Continued from the previous post.............
After the amazing stay at Shaam-e-Sharad at Hodka, we decided to visit the flamingoes at Chaari Dhand. It was a 45 minute drive into the wetlands of this desert land. We saw the flamingoes, though they were a bit far out. They were a pretty sight but wish we could have seen them from near. Maybe next time!
We then proceeded to Dholavira which was a 6 hour drive through Bhuj. The roads in Gujarat are definitely well maintained and we were very impressed. On the way, we passed a stretch where for miles and miles (almost an eternity) we passed a saltpan - like landscape which was stark white. The camera could not capture the beauty of the landscape but it was unique. Apparently it seems like the entire area at some stage was submerged under water which has now receded leaving behind the salt.
Of course, being rural India, we did manage to get caught in herds of buffaloes, cows and sheep at various stages of our journey!!
Dholavira - an ancient civilisation of the Indus Valley dating back to 2900 BC. This was discovered in 1960s but the excavations were commenced only in 1990 and are still underway. They had superior water conservation skills and the same can be seen through the vast inter-connected reservoirs that surround the city. Their trade links extended to Mesopotamia and they had weights and balance measures that were quite accurate!
Not many people are aware of it and truly, if it had not been for the NDTV 7 Wonders of India programme, nor would I.
I feel terrible that our country does not appreciate the heritage, culture and assets that we have. There was not much information available and whatever the guide said was imbibed with a pinch of salt. Thankfully I had researched it on the internet and was quite updated on the little information available.
After the amazing stay at Shaam-e-Sharad at Hodka, we decided to visit the flamingoes at Chaari Dhand. It was a 45 minute drive into the wetlands of this desert land. We saw the flamingoes, though they were a bit far out. They were a pretty sight but wish we could have seen them from near. Maybe next time!
Near, yet so far!!
The footprints of the flamingoes!!
Spectacular landscape.
We then proceeded to Dholavira which was a 6 hour drive through Bhuj. The roads in Gujarat are definitely well maintained and we were very impressed. On the way, we passed a stretch where for miles and miles (almost an eternity) we passed a saltpan - like landscape which was stark white. The camera could not capture the beauty of the landscape but it was unique. Apparently it seems like the entire area at some stage was submerged under water which has now receded leaving behind the salt.
Of course, being rural India, we did manage to get caught in herds of buffaloes, cows and sheep at various stages of our journey!!
Dholavira - an ancient civilisation of the Indus Valley dating back to 2900 BC. This was discovered in 1960s but the excavations were commenced only in 1990 and are still underway. They had superior water conservation skills and the same can be seen through the vast inter-connected reservoirs that surround the city. Their trade links extended to Mesopotamia and they had weights and balance measures that were quite accurate!
Not many people are aware of it and truly, if it had not been for the NDTV 7 Wonders of India programme, nor would I.
I feel terrible that our country does not appreciate the heritage, culture and assets that we have. There was not much information available and whatever the guide said was imbibed with a pinch of salt. Thankfully I had researched it on the internet and was quite updated on the little information available.
Smita and the driver inspecting the reservoir!
Apparently there are 7 cities built over each other. They have only uncovered the top one. Don't know how long the process will take to unearth the secrets of Dholavira.
The local shower!
Smita checking out the servant's quarters. They were barely 6ft by 6ft. Guess somethings in life don't change.
One of the huge reservoirs unearthered which has its own inbuilt filteration system. It is connected to the next reservoir and in turn connected to wells and cisterns.
Guess we can learn a lot from our ancestors. Please note the parched earth in today's time.
We decided to stay the night in Dholavira at the Gujarat Tourism run resort called Toran. Trust the public sector to let us down completely. First of all, no one was aware if this resort is open or not. Finally, we stayed in mud Bhungas which were of very poor quality. There is definitely a contrast between the resort run privately in Hodka and the one run by the government at Dholavira. Of course the prices were totally opposite - Rs 3800 at Hodka versus Rs 200 at Dholavira. However I would have preferred to pay a higher sum for a more comfortable stay. In all fairness, the meals which were served were fresh and wholesome though of limited choice (as green vegetables are in scarce supply in this part of the country) and the rooms were clean.
It was a real pleasure to visit a place in India which dates back to 2900 BC. It was also a chance to honestly say that we have been to the back of beyond. Overall, Kutch is vibrant, colourful, beautiful, the people are simple and friendly but the region is quite backward. It makes us appreciate our life better.
great work..pictures are superb
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