The Nile Meeting the Sky in Aswan

The City which Calculated the Earth’s Circumference and Supplied Stones for the Construction of Pyramids:

Aswan, Egypt

We reached Aswan from Cairo at midmorning. Aswan has a significant, ancient history related to the Greek astronomer, geographer, mathematician, poet and music theorist: Eratosthenes. He is chiefly famous for being the first person to calculate the circumference of the earth. His book, ‘On the measure of the Earth’ which describes the method to calculate the earth’s circumference has been lost. So another Greek astronomer , Cleomedes popularized this method by taking two Egyptian cities as reference points: Alexandria and Syene which is modern Aswan.

Sycamore Trees Bordering the Roads of Aswan

As we proceeded to our hotel, what struck me in Aswan were the very tall sycamore trees bordering the road. They reached about 20 m in height. Their branches spread horizontally over a large diameter, but they did not encroach upon each other’s territory because the trees were well spaced. Sycamore is a sacred tree in Egypt since ancient times. The Pharaohs planted four varieties of trees: sant trees, lotus fruits, willow and sycamore trees. The dark-green sycamore tree is not only beautiful  but also provides ample shade. Aswan is one of the hottest, driest and sunniest cities in the world. The Pharaohs might have encouraged its cultivation, especially on roadsides because it looked the ultimate in aesthetics  and utility.

Helnan Hotel

Soon we reached our hotel in Aswan, Helnan Hotel ,situated at Nile Corniche. It is an excellent hotel both for its services and location. Corniche means, ‘a road cut into the edge of a cliff, especially one running along a coast.’ The location of Helnan Hotel is just that.  It is situated along the coastal road on the great river Nile. Just cross the road from the hotel and the turquoise-blue Nile flows by. From my room’s balcony I not only had an  excellent and close-up view of the Nile but also the cliffs at a distance.

The Coastal Road along Helnan Hotel

Another View of the Corniche

 Aswan has another ancient, historical significance. It is located in the ‘heart of what was the ancient frontier of Pharaonic Egypt.’ It is here that the stone quarries of ancient Egypt were located, famous for the granite rock, syenite. This rock was used throughout Egypt for the construction of colossal statues, obelisks and especially the Pyramids. Traces of these quarries, which are 3000 years old, are still visible by the roadside and on the cliffs. The stone quarries, looking like huge bee hives, were lit up at night for the benefit of sightseers and it was a splendid experience to watch them from the balcony of Helnan Hotel.

The Corniche, the Nile and the Cliffs

 

The Ancient Stone Quarries on the Cliffs

 

The Cliffs Bordering the Nile

The Lit-up Quarries at Dusk

The Corniche, The Nile and the Cliffs at Night

Photographs: Bulbul Sur.

Tags : Aswan, Sycamore, Helnan Hotel, Ancient stone quarries, Eratosthenes and the Earth's Circumference .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abu Simbel

And my tryst with the Great Temple’s Solar Configuration

Abu Simbel in Egypt comes under Aswan Governorate, upper Egypt, and the complex is famous for two huge, sandstone, rock-cut temples. The builder of those temples was the great Pharaoh , Ramesses II who ruled for 67 years. The construction of the temples started  approximately in 1264 BC. It went on for 20 years and was completed in 1244 BC which was roughly the 24^th year of Ramesses’ reign. The Great Temple is dedicated to  himself and the Small Temple is dedicated to his chief queen, Nefertari.

The name of the region is Nubia. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site known as ‘Nubian monuments’. Nubia was important to Ramesses II because it was a ‘source of gold and many other precious trade goods.’ To show his power to the Nubians, Ramesses II built many mighty temples and the most noteworthy  were the above-mentioned ones.  The temples were covered in sand as it was abandoned. It was rediscovered between 1813-1817 by Swiss orientalist Johann Ludwig Burckhardt  and Italian explorer Giovanni Betzoni.  

The Great Temple and the Small Temple are located on the western bank of Lake Nasser. However, this is not the original site where the temples were built. They  were originally located in Aswan at the second waterfall of Nile river. The Aswan High Dam was being constructed and upon its completion the temples faced the danger of being flooded under the rising waters of the Nile. 

