Home :: West India :: Gujarat

WEST INDIA
GUJARAT

Located on the country's western coast, Gujarat is surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and southwest and Pakistan to the northwest. Rajasthan neighbors it to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east and Maharashtra to the southeast.

indian traditions at gujarat
Gujarati Dance

The most expedient entry point into Gujarat is through the metropolis of Ahmadabad. Gandhinagar the capital of Gujarat is in west-central India. Signs of civilization in the district that is now Gujarat dates back to the period from 3000 to 1500 BC. The area 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 home princely rulers.

For tourists who have moderately less time at their disposal and desire to 'do' Gujarat within a week, three places can be careful a 'must' for them. These are the Gir lion refuge, Palitana temples and the Ahmadabad city.

Ahmedabad

Ahmadabad, founded in the year 1411 AD is situated on the banks of river Sabarmati. Ahmadabad has been named after Sultan Ahmed Shah, who was primarily accountable for building it. Today, this city is known as the 'Manchester of the East'. One of the extremely industrialized cities in India, Ahmadabad is also India's Textile City. The old city of Ahmadabad is dotted with complex bylanes called 'pols'. The exquisite carved wooden mansions and havelis are in no way less than their stone counterparts in Rajasthan. The city is full of architectural delights. Though the capital of Gujarat was shifted from Ahmadabad to Gandhinagar, it is still the second largest trade 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 generous state of Saurashtra. Today it is top 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 well-known for its Bandhani Sarees, mirror-work, patchwork, beadwork and silk embroidery.

West india travel - Rajkot
Sankhheshwar Mahadev

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

vacations in India-Jamnagar
Lakhota Fort and Kotha Bastion

Founded in 1540 A.D. Jamnagar, also known as the 'Jewel of Kathiawad', is a coastal town about 300 kms west of Ahmadabad and 92 kms from Rajkot.

Present day Jamnagar is a delightful blend of the old and the new with its ancient monuments and wide streets, imposing facades, and squares which make it one of the most gorgeous cities in the Saurashtra peninsula. Jamnagar is famous 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 major centers of the Krishna legend, 145 Kms. from Jamnagar, sits on the western most tilt 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 previous five having been sunken in the sea. The internal 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 chief temple here, is devoted 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 charming seaport on the Arabian Sea. It is situated 395 Kms from Ahmadabad. It is also known as "White City" because of its white stone construction. It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Porbander has a enjoyable beach with beach villas. Its ancient maritime behavior - trade with Arabia, Africa and Persia have given way to a flourishing industry of cement and chemical units.

Historical tour-Porbander
Porbander

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 supposed that the Somnath temple here was initially built by Somraj, the Moon God himself, out of gold, and then reconstructed by Ravana in silver and then by Krishna in Wood, then by Bhimdev in stone. The shore temple of Somnath was whispered to have been built in 4 phases gold by Lord Soma, in silver by Ravana, in firewood by lord Krishna and in stone by Bhimdev. Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of lord Shiva. Somnath is also recognized 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 that lies on the southwestern periphery of the Saurashtra Peninsula (west-central India), is the last home of some 300 Asiatic lions. It was shaped in 1913 to protect the largest existing groups of the Asiatic lions. It was given a refuge status in 1965. The vegetation in the area comprises of teak with a mixture of deciduous trees, including sal (Shorea), dhak (Butea frondosa), and thorn forests. A few springs also exist, but their pour is rather eccentric depending upon the season. Gir Forest is today the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion could 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 located in the western state of Gujarat at the foothills of the Girnar Hills. The city of Junagarh takes its name from the forts that enclose the old city. Junagarh was a significant trade center as testified by the Ashokan edicts dating from 250 BC. The present-day city has many archeological sites and historical monuments that imitate 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.

STATES OF WEST INDIA

Gujart West india tourism, Vacations in india, India tourism, Tourism in india, India travel guide, Travel guide to india, India travel tourism.