Gujarat Glories
GUJARAT TOUR:
Gujarat's natural environment includes the Great Rann of Kutch and the hills of Saputara, and it is the sole home of pure Asiatic lions in the world. During the historic reigns of the sultans, Hindu craftsmanship blended with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many structures in the state are built in this fashion. It is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, great iconic figures of India's Independence movement. Amitabh Bachchan is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism.
Statue of Unity facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the river Narmada in Kevadiya colony.
Museums and memorials
Gujarat has a variety of museums on different genres that are run by the state's Department of Museums located at the principal state museum, Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery in Vadodara,[195] which is also the location of the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. The Kirti Mandir, Porbandar, Sabarmati Ashram, and Kaba Gandhi No Delo are museums related to Mahatma Gandhi, the former being the place of his birth and the latter two where he lived in his lifetime. Kaba Gandhi No Delo in Rajkot exhibits part of a rare collection of photographs relating to the life of Mahatma Gandhi. Sabarmati Ashram is the place where Gandhi initiated the Dandi March. On 12 March 1930 he vowed that he would not return to the Ashram until India won independence.
The Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum is housed within Lakshmi Vilas Palace, the residence of the erstwhile Maharajas, located in Vadodara.
The Calico Museum of Textiles is managed by the Sarabhai Foundation and is one of the most popular tourist spots in Ahmedabad.
The Lakhota Museum at Jamnagar is a palace transformed into museum, which was residence of the Jadeja Rajputs. The collection of the museum includes artefacts spanning from 9th to 18th centuries, pottery from medieval villages nearby and the skeleton of a whale.
Other well-known museums in the state include the Kutch Museum in Bhuj, which is the oldest museum in Gujarat founded in 1877, the Watson Museum of human history and culture in Rajkot, Gujarat Science City and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad. In October 2018, the world's tallest statue commemorating the independence leader Sardar Patel was unveiled. At 182 metres tall the Statue of Unity is the newest tourist attraction with over 30,000 visitors every day.
Religious sites
Religious sites play a major part in the tourism of Gujarat. Somnath is the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and is mentioned in the Rigveda. The Dwarakadheesh Temple, Radha Damodar Temple, Junagadh and Dakor are holy pilgrimage sites with temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The Sun Temple, Modhera is a ticketed monument, handled by the Archaeological Survey of India. Other religious sites in state include Ambaji, Dakor, Shamlaji, Chotila, Becharaji, Mahudi, Shankheshwar etc. The Palitana temples of Jainism on Mount Shatrunjaya, Palitana are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Svetambara and Digambara Jain community. Palitana is the world's only mountain with more than 900 temples. The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque and Jama Masjid are holy mosques for Gujarati Muslims.
Fairs
Tarnetar Fair, Tarnetar
A man in traditional costumes during Tarnetar fair
A five-day festival is held during Maha Shivaratri at the fort of Girnar, Junagadh, known as the Bhavanth Mahadev Fair (Gujarati: àªàªµàª¨àª¾àª¥ નો મેળો). The Kutch Festival or Rann Festival (Gujarati: કચà«àª› or રણ ઉતà«àª¸àªµ) is a festival celebrated at Kutch during Mahashivratri. The Modhra Dance Festival is a festival for classical dance, arranged by the Government of Gujarat's Cultural Department, to promote tourism in state and to keep traditions and culture alive.
The Ambaji Fair is held in the Hindu month of Bhadrapad (around August–September) at Ambaji, during a time which is particularly suitable for farmers, when the busy monsoon season is about to end. The Bhadrapad fair is held at Ambaji which is in the Danta Taluka of Banaskantha district, near the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. The walk from the bus station to the temple is less than one kilometre, under a roofed walkway. Direct buses are available from many places, including Mount Abu (45 km away), Palanpur (65 km away), Ahmedabad and Idar. The Bhadrapad fair is held in the centre of the Ambaji village just outside the temple premises. The village is visited by the largest number of sanghas (pilgrim groups) during the fair. Many of them go there on foot, which is particularly enriching as it happens immediately after the monsoon, when the landscape is rich with greenery, streams are full of sparkling water and the air is fresh. About 1.5 million devotees are known to attend this fair each year from all over the world. Not only Hindus, but some devout Jains and Parsis also attend the functions, whilst some Muslims attend the fair for trade.
