Saurashtra is a Gujarat coastal region on the Arabian Sea coast. Saurashtra is known for its warm hospitality, great culture, civilization, food, and brave kings' history. Rani Ki Vav is a well-known Stepwell where visitors can enjoy light displays, cultural events, and the Rani Ki Vav festival. Gir National Park and the White Desert-Rann of Kutch are Saurashtra's pride and joy. Natio-birthplace, Porbandar's father's Lord Shiva Jyotirlingas, Dwarkadhish Temple, and Sabarmati Ashram are popular tourist destinations.
The Asiatic Lions' only remaining habitat is Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is in Talala Gir, Gujarat, and it is part of the Kathiawar- Gir dry deciduous forests Eco region. Gir National Park is closed from June 16 to October 15 each year, with April and May being the best months for wildlife viewing. Gir provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit a location that is critical and defining in the preservation and sustainability of a specific species. When these lions were on the verge of extinction due to hunting, the Nawab of Junagadh took the initiative to save them. In 2010, there were 411 lions, according to the official count. There are also approximately 2375 different species of fauna here, including 38 mammal species, over 300 bird species, 37 reptile species, and over 2000 insect species. Other important wildlife species found here include leopard, Chausingha, Spotted Deer, Hyena, Sambar Deer, and Chinkara.
The original home of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife Kasturba was the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, north of Ahmedabad. A calm and peaceful stretch of the Sabarmati River surrounds the ashram. This is also where Gandhi's Dandi March begins. Because it was located between a prison and a cemetery, Gandhi believed that a Satyagrahi would almost certainly end up in either a prison or a graveyard. Sabarmati Ashram will help you regain your self-confidence. The museum is the most well-known of the many institutions on the Sabarmati ashram grounds. Various personal letters and images of Gandhi are displayed throughout the space. Other structures at the ashram include Upasana Mandir, Magan Niwas, Vinoba, Nandini, and Kutir. The ashram is now a historical site, having witnessed a variety of historical events. You can also go here to learn more about India's ancient history.
Champaner and Pavagadh, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, are frequently combined as one of Gujarat's most enthralling historical attractions. Pavagadh is perched atop a hill, overlooking the maze of monuments at Champaner's base. Between the eighth and fourteenth centuries, the duo forms a rich heritage site dotted with forts, mosques, monuments, tombs, arches, temples, step-wells, and fortresses. Pilgrims visit Pavagadh today to worship at the important Kalika Mata Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Kali and sits atop the summit. Champaner is the only Islamic-Mughal city that has remained untouched over the centuries, offering a true taste of the era's architecture. During Navratri, thousands flock to the Kalika Mata Temple on Pavagadh Hill.
In 1980 and 1982, India's first Marine Wildlife Sanctuary and Marine National Park were established in the Gulf of Kutch. This represented a significant advance in societal and governmental understanding of how to interact with nature. The sanctuary spans 458 square kilometres, with the park taking up 163 square kilometres. It is a collection of 42 tropical islands off the northern coast of Jamnagar and the southern coast of Kutch. It is situated between the lowest and highest tide levels, in the intertidal zone, which is submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide. Allowing to see the most diverse marine habitats in the country, such as saline grasslands, marshy areas, rocky shores, mudflats, creeks, estuaries, sandy strands, coral reefs, and mangroves. There are 52 different types of coral, 42 of which are hard and 10 of which are soft.
The Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar is one of India's largest temples and a popular pilgrimage site. This temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, and took over 13 years to construct and was dedicated on October 30th, 1992. The Akshardham Mandir is located in the heart of the 23-acre complex, which was built with 6,000 metric tonnes of Rajasthan pink sandstone. Akshardham is a cultural centre and melting pot that draws visitors from across the country. The temple seeks to disseminate Bhagwan Swaminarayan's teachings and philosophies, as well as to serve as a centre of devotion, education, and social unification. Each of the Akshardham temple's five exhibition halls uses beautiful audiovisual techniques as well as life-sized dioramas to explain various Hinduism themes. Swaminarayan's life, philosophy, and teachings are depicted in the Halls of Sahajanand and Neelkanth. Sat-Chit-Anand, a water show based on a famous Upanishad story, is also performed here. Akshardham also has a research centre and library that are only open to enrolled students.
In 1954, the 4,500-year-old city of Lothal was discovered. Lothal was an important port on the Indian subcontinent during the Harappan era, which lasted from the second millennium B.C. to the third millennium B.C. Lothal is an important archaeological site because of its scientific layout and a massive dockyard that facilitated trade with other civilizations at the time. Pushpawati Ganga, a gleaming, snow-fed river that flows through a 1.5-mile-wide valley. The valley's dazzling array of flowers attracts beautiful butterflies and dainty flying creatures during the day and millions of glow worms at night from mid-July to the end of August. During the day, the flowers lean over gracefully to soften the edges of the valley's tiny melt water streams, while the mountains beyond stand more majestic than ever against a backdrop of dark purple clouds. In the last hour before daylight, a grey mist sneaks in over the valley from the glacier end, while the mountains around are aglow, suffused with magical light. Fairy folk with millions of glowworm lamps hover over the flowers, tending to them, according to local legend.
