Somnath

Introduction and history: The town of Somnath is located in western coast of Gujarat. Is has one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, which makes it one of the most important pilgrimage centers in India. According to Hindu mythology it is believed that the temple was created by Moon God himself. In the past few centuries multiple attacks in India destroyed some portion of the temple and remains of the temple of Somnath has withstood the shocks of time and still remain as a great example for imposing architecture. The construction of the present form of temple began in 1950.Its beautiful sight facing the blue Arabian Sea is a treat to watch.

What to see and when to go: The Someshwar Mahadev temple is the main attraction of this place, which stands tall among the temples of India. The pinnacle rides to a height of 155 feet and the kalash atop the shikhar weighs 10 tonnes. The flag mast is 37 feet long, which gives an account of how mammoth the temple is. In historical times the temple, the third to be precise, was raged to the ground by Sultan Mohmad of Ghazni. Bhalka Tirth, Junagarh Gate, Mai Puri, Jama Masjid, Bhidiyo Pagoda and Mai Puri are some of the other attractions. October to March is the ideal time to visit Somnath.

Accommodation: Even though Somnath is one of the important tourist destinations, no luxury accommodation is available. For the pilgrims and tourists, there are other options available in form of guesthouses and rest houses at budget pricing starting as low as 300 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: The nearest Airport is at Keshod, which is located at 47 Kilometers from the temple. It is connected with Mumbai with frequent flights. Veraval railway station located at 5 Kilometers is the closest Railway station. It is well connected with Mumbai and Ahmadabad. Multiple transport buses and private luxury coaches are available from all parts of Gujarat connecting Somnath.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.gujarattourism.com/
• Somnath temple website : http://www.somnath.org/

See also (nearby places): Dwarka, Bordi, Daman, Udvada, Palghar and Silvassa are nearby tourist attractions.

Porbandar

Introduction and history: The city of Porbandar is located on the western coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat. The name ‘Porbandar’ is derived from two words: ‘Porai’ (local goddess) and ‘Bandar’ (harbor), thereby giving the meaning of goddess’s harbor. During 10th century it was referred as ‘Pauravelakul’, which was mentioned in the Hindu epics as the hometown of Sudama, a beloved friend of lord Krishna. Some accounts also call this place as ‘Sudamapuri’. However the contemporary Indians know this city as the birth-place of Gandhi, the Father of The Nation. Porbandar is extremely rich in natural resources thanks to its location. It has lengthy sea-shore, rivers, lakes, hills, valleys and fields.

What to see and when to go: The main attraction of this place is called Kirti Mandir, which is the Birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Known for its spiritual nature and long history the city has multiple temples. There are multiple attractions in form of Sudama Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Gita Mandir, Gayatri Mandir, Ram Dhoon Mandir and Rokadia Hanuman temple. Other attractions include Kamla Nehru Park, Nehru Planetarium and Tara Mandir. The climate at Porbandar is generally pleasant throughout the year.

Accommodation: Frequently visited by tourists from all over the country,
there are a good number of hotels in Porbandar that provide quality service to their guests. There are also multiple guest houses available to provide budget accommodation starting from 300 rupees per day. Some of the standard hotels have a beautiful sea view.
Mode of Transport: Porbandar has its own Airport, which has daily flights connecting with Mumbai. It also has a well-established road and rail links connecting with Mumbai and Ahmadabad.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.porbandaronline.com/
• Official website : http://porbandar.gujarat.gov.in/

See also (nearby places): Kuchdi, Ghumli, Gope and Barda Hills are some of the nearby attractions.

Junagarh

Introduction and history: Junagarh is an ancient city situated at the foot of Mount Girnar on the northern fringes of the Gir forest. Junagarh means Old Fort, which is also known as ‘Sorath’, the name of the earlier Muslim-ruled Princely State of Junagadh. Tracing back the history, it was originally held by the Maurya dynasty by Chandragupta in 319 BC. Followed by them the Solanki and Mughal dynasty conquered this place. Junagarh is also a place of pilgrimage and has produced a number of saints in its long histroy, which includes Gujarati poet, Narsimha Mehta. It is also a wonderful nature reserve for various flora and fauna.

