A photo of Dharoi Dam is going viral on the net. The scenery looks so beautiful that many could have easily said they were in Europe. Big water, hills around it, and dramatic natural scenery — this is Gujarat you don’t know about outside the state.
Dharoi Dam is on the Sabarmati River and one of Gujarat’s major water infrastructure projects. It has also been known over the years for scenic beauty (when water levels are high and the landscape around the reservoir turns lush after monsoon).
The viral comparison to Switzerland and Italy shows how quickly the Indian landscape can change when it’s nice weather. Switzerland is world famous for its Alpine scenery; millions of people come to see lakes, mountains and countryside, but places like Dharoi show that equally striking views can be found in India too.
For visitors travelling through Gujarat, Dharoi Dam is natural as well as an engineering landscape. The reservoir makes a huge expanse of water against the hills, so it’s very photogenic (and great for short travel videos).
The monsoon season can also make it look very nice. Fresh green leaves, cloudy skies and higher water levels all change the landscape dramatically. These are the conditions that tend to produce the kind of dramatic scenery that goes viral on social media.
The viral caption — This is not Switzerland. This is not Italy. This is Dharoi Dam, Mehsana, Gujarat, India — has therefore struck a chord with viewers: It makes them look beyond internationally famous tourist destinations and find scenic spots closer home.
Gujarat is already known for the Statue of Unity, Rann of Kutch, Gir National Park, Saputara and Dwarka, but natural and scenic attractions of the state are much more than that. Dharoi Dam is another example of a place that can give visitors something different — a water landscape with hills and open countryside.
The location also shows how social media can change travel trends. One great picture or video introduces thousands of potential travellers to a destination that’s not well known — an Indian location that looks like scenery from Europe. Curiosity is aroused when you see an Indian location (on Google Maps anyway) that looks like Europe!
Dharoi is interesting for photographers, nature lovers and weekend travellers. Visitors should check local conditions (rainfall, weather warnings, access restrictions, etc) before planning a trip, especially if heavy rain or high water levels are forecast.
The viral video is ultimately a reminder that great landscapes are not for foreign destinations only. India has such extraordinary geographical variety — Himalayan mountains and Kashmir valleys to coastal regions, deserts, forest reservoir landscapes, etc.
And Dharoi Dam is one more place that needs attention.
So next time someone looks at that gorgeous landscape and says “Is this Switzerland or Italy?” you might say it’s closer to home:
No. This is Dharoi Dam, Mehsana, Gujarat, India. 🇮🇳
