Not only the people in Surat, but entire Gujarat is a festive state. People celebrate the regional and national festivals with great zeal and harmony. The two main festivals for which the state of Gujarat is known for is Navratri and Uttarayan.
If you are planning to visit Surat, then you can pick the time of these festivals so that you can also enjoy the festive aura of the town.
Navratri
Navratri is a 9 days long festival in which huge idols of Goddess Durga are set in large compounds. From evening to midnight, every day, people play Garba before the Goddess. Garba is a traditional dance form of Gujarat, where people dance in circles following the same steps. The music, the colorful, traditional attires of the people, and the inebriation are just unforgettable.
Courtesy: www.indiafellow.org
Uttarayan
This festival is also known as Makar Sankranti in many parts of India. It is a day when the sun enters the Northern Hemisphere. On this day people share the joy by flying kites and a number of delicacies are prepared at home.
The Gujarat government also organises a week long International Kite Festival in different cities of Gujarat. The festival is an important milestone of Gujarat Tourism as people from all over the world participate in the Kite Festival.
Surat International Textile Expo
The expo is held every year to promote the brand “Surat” and unleash national and international textile business opportunities. Although the main aim of the Expo is trading, everyone can attend to shop from the exhibition held along and get contacts of the best resellers and wholesalers.
The city also celebrates Holi, Diwali, and other regional and national festivals with great enthusiasm. You can also travel to Surat via intercity cab and enjoy the festive aura of the town.
If you are visiting Mumbai for conferences, events, or business meeting and have only a spare day, this is how you can spend the day-
Route Plan to Spend One Day in Mumbai
Courtesy: Google Maps
You can cover the places like Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, Shop at Colaba, and visit Jehangir Art Gallery.
Elephanta Island and Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Island is one of the Islands in the Mumbai Harbour. The island is famous for the Elephanta caves. The Elephanta caves are a collection of cave temples, dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a ferry ride from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island. We suggest visiting the island first and then spending time at the Gateway of India because afternoon, the ferry ride stop due to tidal conditions.
Courtesy: theculturetrip.com
Address: Gharapuri, Maharashtra 400094, India
Helpline Number: +91 22 2204 4040
Visiting Hours: 09:00 AM to 05:30 PM
Time to spend: 2 hours
Next Destination: Gateway of India, 1 hour by Ferry
Gateway of India
It is an arched gate, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911. Sea winds, view of Taj Heritage Hotel are the main attractions here.
Courtesy: www.nomadlifestyle.net
Address: Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Visiting Hours: Open all day
Time to spend: half an hour
Next Destination:Colaba Causeway, 10 minutes by car
Colaba Causeway
It is a popular spot for street shopping in Mumbai. You can find a huge collection of clothing, imitation jewelry, footwear, handicrafts, etc.
Courtesy: thecompletecityguide.com
Address: Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Visiting Hours: 09:00 AM to 09:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next Destination: Jehangir Art Gallery, 10 minutes by car
Jehangir Art Gallery
Jehangir Art Gallery was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir in 1952. You can find ongoing art exhibitions here. In the area, you can also get your portrait drawn by the artists.
Courtesy: expressreel.wordpress.com
Address: 161B, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Helpline Number: +91 22 2284 3989
Visiting Hours: 11:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next Destination: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, 5 minutes by foot
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya
It is a grand museum in Mumbai. It was formerly known as Prince of Wales Museum of Western India. At present, the director of the museum is popular designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee.
Courtesy: www.tripadvisor.in
Address: 159-161, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400032, India
Helpline Number: +91 22 2284 4484
Visiting Hours: 10:15 AM to 06:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next Destination: Flora Fountain, 10 minutes by foot
Flora Fountain
It is a heritage building located at the Southern end of the Fort area or D N Road of Mumbai. It is a landmark to locate the book stalls and art stalls in the area.
Courtesy: cityseeker.com
Address: Veer Nariman Road, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
Time to spend: 30 minutes
Next Destination: Crawford Market, 10 minutes by car
Crawford Market
Crawford market near CST railway station is the best place to shop for chocolates, dry fruits, and spices. You can also find exported fruits and other grocery items at a very reasonable price here. It is also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai.
Kanyakumari is located at the southernmost tip of India. You can actually see the three oceans- Indian ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian sea merging from the Vivekananda rock, located at a few minutes distance from Kanyakumari. The region full of sea’s splendor, also has a legacy to share.
In this article, we bring to you the prevalent stories about the place.
The legend of Kanya Devi
According to Hindu mythology, Kanya Devi was an avatar of Parvati and she was set to marry Lord Shiva. But, Lord Shiva failed to show up on his wedding day and the lady remained unmarried the rest of her life. That is why the place is called as Kanyakumari, meaning unmarried or virgin.
It is also believed that the rice and grains, meant for the wedding feast were hence not cooked and they remained unused thereafter. As the time went by, those grains turned into stones and people still believe that the small rocks on the shore are the reminiscences of the uncooked food from the time.
Courtesy: mapio.net
The tale of Marunthuvazh Malai hill in Kanyakumari
In the epic tale of Ramayana, when Lord Hanuman was carrying the Sanjivani mountain, he dropped a piece of the hill in Kanyakumari. This chunk is called Marunthuvazh Malai, meaning a hill where medicines live. The hill is located at about 7 kilometers distance from Kanyakumari in Kanyakumari-Nagercoil highway. And the place actually caters the medicinal herbs in the area, which are unique in the area and unusual to the climate and soil.
Are you not amazed to know the story of the place that you are going to visit? You can also book intercity AC cab to Kanyakumari from your city and travel hassle free and relive the forgotten legacies.
