surat

Surat is situated in the south Gujarat, India. The city is famous for diamond work as well as silk. That's why this city is sometimes called the diamond city and sometimes the silk city.

Best time to visit: -

If you want to visit local places only then go during summer end. During summer, Surat is hot during noon but it is completely cold after the evening because it is located on the sea shore.
Humidity always maintained upto 70%.
If you want to visit nearby places of Surat then choose the winter season because outside the Surat is very very hot during summer.

Transportation: -

Surat is in between of Ahmedabad and Mumbai. This is 24 hours running station. So any time you will get train.

Still now Metro is not available in this city. So you have to choose road transportation.

There are uncountable flyovers around the city. So you can't face any traffic.

You can take auto, Ola, Uber for local transportation.

One of the best local transportation is AC BRTS buses. They have their own track. No body can enter their track.

Place to visit?

Dumas beach: - 

This beach is famous as hunted beach, no one can be found in the evening. The beach is very dirty and the water is not clean because this is the meeting point of Tapi river with Arabian sea. If you want to enjoy sea view then you can go there. The beach is nearly 5 km apart from Surat international airport and 15 km from Surat railway station.

Suvali beach: -

This beach is little bit better than Dumas beach. You can't get online cab for beaches. You have to take a rented cab or auto. Afternoon is the best time to visit. You can enjoy there upto late evening. After that police will come and remove all the travelers.

Suvali Beach during Afternoon..

Gopi Talav: -

It is a pond around which beautifully decorated park. The soft music will come in the ears because the park is surrounded by music system. They have a little bit entry fees. Some adventures activities will be inside. There are so many food stall. Outsider food is not allow. BRTS is not available there.

Gopi Talav.

Surat Municipal Aquarium: -

It is located near star bazar, Adajan. They have 50/- entry fees for Adult and 20/- for children. It will be very interesting for children, they will enjoy. Here you will see at least 200 types of fish. You can reach there trough BRTS, auto or online cabs.


Sneh Rashmi Botanical Garden: -

They have some entry fees. After entering the Garden you will see the rural beauty. They have separate sections for adventures activities. Most amazing thing is that "toy train" called as Tapi express. It has a separate tickets. The toy will rotate across the garden.

Tapi express

Gas Balloon.

"Gas balloon" is another most enjoyable thing. It will take you very high and see the entire city from there. If you are planning to enjoy this then go to that day when the wind will be low. For this the rental is 200/-. You can take 107 city bus or auto or online cabs. No BRTS is there.


Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Zoological Garden: -

It is a small Zoo. Whole day you can spend here. Inside you will get a food stall. But I suggest you, don't take food from there. Take it from outsider. You can take BRTS buses from Surat railway station or auto or online cabs.


Amazia Water Park: -

One of the most adventurous water park with clean water and have supportive staff. The forest jump is the most thrilling rides. I love this rides. Park will open from 10.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
Ticket price -

Category	Weekdays (except Holidays)	Weekends & Holidays
Child (below 4 ft)	599/-	799/-
Adult (above 4 ft)	799/-	999/-
Senior Citizen	599/-	799/-

Textile: -

If you came to Surat and are not buying dressing material then you gotta regret. Go to "Old and New Bombay Market" near Sahara Darwaja. There are thousand shops inside the building. You will get any material at whole sale rate. But one think keep in mind that you have to bargain. Tell them nearly 1/3 price. You don't think that the material will be poor but I am telling you, the material will be good.
Inside the market you will get restaurants and ATMs also.

Nearby Travelling places: -

Saputara: -

It is a small hill station, nearly 170 km away from Surat. Don't go there during summer. Monsoon is the best season for travelling there. It would be extraordinary to go through the forest during monsoon. The waterfall looks wonderful. You have to take a rental cab for this place. Public transportation is not available there. Definitely you will enjoy.

Statue of Unity: -

It is nearly 150 km from Surat. Winter is the best time to go there. If you have any inquiry about Statue of Unity then follow the link-https://sushotalk.blogspot.com/2019/03/statue-of-unity-from-mumbai.html.

