Ahmedabad, 4 February, 2012

According to sources in Gandhinagar, the district Collector of Jamnagar has proposed the state government that Jamnagar district’s coastal Rukshmani mandir, Beyt Dwarka mandir and Nageshwar Jyotirlinga mandir should cease to be under the control of various local trusts and should be managed by a new committee headed by the district Collector.

The temples, district collector has proposed to manage and control are Patrani mandir and Dwarkadhish mandir of Beyt Dwarka which is located 2 km from Dwarka, the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga mandir which is situated at a location 15 km away from Dwarka, and Rukshmani mandir which is situated at 2 km distance from the main Dwarkiadheesh mandir.

According to district collector’s proposal submitted to Gandhinagar, individual trusts are not able to provide proper security cover to these important religious places. Even for proper maintenance and management, it is very necessary that a unified body under the leadership of district collector is created to take control of the temples that are now managed by different local trusts.

Ahmedabad, 4 February 2012

If you are planning to visit Saurashtra, you may like to add one more place in your itinerary. That is Chorwad, just 40 km away from Somnath, on way to Madhavpur, Porbandar or Dwarka in north.

A simple, yet very well designed memorial dedicated to India’s entrepreneurship icon and Reliance Group founder late Shri Dhirubhai Ambani was on Friday declared open for common visitors.

A person who conceived the memorial project, and personally took interest in its completion smt Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani unveiled the memorial in presence of her daughters and RIL Group President and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Parimal Nathwani.

The memorial has a museum displaying life and works of late Shri Dhirubhai Ambani, who grew up in Chorwad. The museum has an auditorium that will screen a documentary film on Dhirubhai. The memorial features a pictorial gallery in two sections;One for family pictures, and the other for Shri Dhirubhai’s life time activities and achievements.

On this occasion, smt Kokilaben said, “We are in process to develop this memorial as tourist destination in Gujarat. As Dhirubhai has been an idol for so many young Indians, this memorial will encourage those people to pursue their dreams. We will represent the state tourism department to promote Dhirubhai Memorial as tourist destination in Gujarat.”

Shri Parimal Nathwani, group president corporate affairs, RIL said, “We will send information and details about memorial to tour managers.”

He added that the memorial has a range of merchandise souvenir products like key chains, pens, t-shirts, shoulder bags and caps among others with mark of Shri Dhirubhai Ambani.

Entry fee of Rs 2 has been fixed for each visitor.

By Tejash Modi, Saputara, 2 February, 2012

Even in least populated, remote and forest district of Dang in south Gujarat, Amitabh Bachchan had its crowd. So big, that he was almost rescued by the crew once today. Watch this brief video presented above.

By Tejash Modi, Saputara, 2 February 2012

Shri Bachchan did rod fishing in Saputara’s water body during Gujarat Tourism ad shoot.

Even in remote Dang, police faced tough time to control the crowds wanting to have a glimpse of Big B.

On the wall of tribal house in Chikhli village of Dang, the rural artists are painting the warli painting. This is the way they decorate their houses. The Dangs is almost 100% tribal district of Gujarat.

Shri Amitabh Bachchan’s vanity van that follows him wherever he goes. Shri Bachchan rests in this van while taking break during the shooting.

Shri Bachchan in track suit, in Dang.

Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan is in Saputara at present, shooting for Gujarat Tourism TV advertisement.

Gujarat government has started focusing on Gujarat’s this only hill-station for last two years. Last year, the monsoon package was launched and it was marketed across the country. Recently Gujarat Tourism also launched paragliding festival in Saputara.

Brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism Shri Bachchan is in Saputara for two days.

On first day Dang district’s tribal Chikhli village witnessed Big B’s shooting.

A small tribal house made from local material and decorated with Warli painging art was the venue of the shooting.

(C)DeshGujarat.Com 2012

Ahmedabad, 1 February 2012

Shri Dhirubhai Ambani’s memorial in Chorwad will be thrown open to public from February 3 in the presence of family matriarch Kokilaben Ambani and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) group President Parimal Nathwani according to a report.

The memorial is the same place where the founder of Reliance Group lived his childhood. It has three sections, comprising a picture gallery, the old residence of the legendary industrialist and an auditorium for screening a short film on Dhirubhai’s life to visitors.

The memorial was inaugurated on Dhirubhai’s 80th birth anniversary December 28 by Ambani family’s spiritual guru Ramesh Bhai Oza in presence of Mukesh and Neeta Ambani, Anil and Teena Ambani, their family and daughters of late Shri Dhirubhai Ambani.

