Gujarat : Major cities and Tourist places

Dwarka

Living within the spirit of devout enlightenment, the city of Dwarka in Gujarat is the abode of Lord Krishna. Highly revered in Hindu mythology, the sacred city boasts of numerous sacred shrines which are scattered all over the city.

The Indian government has conceived a scheme called HRIDAY (i.e. Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana) for twelve cities of archaeological importance in India, and Dwarka – one of the seven oldest religious cities (sapt puris) in the country, is a part of it. Dwarka is home to important temples like the Rukmini Devi Mandir, Gomti Ghat, etc. The famous Dwarkadhish Mandir houses the Dwarka Math (Monastery), one of the four religious centres (i.e. char dham). Near the city is an island called Bet Dwarka where the family of Lord Krishna is said to have once lived. There is a lighthouse on the seashore. In 2001, it was reported that artifacts about a submerged city near the Gulf of Cambay had been discovered.

Bhuj

Bhuj in Gujarat in India was founded by Maharao Hamir, a local ruler in the year 1510. In 1723, the local rulers of the city built the walls around the city. The city boasts of its status as an independent princely during the British rule. Bhuj is known for its traditional Katchi style of architecture and a Tour to Bhuj gives the tourist an opportunity to explore this architectural form in its true sense. The historical buildings present in the cities makes a tour to Bhuj more interesting.

Tourist attractions comprises of Aina Mahal, Kuchch Museum, Sarad Bagh Palace, Swaminarayan Temple, Bharatiya Sanskriti Darshan Kachch (folk museum), Prag Mahal (New Palace) and the Cenotaph Complex.

Bhuj has a healthy mix of ancient picturesque temples and wildlife sanctuaries in the backdrop of lofty hills. Bhuj is known for its interesting mix of flora and fauna, serene ambience, beautiful lakes and hills and exquisite monuments. Important places are the Kutch Desert sanctuary, the Swami Narayan Temple, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, and the Hamirsar Lake. The Prag Mahal, with its unique architecture, Gothic structure, and an old bell tower, is a major attraction in Bhuj. Chhatedi, an ancient but beautiful palace, near the Hamirsar lake, is the cenotaphs of rulers.

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, the 606 year old walled city, holds the distinction of being India’s First World Heritage City, an honor bestowed upon it by UNESCO for being a repository of art, history, culture and heritage. Ahmedabad in Gujarat is one of the medieval cities which is famous for its historical monuments and attracts tourists from all over the world. It is the perfect destination for tourists who wish to discover the medieval art and architecture in India. Having gone under the rule of several dynasties and emperors, it possesses a glorious legacy and heritage. Museums and art galleries, historic structures which reflect architectural excellence, bustling markets and traditional cuisines, this city showcases its heritage on various fronts.
Ahmedabad in Gujarat in India was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the year 1411 and is noted for its ancient historical monuments. The city of Ahmedabad has still preserved its vintage charm and glory in its towering monuments that reflect the magnificence of the bygone era. Ahmedabad, the World Heritage City, is also renowned for being the place where Mahatma Gandhi initiated the struggle for India’s freedom. Sabarmati Ashram, located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, draws thousands of tourists who are desirous of catching a glimpse of the life and times of Gandhi. A library housed in the ashram premises showcases the various aspects of the Mahatma’s life.
During the Mughal rule of Akbar, Ahmedabad was annexed to the Mughal Empire. It was a flourishing business center during that time. Later on, with the advent of the British, it came under the rule of British Raj in the year 1818 and gradually emerged as the center of a large number of textile mills in Gujarat. This city also boasts a strong tradition of Hindu-Muslim unity, much of which is visible in the numerous Indo-Islamic architecture scattered across the city. There are a number of tourist attractions in Ahmedabad which attract visitors in large numbers. On your Tour to Ahmedabad Gujarat, you should plan a trip to these tourist places in Ahmedabad.
From Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram to the remnants of the historical tombs of Ahmad Shah and his queens, the beauty of Ahmedabad lies in its history and incredible architectural marvels. One such architecture is the Teen Darwaza, which possesses the longest getaways in the city. Comprising of wonderful arched gates, intricate carvings and semi-circular shaped windows adorned with “jaali’ work, it’s admired both for its brilliant aesthetics and the historical legacy associated with it. The Siddi Bashir Mosque, which is also called the Shaking Minaret or Jhulta Minar, is another attraction of the city. It is three stories high and is noted for its carved stone balconies. It is believed that by applying a little force to the minarets, it can be moved a little. Besides this, there is Rani Rupmati’s mosque, which is also quite famous for its intricately designed minarets and unique architecture.
The historic structures in this city also reflect the city’s glorious past and serve as constant reminders of the triumphs and glories achieved in the past. There is the Bhadra Fort, which enchants the visitor at first sight. It houses within its premises a magnificent palace, a Bhadrakali Temple in honor of the Hindu Goddess Bhadra, who is a different form of Goddess Kali. On its eastern side lies the Teen Darwaza, which is yet another tourist attraction. Sarkhej Roza, a mosque and tomb situated in the Makarba area of the city, showcases fine Islamic architecture from the Mughal era. Surkhej,a religious mortuary complex, it was originally a royal retreat where kings and royal people spent most of their time.

