Gujarat is the 6th largest state in India, located in the western part of India with a coastline of 1600 km (longest in India). It is one of the most popular tourist regions in the country and was visited by 20 million domestic and international tourists in 2010-11. Gujarat offers scenic beauty from Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of Saputara. Gujarat is the one and only place to view pure Asiatic lions in the world. During the Sultanate reign, Hindu craftsmanship mixed with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many structures in the state are built in this fashion. It is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, iconic figures of India's independence movement. Amitabh Bachchan is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat Tourism. The ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki' campaign by celebrity Amitabh Bachchan has increased tourism in Gujarat by 14 per cent per annum, twice that of national growth rate. Ahmedabad is considered[by whom?] to be an ideal hub to cover all the destinations in Gujarat.
History:-
The history of Gujarat is an illustrious one. The history of Gujarat state comprises an important part of Indian historical texts. Gujarat finds mention in ancient historical artifacts. The history of Gujarat encompasses the Indus Valley civilization. The history of Gujarat is replete with the mementos and associated artifacts of the ancient civilization. About 50 Harappan settlement ruins were discovered in Gujarat. The Dravidian tribes were the original inhabitants of the region. The ancient history of Gujarat was enriched by their commercial activities. There is a clear historical evidence of trade and commerce ties with Sumer in the Persian Gulf during the time period of 1000 to 750 BC. The history of Gujarat saw an Aryan invasion followed by a brief period of Greek rule. There were a succession of Hindu kingdoms including the era of the Guptas and culminating in the reign of the Solankis. The 9th century history of Gujarat saw the emergence of the Muslims in the political arena of the state. The first Muslim conqueror was Mohammad of Ghazni whose conquer of Somnath effectively ended the rule of the Solankis. The Mughals established and consolidated their rule from Delhi The rule of the Mughals lasted for two centuries before it was ended by the Marathas in the 18th century.
There’s a saying that goes in Gujarat. “Kutch
Nahin dekha to kuchh nahin dekha” which translates to “you haven’t seen
anything if you haven’t seen Kutch.” Kutch is the deserving top desination to
visit in Gujarat especially when the Rann Mahotsav is in full swing.
Wedged between the Arabian Sea and the
boundless Thar Desert, Rann of Kutch is mesmerizing symphony of salt and sand.
This white symphony reaches its crescendo on a full moon night. What makes
Kutch even more surreal is that during the monsoon, it gets submerged in the
water.
For the remaining eight months of the year,
it’s a gigantic stretch of white salt lending it the look of white desert.
During full moon nights cultural programs celebrating Gujarat’s rich culture
and traditions are usually held at Dhordo. A moon light camel safari is the
Rann of a Kutch is one of the must to do things.
When winter arrives, the
Great Flamingoes arrive at the Great Rann of Kutch all the way from Siberia for
breeding lending the white desert a pinkish hue. Many other migratory bird
species such as the Busturds, Blue Tailed Bee Eater, Ceraneous Vulture and
Demoiselle Cranes also arrive here in large number.
Yet another thing to do in
Kutch is to visit the Wild Ass Sanctuary. Located in Little Rann of Kutch, Wild
Ass Sanctuary in Gujarat is the only place in the world where the endangered
Indian Wild Ass could be found.
For History buffs Dholvira is yet another
must visit archaeological site in Gujarat. It is considered to be one of the
modern cities dating back to the period of Indus Valley Civilization. It is
situated near Bhachau Taluka of Kutch.
Important Travel Tips: Rann of Kutch is
located close to the Indo – Pak border therefore all tourists require prior
written permission from the DSP’s office in Bhuj before traveling there. On
Saturdays and Sundays DSP office is closed so plan accordingly.
To experience the Kutch at its most colorful
and vibrant, Rann Mahotsav is the time to visit this destination in Gujarat. It
is a cornucopia of music, dance and myriad colors & culture of the state. A
three day annual razzmatazz, the white desert comes alive with music, dance,
live tents, camel safari, arts & crafts on display and cultural
performances during the Rann Utsav.
Some of you might be
wondering where the other names are that should have been featured in this
list. But considering we could list only 10, we could only talk about these.
With some notable omission like Jamnagar, Balasinor with its Jurassic Park and
Saputara, the only hill station in Gujarat; some hackles might rise, but we
would appreciate your feedback and more names so that we could have a Part II
of the Top 10 Places to visit in Gujarat.
02. Somnath :-
Somnath is the first and most sacred of the
12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. According to the legend the Hindu moon god known
as Soma built a temple entirely of gold to pay reverence to the lord’s glory
and compassion and the temple came to be known as the Somnath Temple. As per
the legends the same temple was reconstructed by Ravana in Silver, Krishna in
wood, and by King Bhimdev from stone.
Lying on the shores of the Arabian Sea, this
temple has been destroyed then reconstructed on number of occasion and finally
after India got Independence.Each year millions of devotees seek the blessing
of Lord Shiva at Somnath, rated one of the top temples in India when it comes
to religious significance.
