Top 10 Tourist Places in Gujarat There are many reasons to visit Gujarat, the coastal state situated in the western part of India. Its home to the Asiatic Lion, witnessed in all their glory at Gir National Park. It’s dotted with temples, mosques and other historical landmarks that take you back in time and shed light on its glorious past, with a history stretching back thousands of years. Gujarat is also home to many wonders of nature, such as the Rann of Kutch, the world’s largest salt desert.
If the traces of the past leave you captivated, wait until you see Gujarat’s wildlife. Through your ears, the roar of the Asian Lion echoes, while the sight of the feisty Blackbuck is pure joy. One also observes different eras of history, whether at the Lothal and Dholavira excavations or at the Sabarmati Ashram, from where many national revolutions were planned by Mahatma Gandhi. You’re missing out on an amazing experience if you haven’t visited Gujarat yet. Here are a couple of Gujarat’s beautiful tourist attractions and places to visit.
Ahmedabad
The seventh largest city in India is Ahmedabad, the commercial hub of Gujarat. This business centre of India has attracted many highly competitive trendsetters and tycoons, making the region highly developing, creative and investment-oriented. The city also boasts a lively cultural scene beyond the commercial persona of the Ahmedabad, featuring the eclectic influences of its Mughal origins, colonial connections and a pool of Gujarati people. There are also several tourist places to visit in Ahmedabad, such as Kankaria Lake, Sabarmati Ashram, Calico Textiles Museum, Hathee Singh Temple, Sarkhej Roza, etc.
Legends say Sultan Ahmed Shah owes its foundation to the city. Sultan Ahmed Shah encountered a warren of rabbits on the bank of the Sabarmati river while hunting. Surprisingly, the rabbits turned on their hounds fiercely and defended their home. Sultan Ahmed Shah constructed this area as his new capital and named it after himself, Ahmedabad, taking this as an auspicious sign. Ahmedabad has witnessed the rule of many rulers so far, beginning with Sultanate rulers in 1487, Mughal rulers in 1573, Maratha rulers in 1753, and was later taken over in 1818 by the East India Company. Gandhinagar was the capital of Gujarat until 1960.
Ahmedabad is a cultural melting point, a heady mix of Western and Indian influence. When one goes on a holiday to Ahmedabad, there is a fascinating mixture of locations. Ahmedabad is split into two sections by the Sabarmati River – the old city and the new Ahmedabad.
Surat
Located on the south bank of the River Tapi, Surat is a sign of the prosperity of Gujarat. The city is also a wonderful mix of different ethnicities which give its society and culture a unique flavour. If you are searching for the best places in Gujarat for sightseeing, then Surat is where you should be.
In Surat, there are many beaches, and others are located close by, where you can go with your friends and family. Some of these are, among others, Dandi Beach, Suvali Beach and Dumas Beach. This being Gujarat, of course, the imprints of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Country, are everywhere, and in Dandi in particular. This is where a pinch of salt was picked up and his Dandi March began. By visiting the European tombs, Mughalsarai and Surat Castle, among others, Surat’s wonderful heritage can be seen.
Vadodara
Vadodara is the third largest city in Gujarat, its “cultural capital” and the Vadodara district’s administrative headquarters. The enormous Pavagadh Hill, which is itself home to a number of Hindu and Jain shrines, overlooks the area.
Special experiences await you in Vadodara, with ecotourism being an example. Sursagar Talav and Vadhvana Wetland & Eco Campsite are the eco-touristic sites where you can observe the state’s flora and fauna while remaining close to nature. You can also see the heritage of the city by visiting its numerous museums, including the Museum of Vadodara, Sri Aurobindo Niwas and the Tribal Museum. Even, now the town has become the getaway to the Statue of Peace, the greatest statue in the world. The colossal portrait, dedicated to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is one of the impressive tourist sites in Gujarat and India as well. With well-customized tour packages to Vadodara, you can visit the most popular tourist attractions in Gujarat.
These are the most popular tourist attractions in Gujarat that you can visit and discover the different attractions it has to offer with Gujarat tour packages.
