|
GUJARAT
| FACTS & FIGURES |
| Area |
196,024 sq. km |
| Population |
64.7 million |
| Capital |
Gandhinagar |
| Languages |
Gujarati |
| Best Season |
October to March |
Introduction
The state of Gujarat, rightly called the Jewel in the West, has
something for everyone. You could visit Gujarat for a quiet wildlife
getaway in Gir, for a relaxed sun and sand holiday on Gopnath’s
beaches, a fabulously enriching sightseeing experience at the 863
Jain temple cluster in Palitana or a visit to a dinosaur egg hatchery
at Raiyoli. Gujarat’s picturesque coastline offers a number
of opportunities for watersports, while its varied habitats provide
for unique wildlife viewing opportunities in its sanctuaries. The
states is also home to the Mahatma’s legacy - from Porbander,
where he was born, to Rajkot, Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Gandhi
Ashram to the salt beaches of Dandi. A journey through Gujarat provides
for a complete experience with something on offer for every kind
of tourist.
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad has been known for its textiles, trade and commerce for
a thousand years. Today, the city is home to big corporate houses.
A must see is the Juma Masjid with it’s hall supported by slim
columns and intricate jali screens. The Sayad Sidi mosque known
for it’s maze of traceries, the Sidi Bashir mosque, one of
the few with the famous shaking minarets still inact.
 The
Adalaj Vav is the best-preserved stepwell in Gujarat. In the walled
city, look for the famous wooden architecture and carvings in the
haveli - lined lanes called pols, the 15th century Badhra Fort enclosing
the 17th century Mughal period palace, and the historic gates like
the Teen Darwaja.
Modern day Ahmedabad is a city of museums, with a collection of
textiles made for Indonesian, Portuguese and the East India Company
among other collections at the Calico museum.
Access
Air : International and domestic airlines connecting Mumbai,
Delhi, Chennai , Kolkata, Bangalore and other major centres of India.
Rail : Ahmedabad is linked by rail to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur,
Udaipur, Kolkata, Chennai and other major tourist centres.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and
Rajasthan. It is 555 km from Mumbai and 1076 km from Delhi via Udaipur
and Jaipur.
Vadodra
 Vadodra
has often called the cultural capital of Gujarat and is fast becoming
a corporate capital as well. Like Hyderabad and Mysore, Vadodra
still has a mighty hangover of its powerful dynastic rulers, the
Gaekwads.It is called the city of Palaces. The Laxmi Vilas, built
in the 1880s and 90s, is a marvellous work of eclectic architecture
with a mix of Islamic, Rajput, Maratha, Bengali, Gujarati. Near
the palace of the Motibagh Golf Club. The LalBagh Palace, with Baroque
facades and Renaissance domes, is now a Railway Staff Training College.
The Kirti Mandir has wall paintings by Nandlal Bose, and the Tambakarwada
Haveli has woodcarvings and murals. On the lighter side, take a
cable car ride to Pawagadh.
Access
Air : International and domestic airlines connecting Mumbai,
Delhi, Chennai , Kolkata, Bangalore and other major centres of India.
Rail : Ahmedabad is linked by rail to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur,
Udaipur, Kolkata, Chennai and other major tourist centres.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and
Rajasthan. It is 555 km from Mumbai and 1076 km from Delhi via Udaipur
and Jaipur.
Rajkot
 Rajkot
is one of the most commercial and industrial cities of Saurashtra.
This was Mahatma Gandhi’s childhood home and he went to school
here. The prime attraction is the Watson Museum, with a 19th century
Victoria Memorial statue, portraits and photographs of royal princess
of Saurashtra and European dignitaries.
Access
Air : Various airlines operate daily connecting Rajkot with
Mumbai.
Rail : Rajkot is a junction on the Western Railway on theVirangam
- Okha meter gauge line.
Road : State Transport buses and private luxury coaches various
centres of Gujarat. It is situated 798 KM from Mumbai via Ahmedabad,
101 Km from Junagadh, 193 KM from Porbander and 216 KM from Ahmedabad.
Bhavnagar
 The
city has associated with Mahatma Gandhi, who went to university
here, and relics of his life can be seen at Gandhi Smriti in the
1895 AD Barton Museum. Bhavnagar has myriad relics of its princely
rule like the Victoria Memorial and the Takth Sinhji hospital. Do
not miss the Takteshwar temple situated on an incline off one of
Bhavnagar’s busiest roads.
