Blackbuck National Park : Velavadar

Hello all,

The grassland is enormous and with the wind blowing our hair and cold air sending shivers down our spine, our eyes were only searching the black and white wonders of mother nature. But instead what we saw initially was hundreds of longhorns peeping out of the grass. We were dumbfounded by the view in front of us... and still, ye Dil mange more and we wanted to see herds of running, hopping blackbucks...

Blackbuck National Park

This park was on our bucket list for a long. So rather than staying in the adjacent resort, we just took an easy and money-saving way. As the park is just 3 hours from Vadodara, why not go just for a day!

So off we went to Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, where we were meeting a few friends from Ahmedabad also. The plan was spontaneous and as spontaneity is the best kind of adventure, we just went ahead with it. Meeting old friends on the way, riding with them, cherishing old memories, laughing, chatting, sharing, and accepting who we are...no burden, no strings...just pure friendship...

We had started around 6:30 from Vadodara and reached Velavadar at around 9:45. The atmosphere was cool. And according to the guides, the best season to visit the park is winter only. From October to March. We can take our car to the park along with a guide. But trust us the best way to do any safari is in an open gypsy. Then only you will be able to feel the depth and vastness of the grassland.

Photo of Blackbuck National Park : Velavadar by kajal shah

If you have a proper guide and you are interested in birding then this park will not disappoint you. There are few rare species of birds in the park with lots of migratory birds. Apart from that nilgai and wildcats as well as wolves are also present.

And at last, we found a herd of male and female blackbucks. Though they were far away in the grassland we were able to see clearly with binoculars. Then they took us to the wetland, which is on the opposite side of the park. The lake is amazing with peace surrounding you like a cozy blanket. The chirping of birds and whistling of wind is your only companion. After our visit to the park, we went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

As we were having enough time, we went ahead to Bhavnagar. We found a beautiful beach a few kilometers away from Bhavnagar, named Hathab. It is famous among the locals and yet less crowded and peaceful. The beach is relatively clean, there are few bungalows on the beach, which are maintained by the government and forest department. You have to pay nominal fees at the entry point of the beach.

Nishkalank Mahadev Temple

And then we went to the second most amazing part of our trip...Nishkalank Mahadev Temple at Koliyak village. The temple is very old with five shivlings and nandis. It is believed that the Pandavas did their pooja here, after the Mahabharat war. The shivlings are totally submerged in the water during high tide. You can go up to them during low tide only. So before going you have to check the tide schedules of Bhavnagar. I am attaching a few links for the same below. This pace is a little crowded but as we always say, you can find a small secluded corner for yourself and enjoy one of the amazing sunsets from here just like us...You have to walk around 200-300 meters along the serpentine water-filled trails to reach the temple and it's worth every step.

The image of the setting sun at this temple will stay with us forever. Changing colors of the sky, flying birds, thumping sound of the drums, seawater slowly and gently coming near to you and submerging the steps of the temple one after another...We were stupefied by all these things... and as the sun disappeared from the sky, leaving behind all vibrant colors, my heart felt a sudden void, a state of deep loss...here I am viewing nature's spectacular event in front of me, my dear ones are just beside me laughing and chatting happily... what more can I ask for? Attaching the poem which was playing hide seek with my mind that evening...