LUXURY CAR, MINI BUS & COACH OPERATOR, AIR/HOTEL BOOKING, TOUR ORGANISER
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.
