What are the best weekend gateways around Ahmedabad where you can go with your friends.?
1. Polo Forest
Polo forest is my favorite place to spend quality time in nature and I strong recommend spending one night here to reveal out its natural beauty. Popped between sanctified hills on the east and west, polo forest holds the stories from past. It sounds horrifying but there are ancient temples, several still carrying out their pujas deep inside this thick jungle. This forest itself is one big temple and the trees themselves are the gods. Polo forest is considered as one of the most popular weekend getaway near Ahmedabad where the government of Gujarat organizes Polo utsav every year. You can easily find stay and food in Polo forest but you need to make prior booking, especially during weekends by considering rush. Please note that, there is no entry fees to visit Polo forest as it is open and public place.
Activities to Do:
Traveler can do trekking and photography of ancient temples and forest at Polo forest. During polo utsav, you can also participate in cycling and enjoy the various cultural activities at Polo forest. You can hire guide from polo campsite who can help you to plan trekking activities around. Please note that, don't go inside forest without experience guide.
Distance from Ahmedabad: 156 Km.
2. Adalaj Stepwell
Set in the noiseless village of Adalaj, Adalaj Stepwell aka Adalaj ni vav has worked as a relaxing place for hundreds of years for numerous travellers and convoys during their trade ways. There is an opening in the ceilings which permits the light and air to come in the octagonal well. Though, straight sunshine does not touch the flight of steps or quays excluding a short-term in noon. Therefore it is believed that the atmosphere inside the well is 6? cooler than the outside. Another extraordinary feature of this step-well is that out of the several stepwells in Gujarat, it is the only one with three entering steps.
Activities to Do:
Clicking pictures of walls engraved for embellishment, with epic scenes with everyday extracts of women whipping buttermilk, dancers amidst musicians, women prettifying themselves and a king sitting on a stool. There is a garden outside the stepwell where you can seat and relax with the friends and family.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 19 Km.
3. Indroda Nature Park
Indroda Nature Park is a valuable paragon extent over an area of around 400 hectares on the bank of Sabarmati River in Gandhinagar. It is deliberated to be the 2nd biggest hatchery of dinosaur eggs in the world. Considered as India's Jurassic Park, it is managed by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation and is the only dinosaur gallery in India.
Activities to Do:
Visiting zoo, enormous carcasses of sea mammals like the blue whale, in addition to a huge botanic garden, auditorium, elucidation center and camp out facilities.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 25 Km.
4. Akshardham
Be spiritual and spent your weekend at Akshardham In Gandhinagar. A place of teaching, amusement and enlightenment where you can witness the customary stone architecture, prehistoric astuteness, and the best of contemporary technology to make the most influential experience of Indian Culture ever to exist. Devoted to Lord Swaminarayan, it is a wonder worked by the detriment of thousands of candy striper. You can have food inside the temple premises in Food Hall.
Activities to Do:
Watching short movies in Hall 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with the Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show, the Sahajanand Van, and much more.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 30 Km.
5. Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary
It is a narrow lake enclosed by swampland's on the verge and thin forest boarding the sides. Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary covers an area of 7 kms2 and a paradise for bird watcher. You can see flocks of bird winging together and making arrays in the sky whereas long-legged stretched necked cranes keep pestering for fishes and small bugs. The environment gets harmoniously pleasant with the resonating of several birds.
Activities to Do:
Natural beauty, click pictures of birds like cranes, geese, flamingos, egrets, herons, spoonbills, ducks, whistling teals and self. You can go for a long walk surrounding the lake and enjoy the beautiful sound of birds.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 28 Km.
6. Nalsarovar
Before you plan to visit Nal Sarovar, please note down the time as it remains open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It holds an area of 120.82 kms2 with a lake and ambient swamplands. It is mostly populated by nomadic birdies in winter and spring. Being the biggest marshland bird nature reserve in Gujarat, and one among the largest in India, it is worth visiting. You can capture ducks, geese, pelicans and flamingos during morning and evening hours. Vehicles are obtainable from parking to the lake site for around 1km. Lake Water is almost 4 feet deep. You can also take a horse ride along lake.
Activities to Do:
Tourist can enjoy the beauty of nature and also click pictures of birds and self. The best attraction of Nal sarovar is boating operated by the locals who can take you to the deep in sarovar where you can spot the migratory birds.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 64 Km.
7. Zanzari Waterfalls
Zanzari waterfalls is located on Vatrak River with a series of cascades. The definite fall is around 25 feet high with numerous rocks, stones and basins. The water throughout and instantly after the monsoons is perfidious as the current will be hasty. It is only then the sound of water splashing down the falls can be overheard from far away. In summer, the river is condensed to a rivulet and there are spots to take a seat and appreciate the scenery. Visit the Zanzari falls from September to February. Be attentive while enjoying at Zanzari falls.
Activities to Do:
You can do hiking, camel ride and photography at Zanzari waterfalls.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 74 Km.
8. Lothal
Lothal is an archeological site which is having a museum divided in three galleries. The front gallery portrays an artist's imaginary idea of Harappan town of Lothal. The gallery at left side displays beads, terracotta ornaments, replicas of seal and sealing, shell and ivory objects, copper and bronze objects, tools and potteries yielded from excavations. The gallery at right shows objects animal and human figurines, weights, painted potteries, objects recovered from burials and ritual objects, miniature potteries, bricks. It is closed on Fridays.
Activities to Do:
Cherishing the memories from past and click the museum galleries.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 76 Km.
9. Tirupati Rushivan Adventure Park:
Tirupati Rushivan adventure park is a well-planned theme park on the banks of Sabarmati River. Its affordability makes it a must visit place with family. The rides and slides of water park are simply fun. There are three free rides with the entry ticket. Outside food is allowed; hence you can enjoy home-cooked food in the gardens here. It being a family place, does not tolerates vulgarity. I strongly recommend avoiding this place during summer due to hot climate.
Activities to Do:
You can enjoy water activities, pools, play games and rides at this adventure park.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 77 Km.
10. Maniar's Wonderland
This snow themed fun park is among the best choice for those who want to spend one complete day and take rest on the other day of a weekend. The park is divided into 2 parts named as Wonderland and "First in Gujarat" Snow Park. Maniar's Wonderland has everything that would be enjoyable for the young and the old similarly. Park remains open on all days of the week from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. There is a food court inside the park where you can find snacks and fast food of your choice. You can plan visit here with either friends or family. The nearness to Ahmedabad makes it feasible for you to ride or drive yourself.
Activities to Do:
Rides like the Jumping Jack, Desert Bike, Zip Line, Buggy Ride, Aqua Roller, Aqua Ball, Traffic Island and Wonder Chair etc. in the Wonderland whereas Snow Park contains a snow field that proposes snowball combats and blast-from-the-past Ice Age experiences. You can also have in Water Slides.
Distance from Ahmedabad: Around 13 Km.