Solo trips always sound cooler when someone else is narrating them on the internet. You know the drill – dreamy Instagram shots, soulful captions about “finding yourself,” and lofty declarations that solo travel is the only way to travel. So, when it was finally my turn to take a leap of faith, I was equal parts thrilled and terrified.
What if I get stuck somewhere?
Will I be able to manage on my own?
How will I live alone for a few days?
When my work senior suggested the Statue of Unity for the Independence Day long weekend, my first thought was, “Seriously? That giant statue I’ve scrolled past a hundred times on Instagram reels?” I was skeptical, borderline uninterested. But curiosity (and a lack of better plans) won. Little did I know, those four days of wandering through Ekta Nagar and an( impulsively added) Vadodara would turn out to be way more fun and memorable than I’d ever expected.
Solo Adventure Day 1: Leaving Mumbai, Reaching Ekta Nagar
The first stop of my itinerary was reaching Ekta Nagar, the tourist town that is the closest to the Statue of Unity. And the only way of reaching this town is by a daily overnight train leaving from Dadar, at about 11:50 PM. The Dadar-Ekta Nagar Express is the only available train that you can take to reach this town, and by 7:30 AM the next day, you’ll be stepping down at Ekta Nagar.
When I booked my accommodation here, I was already late – but do not repeat my mistake! I recommend booking your stay at least a few weeks in advance. Luckily for me, I had found a decent homestay just a few minutes away from the railway station.
Ekta Nagar: First Impressions And Things To Know!
I was stunned when I first saw glimpses of Ekta Nagar! The town is a fully planned one with most amenities and buildings made specially for tourists. The Shreshth Bharat Bhavan is the main tourist information center in the town and is essentially your one-stop destination to book tickets to all attractions, enjoy food at the various restaurants here, and even book a comfortable stay at the hotel inside the main building. Here, you’ll also find buses as well as pink e-rickshaws that will take you to all attractions!
A standout here is the free electric buses that you can hop on and off when in Ekta Nagar. Throughout the town, there are many tourist attractions, such as the Miyawaki Forest, Dinosaur Park, Jungle Safari, Maze Garden, and so much more! All you need to do is book your tickets online (offline ticketing is available for a few options) and hop onto these buses! These electric buses are staffed with a guide who will give you detailed information on the various sites and attractions in Ekta Nagar.
While I walked for the most part exploring tourist sites that were in close proximity to each other, you can hire an e-rickshaw for the entire day. These rickshaws are operated by local women, and isn’t this initiative simply so inspiring!
Visiting The Statue of Unity (SOU)
I freshened up, booked my online ticket for SOU, and instantly left to explore the world’s tallest statue! Note that the official SOU website allows you to book tickets to all the attractions in and around SOU.
When booking tickets to visit SOU, you can either book just the entry ticket or the Viewing Gallery ticket.
Entry Ticket: The entry ticket grants you access to the Audio Visual Gallery, Exhibition, Valley of Flowers, Sardar Sarovar Dam Viewpoint, Projection Mapping (optional), and complementary bus services; however, you do not gain access to the Viewing Gallery.
Price: INR 150 (adults) / INR 90 (kids)
Viewing Gallery Ticket: To gain access to the Viewing Gallery, you must book the Viewing Gallery ticket that will grant you access to the Audio Visual Gallery, Exhibition, Valley of Flowers, Sardar Sarovar Dam Viewpoint, bus services, and Projection Mapping (optional), along with the Viewing Gallery.
Price: INR 380 (adults) / INR 280 (kids)
Timings: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM; closed on Mondays
The Statue of Unity stands at a staggering height of 182 meters as the world’s tallest statue. The statue is dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – the ‘Iron Man of India’. It is situated in the Narmada Valley and is located in Kevadiya, about 6 km from Ekta Nagar Railway Station.
Going On A Jungle Safari!
After an hour or so at the Statue of Unity, I hopped on the bus and made my way to the Jungle Safari! While it was definitely not a real-life jungle adventure, it was a fun experience. Most of the exploration inside this wildlife zoo takes place on foot, but there are some sections of the zoo where you’ll be riding on golf carts as well!