Bhuj
The term “steeped in history” was perhaps coined to refer specifically to Bhuj. Bhuj is a cultural potpourri and one of the best places to visit in Gujarat for cultural immersion, with connection to a number of civilizations starting from prehistoric times, the Mahabharata, Indus Valley and the times of Alexander the Great to the regional sultans, British and then modern India.
Aina Mahal (Mirror Palace), Parag Mahal, Kutch Museum with rare artefacts, ramakunf Stepwell and Hamirsar Lake are the main attractions in Bhuj. But Bhuj is more than just sightseeing, it’s the cultural experiences that attract the majority of foreign visitors, be it traditional handmade textiles and crafts, enamelled jewellery and cultural excursions to nearby villages.
Bhujodi is one such cultural side trip. Bhujodi is a village of weavers located 7 kilometres away from Bhuj. Yet another trip to the village is Ajrakhpur, a village of block printers situated 15 kilometres from the area. These trips give you the chance to meet craftsmen, see demonstrations, and purchase handicrafts.
Rajkot
Though traditional Kathiawari hospitality instantly wins your heart, Rajkot is full of life and vigour. Why should Rajkot visit you though? A visit to Rajkot shows you what it feels like to be a city full of energy, passion and vigour. You see the vibrant spirit when talking to people, watching a cricket match in the gymkhana during the evenings, or even when people go to work every morning.
Stretched out on the banks of the Aji River, the city combines the traditional and the modern comfortably. You could visit the Watson Museum, Ramkrishna Math and Lang library as part of your sightseeing trip. Rajkot is also a shopper’s delight, with Bangdi Bazaar being an example. Rajkot is also where Mahatma Gandhi spent his early days studying at the Gandhi Vidyalaya, now called Alfred High School. Another place to find out is that.
Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar is the capital of Gujarat and is named after Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Country. The captivating city is just 25 km away from Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s financial capital. Gandhinagar is the greenest city in Asia and the most well-planned city in India, after Chandigarh. With an abundance of things to do in the city, it is also one of the cleanest cities in India. The Temple of Akshardham is the most popular place in Gandhinagar that thousands visit on a daily basis. Besides this, some of the best places in the city for tourists are Sarita Udyan, the 3D and hi-tech Dandi Kutir (Salt Mount) Museum, Punit Van, Sant Sarovar Dam, Swarnim Srushti Water Park, Indroda Nature & Fossil Park (Jurassic Park of India), Vithalbhai Patel Bhavan, and Blackbuck National Park.
Dwarka
If you had the faintest knowledge of Hindu mythology, Dwarka must have learned about the relationship of Dwarka with Lord Krishna, one of Lord Vishnu’s incarnations. Considered to be Lord Krishna’s ancient kingdom and the first capital of Gujarat, it is considered to be one of the four most holy Hindu pilgrimage sites of Char Dham. If you come to Dwarka, which is undoubtedly one of Gujarat’s must-visit tourist attractions, Then you should visit the Dwarkadhish Temple first. Another draw is Jagat Mandir. However, go to Gomti Ghat and you’ll come across painted camels, tea stalls, sellers of jewellery and seashells.
Porbandar
In Gujarat, Porbandar is a remarkably popular tourist destination. The town is more famous because it is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Country. For those who love history, ancient architecture, craftsmanship, shopping and dining, this is an ideal location. This place is packed with numerous temples which are complemented equally well by serene beaches and amazing architecture. Among the most famous, Ghumli is the ideal place for ancient architecture to spend time. These structures have continued to stand tall against all odds for decades. In Gujarat, the smallest bird sanctuary houses over 150 different bird species. Other places that are popular among tourists include Huzoor Palace, Madhavpur Beach.
Lothal
You must certainly have read about, and been intrigued by, the Indus Valley and Harappan civilizations. The most thoroughly excavated site in India is Lothal, which means, “Mount of the Dead.” Your mind recreates the scenes that these remains must have seen at one point in time, a world much more advanced than the time it existed, on a visit to Lothal, one of the best sightseeing places in Gujarat.
Lothal was founded, according to archaeological findings, by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization, initially by the merchants of the sea, and later by smiths, masons, and potters, among others. It should be noted that Lothal soon developed to become an industrial centre and the empire’s extremely important port. During your visit to Lothal, explore the ruins and visit the museum.