GUJARAT

Useful Info & Guides

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  AREA

  196,024 km2
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  POPULATION

  6 crores approx
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  MAJOR FESTIVALS

  Holi, Diwali, Eid, Makar Sankranti / Lohri, Navratri, Dussehra

  Chandani Padva, Chitra Vichitra Fair, International Kite Festival in Gujarat – Uttarayan, VadFest
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  NATIONAL PARK

  Blackbuck National Park, Gir Forest National Park (Sasan-Gir), Pirotan Island, Vansda National Park
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  UNESCO HERITAGE SITE

  Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

CITIES OF GUJARAT

AHMEDABAD

The historical city of Ahmedabad dates back to the 11th century and was ruled by Ahmed during 1411 AD. Famous as Manchester of the East because of tie-dye handloom and textile industries, Ahmedabad is an industrial, education hub of Gujarat. A city that has some of the most iconic Hindu temples such as Swaminarayan Temple, Ahmedabad has several museums and old local markets. With delectable cuisine, street food, vibrant culture and traditions, and old-world charm, the city still lives with a hint of colonial presence at some points. Away from the rapid growth and the hustle-bustle of the city, Sabarmati Ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi is a peaceful place where one can seek solace. Ahmedabad truly stands as the first Urban World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

 

PLACE TO VISIT

Sabarmati Ashram, Kankaria Lake, Kankaria Zoo, Adalaj Step-well, Akshardham Temple, Auto World Vintage Car Museum, ISKCON Temple, Hathee Singh Jain Temple, Jama Masjid, Swaminarayan Temple, Bhadra Fort, Calico Museum of Textile, Sarkhej Roza, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Jhulta Minar

BHUJ

Intriguing historical monuments and affluent palaces; the westernmost city of Gurajat, Bhuj reflect a rich cultural heritage. The desert city of Bhuj owns a remarkable place in the history of South Asia including many archaeological sites connected to the prehistoric era such as the Harappan civilization, impressions of Alexander the Great and his march, etc. From old noisy streets wedded around the city to the shops selling local textiles, embroidery items, and handicrafts, there is a lot to explore and a lot to experience. The Rann Utsav is perhaps the most iconic festival all over the country which is visited by people from different corners of the world.

 

PLACE TO VISIT

White Desert, Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Hiralakshmi Memorial Craft Park, Matanamadh, Chattardi, Kutch Fossil Park, Bhujia Hill, Prag Mahal Palace, Kutch Museum

MANDVI

Just an hour's drive from Bhuj is found a small shipbuilding industry. Mandvi is a small town but with great importance due to its handmade wooden boats known as dhows which are made for the Arab people. Encircled by several ancient edifices, the central point Mochi Bazaar is a nice place to visit to take a glimpse of the culture of the town. The town surprises once with sand, sea, and dessert at the same place. The beaches here are the numero uno of the city. Mandvi beach serves as a tourist destination with its pleasant tropical climate.

 

PLACE TO VISIT

Jain Temple, Vijay Vilas Palace, Mandvi Beach, Mazar-e-Noorani, The Beach at Mandvi Palace, Mandvi Shipyards, Ghoghla Beach, Rukmavati Bridge, Navjivan Nature Cure Center

GIR NATIONAL PARK

The place where the morning starts with the roar of the lions and the day ends with a scream of Hyenas, Gir National Park (Sasan Gir) is a wildlife sanctuary spread in a massive area of around 1,412 km square. The great Asiatic lion roams freely here in full glory in the wildlife park. Known for distinctive species of flora and fauna, the national park provides protected shelter to several carnivores including Asiatic lion, striped hyena, jungle cat, Indian lion along with herbivores including chinkara, sambar, nilgai, chital, etc. Visit here from December to March and till the end of April month to witness unique wildlife.

 

PLACE TO VISIT

All The Above Mentioned

Junagadh

Steeped in history, culture, spirituality, and religion, Junagadh is the Soul of Saurashtra. In just 60 km the terrain descends from Mt Girnar, Gujarat's highest point at 1000 mts, to the Veraval coast. Junagadh city, nestled at the foot of Mt Girnar, is an amalgam of the old and new. It is a relatively small place, where bustling bazaars and winding narrow streets alternate with monuments that span two millennia. The city is said to span two and a half millennia of human civilization, spanning dominant periods of Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, all having left deep imprints on the city. The main center of the city, the fort is known as Uparkot, was built by Chandragupta of the Mauryan empire around 320 BC, and archaeological evidence confirms this, showing that Uparkot has been inhabited continuously since the 3rd century BC. Hence the name Junagadh, which means “ancient fort.”  Under the Mauryans, Junagadh was a regional capital, and Emperor Ashoka had stone edicts placed there, still visible today.In the mid 18th century as the Mughal rule was in decline, Junagadh became an independent princely state, established by an Afghan named Sher Khan Babi, with its capital here.

PLACE TO VISIT

Somnath Temple, Sana Caves, Girnar Hills and Temples, Shrine of Narsinh Mehta, Uparkot Fort, Muchkunda Cave, Mahabat Maqbara, Gondal, Bhavnath Temple

Dwarka

Located at the western tip of the Saurashtra peninsula, Dwarka has great importance both as one of the four principal holy places (Char Dham), as well as one of the seven holy towns (sapta puris) to visit. For this reason, millions of pilgrims and historical scholars have come here over the centuries. Lord Krishna is said to have come to Dwarka from Mathura to build his new kingdom where he later spent a significant part of his life.

