[Sarang W]

Dates: 13th January – 16th January 2025
Car: VW Virtus GT Plus Edge
Total Distance: 1150 km approx.

This road trip of mine was waiting for some time as I was going to enter into a completely new territory in Gujarat, South Gujarat and that too getting to drive long my just a year old VW Virtus GT Plus Edge. My 3.5-day journey through Gujarat, from Vadodara to Junagadh and onward to some coastal towns, was a delight. From divinity at Girnar hills and Somnath temple to the serene beaches of Madhavpur, this trip had some picturesque views, cultural landmarks, and smooth drives, all made even more enjoyable by the powerful yet agile Virtus GT. Let me take you through the highlights of my journey.

Caption 1: Virtus on the highway in the dang jungles


As I am writing this, my VW Virtus GT completes a year of ownership and approximately 13,500 kms on the odo. It has given me that confidence of having made the right decision to stick with VW after vrooming my VW Polo TDI (2015 model) which I exchanged for the all new Virtus GT Plus Edge in January last year. I had enjoyed driving the new car for quite a few long journeys like – Vadodara to Indore, Vadodara to Pune twice, Vadodara to Bhavnagar, and the longest of them all; Vadodara to Nagpur via Saputara/Nashik in last one year.

Caption 2: Previously owned VW Polo TDI


Since the October, the car was calling (this powerful car literally urges you to drive long n fast) for long journey. Therefore, I decided to plan a 3-4 day trip after the one year service was done a little early on 6th of January 2025. The Virtus GT Plus Edge has delivered on its promise of comfort and smooth driving. The sleek design and effortless handling have been proving to be worth every mile. I would love to pen down my one year ownership review of the Virtus soon.
Okay let’s get to the trip now!

Day 1: Vadodara to Girnar (13th January)
I kicked off the journey early, leaving Vadodara at 9:00 AM, ready for the road ahead. The morning was crisp, and as it was a working day we were slow exiting city through morning traffic for about 20 mins. That’s the reason we decided to have breakfast at a short distance and then vroom fast for first 3-4 hours of journey as we wanted to reach Girnar by 3PM.
Breakfast Stop at Tea Post, Gallops Food Plaza (Tarapur-Vasad Highway)
By 10:30 AM, we stopped at Gallops Food Plaza on the Tarapur-Vasad Highway for breakfast. This place, located near Borsad, has some inviting options to eat. We chose for a breakfast of methi-gota (methi bhajiya), handwo, and masala chai—the perfect fuel for the delayed lunch we planned ahead.

Caption 3: Breakfast at Tea Post

Caption 4: Gallops Food Mall


Bagodara, Limbdi, and Rajkot
We cruised through Bagodara and Limbdi, where I experienced both smooth highways and a brief section of the under-construction Rajkot ring road. It slowed down the pace slightly, but the Virtus handled it without a hitch, keeping us comfortable. By 1:30 PM, we reached Bharudi Toll Booth near Pipaliya and then proceeded toward Jetpur. I have travelled in Karnataka, Maharashtra, south-west MP, and Gujarat; I have found Gujarat roads much smoother than other states. One can easily maintain an average speed of 90kmph in the state. As expected, it took us only 6 hours to cover almost 380 kms despite two 25-mins breaks; on the contrary to what shown on google maps; 7-8 hours.

Arriving in Junagadh: Girnar Dharamshala (3:05 PM)
The roads leading to Girnar, particularly around Jetpur and Pithaliya, were easy to drive, and by 3:05 PM, we finally reached Samosaran Jain Dharamshala in Girnar. The peaceful and tranquil surroundings were a perfect prelude to the climb we would take the next morning. The evening was spent resting, experiencing windy evening chill, and preparing for an early start the next day.

Caption 5: Samosaran Jain Dharmshala at Girnar


Day 2: Exploring Girnar Hills and Porbandar (14th January)
I woke up early in chilly morning air to catch the first ropeway to the top of Girnar Hill at 7:30 AM. Thankfully, the winds had subsided, and the ropeway was operational. The journey up took only 7-8 minutes, bypassing the strenuous 4500 stairs to the Amba Ji Temple.

