Narmada River

About:

Narmada is a Sanskrit word meaning 'the Giver of Pleasure. It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India and flows westwards over before draining through the Gulf of Cambey (Khambat) into the Arabian Sea,30 km (18.6 mi)west of Bharuch city of Gujarat. It is one of only three major rivers in pensinsular India that runs from east to west (largest west flowing river) along with the Tapti River and the Mahi River. It is the only river in India that flows in a rift valley flowing west between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges. It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra,border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and border between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and in Gujarat.

Come stand on the banks of the Narmada, and whatever your faith, you might momentarily be inspired to carry out the Narmada parikrama, a two to three year process of travelling by foot up one entire bank of the river and down the other. For the time being, see how far this spell carries you; put one foot in front of the other and see how far they take you; take in the colorful riverside, the temples, ashrams, bathing sites and warm-hearted people; listen deeply for the river's voice as it tumbles home to the sea, washing humanity clean of its borders, divisions and short-sightedness.

The Narmada river from source to sea is 1312 km long, the largest in Gujarat, and the fifth largest in India. It is often seen as the boundary between North and South India. It originates in the Amarkantak plateau, where the Vindhya and Saptura mountain ranges meet, and continues southwest across the state of Madhya Pradesh, along the northern border of Maharashtra, and then winds through the Gujarati districts Narmada, Vadodara, and Bharuch, before emptying at the city of Bharuch into the Arabian sea through the Gulf of Khambat (Cambay).

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History:

The Narmada finds mention as one of the seven most sacred rivers in ancient Indian texts. A number of written accounts and ballads refer to this river. Its banks are dotted with temples, myths and folklore, the living symbols of a timeless Indian tradition. The river Narmada has supported a bewildering variety of people and diverse socio-cultural practices ranging from the relatively autonomous adivasi (tribal) settlements in the forests to non-tribal rural population.

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Narmada basin:
The Narmada basin, hemmed between Vindya and Satpuda ranges, extends over an area of98,796 km2 (38,145.3 sq mi) and lies between east longitudes 72 degrees 32' to 81 degrees 45' and north latitudes 21 degrees 20' to 23 degrees 45' lying on the northern extremity of the Deccan Plateau. The basin covers large areas in the states of Madhya Pradesh (86%), Gujarat (14%) and a comparatively smaller area (2%) in Maharashtra. In the river course of 1,312 km (815.2 mi) explained above, there are 41 triburaries, out of which 22 are from the Satpuda range and the rest on the right bank are from the Vindhya range

The basin has five well defined physiographic regions. They are The upper hilly areas covering the districts of Shahdol, Mandla, Durg, Balaghat and Seoni,The upper plains covering the districts of Jabalpur, Narsimhapur, Sagar, Damoh, Chhindwara, Hoshangabad, Betul, Raisen and Sehore, The middle plains covering the districts of East Nimar, part of west Nimar, Dewas, Indore and Dhar,The lower hilly areas covering part of the west Nimar, Jhabua, Dhulia, Narmada and parts of Vadodara, and the lower plains covering mainly the districts of Narmada Bharuch, and parts of Vadodara. The hill regions are well forested. The upper, middle and lower plains are broad and fertile areas, well suited for cultivation. The Narmada basin mainly consists of black soils. The coastal plains in Gujarat are composed of alluvial clays with a layer of black soils on the surface.

Nehru Foundation Stone Sthal:
The original foundation stone laid by Pandit Nehru offers a beautiful view of the river Narmada. The entire area has been specially planned for tourisms. A visit to this place after the rains is the best time to see the spectacular sight of water flowing down in full flow. Accommodation is also available nearby.

Sardar Sarovar Dam:
Largest cable crane in the world is used for placement of concrete at the Sardar Sarovar dam. Mass concrete is placed in the dam at a temperature not exceeding 12.7oC (55o F). The aggregates are, therefore, required to be chilled to about 8oC in inundations bins. Moreover, chilled water of 4oC and ice will have to be used as mixing water. It is calculated that for producing concrete of 7000 m3/ day, 300 t of ice flakes of 1.5 mm thickness at 5oC is required. An ice plant having a capacity of 300 t per day is provided.The huge dimensions of the work as well as the configuration of the site on both the banks of the river, demanded use of new solution in cable crane techniques as no other transport system can achieve the task of concrete transport for such a huge and extensive job within the desired period. It was, therefore, planned to install two cable cranes for placing the concrete for dam.

