Heritage Hotel

Balaram Palace Resort

Facilities

• 4 Gold rooms, 12 Platinum rooms and 1 Nawabi suite all with TV, refrigerator, attached baths, fireplace and handcrafted furniture.
• Reception, Facsimile, travel assistance, credit card acceptance and money exchange counter.
• Fully facilitated conference hall with slide projector, overhead projector and screen.
• Multi-cuisine air-conditioned restaurant.
• Fitness center, swimming pool, riding, slopping arcade 13 acres of private woodlands for walks and gentle treks.

Distances

Balaram Palace Resort is located 167 kms. from Ahmedabad, 14 kms. from Palanpur station. It is 3 kms. off the Ahmedabad-Mount Abu National Highway-14. It is a very convenient stopover between Ahmedabad and Destination of Rajasthan.

Hotel Nilambag Palace

Facilities

• 24 air-conditioned double bedrooms with attached baths, period furniture, and telephones.
• Fax-telex, travel assistance. Money changing counter.
• North Indian, Chinese, Continental and South Indian meals available.
• 24-hour room service.
• Romanesque swimming pool, tennis, shopping arcade.

Riverside Palace / Orchard Palace

Facilities

• 19 double bedrooms with attached baths furnished with attractive period furniture.
• Swimming, squash, table tennis rowing/motor boat cruises on Gondal Lake.
• Jeep Safaris
• Folk Shows and theme parties

Distances

Balaram Palace Resort is located 167 kms. from Ahmedabad, 14 kms. from Palanpur station. It is 3 kms. off the Ahmedabad-Mount Abu National Highway-14. It is a very convenient stopover between Ahmedabad and Destination of Rajasthan.

Rajwant Palace Resort

Facilities

• 24 hrs. hot & cold water.
• 24 hrs. Room  Service.
• Swimming Pool, Indoor & Outdoor Games.
• Laundry service.
• Car Rentals.
• Safe Parking.
• BOB/ Master/Visa Credit Cards accepted.

Vijay Vilas Palace

Royal Oasis & Residency

Darbargadh Poshina

Facilities

• 24 air-conditioned double bedrooms with attached baths, period furniture, and telephones.
• Fax-telex, travel assistance. Money changing counter.
• North Indian, Chinese, Continental and South Indian meals available as well as 24-hour room service.
• Romanesque swimming pool, tennis, shopping arcade.

Distances

Poshina is located 51 kms. from Abu road station, 140 kms. from Udaipur, 180 kms. from Ahmedabad, Poshina is a possible stopover between Ahmedabad and the destinations of Rajasthan such as Mount Abu, Rankapur, Udaipur etc.

The House of Mangaldas Girdhardas

Address

Facilities

• WiFi Internet connectivity.
• Large attached bathrooms with high pressure showers.
• Powerful split air-conditioning, fans & openable windows.
• 29" colour T.V. with multiple channels.
• Refrigerator with International Mini bar.
• DVD/ VCD/ MP3/ World Space radio.
• DVD/ VCD Movie Library.
• Book Library.
• Option of Queen Size twin-bed or double-bed with 8" thick mattress, goose down pillows and extra-soft duvet.
• Electric hot water kettle with complimentary tea & coffee.
• Huge upholstered sofas and swings in most rooms.
• Spacious work table with multi-plug surge protector for easy plug & play.
• Wardrobe with electronic safe.
• Speaker phones.

Distances

Poshina is located 51 kms. from Abu road station, 140 kms. from Udaipur, 180 kms. from Ahmedabad, Poshina is a possible stopover between Ahmedabad and the destinations of Rajasthan such as Mount Abu, Rankapur, Udaipur etc.

A Home for Nature Lovers

Facilities

• Pick-up and airport transfer on request
• Telephone
• Durbar Hall (Conference Hall)
• Indian and continental cuisine
• Simple massage
• Escort for sightseeing
• Jeep safari
• Laundry
• Splash pool
• Indoor Games
• First aid
• Gift Shop
• Car park

The Palace Utelia

Facilities

• 14 well-appointed rooms with intricately carved wooden beds and excellent tiled bathrooms, some with private balconies.
• Village tours by bullock cart, horse riding, Jeep safaris, gala evenings of dances and folk music of Gujarat, traditional welcome, personalized.
• Indian, continental and traditional cuisine including Kathiawadi and Rajasthani.

Distances

The Palace Utelia is 78 kms from Ahmedabad, 5 kms from Lothal Burkhi railway station. It is 4 kms off the Ahmedabad-Bhavanagar highway

The Vijay Vilas Palace Hotels & Resorts

Facilities

• 6 acres of grounds, with 7 cottages, tennis court, stables and garages.

The Rajmahal Palace

Facilities

• 10-12 well appointed rooms.
• Garden restaurant, swimming pool and billiard room.

Distances

It is 20 kms. from Viramgam station and 120 kms. from Ahmedabad airport

Cities

Ahmedabad

History

Ahmedabad was the largest city in terms of area within the subcontinent before the arrival of the British and the setting of the Madras and Calcutta Presidency.

Early 11th to 14th Century

The area around Ahmedabad was ruled by a Bhil king around the 11th century and was known as Ashapalli or Ashaval. The Solanki ruler of Patan, Karandev I, defeated the Bhil king in a war and established his kingdom, Karnavati at what is known as Maninagar today. The Solanki rule retained its hold until the 13th century, after which the reigns fell in the hands of the Vaghela dynasty of Dholka. Towards the end of the thirteenth century, all of Gujarat was captured by the Sultanate of Delhi and the Muzaffarid dynasty ruled here.

The Legend

There is a well known legend, that around 1411 Sultan Ahmed Shah was standing by the Sabarmati river when the unusual sight of a hare chasing a ferocious dog caught his attention. He was impressed by the influence of this land that cultivated fearlessness in its people and so he decided to establish his capital in this forest area and named it Ahmedabad. The construction had begun with the fort wall housing the intricately designed city within. The wall was consecrated at four points by four ‘Ahmeds’, Sheikh Ahmed Khattu, Ganj Baksh, Kazi Ahmed, Malek Ahmed and Sultan Ahmed Shah.The construction was completed in 1417 AD.

The Mughal Reign

The Muzaffarid dynasty ruled Ahmedabad until 1573 after which Gujarat was conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar. From an early period the people here displayed a sharp business acumen and added immensely to its prosperity. It became one of the thriving centres of trade of the Mughal empire, especially in textiles, which were exported as far as Middle East and Europe. Some of the major items they traded were cotton, silk and other luxury goods. Sarkhej was the largest producer of Indigo, and India controlled over 90% of the worlds Indigo cultivation. It was during the later part of the Sultanate era that influential nobles moved out of the walled city to set up suburban garden paradises around; today their names are part of the city’s postal heritage. Navrangmiya set up Navrangpura, Usmankhan and Chengiz Khan lend their names to Usmanpura and Chengizpur (also known as Mithakali). The Mughals, when they took over the city, built a series of gardens in their unique style. The names Amraiwadi, Ambawadi and Shahibaug echo memories of past greenery.

The Marathas Ruled

In 1630, the city was struck by a devastating famine. This marked the rapid downward fall of this once flourishing fort. In 1753, the armies of the Maratha generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad conquered the city, marking the end of the Mughal empire in Ahmedabad.The city began to disintegrate under this new regime.

The British Raj and Indian Independence Movement

In 1818, the British East India Company entered the scene and took over the city from the Marathas. However, the Indian Independence movement laid deep foundations in the city in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi set up the Kochrab Ashram near Paldi. Thereafter he moved to the Sabarmati Ashram (or the Satyagraha Ashram) in 1917. The ashram became the heartbeat of the national non-violent movement and the nurturing ground for many inspiring revolutionaries and teachers. In 1930 Gandhi vowed to never come back to Ahmedabad till he had attained freedom from the British oppression. He walked on foot from the ashram to Dandi on the historic Salt March. This is when thousands of Ahmedabadis joined in these peaceful protests and once again showed their sacrifice and solidarity in 1942 during the Quit India Movement, rendering many government and economic buildings vacant.

Right up to the late 1970's Ahmedabad was prone to flooding by the Sabarmati River. The most damaging flood on record took place on 23rd September 1875; approximately 3800 houses were inundated besides damage to other properties amounting to a total loss of 7.5 lakhs to the city.

Independent India

India attained independence from the British in 1947. However, the partition divided the fabric of the city into communal hatred and terrifying riots broke out between the Hindus and the Muslims. On May 1st, 1960 Gujarat was separated from the State of Bombay and Ahmedabad was named the new state capital of Gujarat. Later the capital was shifted to Gandhinagar. In the ensuing years Ahmedabad became the breeding ground for some of the most well known education institutes, industries, information technology, business, art, music and culture, activism and social development organizations.

What To See

• Islamic and Indo-Saracenic style monuments including the Jama Masjid, Rani Rupmati's Mosque, the the Sidi Sayyid Mosque, and the tombs of Ahmed Shah and his queens.
• Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram
• Calico Textile Museum – Asia's largest
• Ahmedabad Heritage Walk – Most mornings from the Swaminarayan Temple to the Jama Masjid, through the alleyways and passages of the old city, visiting many Pols (closed gated residential colonies inhabited by specific communities or guilds) and temples.

Excursion

• Adlaj Vav, half an hour's drive outside the city is a intricate step well in excellent repair.
• Lothal is a recently excavated Indus Valley Civilization port, about 2 hours drive away, recommended as a half-day excursion in the morning.
• The Sun Temple at Modhera is one of very few temples dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. It was built in 1026 AD and is about 3 hours away from Ahmedabad. Recommended as a full-day excursion 

Bhuj

History

Kutch has had four thousand years of inhabitation to build up a long and complex history, especially of its capital, Bhuj. The word kutch means “island” in classical Sanskrit, referring to the fact that in antiquity, the Ranns (meaning deserts) of Kutch were submerged by the Indus River flowing into the sea, leaving the area isolated by an immense shallow body of water. In 1819 an earthquake changed the topography and the Indus began to flow further westward, leaving the Ranns (now separated into the Great Rann and Little Rann) as a vast desert of saline flats. During heavy rains, the Ranns still flood, leaving islands, known as beyts, such as Khadir.

