‘Glorious Tour Program to Gujarat’

After breakfast, you will leave on a private guided tour of Ahmedabad. We would visit the Shreyas Folk Museum, which in many ways, is a tribute to the untiring spirit of Gujarati womenfolk who have made an incredible contribution to the rich and vibrant tradition of Handicrafts. A range of exquisite artefacts from varied communities can be seen on display, which includes colourful works of embroidery, wood carving, metal work, bead work and utensils, leather work, costumes, paintings and animal decorations, objects of household usage. The museum is open on all days except Mondays and public holidays.

We then proceed to the Tribal Museum at-Tribal Research & Training Institute, renowned for carrying out studies on life, culture and economy of the tribal people of Gujarat. The Institute has a tribal museum which is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Next in schedule is a visit to the Hathesing Temple, one of the best ornate Jain temples in Ahmedabad. Our last destination for the day will be Sabarmati Ashram, the home and ashram of Mahatma Gandhi, established on the banks of the Sabarmati in 1917. The energy of that movement – Dandi March, can still be felt at the Satyagraha Ashram. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel in Ahmedabad.

After breakfast you will drive to the village of Dasada, a few minutes from the entrance of the Little Rann of Kutch Wild Ass Sanctuary. Known for bird watching and the only place in India where wild ass can be found, Dasada attracts tourists seeking an authentic rural India experience. It will be at 1 hour, 45 minutes’ drive from Ahmedabad. This would serve as an ideal stopover when we would travel from Ahmedabad to the vivid district of Kutch.

Enroute we will visit Adalaj – famous for the existence of step wells in dry Gujarat, constructed with a roof to keep most of the sunlight out. Patan – an ancient fortified town situated about 130 kilometres North West of Ahmedabad, on the banks of the sacred Saraswati River, famous for old beautiful houses with carved wooden facades in traditional Gujarati architectural style would be the next on the chart.

We would then pay a small visit to the Modhera – the 11th century Sun temple, one of the finest examples of the golden period of architecture in Gujarat, during the 9th-12th century. Rest of the day is for relaxation. Overnight stay would be at the village Dasada.

After breakfast we would make a morning safari in Wild Ass Sanctuary- the only sanctuary for the Asiatic wild ass in India. Spread across nearly 5000 square kilometres of the Little Rann, the Wild Ass Sanctuary is the only place on earth where the endangered Indian Wild Ass still exists. Around 3000 of them live in the sanctuary, and are usually seen in herds, especially around breeding season. The Sanctuary is also home to 32 other species of mammals and home to approximately 75,000 migratory birds every year.

The Rann Riders is family-owned and operated, whose owners descend from Baktiar-ud-din who were given the 24 square mile area of Dasada and its nearby villages in batter for the military services provided to the Sultan of Gujarat in the 15th century. In the evening, you will visit the local village. Here we let you free to explore the village yourself. Overnight stay would be at camp in the village of Dasada.

After breakfast you will drive to Bhuj, known for its palaces, built in the traditional Kutchi style.  This will be an approximately 5 hour’s journey from Dasada. On arrival in Bhuj, you will be transferred to the hotel. In afternoon, you will have a guided sightseeing tour to some of the famous tourist destinations. The first one being the Aina Mahal Palace, this old palace, also known as the Palace of Mirrors or the Hall of Mirrors, is surrounded by a small, fortified courtyard built in the 18th century. The palace is situated on the North-east corner of Hamirsar Lake.

Master craftsman Ramsinh Malam – trained as an artisan for 17 years in Europe, felt unappreciated and went to the royal court at Bhuj to appeal to the king for work. Malam then designed it in a mixed Indo-European style.

We let you explore the rest of the compound outside the palace, with its beautiful carved doorways, elaborated window boxes and balconies. Most of the compound came down in 2001 earthquake.

Next on the schedule is the Palace of RaoPragmalji– Built near Aina Mahal.  This new palace was built in the latter half of the 19th century; Cenotaphs complex – built of red stones, they served as memorial grounds for the royal family; and, Kutch Museum – the oldest museum of Gujarat, closed on Wednesday, 2nd and 4th Saturdays and public holidays. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Bhuj.

