madhuonthego

If you are looking for a day trip or weekend getaway around Ahmedabad, check out this blog. During my last two visits to Gujarat, I got an opportunity to explore the beautiful state extensively. Ahmedabad is one of the most popular and populated cities in Gujarat. The city is not only a cultural and architectural hub but has many modern attractions too. Read more about it here. Ahmedabad also has many incredible fascinating destinations to visit over the weekend. So here is the list of best weekend getaways within the range of 200 km from Ahmedabad.

11 amazing weekend getaways around Ahmedabad within 200 km distance

1. Adalaj ki vav

Distance from Ahmedabad: 18.9 Km

Timing: 6 AM – 6 PM

The 15th Century stepwell is a fascinating monument near Ahmedabad. The 5 storey building consists of ornately carved pillars. Stepwell or vav represents Solanki architecture with an influence of Islamic architecture.

Mahmud Begada constructed Adalaj ki Vav to commemorate Queen Rudabai, wife of Veer Singh, the Vaghela king. According to the story, King Rana Veer Singh started the construction of the Adalaj ki vav to provide water during the drought. The King was killed in battle with Mahmud Begada, who proposed to marry his widow, queen Roopba (aka Queen Rudabai). The queen Rudabai accepted the king’s proposal on the condition that he should complete the stepwell. On its completion, the queen committed suicide by throwing herself in the well. Today, the magnificent stepwell attracts many visitors every year.

How to reach

Adalaj village is 18 km away from Ahmedabad’s Kalupur Railway station. It is well connected with the various parts of the country through rail, road, and air. Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhai Patel Airport is 15 km from the renowned stepwell.Buses and private taxis are frequently available from the railway station and Airport

2. Gandhi Nagar

Distance from Ahmedabad: 23km to the north of Ahmedabad

Visiting Time of Akshardham Temple:  09:30 AM – 07:30 PM (Closed on Mondays)

GandhiNagar is the second planned city in India after Chandigarh. Gandhi Nagar is also considered the cleanest city in Asia. Administrative capital of Gujarat, has many attractions for visitors. Named after Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, The city has many parks, broad pedestrian walking, and clean roads. Gandhinagar offers a rich cultural heritage along with a serene environment known as the Tree Capital of India, as 54% of its land is encircled by various kinds of trees.

Best Attractions

Akshardham temple is the most popular and fascinating attraction in Gandhinagar. The massive temple has ornate carvings and sculptured pillars making it one of the most beautiful Akshardham temples in the world. Gandhinagar also has attractions like Indroda Dinosaur and Fossil Park, Sarita Udhyan, Dandi Kutir (Salt mount) museum, Trimandir, Kishan Bhavan fountain, and fun world.

How to reach

You can reach Gandhinagar either by cab or bus. Both take 45m to reach the destination, and it would cost you around 500- 800 INR.

3. Thol Lake Sanctuary

Distance from Ahmedabad: 27 Km

Timing: 6 am to 5:30 pm (early morning is the best time for the most pleasant view)

Entry Fee: INR 50 per person (excluding camera charges and parking)

Sprawling over 7 square kilometers, Thol Bird Sanctuary is one of the most spectacular birding spots near Ahmedabad. The Forest cover surrounds this freshwater lake and marshlands at its rim. The sanctuary is home to around 150 species of birds. One can also spot animals like blackbucks, jackals, and blue bulls in the area. The main attraction at the sanctuary is the arrival of flamingos during the winter season. The picturesque landscape of the Thol Bird Sanctuary wins the hearts of many visitors.

How to reach

Taking a cab from Ahmedabad is the best option

4. Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

Distance from Ahmedabad:  60 Km southwest of Ahmedabad

Timing: 6 am to 6 pm (ticket window will be closed at 5:30 Pm) (Morning and Evenings are the best time to visit)

Entry Fee: INR 75 per visitor on weekdays and INR 85 per visitor on weekends (excluded camera charges)

Spread across a 120.82-sq-km lake and marshland, Nal Sarovar is the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat. The Sanctuary located near Sanand Village is known for the migratory birds.

The Nal Sarovar Lake is in the lowest-lying area between Central Gujarat and East Saurashtra, and it represents a sea link between the Little Rann and the Gulf of Khambat. With more than 200 types of birds, mainly rosy pelicans, lesser and greater flamingos, crakes, brahminy ducks, purple moorhen, herons, white storks, various bitterns, grebes, etc. Nalsarovar sanctuary is the bird watcher’s paradise.

How to reach

Tourists can reach Nalsarovar via Viramgam, nearest railway station is located 36kms from the sanctuary. Tourists can also hire a private vehicle from Ahmedabad.

5. Modhera

Distance from Ahmedabad: 97.9 km

Best time to visit: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The magnificent Sun Temple at Modhera is one of the few shrines devoted to the Sun God. The ornately designed temple is one of the vital tourist attractions in Gujarat, which lures 1000s of visitors from across the globe to Modhera every year. The sun temple is situated on the banks of the Pushpavati River. The King Bhimdev of the Chalukya dynasty built the temple in the early 11th century. The spectacular temple complex has three parts – Gudha Mandapa (the shrine hall), Sabha Mandapa (the assembly hall), and Kunda (the reservoir). The temple is designed in a way that during every equinox, the first ray of the sun falls on the Sun God inside the temple. It’s highly recommended to hire a guide when you visit the temple.

How to reach

It takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Modhera from Ahmedabad by road. The best and quickest way is by train.

