 | Adalaj Wav
About 19 kms. north of Ahmedabad this stepwell is an architectural wonder built by Queen Rudabai and is certainly one of the finest monuments of Gujarat. It is a seven-storied structure in the form of a well with chambers one behind the other. |
| Akshardham
Akshardham, the highlight of Gandhinagar houses a beautiful Swaminarayan temple, with a theme park containing tableaux of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The village Pethapur outside Gandhinagar is known for its woodcarving and traditional textile block printing. |
| Ambaji
Situated on the Arasur hill near Mount Abu, Ambaji is one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Gujarat, built of the finest quality of marble. It is the principal shrine of the goddess-Amba and is recognised as one of the original Shakti Pithas. |
| Baroda
Baroda, the City of Palaces has often been called the cultural capital of Gujarat and is filled with relics of it's princely past. It is also one of the corporate capitals with IPCL, ONGC and other major industries. There are numerous national and multi-national projects also coming up. |
| Calico Museum
Ahmedabad houses one of the finest textile museums in the world in one of Gujarat's famous carved wooden havelis. The museum displays a magnificent collection of rare textiles dating back to the 17th century. There is also an excellent reference library on textiles. |
| Cambay
Cambay is an old seaport to the southwest of Ahmedabad about 92 kms. During the Mughal era this region was called Cambay and was one of the important port and trading centers in India. |
| Chorwad Beach
Chorwad is a quaint little beach village about 66 kms. from Junagadh and the only beach in India where one can live in the timeless splendour of a palace built by the former Nawabs of Junagadh. It is ideal for weekend getaways and family picnics. |
| Dada Hari Vav (Stepped Well)
Gujarat's step wells or baolis are strange and unique and the Dada Hari Well built in 1499 is a magnificent masterpiece representing the typical Gujarati style of architecture. Entirely underground, they were built to overcome heat and dust. Behind the well is the tomb of Dada Hari. |
| Dakor
Dakor is a temple town dedicated to Lord Krishna, about 50 kms. from Vadodara. The temple with a striking image of Lord Krishna is the temple of Ranchodare, belonging to the golden period of Dwarks. The temple houses a tank containing several species of turtles regularly fed by the pilgrims. |
| Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, the modern capital of Gujarat, was named after the father of the Nation. Lying on the banks of river Sabarmati it is the second planned city in India after Chandigarh. The famous Swaminarayan temple is also built in Gandhinagar. |
| Gandhi Ashram
The Gandhi Ashram situated alongside the Sabarmati River, was the nerve center for the Indian Freedom movement. The beautiful ashram complex with its shady trees offers a refuge from the loud streets of the city. There is a museum inside the Ashram complex. |
| Gir Forest & Sanctuary
Located about 50 kms from Junagadh is the Gir Forest, the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. This sight can be enjoyed on a guided jeep tour. One can also see animals like Chital, Nilgai, Sambar, Black Buck, Chinkara, Wild Pig, and Jackal etc. |
| Hatheesing Jain Temple
A rich Jain merchant built this temple outside Delhi Gate in 1850. It is built of pure white marble and profusely decorated with rich carvings, dedicated to Dharamnath, the 15th Jina or Jain apostle. |
| Hussain-Doshi's Gufa
Popularly known as Amdavad ni Gufa it is an underground art gallery housing the collaborative effort of artist M. F. Hussain and the architect B. V. Doshi. This marvel of contemporary architecture was constructed using computer aided design and tribal initiative, adding a new dimension to viewing art. |
| Jama Masjid
Located in the centre of the old city, this congregational mosque was built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423. Built in yellow sandstone, it combines the best of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture, standing on 260 pillars supporting 15 domes at varying elevations. |
| Jamnagar
Jamnagar, historically called Nawanagar, or the new city, was one of the most important princely states of Saurashtra. It is about 310 kms from Ahmedabad via Rajkot and is often called Chotta Kashi or Benares, for it's innumerable Hindu and Jain temples. It is known for its tie-&-dye work on fabrics, silken & gold embroidery. |
| Kandla
Kandla, a major seaport about 380 kms from Ahmedabad has single point mooring facilities with a free trade zone. The monument of Mahatma Gandhi and Nirva Siteshwar Mahadev Temple are places of interest. |
| Kankaria Lake
One of the best places to witness the sunset in Ahmedabad is the artificial lake of Kankaria constructed in 1451. It attracts good bird life and has an island garden, called Nagina wadi. |
| Lakshmi Villas Palace
The Royal Family's residence is an extravagant building in Indo- Saracenic style. |
| Lothal
About 82 kms from Ahmedabad, this ancient city offers an incredible insight into one of the world's oldest urban cultures and the largest civilisation of it's time-the Indus valley civilization or Harappan culture. |
| Mahudi
