Gujarat

Located on the country's western coast, Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest and Pakistan to the northwest. Rajasthan neighbours it to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east and Maharashtra to the southeast. The most convenient entry point into Gujarat is through the metropolis of Ahmedabad.Gandhinagar the capital of Gujarat is in west-central India. Signs of civilization in the region that is now Gujarat date back to the period from 3000 to 1500 BC. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC under King Ashoka. In 1818 AD, the British East India Company took control of Gujarat by administering the state through local princely rulers. For tourists who have comparatively less Time at their disposal and want to 'do' Gujarat within a week, three places may be considered a 'must' for them. These are the Gir lion sanctuary, Palitana temples and the Ahmedabad city.

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, founded in the year 1411 AD is located on the banks of river Sabarmati. Ahmedabad has been named after Sultan Ahmed Shah, who was primarily responsible for building it. Today, this city is known as the 'Manchester of the East'. One of the highly industrialised cities in India, Ahmedabad is also India's Textile City. The old city of Ahmedabad is dotted with labyrinthine bylanes called 'pols'. The exquisite carved wooden mansions and havelis are in no manner less than their stone counterparts in Rajasthan. The city is full of architectural delights. Though the capital of Gujarat was shifted from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, it is still the second largest industrial city in western India.

Places Of Interest:
Ahmed Shah's Mosque, Balvatika, Teen Darwaza and Bhadra Fort, Daria Khan's Ghummat, Siddi Sayyad's Mosque, Gita Mandir, Swami Narayan Temple, Hathisinh Mandir, Jhulta Minar, Jumma Masjid , Kankaria Lake, Rani Sipri's Mosque and Tomb, Rani Roopmati Mosque, Rauza of Shah Alam, Sabarmati Ashram, Siddhi Sayyad Mosque, Dada Hari Vava.

Excursions:
Adalaj Vav- 19 kms, Lothal- kms, Patan- 113 kms, Nal Sarovar- 71 kms, Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram- 6 kms, Gandhi Nagar- 25 kms, Modhera (Sun Temple)- 106 kms.

Reach -
By Air: Ahmedabad is well linked with major cities.
By Rail: Ahmedabad is directly connected to major towns.
By Road: Baroda (Vadodara)- 113 kms, Mt.Abu- 228 kms, Udaipur- 252 kms, Jaipur- 657 kms, Bombay- 545 kms, Delhi- 1076 kms, Gandhinagar- 25 kms, Modhera-110 kms, Nal Sarovar- 71 kms, Lothal- 80 kms.

Rajkot

Rajkot was founded in the year 1610 A.D. by Chief Vibhaji Jadeja & Raju Sandhi. Rajkot was once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra. Today it is best known as the town where Mahatma Gandhi spent the early years of his life when his father was a Diwan or Prime Minister to the king of Saurashtra. Rajkot is famous for its Bandhani Sarees, mirror-work, patchwork, beadwork and silk embroidery.

Best Season: October to May.

Places Of Interest:
Aji Dam , Mahatma Gandhi's Home (Kaba Gandhino Delo), Lal Pari Lake & Renderda, Sardar Smriti Bhavan, Watson Museums & Jubliee Gardens.

Excursions:
Jadeshwar- 60 kms, Virpur- 64 kms, Bhid Bhanjan- 60 kms, Manas Mandir -14 kms, Gondal- 38 kms, Wankaner- 50 kms.

Reach -
By Air: Rajkot is well connected with Bombay and Kandla.
By Rail: Well connected with major towns.
By Road: Bombay 798- kms, Ahmedabad- 218 kms, Junagadh- 98 kms, Jamnagar- 86 kms, Dwarka- 238 kms, Porbandar- 178 kms, Bhavnagar- 165 kms, Sasangir- 155 kms.

Jamnagar

Founded in 1540 A.D. Jamnagar, also known as the 'Jewel of Kathiawad', is a coastal town about 300 kms west of Ahmedabad and 92 kms from Rajkot.
Present day Jamnagar is a charming blend of the old and the new with its ancient monuments and broad streets, imposing facades, and squares which make it one of the most beautiful cities in the Saurashtra peninsula. Jamnagar is renowned for its silk, gold embroidery, silver ware, Bandhani (tie-and-dye) fabrics that are renowned the world over.

Places Of Interest:
Solarium, Lakhota Fort and Kotha Bastion, Rozi and Bedi Ports.

Reach -
By Air: Jamnagar is well connected with Bombay and Bhuj.
By Rail: Jamnagar is well connected all major towns.
By Road: Palitana- 246 kms, Rajkot- 86 kms, Ahmedabad- 304 kms, Somnath- 257 kms, Dwarka-148 kms.

Dwarka

The sacred town of Dwarka, one of the main centers of the Krishna legend, 145 Kms. from Jamnagar, sits on the western most tip of the Gujarat peninsula, a sentinel over looking the Arabian Sea. Archaeological excavations show that present day Dwarka is the 6th city on this site, the earlier five having been submerged in the sea. The inner sanctum of the main Dwarkadhish Temple-known as the Nij Mandir - dates back 2,500 years. Legend has it Lord Krishna left Mathura and settled in the Western part of India with his Yadava clan and built a golden city and named it Dwarika. Dwarkanath, the main temple here, is dedicated to Krishna.