Ahmedabad, 31 January 2012(updated on 1st February 2012)

Bollywood film-star Amitabh Bachchan today completed Gujarat Tourism ad shoot at north Gujarat’s pilgrim town Ambaji.

Shri Bachchan was halting at Balaram Palace from where he reached Ambaji town in the morning and straight away moved to a temple complex where shooting of TV ad commenced.

In the evening Shri Bachchan reached Ahmedabad’s Gateway hotel.

Updates on 1st February

Today early in the morning Shri Bachchan left Ahmedabad in Mumbai bound flight.

Tomorrow he will reach south Gujarat based hill station Saputara through Nashik airport and then by road.

Shri Bachchan will stay for two and half days in Saputara where he will shoot at various locations.

It is yet not clear whether he will be filmed doing paragliding or not.

Gujarat Tourism has recently added the attraction of paragliding near Saputara for tourists.

Shri Bachchan will visit tribal houses in Dang district.

At Saputara Shri Bachchan will end this phase of Gujarat Tourism TV ad shoot which started at Kutch in later half of January.

Ahmedabad, 31 January 2012

Bollywood mega-star and Gujarat Tourism brand ambassador Shri Amitabh Bachchan today completed Gujarat Tourism TV ad shooting at Siddhpur and Vadnagar in north Gujarat and reached Balaram palace late in the evening.

Shri Bachchan described Kirti totan of Vadnagar as one of the finest restored ‘torans’. “Two huge carved sand stone arches, just standing majestically,” Shri Bachchan tweeted.

After reaching Balaram Palace, Shri Bachchan tweeted: “After a long drive at Balaram Palace, where we shot ‘Suryavansham’ … is getting nostalgic often sign of aging .. hmmmm !!”

Shri Bachchan tweeted: “As I drive by the many villages and towns each day, I see the cheering crowds by the road, wave and see the smiles they give back. Those smiles are worth more than any value .. simple, innocent, yet full of emotion and so honest .. this they will neve lose !!”

Earlier in the morning Shri Bachchan was in Siddhpur town, from where he tweeted that Siddhpur is the only place where ‘shraadh’ for the mother is done, and he would pray for ‘atma shanti’ for his mother. Narrating the meaning of ‘Shraadh’ Bachchan tweeted that it is special prayer ceremony for the peace and well being of departed soul.

Those present at the sight of Bindu Sarovar said, Shri Bachchan had tear in his eyes while performing custom of Matry shraddh. There was a red carpet on a path leading to Bindu Sarovar. Several people were seen climbing on trees to have a glimpse of Shri Bachchan.

Shri Amitabh Bachchan will tomorrow participate in Gujarat Tourism ad shoot at Ambaji mandir. Here not only the mandir but part of Navratri ad will also be produced.

A huge task of converting Ambaji mandir’s shikhar golden is going on presently. The government is also working on the projects of tourists and pilgrims interest such as development of Gabbar hill, a hilium balloon ride, construction of 51 shaktipeeths and a parikrama track.

Shri Bachchan’s shooting at Ambaji will continue till 6.00 pm covering various location in and around the town. He will then come to Ahmedabad by road and straight away move to Taj hotel near airport. On 1st of February, there will be shooting for handicraft advertisement in Ahmedabad. After lunch, Shri Bachchan will leave for Mumbai.

Ahmedabad, 28 January 2012

After completing two-day long Gujarat Tourism ad shoot at Modhera and Patan in north Gujarat, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan arrived in Ahmedabad late in the evening on Saturday.

Shri Bachchan will join the next shooting schedule at Siddhpur on Monday. Before that he will have photo shoot session inside a hotel. The session is called safety shoot session. Shri Bachchan is also scheduled to open a private medical facility in Amdavad. On Sunday evening Shri Bachchan will be in Mumbai for Filmfare award function.

We are deliberately not disclosing all details of Shri Bachchan’s movement, locations and schedule here on request of Gujarat Tourism.

After Siddhpur, Ambaji and Vadnagar shoot, Shri Bachchan will be back in Ahmedabad on 1st of February before leaving for Mumbai by air.

He will then come back via Nashik airport to Saputara for three days. Shri Bachchan is doing all this for free on invitation of Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. His earlier ads brought tremendous gain to Gujarat’s tourism industry.

