YOUTH HOSTEL CAMP

Lothal , Thol & Nal

2nd January 2010 afternoon 1 p departed for youth hostel a small tracking camp.From nilambaugh palace. It was one night and a day programme with youth hostel group we were 25 all together. first we moved to Lothal ( Archaeological Survey of India )
Lothal is one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilization. Located in the modern state of Gujarāt and dating from 2400 BCE, it is one of India's most important archaeological site that dates from that era. Discovered in 1954, Lothal was excavated from February 13, 1955 to May 19, 1960 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Lothal's dock—the world's earliest known—connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river on the trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh and the peninsula of Saurashtra when the surrounding Kutch desert of today was a part of the Arabian Sea. It was a vital and thriving trade centre in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems and valuable ornaments reaching the far corners of West Asia and Africa. Lothal's people were responsible for the earliest-known portrayals of realism in art and sculpture, telling some of the most well-known fables of today. Its scientists used a shell compass and divided the horizon and sky into 8–12 whole parts, possibly pioneering the study of stars and advanced navigation—2000 years before the Greeks. The techniques and tools they pioneered for bead-making and in metallurgy have stood the test of time for over 4000 years.

Lothal is situated near the village of Saragwala in the Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad district. It is at a distance of six kilometres (south-east) from the Lothal-Bhurkhi railway station on the Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar railway line. It is also connected by all-weather roads to the cities of Ahmedabad (85 km/53 mi), Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Dholka. Nearest cities are Dholka and Bagodara. Resuming excavation in 1961, archaeologists unearthed trenches sunk on the northern, eastern and western flanks of the mound, bringing to light the inlet channels and nullah ("ravine", or "gully") connecting the dock with the river. The findings consist of a mound, a township, a marketplace and the dock. Adjacent to the excavated areas stands the Archaeological Museum, where some of the most prominent collections of Indus-era antiquities in modern India are displayed.
we took some pictures and then moved to Arnej , there is a Tample of mataji its very famous holy place for hindus . at the dharma shaala of the arnej tample we have to saty night and the early in the morning 5 am we have to move for Thol sarovar ( The wild life sanctuary ) after arrival in arnej we booked a room to put out lauggage then we went to Ganeshpura a known TAMPLE OF LORD GANESHA. but the new tample is underconstruction .weather was really nice we dint acpacated that mut hot condition in this winter but it was.Out of tample somay stall of fresh handmade banana chips and Gundi laddu we have tasted that chips and had little prasad of ladu.There was a vandor selling panipuri and lots of people saurounded the stall. we been there to chk what is special there to taste, for just tasting we had 1 2 panipuri but it was too much hot.I dont know how people can eat that much hot stuff. bhavesh ohh that man drunk half of glass that hot paniputi water made from only green chilly . After that we came back to arnej for night halt 7 pm we had dinner all together in tample . After dinner we want to upper hall of tample then Introduction of all the group mambers then we played card games till 11 . In the morning wake up at 4 and because of little cold i dint had bath just washed face and brushed my teath .Half past five we started our onwerd journey to Thol Wildlife Sanctuary is situated across Ahmedabad district and Mehsana district of Gujarat state, India.

Thol Wildlife Sanctuary is a shallow water reservoir situated 25 km (15 mi) northwest of Ahmedabad and most popular birding place near Ahmedabad after Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuarywhich is about 50 km (30 km) from Thol Wildlife Sanctuary. Geographically Thol Wildlife Sanctuary falls in Mehsana district of North Gujarat. Kadi, a taluka headquarters of the district, is just 22 km (14 mi) away from the Sanctuary. Thol Wildlife Sanctuary is a man-made irrigation tank built in 1912 with water storage capacity of 84,000,000 m³ (68,000 ac·ft) and command area of 1450 ha (5.6 mi²) and catchment area of 153 km² (59 mi²).[1] The wetland is predominated by the open water habitat, which is surrounded by cropland, fallow land and scrub land. Due to its popularity amongst the bird fraternity the area was notified as Sanctuary in November 1988 under Sec. 18 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
We had little breakfast after just reached at the sanctuary then had lunch at 11:30 after that we drive to Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, primarily comprising of a huge lake and ambient marshes, is situated about 64 km to the West of Ahmedabad, in the Gujarat state of India. Mainly inhabited by migratory birds in winter and spring, it is the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat, and one of the largest in India.

The lake measures 123 km², attracts over 210 species of birds in the winter, and harbours a variety of flora and fauna. Thousands of migratory waterfowl flock to this sanctuary just after the Indian monsoon season. The shallow area and ponds on the outer fringes of the lake attract the wading birds that feed in the shallow waters. Besides a few mammalian species including the endangered wild ass and the blackbuck, its migratory bird population includes Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons.

Millions of magnificently colored visit the delightful bird sanctuary in winter and spring. It harbours over 250 species of wetland birds. Winter migrants from the north including Rosy Pelicans, Flamingos, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons visit Nal Sarovar.
WAy back to home app group mambers had snacks in the bus and had tea tea at Hotel ambar at bagodara. It s very nice experiance with youth hestl its my first trip with youth hostel . nad gr8 expericance with it we reached home at 7 30. had cup of tea at bhavesh s home came to home .......