Best Things to do Gujarat West India’s frontiers, especially Gujarat, have earned their place among India’s best holiday destinations. And of all the things you can do in Gujarat, it’ll be your favorite spot on vacation too. Several memorable encounters await you as you discover its rich history , culture, architecture and more. It’s a good idea maybe to walk around the coastline. Or fetch binoculars to spot wildlife. Or, peek into the heritage, taste the authentic flavors or simply explore Gujarat ‘s top places to visit.
The holiday season celebrated the great taste all over the globe, travelers from overseas rush to India with their family and friend to explore and discover India’s rich heritage , culture and natural diversity.
Gujarat is one such favorite tourist destination for winter tours to India. With Runn Utsav in offing and savory weather conditions making it an perfect time to explore the immense cultural and archeological richness, we will bring you the best places to visit in Gujarat to make the most of your winter holidays in India.
There are a number of reasons you might travel to Gujarat. From the fossil fields of indigenous dinosaurs, Gir with the only home to Asian Lions outside of Africa to the art of Neolithic cave paintings, to the stone masonry of a succession of both modern and ancient civilized architecture.
And from the wonders of Jain architecture, Hindu Temples of Somnath and Dwarka rising from the Arab Sea to the seasonal island of Kutch that trickles into the rugged white salt desert come summer and where the local craftsmen weave the finest textiles in India and battle Little Rann‘s inhospitable forces, Gujarat has it all.
With this multiplicity of holiday options in Gujarat, we’ll bring you the list of top 10 places to visit in Gujarat. Please note that when the weather is pleasant the best time to visit Gujarat is from October till March.
Safari at Gir National Park
Tourists visiting Gir Park also love to safaris jeep. For any tourist a trip in the wild jungle is such an exciting concept. But, for this ride, you must get permission from the Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge Office (will be provided by us). That in Gir is such a wild attraction. You will see the Lions in their natural habitat when you are on Jeep Safari, while they are on the prowl. Looking at the Lions from the open-roof jeep is a beautiful sight altogether. You can also click on some pictures of the Lions during your Jeep Safari trip. The perfect time to see the Lions is in the morning and dusk. The Forest Department makes Jeeps and Guides available.
Heart pounding and full of adventure, the Gir Safari Tour provides a pretty direct glimpse of the incredible wilderness in the home of so many unique wild animals such as Asian lions and Butt, ensuring a distinctive mix of incredible happiness, action and fun for each tourist. You can easily watch the magnificent flora and fauna and rare wildlife together over the spectacular Gir National Park
There is only one choice of jeep safari available as a safari in Gir National Park. Unlike other Indian national parks there is no canter safari or elephant safari. You will see the Lions in their natural habitat when you are on Jeep Safari, while they are on the prowl. Looking at the Lions from the open-roof jeep is a beautiful sight altogether. During your safari tour with Jeep, You can select some Lions videos, too. The best time to see the Lions is in the morning and at dusk. The Forest Department makes Jeeps and Guides available.
Bow your heads at Somnath Temple
Somnath the temple town has a long and treasured history. However though many other names refer to it, names that it acquired in the different phases of History, the name Somnath remains unrivalled in terms of popularity. And rightly so because this little town should be forgotten, except because of the presence of the majestic Somnath Temple it receives its best known name. Somnath is about five kilometers from Veraval. The Somnath temple here is believed to have been originally constructed out of gold by Somraj, the Moon God himself, and then reconstructed in silver by Ravana, and then in Wood by Krishna, then in stone by Bhimdev. The Somnath temple that enshrines one of the twelve Jyotirlingas was respected so highly that people from various backgrounds nook and corners of the country came to offer their prayers here.
Not much is known about Somnath’s early Life. But it is believed popularly that the first temple existed long before the Christian period began. The second one was constructed in the period 480-767 A.D. By Kings Vallabhi. This was replaced again by King Nagabhattta II of Pratihara in 815 A.D.
Somnath rose and fell for a long time, and the amazing drama for its desecration and the passionate desire of the devout Hindu for its restoration continued until the 15th century, when the Hindus finally abandoned themselves in absolute misery and built a new temple nearby.
Fall in love at Rann of Kutch
The Kutch Greater Rann at Gujarat is the world’s largest salt deserts. It is renowned not only for its stunning white sands, but also for the annual Rann Utsav festival, which in winter has thousands of tourists flocking to it. You may lack the adjectives to describe the natural beauty of the Kutch, the paint-worthy cultural canvas, a cornucopia of art forms, and a foodie’s paradise. While winters in the desert that be cruel, it’s the perfect time for you to embark on an adventure that celebrates art , culture, food and life.