Best Season: November to March.

Places Of Interest:
Dwarkadish Temple, Bhadkeshwar Temple, Rukmani Temple, Sunset Point, Shri Jagatguru Shankaracharya Math, Ved Havan, Light House, Shardapith Math Museum.

Excursions:
Bet Dwarka (2 kms from Okha. Ferry Service from Okha Port), Vasai- 12 kms, Pindhara- 72 kms, Harshad Mata Temple- 58 kms, Nageshwar- 16 kms, Shri Vallabhacharya 's Baithak, Okha- 32 kms.

Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Jamnagar-148 kms.
By Rail: Well connected with all major cities.
By Road: Ahmedabad- 438 kms, Rajkot- 234 kms, Jamnagar- 148 kms, Junagadh- 332 kms, Porbandar- 120 kms, Somnath- 249 kms, Bhavnagar- 399 kms, Bombay- 929 kms, Okha- 32 kms.

Porbander

Porbander is Saurashtra's end - a picturesque seaport on the Arabian Sea. It is situated 395 Kms from Ahmedabad. It is also known as "White City" because of its white stone construction. It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Porbander has a pleasant beach with beach villas. Its ancient mariTime activities - trade with Arabia, Africa and Persia have given way to a thriving industry of cement and chemical units.

Best Season: November to March.

Excursions:
Harshad Mata Temple- 38.6 kms, Madhapur Temple- 64.3 kms, Mul-Dwarka- 28.8 kms.

Places Of Interest:
Arya Kanya Gurukul, Bharat Mandir, Kirti Mandir, Sudama Mandir, and Planetarium.

Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Rajkot.
By Rail: Porbandar is well connected to major towns.
By Road: Ahmedabad- 394 kms, Bhavnagar- 300 kms, Junagadh-107 kms, Rajkot-178 kms, Somnath- 118 kms.

Somnath Veraval

Somnath is about 5kms from Veraval. It is believed that the Somnath temple here was originally built by Somraj, the Moon God himself, out of gold, and then rebuilt by Ravana in silver and then by Krishna in Wood, then by Bhimdev in stone. The shore temple of Somnath was believed to have been built in 4 phases-in gold by Lord Soma, in silver by Ravana, in wood by lord Krishna and in stone by Bhimdev. Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of lord Shiva. Somnath is also known as Prabhas Patan.

Best Season: November to March.

Places Of Interest:
Somnath Temple, Triveni Ghat, Ahilyabai Temple, Junagadh Gate, Bhalka Tirth, Dehotsarga, Manipur Masjid, Museum.

Excursions:
Chorwad- 26 kms, Sasan Gir- 43 kms.

Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Keshod- 55 km.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Veraval.
By Road: Somnath to Veraval- 7 kms,Bombay- 889 kms, Ahmedabad- 400 kms, Bhavnagar- 266 kms, Junagadh- 85 kms, Porbandar- 122 kms.

Sasan Gir

Sasan Gir Lion Sanctuary, which lies on the southwestern fringes of the Saurashtra Peninsula (west-central India), is the last home of some 300 Asiatic lions. It was created in 1913 to protect the largest surviving groups of the Asiatic lions. It was given a sanctuary status in 1965. The vegetation in the area consists of teak with a mixture of deciduous trees, including sal (Shorea), dhak (Butea frondosa), and thorn forests. A few springs also exist, but their flow is rather eccentric depending upon the season. Gir Forest is today the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in his natural habitat.

Places Of Interest:
Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary, Tulsi Shyam Springs and Krishna Temple.

Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Keshod-100 kms.
By Rail: Nearest railhead is Sasan and Junagadh 65kms.
By Road: Ahmedabad- 895 kms, Rajkot 160- kms, Junagadh- 65 kms, Veraval- 43 kms.

Junagadh

Junagarh is situated in the western state of Gujarat at the foothills of the Girnar Hills. The city of Junagarh takes its name from the fort that encloses the old city. Junagarh was an important trade center as testified by the Ashokan edicts dating from 250 BC. The present-day city has many archeological sites and historical monuments that reflect the rich history of the place.

Best Season: October to April.

Places Of Interest:
Ashoka's Edicts, Uparkot Fort, Shrine of Narsi Mehta, Willingdon Dam, Mahabat Maqbara, Damodar Kund, Girnar Hills & Temple, Darbar Hall Museum, Sakkarbag Museum, Sakkarbag Zoo.

Excursions:
Chorwad- 66 kms, Prabhas Patan- 92 kms, Sasangir- 58 kms, Tulsi Shyam Hot Springs- 160 kms.

Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport Keshod- 37 km & Rajkot- 99 km.
By Rail: Well connected to Ahmedabad.
By Road: Junagadh to Bombay- 802 kms, Rajkot- 99 kms, Ahmedabad- 315 kms, Keshod- 37 kms, Sasangir- 58 kms, Somnath- 92 kms, Porbandar- 107 kms, Palitana- 213 kms, Jamnagar-184 kms.

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