03. Bhuj :-
Perhaps the phrase “steeped
in history” was coined to refer exactly to Bhuj. With connection to a range of
civilization beginning from prehistoric times, Mahabharata, Indus Valley and
the times of Alexander the Great to the regional sultans, British and then
modern India, Bhuj with over 4000 years of inhabitation is a cultural potpourri
and one of the best places to visit in Gujarat for cultural immersion. The major draw in Bhuj is the Aina Mahal (Mirror
Palace), Parag Mahal, Kutch Museum with rare artifacts, ramakunf Stepwell and
Hamirsar Lake. But Bhuj is more than just sightseeing, it’s the cultural
interactions be it traditional handmade textiles and crafts, enameled jewelries
and cultural excursions to surrounding villages which draws bulk of the
international tourists.
One such cultural side trip is Bhujodi.
Located 7 kilometers away from Bhuj, Bhujodi is a village of weavers. Yet
another village trip is Ajrakhpur, located 15 kilometers from the city, a
village of block printers. These trips give you the opportunity to meet
artisans, see demonstrations, and buy handicrafts.
04 Sasan Gir National Park :-The only place in Asia where you could spot the king of jungle prowling in the open wild, Sasan Gir National Park is located in the Junagadh District is one of the most visited tourist places in India. The main draw is Asiatic Lions but there is more to this protected area.
The park is
home to hyenas, leopard, marsh crocodiles, antelopes, sambar and huge number of
bird species which makes it an ideal candidate for one of the top wildlife
sanctuaries in India. Although people come here for lions, birding enthusiasts
head to Gir to have one of the finest bird watching experiences in India.
Best time to
visit Gir National Park is from November till March but for the best chances to
spot lions visit the park in hotter months of April and May. Check out some more wildlife vacation ideas
in India.
Situated on the Gomti Creek, Dwarkadheesh
Temple is one of the finest temples in India believed to have been built by the
grandson of Lord Krishna himself. Appearing to be rising from the waters of
Arabian Sea, the temple is renowned for its exquisitely carved architecture. It
is considered the holiest Hindu Temples and part of the Char Dham Yatra, the
most sacred of the all Hindu pilgrimages.
According to the legend, Lord Krishna settled
down in Dwarka with his Yadava Clan. Upon his death as Krishna avatar, the
entire Dwarka Island was submerged in the sea. The recent archaeological
excavations have supported these theories that present day Dwarka is one of the
6 ancient cities that existed here.
06 Vadodara / Baroda:-
Vododara, referred to as the cultural capital
of the state is one of the most visited tourist places in Gujarat. After the
waning Mughals were expelled by Marathas the Gaekwads, the local generals of
Marathas established Vadodara as their capital. The city offers a seamless
fusion of the past and present. The city flourished and modernized under the
aegis of Maharaja Sayajirao II and enjoyed great autonomy even during British
Rule in India.
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When it comes to things to do in Vadodara,
you may visit Kadia Dungar Caves, the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Nazarbaugh Palace,
Makarpura Palace, Sursagar Talav and the amazing Sayaji Baug.
Sayaji Baug was built by Maharaja Sayajirao
III in 1879 and is named after him. The Sayaji Baug also called Kamati Baug
includes 45 hectares of garden grounds, a flower clock, two museums, a
planetarium, a zoo and a toy train.
07. Ahmadabad:- Ahmedabad, the fifth largest city in India, is the commercial hub of Gujarat and also one of the best places to be in Gujarat. The city is renowned for its deep rooted culture, exquisite architecture and exuberant people. Ahmedabad was founded by the King Karnadev in 11th Century and was named after him as Karnawati untill Sultan Ahmed Shah invaded the kingdom in 1411 and renamed the city after himself.
The tourist
attractions in Ahmedabad include Bhadra Fort, well laid out historical
buildings, mosques and lakes. Mahatma Gandi’s ashram, known as Sabarmati Ashram
is one of the major draws of the city along with the nearby modern marvel
Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar.
08. Junagad :-
Literally meaning the “Old Fort”, Junagad is
a fortified city steeped in history. Sprinkled with Mosques, temples both Hindu
and Buddhist and other historical structures, Junagad was ruled by the Babi
Nawabs till India’s independence. Interestingly, the Nawab of Junagad wanted to
side with Pakistan after partition but since majority of populace was Hindu,
Nawab had to leave his princedom and flee to Pakistan.
Junagadh is mostly overlooked by tourist and
serves mainly as the base to visit Gir National Park. But this city is home to
some marvelous historical monuments. Mahabat ka Maqbara is one such example of
exquisite architecture. You can also find a Ashokan Rock Eddict here. Several
Jain Temples are also located close to the city build on the tops of Girnar
Mountain which could be reached by the flights up stairs.
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