Access
Air : Various domestic airlines connect Mumbai and Surat.
Rail : On the Western Railway line , it is 761 km from Mumbai
via Ahmedabad and 788 km via Virangam.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat. It is situated 791 km from Mumbai via
Ahmedabad, 200 km from Ahmedabad via Sihor.
Junagadh
A former Nawabi capital, with palaces, minarets and colonial period
buildings. The Uparkot fort which rises from a hill, with old palaces
dominates Junagadh, a historic dynasty in 19470, Buddhist caves,
stepwells, tanks and moats.
Access
Air : Nearest airport is at Keshod, 40 km away which is connected
with Mumbai.
Rail : Chorwad road railway station on the Ahmedabad - Veraval
line.
Road : State Transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat. It is situated 393 km from Ahmedabad,
connected by state transport buses.
Somnath
Somnath, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, it offers a
holy pilgrimage. Veraval, the station for Somnath, was a Nawabi
port of Junagadh State. The picturesque dockyard is known for it’s
dhow building and fishing boats. Sardar Patel commissioned the present
incarnation of the temple in the 1950s.
Access
Air : Nearest airport is keshod, 47 kms, which is connected
with Mumbai.
Rail : Veraval, 5 km away is the nearest railway station.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centers at Gujarat.
Sasan Gir Forest & Sanctuary
 The
Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a mosaic of habitats
which combine to make it an exciting location to visit. This is
the world’s stronghold of the Asiatic lion, and has one of
the country’s largest panther populations. Interesting birds
seen here are the paradise flycatcher, grey drongo, grey and painted
francolin, painted sandgrouse, bush quail, crested hawk and serpent
eagle. Even the sight of a magnificent panther is not uncommon.
If you do not see the lion during game drives, the Gir semi - enclosed
zone offers a very good chance of seeing lion in its natural abode,
a cross - section of other wildlife and the different habitats of
the Gir jungle during the 20-minute safaris.
Access
Air : Nearest airport Keshod, 37 km.
Rail : Junagadh is a railhead on the Viramgam - Veraval section
of Western Railway and has a direct connection to Ahmedabad.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat. Junagadh is 327 km from Ahmedabad, 895
km from Mumbai, 101 km from Rajkot and 83 km from Veraval.
Jamnagar & Dwarka
Jamnagar, or the city of Jams, was one of the most important princely
states of Saurashtra. Today, the 200-km long Jamnagar coast is dotted
with several industries run by corporate giants in the region. Jamnagar
itself is a centre for the brass industry, bandhini fabrics and
zari work. The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, 30 minutes from the city,
is a pretty picnic spot.
 Dwarka,
one of the principal pilgrimage of Hinduism. Legend has it that
Lord Krishna moved to this coastal town to set up to capital. Marine
excavations off the Dwarka coast have revealed important evidences
of four ancient cities, which probably includes the Dwarawati of
the Krishna Lila. Another place of interest is the Nageshwar Mandir,
which is a Mahadev temple, with one of the 12 jyotirlingas in an
underground chamber.
Access
Air : Various domestic airlines connecting Mumbai.
Rail : On the Western Railway with direct connections to
Mumbai.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat, Jamnagar is 308 km from Ahmedabad via
Rajkot and 92 km from Rajkot.
Bhuj
 Bhuj,
at the head of the Kutch district, is one of the most enchanting
cities of India. With its old fort walls, intricate carved gates,
palaces, chattries of the royal family, lakes, temples, and bazaars.
The 18th century Aina Mahal has fine interior décor, with
beautiful courtyards and fountain - fed pleasure pools and mirror
mosaics. The modern Swaminarayan temple is one of the most colourful
sights in Bhuj. Don’ t miss visiting the Kutch Museum amd the
Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan. The 19th century Pragmahal Palace has
a magnificent darbar hall with Corinthian pillars, stained glass,
murals of characters from Shakespeare’s dramas and a clock
tower with views.
Access
Air : Various domestic airlines are available connecting
Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
Rail : Direct trains between Bhuj - Ahmedabad on metre gauge
line and for Mumbai on the broad gauge line from Gandhidham.
Road : State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect
various centres of Gujarat. Bhuj, is connected by state highway
upto Bhachau 85 km away and from Bhachau to Ahmedabad by national
Highway.
|
State
Express