Some historians and archaeologists posit that the Harappans (also known as the Indus Valley Civilization) crossed the region by land, from the Indus River to the Sabarmati. Others doubt this, saying that the Ranns would have been permanently underwater at that time and crossing the deserts from Sindh would have to have been done further north. Either way, Harappan artifacts have been found in Khadir, making it one of the longest-inhabited regions of India. Bhuj is almost certainly mentioned in writings of two milennia ago; the writer Strabo (66 BC-24 AD) writes of Tejarashtra, whose principal city Tej is the modern-day Bhuj in all likelihood.

From the 8th to 16th centuries, Kutch was ruled by the Samma Rajputs from Sindh, during what is considered to be Sindh's Golden Age. As the power center in Sindh declined, there was a series of complicated successions and intra-familial murders, leading eventually to the installment of Lakho Jadeja, descended from the Samma Rajputs, as king. From then on the monarchy was known as the Jadeja Rajputs, who ruled directly from Kutch, not from Sindh. In 1549 Khengarji I moved the capital from Anjar to Bhuj, given its strategic location in the center of Kutch. The name of the city was derived from Bhujiyo Dungar, the 160 m. hill that overlooks the city, and said to be the residence of the Great Serpent Bhujang, to whom a temple stands at the top of the hill. In the late 16thcentury, the area came under Mughal dominance, though the Rajput kings still held local administrative powers. King Bharmal I gained favor with the Mughal Emperor by sending many extravagant gifts, and when the Kutchi rulers granted free passage and hospitality to pilgrims bound for Mecca, the Mughals exempted them from paying tribute to the Emperor, and even allowed them to mint a local currency, the kori (which you can see examples of at the Kutch Museum.) At the beginning of the 18th century, Rao Godiji saw the need for Kutch to protect itself in the more volatile vacuum left behind by the decline of the Mughal Empire. He commisioned the building of immense fortifications for Bhuj, including 11 m. walls, and 51 guns around the edge of the city.

In 1741, Lakhpatji I ascended the throne. An extravagant monarch, he commissioned the world-famous Aina Mahal palace, built by master artisan Ramsinh Malam, who trained in Holland and brought back European style and techniques for his designs. Lakhpatji was also a poet, known for inviting poets to the royal palace, as well as dancers and singers. His legacy of encouraging cultural development is still felt today, and having led the kingdom to flourish, he was well loved. Not so his successor, Raydhan II, who was a brutal, iron-fisted madman (most accounts agree he was losing mental stability as the years progressed.) He converted to Islam, which in itself was not a problem until he tried to begin forcibly converting all of his subjects. Though his cruel reign wrecked havoc on the populace, after his decline things evidently returned to normal, and the religious diversity of Kutch continued.

In 1815, the British arrived and seized Bhujiyo Dungar hill. The state became a British protectorate, as the king acknowledged British sovereignty in exchange for local autonomy. Like the Mughals before them, the British began administrative authority over Kutch, but not direct rule. More concerned with securing the Sindh border than collecting resources, there was little British intrusion into local life. In fact, they managed to make peace between the Kutchi kingdom and its neighbors, leading to general prosperity in the area. Building projects abounded in the 19th century, with Pragmalji II on the throne. He had the Prag Mahal palace built, as well as the Ranjit Vilas palace, the Vijay Vilas palace in Mandvi, and many hospitals, schools, irrigation projects and roads. Later considered a princely state, Kutch would continue thus until joining with a newly independent India.

Upon independence, Kutch became a state in India, while neighboring Sindh joined Pakistan. This cost Kutch the nearby major port of Karachi, leading to the development of Kandla as an important port for the region. Twice, territorial disputes with Pakistan over parts of Kutch have led to fighting, once just before the Second Kashmir War and once around the time of the Kargil Conflict. Today no border problems exist, and because the actual frontier lies within the Great Rann, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to cross the vast expanse of very harsh desert, but the Indian Army keeps a close watch anyway.

Handicraft

Kutchi handicrafts, renowned the world over, are in abundance in Bhuj, from elaborately embroidered clothing and luxurious quilts to block-printing, heavy silver jewelry and woodcarving. Or better yet, you can use Bhuj as a base for excursions to surrounding towns and villages to meet artisans and their families, see the work being done and buy crafts directly from the artisans themselves. This allows more of the income to go directly to the craftsmen and more importantly, creates a relationship between the maker of an item and its eventual owner, in which each one meets the other, learns something about the other's life and shares a bit of their own identity and background. You will quite likely find the personal interaction more valuable than the commercial one and the memory of the visit will stay with you even if you give away what you bought as gifts.

Junagadh

History

The city of Junagadh, along with Mt. Girnar that looks down upon it, appear in stories and hearsay from long ago, beginning with associations with Krishna during his life in Saurashtra. Reportedly, the main center of the city, the fort known as Uparkot, was built by Chandragupta of the Mauryan empire around 320 BC, and archaeological evidence confirms this, showing that Uparkot has been inhabited continuously since the 3rd century BC. Hence the name Junagadh, which means “ancient fort.” Under the Mauryans, Junagadh was a regional capital, and Emperor Ashoka had stone edicts placed there, still visible today

Junagadh remained important as a regional capital until the 5th century. Then under the Rajputs and Solankis it was less important, as power centers shifted to near Bhavnagar (until the 10th century), later to Patan (until the 15th century), where it stayed when the whole of Gujarat became a province of the Delhi Sultanate, and then to Ahmedabad when Gujarat again became an independent Sultanate. The Mughals took over in the early 16th century, and continued to rule from Ahmedabad, so it was not until the mid 18th century as Mughal rule was in decline that Junagadh once again became an independent princely state, established by an Afghan named Sher Khan Babi, with its capital here.

By the time of Independence from British colonial rule, all the princely states (which numbered 565, and around a hundred were in Saurashtra alone) were given the choice of acceding to India or to Pakistan, with Mountbatten’s caveat that effectively, states could only accede to a nation with whom they shared borders. This determined the choice for nearly all of them. In Junagadh, however, the Nawab opted to accede to Pakistan, saying Junagadh neighbored Pakistan through the sea. India objected, given the 80% Hindu majority, but Pakistan countered that if India could claim Kashmir, with a Muslim majority but a leader who chose India, why should Junagadh not be in Pakistan. After several backs and forths involving uprisings by some parts of Junagadh state, Indian troops being sent in, and many diplomatic maneuvers, the Nawab fled to Pakistan, and a plebiscite was held. The vote overwhelmingly favored joining India, and Junagadh became a part of Saurashtra state, and eventually part of Gujarat.

Tourist Attractions

Uperkot is an impressive fort built in 19 BC by Chandragupta. It was besieged 16 times over an 800-year period. The entrance has an ornate triple gateway leading to the ruins inside where lies the ‘Nilamtope’- a cannon acquired by the Nawab of Junagadh, the ‘Adi Chadi Vav’ and ‘Naughan Kuva’ – two interesting step wells and the Jami Masjid which was built from a demolished Hindu temple. 1500-year old Buddhist caves near the Jami Masjid are also worth a visit.

The Durbar Hall and Museum has an interesting collection of weapons, thrones, silver articles, costumes, paintings, tapestries, and palanquins on display. It is not far from the entrance to the fort.

Mahabat Maqbara , built in 1892, is a glorious mausoleum of Mahabat Khan I. It was built in the Indo Islamic style and has silver doors, minarets and a spiraling stairway.

On the way to the Girnar Hill is an edict of Emperor Ashoka inscribed on a rock dating from the 3rd century BC. The Ashokan edicts impart moral instructions on dharma, harmony, tolerance, and peace. An uneven rock, ten metres tall, bears inscriptions in Brahmi script.

The Girnar Hill is an important pilgrimage place for the Jains and there is a cluster of beautifully carved marble temples on top of the hill.. Since there are a number of important Hindu temples also, you can find many Hindu pilgrims trudging up the hill along with Jains

Rajkot

History

The young city of Rajkot’s lineage with historical anecdotes and tales of valor and achievement was the former capital of the princely state of Saurashtra.

Foundation Period

Rajkot is a relatively young kingdom carved out of territories seeded and captured by Thakore Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja, a scion of the Jamnagar Royal Family in 1620 AD. He was honored by territories and titles for coming to the aid of a beleaguered Mughal Empire on Gujarat. Rajkot was christened in memory of its co-founder Raju Sandhi. Thereafter successful Thakore sahibs consolidated their territory defeating the local Kathi tribes and skirmishing across the borders of Junagadh. This conflict with the Nawabs of Junagadh was to prove costly for a young Rajkot state.

Nawabi Rule

7 gates were studded with metal spikes to ward off an attack by elephant cavalry and the eighth called Khadki Naka was unadorned and protected the Nakhlank temple. Two of the gates survive as Bedi Naka and Rayka Naka to which was added a three storied bell clock tower by the British Political Agent Sir Robert Bell Booth. Nawabi rule in Rajkot lasted all of 12 years until the Jadeja’s wrested back control.

British Association

Under a benevolent British administration peace and tranquility reigned over Rajkot and the kingdom was allowed to flower in arts, education and culture. Rural craftsmen received urban patronage and urban Rajkot saw a profusion of construction activities both public and private initiated in the Colonial style. Buildings of noteworthy interest are the Watson Museum and the Lang Library located in the scenic surroundings of the Jubalee gardens, the Cannaught Hall and a Masonic Lodge, the first meeting ground for the masons in western India are noteworthy too. The Rajkumar College was set up in 11 acres of state owned property as an educational institution for the benefit of the nobility of Kathiawar. As a British protectorate Rajkot became a haven for scholars, intellectuals, writers and poets from across the country. It also played host to a variety of young stalwarts who later became the forefront of the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi’s tryst with Rajkot

The roots of the Indian Freedom Struggle are firmly enmeshed within the foundation of the city. Mahatma Gandhi spent his formative years, growing up in Rajkot’s Gheekantha area and studying at the then Alfred High School, now renamed as Gandhi Vidyalaya. His father Karamchand Gandhi had been appointed the Diwan of Rajkot by the British as the heir to the throne was a minor. It was later in 1939 that the Mahatma returned back to Rajkot to set up the Rashtriyashala, imparting the ethos of independence through the beneficial weaves of Khadi.

