Bangalore to Ahmedabad flight
International dentist conferences form an important part of my annual calendar. Last month, I went for a short trip to Ahmedabad to attend one of these conferences. I boarded a Jet Airways flight from Bangalore. The flight landed at the destination exactly on time. A guest house had been booked in advance for my stay in the city. So I didn’t have to waste too much time looking for accommodation.
I received a warm welcome from the guest house’s staff once I checked in. The air conditioned rooms were well maintained with fresh linen and upholstery. I spent the evening surfing through the news channels of the TV in order to get over the boredom. The staff of the guest house were attentive to my queries and grievances and made sure that housekeeping was done periodically, in a perfect manner.
Discovering the city
The next day, after attending the conference, I went out to visit the various attractions around the city. My first destination was Kankaria Lake. Located in the eastern part of the city, it offers a wide range of entertainment options for pedestrians. As a nature lover, I loved spending some quality time exploring the Zoological Park and Butterfly Park. People who are more concerned about their fitness can make ample use of the jogging track.
Then, I proceeded to the Teen Darwaza, one of the city’s oldest gateways. Located close to the Bhadra Fort, it served as an entrance to the former’s Royal Square. The walls and pillars of Teen Darwaza have an eye-catching design. One of the best examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, it has semi-circular and is embellished with meshwork. Its central window depicts the tree of life.
Exploring True Flavours of Gujarat
Gujarat offers a vast range of recipes. From snacks and sweets to main course dishes, I had ample opportunities to try dishes I never had before. I started off with theplas, which are similar to parathas in appearance. Made from wheat and fenugreek, they, however, have a much different taste as compared to stuffed parathas. It tastes best with pickles. Undhiyu is a delicacy which is prepared during the well-known kite festival.
Prepared from various vegetables satiated with spices and an oil dipped dry fruit, it was simply mouthwatering. At the end of the meal, I was served Khandvi, a popular snack. Prepared from curd and gram flour, it tastes best with green chilli chutney. It is best suited for people who prefer light flavored snacks rather than spicy ones.
New Perspective of Same Old Gujarat
The international conference lasted for three days. Since I was free during the evenings, I got the perfect opportunity to visit the major attractions of the city. The tour also changed my perception about Gujarati cuisine. Now I know that Gujarati cuisine is not limited to dhoklas, khakra, and jalebi alone! As I remembered the trip right from the time I boarded the Bangalore to Ahmedabad flight to my arrival, I felt life had come full circle! I will prepare a collage of these pictures to treasure the memories of my Ahmedabad trip in the days to come!