6. Vadnagar

Distance from Ahmedabad: 100.4 km

Vadnagar, a town in the Mehsana district, has a rich history. Situated 35kms away from Mehsana city, Vadnagar was a Buddhist location visited by Xuanzang in 600 C.E. The ancient name of the town was Anartapura, is mentioned in Mahabharata, Skanda Purana, and Junagarh rock inscription.  The interesting fact about the city is that the Vadnagar’s old town is encircled by the walls of a fort with six gates named Arjun, Nadiol, Amarthol, Ghaskol, and Pithori. Apart from historical importance, Vadnagar happens to be the place where Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi worked at a humble tea stall at Vadnagar railway station with his father. An inspiring story of hard work and success.

Best Attractions

Vadnagar, once a prosperous city has some fantastic architectural marvels still standing tall. The most significant attractions include Kirti Toran, Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Sharmishtha Lake, and the new popular destination, the Vadnagar Railway Station.

How to reach

You can reach Vadnagar by Bus, Taxi or train. Train is the most affordable option, which costs ₹190 – ₹1,300 and takes three hours. If you want to reach early go for a taxi.

7. Vadodara

Distance from Ahmedabad: 112 km

The third-largest city in Gujarat, Vadodara was earlier named Baroda. The town is stationed on the banks of the river Vishwa Mitri and is known for its grand palaces and heritage monuments.

Best Attractions

The best attractions include Lakshmi Vilas Palace, a lavish palace with opulent architecture. Lakshmi Vilas Palace represents Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture, built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890. City also boasts of the largest university in the state called the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The Champaner – Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Ajwa Nimeta Garden, Sri Swaminarayan Mandir, Sursagar lake are other attractions in Vadodara.

How to reach: Various state transport buses and private luxury coaches run from Ahmedabad to Vadodara.The InterCity buses take 2 hours and run every 15 minutes.

8. Patan

Distance from Ahmedabad: 128.7 Km

Patan was the capital of Gujarat’s Chavda and Chalukya dynasties in medieval times. It is a historical city situated on the now extinct Saraswati Riverbank. Today place is known for its UNESCO world heritage site “Rani Ki Vav”. This astoundingly beautiful stepwell was built in 1063 by Rani Udayamati of the Chaulukya dynasty to commemorate her husband Bhimdev. The stepwell was buried in the stilt till the 1940s and was restored in the 1980s. A Picture of this place is also printed on a 100 Rs. Indian currency.

Best Attractions

Apart from the main Attraction, the Rani ki Vav, Patan Patola museum is another attraction in Patan, where you can witness the process of Patola silk weaving.

How to reach

Patan is well connected with all modes of transportation except air, the nearest airport from Patan is Ahmedabad.

9. Vijaynagar

Distance from Ahmedabad: 165 km

Vijaynagar is a historical town, earlier known as Godhadar Polo or the Pol state. A princely state during British Raj, Vijaynagar was founded by Bhil Chief in 1577. The area is surrounded by ancient temples and tribal villages. The city is also home to a 100-year-old heritage hotel Vijay Vilas situated on the foothills of the Aravali mountain range.

Best Attractions

Vijaynagar attracts tourists every year for its dense Pol Forest, especially during the monsoon season. One can enjoy adventure activities like tracking, nature walking, bathing in the lake, cycling, etc. The city also has ancient temples like the Jain Temple, Surya Mandir, Lekhana temple, and other small shrines.

How to reach: Vijaynagar is well connected with all major cities via Road, Rail, and Air networks. Ahmedabad airport is the nearest airport to Vijaynagar.

10. Little Rann of Kutch

Distance from Ahmedabad: 166.5 Km

Little Rann of Kutch is a one-of-a-kind destination. A dwelling place (and the only place on Earth where you can find them) for the Indian wild ass (Khur) popularly known as Ghudkhar in the regional language. The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary (IWAS) was created in 1973 and occupies almost five thousand square km. The sanctuary is home to many migrating birds, such as the sarus crane, ducks, the dalmatian pelican, flamingoes, and land birds like the sandgrouse, francolin, and the Indian bustard. It is also a breeding ground for mammals such as the Indian wolf, desert fox, and nilgai. Read more about the Little Rann of Kutch.

How to reach

The closest airport is Ahmedabad international airport, another option is the Rajkot international Airport. You could reach the little Rann of Kutch by rail via the Dhrangadhra railway station which is 16 km away. The Wild Ass Sanctuary is well connected to major cities in Gujarat by Road.

11. Statue of Unity, Kevadia

Distance from Ahmedabad: 200 Km

Timing to visit: Tuesday to Sunday (Monday closed for maintenance)

The Statue of Unity, in Kevadia, is the latest and another happening tourist spot in Gujarat. Dedicated to Sardar Valla Bhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, The Statue of Unity is the Tallest Statue in the World. The 182 m tall Statue is built in front of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on a hillock called Sadhu Bet.

The entire area has been developed with many attractions to attract tourists and provide employment opportunities to the local community. Read more about the Statue of Unity and other attractions here.

Best Attractions

Apart from the spectacular architectural marvel, Kevadia village (or Ekta Nagar as it’s called today)has many attractions to suit everyone. Ekta cruise, various theme-based gardens, Tent stay, Museums, Temple, Narmada Ghat Aarti, and adventure activities like river rafting, cycling, and trekking are some of them.

How to reach

Vadodara has the nearest railway station and airport. From Vadodara, which is 100 km away from the Statue of unity, you can either get on a public transport or hire a cab. Ahmedabad is another option with frequent train and flight connectivity.

Conclusion

Gujarat has so much to offer to its visitors. Everytime, I visit the state, I add new destinations to my bucket list. Can’t wait to visit Gujarat again.

Next time you visit Ahmedabad or plan a trip to Gujarat, don’t forget to include some of these beautiful destinations in your itinerary. Do let me know in the comment box, have you visited any of these destinations already? Check out the Gujarat Itinerary to all these places here.

Like it ! Save it for later !