 

View of the Great Temple from the west. photo:William Henry Goodyear (before 1923) Wikimedia commons

Between 1964 and 1968   with the help of  “multinational team of archaeologists , engineers and skilled heavy equipment operations,” “working together under the UNESCO banner,” the entire site was “cut into large blocks”  ,dismantled, lifted and reassembled in a new location 65 m higher  and 200 m away from the river.

A Scale Model at the Nubian Museum, Aswan, showing the Original site of the Temples and the Relocated Site with respect  to the Water Level
Courtesy:Wikimedia commons

Solar Configuration

Abu Simbel is not only famous because of the aforementioned temples but also because of the architecture of the Great Temple pertaining to solar orientation. The ancient Egyptian architects constructed the Great Temple in a unique way. The temple faces east at a precise angle. Twice a year, on February 22 and October 22,the first sun rays creep about 185 feet into the cavernous interiors of the temple, all through its corridor, its large chambers, narrow halls and enters the inner sanctum where there are four statues. It falls perpendicularly on the back walls of the innermost shrine and illuminates three statues , namely, Ramesses II, the sun gods Ra-Horakhty and Amun . The fourth statue is the Theban God of darkness, Ptah, who remains in the shadows throughout the year because ancient Egyptians believed that he should not be illuminated by sunlight until the end of the world.  This 3,300 year old phenomenon is concrete proof of the scientific, geometric, engineering, astrological, sculptural feat of ancient Egyptians. The dates were chosen for a specific reason. February 22 was Ramesses II’s birthday and was celebrated as the ‘feast of king Ramesses II’ and October 22 was the day when he ascended the throne and was celebrated as the ‘feast of the coronation of the king’. People from all over the world gather at Abu Simbel on these days to witness this divine mystery and I was one among the enormous global populace to be a part of this engineering miracle on February 22. There is some confusion about the duration of the sunrays inside the sanctuary: some say it lasts for about twenty minutes, perhaps a little more or a little less and some say it lasts only for six minutes.

Sunrays Illuminating the Faces of Three Statues in the Innner Sanctuary
Author:UNESCO, Wikimedia commons

The Journey

We started from Aswan at about eleven p.m. The motorable distance between Aswan and Abu Simbel is roughly 300 km . It is approximately a four-hour journey by road. My hotel (Helnan Hotel) had given us packed breakfast. Like us, from all over the world people had decided to see the Great Temple of Abu Simbel on February  22. Hence there was a mad rush. A steady stream of vehicles either zoomed past us or followed us because all roads led to Abu Simbel. What was amazing were the shops along the roadside. They were all open and the guide told us that this was an usual thing in Egypt. Midway along our journey a policeman hopped into our bus, presumably as our escort due to the mad rush.

The climate in Aswan was comfortable but when we reached Abu Simbel it was biting cold such was the treacherous climate in Egypt. We reached there in the dark at about 4 a.m. The area was crawling with people .Many vehicles were already at the parking lot. At the security check there was a long line. We had to put all our belongings under the scanner. After the security check we walked for some time through lanes which were not very well-lit, only just. Then we reached the temples. The security was stupendous. The temples were illuminated in soft lights and they changed hue so that the statues looked larger and mysterious in the sometimes darkish, sometimes glowing lighting aesthetics. There was no bright illumination in the vicinity of the temple  because the mysterious impact of the faintly-lit statues would be diminished. 

Lighting Arrangement At the Temple

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Dark and Mysterious in the Faint Light

Perhaps, the police were guarding the premises from the top of the temples because lights from the higher zones emitted frequently. We could not see the ground and the faces of the people; only dark heads and a glimpse of the surroundings through the intermittent flash of mobile cameras. Sometimes I felt that there might be a gorge or at most a ditch and I might fall into it due to the jostling. But that was not to be. At the edges of the mammoth gathering policemen created a rope corridor for tourists and prevented us from going backwards beyond a certain point. Since a portion of the whole world had gathered there the security arrangement was foolproof.

The Great Temple

Massive Crowd Before the Great Temple

Just Before Dawn -Break 

Gradually we could smell the morning air. There was a murmur of anticipation  as the dawn broke in degrees . The darkness was vanishing and a grey light emanated. The greyness slowly engulfed the whole sky and soon an  eggshell-white morning greeted us. We waited with bated breath for the sun to rise any minute but where was it? The sky was not rosy towards the east .It was grey as ever and covered in fog. Time passed but the greyness of the morning didn’t seem to leave us. The wind was still chilly but not as biting as the night. The huge gathering still didn’t lose hope; never mind, a few more minutes and  the sun will rise. But no such luck. Finally, the sun peeped through the clouds, a pale replica , as pale as it can be of its fiery self. The weak rays did not reach anywhere so there was no view of the sunrays illuminating the  statues inside the sanctuary.