Kankaria Lake is where the people of Ahmedabad head to when they seek to escape the hullabaloo of city life. A garden-themed restaurant by the name of Nagina Lake is situated in the heart of the lake. A host of other facilities and amenities intended for entertainment

Somnath

Somnath – this beautiful beach destination in Gujarat is best known for its shore temple. The temple is a magnificent structure that enshrines one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Though not as renowned as this temple, Somnath is home to numerous other tourist attractions.

The name Somnath is derived from another description of Lord Shiva which translates to ‘Lord of the Soma’. Somnath, however, isn’t just known for the temple but also for the beautiful beaches within the vicinity too. Somnath is a small easy going town with mostly pilgrims coming here year round and in numbers for certain festivals such as Mahashivratri.

Surat

Surat, formerly known as Suryapur, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is a major industrial hub for textile and diamond cutting and polishing industry. Surat is world famous for its textiles, ivory handicrafts, embroidery, and jewelry. Silver and gold jewelry crafted in Surat are sought after all over the world. Beneath all the grandeur as a business and financial hub lies a city of great historical significance and glory.

This city has many historical buildings which are quite captivating. Surat Castle, Chintamani Jain Temple, Parsi Agiari, Marjan Shami Roza, Vir Narmad Saraswati Mandir, Navsari, Bilimora, and Udvada are some of the important sites to visit in Surat. A wide-ranging network of roads connects Surat to the important cities in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.

Vadodara

Vadodara a.k.a. Baroda, a city in the state of Gujarat, is a burgeoning, industrial and educational hub with a confluence of traditional and contemporary influences. Vadodara is home to magnificent palaces such as the Laxmi Vilas Palace, Makarpura Palace, Nazarbaug Palace and Pratap Vilas Palace.

Vadodara owes this name to its gardens and parks namely Sayaji Baug and Kamati Baug. Go back in time with historical monuments like Hazira Maqbara, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tambekar Wada, archaeological sites like Chhota Udaipur and Dabhoi. Art aficionados should stop over at Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum and Darbar Hall. Those keen on academia will like Maharaja Sayajirao University, the largest university in the state. Sursagar Lake, Ajwa Lake, and Sayaji Sarovar Lake are picturesque spots.

Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat, stands as a fine example of a well-planned city that has led it to be known as The Heart of Gujarat. Named after the father of the nation, it is very different from an average Indian city. It has been divided into thirty sectors, and each sector comprises shopping and community centres, primary schools, health centres, government and private housing. Here, streets are numbered and have cross streets named in letters of the Devanagari alphabet. At every crossing, rotaries decrease the speed of traffic. The government, industrial, educational and commercial areas have been located in such a way that the total volume of traffic is well distributed within the city. Even the wind direction was considered before demarcation. Parks, extensive plantation, and a recreational area have been created along the river Sabarmati. Arguably the green capital of India, Gandhinagar has the maximum number of trees.

One of the famous Tourist Attractions of Gandhinagar is the Akshardham Temple which runs under the banner of the Swaminarayan Sect. The forts and the monuments, the gardens and the holy places in Gandhinagar comprise the famous tourist attractions of Gandhinagar. the Gandhi Ashram in Gandhinagar is a must while people are on a Tours to Gandhinagar. This is the house where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his lifetime.

Rajkot

Once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra, Rajkot is now an important industrial city of the West Indian state of Gujarat. This quickly growing commercial city is located in the heart of the Kathiawar Peninsula, around 72 kms from the Gulf of Kutch. It is also popular as the place where Mahatma Gandhi had spent the initial years of his life and gained early education from a school that is renamed after him as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi School, formerly known as Alfred High School – a prime attraction. Home to some striking gardens, ashrams, lakes and temples, Rajkot is also quite popular for its handicraft items, jewelry market and special tie and dye or Bandhani, a beautiful cloth material. Opt for a tour to Rajkot, if you want to explore the best of this city.

This multicultural city is fondly known as ‘Rangilu Rajkot’ (translation Colorful Rajkot) and is a perfect mix of tradition and modernity. It comes alive during the days of Navrateri when Garbaa Raas is performed by all. Garba is a popular dance form that is equally popular among men and women. Lok Mela, another public fair, is held every year during the Janmashtami festival and is a major crowd puller. The people of the city are extremely friendly and lively. Most of the markets and eating joints are open till midnight.

Jamnagar

Jamnagar, which literally translates to mean ‘ Town of the Kings’ , is a city in the district of Jamnagar, in the state of Gujarat. The city of Jamnagar was itself renamed as a mark of respect to the traditional rulers of the city, who were always known by their hereditary title of Jam Rawal, the first ruler of Jamnagar who had founded the city in 1540. Owing to its rich history, it comes as no surprise that the city is home to at least three palaces ‘ the Darbargadh Palace, the Pratap Vilas Palace, and the Lakhota Palace. The Lakhota Palace is more of a fort and home to a beautiful museum.

