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Tourism
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Destinations
Ahmedabad, the biggest city of the state and the second largest city in western
India (next to Bombay) is originally situated on the left bank of the river Sabarmati.
The city was founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411. The city is known for its historical monuments.
The Muslim architecture of the city presents a rare blending of Hindu and Muslim styles.
The city wall had 14 gates as the principal entrances to the city.
At present the city has two distinct parts, old and historic Ahmedabad on the left bank and a modern and better planned extension on the right.
The people of Ahmedabad are industrious and known for their skill in the manufacturing and processing of artistic and valuable products.
Being the second largest center of textile industry in the country, the city is known as the 'Manchester of India'.
Ahmedabad has a very hot and humid type of climate. The temperatures vary greatly between day and night.
Best time to visit Ahmedbad is
October to March.
Baroda
is a graceful city of gardens, palaces and shady avenues and has
one of the modern universities in the country. It has a public park with
a museum, a picture gallery and a zoo covering 60 hectares on the banks
of the Vishvamitri. The museum is of particular interest as it has
sections on Indian civilization and art with an imposing collection of
sculptures and miniatures, folklore, natural history, ethnology and specialized
sections devoted to neighboring countries in Asia and Africa. The
Oriental Institute attached to the university is known for its
collection of ancient Sanskrit manuscript, particularly of the Ramayana,
on which scholars are engaged in specialized research. The Laxmi Vilas
palace, the Makarpura palace, the Nazarbag palace and Pratap Vilas
palace have Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The Kirti Mandir where
the mortal remains of the members of the ruling Gaekwad family are laid
is built of a variety of stones and its inner walls have murals. Baroda
is a leading industrial centre.
Surat,
the second largest city in Gujarat has a chequered history-plundered
and destroyed by the Portuguese in 1512 and having passed into the hands
of the Mughals, came to be known as the 'gateway to Mecca'. The East
India Company established its first factory in Surat. Shivaji sacked
Surat twice within a period of eight years. The last Nawab of the city
died in 1842, when it finally passed into the hands of the British.
Surat is known for its Jari and Brocade industry.
How to get there?
Train Schedules
Tourism Contact List
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Gujarat
Tourism
Corporation of Gujarat Limited
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http://www.gujarattourism.com/
Corporate
Office
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http://www.colorsofgujarat.com/contact-us.html
3.
http://www.travelmadeeasy.in/contact.htm
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Address |
Phone |
Fax |
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109, Kamal Complex, Opp. Gulab Bagh,
Udaipur - 313001
Rajasthan - India |
Telephone: 91 294 3290228 |
Fax : 91 294 2412081 |
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info@travelmadeeasy.in
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Bhavnagar,
founded in 1723, was the headquarters of a former princely state. It is
on the Gulf of Cambay with an all weather port. It has
many educational institutions.
Jamnagar
is a well-laid out town in Saurashtra, once governed by the princely
family of Jadeja dynasty. The palace has a collection of Victorian
paintings. Right in the heart of the city, in the center of a lake and
approached by a stone bridge are two magnificent buildings - the Kotha
Bastion and the Lakota Museum. One of the curiosities of the Kotha
Bastion is an old well. The water of this well can be obtained by blowing in
a small hole in the flooring of the building. The Lakota is a local
museum displayed on the terrace of the building. It has a fine
collection of sculpture dating from the 9th to the 18th century. There
are also pictures and numismatic galleries, pottery from Saurashtra,
Paleolithic and Neolithic finds from the Narmada valley and a manuscript
and epigraphic gallery with copper plates and ancient
inscriptions.
Porbandar
is an old port having flourishing trade with Africa, Arabia and the
Persian Gulf. The Kirti Mandir, the Kanya Gurukul and the Bharat Smriti
are the main attractions of Porbandar. It is also an industrial town
having cement and chemical units.
Junagadh
is an ancient city resplendent with mythological legends. It has
beautiful shrines of Hindus, Jains and Muslims. The fort of the Upar Kot
is an imposing reminder of the medieval past. It has two wells called
Adi and Kadi named after two girls. On the way to the Girnar from the
Upar Kot, are ancient temples and the famous boulder on which are
inscribed 14 edicts of Asoka in Pali. It has also inscriptions by
Rudradaman in Sanskirt and of Skandagupta.
Bhuj,
once the headquarters of a princely state, has a museum. The city is
known for its silverware with inlaid work and tie and dye saris.
Rajkot
has a library, a museum and a public hall, which give a good
introduction to Surashtra's cultural traditions.
HISTORICAL PLACES
Lothal
A full-fledged Harappan
(ancient civilization) settlement was discovered at Lothal and similar Harappan
centers at
Rangpur, Rozdi and other places in Saurashtra and Kutch. Lothal is the name given to a mound near
Saragwala, a village in Ahmedabad district. The name is derived from the Gujarati word
"Loth" which means "the dead body". Lothal and other finds are now the oldest sites in India, which have their links with pre-history.
The excavations at the site have brought to light a well-planned city with rows of houses.
