One word will be enough: TREMENDOUS!!!
Trip Start
Dec 01, 2010
1
15
29
Trip End
Apr 13, 2011
Palitana, Gujarat, India
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Me again! (surprising, uh?)
Palitana is definitely one of my best destination until now (along with Madurai)! For a simple reason (and obvious if you have been to both of them): it is dirty, messy, dusty, under-developed like shit .... but this kind of city is so true, so authentic, so intense!!!
First, the way from Ahmedabad to Palitana: I couldn't find any Government bus (and my dear Lonely Planet was not of any help for this!) so I had to leave from Paldi station (crossroad full of travel agencies in south-west Ahmedabad)!
The way to Palitana is totally deserted, not to say desolated .... absolutely nothing, a huge expanse ... of void! It's stunning really! But 4h on not-so-bumpy-but-could-way-far-being-better roads make you more than happy to reach!
I reached at night and believe me, crashing in that city when it's all dark is not relieving at all! Everything closed, no people around, perfect silence everywhere ... and that awesome (definitly THE word for such a situation!) expectation about daytime there!
What a surprise: it is so lively then! And people are extremely helpful (even if they don't speak any word of English) and surprisingly relatively selfless! 0_o
You will find out there the greatest invention ever (after electric rackets, obviously!!): the Chakda rickshaw! (see last picture below) It is a mix of Rickshaw and Pick-up, combining a Bullet (Royal Enfield) and a tow! Fast and powerful, undoubtedly eye-catching (X-Zibit, go back to the sandbox!)
Few lines about my hotel, as it is mentioned in Lonely Planet: pretty cheap (300rs for a double-bed room): spacious ones (and uselessly furnished): restaurant inside (try the tasty "English"-and-get-sick breakfast!); comfortable beds (contrarily to usual hotels, this time, you will not sleep on a plank but underneath ... never seen so rigid blankets); hot-water (along with electrocution if wanted!)! By the way, you will never get bored in this hotel as your room will be full of friendly-but-hungry mosquitos!
Not so far from Palitana (keep walking for around 45min or take a rickshaw for 30/40rs) is Shatrunjaya temple: the site is actually located on the top of a hill. 3.500 steps are to climbed to reach it (takes 1h for non-smokers, upto 1h1/2 for others)!
Personal advice: once (almost) on top, take right instead of left (Master of the Obvious!) as you would enjoy the "secundary" temples first (and at the same time avoid the crowd)!
Own opinion: the "secundary temples" (a real maze ... don't be in a hurry!) are much more worthy than the main one (10min to see it is more than enough)!
Nothing much to explain: you have to see it!
Or just one thing: once back "downstairs", you will be all set for a great night! =)
Next destination: Diu (for a break) and then Junagadh (and its 10.000 steps-to-climb temple hill)!
Thanks for reading,
Tone
