Information about Somnath tour

Somnath is a wonderful place to visit. From here you can go to the Sasan Gir forest, Dui Island. That's why Somnath is the best place to stay and the hotel fare is cheaper than Dui. I went there during September 2019. I collect huge information form there and I want to share with you. If you know all these things before planing your tour then economically will get huge benefit.

Where to stay in Somnath??

Where ever you visit, try to stay nearby the railway station or bus stand because you will get more options for visiting the local tourist spot. Always I keep it on my first preference. That's why I stayed near Somnath railway station. But here I am not suggest you to stay near the Somnath railway station. Go for Somnath Guest house. It is nearby the temple and cheaper compare to any other private hotels. Three guest houses are available. 

1. Lilavati Atithi Bhavan.
2. Maheshwari Atithi Bhavan.
3. Sagar Darshan Guest house.

Sagar Darshan Guest House will be the best choice for staying in somnath because it is located on the beach. That's why it is little bit costly compare to Lilavati & Maheshwari Atithi Bhavan. The temple is also nearer compare to the other two Atithi Bhavans. Here AC and non AC dormitories, rooms are available.

How to book the Guest House?

You have to book room seven days in advance That means, if your check in date in somnath on 14/09/19 then you can book the room on or before 07/09/19. If you try to book after 7th September, then they will not allow. Please keep in mind.

For booking the guest house : - https://booking.somnath.org/GuestHouse/Home.aspx

You can find the fare according to your choice.

Food: -

You will get breakfast, lunch and dinner inside the guest house with very reasonable price and the quality also good. You will get "Maha Prasad" from guest house.

Temple Darshan (Shree Somnath Jotirlinga Temple): -

You can't carry your mobile, hand bag, leather belt during the temple visit. All must be submitted before entering the temple. There is a digital locker on the left side of the temple entrance. There you can keep your mobile for a certain time period. They'll take some money for it. If you crossed that time limitation, then you have to pay extra.

Another counter is there. It is for keeping your hand bag or others. Two times you have to stay on the line. That's why my opinion is, no need to carry your mobile and hand bags. Directly you can enter.

After the security check-in, you have to submit your shoes to the left side counter.

"No need to buy anythings for the prasad and flower from outside. If you want to buy, then you have to bargain."

You will find the puja time table chart inside the temple. Select your puja package, and then pay on the counter, just behind the time table chart. They will give you a slip. They will mention there the puja time, packages etc on that receipt.

"Arti" time will be 7 AM and 7 PM. This worship will touch your mind.

You will get "maha prasad" from inside the temple, but they have separate counter.

Evening and morning is the best time to spend there. Oh! what a beauty.

Local tourist spot: -

Somnath itself has three to four another tourist spots -

• Somnath Beach.
• Paanch Pandav Gufa.
• Bhalka Tirth Temple.
• Lakshmi Narayan Temple.
• Triveni Sangam Temple.

For the local tourist spot, you may hire taxi. It will be one day trip. So keep two days for somnath, one day for visiting the temple and another day for local site scene.

Best time to visit: -

Winter is the best time to visit there. Try to avoid summer and the monsoon season. We went there just after the monsoon and specially I feel that, it was the best time to visit there.

I think this information will help you a lot. If any query, then you may mention in the comment section. Thank you and have a good trip.

WELCOME TO INDIA

India is a secular country. All kinds of people live here. People of all races live here. Natural beauty will also impress you. If you ever want to visit India, I will give you some tips that will help you a lot. So first I describe,

What to do during travel?

1. Always use OLA or UBER cab.
2. Always speak honestly with Indian women.
3. If you don't know about the place where you want to go, ask any local people, they will help.
4. If you are traveling in a train then never take heavy food from pantry car. Take food from IRCTC e catering official site. They will serve you on your seat.
5. Wherever you travel, always carry your passport with you.
6. Always keep a diary with you. Write a short note where ever you travel, where ever you stay. Definitely it will help you a lot.
7. If you want to take hotel then go through OYO rooms, GOIBIBO, MAKE MY TRIP, YATRA etc.

What to avoid?

1. Try to avoid Auto rickshaws during local city transportation because sometimes they will claim 5 times more compare to on-line cab. You don't have the knowledge about the fare. So easily they may cheat you.
2.  Never speak dishonestly with Indian women because the Indian Constitution gives them a lot of respect.
3. Try to avoid during summer because the temperature will raise upto 40 to 45 degrees except the hill areas. It's summer from April to July. November to February will be the best time to visit India.

These are the basic things you should keep in mind when you travel in India. Have a good trip. If any queries then you may ask in the comment section.

Thank you and welcome to India.

Statue of Unity from Kolkata

The "Statue of Untiy" is one of the highest statue in the world and one of the most visited places in India right now. Its construction is tremendous. You will be speechless for a while after seeing this.

Here I am discussing that how to reach the Statue of Unity from Kolkata and it is more than 2000 km away.

1st option: -

Take a flight from Kolkata Netaji Subhaschandra Bose International Airport (CCU) for Surat International Airport (STV). Daily two direct flights are available from Kolkata, Indigo and Spice jet.

From Surat International airport (STV), you may take rental cab or AC BRTS buses for Railway station bus stand terminal (Surat central bus stand). AC BRTS bus will be better choice because It will take same time to the cab. This type of buses have their separate tracks on the road. Nobody can drive on BRTS buses track. So within 45 min you will reach at Railway station bus terminal (central bus stand).

From there, take GSRTC AC buses, specially for the Statue of Unity. the Statue is nearly 140 km away from Surat. The ticket will be available on GSRTC website and the fare will be 196/- per person.
But the bus will depart from Surat central bus stand at 7.00 AM and will reach at 10.30 AM at the Statue of Unity. So better, take a hotel at near to the Surat Railway station because you will get more option there according to your budget. Then next day morning you may depart for the Statue.

So, within three days you can enjoy your trip.

2nd option: -

If you don't choose air travel, then take a train up to Surat (ST). It will take around 30 hours. Don't take Howrah Ahmedabad super fast express, because it will reach Surat around 9.30 AM. So better, take Howrah Porbandar super fast express or Kaviguru Express because both will reach Surat at arround 5.00 AM. You may also take Malda Surat express from Durgapur. After that you may take the luxurious AC bus just outside the railway station towards the platform no 1 for the Statue of Unity. You will reach there around 10.30 AM. You may stay there inside the "TENT CITY".

3rd option: -

You may take a flight for Ahmedabad (AMD) from Kolkata (CCU). Lots of flights are available. You can choose according to your convenience. From Ahmedabad, it will be more than 400 km away. You have to take AC luxurious bus from Ahmedabad and it will depart at 7.00 AM.

Which option you should choose???

If you only three days and want to enjoy with family then choose 1st option.
If you want spent a good time with your family then I am giving the best advice for the trip arrangement.
Take flight for Surat or Ahmedabad, choose according to your ticket fare. But I think Surat will be more convenience compare to Ahmedabad, because you will get BRTS from inside of the Surat Airport and it will take 50/- for the central bus stand. If you want to enjoy the local function like Garbha then you should take 1N/2D TENT CITY packages according to your criteria. For TENT CITY room booking go through the Govt authorized site: - https://statueofunity.in/tentcity/
They will give you the all service.

LASER SHOW is the another advantage to stay in TENT CITY. It will start from 7.00 PM.

If you have more convenient option then please mention in the comment section.

Thank you. Have a great trip.