The Khijadia Bird Sanctuary is home to several bird species and makes for an interesting tourist attraction in Jamnagar. The sanctuary houses a variety of eagles, hawks, and falcons. Several avid bird watchers visit to catch a glimpse of exotic species such as the Great Crested Grebe, Purple Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, and Pheasant-tailed Jacana.

Sasangir

Located at a distance of 60 km from the town of Junagarh, India, Gir National Park is one of the few places in the world besides Africa where is the majestic presence of the Asiatic Lion. It was established as an initiative to preserve the almost extinct species of this rare carnivore and has been continuing to do so, efficiently. The exotic flora of this national park provides habitat to nearly 200 species of birds, including the endangered Long-billed Vulture. Kamleshwar reservoir, which is the largest one in the forest, is home to about 40 species of reptiles and amphibians, such as the King Cobra. These forests are also known to house the world’ s only four-horned antelope- the Chowsingha.

Junagarh

Steeped in the history, Junagarh is situated in a district having the same name in the state of Gujrat. The city’ s name can be translated to ‘ old fort.’ It was also termed as ‘ Yonagadh,’ which means ‘ City of the Greeks,’ as it was once ruled by the Greeks. The attraction that tops the list of must-visit places in Junagadh is the Uperkot Fort. The Buddhist Caves, Adi-Kadi Vav, and Jamia Masjid are places within the fort. Other exciting tourist attractions cover the tombs of the Nawabs of the Babi Dynasty, The Darbar Hall Museum and The Sakkarbaug Zoo. Established by Nawab Sahib Muhammad Mahabat Khan in1863, the zoo is home to asiatic lions and other animals and is one of India’s oldest zoos.

Bharuch

Bharuch in Gujarat is an ancient town with a 2000 year history located at the mouth of River Narmada. It is acclaimed to be the oldest seaports which prospered in the 1st century AD. As per the history, Bharuch came under the rule of the Solanki rajputs much later. The city got its name ‘Bhrigukachba’ from the Temple of Bhrigu Rishi, the name later shortened to Bharuch. Today the city is well known for its textile mills and long staple cotton. Bharuch tour is educational, informative and very inspiring.

From the blessed river of Narmada to the Golden Bridge, the district has a wide choice of tourist attractions.

As one of the most industrialized districts of Gujarat, Bharuch is swiftly advancing towards a prosperous phase of development.

Lothal

Located around 80 kilometers from Ahmedabad, Lothal is the place where the archaeologists discovered the remnants of the Harappan civilization. In the year 1955, archeologists discovered the remnants of an ancient city in Lothal, Gujarat.
During the prehistoric times Lothal was an important port on the subcontinent during the 2nd millennium B.C. Archaeologists excavated a dockyard in the site which shows that the ancient city carried maritime trade during that time as it was close to the Arabian Sea. This was one of the unique lock gated dockyard which is one of the greatest maritime architecture to be discovered from the ancient world.
The citadel is separated by an acropolis and the city has its own paved baths, residential quarters, coppersmith workshops and bead factories as well.

Little Run of Kutch

Little Rann of Kutch proudly boasts of being one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India. It sprawls over some 4950 sq ft in area. It is the abode of saline desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky and thorn scrubs, lakes and swamps. There are many other species of the wildlife that include chinkara, wolves, gerbils etc. There are various species of beautiful birds that have their habitat in this sanctuary.

Modhera

Located in the state of Gujarat, Modhera is a small town known for its temples and religious significance. Situated about 106 kilometers from Ahmedabad, Modhera is famous for its Sun temple and the three day Modhera Dance Festival. Modhera has been known by many names in its long history. The small town is an important dot on the tourist map, a destination visited by large number of tourists every year.
The 11th century, Modhera Sun temple is the most prominent attraction of the destination. The temple was constructed during the reign of the Solanki Dynasty under the orders of King Bhimdev.
The temple also features a beautiful garden and is situated near the banks of the river Pushpawati. The temple’s walls are decorated with carvings and there are a lot of various interesting statues of gods and goddesses. In addition, the temple also comprises three elements, which include Guda Mandap, Surya Kund and Sabha Mandap.
Besides its architecture, the temple is also famous for the Modhera Dance Festival, which is held every year in the month of January. Organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, this festival is designed to present to the world the different forms of classical dance in their original forms.

Champaner and Pavagadh

Champaner is quite popular for the fort it houses, at the foothills of Pavagadh. The town of Champaner has got its name from the Champa tree or from Champaraj who founded the town. Later, Muhammad Begada changed its name to Muhammadabad since he wanted this town to be his capital and it was in the year 1484 AD. There are a lot of ancient edifices that were built during the rise of this town. The town is populated with bazaars, town squares, Royal Gardens and water structures, including mosques. Travel to Champaner and Pavagadh would also take you to the popular hubs for fine silk, woven and dyed textile and sword manufacturing. The old monuments, archaeological sites and the various places of excavations stand testimony to the rule of the Mughals and British that this town was subjected to.
This sprawling town is dotted with vestiges of fort walls, ruined tombs, gardens, arches, pillars and wells.

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