Ahmadabad—Modhera

On 22nd May I and Ashish Negi set for Modhera and caught the Lok Shakti express at 8.25 p.m. Andheri. The train was packed with locals who usually travel till Palghar. Next day morning at 4.59 a.m. we arrived at Ahmadabad. Immediately we rushed to the platform No.1 to enquire for a train to Mehsana and go 2 general tickets for INR 28.00 /head. We rushed to platform no.3 and found Bandra-Jaipur express and were about to leave at 5.30 A.M. the next train was a local passenger at 6.30 A.M. we reached Mehsana at 7.59 a.m. and paid 100.00 to the TC for travelling in Sleeper class which was the difference amount and took the voucher. There is an ATM of SBI at the station and one can find lodge for INR 100.00 immediately near the station. We took breakfast at the nearby shop i.e., Dhokla, bhajia and tea. We took the straight main road i.e., Raj Mahal road and reached the bus stand in 10.00 minutes. The bus was at 9.00 a.m. from bus stand number 1 and the total damage was INR 30.00. The distance between Modhera and Mehsana is 25 K.M.and we arrived at Modhera around 10.00 A.M. we didn’t get down at the bus stand instead got off near SHAKTI FURNITURE from where the temple is much closer. One need to walk for roughly 10-15 minutes to reach the sun temple distance would be 800.00 metres. The temple is really a fine art and has much more intricate designs then the one at Humpi. There is water reservoir outside the main temple which has 108 small temples of SHIVA, Sheetlamata, and Ganesha etc. There is an assembly hall in front of the main temple and the visit was worth. The entire place is surrounded by a big garden where there a langoors. Local cultural festivals are held over here. There is just one refreshment counter outside the main entrance. The entrance fee is INR 5.00/ person. Outside the temple towards the bus stand when one walks down there is a step well—one step which can be visited .the step wells were built to help quench the thirst of the locals in those days. After spending almost 1-1.30 hours we left for the bus stand at 12.20 p.m. and had to walk down to the stand roughly 15 -20 minutes walk. The temperature would be 40-42. The bus was at 1.00 p.m.; however one can also take local auto which packs up passengers like anything. We arrived at Mehsana and took the Jammu Tavi express at 2.10 p.m. and arrived Ahmedabad at 4.48 p.m. our train to Bombay was at 8.10 p.m. Mumbai special and hence we decided to visit Adalaj vav –step well. There was a local bus which goes but since we were short of time, we negotiated an auto for INR 200.00 and reached the place at 6.15 p.m. the step well really marvelous with 3 steps down and are sure not to be missed and have an entrance from the top towards the garden side. It’s in the middle of this place adalaj. We rushed back and just before the station out rickshaw person took us to an old Jain temple which was built almost 175 years back and is great. We arrived on time and reached Mumbai next day at 5.00 a.m.

Key Take-away: carry water, caps.

For more pictures follow the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30002962@N05/