4 THINGS TO DO NEAR VALSAD . PARNERA , AJMALGADH , ROYAL HOUSE & DANDI .

This blog is meant to show that there are plenty of interesting touristy places and lots of things to do in south Gujarat around valsad.

On our weekend trip to valsad we have discovered a few places which we visited around valsad. 

Parnera hill - its just 15 minutes away from the city. You need to  go by road and park your vehicle at the foot of the hill & then climb up the hill. There are 2 ways to get to it. We went from the one near valsad. 

It's a half an hour climb approximately. 

To our advantage the weather just added to its beauty.  It was about to rain while we started climbing up the hill. The nature's beauty of the greenery surrounding the steps was amplified by the clouds which descended onto the hill making it misty and foggy. 

In the temple area.

Standing amongst the clouds at the peak of Parnera.

On the top of the hill there are two temples. The peak offers views of the surrounding villages and valsad ( we didn't get to see much of the view because it rained just as we left and it was surrounded by clouds when we were there). 

Monsoon is the best season to be here. 

Ajmalgadh- it's an hour from valsad. We took a  small detour just 10 minutes away from it to eat at a nahari restaurant at gangapur. Nahari means it is owned and managed by women. You get a taste of local dangi cuisine. We had nachni roti with cluster beans (guvar) and udad dal, along with nachni wafers, salad, rice and kadhi. Its was very basic , economical and delicious. 

Dangi Thali at Nahari Restaurant.

Then we drove up the steep hill of ajmalgadh. The car goes all the way to the top. There's a couple of temples there too . It comes with its share of parsi history . 

History of Ajmalgadh.

The place is quiet and gives views of the nearby dams and forest. It's a hill with no competition for views around it.

View from ajmalgadh.

Also I guess the gujarati's are really devout and have temples everywhere. 

Royal house at nani vahiyal- it's the dharampur raja's weekend home. Truthfully it's in shambles and there is nothing much to see , though it will give you pictures you can boast of ( it's a favorite with pre wedding photographers).

Royal House at Nani Vahiyal.

Dandi- this one is the most famous. We visited this on an earlier trip to valsad,  though it's closer from navsari.

It has a museum dedicated to mahatma Gandhi's famous salt satyagraha. 

Standing with the statues depicting the salt satyagraha at dandi.

We went in the evening and got to see the lights put up as an attraction. 

Lighting in the evening at Dandi Musuem

The dandi beach is close by.

I'm going to keep writing blogs on places to see in south Gujarat.  After all, we do visit it often because we have a weekend home and lots of family there. 

Kuch din toh guzaro Gujarat mein!!.