Mandvi : A Beach Of Many Delights

Mandvi was my family`s destination of choice, a couple of years ago. It is a small town in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Once a major port, it was the summer home for the Maharaja of Kutch. Mandvi has a 400 year old ship building industry and wooden ships continue to be built there. It is also home to the famous Vijay Vilas Palace. In recent years, the palace has featured in many a Bollywood movie.

Adjoining the palace is a private beach that offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. The beach is pristine and beautiful. Early morning walks, with windmills in the distance and the rays of the sun lighting up the water, were enjoyable. During low tide, the water recedes about a hundred metres making it possible to safely walk a long way into the sea. Interesting patterns are visible on the sand beneath the shallow, clear waters.

One evening, as we were leaving the beach around dusk, I spotted something scurrying in the sand.  What seemed like a plus-sized rat at first, turned out to be a hedgehog. The little animal, now conscious of our presence, froze in its tracks. We watched it in awe yet let it be, even as I slowly drew my camera. Conscious of the now potentially diminished threat and, perhaps, warming up to our company, the hedgehog posed.

The sights and experiences Mandvi offered, built into our well-structured itinerary, made for a wonderful vacation. Its many surprises, including the encounter with the nocturnal visitor, raised our experience a notch.