All the discoveries prove that the city must have been a commercial center,
and carrying on commerce with the hinterland as well as foreign countries.
Harappans might have come of this part of India and preceded farther inland.
While the Harappan civilization came to an end in Punjab, it continued for about 500 years more in Gujarat.
Sun Temple at Modhera
The
Sun temple at Modhera in Mehsana districts, in north Gujarat, built during the reign of the Solanki
King Bhimdev-I near a village of the same name, represents one of the most magnificent monuments of Gujarat. The temple, though in
ruins but still in its extant form, is an imposing structure and is counted among the best specimens of Indian art and architecture. The niches in the inner sides of the surroundings wall contain twelve images of the Sun god, fashioned in the Iranian style, characterized by their lofty boots reaching up to the knees. The shrine faces due east to allow the rays of the rising sun at equinoxes to the seat of the deity.
The temple complex consists of a Prasad, a Sabha Mandap and a Kund.
The image of the presiding deity is missing. The underground cell in the sanctum is supposed to have contained an additional image.
GANDHIAN PLACES
Hriday Kunj
The small house in the Harijan Ashram in Ahmedabad where Mahatma Gandhi carried on his experiments non-violent struggle for the freedom of the country is very aptly called the Hriday
Kunj. The Mahatma founded the ashram when he left his first Ashram at
Kocharb. From 1918 to 1930, when he left the Ashram to launch his famous Salt Satyagraha, the Hriday Kunj was the source of inspiration during the freedom movement.
The Ashram has a museum and a prayer ground.
Kirti Mandir
Porbandar, which is a seaside town in Saurashtra, was the birthplace of the Father of Nation.
It has also a mythological association. Lord Krishna’s classmate, Sudana hailed from this place.
The town was formerly known as Sudanapuri. The house where Mahatma Gandhi was born has been turned into a national monument Kirti
Mandir. It has a library of books on Gandhism, a spinning hall, a children's nursery and a prayer hall where prayers of all faith are held regularly.
HOLY PLACES
The most ancient holy places in Gujarat are Dwarka, the seat of the Yadava kingdom of Lord Krishna and the Somnath temple at
Veraval, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Jains have their holy places at Miran Datar in Mehsana district, Palitana in the Shetrunjaya hill and the Jamial Shah Pir on the Datar hill near the
Girnar. Parsis have their holy places at Udvada, near Surat.
The holy flame brought here by these worshippers of the Sun God still burns and inspires this small and significant community.
Somnath
The temple of Somnath is one of the oldest holy places in India.
The story of Chandra, the Moon-god associated with the shrine, adds to the mystery of it.
Among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, the one at Somnath has precedence over all the others.
Somnath had a chequered history. Every time it was destroyed, it rose again with added splendor.
Its destruction at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni was the precursor of the loss of India's independence.
It was destroyed by Allauddin Khilji and Aurangzeb, and every time it was rebuilt.
Its final renovation followed India regaining her lost freedom. Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore rebuilt the temple adjacent to the original site.
Palitana
Palitana is a holy place for Jains, a small mercantile community of Gujarat.
The top of the Shetrunjaya, a nearby hill of 603 meters height, is covered with about 863 temples, some of which are of pure marble and date as far back as the eleventh century. The Shetrunjaya is one of the five sacred hills of the Jains. The other two in Gujarat being the Girnar and the Taranga on which are also constructed temples dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras. These holy places have a number of Dharmashalas where pilgrims can stay.
Shakti Temples
Pavagadh in the
center of Gujarat has temples dedicated to goddesses Mahakali and Bhadrakali.
According to a legend, Jayasimhadev, last of the Patai Rayal rulers of
the place was attracted during a Navratri festival to a beautiful woman
taking part in the Garba celebration. The beautiful woman was none
other than the goddess Kali, who on being requested by the King to be
his prime queen uttered a curse, as a result of which the Patai Raval
lost his throne to Mahmug Begado, the Muslim Sultan of Gujarat.
Ambaji and Becharaji are two most popular goddesses of Gujarat and the temples dedicated to these two goddesses are the
centers of pilgrimage for Hindus. Unfertile women observe vow of the goddess Becharaji to obtain fertility.
WILDLIFE
Gir National Park
Located in the south west of the Saurashtra peninsula, the Gir National Park is
home to about 300 Asiatic lions. The 1,412.13 sq. km. park has a rugged terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are covered in mixed deciduous forests.
There are teak, ber, flame of the forest and banyan trees. Streams run
through the deep ravines. The lions, a smaller more compact version of their African cousins, are best viewed at dawn or dusk when they are on the move.
Gir has also nearly 210 leopards and numerous chital, nilgai, chinkara, the four horned antelope and wild boar.
Marsh crocodiles are often seen
along its rivers. The forest is rich in bird if and the paradise flycatcher, black headed cuckoo shrike, pied woodpecker, Bonelli's eagle,
crested serpent eagle, painted sand grouse, bush quail and grey partridge are among the variety that is found here.
Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary, where large numbers of water-birds can be seen; the bare saline flats o the Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo Island where nesting colonies of flamingoes are be seen, make Gujarat an exciting place for wildlife enthusiasts.
Best time to visit: December-mid June
Accommodation: Lion Safari Lodge
How to get there: Rail-Sasan Gir (1 km) Air-Keshod (86 km)
Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
Just 80 km. from Ahmedabad is Nalsarovar. The lake is spread over an area of 115 sq. km.
It is known to
harbor more than 250 species of birds. The sheer variety that can be seen at such places is rewarding by any standards.
In Winter migratory birds descend on the Nal in their thousands. Visitors are ferried in small boats and to experience a sunrise or a sunset while gliding slowly through the silent waters.
It is easy to notice the sheer variety of
color, pattern and a cacophony of sounds that these birds use for recognition and courtship.
They can be seen using the same devices for threats and aggregation as they vie with each other for nesting and feeding space.
There just cannot be any place where one can see so much wildlife in a single day!
A pair of binoculars and a Person well-versed in local bird life will surely make this one of the best outing.
Accommodation: Forest Rest Houses at Nalsarovar.
Rann of Kutch
Gujarat is famous for its large herds of wild asses as it is for its lions.
The Little Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, can be from Dasada, 93 kms from Ahmedabad and on an important route.
It has salt plains, caused by flooding of the Rann by sea, river and rain water; punctuated by highlands called beyts, above the monsoon flood mark where scrub flora and grasslands offer a refuge to wildlife.
This is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India, spanning some 4950 sq ft in area, and comprising a range habitats from saline desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes.
This is the only home for the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, which is the member of wild horse family.
These animals are tall,
chestnut brown and white in color, and are exceptionally fast. They does not survive elsewhere in Indian lowlands, but also supports a thriving population of gazelle, blue bull, wolf, and Indian foxes, jackal, jungle cat,
and hare. Birds include the houbara bustard, spotted & Indian
sand grouse, francolin partridge, bustard quails, desert wheatear, desert , larks, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, short-toed eagle, 5 of vulture, laggar falcon etc to flamingoes, pelicans,
ducks, cranes and storks. The 11th century sandstone of Jhinjwada, historic walled town of Mandal, Rajput at Patdi, intricate temples around Munsar tank at Viragam and Darbargadh of Dasada can be visited on the way from to the Rann of Kutch.
Indian wild ass, panther, Black buck, Chinkaras, Blue bull, Jackals, wild boar, Ghudkhur and rare birds Houbara Bustard, Falcons, Larks are the others who can be seen in this sanctuary.
Accommodation: Government guest house in Dhrangadra, Aram Garh dasada, Fatima Manzil at Dasada.
How to get there: The Rann of Kutch is accessible via Dasada village, 93 kms from Ahmedabad.
Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Spread out over 56 sq km, Ratanmahal—on the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border—is the only exclusive slothbear sanctuary in Gujarat.
The River Panam criss-crosses beautiful small hamlets on the foothills of this sanctuary; lush green and thick woods full of natural goodness.
Kanjeta nestles at 230 metres above main sea level, offering a variety in terms of flora and fauna. Sloth bears (57 as per the latest census), panthers (9), large-size monkeys (900), langoors (800), jackals (100), antelopes (four) and hyenas (8), besides others numerous jungle cats, foxes, honey badgers, hare, porcupines and reptiles.
Accommodation: PWD rest house and other hotels and lodges at Baria.
How to get there: About 47 kms from Piplod.
Velavadar National Park (Blackbuck National Park)
Black Buck N.P. Velavadhar in the Bhal region of Saurashtra.
The only tropical grassland in India to be given the status of a national park, Velavadar National Park is a 36 km patch of Savannah type grasslands and thorn scrub.
The park is set between two rivers, a few miles from the Gulf of Cambay sea coast.
The rich soil is believed to have origins in the sea. The principal attraction of the park is the massive population of blackbuck, the handsome Indian antelope, seen here in numbers running into thousands.
The blackbuck is endemic to India and is rated among the most elegant antelopes and the fastest animals over a long distance.
During the rule of the Maharajahs of Bhavnagar, Velavadar was harvested for grass to feed the royal cattle herds and the antelope were protected except for an
occasional hunting camp. This is where His Highness Krishnakumar Sinhji coursed blackbucks using cheetahs and flew falcons.
Velavadar is one of the few places in the world where the wolf population is proliferating.
The wolf is the prime predator of Velavadar national park. Other mammals seen in Velavadar are fox, jackal, jungle cat, wild pig, hare and rodents.
The
bird life is extensive. Sandgrouse, larks and other grasslands are seen in fair numbers.
The harrier roost at Velavadar national park is one of the largest in the world.
Accommodation: Tourist Lodge at the Park. (Advanced notice needed)
How to get there: By road : 4 hours(180 kms), trains to Bhavnagar 50 kms from Velavadar.
References:
http://www.webindia123.com/
http://www.travelmasti.com/
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