The Pale Sun  and the Grey Morning

A Disheartened Crowd before the Weak Sunrays 

A melancholia gripped the massive crowd. I was very disheartened but it reduced when I saw the temples in morning light. The Great Temple is dedicated to Ra-Horakhty, Ptah and Amun, Egypt’s three state deities of the time and features 4 large statues of Ramesses II in the façade. I stood in awe at the sight of those massive, sandstone creations.

The Great Temple in the Pale Morning

 No wonder, the Great Temple is considered to be the grandest and most beautiful of all the temples commissioned during the reign of Ramesses II. The colossal statues (66 feet high) of Ramesses II flanks the entrance to the temple   Each statue is seated on a throne and wears double crowns signifying lower and upper Egypt.It is known as Temple of Ramesses,beloved by Amun.

The Damaged Statue amidst the Massive Ones
Photo: Onder Kokturk, Wikimedia commons

 One statue which is situated left to the entrance was damaged in an earthquake. As a result its head and torso fell off. During relocation, those fallen pieces were placed at the statue’s feet  because that was the place where it was originally found.  The smaller statues next to Ramesses’ feet represents his family members: wife, mother, sons and daughters.  

The Single Entrance to the Great Temple
 Photo:Than217, Wikimedia Commons

The temple has a single entrance and it was tiny compared to the huge statues outside. The halls were also medium sized ,not the gargantuan garths of the temple interiors in India. We had to see the interiors in artificial lights  but I can only imagine how the interiors would look when sunlight touched them and made them brilliantly-lit with natural light. The walls are adorned with friezes.

A Bas -Relief on the Wall Depicting a Battle Scene

A Frieze Depicting Worship

The Inner Hall

A Frieze in the Great Temple depicting Ramesses II making an Offering to Horus  

The Small Temple is dedicated to Hathor, the Goddess of love and music,  personified by Nefertari, Ramesses’ most beloved of his many wives. It is a miniature and simplified copy of the Great Temple. The façade has six standing statues over 30 feet high of Ramesses II and his deified wife, Nefertari. They are flanked by smaller statues of their children.

Close View of Nefertari's Temple
Photo: Than217, Wikimedia commons

   

Global Populace before the Small Temple

The Two Temples 

Hieroglyphic Scripts at the Entrance of the Small Temple

Source :Wikipedia

Photographs:Bulbul Sur

Tags: Abu Simbel, Solar alignment

 

Sea-City Porbandar

 A Land of  Mythology,History,Astronomy,Culture and Spirituality.                                    

Porbandar, a city in Gujarat, lies in the south-west coast of the Arabian Sea. It is chiefly famous as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. There is only a passing reference to the sea or no reference to it at all. But Porbandar has a tourist identity of its own with its mythology, history, temples and the wonderful, scenic ,peaceful chowpatty (beach). Not only that, it is situated in close proximity to world-famous places of Hindu pilgrimage. It is flanked by Dwarka, Somnath, Bileswar ,all within a time limit of a  couple of hours or sometimes less :hardly a distance of  an hour’s journey by road. Dwarka is about 102-105 km and Somnath is less than 120 km; Junagadh, the historical city is 112 km, and Sasan Gir National Park , the home of Asiatic lions is about 166-170 km from Porbandar.

History                  Sea-City Porbandar

Porbandar is known since ancient times because it is the birthplace of Sudama (Lord Krishna’s friend).Hence it also known as Sudamapuri.

Porbandar city was named after Goddess Parav. Bandar means harbor.  It is an ancient port city. Maritime activity continued here on the Saurashtra coast  since  the Harappan time in the 16-14 centuries BCE (1600-1400).There was a flourishing trade from here to Africa and the Persian Gulf.

 Many years ago it was called Pao Bandar due to its bread factories. The bread called pao ruti was made here and exported to Arab countries. 

