What an incredible blessing this assignment of making films for the promotion of tourism in Gujarat has been for me. The various sites of history and culture, of political relevance connected with the lives of some of the greatest minds, of traveling through places hitherto unknown, of discovering their importance to the people of this wondrous land, of the various centers of faith and religion, but, above all else, to know and meet the common man of my own country. To learn of his simplicity, his servility, his grace and manner and his deep regard.

After a quick photo shoot in the morning within the premise of the Hotel where I stayed, we went across to Adlaj, a small village not too far away to shoot at what is commonly called here as a ‘vav’ - a deep well. It is impossible to imagine the artistry that went into creating a simple regular well. But look at this ~

This would you believe is a well. The steps lead one down to the water which if you look carefully is covered with an iron grill. But the carvings that lead you down to it is just phenomenal.

The colonnades, the octagonal resting places that surround the main water body ~ I mean it is just unreal !! And there are about 120 of these in the entire State of Gujarat. This particular one is the most famous and is called a ‘na vav’ ~ a non well, because the architecture is built upside down. There is also a fable of its construct that goes along with it, but that is too long and perhaps needs greater authentication.

Absolutely amazing ! Rajasthan too has several of these but I never saw anything quite as exquisite as this. How did they ever conceptualize all this. And how on earth did they build it thus ?

The stone is all sand stone and took years to make. The water was scarce in these parts and because of the sand in the soil the levels of the wells used to decrease due to saturation, making it difficult for the villagers to extract the water for their use. And so they built these ornate ‘vav’ … what a time in history !!

Rushed to the airport soon after and on to plane to Jamnagar, the closest airfield to Porbandar … well closest where a private jet could land and then a drive of three hours through rural India to our final destination ~ Rural India, simple stark and green, heavy rain and monsoon ravaged roads ~

A railway crossing in the middle of nowhere and an empty goods train rattles past nothing on it - the gate keeper on the other end of the track pleased with his operation from his little box enclosure -

Did I say empty ? Well somewhat occupied by a few free riders and the smiling guard at the end ..

Entering Porbandar and then finally after  a long drive the crowds at the Circuit House. Some one enquired why the British called them Circuit House, they are all over in the interiors of the country ..

And then finally coming to the room looking out into the vast Arabian Sea and watching its fury due to the monsoons and then to my extended family with all the news and views …

My love for all and good night ~

Amitabh Bachchan