Shri Vallabhbhai Patel is the man responsible for the creation of modern India. So, your visit to Vadodara will be incomplete if you don’t see the monument constructed in remembrance of the great man. The monument has been named the Statue of Unity. If there’s one tourist attraction India is known for today after the Taj Mahal it’s the Statue of Unity. For your information, Shri Vallabhbhai Patel was also a well-known freedom fighter.
At 182 meters, it’s the tallest manmade structure the world has ever witnessed. However, its height is not the only factor that makes the Statue of Unity special. It features amazing architectural works. The other prominent inclusions of the monument include a viewing gallery, an exhibition hall, a lift, etc. If you have plans to visit the statue, make sure you explore the other tourist destinations adjacent to it.
The Narmada Dam, better known as the Sardar Sarovar Dam, is possibly the most famous gravity dam in India. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is the second biggest dam in the world both in terms of its volume and size. The dam was built across the river Narmada. It is a part of one of the most talked-about hydraulic engineering projects in this part of the world, the Narmada Valley Project. The project began in 1979 and is still going strong.
Other than serving purposes like providing irrigation water and enabling solar power generation, the dam attracts hundreds or thousands of visitors every year. Reaching the dam is easy as it is well-connected with almost every major city in Gujarat by road. These include Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajpipla, Bharuch, and more. Other than visiting the dam and knowing about the history behind its construction, tourists also get to explore the lush green forest the dam is surrounded by.
The Valley of Flowers covers more than 24 acres of land and is a must-visit for every individual who loves nature. Your best chance of visiting this splendid tourist destination in Gujarat is during your stay at the tent city built along the bank of the river Narmada. The Valley of Flowers is home to innumerable plant species and gorgeous, colourful flowers. To be more precise, the place will allow you to witness more than 22,00,000 plants and over 300 flower types.
Walking through this special garden is a truly enriching experience. You will get to see flowers that you had never seen or heard about. The tranquil environment of the garden, on the other hand, will make you feel relaxed. Other than housing a huge collection of flowering plants, the Valley of Flowers also features multiple species of creepers and climbers and colourful grasses.
Nature-lovers should also plan a visit to the Cactus Garden, a garden covering around 836 sq. km. As its name suggests, Cactus Garden will allow you to see a wide variety of cacti. You will have a one-of-its-kind experience as you will explore the spikes and thorns when walking through this unique garden. At present, the Cactus Garden is home to more than 500 cactus species.
What makes the collection of this garden special is that it features cactus of different shapes and sizes. You will also come across exotic plants that could be viewed only in books or on the Internet before the Cactus Garden came into being. The garden was inaugurated in 2019 by Shri Narendra Modi, the honourable Prime Minister of India. It has taken little time to gain popularity as a tourist attraction thanks to its amazing collection.
It’s not difficult to comprehend what makes the Butterfly Garden a must-visit place. Who would not like the idea of witnessing multiple species of a colourful creature like a butterfly under one roof? During your visit to this unique garden, you will get to see more than 70 species of butterflies.
The garden has been designed to provide the butterflies with the maximum opportunity of multiplying. There are separate spaces allotted for these creatures to lay eggs. The entire process of laying eggs to hatching them is supervised by trained professionals. As a tourist, you will not only get to explore the wonders of nature during your visit to the Butterfly Garden but will also get to click perfect selfies and photos.
Even if you visit this part of Gujarat for a day, you should plan a trip to the Zarwani Waterfalls. The waterfall is technically located inside the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, another popular tourist destination near the Statue of Unity. However, you can explore just the waterfall and the region surrounding it if you have a time constraint.
Zarwani is a village located at the topmost point of the Satpura ranges. It’s a small village known for its spectacular scenic beauty. The village is, however, primarily known for the waterfall named after it, the Zarwani Waterfalls. People come to this part of the state for day trips and for enjoying activities like camping, hiking, and trekking. You will have the best experience if you visit the place just after the monsoon or when it’s not raining during the monsoon.
The Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the western slope of the Satpura range. If you are interested to get acquainted with the local flora and fauna of the region, do plan a trip to this sanctuary. The sanctuary got its name from a historic temple named Shoolpaneshwar, which was a shrine of Lord Shiva. It is believed that the Shoolpaneshwar Temple is now present underneath the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
This sanctuary started its journey as a project meant for protecting sloth bears. However, today, it is famous for housing several species of big cats. Other than that, you will also get to witness barking deer, pangolins, civets, porcupines, etc. during your trip to the sanctuary. You will also be enthralled by the innumerable species of birds and reptiles the place houses. The other factor that makes this wildlife sanctuary one-of-its kinds is the combination of plant types it has. Here, you will get to see more than 560 species of plants.
If you are wondering whether there’s any prominent place of worship near the Statue of Unity, rest assured. Gujarat has always been known for its temples; the Garudeshwar Dutt Temple is just one of them. The Garudeshwar Temple is located along the northern bank of the river Narmada and is dedicated to Mahadev. The temple was constructed more than 2000 years back and thus stands as the testimony of a series of historic events.
Some say that Lord Shiva/Mahadev arrived on earth to destroy everything that’s evil disguised as an eagle. The Garudeshwar Dutt Temple was built based on this mythological concept and thus Shiva is worshiped here as an eagle. The temple is also famous for being the samadhi site of Shree Vasudevanand Swami Maharaj, the author of the book Duttapuran.
Nilkanth Dham is another famous temple located near the Statue of Unity. The temple is dedicated to Nilkanth or Lord Krishna. However, it was built primarily for propagating the message of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan or Sahajanand Swami, a widely worshipped Indian yogi.
You will not have any trouble exploring the temple even if you are an elderly individual or a person with a disability. The temple authority offers wheelchairs free of cost to disabled individuals. While you enjoy your visit to the temple, your kids can have some fun at the dedicated play area. There’s also a food court and exhibition zone where tourists can have some good time. People from around the globe gather here to celebrate auspicious occasions like Krishna Janmashtami, Holi, Diwali, etc. The temple gets decorated with flowers and lights on these special days, which enhances its beauty even further.