The Jethwa clan of Rajputs ruled Porbandar since the mid-16^th century. After being subjugated by the Mughal governor of Gujarat ,conquered by the Marathas in the latter half of the 18^th century, it came under the authority of the Gaekwad royal court at Baroda and eventually of the Peshwas. In 1807 it came under the British Raj. After independence the state was acceded to the dominion of India.(Source:Wikipedia)

Commerce

The main economy of Porbandar survives on tourism and fisheries. The beach is known as chowpatty locally. There is a wide range of hotels on the beach. Dhows are still built here and fish-drying is an important activity. Porbandar is also the producer of gold and silver trinkets and it manufactures fine quality silk and cotton.

The Journey

We started from Jamnagar Reliance Township at 12 p.m. We crossed Khambaliya and then took a turn towards Porbandar. The road was narrow and sometimes gravelly but it was tree-lined with agricultural farmlands on either side. The scene was very soothing .  The fields were mainly cultivated with ground nuts. We went on 31^st  October when  the fields had been  harvested and tiny green  saplings of wheat were carpeted on the fields ready to be sown. Some fields were sown with ladies’ fingers and they  were already tall with a hint of lemon-yellow flowers. Men were rounding off the crops in a high mound  while a large group of snow-white herons watched the proceedings with undivided attention: standing too close for comfort near the farmers yet with a fearless attitude. On some fields the farmers sat under the shade of a tree in a group eating their lunch.

Our journey continued. The road was sparsely lined with trees. In some areas the spiky  stems bore green leaflings and though they formed a cluster with their closely knit trees, still they were too insufficient to block the harsh afternoon sunlight. Suddenly the road became dark with a line of thickly-foliaged huge trees standing as colonnades on either side and making the road dark like a moonless night.      

Then we saw a tiny stream trickling, bordered by green vegetation and we knew we were in the vicinity of a farm house. Sure enough, after long tracks of cultivated, harvested fields we suddenly saw a white and cream hued, two-storey house through the thick grove of coconut trees. At a safe distance away there were some ramshackle huts.

Wherever our eyes reached there were green fields , rivulets, thin strands of tricking water forming streams and meadows populated with birds especially white and grey herons.

As we neared Porbandar, the roads widened. We crossed a bridge, with freshly-painted white railings to arrive at asphalt-paved smooth, wide roads. Porbandar has arrived: a neat city with an air of tranquillity, grace and elegance.

Places of Tourist Attraction in Porbandar

 Bharat Mandir

Bharat Mandir

The Bharat Mandir is worth a look because it is a  culmination of entire India :her illustrious sons, her famous places, her Gods and Goddesses. The idol of Bharat Mata is in the main hall. You climb a couple of steps and come across  a gallery where a huge relief map of India adorns the floor. The main building is two-storey and rectangular, standing in a verdant complex. It showcases India’s rich history and heritage. There are pictures and sculptures of Hindu mythology and history, artifacts of Indian culture. Paintings and quotes adorn the surrounding wall and pillars. It is a very educative place as well as pleasing to the eye and an ideal destination not only for students but also for the general populace. Photography is allowed in Bharat Mandir.

Planetarium

The Planetarium is just opposite the Bharat Mandir. The ticket fee is nominal. It is called Akash Griha. It is also called Shri Jawaharlal Nehru planetarium. It is the fifth planetarium in India after the planetariums in Pune, Delhi, Muzaffarpur and Kolkata (sequentially).It was opened in 1965. It was sponsored by Nanjibhai Kalidas Mehta, an industrialist and philanthropist of Porbandar. The planetarium has a gallery dedicated to Quit India Movement. It is the first of the three  8m dome planetariums with ZeiSS ZK P1 projectors. The other two planetariums with such features are in Vijayawada and Surat.

 Kirti Mandir

Kirti Mandir: Entrance to Gandhiji's House
 (Photo:Jaydip3212, wikimedia commons)

Another place which gives Porbandar its hallowed identity is of course Kirti Mandir , the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a memorial house in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi. But the location is in a crowded locality, through narrow lanes zigzagging around old houses and shops. We had parked our car at Sudama Chowk and from there we took an auto to Kirti Mandir.

 Kirti Mandir was actually built due to Nanjibhai Kalidas Mehta’s efforts and money. He created a trust and convinced Gandhiji to sell his ancestral house to the trust so that it could be preserved as a memorial. 