Neelkantha Dham: -

If you travel The Statue of Unity from Vadodara then it will come on the way but if you are travelling from Surat then have to take left after crossing 'Karjan River', Rajpipla. The Neelkantha Dham will be 13 km From Rajpipla. 2-3 hours you can easily spend here. Evening is the best time to travel this. You will enjoy the evening Arati. It will touch your inner peace. You can take dinner from the canteen. Inside the Neelkantha Dham, one big paid car parking is available.

If you are planning to travel The Statue of Unity then you should extract some extra time for Neelkantha Dham also.

Neelkantha Dham.

Neelkantha Dham.

shimla from delhi.

Shimla city.

1. Flight: - 

You may take flight from Delhi to Chandigarh and then take a cab from Chandigarh airport. From Chandigarh airport easily you can get a cab for Shimla.

But I think this is not a good choice. If you are coming from other than north India then it will be a good choice.

On the way of Shimla from Kalka.

2. Train: - 

From Old Delhi station you take a Howrah Kalka Mail (12311) at 9 PM and it will reach Kalka around 5 AM. It is an overnight journey. Then take Shivalik Deluxe Express (52451) or Kalka Shimla NG Express (52453). You can take a cab from kalka also. But I prefer to take an enjoyable journey of a toy train. There are 100 tunnels in this track. It will take around 5 hours from Kalka.

One important thing is that, both the toy trains will take passengers from Howrah Kalka Mail. So if your Mail train has delayed to reach Kalka then both the toy train also will take delay.

3. Bus: -

From Chandigarh to Shimla- 

One bus is available from Chandigarh, Mercedes Benz A/C Business Class (2+2) provided by ‘Indo Canadian Tpt. Co’. It will take around 3.30 hours to reach Shimla from Chandigarh. Departure time from Chandigarh sector 34A is 11.30 AM and will reach at Shimla Bypass Crossing at 3.00 PM. Rent around 1000/- per head.

From Delhi to Shimla- 

There are lots of sleeper, semi sleeper buses from Delhi to Shimla. You can book through Red bus. Over night buses are also there, so taking a bus also good choice.

Which options is better?

I think you should try the toy train journey. It will take little bit extra time compare to bus but you will enjoy your trip. For this I suggest you to take train journey.

If you don't want to waste your time then take sleeper volvo bus from Delhi. It is overnight journey. So next day morning you will reach Shimla and it is economically cheap also.

My travelling experience to Shimla: -

I want to share with you my travel experience of Shimla. I took Howrah Kalka Mail from Old Delhi station. It reached Kalka at 7 am. Oh god! I thought that I can't able to take Shivalik Deluxe express from Kalka. I had reservation on Shivalik Deluxe Express and also had booked Retiring room at Shimla Railway Station. After reaching Kalka, I realized that both the trains are linked.

Shimla Railway Station.

Mentally I relaxed after taken the Shivalik Express. Took some breakfast at Kalka station and then started our journey.

At shimla station, so many coolies are there. They try to insist you to take hotels according to their choice. They also try to misguide you. So my opinion, booked hotel before reaching Shimla.

I booked Retiring room and the rent was 475/- per day. You can't able to find hotels in this price. If you want to book retiring room then the essential criteria is, you should have a confirm reservation ticket of Shimla. You think that the rent is very cheap, so may be the room will be not good in condition, but I am telling you that the room was very neat and clean. They provide two sofas, one double bad, one cupboard, attached bathroom with geyser. You can book Retiring room upto 48 hours for single ticket. Means you and your family will come to Shimla by toy train then you can stay their upto 48 hours. So, if you want to stay in retiring room, please remember these conditions.

I returned also through toy train, that's why I had been stayed four days in retiring room.

Travel Guide: -

No need to take travel guide and car from private agencies. Himachal Tourism Tourist information center is there. It is Govt under taking and it is cheaper than other private agencies. They have so many branches all around the city. One branch is on the exist gate of Shimla Railway Station. Minimum 4 person need. If you are two tourists then you have to wait, they will arrange another two tourists. If they fail then they will arrange a private car for you. If you are more than four travelers then definitely go through them.

You can also check through https://himachaltourism.gov.in 

Its me in front of Himachal Tourist Information Center at the
exist Gate of Shimla Railway Station.

Best time to travel Shimla: -

March to June: - This is the popular time for tourist. Temperature will be vary from 15 degree to 20 degree. This time is perfect for outdoor activities.