The zoo has hundreds of different animals all living in well-maintained environments. From giraffes, snakes, and wildebeest to deer, monkeys, and different kinds of birds and mammals, the Jungle Safari can easily take 2 to 3 hours to fully explore.
Price: INR 200 (adults) / INR 125 (kids)
Exploring Ekta Nagar
After a fun few hours at the Jungle Safari, I decided to grab a quick bite and visited the Valley of Flowers and the Sardar Sarovar Dam Viewing Point. While it was pretty cloudy and humid due to the rain, the views were too gorgeous to miss out on. I spent the rest of the day taking a nap and then stepping out in the evening to take a stroll through the clean, well-maintained roads of Ekta Nagar. I was anxious and almost nervous of how I’d manage things on my first day going somewhere all alone, but safe to say that I had an absolutely fun ‘Day 1’ in Ekta Nagar!
Solo Adventure Day 2: River Rafting And A Day Of Unwinding
Taking A Leap Of Faith Into The Narmada!
Day 2 began with a confused state of mind:
Should I take a bold step and go river rafting or should I play it safe and explore the usual tourist attractions in the town?
Now, for context – I’m not exactly the “daredevil, cliff-jumping, skydiving” kind. I’m the “let’s just click pictures by the water” kind. As someone who’s always been afraid of taking bold risks and stepping out to do something extraordinary, I was skeptical of doing something adventurous, that too all by myself!
But, with just the right words of motivation from my close friends and colleagues, I decided to do it.
Booked my ticket and sat down in the van that took another 5 of us adventurers to Khalwani, the starting point of the river rafting. On a stretch of 6 km on the mighty Narmada River, India’s 5th longest river, experienced river rafters from Rishikesh guide you on an adventure you won’t really forget! In no time, we set out on our own raft!
The rapids came at us fast, and the first one nearly tossed us straight into the river’s arms. As informed by our trainer, the first one was supposed to be the most exhilarating, with there being about 7 to 8 more such big and small rapids. My heart dropped, my grip tightened, and for a second, I questioned all my life choices.
But then something clicked. As we steered past that first rapid, I felt my fear dissolve into thin air. Suddenly, I wasn’t panicking – I was actually enjoying it. It was as if Narmada had herself decided to wash away my fear and hesitation to embrace the unknown.
River rafting ticket: INR 1000
Pick-up and drop-off point: Shreshth Bharat Bhavan
Lunch, Miyawaki, And Laser Show To End Day 2
After a solid two hours of this activity, I came back to the Shreshth Bharat Bhavan and grabbed some piping hot food! Oh, not to forget that the town has some really amazing food variety. There are a few restaurants where you can get a mix of Indian and international food, but there are also humble food carts selling quick bites like poha, upma, and other such food items.
Post-lunch, I decided to go back to my homestay and take a big fat nap – after all, there is something truly addictive about napping in your hotel when you’re out on a trip.
It was evening now, and I decided to step out to a couple more attractions. Walked inside the Miyawaki Forest, a small park utilizing the Miyawaki tradition of Japanese horticulture, and then explored the Maze Garden. Both these sites were so fun to explore – and I was genuinely having fun so far in my first-ever solo trip!
As the clock touched 6:30 PM, I hopped onto a bus and reached the Helipad grounds from where you can view the Projection Mapping over the Statue of Unity. The light and sound show was spectacular, with the statue showing us the life story of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
For 40-odd minutes, the show went on, and by the end, all of us were inspired and taken aback by the sheer contribution of this great man to our country. That’s how my Day 2 ended!
Solo Adventure Day 3: Goodbye Ekta Nagar, Hello Vadodara!
The Jaw-Dropping Grandeur Of Lukshmi Vilas Palace
I checked out on Day 3, said goodbye to Ekta Nagar, and booked a seat on a bus that would directly take me to Vadodara – Gujarat’s cultural capital. You can easily book your bus tickets on the official Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation website – with the option to choose both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses.
I reached Vadodara, checked into my dorm, and headed straight to a cozy cafe to grab a sandwich and coffee. Curator’s Coffee is a delightful cafe in the city, offering some of the best Basil and Cheese Pesto Sandwich I have ever tasted – and the Vietnamese Iced Coffee wasn’t bad either!
