Gujarat

Most Vadodara families have done Somnath and the Statue of Unity, and not much else in their own state. That leaves the Rann of Kutch under a full moon, the last Asiatic lions at Gir, Saputara's hill roads in the monsoon, and the Portuguese quarter of Diu — all reachable by road or an overnight train, with no airport in the plan.

We run Gujarat as short breaks: two to four nights, leaving Vadodara on a Friday. The Rann Utsav tent city is a winter product (mid-November to February) and the good tents go early, so those dates are booked months ahead. Gir safari permits are allotted by the forest department in slots; we secure them at the time of booking, not on arrival.

These are the trips we know best, because they are the ones our own families take.