AHMEDABAD TO SAPUTARA

In the heart of the Western Ghats, Saputara is popular as Gujarat’s only hill station. Covered in lush greenery and often referred to as ‘nature’s womb’, it is a sight to behold. The road from Ahmedabad to Saputara takes you through many significant cities: visit the grand Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, marvel at the 100-year-old Golden Bridge in Bharuch, and follow in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi at Dandi Beach in Navsari. In Saputara, visit the gorgeous Gira Waterfalls, and go boating on the serene Lake Saputara, which is surrounded by gardens. The Saputara Tribal Museum is close to the lake and offers a window to the rich culture of the Dang tribe. Just a few kilometres away, the Artist Village sells tribal artwork and handicrafts.

One of Asia’s largest brackish water lagoons, Chilika Lake lies around 114 kilometres from Puri, and swells as wide as 1,100 square kilometres during monsoon. It is home to a unique endangered creature: the Irrawaddy dolphin. Located to the south of River Mahanadi in Odisha and separated from the Bay of Bengal by a 60-kilometre-long sandbar called Rajhans, the brackish lake dotted with wetlands makes for a great trip from Puri via Satapada. The lake sees a steady influx of naturalists, birdwatchers, and tourists every year. Spot the peculiar dolphin with its bulging forehead and short beak as you glide on the lake in a boat, and spend the rest of the day at the Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, where millions of Siberian flamingos and other migratory birds nest. Stay at Swosti Chilika Resort, located on the banks of the lake. Starts from 5,000/USD67; swostihotels.com