December: - This is the best time to visit Shimla. During this month the hill witnesses heavy snowfall. If you want to enjoy the snowfall then definitely you should go Shimla during end of the December.

July to September: - Try to avoid this time to travel Shimla. Heavy rainfall will be there during rainy season.

Place of interest: -

1. The Mall: This is famous for shopping on street. Restaurants also there.

2. Jakhu Temple: Jakhu is the highest peak in the city. This is the temple of lord Hanuman.

Jakhu Temple.

3. Jakhu Rope-way: This rope-way connects ridge ground to jakhu temple.

4. Ridge ground: It is a large open space on the mall road for hosting all the cultural activities.

5. Tara Devi: This temple is dedicated to the goddess of star.

6. Kufri: Small zoo is there.

7. Naldehra: Golf ground is there.

Naldehra Golf Ground.

statue of unity from delhi

If you want to go the 'Statue of Unity' from Delhi then I will tell you the best possible way to reach their.

1. Flight: - 
Take a flight from Delhi (DEL) to Surat (STV). Three are so many direct flights. From Surat you have to take rental car like zoom car or Ola outstation. The 'Statue of Unity' is nearly 150 km away from Surat Airport. Road condition is very good.

2. Train :-
lots of trains are there from New Delhi, Nizamuddin or Delhi cantonment towards Mumbai. It is over night journey. From Vadodara, you have to take a rental car. You can get the car from Vadodara railway station.

3. Bus :-
No direct buses are available from Delhi to 'The Statute of Unity' but you will get AC GSRTC buses from Vadodara. The GSRTC bus stand is situated just opposite to the Vadodara railway station. You have to take ticket from GSRTC website. Bus will go upto the basement of the Statue. If you take rental cab from Vadodara, then you have to left the cab from the window ticket counter for the Statue because they will not allow to enter with cab. So again you have to take 30/- bus ticket for the Statue. So better, take a bus from Vadodara. Directly you will enter the statue.

View from basement

So, better option is, take Garib Rath train from Nizamuddin upto Vadodara. Then take AC GSRTC bus from Vadodara. It will be most cheaper and convenient way to reach there.

Tent city

So how to book entry tickets and how to plan it, then follow the link.

statue of unity from mumbai.

If you want to go the 'Statue of Unity' from Mumbai then I will tell you the best possible way to reach their.

1. Flight: - 
Take a flight from Mumbai (BOM) to Vadodara (BDQ). Three direct flights are available. From there you have to take rental car. The 'Statue of Unity' is nearly 95 km away from Vadodara Airport. Road condition is very good.

2. Train :-
lots of trains are there from Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central. It is over night journey. From Vadodara, you have to take a rental car. You can get the car from Vadodara railway station.

3. Bus :-
No direct bus is available from Mumbai to 'The Statute of Unity'. You can get bus upto Vadodara, after that you have to take a rental car from Vadodara railway station.

4. Rental Cab :-
If you are able to manage 6 hours journey then go through Cab. But better to go through train. Then take a cab.

                                                                  

 

Best time to travel: -

Best time to travel is during monsoon & winter. If you travel during monsoon then you can able to see the water falls from Sardar Saovar Dam. If you travel during winter season then you can't see the water fall but you will enjoy the atmosphere.

Try to avoid during summer. The temperature goes to 45 degree.
Monday will be closed for tourists.

Online tickets: -

You can book entry tickets through online. Bus fare(30/- each) is extra. They will provide a guide inside a bus. You can take any bus from one destination to another in same bus ticket. Two types of  entry tickets are available.

Lift construction

1. Viewing gallery tickets : - Ticket fares are 350/- for adults & 200/- for children up to 15 years. In this package, you can travel viewing gallery, Valley of flowers, Museum & audio visual gallery, Sardar Sarovar Dam. You can go upto chest level in this ticket.

View from Viewing gallery.

2. Normal entry tickets : - Ticket fare are 120/- for adults & 60/- for children up to 15 years. You can travel Valley of flowers, Museum & audio visual gallery, Sardar Sarovar Dam. In this packages, you can go up to the floor of the statue.

 Total 535 tickets are available for online booking. If 535 no tickets are booked then you don't think that you can't go. You can go. You have to take counter tickets.