What to see and when to go: The main attraction is the Uperkot Fort, which stands on the eastern side of Junagarh. It is believed that the fort was built by Chandragupta in AD 319, it was rebuilt several times in the later centuries. The fort also houses Jami Masjid, Tomb of Nuri Shah, and two baolis (step wells)-Adi Chadi and the Navaghan Kuva. There are some Buddhist caves, which are believed to be 1,500 years old.Mahabat Maqbara,Durbar Hall Museum,Girnar Hill temples, temples of Neminath, Mallinath, Amba Mata, and Damodar are some of the major tourist attractions.October to March is the ideal time to visit Juagarh..
Accommodation: There are not many luxury accommodation options in and around Junagarh. However there are lots of low and middle-budget accommodation options available starting with 350 rupees per day.
Mode of Transport: The nearest airport is Ahmadabad, which is 300 Kilometers from Junagadh. There are regular trains run between Junagarh and Veraval, Ahmedabad. Junagarh is well connected by road with nearby cities Rajkot (100 Kilometers), Porbandar (107 Kilometers) and Jamnagar (184 Kilometers).
Related links:
• Tourist information: http://www.gujarattourism.com/
• Junagarh information : http://www.gujaratplus.com/

See also (nearby places): Somnath temple, Ahmedabad, Porbandar, Gir national park Kamleshwar dam and Keshod are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Jamnagar

Introduction and history: The city of Jamnagar is a coastal town, located in Gujarat state. Founded by Jam Raval during 14th century, it was so named after the ruler who called themselves ‘Jamshree’. In the recent years it is popularly known for its oil refineries built by Reliance Industries. Initially the city was built around Ranmal Lake, which in the centre of the city. During the formative years it was called as ‘Nawanagar’, named by Jam Raval. There is a story behind the creation of this city. Once Jam Raval made a territory of his own around the city, he wanted to choose a capital city for the same. Once on a hunting trip on the land of present day Jamnagar, a hare was found to be brave enough to turn on the hunting dogs and putting them to flight. Deeply impressed by this, thought this place has bravery built in its soil. After consulting astrologers he formed the ‘Nawanagar’ on the banks of two rivers Rangmati and Nagmati. Jamnagar is having the only Ayurvedic University in India.
What to see and when to go: Jamnagar is one of the important tourist destinations in Gujarat. It offers multiple attractions from historical monuments to beaches. Some of the historical places include Darbargadh Palace, Lakhota Fort, Willingdon Crescent,Pratap Vilas Palace, Kotha Bastion, Dhanvantri Mandir (Ayurvedic University),Solarium and Bhujio Kotho are some of the major tourist attractions in Jamnagar. It also has multiple bird sanctuaries like Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, Marine National Park, Rozi and Bedi Ports and Cremation Park. Being a costal city Jamnagar has also got multiple beaches to its credit. Some of the main beaches are Positra, Dabdaba, Madhi and Pirotan. October to March is the ideal time to visit Jamnagar.
Accommodation: Jamnagar offers multiple options for accommodation and multiple star hotels are available. Accommodation can go up to 2000 rupees per day for a luxury hotel. Budget hotels can offer accommodation for about 600 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Jamnagar has its own Airport, which is located at 10 Kilometers from the city. It is having frequent flights connecting with with Mumbai. Its Railway Station is well connected with Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Delhi, Calcutta and other important cities of India. Jamnagar has a well-established road link to various cities of Gujarat.

Related links:

• Tourist information: http://www.jamnagar.org/
• Official website : http://www.mcjamnagar.com/

See also (nearby places): Rajkot, Porbundar, Bhuj, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat are some of the nearby tourist attractions.