The Tarnetar Fair is held during the first week of Bhadrapad, (September–October according to Gregorian calendar), and mostly serves as a place to find a suitable bride for tribal people from Gujarat. The region is believed to be the place where Arjuna took up the difficult task of piercing the eye of a fish, rotating at the end of a pole, by looking at its reflection in the pond water, to marry Draupadi. Other fairs in Gujarat include Dang Durbar, Shamlaji Fair, Chitra Vichitra Fair, Dhrang Fair and Vautha Fair.
The Government of Gujarat has banned alcohol since 1960. Gujarat government collected the Best State Award for 'Citizen Security' by IBN7 Diamond States on 24 December 2012.
(Kutch– Jamnagar -Dwarka – Porbandar – Somnath – Diu – Sasangir – Junagadh – Gondal – Palitana – Bhavnagar - Velavadar National Park - Lothal – Ahmedabd)
ITINERARY: (9 Nights 10 Days)
Day 01 : Ahmedabad – Little Rann of Kutch (90km / 2 hrs)
Today, proceed to Little Rann of Kutch. On arrival check in to the resort. Explore the desert by open jeep in the Little Rann of Kutch, where one can sight animals like Wild-Ass, Desert Fox, Blue Bull, Blackbuck, Wolf, Jackal and few species of snakes & many species of birds also one can visit the home of Rabari and Banjara are the two important tribes of the region. Overnight stay at Little Rann of Kutch.
Day 02 : Little Rann of Kutch – Jamnagar (210kms/2hrs)
Toady, proceed to Jamnagar. On arrival check in at the hotel. Visit Lakhota Lake & Lakhota Museum. In the evening, visit Bala Hanuman Temple known for its non stop Ramdhun since 1956 and it mentioned in Guinness Book of World Records. Overnight stay at resort.
Day 03 : Jamnagar – Dwarka (240km/5hrs)
Today, proceed to the sacred town of Dwarka. Visit Dwarkadeesh Temple and Gomti Ghat. In the afternoon take a trip to Bet Dwarka, visit Old Temple of Krishna. the trip from Okha on the mainland to the temple is by a local boat. On the way to Bet Dwarka, visit Nageshwar Temple – One of the 12th Jyotilingam of Shiva. Rukmini Temple and Gopi Talav Return back to Dwarka. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 04 : Dwarka – Porbandar - Somnath (200km/ 4hrs)
In the morning depart to Porbandar (75km/1.5hrs) at Porbandar visit Kirti Mandir – A place where Gandhiji was born. Later proceed to Somnath (130km/2.5hrs) on arrival visit Bhalka Tirth & Somnath Temple. In the evening watch light and Sound show. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 05 : Somnath – Diu (90km/ 2hrs)
Today, Proceed to beach town Diu. The day is at leisure to laze and relax on the beach. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 06 : Diu
The morning is at leisure to enjoy the wide variety of water sports facilities available at Nagoa Beach. Later, visit St. Paul's Church, Diu Museum and Diu Fort. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 07 : Diu – Sasangir (100km / 2hrs)
Today, proceed to Sasangir. Sasangir, is the home of the Asiatic Lion. In the afternoon Visit Gir Interpretation Zone at Devaliya. Crocodile breeding farm, Gir Information centre. Watch movie on lion at Gir Information centre in the evening. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 08 : Sasangir – Junagadh - Gondal (200km/4hrs)
Today, early morning take a Jeep Safari at the Gir National Park proceed to Junagadh. Visit Uperkot Fort, Ashok Rock Edict, Mahabat Makabara and Junagadh Museum. Continued towards Gondal. On arrival visit Navlakha Palace & Classic and Vintage Car Museum. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 09 : Gondal – Palitana – Bhavnagar (190kms/4hrs)
Today, proceed to Bhavnagar. Enroute visit temples city Palitana, Famous Jain temples at Shatrunjaya Hills. Continued towards Bhavnagar. In the evening visit Takhteshwar Temple located on the small hillock. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10 : Bhavnagar - Velavadar National Park - Lothal – Ahmedabd (210km/ 4hrs)
Today, Proceed to Ahmedabad via Velavadar & Lothal. After visiting Lothal and Velavadar National Park Continued towards Ahmedabad with Sweet Memories.
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