo Traveler is the preferred mode, however, GSRTC Volvo isn't bad either.

2. We will be putting up at SOU Tent City from 14th to 16th (2N/3D) and on 16th morning, after checking out from the tent city, we will move to our next destination - Manilaxmi Tirth.
How should 1 travel? Is a 12 seater Traveler preferred? Or are their GSRTC Volvos available on that route?

3. After putting up at Manilaxmi overnight on 16th - 17th, we return back to Mumbai from BRC by evening Shatabdi. Any contacts with known tempo travellers to help us reach BRC from Manilaxmi?

[sidg]

Originally Posted by jigar1791@gmail

Nice and a crisp travelogue, @Vattyboy.

Few Questions for our upcoming trip to SOU and Manilaxmi (Jain Tirth) we have planned from 14th - 17th Jan!

1. We arrive at BRC from Mumbai in Shatabdi. ETA is ~10.45 AM. Any idea if GSRTC Volvos are available from BRC station to SOU/Kevadiya? GSRTC website shows no Volvo/ACs on this route. If not, any alternate mode of transport ?
We are a group of 8 adults and 4 toddlers, from 10 months upto 11 years. So a Tempo Traveler is the preferred mode, however, GSRTC Volvo isn't bad either.

2. We will be putting up at SOU Tent City from 14th to 16th (2N/3D) and on 16th morning, after checking out from the tent city, we will move to our next destination - Manilaxmi Tirth.
How should 1 travel? Is a 12 seater Traveler preferred? Or are their GSRTC Volvos available on that route?

3. After putting up at Manilaxmi overnight on 16th - 17th, we return back to Mumbai from BRC by evening Shatabdi. Any contacts with known tempo travellers to help us reach BRC from Manilaxmi?

1. GSRTC Volvo is not available but Ac bus (seating) runs every morning at 8. Since you will be reaching at 10:45 AM, it won't be useful. better to take traveler.

2. No direct buses run to Manilaxmi. Better to use the same traveler.

3. I have traveled in my car to SOU and Manilaxmi. However, for traveler, you may contact Parth bus service, Gandhi travels. In fact, redbus also has an option to book traveler which will be more convenient i think.

Do message me in case any guidance is required.

[t18]

I will be travelling to SOU this month from mumbai. Do I need to tape car's right headlight with yellow tape as I will be travelling in Gujrat?