Dwarka

Introduction and history: Dwarka is one of the most important Hindu Pilgrimage cities in Gujarat. According to Hindu mythology it is believed that Dwarka was the kingdom of Lord Krishna. It is also believed that Lord Krishna settled here after leaving Mathura. It is one of India’s seven oldest towns, where he reigned for decades. There are lot of stories and beliefs associated with the city since the Mahabharata time frame. When Arjuna was hesitant to launch the battle against his own gurus and relatives, Lord Krishna set out from Dwarka to the site of the battle, to instruct him, which is popularly known as Bhagavad Gita. This is also the place where Lord Krishna received his poor friend Sudhama and the Lord finally abandoned his body and reached the heavenly adobe. In recent years the city remains point to a level of prosperity unusual at that time. It has been visited by many persons, which include Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Narsinh Mehta, Mira, Kabir and Nanak.

What to see and when to go: Jagat Mandir is the main temple which is believed to be the adobe of Lord Krishna. The festival of Lord Krishna, called as Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated there every year here with great splendor and amidst great rejoicing. The Sharada Peeta, Bet Dwarka and Nageswar Mahadev are some of the other attractions of the city. October to March is the ideal time to visit Dwarka.
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Accommodation: Various types of hotels are available in Dwarka to suit all budgets. Many hotels charge starting from 500 and luxury accommodation can cost up to 2000 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Jamnagar is the nearest airport and is about 150 Kilometers from Dwarka. Jamnagar is connected with Mumbai with frequent flights connecting them. Visitors can travel to Dwarka from Jamnagar either by road, rail or bus. It is one of the important railway stations in the railway line that runs from Viramgam to Okha, which is well connected with nearby cities Ahmedabad (378 Kilometers), Rajkot (217 Kilometers) and Jamnagar (137 Kilometers). The state highway connects Dwarka with the above mentioned cities as well.

Related links:

• Official website of Jagat Mandir: http://www.dwarkadhish.org/
• Tourist information: http://www.gujaratplus.com/

See also (nearby places): Gopi talao, Bet Dwaraka, Rukshmani Mandir, Harisiddhi Mandir, Porbandar and Somnath are nearby tourist attractions.

Ahmedabad

Introduction and history: Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat and the sixth largest city in India. Ahmedabad is the administrative center of the Ahmedabad District, which was the former capital of Gujarat. The Solanki Ruler, King Karandev had waged a war against the Bhil king of Ashapall. After his victory Karandev established the city called ‘Karnavati’, which retained its importance till early 15th century when Gujarat fell to the Muslim Sultanate. Once Muslims conquered the Karnavati it was renamed and founded as a new one by Sultan Ahmed Shah on the Sabarmati River. Today Ahmadabad is one of the important historic centers of Gujarat and a thriving business district.
What to see and when to go: With its rich heritage and history, Ahmadabad offers multiple tourist attractions of all forms. It has important historical and spiritual monuments like Ahmed Shah’s Mosque, Balvatika, Teen Darwaza and Bhadra Fort, Daria Khan’s Ghummat, Siddi Sayyad’s Mosque, Gita Mandir, Swami Narayan Temple, Hathisinh Mandir, Jhulta Minar, Jumma Masjid, Kankaria Lake, Rani Sipri’s Mosque and Tomb, Rani Roopmati Mosque, Rauza of Shah Alam, Sabarmati Ashram, Siddhi Sayyad Mosque and Dada Hari Vav. The city has long history of Art, which is displayed in multiple Museums which include Calico Museum of Textiles,Shreyas Folk Art Museum, Kite Museum and Natural History Museum. October to April is the ideal time to visit Ahmadabad.

Accommodation: There are multiple options in Ahmadabad, matching all budgets. The city has multiple star hotels which can provide luxury accommodation which can cost up to 5000 rupees per day. There are multiple budget options available which can cost around 500 rupees per day.

Mode of Transport: Being the important administrative city of Gujarat, the city of Ahmadabad is well connected to other parts of the country in all forms. It has an Airport, with frequent flights connecting it with nearby cities Bombay, Delhi and Jaipur. It is one of the busiest railway stations connecting it with almost all major cities. State highway connects Ahmadabad with all major cities of Gujarat which includes Rajkot, Jamnagar and Dwarka.

Related links:

• Official website: http://www.egovamc.com/
• Tourist information: http://www.cityofahmedabad.com/

See also (nearby places): Lothal, Patan, Cambay, Gandhinagar and Adalaj are some of the nearby attractions.