Shoolpaneshwar Mahadev Temple:
This is one of the most ancient temples here and attracts a large number of tourists and devotees. This temple was earlier submerged and has been rebuilt. The Shoolpaneshwar Wild life sanctuary also draws huge crowds.The Aditeshwar Mahadev Temple is another old Shiva temple here.

Titbits of the valley:
In Indian history, Chalukya emperor Pulakeshin II is said to have defeated emperor Harshavardhana of Kannauj on the banks of Narmada.The valley is famous for the gorgeous Maheshwari saris, which are handwoven; comfortable in warm and cold weather, dressy and yet light; these saris have a dedicated, select following among Indian women.

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Narmada:
Bifurcating Bharuch and Vadodara districts, this Narmada district came into existence during the year 1997. This place is located between the banks of the rivers Narmada and the Karjan at the southern parts of Gujarat state. The circumference of this district is 2,755 sq.km. and Rajpipla is the district headquarters. The places of tourist visit are Sardar Sarovar, the largest dam projects of South Asia, the Karjan Dam, Vijayraj Palace dates up 1912, Shoolpaneshwar sanctuary and Malsamot Waterfalls. There are important shrines and holy sites around such as Garudeshwar,Chandod, Shuklatirth and Nareshwar, and temples of Harisiddhi Mata, Hanuman and Gayatri Mata.

Pavagadh:
Champaner is just such a place. Here you can find an old palace, fort, several mosques, but also walk the ancient streets just as its inhabitants did five centuries ago. Champaner was an out-of-the-way pilgrimage site for hundreds of years, became the capital of Gujarat, and was then abandoned to be overtaken by the jungle. The city rose and fell almost as fast as the modern stock market, but left behind far more aesthetic remains. The city is remarkably well-preserved, with Hindu and Jain temples a thousand years old, mosques from the time of the Gujarat Sultanate, and the whole workings of a well-planned capital city still in evidence, from granaries and fortifications to stepwells and cemeteries. Champaner became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Dakor:
The city of Dakor is a mythological cauldron, and being there is like taking a drink from fabled waters.Once a sleepy village, it used to crackle with a large number of khakhra (Butea monosperma) trees and was therefore often called a ‘Khakhariu gaam’. It is said that Rishi Dank had his ashram here, so the temple and the village are named after him as Dankpur or Dakor, and the Danknath Mahadev temple stands on the banks of Gomti Lake. As you approach from faraway you see the swaying flag on the tall and beautiful shikhar of the Ranchhodrai Dakor Temple inviting pilgrims. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mirabai have both come here to pay homage to its idol.

On purnima (full moon) every month this temple town awakens to thousands of visitors in colorful festivity. Inspired by the revered legend of Bodana, many devotees even today come on foot from great distances. But remember, your Dakor adventure is complete only after tasting its lip-smacking gotas accompanied by tea or dahi (yogurt).

Hidimba Van and Rishi Dank:
In the past, Kheda district was known as ‘Hidimba Van’. This is where the Mahabharata hero Bhimsen killed a demon and married Hidimba.Rishi Dank had his hermitage in the fertile lands of Dakor, then called Dankpur after the name of the rishi. It is said that Shiva, pleased by the rishi's devotion, granted his wish and stayed in his hermitage in the form of a linga. At present the linga stands as Danknath Mahadev temple on the bank of the holy pond Gomti.

Zarwani Eco Campsite:
This campsite is situated in the Narmada District. It is 28 kms from Rajpipla towards Kevadia Colony at the Narmada Dam site. It is 7 kms from the Thawadia checkpost. It is situated inside the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to a gamut of flora & fauna. The wildlife attarction include leopards, wild sloth bears, hyena, various species of Deers and wild dogs. One can also see the rhesus monkey and the barking deer or muntjac which are rarely found in other parts of the country.One can arrange for day picnics or treks with the help of the forest department, with the forest, waterfalls and other natural beauty within easy reach. Other sightseeing areas nearby include the Zarwani waterfalls, the Shoolpaneshwar Temple, the Gheer Khadi.