Gandhiji's Ancestral House
(Photo:Rohit Agarwal,wikimedia commons)

Gandhiji’s house is kept in very good condition. It is a typical Kutch style of architecture built in a haveli style. It was bought in 1777 by Gandhiji’s grandfather and subsequently new floors and wings were added to it. The house is three-storey with 24 rooms. The doors are low and the windows are small. The inside is dark and cool. This ancestral house of Gandhiji is entered through the museum. There is a large courtyard at the entrance and the museum is built around it. Photographs are displayed on the walls of the slim veranda lining the corridor. There is no entry fee. Photography is prohibited . This museum which is adjacent to the house has rare and very old  photographs of Gandhiji. The glass almirah houses his memorabilia and utensils used by him –a tea kettle for example. There is a library that has books written by Gandhiji  and books (by other authors) propounding his philosophy.

Sudama Mandir (Temple)

Sudama Mandir

The Sudama temple dates back to the first decade of the 20^th century. It was built in 1902-1908 by H.H. Bhavsinghji Madhavsingji , the Maharaja of Porbandar on the site of a 12^th century temple. Sudama was Lord Krishna’s close friend in whose memory the temple is built. The noteworthy feature is the elaborately carved shikara (tower ) and the arcade supported by beautiful marble pillars encompassing the entire temple. The multifoil arches are delicately carved. The spandrels of the arches are  intricately designed. There is also a Sudama Kund (well) with steps leading down but it has been secured by an  aluminium net.

The Kund

Shri Hari Mandir

Shri Hari Mandir

Shri Hari Mandir is another attraction of Porbandar. It is located in the campus of Sandipani Vidhyaniketan, a renowned Gurukul. The Gurukul is an epicenter for practical training of rituals given to Rishikumars. It is a focal point of culture and spirituality. The Mandir is dedicated to many Gods: such Lakshmi Narayan, Radha Krishna, Shri Hanumanji, Shri Ganesh, Karunamayi Ma. It is said to be one of the biggest temple in Saurashtra. Tourist footfall is also the most in this sacred place.

The Aesthetic Campus of Shri Hari Mandir 

 Jambavan/Jambavant Cave

This cave dates back to the Ramayan age. It is just 17 km from Porbandar railway station. This ancient cave is located at Ranavav near Porbandar city. It is situated near Saurashtra Cement factory.

Jambavan Cave or Jambavan ki Gufa was the resting place of the warrior Jambuvan, the divine king of bears created by Lord Brahma to assist Lord Ram against Ravan. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Krishna and Jambuvan fought for the Syamantaka jewel for 28 days. When Jambuvan understood that his opponent was Lord Krishna  he withdrew from the battle and gave the jewel to Sri Krishna. There is an exact spot in the cave marking the encounter of Jambuvan with Sri Krishna where he gave Sri Krishna not only the jewel but also his daughter’s hand in marriage. The cave has 50 Shivlingas which are natural formations.  There are two tunnels inside the cave :one leads to Dwarka and the other to Junagadh.

The Beach

Then we came to the beach. There was a lone restaurant on the beach called Jamuna restaurant. The ambience is excellent because the windows open to the sea and it is  a great experience to sip a cold drink and gaze at the sea. There are many good hotels opposite the beach and we stayed in one of them. You just climb down a flight of steps from your hotel campus, cross the road and voila! The sea is here. The sea is unique because there are reefs which form table cloth-sized bays.

The sunset is a good view with the waters and the sky becoming rainbow tinted with different hues: grey, pink, crimson, maize yellow , cement –grey all stretched like a semicircle.

The Sun in its Last Legs

Enchanting Stages of Sunset

The reefs were a sight to behold. They looked like dried ant hills with stalagmite-like steeples and hollows. We went down to the beach to wash our feet. It was a sight to watch the waters rushing in and filling the hollows of the reef like a game of bagatelle.

The Reefy Coastline

Small Bays Formed by Reefs

Reefs Washed by the Sea  

Sea Inundating the Reefs

The Sea at Dusk

The beach became crowded in degrees: first the occasional walkers and tourists, then people in groups and lastly the vendors with their carts of green coconuts, chips etc. lining up the road. Since vehicular traffic of all types are banned on the beach road, the people walked and frolicked freely. There were semi-circular promenades. The beach was unearthing more beauties as we walked farther on. There were lots of stone benches and round stone stools for sitting.  There were many erstwhile bungalows and new houses  opposite the beach.