Caption 6: View of Girnar hills from Ropeway


Caption 7: View of Girnar hills from Ropeway 2


Exploring the Jain Temples on Girnar Hill
The Girnar Hill is home to ancient Jain temples, and after seeking blessings at the Amba Ji Temple, we climbed down 1,000 steps to explore the Neminath Temple. The cluster of 14 beautiful Jain temples is an awe-inspiring sight, and the intricate architecture left me speechless. Unfortunately, the site was marred by some unruly crowds who displayed poor manners in such a sacred place.
After visiting the temples, we headed back to the ropeway and made the descent back to the base, exhausted but fulfilled by the experience.

Caption 8: View of the amazingly built Jain temples on the Girnar hill



Drive to Porbandar
Everything was going as planned and by 2:00 PM after the lunch at the dharmshala, we were back on the road, heading towards Porbandar. The Virtus GT Plus Edge provided a buttery smooth drive along the NH8, with excellent roads for most of the journey. We arrived at the Lords Inn Hotel by 3:30 PM and checked into a beach-facing room, which had a view of the Saurashtra coastline.

Porbandar: A Beach and the Sudama Temple


After a little rest, we headed down to the beach. While it wasn’t the cleanest, the kite flying festival due to Makar Sankranti made for a lively atmosphere. We watched a stunning sunset by the beach at 6:30 PM, before visiting the Sudama Temple, the only one of its kind in the world, located in the city center.

Caption 9: Sunset and Kite at Porbandar


Caption 10: Sunset at the Porbandar beach



Caption 11: Sudama Temple at Porbandar


We wrapped up the evening with dinner at Coriander, a restaurant inside our hotel, enjoying a peaceful meal after an evening to remember.

Day 3: Somnath and Madhavpur (15th January)
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we set off at 9:40 AM for Somnath, the famed coastal town. The drive alongside the Arabian Sea on NH51 was breezing fast, offering splendid views of the coastline on and off.

Caption 12: Beautiful shadow play in boulevard on the way to Somnath from Porbandar


Somnath Temple: A Spiritual Experience
We arrived at the Somnath Temple around 11:30 AM, and the view was nothing short of mesmerizing. The temple, perched on the edge of the sea, exudes an aura of tranquillity and spirituality. Thankfully, the crowd was moderate, making the experience even more calm. After spending time here, we had lunch and continued our journey.

Madhavpur: The Fern Leo Beach Resort
Our destination for the rest of the day and until next morning was Madhavpur, where we checked into the Fern Leo Beach Resort by 2:30 PM. The resort, with its restricted beach access and infinity pool, was the perfect place to unwind. The beach, only 80 meters from our room, was clean, and we enjoyed another beautiful sunset in the evening.

Caption 13: Beach facing The Fern Leo Beach Resort

Caption 14: Swimming Pool at The Fern Leo Beach Resort

Caption 15: Evening click of the The Fern Leo Beach Resort


Caption 16: No idea what flower is this, but it was beautiful


Caption 17: Seaview from the resort room at Fern


Caption 18: Beautiful Sunset at Madhavpur beach


Day 4: Return Journey to Vadodara (16th January)
On the final day, we checked out after a hearty breakfast and started our journey back to Vadodara at 9:00 AM. Retracing our steps via Rajkot, the road was smooth and familiar. The Virtus GT Plus Edge once again proved its reliability, maintaining a consistent speed range of 60-130 km/h depending on the road conditions.
By 5:08 PM, we were back home, with memories of an unforgettable journey and a sense of satisfaction from the smooth ride and well-planned trip.


The Virtus GT Plus Edge – A Road Trip Companion Like No Other
Throughout the entire trip, the VW Virtus GT Plus Edge proved itself as the excellent road trip car. It delivered a consistent and comfortable driving experience. Averaging around 14 kmpl over the 1150 km journey, it was consistent on mileage yet powerful whenever tested to the higher side, making the long drives feel effortless. I couldn't be happier with the decision to buy this car, and I look forward to many more adventures with it in the future.
This road trip was not just about the destinations but about the journey itself — one that will remain etched in my memory for years to come. Until the next adventure!

[DSK0909]

@Sarang W
Nice photos. I could make out Girnar ropeway.
One suggestion: If you could provide more info on where/when/how the pics were taken, it would make for a better read. Thanks

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!