Gujarat – Vibrant Gujarat

Gujrat – situated on the western coast of India with a coastline of 1,600 kms. It is the 5thlargest state by area and 9^th largest by population. Gujarat state shares borders with Rajasthan to the North-east, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu to the South, Maharashtra to the SouthEast, Madhya Pradesh to the East, Arabian Sea and the Pakistani province of Sindh to the West.

Gujrat State has so much to offer for tourism. Gujarat include UNESCO Heritage sites, religious and historical sites, wildlife sanctuaries with Asiatic lions, Jyotirlinga, Char Dham Temples, museums, white desert - Rann of Kutch, Statue of Unity and Gandhi Ashram. Gujrat state is birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

There are a lot of Museums and memorials in Gujrat. Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery and Maharaja Fateh Singh Museumin Vadodara. The Kirti Mandir, Porbandar, Sabarmati Ashram, and Kaba Gandhi No Delo are museums related to Mahatma Gandhi. Kutch Museum in Bhuj – founded in 1877 which is the oldest museum and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial in Ahmedabad. In October 2018, the world's tallest statue commemorating the independence leader Sardar Patel was unveiled. At 182 metres tall the Statue of Unity is the newest tourist attraction in Gujrat. There are many heritage sites, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Rani kiVav, Champaner&Pavagadh Archaeological Park & Ahmedabad World Heritage City. Other famous heritage tourism sites are Laxmi Vilas Palace, Rani kiVav and Modhera Sun Temple.

Gir National Park is famous for Asiatic lions and other wildlife. Also, there are 04 National Parks & 21 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Gujrat.

The beaches in Gujarat are much beautiful and its 1600 kms shoreline is sprinkled with beautiful beaches. Many beaches have nearby Tamples such as Somnath Temple and Koteshwar Temple.

Archaeological and Heritage tourism

The Gujarat state has rich history and famous for heritage tourism. You can find a variety of historic forts, palaces, mosques, temples, and places of historical importance. Famous heritage tourism sites are Laxmi Vilas Palace, Rani ki Vav and Modhera Sun Temple. Of these, Rani ki Vav, Champaner&Pavagadh Archaeological Park & Ahmedabad World Heritage City are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some of these palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels to keep tourists close to the vibrant history of Gujarat. World heritage sites like Lothal, Dholavira and Champaner are also located within Gujarat.

Wildlife Tourism

Gujarat is home for the world's rarest as well large number of fauna and flora. Some of the fauna includes Asiatic lions, wild ass, blackbuck, bears, monkeys, nilgai, paradise flycatcher, chinkara, dolphins, whale shark and migratory birds like flamingos, pelican, and storks. Whereas flora includes species of Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Salai, Khakro, Ber, Asundro and Bordi. There are 04 National Parks & 21 Wildlife Sanctuaries of Gujarat. Gir National Park is famous for Asiatic lion. The rich biodiversity of wildlife reserves is characterised by scenic landscapes, dense forests, mountain streams, waterfalls and rivers.

Gujarat has some of India's most accessible wetlands, which are hotspots for bird watching. The famous bird watching destinations in Gujarat are Rann of Kutch, Nakhatrana, Jamnagar, Velvadar and SasanGir, Khijadiya Bird, Thol Lake, Nalsarovar, Porbandar, Velavadar and The Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary.

Beach Tourism

The beaches in Gujarat are as beautiful as any other in India. Some of these beaches have a temple located nearby. Tranquillity and spiritual aura infuse them in equal measure. Two famous temples located just beside the shore are Somnath Temple and Koteshwar Temple.

Wellness Tourism

Gujarat state is gaining popularity for Ayurveda based wellness tourism. There are several spa and Ayurveda resorts where you can enjoy a relaxing Swedish massage, Panchkarma& other kinds of treatments.

Fairs & Festivals

Gujarat is synonymous to its fairs & festivals. Beautifully choreographed dances such as Garba - Dhandiya, colourful and lively folk-dance performances make it memorable for tourists. The famous fairs and festivals in Gujarat are Navratri Festival, Rann Utsav and Dang Darbar Fair.

Capital: Gandhinagar, Location: West India

Best time to visit:

October to May is the best time to visit Gujarat for its fine beaches.

Why visit Gujarat?

For its rich heritage, Architectures, buildings, fairs & festivals, Kite Festival and much more.

Most Visited Tourist Destinations of Gujarat

• Ahmedabad :Ahmedabad, founded in 1411, is a UNESCO World Heritage City. The old city comprises pols, narrow streets, chabutaras for feeding birds & secret passages. Sabarmati Ashram is another attraction.
• Junagadh : Visit the city of Junagadh to visit the Buddhist Cave groups, Gir National Park, Somnath Temple, MahabatMaqbara Temple, DamodarKund and Junagadh Museum.
• Gandhinagar : Gandhinagar is a treasure trove of sightseeing attractions. Visit the Indroda Dinosaur & Fossil Park, Dandi Kutir Museum and Adalaj Trimandir.
• Vadodara : Visit the 19th century Laxmi Vilas Palace, enjoy golfing, visit 140 years old Tambekar Wada and the 18th century Sursagar Lake & Maharaja Fatehsingh Museum.
• Kutch : Kutch is a top tourist attraction for one of the world's largest salt deserts: Great Rann of Kutch. Watch how Nirona painting is done. There are heritage sites, beaches & famous Prag Mahal museum.
• Jamnagar : Stretched out on the coast, Jamnagar is famous for the Ranmal Lake, BhujiyoKotho, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Khambhalia Gate & European styled arcaded Willingdon Crescent.
• Surat : Surat is a curious mix of Parsi agiaris, European tombs, carved mosques and colonial houses. Surat Castle, Sneh Rashmi Botanical Garden &Suvali Beach are top attractions.
• Bhavnagar : Bhavnagar was once a princely state. The top tourist attractions in the city are BrahmKund, Takhteshwar Temple, Gandhi Smriti, Mahuva Beach and Velavadar Blackbuck National Park.
• Saputara : It is the only hill station in Gujarat. Some of the tourist attractions of Saputara are Lake Garden, Rose Garden, Honey Bees Center, Gira Waterfalls, Gandhi Shikhar and Sunrise Point.
• Great Rann of Kutch : It is one of the world's largest white salt deserts. It's best visited during Rann Utsav, celebrated between November and March. The event is marked by camel safaris & traditional handicrafts.