Post Independence

Rajkot became the first state to voluntarily merge with the Indian Union and in 1948 became the provincial capital of Saurashtra state with U.N. Dhebar as its first Chief Minister until 1956 when the Saurashtra Peninsula was merged with the bilingual state of Bombay. Rajkot and Saurashtra became a part of Gujarat in 1961 and today Rajkot is a sprawling metropolis of Saurashtra and a pride of Gujarat’s emerging urban cities.

Tourist Attractions

Located in the Jubilee Gardens, the Museum has exhibits like stone sculptures, silverware, paintings, marble statues and carvings. The museum even has exhibits dating back to the Mohenjodaro period.

This is the ancestral home of Gandhi. It now houses the Gandhi Smriti – a museum which contains photographs and lots of information on the life of Gandhi. It also has a small weaving school.

This is a unique museum with a collection of over 1400 dolls from all over the world. The Rotary Clubs across the world have generously donated these Dolls to the museum.

It is a beautiful sandstone temple in Rajkot dedicated to Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa Patola Sari Weaving: Rajkot is famous for its patola weaving industry. Patola are traditionally dyed silk sarees. Dyeing the silk is a torturous process where each thread is dyed separately. You can visit the workshops in the Sarovar Society Area.

Vadodara

History

Archaeological research shows humans exploring the area around the river Vishwamitri from pre-historic times. There was first a small settlement near a grove of Akola trees so it came to be known as Ankottaka, now called Akota. A kilometer eastward, a suburb came up near an abundant grove of vad, Banyan trees, and hence came to be known as Vadapadraka. The city was once marked by four gates, still standing, but it expanded over the ages into what is now the third largest city in Gujarat, known as Vadodara (also known as its anglicized form Baroda, until the recent return to the original name, as with other cities such as Mumbai and Chennai. Ancient Vadapadraka was ruled by the Chalukya dynasty in the 10th century, followed by the Solankis, the Vaghelas, and then the Sultans of Delhi and Gujarat. In 1674 the Maratha Empire declared war on the Mughal Empire, and defeated them in central and eastern Gujarat in mid-18th century. Their representatives and ruling dynasty in Gujarat, the Gaekwads (meaning “protector of cows”), after having instigated the adivasi Bhils and Kolis to attack the Mughals, occupied Vadodara as their capital. In the early 19th century, after the Anglo-Maratha war, the British had control of much of Gujarat. Meanwhile, the Gaekwads had come into conflict with the Peshwas, the Marathas of Pune. The Gaekwads signed a special treaty with the British for protection from the Peshwas, and to give Baroda a degree of self-rule. The Gaekwad ruler was high in the pecking order under British rule, and was one of only 5 rulers to receive a 21-gun salute. Baroda was thus one of the few places to remain autonomous until Independence, and like Hyderabad and Mysore, one senses that it retains a flavor of the former princely Gaekwad state and never fully integrated into the central administration.

Among the Gaekwads, ruler Maharaja Sayajirao III, reigning 1875-1939, is credited with the most significant development of the city and bold socio-economic reforms. He brought in changes to textile and other manufacturing processes that moved Baroda towards the booming industrial center it is now. He introduced compulsory primary education, even for girls, which was rare in India then, and organized schools for oppressed classes, adivasis, and Muslims, also progressive moves for his time. He was a promoter of adult education, setting up a network of libraries that are still thriving, and are appreciated as a legacy from the Gaekwad rule. He was also a leader among other Indian kings in his patronage of the arts, in a time when the British largely ignored the local arts, judging them with a biased eye as inferior.

Best For:

Vadodara is best viewed during the Navratri when the entire city comes alive to celebrate this important festival. To watch hundreds & hundreds of people gathered together to perform the Garba & Dandiya in perfect synchronization is a visual treat. Vadodara is also known for the monuments & museums as well as for its handicrafts, textiles & typical Gujarati handcrafted furniture.

Tourist Attractions

Bhavanagar

Diu

Tourist Attractions

The imposing Diu Fort scattered with cannon balls, the Diu Museum, the Nagar Seth Haveli, the the boat shaped former jail called Fortim-do-Mar and the Naida Caves are all located in the Diu Town area. Also visit the beautiful churches and chapels with Portuguese style architecture. Few of these churches are the St Paul’s Church, Church of St Francis of Assisi and the St Thomas’ Church. Around the island you can visit the Nagoa Beach and Jallandhar Shrine or relax at the Sunset Point. See an amazing collection of various shells at the Shell Museum. Vanakbara is a bustling fishing village on the western side of the island.

Gondal

Tourist Attractions

The Riverside Palace was built in 1875 AD by Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji for his son Yuvraj Bhojraji, The "living room" is furnished in typical colonial style with chandelier, antique wooden furniture and sofas; where as the "Indian room"  is decorated with beadwork, brassware and paintings.

The Naulakha Palace is the oldest extant palace in Gondal, dating back to the 17th Century. It has legendary stone carvings with exquisite "jharokhas" (balconies), a fabulous pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and a unique spiral staircase. The large chandelier-lit "durbar" hall (court house) witnesses stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture, and antique mirrors.  The Private palace museum displays an impressive display of silver caskets which were in the services of carrying messages and gifts for Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji on his silver jubilee as ruler of Gondal.

The Huzoor Palace is the current royal residence, whose one wing is open  to public. It is known as the Orchard Palace because of its huge surroundings of fruit orchards, lawns and gardens. The Room of miniatures is a splendid sitting room with a collection of miniature paintings, brass, and antique furniture.

The Royal Garages have an extensive collection of vintage and classic cars.

Jamnagar

Tourist Attractions

The Lakhota Palace is a small palace on the Ranmal Lake that once belonged to the Maharaja of Nawanagar. Today it houses a small museum with displays from archaeological sites in the area.

The temple has earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having continuous 24 chanting of the prayer ‘Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram', since August 1, 1964.

This is a unique museum with a collection of over 1400 dolls from all over the world. The Rotary Clubs across the world have generously donated these Dolls to the museum. A palace inspired by the 'Victoria Memorial' of Calcutta with traditional carvings of birds, animals, creepers and plants. Its three domes are made of glass. Jain Temples: Wander around the old city areas of the Chandi Bazaar and the Subhas Market. See the splendid Jain Temples. The Shantinath Mandir and the Adinath Mandir have some fine murals and mirror work. The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary and the Ayurvedic University are the other places of interest in Jamnagar.

At a distance of 30 km from Jamnagar in the Gulf of Kachchh, is India's first MarineNational Park covering 42 islands. Of the 42 islands, visitors are only permitted access to Pirotan Island. The area has a unique ecosystem which supports thousands of species a marine iota. Here you can find several species of mangroves, herbs, algae as well as species of sponges, corals, fish, crabs, reptiles and rare birds. December to March is the best time to visit the park. Also visit the Okamadhi Beach and the Narara nearby.

Surat

Best For:

Tourist Attractions

Fairs and Festivals

Chitra vichitra

History

The name of the fair is derived from two brothers Chitravirya and Vichitravirya, sons of King Shantanu, and step brothers of Bhishma, from the story of the Mahabharata. There is a belief that they had settled here and were cured of their diseases by the waters of this site.

When

The fair is held a fortnight after Holi, around the month of March-April. It starts on the eve of the new moon (called Amavas), the time when the wheat crop is ready for harvest.

Who Comes

The fair is one of the most important fairs of the Adivasis in the region, and attracts about 60,000 people, most of them hailing from the Garasia and Bhil communities. People from many far away and distant villages arrive on every imaginable mode of transport, ranging from jeeps to camel carts. The fair is so popular that in 25 to 30 surrounding villages all the houses are deserted for the duration of the fair as every able-bodied person visits it. People come a day or two in advance in large groups and encamp under the banyan trees on the riverside. They spend the night under the sky by the side of small bonfires.

Interesting facts

This fair is also a great opportunity for tribal men to meet prospective partners for marriage. Numerous couples have been known to elope directly from the fair site.

Calender

14th March 2010 (Sunday)
02nd April 2011 (Saturday)
21st March 2012 (Wednesday)
09th April 2013 (Tuesday)
30th March 2014 (Sunday)

Kavant

When

The Rathva Festival at Kavant is a pagan ululation to the harvest and the link between man and nature celebrated since time immemorial. It is a gathering of the Rathva community from as far off as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It usually begins on the third day after Holi.

Where

The village of Kavant is located in the heart of the Rathva homeland near the town of Chhota Udepur about a 100 kms from Vadodara which has an air port, a rail link and is a major city. There are two interesting heritage properties which are ideal to stay in near Kavant, the royal palaces at Chhota Udepur and Jambughoda.

Who Comes

Rathwa community people along with tourists from all over the world.

Interesting facts

The Rathvas loosely inhabit Chhota Udepur in Vadodara District with marginal groups extending into Dahod and Godhra Districts and Alirajpur in adjoining Madhya Pradesh District. The Rathvas are the largest tribal unit in the state of Gujarat. From a history of hunter gatherers they now have graduated to farming and other rural occupations exploring their pastoral destiny. In spite of changing living patterns, they religiously revere their old ways in the celebrations of their rituals and have a deep pride in their traditional culture. Music plays an extremely important part of their lives and no Rathva would feel complete without his lovingly embellished Flute {paavo / piho / pihoto } as a remembrance of his forested homeland. The Rathvas also practice a mural painting form based on ritual traditional beliefs on the inner walls of their homes and dedicated to Pithora, the Rathva universal God of well being.