Marvel at the might of the Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity sits on Sadhu Bet Island in Gujarat, on the Narmada River. It honors Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel, a leading figure in modern-day India’s history. The liberty hero, also referred to as the Iron Man of India, was instrumental in unifying the country as the British colonial rule prepared to relinquish power.
The exclusive documentary focuses on how it became the Statue of Unity. It’s a tale of unparalleled cooperation across India and even abroad, between a building giant, an artist, experts and other contributors. The Statue of Unity was a task like no other for renowned artist and Padma Bhushan award recipient, Ram Vanji Sutar, known for his sculptures of Indian leaders. Many disciplines-art, architecture and engineering-needed to come together for the project. The documentary highlights the challenges at the project’s crucial points and how these were overcome, in record time, to create a 21st century wonder.
Viewers will see the Unity Statue come to life on the ground like never before. Exclusive site and build video, interspersed with the building team’s expert interviews and eminent others provide an in-depth account of what it took to build the highest statue in the world.
Relax by the Kankaria Lake
Kankaria Lake was previously known as Hauz-E-Qutub, and served as a bathing area for that era’s sultans. It now features in the center a beautiful island garden with a beautiful summer palace called Nagina Wadi. Kankaria Lake is one of the best places to take a picnic in Ahmedabad.
You will also enjoy the various games in the entertainment center, such as toy train rides, tethered balloon rides, kid’s town and boat trips. The nearby lake area is a great place to enjoy a relaxing evening stroll.
There are also other sports, such as archery, gymnastics and water slides, that you can enjoy here. The Carnival of Kankaria Lake, held here during the last week of December, is celebrated with great enthusiasm during this time, with people visiting from around the country.
Explore the Royal Laxmi Vilas Palace
The Laxmi Vilas Palace is home to the Royal Gaekwad family who were once rulers of Baroda’s princely state before independence from India. The construction on this magnificent palace had been started in 1878 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, a futuristic ruler The structure was completed 12 years later in 1890, and is named after Thanjore’s third wife, Rani Laxmibai, of Sayajirao Gaekwad.
Palace Laxmi Vilas was one of the most luxurious palaces of its time. Today it is considered one of India’s largest private resident homes. Sayajirao Gaekwad’s great grandson Maharaja Ranjitsinh continues to live with other members of the royal family in Laxmi Vilas Palace to this day.
Many of the parts of the palace that bear historical significance have been kept open to tourists at the royal family ‘s discretion.
Rani Ki vav
In 1063, in memory of her husband King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty, Rani (Queen) Udayamati commissioned this vav or stepwell. The vav was later overwhelmed by the nearby river Saraswati and silted over until the late 1980s, when it was excavated by India’s Archeological Survey, with the carvings found in pristine condition. Rani Ki Vav ranks among India’s finest moves, And one of the ancient capital’s most celebrated legacies.
Gujarat’s vavs are not only places for collecting water and socializing, but also bear great spiritual significance at the same time. We were initially designed very clearly, but over the years we became more complex, perhaps to make this clear Ancient idea of water holiness by carving it out of the deities of stone. Thus you can enter Rani Ki Vav as if it were an underground temple.
The steps begin at ground level , taking you through several pillared pavilions down through the cool air to enter the deep well below. The seven galleries comprise more than 800 elaborate sculptures. The main subject is the Dasavataras, or ten Vishnu incarnations, including Buddha. Accompanied by sadhus, brahmins, and apsaras (celestial dancers), the avatars ink their lips and adorn themselves. At water point, you come to a Sheshashayi-Vishnu carving, in which Vishnu reclines on the thousand-hooded Shesha serpent, where it is said that he rests in the space between ages.
Akshardham temple
Temple Akshardham GandhinagarSwaminarayan Akshardham Temple is an architectural phenomenon that recounts India’s cultural heritage. Akshardham has one of Gujarat ‘s largest temple complexes and is a beautiful shrine located in the heart of Gandhinagar. The majestic landmark is readily accessible via the city’s existing means of transport. The temple was built by the same organization BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha), with the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, predecessor to Akshardham at Delhi.
In Nov 1992, BAPS promoter Pramukh Maharaj himself inaugurated Akshardham Mandir. Akshardham Temple has become in the present day a big and popular attraction among devotees and tourists. Akshardham Temple, BAPS’s prolific initiative is a hub for promoting India’s art, culture and values. Akshardham is an outstanding Indian origins example, where art is ageless, history is boundless, and ideals are unchanged.
The sanctum sanctorum embraces Lord Swaminarayan ‘s seven-foot-tall, gilded image. The various floors are named for Hari Mandapam, Prasadi Mandapam, and Vibhuti Mandapam. These floors encompass different sections, where people engage in selfless service to the Lord. The key concept behind such services is to expose people to Lord Swaminarayan ‘s philosophy. The aim of BAPS ‘is to educate people about India’s rich spiritual and cultural roots.