Daman and Diu Union Territory is divided into two districts: Daman and Diu. Both districts are located on India's western coast, about 700 kilometres apart. Daman is the Union Territory's capital. Diu is an island, whereas Daman is a peninsula!! Diu is a small, beautiful island off India's western coast. The climate is pleasant all year, making this a year-round tourist destination. This tranquil island, located off the tip of Gujarat's Saurashtra peninsula, is the ideal combination of sun, sand, and sea. The Union Territory of Daman, nestled near the mouth of the Damanganga River as it embraces the Arabian Sea, is easily your dream destination. Its postcard-perfect beauty never fails to enchant the throngs of tourists who visit. The slow and relaxed vibe of this region is characterised by sun, sand, surf, and a slower pace of life. It's best in the winter, but a visit during the monsoon season with all the greenery surrounding the city and approaching roads is also beautiful.
The interiors of the palace include well-kept mosaics, chandeliers, and artwork, making it one of India's most impressive Raj-era palaces to this day. Laxmi Vilas Palace was designed with cutting-edge amenities like elevators to make it a suitable modern palace with western sensibilities. One of the palace's most majestic features is the Darbar Hall, which has Venetian mosaic flooring and Belgian stained glass windows for music concerts and cultural events. The stunning Navlakhi Stepwell, the Maharaja Fatehgarh Museum, and a small zoo that once housed crocodiles are all part of this 700-acre palace compound. A miniature train line encircling the mango arcades connected the location to the school so that the children could make the commute easier. Laxmi Vilas Palace, one of India's grandest structures, was built in 1890 as the private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. It is a magnificent Indo-Saracenic hybrid of elements from Hindu, Mughal, and Gothic architectural forms, with the use of domes, minrates, and arches. The designer-architect, Robert Fellows Chisholm, took twelve years to complete this grand structure in 1890.
This is the primary shrine of a goddess who has been worshipped since the pre-vedic period. She is also known as Arasuri Amba, after the location of the temple in the Arasur hills, near the Saraswati river's source at the southern end of the Aravali Mountain range. Ambaji Mata Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The red flag flutters in the breeze above the temple. Nagar Brahmins originally built the temple out of white marble with gold cones. Because Mataji is said to have forbidden the addition of any other door, there is only one main entrance in the front and one small side-door. Chachar Chowk, an open square where ceremonial sacrifices known as havans are performed, surrounds the temple. The inner sanctum of the temple has silver-plated doors. A gokh, or niche, in the wall contains an old-plated marble inscription of the Viso Yantra, a Vedic text on sacred geometry. There is no goddess idol, possibly because the temple predates idol worship, but the priests decorate the upper portion of the Gokh to look like a goddess idol from a distance.
The Dwarkadhish Temple, also known as the Jagat Mandir, is a Chalukya-style Lord Krishna temple. Dwarka's history can be traced back to the Mahabharata's Dwaraka Kingdom. The five-story main shrine, constructed of limestone and sand, is magnificent in its own right. The temple features intricate sculptural detailing done by the region's ancestral dynasties, as well as a magnificent black idol of Lord Krishna. There are other shrines within the temple which are devoted to Subhadra, Balarama and Revathy, Vasudeva, Rukmini and many others. Devotees are expected to take a dip in the Gomti River before entering the temple through the Swarg Dwar. The eve of Janmashtami is the most special occasion in any Krishna temple, with thousands of devotees chanting prayers and rituals. The shrine is a swarm of colours, voices, and faith that transforms into inner silence and sanctity
It is believed that Shiva first appeared as a flaming column of light at the intricately carved, honey-colored Somnath temple on the state's western border, the first of India's twelve sacred jyotirlingas. The confluence of the rivers Kapila, Hiran, and Sarasvati, as well as the tides of the Arabian Sea, all have an impact on the area where the temples are located. The old temple's history dates back to 649 BC, but some believe it to be far older. The current shape was rebuilt in 1951. Colorful dioramas of the Shiva story line the north side of the temple grounds, however it's difficult to see them through the misty glass.