The Kavant Festival is a catharsis of emotional splendor, a rite of passage, family liaisons and a successful harvest all amalgamated into one tremendous exposition of riot and colour.

The Kavant Mela is a prominent tribal festival in the north-eastern part of Gujarat falling sometime in the month of April. On the way to Kavant village one can sometimes see bedecked groups of tribals trekking towards the venue. Through a variety of modes of transport they arrive, showing off their affluent eye shades, lighters and radios. Women of each village wear a dupatta and skirt of the same dye while the men wear similar turbans and skirts in order to differentiate themselves from other sub-groups. Both men and women are bedecked with community specific silver jewelry which is intricately sinewy and a pleasure to behold.

History

Kavant is a harvest festival celebrated with wild abandon through dance primordial blending the rhythm with the shashaying of the forest and the frolicking of the animals in the undergrowth. Surrounded by the beating of drums, the susurrations of a variety of flutes and the stamping of feet, the Rathvas dance in a vast group keeping time to the rise and fall of the crescendo of arrhythmic music in their tryst with destiny. The men folk wear a belt attached with pebble filled gourds and a string of brass bells. As they stamp their feet and gyrate their hips the bells and the pebbled gourds add percussion metronomical beats tintinabulating in the air. Some of the men carry cane sugar signifying the harvest and wear an elaborate headgear which is a conical hat stuck with small framed photos of local deities surrounded by an array of peacock feathers. Rice paste and ash are blended to make a dye painting the bodies with circles and dots in a ritualistic salutation to the jungle cat. Some men and women gather together to form a human pyramid and the surrounding atmosphere rides with the heightened energy and human spirit.

Calender

03rd to 04thMarch 2010 (Wed,Thurs)
22nd to 23rdMarch 2011 (Tue,Wed)
10th to 11thMarch 2012 (Sat,Sun)
30th to 31stMarch 2013 (Sat,Sun)
19th to 20thMarch 2014 (Wed,Thurs)

Modhera dance festival

When

The exclusive three day Modhera Dance Festival is held every year during the third week end of January after the conclusion of Uttarayan festival.

Where

The environs of the Sun Temple in Modhera act a venue and host of this enchanting festival. Modhera is located in the South-west of Mehsana District and is 25 km away from the town of Mehsana.

Who Comes

The dance festival is frequently visited by art and dance connoisseurs from all across the world. Classical and folk dancers and musicians from different states of the country exhibit their talent and flair while culture enthusiasts become part of the festival to witness this splendid event. Inhabitants and natives from near by villages also are an indigenous part of the occasion.

Interesting facts

This incredible festival of dance, Uttarardh Mahotsav, derives its name from the planetary and astronomical configuration of the Sun. The festival which takes place every year after Uttarayan, at the Modhera temple dedicated to the Sun God venerates the rotational cycle of the earth around the Sun. Uttarayan, the day when the sun starts his voyage towards Uttar or North indicates the end of winter and the beginning of longer days with a pleasant breeze. During Uttarayan, the Sun transmigrates from one planet to the other, it travels from Dhanu or Sagittarius to Makara that is Capricorn. Halfway through this voyage, the time when ‘ardh’ or half of ‘uttar’ or Northward journey is over, the period is known as Uttararadh.

The noteworthy technological splendor of the Modhera temple architecture is the planned engineering based on the planetary position of the planets and the Sun. The main temple or the sanctum is designed focusing on the rays of rising and setting Sun during Equinox. The way the edifice is structured, it ensured on the days of Equinox, that soft, linear rays of Sun showered it with illumination.

History

Dance or nritya in India is considered an artistic yoga revealing the spiritual through the corporeal. In the history of India, classical dance forms and temple architecture have enjoyed a very amiable alliance. Innumerable literary and historical evidences state the close association of the expressional form of dance and sacred vicinity of temples. Dance performances presented in the holy premises venerated god while also serving as a platform to convey messages to all social strata on an equal echelon. ‘Nagar Utsav’ was organized in the vicinity of all temples including the sun temples. In respect of the rich cultural legacy of the country and to revive the tradition, the State Government created the annual event of the Modhera Dance Festival.

Calender

15th to 17thJanuary 2010 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
21st to 23rdJanuary 2011 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
20th to 22ndJanuary 2012 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
18th to 20thJanuary 2013 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
17th to 19thJanuary 2014 (Fri,Sat,Sun)

Rann Utsav

History

The tourism authorities of Gujarat organize events in Kutch to showcase the rich culture of this district, one of the largest in India. This Mahotsava under the tutelage of Vibrant Gujarat has been a unique opportunity for people around the world to visit Kutch and experience the true flavor of the region.

Where

The celebratory festival begins in the Bhuj city and goes around the district with a grand finale again being held at the preliminary destination.

Who Comes

The festival is visited and enjoyed by more than 8000 tourists from all over the world. This is one time when natives of the region and travelers along with Government administrative officers all together come along to celebrate the mystical magic of Kutch and its diversity.

Interesting facts

Kutch or Rann Mahotsav, a unique manifestation of varied cultural ethos of the region is known for the ethnic flavor and celebrative zest. This festival provides an exclusive opportunity to witness the creative ingenuity of the artisans and craftspeople, assorted array of folk music and performances, mixed representation of culture and communities, along with a vast diversity in ecology. All this and much more describe and define Kutch and the people.

Calender

02nd to 04thDecember 2009 (Wed-Fri)
19th to 21stDecember 2010 (Sun-Tue)
09th to 11thDecember 2011 (Fri-Sun)
28th to 30thDecember 2012 (Fri-Sun)
15th to 17thDecember 2013 (Sat-Tue)

Vautha Fair

History

Legends hold that on a full moon night Kartikeya, the son of Shiva, visited this site on Kartika Purnima during his journey round the earth, and performed austerities at the meeting point of the rivers. His paglas are still worshipped here. Dholka is also believed to be ‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise.

When

This fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, corresponding roughly to the month of November. It lasts for five days.

Where

The magnificent Vautha Fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Dholka (26 kms away) is also believed to be ‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise.

Who Comes

The village of Vautha is small, with only 2000 inhabitants. Yet this fair brings together more than 500,000 visitors through the five days of the fair. The fair attracts people from the Jath Vanjara communities, as well as other pastoral groups. Villagers from surrounding agricultural areas of Bhal and Nalkantha in Ahmedabad district, and Charotar in Kheda district, are also seen in large numbers. It is good to see that although it was previously a fair frequented mostly by Hindus, now even Muslims visit it in fairly large numbers.

Interesting facts

The most important ceremony is a purifying bath in the sacred river on Kartika Purnima, the full moon night, which is believed to absolve one from all sins.

Calender For The Next 5 YearsIndependent India

2nd to 3rd November 2009 (Mon, Tue)
21st to 22nd November 2010 (Sun, Mon)
10th to 11th November 2011 (Thu, Fri)
28th to 29th November 2012 (Wed, Thu)
17th to 18th November 2013 (Sun, Mon)

Kite Festival

History

Kites are believed to have first arrived in India either through Muslim traders coming eastward through Persia or Buddhist pilgrims coming from China in search of sacred texts. Either way, they have a long history in the region. Over 1000 years ago, kites were mentioned in song by the composer Santnambe, and numerous classic miniature paintings of typical scenes in the area depict people flying kites. Since Gujarat is at the westernmost edge of India, it is one of the regions where Muslim and Hindu cultures have blended to a great degree in many aspects. Hence, the development of using kites probably brought by Muslims, to celebrate Uttarayan, a Hindu festival. Still, no one knows exactly when this tradition began.

When

This fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, corresponding roughly to the month of November. It lasts for five days.

Where

Uttarayan is celebrated across Gujarat, with major centers of kite-flying in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Nadiad, among others. The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad.

Navratri

History

There are many enthralling legends and myths attached to the history of Navratri: The demon Mahishasur, after being given a boon by the fire god Agni that he wouldn't be killed by weapons bearing masculine names, caused grave destruction and terror. The gods sought the help of Lord Shiva, who advised the invocation of the goddess Shakti. With the gods' prayers, a divine luster sprang from the heart of Lord Shiva and the bodies of all the gods and formed the goddess Adhya Shakti. The gods gave her ornaments, arms and a lion as a vehicle. She fought with the evil Mahishasur for nine long days and nights, and at last, resulted in the beheading of Mahisa on the tenth. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri, while the tenth day was called Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day that brought the triumph of good over the evil. Sati (also known as Uma) married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father, King Daksha Prajapati. In revenge, Daksha organized a huge yagna and invited all the gods and deities except his new son-in-law. Sati decided to attend the yagna despite Lord Shiva's attempt to persuade her not to. The King ignored his daughter's presence and public ally abused Lord Shiva. Unable to bear her father’s insults, Sati committed suicide by jumping into the yagna fire. However, she was reborn and again won Lord Shiva as her groom and peace was restored. It is believed that since then Uma comes every year with her four children Ganesh, Kartik, Saraswati and Laxmi and two of her best friends or 'sakhis' called Jaya and Bijaya, to visit her parent's home during Navratri. These legends and story are part of the history that surrounds the festival of Navratri and are going to be around as long as the festival continues.

When

Navratri is celebrated for nine nights, beginning on the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month Ashwin, roughly corresponding to dates in the Gregorian calendar in September/October. This also usually coincides with the end of the rainy season. Dasara/Vijayadashami, is the tenth day of Ashwin.

Where

Garba happens at night in villages and neighborhoods all around Gujarat, so just step outside and follow the booming garba music. Vadodara is considered the cultural capital of Gujarat, and the most sought after location for celebrating Navratri. Try to visit at least one village garba too, for a range of experience.

Calender

19th to 27thSeptember 2009 08th to 16thOctomber 2010
28thSeptember to 5thOctomber 2011
16th to 24thOctomber 2012
05th to 13thOctomber 2013

Tarnetar Fair

History

Legend says that this fair has been held here since antiquity. Its origin is linked with the story of Draupadi’s swayamvar, where the great archer Arjun performed the difficult task of piercing the eye of a rotating fish with an arrow, by only looking at its reflection in the water. Through this feat he won his bride Draupadi.