Ahmedabad, 28 January 2012

A 53-member unit of SAB TV’s popular daily serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah was recently in Kutch for shooting of few episodes. Here are the episodes. While initial episodes are about journey to Kutch, the latter episodes are from Kutch.

Ahmedabad, 27 January 2012

Shri Amitabh Bachchan was today at Modhera sun temple to shoot for Gujarat Tourism TV advertisement campaign.Shri Bachchan arrived at Ahemdabad airport early in the morning at 7.35 in scheduled Kingfisher flight. He straight away drove to Modhera. Shri Bachchan is having night halt at Shanku’s water park on Ahmedabad-Mehsana road. Shri Bachchan is scheduled to visit north Gujarat’s district headquarter Patan, which is Gujarat’s old capital town. Shri Bachchan will shoot at Rani ki vav and will promote Patola textile art in Patan. Following are Shri Bachchan’s tweets on his Modhera experience.

-Overwhelmed Sun temple Modhera … architecture, science, ritual, belief, plundered by invaders .. why must they destroy beauty

-In World War II, much destruction of world heritage, but when Nazi’s reached Paris, they never touched its natural beauty!!

-The place of prayer of the Sun Temple, Modhera ….. intricacy of sand stone work … incredible !!

-The water body at Sun Temple … where the king bathed did pooja at 108 gods images and then main temple

-Sun temple designed so the morning sun ray fell inside on deity head carrying diamond which reflected light

-Sun temple at Modhera, Gujarat built in 1026 AD because tropic of Cancer passes through that position ! How did they find out then?

There are 12 such temples built all over the region .. one is in Multan too now in Pakistan … and other Konark

blocks were cut in one piece and a lever system was used where one block sat upon another through a lever .. ingenious

Bachchan blogged late in the evening on Saturday: “I am sleep deprived. Not having slept last night in Mumbai since work and activities finished late and by the time it was 3 AM, it was an hour away from catching the flight to Ahmedabad and then driving a few hours to Modhera, the Sun Temple. Exquisite is the word for it, but even that seems almost apologetic when we wish to describe the sight of this monument.”

Shri Bachchan will be in Gujarat till 1st of February. His next destinations in Gujarat in this phase of ad shoot will be Patan, Siddhpur, Vadnagar, Ambaji and Amdavad. He will then return to Mumbai, but will come back in February for shooting at Saputara next month via Nashik airport.

Shri Somnath, 27 January 2012

For last some time, Shri Somnath is witnessing more and more arrival of tourists. Lastly Shri Lilawati Bhavan was added to tourist infrastructure at Shri Somnath with food facility, mineral water supply and wi-fi internet. Moreover Sagar darshan atithi bhavan’s work is in progress. To provide facility of stay to tourists, Shri Somnath Trust had prepared Rs 12 crore project of a new 134-room guest house with elevator.

When Shiva bhakt Shri Gendalal Somaniji visited Shri Somnath mahadev, he wished to give donation to Shri Somnath Trust. When Shri Keshubhai Patel presented Rs 12 crore project of new 134-room guest house building for pilgrims, Shri Somaniji agreed to donate some money to this cause through Maheshwari community.

After several rounds of meetings in Shri Somnath, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Vadoara, Mumbail Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi, Shri Somaniji and Maheshwari community managed to collect Rs 4 crore donation for a new guest house. This fund is enough to build 100 rooms, while attempts are on to collect more donation for rest of the 34 rooms. As per Shri Gendalal Somaniji’s wish, a new 134-room guest house for pilgrims and tourist, just next to existing Lilawati atithi gruh has been named as Shri Somnath Maheshwari Samaj Atithigruh.

This 134-room guest house is located at just 300 meter distance from Shri Somnath mandir. A new guest house will come up over 10080 square meter. The built up area will be about 10071 square ft. Ground plus four floor construction will have two elevators. Size of each room will be around 279 square ft, and each room will have a facility of gallery. Each room will have attached toilet-bathroom, TV-intercom system, cool water. A new complex will have service room, activity room and a food place that can accommodate 200 persons at a time. A new facility is located at 200 meter distance from ST stand.

A ground breaking ceremony for new building was held today in presence of former Chief Minister and Chairman of Shri Somnath Trust Shri Keshubhai Patel. Maheshwari community’s Vice President Shri Jodhrajji Ladda, Shri Ramnivas Rathi, Shri Gendalal Somaniji, Deputy Secretary Shri KM Rawal, Dr Yashodharbhai Bhatt, former central minister Shri Vallabhbhal Kathiria among others.