Best Places to visit in Gujarat: Explore the Land of Culture & Heritage
Gujarat is a culturally vibrant and historically rich state located on the western coast of India, bordered by the Arabian Sea. Known as the land of legends, it’s the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. In this blog, we’ll explore the best places to visit in Gujarat that should definitely be on your travel bucket list.
Best Places to visit in Gujarat
Ahmedabad: The City of Heritage
Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. This city is the perfect blend of contrasts & charm. As India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, Ahmedabad is a living museum of Indo-Islamic architecture, vibrant textiles, and Gandhian legacy.
- Kankaria Lake
- Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram
- Shree Swaminarayan Temple
- Teen Darwaja
- Adalaj Stepwell
Dwarka: Ancient stories of Lord Krishna
Dwarka is an ancient city in Gujarat & famous pilgrimage destination for Hindus. The ancient Dwarkadhish temple is the main attraction of Dwarka. It is situated on the coastal side of the Arabian Sea. The Dwarka Beach & Lighthouse offer an enchanting view of the Arabian sea. One of the famous Jyotirlingas, Nageshwar, is also situated at Dwarka.
- Shree Dwarkadhish Temple
- Rukmini Devi Temple
- Bet Dwarka
- Gomti Ghat
- Sudama Setu
- Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
- Dwarka Beach & Lighthouse
Somnath: A Spiritual Retreat
Somnath is the first among 12 jyotirlingas of lord Shiva. Like Dwarka, it is also situated on the bank of the Arabian Sea. The temple was reconstructed several times due to multiple attacks that happened in the past, notably starting with an attack by Mahmud Ghazni in January 1026. After independence, the temple was reconstructed in 1951 under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister, symbolizing a new chapter of national pride. Today, Somnath is a major pilgrimage site visited by millions of people every year. It is a symbol of faith, strength, and devotion.
Porbandar: Story of Mahatma Gandhi
Porbandar is a coastal city in Gujarat, known for its’ rich culture, history, & freedom movement. It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. His ancestral home has been preserved as Kirti Mandir, a memorial dedicated to his life & techniques.
- Kirti Mandir
- Sudama Mandir
- Huzoor Palace
- Chowpatty Beach
- Porbandar Bird Sanctuary
Statue of Unity: Tribute to the “Iron Man of India”
Image Source: https://shorturl.at/FHDzl
The Statue of Unity becomes one of the main attractions in Gujarat nowadays. This world’s tallest statue is the tribute to famous Indian politician & renowned freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also known as the Iron Man of India. Patel played a significant role in the political integration of India. This statue has a height of 182 meters and is located at Narmada Valley, near Kevadia district, Gujarat. It was designed by Indian sculptor Ram V. Sutar & inaugurated by Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, on 31st October, 2018.
Rann Of Kutch: Where The Moon descends upon white sands
Image Source: https://shorturl.at/D8Qgz
The Rann of Kutch is a wonder of nature & famously known as World’s Largest Salt Desert. It is divided into two parts, Great Rann (To the North) & Little Rann (To the South). Little Rann is the home of endangered Wild Ass, also we found Nilgai, Wolves, Deer along with Flamingos & various species of birds all over the areas. People who live in Kutch known as “Kutchi” & they are famous for Colourful Embroidery, Pottery, Folk Music & Food. The well – known Rann Utsav starts in the month of November & continued till February. This is the best time to visit Kutch as well as Gujarat as winter offers pleasant weather to enjoy the festival.
Gir National Park: Home of Asiatic Lions
Gir National Park is the only place in the world outside Africa, where Asiatic lions can roam freely in their natural habitat. Among best places in Gujarat, Gir has always hold an important spot. Dry teak forests, rolling hills and Hiran & Shatrunji rivers define the landscape. Water sources like Kamleshwar Dam also support crocodile & aquatic birdlife.
- Open Seasons: Mid-October to Mid-June. Closed from Mid-June to Mid-September.
- Best Time: November – March offers cooler weather & higher wildlife activity, whereas April- May is ideal for sightings.
- Booking: Safaris need advance permits, so booking can be done from official website of Gir. Safari Gypsy costs Rs.2100+400 guide charge, and Indian permit Rs.800-1000/ site. ID proofs are mandatory for safaris and foreign visitors need passport.
Best time to visit Gujarat
Ideal time to visit Gujarat is during Winter (November- February). Winter offers pleasant weather to visit all places, also can enjoy safari at Gir.
Avoid Summer (March – June), as temperature gets very high & scorching heat makes impossible to go outside.
Monsoon (July – September) is very unpredictable and during that time Gir will remain closed.
How to Reach
- By Air: Ahmedabad is well connected by air all across the country.
- By Train: There are several direct trains to Ahmedabad from different states or can go via New Delhi.