But what struck our attention was a massive, beige –hued  palace  on the beach called Huzoor Palace. It stretched from end to end. Its length and breadth were colossal though it was just two-storeyed.

As the sun set, the evening turned darker and the moon on Huzoor Palace looked brighter.

The Sea after Sunset

Huzoor Palace

Huzoor Palace Stretching from End to End on the Beach
(photo:Milanraninga80 wikimedia commons)

The Royal Palace in Porbandar is called Huzoor Palace and it is situated in Chowpatty Beach. It is a historical place and one of the most sought after tourist attraction. It was built by Natwar Singhji, the last ruler of the princely state of Porbandar during the early 20^th century. It is also known as Raj Mahal. It stands on the sea shore. Its innumerable, large windows on both the floors open to the  sea.

Architectural Beauty of Huzoor Palace
(Photo: wikimedia commons)

It is built in the style of European architecture with semi-circular porticoes with neo-classical columns, fountains and gardens. Visitors are not allowed inside the palace but during Navratri festival people come here to pay respect to royalty.

The Huzoor Palace along the Seafront

The early morning was another scene on the chowpatty, also referred to as Marine Drive. As the grey morning unfolded swimmers and potential swimmers lined up on the beach. There was a swimming school on the beach and also a changing room. Many boys, girls and semi-adults jumped into the water to swim or to learn swimming.

The Neat Beach at Dawn

The Sea in the Morning

Dugong

Porbandar is ‘one of the  last coasts remaining where the threatened marine mammal dugong can be found’ (Wikipedia).It is called ‘daria ka gai’by local fishermen which means sea-cow.

                   Dugong Mother and Calf (wikimedia commons)

A carcass believed to be of a dugong was found in May 2012 on the chowpatty coastline near Porbandar.

Towards Somnath

The journey from Porbandar to Somnath is enchanting. We crossed a cement factory, Saurashtra chemicals and a Kendriya Vidyalaya and moved towards Somnath. We again crossed a bridge with moderate water running below and freshly-painted white railings with the sun rising above it.The sea was nowhere in the vicinity. The houses were neat and tidy, not  any great work of architectural skill. There were however some ramshackle mansions with bosky gardens, whitish, closed windows, paint –peeling and darkish walls. They look abandoned. Probably when they were made  the owners of the houses could see the sea right from their verandas. 

We felt sad that we had left the sea behind us but that was not to be because we saw the sea at a great distance. It was all along with us  and just when we felt that the sea was far away, we travelled just a bit and the sea was right next to the highway; so near as if the  with white foam on the sea were lashing at us. We had reached Madhopur beach.

The beach is about 2-3 km in length.There were a couple of seating arrangements below shades and of course coconut sellers.Madhopur town also had old houses by the sea: sad, dark and derelict.People who live near the sea should not have any sorrow because all sorrows and lack pale into insignificance before the illimitableness of the sea signifying man’s potential and his beauty which are far, far greater and stronger than man’s sorrow.

And then started the huge coconut farms over many acres of land,  the ground dark with their extensive foliage . An occasional elegant farmhouse stuck out through the leaves. Some trees looked so close as if the barks would entwine each other .The coconut trees near the road were at a suitable distance. And just by the side of the road were very old banyan trees with their roots reaching down to the ground.

Then we reached Somnath. Om Namay Sivah. We parked our car at a distance and walked all the way. Cameras are not allowed inside the temple but there are professional photographers who gave us almost instant photographs.

The sea could be seen from the temple top .The beach was crowded with shops ,coconut sellers ,camel rides, horse and pony rides.

Distance

Jamnagar to Porbandar is 130 km We went at an average speed of 60 miles per hour and it took us one hour twenty minutes.

Porbandar is well connected. There are flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad. Trains run from Porbandar to Mumbai Central, New Delhi (NDLS), Delhi Sarai Rohilla, Kochuveli (Kerala) and Howrah (Kolkata). Buses run by State Transport Corporation and private enterprises connect Porbandar to Ahmedabad ,Dwarka, Veraval(near Somnath), Diu, Rajkot, Vadodara, Junagadh etc.             

 

Tags: Mahatma Gandhi, Sea, Planetarium, dugong, Sudama

Photographs:Bulbul Sur