Historically speaking, this festival tradition is believed to have begun 200-250 years ago. The fair is held on the grounds of the temple of Triniteshwar Mahadev, which means "the three-eyed God." The old temple that used to stand in Tarnetar was ruined, but a new one was built by the Gaekwads of Vadodara in the 19th century, and is now the focal point of the festival. It stands on the bank of a rivulet and opens into a beautiful kund. It is locally believed that this site used to be the original course of the Ganga river at some point in history, so a dip in the temple tank is considered by pilgrims to be as auspicious as a swim in the holy Ganga.

When

The fair is held for three days every year during the Hindu calendar dates of Bhadarva Sud - 4th, 5th and 6th (during the Gregorian calendar months Aug.-Sept)

Where

The Tarnetar fair is held 8 km from the town of Thangadh, in Surendranagar District. This is the nearest railway station, on the Ahmedabad-Hapa broadgauge line. The nearest town with road transportation to other places is Chotila, 25 km from Thangadh, which is connected by ST buses from Rajkot (75 km), Jamnagar (162 km), Ahmedabad (196 km) or Porbandar (252 km.) From Bhavnagar, Chotila can be reached either via Rajkot, a trip of 264 km, or via Botad, a shorter journey of 190 km. Chotila, Thangadh and Tarnetar are well connected by ST buses and other mode of transportation. The nearest airport is Rajkot, 75 km away.

Who Comes

Being the most important fair of Saurashtra, Tarnetar is attended by more than 50,000 people. The main castes that have been participating are the Kolis, Rabaris, Bharwads, Khants, Kanbis, Kathis, Charans, the Harijans and the Desh-rabaris. With its growing reputation, visitors from rest of India and many different parts of the world are also seen here.

Interesting facts

The Kolis of Saurashtra initiated the custom of embroidering umbrellas, which are exquisitely elaborate in terms of embellishments. The embroidery of each is unique and rises from the edges all the way to the top, with beadwork and patchwork in the design as well. Small colorful handkerchiefs are attached all around the edge, to attract further attention. These men spend over a year embroidering their umbrellas. Their intention is to entice the girls with their art, cloths and head gear and impress them, so that they can propose them for marriage. It is not surprising that, before the fair is over, they usually meet the lady of their choice.

Calender

23rd to 25th August 2009 (Sun, Mon, Tue)
11th to 13th September 2010 (Sat, Sun, Mon)
1st to 3rd September 2011 (Thu, Fri, Sat)
19th to 21st September 2012 (Wed, Thu, Fri)
9th to 11th September 2013 (Mon, Tue, Wed)

Bhavnath Fair

Dang Darbar (Holi)

Madhavpur Fair

Bhagoria Haat

Fairs and Festivals

Chitra vichitra

History

The name of the fair is derived from two brothers Chitravirya and Vichitravirya, sons of King Shantanu, and step brothers of Bhishma, from the story of the Mahabharata. There is a belief that they had settled here and were cured of their diseases by the waters of this site.

When

The fair is held a fortnight after Holi, around the month of March-April. It starts on the eve of the new moon (called Amavas), the time when the wheat crop is ready for harvest.

Who Comes

The fair is one of the most important fairs of the Adivasis in the region, and attracts about 60,000 people, most of them hailing from the Garasia and Bhil communities. People from many far away and distant villages arrive on every imaginable mode of transport, ranging from jeeps to camel carts. The fair is so popular that in 25 to 30 surrounding villages all the houses are deserted for the duration of the fair as every able-bodied person visits it. People come a day or two in advance in large groups and encamp under the banyan trees on the riverside. They spend the night under the sky by the side of small bonfires.

Interesting facts

This fair is also a great opportunity for tribal men to meet prospective partners for marriage. Numerous couples have been known to elope directly from the fair site.

Calender

14th March 2010 (Sunday)
02nd April 2011 (Saturday)
21st March 2012 (Wednesday)
09th April 2013 (Tuesday)
30th March 2014 (Sunday)

Kavant

When

The Rathva Festival at Kavant is a pagan ululation to the harvest and the link between man and nature celebrated since time immemorial. It is a gathering of the Rathva community from as far off as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It usually begins on the third day after Holi.

Where

The village of Kavant is located in the heart of the Rathva homeland near the town of Chhota Udepur about a 100 kms from Vadodara which has an air port, a rail link and is a major city. There are two interesting heritage properties which are ideal to stay in near Kavant, the royal palaces at Chhota Udepur and Jambughoda.

Who Comes

Rathwa community people along with tourists from all over the world.

Interesting facts

The Rathvas loosely inhabit Chhota Udepur in Vadodara District with marginal groups extending into Dahod and Godhra Districts and Alirajpur in adjoining Madhya Pradesh District. The Rathvas are the largest tribal unit in the state of Gujarat. From a history of hunter gatherers they now have graduated to farming and other rural occupations exploring their pastoral destiny. In spite of changing living patterns, they religiously revere their old ways in the celebrations of their rituals and have a deep pride in their traditional culture. Music plays an extremely important part of their lives and no Rathva would feel complete without his lovingly embellished Flute {paavo / piho / pihoto } as a remembrance of his forested homeland. The Rathvas also practice a mural painting form based on ritual traditional beliefs on the inner walls of their homes and dedicated to Pithora, the Rathva universal God of well being.

The Kavant Festival is a catharsis of emotional splendor, a rite of passage, family liaisons and a successful harvest all amalgamated into one tremendous exposition of riot and colour.

The Kavant Mela is a prominent tribal festival in the north-eastern part of Gujarat falling sometime in the month of April. On the way to Kavant village one can sometimes see bedecked groups of tribals trekking towards the venue. Through a variety of modes of transport they arrive, showing off their affluent eye shades, lighters and radios. Women of each village wear a dupatta and skirt of the same dye while the men wear similar turbans and skirts in order to differentiate themselves from other sub-groups. Both men and women are bedecked with community specific silver jewelry which is intricately sinewy and a pleasure to behold.

History

Kavant is a harvest festival celebrated with wild abandon through dance primordial blending the rhythm with the shashaying of the forest and the frolicking of the animals in the undergrowth. Surrounded by the beating of drums, the susurrations of a variety of flutes and the stamping of feet, the Rathvas dance in a vast group keeping time to the rise and fall of the crescendo of arrhythmic music in their tryst with destiny. The men folk wear a belt attached with pebble filled gourds and a string of brass bells. As they stamp their feet and gyrate their hips the bells and the pebbled gourds add percussion metronomical beats tintinabulating in the air. Some of the men carry cane sugar signifying the harvest and wear an elaborate headgear which is a conical hat stuck with small framed photos of local deities surrounded by an array of peacock feathers. Rice paste and ash are blended to make a dye painting the bodies with circles and dots in a ritualistic salutation to the jungle cat. Some men and women gather together to form a human pyramid and the surrounding atmosphere rides with the heightened energy and human spirit.

Calender

03rd to 04thMarch 2010 (Wed,Thurs)
22nd to 23rdMarch 2011 (Tue,Wed)
10th to 11thMarch 2012 (Sat,Sun)
30th to 31stMarch 2013 (Sat,Sun)
19th to 20thMarch 2014 (Wed,Thurs)

Modhera dance festival

When

The exclusive three day Modhera Dance Festival is held every year during the third week end of January after the conclusion of Uttarayan festival.

Where

The environs of the Sun Temple in Modhera act a venue and host of this enchanting festival. Modhera is located in the South-west of Mehsana District and is 25 km away from the town of Mehsana.

Who Comes

The dance festival is frequently visited by art and dance connoisseurs from all across the world. Classical and folk dancers and musicians from different states of the country exhibit their talent and flair while culture enthusiasts become part of the festival to witness this splendid event. Inhabitants and natives from near by villages also are an indigenous part of the occasion.

Interesting facts

This incredible festival of dance, Uttarardh Mahotsav, derives its name from the planetary and astronomical configuration of the Sun. The festival which takes place every year after Uttarayan, at the Modhera temple dedicated to the Sun God venerates the rotational cycle of the earth around the Sun. Uttarayan, the day when the sun starts his voyage towards Uttar or North indicates the end of winter and the beginning of longer days with a pleasant breeze. During Uttarayan, the Sun transmigrates from one planet to the other, it travels from Dhanu or Sagittarius to Makara that is Capricorn. Halfway through this voyage, the time when ‘ardh’ or half of ‘uttar’ or Northward journey is over, the period is known as Uttararadh.

The noteworthy technological splendor of the Modhera temple architecture is the planned engineering based on the planetary position of the planets and the Sun. The main temple or the sanctum is designed focusing on the rays of rising and setting Sun during Equinox. The way the edifice is structured, it ensured on the days of Equinox, that soft, linear rays of Sun showered it with illumination.

History

Dance or nritya in India is considered an artistic yoga revealing the spiritual through the corporeal. In the history of India, classical dance forms and temple architecture have enjoyed a very amiable alliance. Innumerable literary and historical evidences state the close association of the expressional form of dance and sacred vicinity of temples. Dance performances presented in the holy premises venerated god while also serving as a platform to convey messages to all social strata on an equal echelon. ‘Nagar Utsav’ was organized in the vicinity of all temples including the sun temples. In respect of the rich cultural legacy of the country and to revive the tradition, the State Government created the annual event of the Modhera Dance Festival.

Calender

15th to 17thJanuary 2010 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
21st to 23rdJanuary 2011 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
20th to 22ndJanuary 2012 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
18th to 20thJanuary 2013 (Fri,Sat,Sun)
17th to 19thJanuary 2014 (Fri,Sat,Sun)

Rann Utsav

History

The tourism authorities of Gujarat organize events in Kutch to showcase the rich culture of this district, one of the largest in India. This Mahotsava under the tutelage of Vibrant Gujarat has been a unique opportunity for people around the world to visit Kutch and experience the true flavor of the region.

Where

The celebratory festival begins in the Bhuj city and goes around the district with a grand finale again being held at the preliminary destination.

