The most convenient
entry point into Gujarat is through the metropolis
of Ahmedabad. The city contains some very fine
museums, the Calico Museum of Textiles being
considered among the world’s finest. Ahmedabad’s
walled city is a living testimony to its heritage
of crafts as women walk by in dazzling embroidered
garments and flashing ethnic silver jewellery.
Traditional Ahmedabad combines mosques of inspired
workmanship, wooden Jain temples, unique stone
stepwells and houses with ornately carved wooden
balconies and window screens. Modern Ahmedabad,
just across the River Sabarmati spanned by four
bridges, is a showpiece of contemporary architecture
with designs by Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn and
the best known Indian architects. Ahmedabad
is a convenient base for a number of excursions,
Modhera being the best known. 106 km away, this
is one of the very few sun temples in the country.
Palitana, 215 km away, is a hilltop place
of pilgrimage for Jains. 863 temples of all
sizes crowd the hilll which has to be approached
on foot. Stone and marble spires with their
rich detail of carving make for Palitana’s
very special appeal. Portuguese rule in India
included the territories of Goa, Daman and
Diu, the last two lying within the state of
Gujarat.
Gujarat’s loveliest beach – and
the state is well endowed with them –
is Ahmedpur Mandvi whose chief attraction
is the ethnic beach resort. Cottages modelled
on rural Gujarati architecture look out onto
a secluded beach, one of the state’s
chief centres for water sports.
Udaipur and its environs, easily accessible
by air and road from Bombay, are another facet
of Rajasthan. Far from being surrounded by
flat arid desert, Udaipur is situated in the
lap of the thickly wooded Aravalli hills.
Three lakes form an attraction of the city
whose focal point is the towering cluster
of honey coloured palaces that go to make
up the complex of the City Palace and other
palatial apartments.
Ahmedabad, blends
harmoniously an ancient heritage with a vibrant
present. The city's prosperous and eventful
past and present is embodied in its rich kaleidoscope
of history, art and culture, rich architecture
and imposing monuments. Tourists can visit
Ahmedabad throughout the year.
How to get there?
By Air : Ahmedabad is well-connected
with most of the major cities of India by
domestic flights.
By Rail : Ahmedabad is directly
connected to Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras,
Trivandrum, Varanasi etc.
By Road : Baroda (Vadodara)
113 km, Mt. Abu 228 km, Udaipur 252 km, Jaipur
657 km, Bombay 545 km, Delhi 1076 km, Gandhinagar
25 km, Modhera 110 km, Nal Sarovar 71 km and
Lothal 80 km.
Major tourist attractions of Ahmedabad
: Ahmed Shah's Mosque, Balvatika
4 kms, Teen Darwaza and Bhadra Fort, Daria
Khan's Ghummat 3 km, Siddi Sayyad's Mosque,
Gita Mandir 3 km, Swami Narayan Temple 2 km,
Hathisinh Mandir 2 km, Jhulta Minar 3 km,
Jumma Masjid 0,5 km, Kankaria Lake 4 km, Rani
Sipri's Mosque and Tomb 2 km, Rani Roopmati
Mosque .5 km, Rauza of Shah Alam 3 km, Sabarmati
Ashram 6 km, Siddhi Sayyad Mosque .5 km, Dada
Hari Vav 4 km, Museums & Art Galleries,
Calico Museum of Textiles, Calico Mills (Wed.
and bank holidays), Shreyas Folk Art Museum.
(Mondays & school vacations), Gandhi Smarak
Sanghrahalaya, Gandhi Ashram Sabarmati (Mondays),
L.D. Institute of Indology, Navarangpura (Mondays),
National Institution of Design, Tribal Research
& trg. Museum, Ashram Rd (Sun. & bank
holidays), N.C. Mehta Art Gallery, Sanskar
Kendra, Paldi (Mondays), Kite Museum, Sanskar
Kendra (Mondays), Veechar Utensil Mumseum,
Vasna Tolnaka (Sundays), Natural History Museum,
Kankaria etc.
Rajkot, the former Capital
of the princely state of Saurashtra was founded
by the Rajput Chief Kunwar Vibhuji in the
16th century, Rajkot is famous for its Bandhani
Sarees, mirror-work, patch work, bead work
and silk embroidery.
How to get there?
By Air : I A connects Rajkot with
Bombay and Vayudoot connects Rajkot with Bombay
and Kandla. East West Airlines also operate
flight from Bombay-Rajkot.