PLACE TO VISIT

Dwarkadish Temple, Nageshwar Shiva Temple, Rukmini Mandir

Surat

Surat, situated on the banks of the Tapi river, used to be a large seaport and is now a center for diamond cutting and polishing and textiles.
The city has a vibrant present and an equally varied heritage of the past. It is the city where the British first landed in India. The Dutch and the Portuguese also established their business centers in Surat, the remnants of which are still preserved in the modern-day Surat.  In past, this was a glorious port with ships of more than 84 countries anchored in its harbor at any time. Surat is one of the cleanest cities of India and is also known by several other names like "The Silk City", "The Diamond City", "The Green City", etc.

PLACE TO VISIT

Sardar Patel Museum and Planetarium, Chintamani Jain Temple, Dandi Beach, Navsari

Porbandar

Porbandar is a coastal city in the state of Gujarat, best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. The coastal city is also believed to be the birthplace of Sudama, Lord Krishna’s friend and devotee. The city had been a prosperous trading center for centuries, conducting much commerce with Arabian and the Persian Gulf countries, as well as East Africa, under the Mughals, the Marathas, and the British.  The ancient jetties and ports around the coast are evidence that it was a hub of maritime activities.

PLACE TO VISIT

Sudama Mandir, Miyagi Beach, Bharat Mandir, Bhuleshwar Temple, Mul Dwarka, Harsiddhi Mata Temple, Kirti Mandir, Ghumli, Barda Lion Sanctuary, Madhavpur

Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a coastal city on the eastern coast of Saurashtra, It was founded in 1724 by Bhavsinhji Gohil and was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a Princely state before it was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.  Bhavnagar has always been an important city for trade with many large and small-scale industries along with the world's largest ship-breaking yard, Alang located 50  km away. 

PLACE TO VISIT

Nilambag Palace, Victoria Park, Takhteshwar Temple

Vadodara

Vadodara, Gujarat's third-largest city, is situated on the banks of the river Vishwamistri and is famous as the cultural capital of Gujarat as well as a center of educational activities. 
Vadodara was originally known as Vadapradaka, which means a village amidst Banyan trees. Archaeological findings show that there was human habitation here from pre-historic times. Vadodara passed through the hands of the Imperial Guptas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Solankis, Sultans of Delhi, the Mughals, and finally the Marathas. Present-day Vadodara owes its grandeur to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, a great ruler, a socio-economic reformer, a patron of arts, architecture, and music. It was he who visualized the development of Vadodara. Today Vadodara is a city of palaces, gardens, and industrial giants.

PLACE TO VISIT

Statue of Unity, The Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Balasinor, Bharuch, Champaner, Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Chandod, Dabhoi Fort, Jambughoda Sanctuary, Kadia Dungar Caves, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, Makarpura Palace, Nazar Bagh Palace, Pavagadh, Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Sankheda, Sikandar Shah’s Tomb Halol, Sursagar Lake

Jamnagar

Jamnagar is a jewel on the coast of the Gulf of Kutch in the state of Gujarat. The city built around the Lakhota Lake was the capital of the former state of Nawanagar; one of the more important princely states of Saurashtra. It was established by Jam Raval in the 16th Century. Later it was renamed Jamnagar. Legend has it that the region where the city is situated now was the place where Lord Krishna used to live after he migrated from ‘Mathura’ and established his kingdom. The Jams (descendants of Jam Raval) trace their ancestry to Lords Krishna's ‘Yadav’ clan. Darbargadh Palace and Pratap Vilas Palace are the best examples of Rajput architecture. The city is known to have a rich culture and stores many remnants of the past that are preserved in the form of forts and palaces. The famous Lakhota Palace and Museum along with Bhujio khoto are counted as the best attractions of the city. At present, the city encloses some of the most beautiful and immaculate islands, beaches, hills, temples, forests, and wildlife.

PLACE TO VISIT

Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary, Lakhota Palace and Museum, Bala Hanuman Temple, Marine National Park, Darbar Gadh

Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar lies about 32 km North of Ahmedabad near the West banks of the Sabarmati River. A planned city, Gandhinagar is the state capital with wide streets and residential sectors with schools, shopping areas, playgrounds and parks. The capital complex and government offices including the Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), the Secretariat (Sachivalaya) and government offices are located in the centre. In recent years, Gandhinagar has grown into an educational hub with several prestigious institutions located here. 

PLACE TO VISIT

Akshardham, Indroda Nature Park, Mahudi Jain Temple, Dandi Kutir

Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a coastal city on the eastern coast of Saurashtra, It was founded in 1724 by Bhavsinhji Gohil and was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a Princely state before it was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.  Bhavnagar has always been an important city for trade with many large and small scale industries along with the world's largest ship breaking yard, Alang located 50  km away. 

PLACE TO VISIT

Nilambag Palace, Victoria Park, Takhteshwar Temple

Patan

The ancient city of Anahilvada Patan was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the first ruler of the Chavda dynasty. The city was the capital of Gujarat for 650 years, from 746-1411 and was ruled by a series of dynasties: the Chavda, Solanki, and finally Vaghela. Under the Solanki rule, 942-1244, the city shone as a center of trade, learning and architectural achievements. It was also a thriving center for Jainism, and the Solanki rulers commissioned a large number of Hindu and Jain temples, as well as other civic and religious constructions. The city encloses the 1000-year old Kali Temple. The 'Kuldevi' (family goddess) Kali of the Solanki dynasty is believed to be the protector of town and its people. The ruins of this ancient city, with the famous Rani Ki Vav,  and Sahasralinga Talav, stand about 2 km northwest of the present-day Patan, which is known for its patola saris and mashru weavers.

PLACE TO VISIT

Ambaji, Jain Temples, Muslim Architecture, Rani Ki Vav, Sahasralinga Talav, Sky Diving in Deesa, Vadnagar