Who Comes

The festival is visited and enjoyed by more than 8000 tourists from all over the world. This is one time when natives of the region and travelers along with Government administrative officers all together come along to celebrate the mystical magic of Kutch and its diversity.

Interesting facts

Kutch or Rann Mahotsav, a unique manifestation of varied cultural ethos of the region is known for the ethnic flavor and celebrative zest. This festival provides an exclusive opportunity to witness the creative ingenuity of the artisans and craftspeople, assorted array of folk music and performances, mixed representation of culture and communities, along with a vast diversity in ecology. All this and much more describe and define Kutch and the people.

Calender

02nd to 04thDecember 2009 (Wed-Fri)
19th to 21stDecember 2010 (Sun-Tue)
09th to 11thDecember 2011 (Fri-Sun)
28th to 30thDecember 2012 (Fri-Sun)
15th to 17thDecember 2013 (Sat-Tue)

Vautha Fair

History

Legends hold that on a full moon night Kartikeya, the son of Shiva, visited this site on Kartika Purnima during his journey round the earth, and performed austerities at the meeting point of the rivers. His paglas are still worshipped here. Dholka is also believed to be ‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise.

When

This fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, corresponding roughly to the month of November. It lasts for five days.

Where

The magnificent Vautha Fair is held every year at Vautha, where two rivers, the Sabarmati and the Vatrak meet. Dholka (26 kms away) is also believed to be ‘Virata Nagar’ of the Mahabharata where the Pandavas spent the last year of their exile in disguise.

Who Comes

The village of Vautha is small, with only 2000 inhabitants. Yet this fair brings together more than 500,000 visitors through the five days of the fair. The fair attracts people from the Jath Vanjara communities, as well as other pastoral groups. Villagers from surrounding agricultural areas of Bhal and Nalkantha in Ahmedabad district, and Charotar in Kheda district, are also seen in large numbers. It is good to see that although it was previously a fair frequented mostly by Hindus, now even Muslims visit it in fairly large numbers.

Interesting facts

The most important ceremony is a purifying bath in the sacred river on Kartika Purnima, the full moon night, which is believed to absolve one from all sins.

Calender For The Next 5 YearsIndependent India

2nd to 3rd November 2009 (Mon, Tue)
21st to 22nd November 2010 (Sun, Mon)
10th to 11th November 2011 (Thu, Fri)
28th to 29th November 2012 (Wed, Thu)
17th to 18th November 2013 (Sun, Mon)

Kite Festival

History

Kites are believed to have first arrived in India either through Muslim traders coming eastward through Persia or Buddhist pilgrims coming from China in search of sacred texts. Either way, they have a long history in the region. Over 1000 years ago, kites were mentioned in song by the composer Santnambe, and numerous classic miniature paintings of typical scenes in the area depict people flying kites. Since Gujarat is at the westernmost edge of India, it is one of the regions where Muslim and Hindu cultures have blended to a great degree in many aspects. Hence, the development of using kites, probably brought by Muslims, to celebrate Uttarayan, a Hindu festival. Still, no one knows exactly when this tradition began.

When

This fair is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, corresponding roughly to the month of November. It lasts for five days.

Where

Uttarayan is celebrated across Gujarat, with major centers of kite-flying in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Nadiad, among others. The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad.

Navratri

History

There are many enthralling legends and myths attached to the history of Navratri: The demon Mahishasur, after being given a boon by the fire god Agni that he wouldn't be killed by weapons bearing masculine names, caused grave destruction and terror. The gods sought the help of Lord Shiva, who advised the invocation of the goddess Shakti. With the gods' prayers, a divine luster sprang from the heart of Lord Shiva and the bodies of all the gods and formed the goddess Adhya Shakti. The gods gave her ornaments, arms and a lion as a vehicle. She fought with the evil Mahishasur for nine long days and nights, and at last, resulted in the beheading of Mahisa on the tenth. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri, while the tenth day was called Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day that brought the triumph of good over the evil. Sati (also known as Uma) married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father, King Daksha Prajapati. In revenge, Daksha organized a huge yagna and invited all the gods and deities except his new son-in-law. Sati decided to attend the yagna despite Lord Shiva's attempt to persuade her not to. The King ignored his daughter's presence and publically abused Lord Shiva. Unable to bear her father’s insults, Sati committed suicide by jumping into the yagna fire. However, she was reborn and again won Lord Shiva as her groom and peace was restored. It is believed that since then Uma comes every year with her four children Ganesh, Kartik, Saraswati and Laxmi and two of her best friends or 'sakhis' called Jaya and Bijaya, to visit her parent's home during Navratri. These legends and story are part of the history that surrounds the festival of Navratri and are going to be around as long as the festival continues.

When

Navratri is celebrated for nine nights, beginning on the first day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month Ashwin, roughly corresponding to dates in the Gregorian calendar in September/October. This also usually coincides with the end of the rainy season. Dasara/Vijayadashami, is the tenth day of Ashwin.

Where

Garba happens at night in villages and neighborhoods all around Gujarat, so just step outside and follow the booming garba music. Vadodara is considered the cultural capital of Gujarat, and the most sought after location for celebrating Navratri. Try to visit at least one village garba too, for a range of experience.

Calender

19th to 27thSeptember 2009
08th to 16thOctomber 2010
28thSeptember to 5thOctomber 2011
16th to 24thOctomber 2012
05th to 13thOctomber 2013

Tarnetar Fair

History

Legend says that this fair has been held here since antiquity. Its origin is linked with the story of Draupadi’s swayamvar, where the great archer Arjun performed the difficult task of piercing the eye of a rotating fish with an arrow, by only looking at its reflection in the water. Through this feat he won his bride Draupadi.

Historically speaking, this festival tradition is believed to have begun 200-250 years ago. The fair is held on the grounds of the temple of Triniteshwar Mahadev, which means "the three-eyed God." The old temple that used to stand in Tarnetar was ruined, but a new one was built by the Gaekwads of Vadodara in the 19th century, and is now the focal point of the festival. It stands on the bank of a rivulet and opens into a beautiful kund. It is locally believed that this site used to be the original course of the Ganga river at some point in history, so a dip in the temple tank is considered by pilgrims to be as auspicious as a swim in the holy Ganga.

When

The fair is held for three days every year during the Hindu calendar dates of Bhadarva Sud - 4th, 5th and 6th (during the Gregorian calendar months Aug.-Sept)

Where

The Tarnetar fair is held 8 km from the town of Thangadh, in Surendranagar District. This is the nearest railway station, on the Ahmedabad-Hapa broadgauge line. The nearest town with road transportation to other places is Chotila, 25 km from Thangadh, which is connected by ST buses from Rajkot (75 km), Jamnagar (162 km), Ahmedabad (196 km) or Porbandar (252 km.) From Bhavnagar, Chotila can be reached either via Rajkot, a trip of 264 km, or via Botad, a shorter journey of 190 km. Chotila, Thangadh and Tarnetar are well connected by ST buses and other mode of transportation. The nearest airport is Rajkot, 75 km away.

Who Comes

Being the most important fair of Saurashtra, Tarnetar is attended by more than 50,000 people. The main castes that have been participating are the Kolis, Rabaris, Bharwads, Khants, Kanbis, Kathis, Charans, the Harijans and the Desh-rabaris. With its growing reputation, visitors from rest of India and many different parts of the world are also seen here.

Interesting facts

The Kolis of Saurashtra initiated the custom of embroidering umbrellas, which are exquisitely elaborate in terms of embellishments. The embroidery of each is unique and rises from the edges all the way to the top, with beadwork and patchwork in the design as well. Small colorful handkerchiefs are attached all around the edge, to attract further attention. These men spend over a year embroidering their umbrellas. Their intention is to entice the girls with their art, cloths and head gear and impress them, so that they can propose them for marriage. It is not surprising that, before the fair is over, they usually meet the lady of their choice.

Calender

23rd to 25th August 2009 (Sun, Mon, Tue)
11th to 13th September 2010 (Sat, Sun, Mon)
1st to 3rd September 2011 (Thu, Fri, Sat)
19th to 21st September 2012 (Wed, Thu, Fri)
9th to 11th September 2013 (Mon, Tue, Wed)

Wild Life

Dsada

Gir

Velavadar

Places of Interests

Dwarka

Jambughoda

Lothal

Porbandar

Poshina

Adalaj

Sultan Ahmed Shah mosque

Gandhi Ashram

Hathising Jain Temple

Jama Masjid

Rani Roopmati Mosque

Sidi Sayyid Mosque

Champaner

Pvagadh

Dasada

What to see

Dasada Wildlife

Some places in the world are known for lush greenery, others for steep cliffs and snowy glaciers and others still for refreshing water lapping against hot beaches. But of all the landscapes in the world, harsh deserts are perhaps the one that fewest people have experienced. Believing it to be not as pleasant as other landscapes, many people miss out on the tremendous beauty found in deserts. Precisely because there are very few people, visiting deserts like the Little Rann of Kutch which gives a traveler the chance to ponder a world before there were so many of us around.
Only after hours blanketed by the deep silences that fall on the salt flats in the middle of the day, when the only sound is the wind scraping along the sand, can you appreciate the sounds that emerge in the evening, the birds singing, insects chirping and the scuffle of small animals rustling in the brush. Only after looking out at the unending flats do you appreciate the greenery and rich wildlife that congregates on the beyts or islands that rise up out of the Rann. And only after getting to know the desert do you begin to understand a secret, that the beauty of life lies hidden in even the most seemingly desolate of places.