By Rail : Rajkot is a junction
on the Western Railway broad gauge line.
By Road : Rajkot to : Bombay
798 km, Ahmedabad 218 km, Junagadh 98 km,
Jamnagar 86 km, Dwarka 238 km, Porbandar 178
km,Bhavnagar 165 km,Sasangir 155 km. Gujarat
State Transport bus connect Rajkot to all
major cities of state.
Major tourist attractions of Rajkot
: Aji Dam 8 km, Mahatma Gandhi's
Home (Kaba Gandhino Delo), Lal Pari Lake &
Renderda 4.8 kms, Sardar Smriti Bhavan, Watson
Museums & Jubliee Gardens etc
Jamnagar, known for
its tie-&-dye work on fabrics, silken
& gold embroidery. Tourists can visit
Jamnagar throughout the year.
How to get there?
By Air : Indian Airlines
service connects Jamnagar with Bombay and
Bhuj
By Rail : Jamnagar is directly
connected with Ahmedabad and Bombay. Hapa
Jn.(9 km) from Jamnagar is another convenient
railhead on the broad guage terminus
By Road : Jamnagar to Palitana
246 km, Rajkot 86 km, Ahmedabad 304 km, Somnath
257 km, Dwarka 148 km. Gujrat State Transport
services connect Jamnagar with Ahmedabad,
Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Porbandar, Rajkot, Junagadh,
Somnath.
Dwarka, situated on
the Gujarat Coast. Dwarka is one of the holiest
centres of pilgrimage for Hindus.
Best Season : November to March.
How to get there?
By Air : Jamnagar (148 km) is the
nearest airport linked to Bombay & Bhuj
by I.A.
By Rail : Dwarka is directly
connected to Jamnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad and
Bombay
By Road : Dwarka to 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. GSTRC buses connect Dwarka with
the above places
Major tourist attractions of Dwarka
: Dwarkadish Temple, Bhadkeshwar
Temple, Rukmani Temple, Sunset Point, Shri
Jagatguru Shankaracharya Math, Ved Havan,
Light House, Shardapith Math Museum etc
Porbandar, the birthplace
of Mahatma Gandhi, is a picturesque little
seaside resort on the west coast of Gujarat.
Best Season : November to March.
How to get there?
By Air : Vayudoot has a daily flight
from Porbandar to Bombay and Rajkot
By Rail : Porbandar is directly
connected to Ahmedabad, Bombay Via Viramgam
By Road : Porbandar to Ahmedabad
394 kms, Bhavnagar 300 kms, Junagadh 107 kms,
Rajkot 178 kms, Somnath 118 kms. State Transport
Buses connect Porbandar with Ahmedabad, Dwarka,
Junagadh, Keshod, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Palitana,
Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Somnath, Diu.
Major tourist attractions of Porbandar
: Arya Kanya Gurukul, Bharat Mandir,
kirti Mandir, Sudama Mandir, Planetarium etc
Somnath Veraval, also
known as Prabhas Patan has religious and historical
significance. The Somnath Temple has one of
the 12 Jyotirlingas or Shiva shrines and is
one of the most important pilgrim centres
for Hindus. Season : November to March.
How to get there?
By Air : Nearest airport Keshod (55
km) is linked to Bombay by Vayudoot services
By Rail : Nearest railhead
Veraval (7 km) is connected by train to Ahmedabad
By Road : By road Somnath
to Veraval 7 kms, Bombay 889 kms, Ahmedabad
400 kms, Bhavnagar 266 kms, Junagadh 85 kms,
Porbandar 122 kms.
Sasan Gir, today the
only place in the world outside Africa, where
the lion can be seen in his natural habitat.
The forest also harbours a variety of smaller
animals and birds. Other predators are the
panther and the hyena. The Indian Deer, Sambar,
Chital (spotted deer), Nilgai (blue bull),
Chinkara and the Chowsingha (four horned antelope)
are found here, alongwith the bear and the
long tailed langur.
Best Season: The Sanctuary is open to visitors
from Mid-October to Mid-June, While during
monsoon months the Sanctuary remains closed.Permission
to visit the sanctuary is given by Forest
Department, Sasangir on arrival.
How to get there?
By Air : Nearest airport Keshod (100
kms) is connected by Vayudoot with Bombay
By Rail : Sasan is the railway
station, on the meter-guage line. The most
convenient station is Junagadh (65 kms)
By Road : Sasangir to Ahmedabad
895 km,Rajkot 160 km,Junagadh 65 km,Veraval
43 km