Sayaji Bagh:
One of the major tourist attractions in Vadodara is the Sayaji Bagh in Vadodara, the large green park whose main entrance is on the Tilak Road. The Sayaji Bagh contains a planetarium that offers a 35 minutes show daily, except on Thursday.This garden also known as the garden of Sayaji, is an extensive park sprawling over more than a hundred acres with a mini rail track around the periphery. Cheerful kids can be seen enjoying a joy ride on the toy train. Elders may also join the fun after a little coaxing of the guard.Baroda Sayaji Bagh is situated on river Vishwamitri and was built by Sayajirao III in 1879. Inside the Sayaji Bagh, Vadodara is the Baroda Museum and Art Gallery. It was set up by the Gaekwads in the 1890’s and situated within the Sayaji Bagh. The displayed works are on innumerable number of subjects; geology, natural history, and archeology. The Art Gallery would give you a glimpse of the Mughal miniatures and manuscripts on palm leaves by the Buddhist and Jain preachers. Sayaji Bagh in Vadodara also has a planetarium named after the Indian freedom fighter Sardar Patel.

EME Temple:
Vadodara was once the capital of the Gaekwads and they named the city Baroda, which is also used at times. Vadodara is the prime industrial city of Gujarat and at the same time a growing place of tourist interest for the tourists from the various places of India and also abroad. There are several palaces, museums and parks that are reminiscent of the rich culture and heritage of the city. Besides all these things Vadodara is also celebrated for its religious attractions and the most notable among the holy places in Vadodara is the EME Temple in Vadodara.This temple is also known as the Dakshinamurthy Temple and it is a lovely shrine.The history of this temple takes us into the mythological times. The EME Temple in Vadodara is dedicated to the Lord Dakshinamurthy who is one of the reincarnations of Lord Shiva.

Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum:
Also known as Baroda, Vadodara is the highly populated town in Gujarat. This beautiful town comes after Ahmedabad and Surat as per population density is concerned. It has a population of more than 1 million. It is situated on the Vishwamitri River to the southeast of Ahmedabad. It is famously touted as the Cultural Capital of Gujarat. It is a home to the gorgeous Maharaja Palace and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Today tourists in huge number flock to this city to relish the beauty and charm of the impressive tourist attractions in Vadodara. There are different kinds of the tourist attractions in the city of which museums in Vadodara are the hot favorite destinations. You must give visit to Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum in Vadodara.Vadodara Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is a right place for the art lovers. Situated in the stunning city of Vadodra, the Museum displays amazing royal collection of 19th and 20th centuries which essentially comprises of European paintings of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo plus modern Western and Indian miniature paintings, Greco-Roman exhibits and Chinese and Japanese art. It also shows an interesting collection of modern Indian art. It has a rich collection of Indian and Greco-Roman artifacts.

Laxmi Vilas Palace:
Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara is one of the famous monuments in Vadodara that is high on tourist value. People visiting Vadodara make it a point to visit Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara. A wonderful exemplification of the Indo-Sarcenic architectural style, the palace is a majestic structure that warrants a special visit if you wish to marvel at the detailed and exquisite work from the close quarters. Indianholiday.com is your indispensable e-travelogue that provides you with all you needed to know on Vadodara’s Laxmi Vilas Palace.Vadodara’s Laxmi Vilas Palace was constructed during the period from 1878 to 1890. The construction of this palace was commissioned by Maharaja Sayaji Rao III. The total cost of its construction amounted to a whooping sixty lakh.

Museum and Art Gallery:
Vadodara which is also called Baroda is renowned as the garden city of Gujarat. This beautiful city has derived its name from the abundance of banyan trees. In yester years, it had once served as the capital of the royal Gaekwad Family. Today, this stunning city takes pride in its attractive palaces, parks, temples, and museums which are counted among the most sought after tourist attractions in Vadodara. However of all the different types of attractions the ones that play significant role in drawing tourist attention to the fullest extent are museums in Vadodara. The best of all the museums is Baroda Museum and Art Gallery in Vadodara.Vadodara Baroda Museum and Art Gallery exhibits a rich collection of artifacts. This collection comprises of Indian sculptures, ancient manuscripts and Egyptian antiquities. In the art gallery of this museum Mughal miniatures and works of great European masters are put on display.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Harish Petrol Pump:O/S Panigate,Ajwa Main Road,Vadodara,ph:0265 2519911

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Revival Hotel:Sayaji Gardens Near Kalaghoda, Sayaji gunj, Vadodara, Gujarat,India,ph:0265 2793535

Hotel Yuvraj:Near Central Stbus Depot,Sayajigunj,Vadodara,Gujarat,ph:0265 2794439

Hotel Surya Palace:Sayajigunj,Vadodara, Gujarat,India,ph:0265 2363388

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