This is a small village near Kalol 78 kms from Ahmedabad famous for Jinalaya of Ghantakarna Mahavir and Kotyark temple. There are thousands of people from different religions offering prayers besides Jain devotees. The temple's prasad-Sukhadi is not to be taken outside the temple. |
| Modhera
The Sun Temple (dedicated to the Sun God) is one of the finest examples of Indian temple architecture, built in 1026 A.D. It has spectacular carvings, fine architecture and traditional erotic sculpture. |
| Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary
About 60 kms. from Ahmedabad, is the delightful bird sanctuary visited by millions of magnificently coloured birds in winter and spring. It harbours over 250 species of wetland birds. Winter migrants from the north including Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons visit Nal Sarovar. |
| Nazarbaug Palace
This palace was built in old classical style, used on ceremonial occasions by the Gaekwads. The royal Family heirlooms are on display. |
| Palitana
Amongst all the Jain temples, Palitana temples are considered to be the most sacred. Located on Shetrunjaya hills there are 863 temples, exquisitely carved in marble. No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. |
| Patan
Patan located around 130 kms. from Ahmedabad, is rich in architectural marvels like the 11th century Rani-ki-wav step well and numerous temples, and textiles like the Patola silk sarees and Mushroo weaving, originating from the time of royalty. |
| Pavagadh
a mountain, the holy Hindu and Jain temples on the pinnacle and the medieval Islamic citadel of Champaner in the plains. It also offers fine hilly sceneries, lakes, the picturesque cable car ride and opportunities for trekking and rock climbing. |
| Pols
Pol (pronounced "pole") is derived from the Sanskrit word pratoli meaning entrance to an enclosed area. It is a housing cluster comprising many families of a particular group, linked by caste, profession, or religion. |
| Porbander
Porbander the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi situated about 395 kms from Ahmedabad is a picturesque seaport on the Arabian Sea, known as "White City" because of its white stone construction. Gandhiji's Kirti Mandir, Sudama Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Planetarium, and Chowpati are other places of interest |
| Pratap Villas Palace
The Pratap Villas built, as the residence of the royal family, is an extravagant and flamboyant building in the Indo - Sarcenic style, housing a collection of old armory and sculptures in bronze, marble & terra cotta. |
| Rajkot
The Rajput Chief Kunwar Vibhuji founded Rajkot, the former Capital of the princely state of Saurashtra in the 16th century. It is famous for its Bandhani Sarees, mirror-work, patchwork, beadwork and silk embroidery. |
| Rani Rupmati's Mosque
Named after the Hindu wife of Sultan Mehmed Beghara, this mosque was built between 1430 to 1440 A. D. having three domes supported by pillars with the central dome slightly elevated to allow natural light into the mosque. The tomb of Rani Rupmati is next to it. |
| Rani Sipri Mosque
Queen of Mahmud Shah Begda built this beautiful mosque in 1514. After the death of Rani Sipri, she was buried in the premises of the mosque. |
| Sarkhej Roza
The Sarkhej Roza is an elegant architectural creation remarkable for the use of pierced stone trellises and complete absence of arches. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal retreat. |
| Siddi Bashir Mosque (Shaking Minarets)
The Sarkhej Roza is an elegant architectural creation remarkable for the use of pierced stone trellises and complete absence of arches. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal retreat. |
| Sidi Sayed Jhali
The most famous mosque in Ahmedabad is Sidi Sayed Mosque, acclaimed for it's splendid Jhali screen, framed, in the ten semi-circular windows. It is a superb example of delicate carving that transforms atone into filigree. |
| Somnath
Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of lord Shiva, offering a holy pilgrimage, a beach holiday and a number of places of historic, religious or scenic importance. The temple has imposing architecture, a 50-meter high shikara tower and a pretty Nandi. |
| Surat
Situated on the banks of river Tapi, Surat is a major industrial center with many textile mills. It was a great port city during the Mughal region from where pilgrims sailed to Mecca. It is famous for zari and brocades and is an important diamond-cutting center. |
| Teen Darwaza
The Teen Darwaja, the triple arched gateway was originally meant to serve as the royal entrance to the Royal Square. It was a trio of massive arches, from where emperor Jehangir and Noor Jehan used to watch the processions from the palace to the Jama Masjid. |
| The Baroda Museum
The Baroda museum and art gallery and the Maharaja Fateh Sigh Museum have excellent artwork collections by Indian artists and European Masters of Mughal miniatures and valuable palm leaf manuscripts of Buddhist and Jain origin. |
| Kachchh
Kachchh is a fascinating land and no visit to Gujarat is complete without a sojourn to this peninsular district, well known for its wild ass sanctuary. It is known for producing exquisite handicrafts like embroidery, tie die fabrics, enameled silverware and other handicrafts. The great Rann of Kachchh is also a breeding ground for the flamingo, pelican and avocet species of birds. |