LABELS: Wildlife, National Park & Wildlife Sanctuaries

The Wild Ass Sanctuary of the Little Rann of Kutch, spreading across nearly 5000 square kilometers of the Little Rann, is the only place on earth where the endangered Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur), known locally as the ghudkhar, still lives. The only other two subspecies of wild asses live in the high arid plateaus of Tibet, making this the most accessible place to visit wild asses in their natural environs. Standing more than a meter tall at the shoulder and two meters in length, wild asses are very agile and can run long distances at a speed of 50 km/h, making them more like wild horses, and far more captivating than their domesticated cousins. Around 3000 of them live in the sanctuary, and are usually seen in herds, especially around breeding season (foals can be seen with the herds around October and November.)
But the Sanctuary is home to far more than just the wild ass. Among the 32 other species of mammals are the chinkara(Indian gazelle), two types of desert fox (Indian and White-footed), jackals, caracals (African lynx), nilgais(the largest antelope of Asia), Indian wolves, blackbucks, and striped hyenas. From the salty desert, periodically inundated during the monsoons, to wetlands where freshwater rivers draining through the Rann mix into the seawater of the Gulf of Kutch, and the scrub forests found on the beyts, the variety of vegetation types means a similar variety of animals inhabit the area.
Because of the Sanctuary's proximity to the Gulf of Kutch and its location on the migration routes of many bird species, it is a very important site for birds to feed and breed in. Every year, approximately 75,000 birds nest in the reserve. The ceraneous vulture comes from Egypt, the common and demoiselle cranes arrive from Siberia, the blue-tailed bee-eater visits from Europe, and the houbara bustard of Iran and Iraq stops over as well. All of these are commonly sighted in the sanctuary. Also present are sandgrouses, desert wheatears, ten species of lark, the white-browed bulbul, Indian coursers, stoneplovers, shrikes, ducks, geese, three types of ibis, spoonbills, godwits, stints, sandpipers, shanks, moorhens, saras cranes, both Indian flamingoes, and three species of pelican.
The Sanctuary also houses 93 species of invertebrates, including crustaceans, insects, molluscs, spiders, annelids and zooplanktons, as well as four species of frogs and toads, two species of turtles, twelve snakes, fourteen species of lizards and one kind of crocodile. The tidal wetlands along the edge of the Gulf of Kutch are a key breeding area for prawns.

Gir

Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan Gir) is located in the Junagadh Districts ofGujarat, spread over an area of 2450 hectares. The park was set up in 1965 with the aim of protecting the pure Asiatic Lions. Gir is the last home for these Asiatic Lions. Though Gir is the home of the Lions, there are other species also that inhabit the forest. The park has diverse flora & fauna. The animal species include Leopards, Spotted Deer (Chital), Peafowl, Nillgai, Sambar, Chousinga, Wild Boar, Langurs, Jungle cats, Striped Hyenas, Indian Porcupine etc. The bird species include Spoonbill, Ibis, Paradise Flycatcher, Honey Buzzard, Redheaded Merlin, Parakeet, Owl and Spotted dove among many others .Gir is also home to the Siddis, a community that is known to have African origins. Siddis are known for their dance & tribal performances. Kankai Mata and Tulsishyam temples are interesting places to visit as they are known for their hot springs. The Gir Interpretation Zone at Devalia has chained fences and a double gate entry system and was created to reduce tourism hazard & enable tourist to view the wildlife & habitat of Gir.

Best For:

Background

Near by places

Jamnagar is a princely city known for its bandhani fabric print, royal palaces & temples. The lake in Jamnagar is popular with bird watchers as it has about 75 species of birds. It is also the headquarters of the Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park and Wildlife Reserve, which protects around 42 islands & their coral reefs & mangroves. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is also near Jamnagar.

Girnar Hill & Gondal are also nearby places that have caught the attention of tourists visiting Gir. Further information on Gir can be obtained from The Sanctuary Superintendent, Sasan Gir, Junagadh or the Conservator of Forests, Sardar Baug, Junagadh.

Gir

LABELS: National Park & Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tribal, Wildlife,

Modhera Sun Temple

As one traverses the length and breadth of Gujarattoday one constantly stumbles across architectural legacies of the' Solanki' rule. You keep coming across, living spaces and monuments of another time, offering an eclectic glimpse of the artistic and ingenious beauty that makes this exotically state vibrant.
A soothing drive amidst green farmlands just 35 km away from Mehsana on the way to the temples of goddess Bahucharaji reposes the village of Modhera. Set along the backdrop of River Pushpavati, surrounded by a terra-formed garden of flowering trees and songs of birds, rests the famed Sun temple of Modhera.
As you relax and soothe your nerves, become one with nature and open your mind to the poetry in stone, dedicated to the sun god, living glimpses of the era far elapsed emerge out of the intricacies of narrative sculptures . The remains of the Sun Temples at Modhera are relics of times gone by when reverence of the natural elements fire, air, earth, water and sky were at their peak sharing space with myriad manifestations of Vedic gods. The ancient philosophy venerating natural elements and its association with humans was considered the prime force and energy of the life cycle. A walk around the serene temple campus makes you aware of the positively strong aura of energy which the place radiates and through it brings one closer to the environs.
The exclusively carved temple complex and the magnificently sculpted kund are jewels in the art of masonry of the Solanki period apparently which was also known as the Golden Age of Gujarat. Savor your voyage through time to the magnificent eons of the Golden period as you get welcomed personally by the life like icons, narrating stories and legends of Modhera!

Modhera

102 km northwest of Ahmedabad, Modhera is known for it Sun Temple built in the 11th century by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty. The temple is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God and is one of the finest examples of temple architecture in Gujarat. The temple is designed so that the rays at dawn during the equinoxes fall of the image of the Sun God.  Both the interior as well as the exterior of the temple are elaborately carved with magnificent images of Gods and Goddesses, birds, flowers as well as erotic images similar to those at Khajuraho. Unlike the Sun Temple at Konark which rests on 12 wheels of a chariot, the one at Modhera was built on the petals of a lotus which runs the whole length of the temple. The temple comprises three elements.
Surya Kund, which is an intricately carved, stepped tank named after Sun god  Surya.Sabha Mandap, which is a hall used for religious gatherings and conferences. Guda Mandap, i.e. sanctum sanctorum, which once housed the idol of Sun God. The Modhera dance festival is scheduled to be held during the third week of January every year, for three days in the backdrop of the Sun temple.The objective is to present classical dance forms in an atmosphere they were originally presented in.

Palitana

Every religion has its focal points on the surface of the earth.  In the case of Jainism, the holiest places lie not on the surface, but reaching up into the skies. Along with Mts. Abu, Girnar and Chandragiri, Shatrunjaya is one of the most sacred places for the faith. Climbing the stairs of Shatrunjaya is, for a pilgrim, the ascent to greater knowledge along the path to liberation. For a visitor, it can be a day's journey into the heart of the Jain spirituality, a passage through a new cosmology of total non-violence and devotion. 

LABELS: Hills, Jainism, Temple

LABELS: Hills, Temple, Jainism

According to Jain scripture, Shatrunjaya hill was the site where Adinath, the 1st Jaintirthankar, achieved enlightenment. The hill thus became one of the holiest sites of Jainism. It is no coincidence that the most sacred sites of Jainism are all mountains, where pilgrims ascend to the heavens, seeking their path to enlightenment.
Some accounts say there are nearly 900 temples on Shatrunjaya, some a great deal less. The date of the first temples’ construction is uncertain, but appears to be around the 11th century. Over the next several centuries, many more temples were built. Some temples were torn down, ravaged by thieves or non-Jains, and the temple complex has seen successive renovations over the last half-milennium. Most of the temples standing today date from the 16th century onward. Under Mughal rule, Emperor Akbar issued an edict granting special status to Shatrunjaya, as well as to Mts. Abu, Girnar and Chandragiri (in the Himalaya), protecting the area from non-Jain influence, prohibiting the killing of animals at the site, and thus allowing Jain tradition to flourish uninhibited.
At the foot of Shatrunjaya, the town of Palitana was the capital of a small princely state, founded by a Gohel Rajput named Shahji.

Palitana

What to see:

The Shartunjaya Hill is about 2000 ft above Palitana. There are about 3950 steps and it takes almost two hours to reach the top. It is a tiring climb & dolis are available for hire for those who are unable to walk up. All Jains aspire to climb the hill at least once in their lifetime. (It is a belief that by climbing the hill at least once, one can attain Nirvana). Food cannot be eaten or carried on the way but one must not forget to carry water during the climb. From the foot of the hill to the peak there are numerous temples with exquisite carvings & beautiful motifs. These temples are of great religious as well as architectural importance. The Adishwar temple is the temple of the first theerthankara & is the most important temple on the hill. Also known as the Chaumukh temple, the marble roofs and pillars are carved intricately. The shrine contains a four-faced deity of Adinath on a marble pedestal and the temple was built in the 17th century. The temples on the hill are divided in 9 tuks- a cluster in which the main temple is surrounded by several smaller temples. These temples are beautifully decorated with geometrical designs & floral motifs, exquisitely carved toranas, beautiful arches, and bejeweled idols.  The other famous temples are Vimal Shah, Sampriti Raj, Ramaji Gandharia (16th century), Bhulavani, Kumar Pal, Vallabhai Temple, Motisah temple & Adinath temple. The temples are open from dawn to dusk & no person (not even the priests) is allowed to remain on the hill after dusk. Leather items are prohibited. Near the main temple there is a Muslim shrine of Angar Pir, which is often visited by childless women, as it is believed that they will be blessed with children once the Pir blesses them. The Shri Vishal Jain Kala Sansthan and the Stapitya kala graha are the two Jain museums in Palitana. These museums have ancient paintings, manuscripts, ivory idols & other sculptures on display. On special permission from the Hill Inspector or The Manager, Anandji Kalyanji Trust, visitors can also get a chance to view the temple jewellery, which adorns the deities on special occasions.