If you booked your entry ticket through online then you save your time up to 1 hour.

Sardar Sarovar Dam from Basement.

Canteen:-

You can take food with you up to the main gate. After that you can't able enter with food. Canteen is there but it is in the exist gate. If you are entering at around 12 pm then you will face a big problem for lunch. If your entry time is near 12 pm then take lunch with you before taking the bus or take heavy food then enter. So proper plan is needed.

Wants to pocket friendly trip for Statue of Unity?

You can reach Surat from any part of India through flights, Buses or trains. After that take Gujarat State Transportation bus from Surat central bus stand, near Surat railway station, for the Statue of Unity. The rent will be 196/- per head per trip. Two AC Luxury buses are available from Surat.

From Vadodara central bus stand, you will get one luxury and two ordinary buses for Statue of Unity.

From Ahmedabad Ranip bus stand, you will get one luxury bus at 6 AM for Statue of Unity.

From Rajkot, one AC sleeper bus is available for the Statue of Unity at 10 PM.

So you can book online ticket from GSRTC.

surat airport to railway station.

How will you reach the surat railway station from surat international airport, and how much time will take, the details are given below.

1. Bus: -

From the arrival gate, you will get BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) buses for Surat Railway Station. The  AC BRTS will go through VR mall - NIT - Parle Point - Athwa Gate - Majura Gate - Udhna Darwaja - Sahara Darwaja. Travel time is nearly one hour.

You can get city buses also. But you have to come out from the airport & will get it from the airport gate.

Still now the bus service need to improve. In my experience, the city buses, don't have a particular route. so better, before taking the city bus, ask them whether they will go to your destination or not.

If you get the BRTS then it will be better.

2. Taxi: -

If you take rental taxi from the airport then you will realize that you are a big fool.

"I want to share one experience that happened with me. I went to the rental taxi booking stall at 9.00 pm and my destination was Adajan Gas Circle. It is 10 km from Airport. They demanded me 1200/-. I was just surprised. I replied, leave it. I will manage. after that called my friend for receiving me."

3. Auto: -

Lots of Autos will be there. If you take it from the arrival gate then they will demand more, but if you came at the airport main gate, then lots of autos you can get with reasonable price. Airport main gate is nearly 300 meters away from the arrival gate.

4. Ola/Uber: -

You will face little bit difficulty to gate an Ola taxi at late evening. Uber taxes are very less compare to Ola. If you arrive at late night then better to arrange individual, because you can't able to get an Ola or Uber during late night.

Which option is better??

If your arrival time in between 8 am to 6 pm, then you can choose any one according to your budget. But after 8 pm, you will not get buses and chances of getting an Ola/Uber will be reduce. better, schedule your journey through Mini cabs.

kolkata airport to howrah.

1. BUS: - 

From Arrival gate, take right and walk around 50-100 meters, then you can easily find out the AC VOLVO bus stand for different destination. Maximum 5 minutes it will take.

Find the bus number according to your destination.

AC-39 for Howrah (ticket price 50/-). It will take around 45 min to 1 hour. total distance is 18 km.
AC-37A for Garia.
AC-37B for Garia.
AC-49 for Eden city.
AC-49A for Behala (via Sealdah).
AC-43 for Golf Green.




2. TAXI: -

Prepaid taxi stand is just outside the arrival gate (Near 3A & 3B). They have a counter. You have to collect prepaid taxi ticket & taxi no. taxi driver will be there, no difficulty to find out the taxi. But if you take a taxi from arrival gate then definitely the taxi driver will tell you the rent three times more from the actual rent.
If you decide to take a taxi then better to go through prepaid taxi.




3. OLA / UBER: -

They have separate stand in the airport near prepaid taxi stand. So any time you will get the online cab. (I booked an ola cab and came to the howrah at mid night AM during Durga Puja-2018 and my fare was 530/-)




4. Metro: -

Still, 2019, no metro is available from Kolkata Airport.

Which option is better??

If you have some extra time (tentatively 30 min) then chose the bus. they will take approximately same time compare to the prepaid taxi. If you choose online cab then it will be the best decision because they will save your both the time and money, compare to prepaid taxi.

When you are unable to get an online cab and don't have that much time then, you may choose prepaid taxi. But some time prepaid taxi also taking more time to reach your destination.