Famous Travel Destinations in Gujarat

Here is the best Travel Destinations in Gujarat.

Jamnagar

Regarded today as one of the key oil refineries in India and located on the south of the Gulf of Kutch… Jamnagar served as the capital of the Princely State of Nawanagar which was established in 1540. The city houses several ancient Hindu and Jain temples which happen to be the grandeur of the city. The Sidhnath Mahadev Temple in the Jamnagar city area, the Navlakhi Temple in Ghumli, Kileshwar Temple in the Barda Hills, Sun Temple at Gop, Bala Hanuman Temple and Bhid Bhanjan Temple built by the are important destinations for Hindu pilgrims. Whereas the Vardhman Shah’s Temple, Raisi Shah’s Temple, Sheth’s Temple, and Vasupujya Swami’s Temple out of 30 Jain temples in Jamnagar are the prominent Jain pilgrimage sites.

Thus Jamnagar is considered as one of the important pilgrimage sites in Gujarat. Built as the royal residence of Jam Saheb, the Darbargadh Palace is a fine example of Rajsthani and European style of architecture having stone carvings, wall paintings, fretwork jali-screens, ornamental mirrors, carved pillars, sculpture and Venetian-Gothic arches… thus capturing the eyes of several travellers. The Lakhota Palace in the middle of the Lakhota Lake is another major tourist attraction in Jamnagar having historical significance. It houses a small museum having a rich collection of historical diorama, sculptures, pottery found in the ruined medieval villages, coins, copper plates and inscriptions.

The Pratap Vilas Palace, Solarium, Kotha Bastion and Bhujio Kotho are some other attractions that arrest the travellers mind. Jamnagar also fascinates several nature and wildlife lovers as the city encircles the Marine National Park which is a home to several aquamarine lives including dolphins, whales and sharks. The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, approximately 10 kilometers from the city is another eco-tourist hub near Jamnagar and one of the popular wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat.

Dwarka

The history of Dwarka still remains vague but recent archaeological excavations have uncovered underwater stone structures that indicate settlement during the proto-historic times. Dwarka… on the other hand is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site in India and is a part of the foremost Chardham sites. The city is home to the ancient Jagat Mandir, popularly known as Dwarkadhish Temple, which is said to be 2000 years old.

It is dedicated to Lord Krishna and thus draws a large number of pilgrims during the Janmasthami festival. There are several other temples in Dwarka which are dedicated to Rukmini, Mirabai, Narsinh Mehta and Shank Narayan respectively. The Beyt Dwarka is another Hindu temple in Dwarka that is located on an island off the coast and is also dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Gandhinagar

The capital city itself doesn’t hold a vast history but with its neighbouring city, Ahmedabad, which is approximately 24 kilometers away… it narrates the era of the Muzaffarid Dynasty. Gandhinagar is one of the well planned cities in India and is located on the west bank of river Sabarmati. The city’s major attraction is the Akshardham Temple that belongs to the wealthy Hindu Swaminarayan Group. It is crafted with beautiful carvings detailing the chapters of Hindu religion and culture. The Akshardham Temple Complex in Gandhinagar consists of temple monuments, gardens, educational centers, exhibition centers and research center.

For travellers having a keen interest in skilled handicraft the Craftsmen’s Village in Pethapur is surely going to bring them close to the exquisite pattern of Gujarati culture. Nonetheless, the Children’s Park and Sarita Udyan are the major recreational centers in Gandhinagar. Sarita Udyan on the other hand is an ideal picnic spot. Some other attractions in Gandhinagar are the Indroda Park, Punit Van and Rupal village.

Bhuj

Emerging from the medieval era, Bhuj was established in the early 16^th century by Rao Hamirji and served as the capital of Kutch state till Kutch became a part of Gujarat in 1960. It was the seat of the Jadeja Rajput, which can be witnessed from the ancient monuments and havelis dotted in the city sphere. The Cenotaphs Complex housing several tombs once served as memorials for the royal family since 1770 and is one of the major tourist attractions in Bhuj.

On the other hand, the Prag Mahal that was built in the mid of 19^th century and Aina mahal Palace that was built in the 18^th century are the two most notable attractions in Bhuj that narrate the rich architectural design reflecting the Indo- saracenic style. The Kutch Museum, built in the year 1877 as Fergusson Museum, overlooking the Hamirsar Lake, is a must visit place for tourists. It houses a large collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions, archaeological objects, arms and specimens of various crafts of the Kutch region. Kera, which is home to one of the ancient Shiva temples that dates back to the 10^th century, makes for a perfect excursion. Other places to visit in the outskirts of Bhuj are Lakhpat and Bhadresshwar.

Junagadh

One of the most historic cities of Gujarat, Junagadh houses the 3^rd century BC rock inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka. The city and its surrounding hills have Buddhist and Jain caves, most of them dating back to the 2^nd century AD. The Uparkot Fort has existed at this site for more than two millennia through most of its walls and monuments that are visible today are relatively more recent.

Within the fort are 11^th century and 12^th century stepwells and tanks, canons and structures. In the city around the fort, the Nawabs who rose to power in the 18^th century built many palaces and public building which remain the major tourist attractions.

Anand

The city prospered as one of the major industrial hubs in India and is the home to the notable AMUL Industry, which remains the major attraction for the travellers. The history of Anand mostly elaborates a concrete chapter of the Gaekwads and their generosity towards developing Anand as a cultural and religious hub in Gujarat.

The Bhadran village that houses several temples and social and civil works of the Gaekwads also positions itself as a remarkable sightseeing tour in Anand. Dakor, the keystone of Tourism of Gujarat is home to the ancient Ranchhodrai Dakor Temple, dedicated too Lord Krishna, which was built in the year 1772 having 8 domes and 24 turrets.

Close to the Ranchhodrai Temple is the Gomti Lake, which is a popular recreational center in Anand. Another ancient temple that was crafted during the Solanki era, the Shiva Temple in Galteshwar is a major Hindu pilgrimage site in Anand. Some other temples in Anand that attract travellers are the Bochasan Swaminarayan Mandir, Ramnath Mahadev Mandir, Ashapura Mataji Mandir, Bodana Temple, Santaram Mandir and Gayatri Temple. The Hari Om Ashram in Bilodra is a must visit place where serenity surrounds to procure a space of solitude for quiet reflection.

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One such favored tourist destination for tours to India in winter is Gujarat. With Runn Utsav in offing and salubrious weather condition making it ideal time to explore the immense cultural and archaeological wealth, we bring to you the best places to visit in Gujarat - See more at: http://blog.indianluxurytrains.com/2013/09/top-ten-places-to-visit-in-gujarat.html#sthash.4yiEhmMh.dpuf