Tummy was full, and I quickly boarded a rickshaw to reach arguably the most famous tourist attraction in this city – the Lukshmi Vilas Palace!
As a residential palace that’s four times larger than Buckingham Palace in London, I was stunned by its impressive grandeur. Each jharokha, pillar, and fresco of the massive structure is carved out of impeccable craftsmanship. Inside, there are audio guides that you can opt for and explore the ground floor of the palace. Each of the rooms that I visited had precious artefacts that were carefully preserved and displayed for tourists. Be it royal swords and ornamental vases to Raja Ravi Verma’s original artworks, each artefact told me its own story – and I was more than keen to listen to all of them!
Stopping By The Sur Sagar Lake And Exploring Vadodara’s Markets
Sur Sagar Lake is one of Vadodara’s most frequented public spaces for a good reason. The lake has a majestic gold-plated standing statue of Lord Shiva and has a circular seating area around the periphery of the lake. Many locals visit the lake in the evening, as soft, crimson sunrays glisten over the calm waters of the lake.
I spent the rest of the day walking around the lake, clicking pictures, and then headed out on the streets to explore Vadodara’s streets. A great aspect of exploring any city is exploring its markets and streets – these are places where the city actually breathes. And while I’m no expert at bargaining (not that I needed to buy anything), I observed street shops, food stalls, temples, and bustling streets as I made my way back to the dorm.
Solo Adventure Day 4: Sayaji Baug, Queer Cafe, And Return Journey
Sayaji Baug: A Green Space In A Chaotic Vadodara
Day 4 began on a rainy note: It was raining a lot! But, luckily, by the time I checked out in the morning, the rains had magically receded. I entered Sayaji Baug, another iconic attraction in Vadodara. Sayaji Baug is a free public park, along with a zoo and aviary, for which you must buy tickets.
While the zoo and aviary aren’t that well-maintained, the park in itself is a delight for locals and tourists alike. You have plenty of seating, a cafeteria, and restrooms scattered around the park. It also has a museum and a picture gallery; however, it was closed when I visited it.
The park opened its doors to the public in 1879 and is also known as Kamati Baug among the locals. Sayaji Baug is a great place to enjoy and unwind – a green space that breathes life into the bustling city of Vadodara.
Cafe Gazra: Vadodara’s First Queer Cafe
As I dilly-dallied on Google Maps trying to find a fun place to visit in Vadodara, I came across Cafe Gazra. Little did I know that it was Vadodara’s first queer-run cafe! Tucked away in the historic building of the Shri Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalaya, this cafe serves amazing Maharashtrian and Gujarati dishes. The city is a melting pot of Maharashtrian and Gujarati culture, with its food, lifestyle, and history reflected in each of its corners.
The cafe has stunning interiors, all decked in vibrant Indian-inspired colors and decor. The staff is entirely from the queer community, and the service they provide is top-notch! Food here is delicious and affordable, with the Mogra Shikanji easily being one of my favorite beverages I’ve ever had!
After devouring the Puneri Misal here, I decided to explore the city a little more and tried the famous ‘pendas’ (milk desserts). And just as I devoured those too, the rains got a little more serious. So I quickly decided to make my way back to the dorm and then to the railway station for my return train.
Final Thoughts: A Mixed Bag Of Emotions!
My first solo adventure was nothing like I had expected – all because I had very few expectations! I was nervous, skeptical, and low-key anxious when my train left from Mumbai – in fact, I got a little overwhelmed as I watched the night sky drifting away from my home city towards a place I had never been before.
What was most challenging for me was breaking out of my comfort zone and actually speaking to individuals! As the most ‘introverted’ introvert around new people, I was unsure how I’d explore new cities alone. There was no one to talk to as I went around visiting tourist attractions, but maybe I needed this solace.
I was alone, and at times lonely, but I was enjoying and accepting every bit of it. Solo travel isn’t always liberating – and isn’t always depressing either. Somewhere, it is a mix of it all – and by the end, you’ll most likely enjoy the process. This solo adventure in Gujarat was the first of its kind for me, but it is definitely not my last!
