It was the winter of 2014. The month was January and I was looking forward to an International FAM. It was a wellness FAM with lots of Spa thrown in. That was the time when I used to work full time in addition to blogging. My leaves were worth in gold, maybe diamonds!
And then it happened. Due to reasons beyond the control of anyone, the trip got cancelled. It got cancelled on a Thursday when I was supposed to travel on the Sunday. And I had one week of approved leaves and no trip in sight. I was desperately in need of a last minute holiday.
That evening I sat down on my laptop and started searching high and low for the lowest airfare within the country. For the next three hours I ignored anyone and everyone in my family. And that included my small daughter too. My husband would come in between to give his expert comments, “Why don’t you go to Madagascar?” On a whim I searched for it and the country has visa on arrival for Indians! However, I could not dare to spend the kind of money it would take to travel last minute to Madagascar. Also there is always a question of yellow fever vaccine when traveling to that corner of the world.
I went on searching and the lowest I could find was a 12K INR return to Ahmedabad. I then decided to visit Rann of Kutch. The trouble was Bhuj is still 8 hours away from Ahmedabad. Luckily I got a train ticket in AC 2 tier that would take me Bhuj.
Tickets sorted, the hunt for a hotel was on. As it was a last minute holiday, I was seeing exorbitant prices. I was not even sure how good the hotels were! Then in a fit of anger I started looking for homestays. Luckily I found Devpur Homestay online. I wrote a mail to them and they responded. They were hesitant as they had guests coming in later. I cajoled and tricked them into giving me a room for two nights, the one that had the lowest rent!
Once I reached Devpur, my life became easy. The lady and the gentleman, the Jadejas, who run it were excellent hosts. They have a fabulous home! And they planned my entire Rann of Kutch itinerary. They arranged a taxi for me too.
When I was off to my first destination, Mandvi, the taxi driver Mr. Siddique asked, “Did you know that the Jadejas belong to the royal family of Kutch?”
In the end my last minute vacation turned out to be a lot of fun. But I am in no hurry to plan another one last minute again!
wow!! that’s so cool… 🙂 I love home stays…
Btw – when is Madagascar happening?
Let us see Archana, I need to win a jackpot for that!
The homestay looks elegant and the Rann of Kutch looks beautiful. A very nice post.
Thank you Purba.
Last minute holidays give some of the best memories… ( and great pics too )
Thank you Prasad though I don’t want too many.
Great captures, Mridula. I’m gonna steal all the pics for writing quotes. Hope you don’t mind. 🙂
Not at all Ravish, all yours.
Rann of Kutch is a place to experience and so is Gir. Yes Jadeja’s belong to Kutch.
Soali I am lucky to have visited both the Rann of Kutch and Gir.
That is well planned in a jiffy. 🙂
Forced to plan in a jiffy 😀
It ‘looks’ like you made a wonderful decision ! Beautiful capture f the Mandavi beach and the Home-stay looks aesthetically pleasing . That they planned your travel itinerary tells they were genuine people too 🙂
Thank you so much Kokila. It was a fun trip where everything worked out in the end
some time unplanned / last minute journey comes out to be more enjoyable than planned one.
As usual pics awesome.
Thank you Mahesh. But last minute ones are a pain to plan with all the prices going up!
A lovely pattern on the Mandvi Beach.
It was a beautiful evening out there!
Beautifully captured..
Thank you Ranjani.
I, so very want to visit Rann as a traveller, the post inspired me to do so soon
I hope you go soon!
Fascinating shots…… Will definitely want to be there someday…….
You will have a gala time photographing it!
Awesome photos , Great post.
Thank you Rupam.
Since long I am planning to visit Gujrat but every time it got cancelled due to some or other reasons. Shall visit soon now.
Your pics are great.
You will enjoy the trip, I am sure, whenever it happens!
You know i regret saying NO to this trip years ago.. and now I am regretting more I so want to gooooooooooo
Bikram’s
Do go, the place is surreal!
Gorgeous photos. I loved Mandvi when I went there and that last beach photo was exactly how I remember it. Glad you managed to arrange a trip so fast.
Thank you so much Kalpanaa.
I must say this new theme of your blog is really very beautiful and seriously it has made your entire blog look very attractive. 🙂
Thank you Suman.
The home stay looks extremely appealing! Great captures!
Thank you Deepa. Devpur Homestay is fabulous.
Lovely shots – and I really like the new look of your blog, especially the header.
Thank you so much Lady Fi.
A crisp article and very beautiful pictures indeed. The home stay looks interesting.
On a separate note, the new theme of the website looks nice. 🙂
http://thetalesofatraveler.com/2015/08/08/day-trip-from-bangalore-to-kotilingeshwara-temple/
Thank you Sam!
The pictures look beautiful,…rather the rain of Kutch looks amazing in your pics. ????????????????
Thank you Shalini, Rann of Kutch is mesmerizing for sure!
Wow! That’s a beautiful homestay, actually looks like a palace!
What was the rent like, of the cheapest room of course 😉
Cheers,
Rajiv
It was surely less that 3K, just search, they do have a website.
That’s a great price I would say, for such a beautiful place!
Hi! Planning a 4 day trip in October. Solo female. From Pune… You recommend Kutch?? 🙂 I have been there as a kid and I cannot wait to see it again as an adult! Reading your posts make me want to book a trip. Suggest!