The biggest attraction of the temple is Amitabh Bachchan's baritone giving a one-hour sound-and-light performance every night at 7.45 p.m. to advertise the temple. According to tradition, Somraj (the moon god) erected the temple in Somnath out of gold at first, and it was then rebuilt in silver by Ravana, wood by Krishna, and stone by Bhimdev. The current serene, symmetrical structure was built using conventional patterns on the original seashore site; it is painted a creamy colour and has a tiny piece of fine sculpture. The massive, black Shiva lingam at its centre symbolises one of the 12 most holy Shiva shrines, called jyotirlingas.
Junagadh, one of Gujarat's most beautiful and inspiring districts, combines magnificent architecture with vibrant street life. The literal meaning of "Junagadh" is "old city," and the city gets its name from Uparkot, an ancient fort built on a plateau on the town's eastern outskirts in the 4th century CE. Junagadh is also known as "Sorath," the former Junagadh Princely State's name. Junagadh has inscriptions, edicts, caves, temples, forts, stepwells, tanks, and canons dating back to the 2nd century AD, not to mention the Girnar Hill. Among the numerous attractions in Junagadh, tourists prefer Girnar, Mahabat Maqbara, Uperkot fort, Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden, Damodar Kund, and Damodarji Temple. The Girnar hill, located to the east of the city, is still the main attraction in Junagadh. Girnar Hill is an extinct volcano that Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus have revered since the third century BC. The hill is home to a number of highly revered Hindu and Jain temples. The Nawabs took control of Junagadh in the 18th century and constructed many buildings and public sites that are still popular tourist destinations today.
The Nageshwar Temple is one of Lord Shiva's 12 Jyotirlinga temples and one of the oldest temples mentioned in the Shiva Purana. Because it is thought to be the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the Jyotirlinga has special significance in Nageshwar. The Swayambhu lingam enshrined in the underground chamber of Nageshwar Temple, Nageshwar Mahadev, attracts thousands of pilgrims all year. This powerful Jyotirlinga represents protection from all poisons, and those who pray here are said to be poison-free, including snake poison. The statue or Linga here faces south, as opposed to other Nageshwar Temples. The massive 80-foot-tall Lord Shiva statue is a major draw at Nageshwar Temple. Traditional Hindu architecture distinguishes the temple. The Nageshwar Shiva Linga is made of Dwarka Shila stone and is adorned with small chakras. It has the shape of three Mukhi Rudraksha. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is significant because it is the first of India's twelve Jyotirlingas.
Girnar is a group of mountains in Gujarat's Junagadh District, near Junagadh. It is also known as Girinagar or Revatak Parvata. Girnar, the mountain, and its surrounding range are thought to be older than the Himalayas. It is a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus and Muslims alike, who flock here during the Girnar Parikrama festival. Later, some Jain temples were built, some of which are still in use today. Girnar is one of the five major "Tirthas" associated with various "Jain Tirthankaras" Panch Kalyanakas. Girnar is also significant among Shiva devotees for the so-called "mystic space-time" of the mountain range, with the presence and turnover of various Sadhu Baba sects, Nath sects, and others. The mountains also host flora and fauna fairs, such as the Maha Shivratri fair. Various Jain Tirthankaras and monks have visited Girnar's peaks and practised severe penance in the past. It contains a number of temples and historical sites throughout its range. In the midst of the lush green Gir Forest, the mountain range serves as a centre of religious activity.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is remembered for his bravery, leadership, and fearlessness, and he continues to inspire millions of people worldwide. It houses a priceless collection of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel memorabilia. Also it is one of Gujarat's most well-known museums, housing over 10,000 art and craft specimens. The Sardar Patel National Museum allows visitors to follow in the footsteps of India's Iron Man. The architecture of the museum is as impressive as its exhibits. It was built in 1622 for Shah Jahan and is also known as the Motishahi Mahal. Britons later seized the building to use as a cantonment office for senior officers. The museum's exteriors are surrounded by a lush green garden with beautiful water bodies, which attracts animals such as monkeys and peacocks. The museum features cutting-edge technology such as multimedia halls, LCD displays, a jail zone, and multi-touch tablets. Documentaries in three different languages attempt to tell Sardar Patel's life story in the multimedia centre.
Camp Hanuman Temple is a Hindu temple in the Cantonment area of Ahmedabad, 7 kilometres from Ahmedabad Junction. It is a popular pilgrimage site in Ahmedabad and one of India's largest Hanuman Temples. Pandit Gajanan Prasad constructed the Hanuman temple more than a century ago. In the Hindu epic Ramayana, written by the Hindu Sage Valmiki, Shree Hanuman was a military leader of the monkey army from Kishkinda who aided Lord Rama in his quest to reclaim his kidnapped wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. The temple's main sanctum sanctorum houses a gold-plated statue of Lord Hanuman. A mace, Lord Hanuman's weapon, is also near the idol. The walls of the temple are adorned with writings in the name of Lord Rama. People travel long distances in search of Hanuman's blessings and solutions to their problems.