Patan

In childhood you built yourself a fort of sheets and pillows, and discovered that the enclosure gave you the freedom to explore. Now enter the town of Patan, hugged by its fort walls and gates still largely intact, and re-discover the spirit of play.
You meander through the bustling bazaar of this charismatic town. Tucked away among the havelis in the narrow pols you stumble upon rope or bidi (traditional cigarette) makers, working on their doorsteps. You go on a treasure hunt in search of the uniquepatola and mashru weavers, the snow-white Jain temples, the Hemachandracharya Jain Gnan library of ancient Hindu and Jain texts.
You find yourself leaving the city walls heading north-west, as if something calls you. On your way to Anahilvada Patan, the ancient city that served as Gujarat’s capital for 650 years, you find the 1000 year old Kali temple from where Kali Mata, the kuldevi (family goddess) of the Solanki dynasty, guards the town. Furthest north, you find the Sahasralinga Talav, literally “lake of a thousand lingas”, which is finely constructed to channel water in from the nearby Saraswati, and you begin to realize that it is the sanctity of water that has been and still is, beckoning you. You turn around and come towards the edge of Rani Ki Vav, the “Queen’s stepwell”, and as you descend into the cool air towards the water, the carved stone gods and consorts invite you into their world, the world of spirit and the sacred. Here, in the infinite, your journey is always just beginning.   

The ancient city of Anahilvada Patan was founded by Vanraj Chavda, the first of the Chavda dynasty. Legend has it that he laid the foundation at the place pointed out by Anahil, a shepherd friend from his younger days, and named the city after him.
The city was the capital of Gujarat for 650 years, from 746-1411, after the center of power moved from Saurashtra around the same time that the separate kingdoms of the area were integrated into roughly what we today call Gujarat. It was ruled by a series of dynasties: the Chavda, Solanki, and finally Vaghela. Under the Solanki rule, 942-1244, Anahilvada shone as a center of trade, learning, and architectural achievements. It was also a thriving center for Jainism, and the Solanki rulers commissioned a large number of Hindu and Jain temples, as well as other civic and religious constructions.
During the Vaghela rule towards the end of the 13th century, Ulugh Khan, commander under Alauddin Khilji, plundered the town and destroyed it completely. In 1411 the capital shifted to the newly founded Ahmedabad, leaving Patan as a shadow of its former glory. One of the positive effects of Muslim rule in Patan is the presence of some of the earliest the Muslim buildings in Gujarat, built before even the earliest famous constructions in Ahmedabad.
The ruins of the ancient city, with the famous Rani Ki Vav and Sahasralinga Talav, stand about 2 km northwest of the quaint town of present-day Patan, which is known for itspatola saris and mashru weavers.

Patan

Patan is an ancient fortified town with narrow streets and elaborate wooden houses situated about 130 kms north-west of Ahmedabad. Patan enjoyed a privileged status of being the capital of Gujarat, for about 600 years from 745 to 1304 under Hindu Rulers. The major Rajput clans of Chavdas (746-942), Solankis (942-1244) and Vaghelas (1244-1304) ruled the Hindu Kingdom of Gujarat from Patan. Patan is extremely famous for its Patola weaving centre which produces strikingly beautiful silk saris which involve a laborious process of dyeing each thread separately before weaving.   

Tourist Attraction:

Somnath

In the Shivapurana and the Nandi Upapurana, Lord Shiva is quoted as saying, 'I am omnipresent, but I am especially in twelve forms and places.' These places are known asjyotirlingas, and Somnath is the first to be found in the world. Around the linga the moon god Soma built a mythical temple of gold as an ode to Lord Shiva's glory and compassion. Like the waxing and waning moon, and fittingly for a place associated with Lord Shiva's cosmic dance of creative destruction, the Somnath temple has risen unfailingly from repeated acts of devastation. 
On Kartik Sud 14 in the Hindu calendar, the day of Shiva's son Kartikeya's birth, a fair is held for four days at the shrine of Somnath. Millions of devotees converge here for these ebullient celebrations on the shores of the Arabian Sea.

According to Puranic legend, Soma, the moon, married 27 sisters, but stubbornly favored one to the neglect of the others. Their father, Daksha Prajapati, therefore cursed him to have his brilliance consumed by the darkness of night. Stricken with grief, the moon went to holy places, trying to alleviate his pain, but to no avail. At last he came here and worshipped Shiva with great devotion for 4000 years. Shiva took pity on him and bade that he should wane in brilliancy for only 15 days in a month, recovering his lost splendor in the following fortnight. Overcome with gratitude, the moon erected a golden temple to Shiva over the previously existing jyotirlinga. As the moon regained his brilliancy, bhas, at this site, it was named Prabhas, which means "the exceedingly brilliant." 
The temple came to be known as exceptionally auspicious--people suffering from incurable diseases were reported cured after simply touching the linga. In the Mahabharata, Krishna advised the Yadavas that a pilgrimage to Somnath would absolve them of Durvasa's curse. 
Another legend tells that not far from Somnath is a place where Krishna, reclining under a pipal tree, was shot in the foot by a Bhil huntsman named Jara who had mistaken him for a deer. Limping a long way eastward, Krishna was able to reach the bank of the river Hiranya just above the triveni sangam (meeting place of three rivers), and breathed his last in a small cave. His body was taken to the triveni sangam and cremated there. The site where he was shot is known as Bhalka Tirtha, and the site of his cremation, near a temple to Mahakali, is called Dehotsarg. 
The first historical temple at Somnath is believed to have been built between 320 and 500 AD. As it grew in importance due to the stories above, pilgrims converged at the temple to offer whatever they could, kings bestowed riches upon it, and the town and temple flourished with great wealth.

The temple was destroyed a few times during its first several centuries, but little details are available about the successive destructions and reconstructions. In the 11th century AD, the Sunni Muslim iconoclast Mahmud of Ghazni (998-1030), sacked the temple and returned to Ghazna in eastern Afghanistan with the temple treasures, including the famed silver gate. Then, after a rebuilding, in 1297 AD Allaudin Khilji's commander-inchief Afzal Khan destroyed the structure. Over the next 500 years, the temple was successively reconstructed and ransacked, by Muzzafar Shah I in 1390, by Muhammad Begda in 1490, Muzzafar II in 1530 and Aurangzeb in 1706.
In 1783 Maharani Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore built another Somnath temple next to the original site, which was in serious disrepair. After Independence, Sardar Patel visited Somnath, was deeply moved by the poor condition of the original temple site, and resolved to renovate it as soon as possible. In 1951, the new temple was constructed on the original grounds, next to the 18th-century construction of Holkar's. The remains of the old temple are now preserved in a museum for public view. The jyotirlinga was installed by then-President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, in 1950 AD. The overall look reminds one of a Solanki temple in the manner of Modhera, due to the efforts of Sardar Patel, whose statue stands outside.

Somnath

Somnath is a small town situated on the western coast of Gujarat and the Somnath temple here is the location of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple is revered by Hindus due to its association with Lord Shiva and has been plundered and rebuilt about eight times till now.  According to the legend the temple was first built by Somraj, the moon god in gold. This was later rebuilt by Ravana, Krishna and Bhimdeva in silver, wood and stone respectively. Travellers to Somnath gave such glorious descriptions of the wealthy temple that it prompted Mahmud of Ghazni to plunder it. The temple was attacked by many Muslim invaders several times and rebuilt each time by Hindus. Finally it was destroyed by Aurangzeb in 1706. After the attack by Aurangzeb the temple was not rebuilt until 1950. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played an important role in the reconstruction of the present temple.M

Tourist Attractions:

The Prabas Pata Museum in Somnath is also worth a visit. The museum contains remains of the previous temples. A few kms from Somnath is Bhalka Tirth. This legendary spot is the confluence of three rivers where Krishnamistaken for a deer was shot by an arrow. The Suraj Mandir (sun temple), the Junagarh Gate, the Mai Puri (mosque) and the Ahilyabai Temple are other places of tourist interest in and around Somnath.

Lavdar Blackbuck National Park

LABELS: National Park & Wildlife Sanctuaries, Wildlife

Velavadar National Park was formerly the private grassland of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, where he would hunt blackbucks with his famous hunting cheetahs. Today, the blackbuck is considerably more endangered, and so is protected from hunting, but this sanctuary is just a tiny patch of safe ground for the blackbuck to inhabit. Created in 1976, and nearly doubled in size in 1980, the park now covers 34 square km, which is barely one-sixth the size of the city of Ahmedabad. Of this area, already small, only a little over half (17.5 square km) is usable grassland. An additional 5 square km are covered by the invasive prosopis shrub, and just over 10 square km is made up of saline lands and high tidal mudflats. These mudflats are the high tide zone of the Gulf of Khambhat, and the lower part of the park (not just the tidal area) also floods every so often. The picturesque golden fields turn a deep shade of green during the monsoon. Floods are not uncommon (and not problematic, as they are a natural part of the ecosystem’s cycle). Droughts, however, are also quite common, but pose more of a problem; park caretakers often have to resupply waterholes by bringing in tankers of water from elsewhere. Cyclones have also battered the park on occasion, the worst being in 1982 when 311 blackbucks were killed in the storm.

The blackbuck for which the park was created lives mostly in the grasslands on the northern side. Found only in South Asia, the blackbuck once lived all across India, but now the largest population is here, and few are found outside Gujarat. The conservation of the blackbuck here has been a big success, however, it remains endangered due to its dependence on such a limited area to live in, but the local population has risen from a low of 200 in 1966 to around 3400 now. Given such a large population in such a small area, the chances of spotting one are very high, especially since the wide open grasslands make it easy to spot these animals leaping high over the grasses. The breeding seasons are October and February.

Other animals in the sanctuary include the nilgai (another Indian antelope), jackal, wolf, jungle cat, and fox, but the other main attraction is the bird life. Pelicans, flamingos, white and painted storks, three kinds of cranes, many birds of prey, and the rare Stolizca’s Bushchat all live here, mostly in the southern part of the park, where all the wetlands lie. The extremely rare Lesser Florican, one of the 50 rarest birds in the world, breeds here. If you’re lucky, you might see one of its characteristic courtship displays, in which a male will jump upwards out of the grass to impress females. In the winter, thousands of harriers arrive from central Europe to spend the cooler months here; you can see them in the evenings coming back from feeding around the neighboring cotton fields. One in particular, the Montagu’s Harrier, is a major predator of the locust, a great problem for farms all around the area; as a safe haven for the pest-controlling harriers, the park serves an important role in local agriculture .