After breakfast we will leave for a full day guided sightseeing tour to villages Banni and Khavda – where people make ornaments, clothes and utensils. Enroute we visit Lodlya, Nakhtrana, Bhirandiyara, Hodka & Dhorado, among the 164 villages in Bhuj Block, to see local tribes and their textiles. At Hodka/Nakhtrana Village we would have the pleasure to stay in Bhungas (Traditional Mud houses) or tents. The day would end with a traditional and a folk music performance around a bonfire.

We will drive back to Bhuj in the evening and overnight stay will be at a hotel in Bhuj.

After breakfast we would drive to Gondal, a town merely 35 kilometres away from Rajkot located on the river Gondali. You will check in at the hotel on post arrival at Gondal. Rest of the day is for self-exploration & relaxation. Gondal that was once the capital of the prince state of Gondal ruled by the Rajput clan. Ruled by a family of car enthusiasts, the repercussions of the royal passion, a fine collection of automobiles, are now housed in the museum within the palace premises. Gondal, is famous for its Naulakha Palace.

Enroute we will visit Rajkot, once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra, founded in the year of 1610 by Vibhaji Jadeja & Raju Sandhi. Today, famously known as the town where Mahatma Gandhi spent the early years of his life.

We would visit The Karba Gandhi No Delo – the house of the Mahatma Gandhi where he spent his childhood. The house has a good collection of things related to his life. His passion for the handloom is well preserved in the form of a small weaving school in Rajkot.

Overnight stay would be at a hotel in Bhuj.

We will drive back to Bhuj in the evening and overnight stay will be at a hotel in Bhuj.

After breakfast you will drive to Sasangir on a guided tour along with our naturalist. It will be a 5 hours’ drive. You would get to enjoy the scenic charm, covering an area of 1412 square kilometres of dry deciduous forest, on a jeep safari in the Gir National Park, home to the world renowned Gir Forest, the natural habitat of the Asiatic Lion. On arrival in Sasangir, you will check in at the camp.

Gir National Park is a deciduous forest spread with evergreen flora, scrub jungle, grasslands and hills. The sanctuary has large water bodies like the Kamleshwar Dam where you may get to see crocodiles and birds.

Enroute to Sasangir we would visit Junagad, famous for Mt. Girnar, towering over the city. This is breathtakingly beautiful holy site for Hindus and Jains, can be reached by climbing 9999-step staircase along peaks studded by temples that reach for the sky and look out across the plains. Overnight stay would be at the camp today.

After Tea/ Coffee at the Camp, we leave on an early morning jeep safari to explore more of Sasan Gir National Park, built to conserve the Asiatic lion-classified as one of the World’s most threatened species, of which nearly 300 can be seen on the Park.

We would return to the hotel for breakfast and let you rest for a while. In the afternoon, we will have another jeep safari in the Gir National Park, which has a blooming population of leopards as well. Other mammals which may be spotted at Gir are – Sambar, Spotted Deer, Nilgai, Wild Boar, the world’s only four-horned antelope (Chousingha) and the Indian gazelle (Chinkara). Overnight stay would be at the Camp today.

After breakfast, you will take a 4 hours’ drive to Diu, an island in the Southern peripheral of Kathiawar peninsula. Diu was governed by many well-known kings and dynasties during the prehistoric, ancient and medieval times. It was a Portuguese colony until 1961. It is now a Union Territory separated from Goa in 1987.

Explore the city with your guide, visiting the Somnath temples enroute. Located in the shore town of Somnath in Gujarat, it is one of the twelve forms and places of the omnipresent Lord Shiva, the first to be found in the world, known as jyotir lingas. Once you check in at the hotel in Diu, we let you rest for a while.

In the afternoon, you will have a guided sightseeing tour of Diu including Gangeshwar Temple, situated 3 kilometres away from Diu in Fudam village, this temple is said to have five shivlings, located amidst the rocks on the seashore and believed to have been worshipped by five Pandavas during their exile.

Next in schedule will be the Jalandhar Shrine, located on a hillock close to the beach, houses a stone carved face of Jalandhar, a mythological demon who was killed by Lord Krishna.

Evening would be spent at the Nagoa Beach, a part of the Nagoa hamlet of the Bucharwada village. You will relax in the beauty and serenity of this horse – shoe shaped beach. Overnight stay today would be at the hotel in Diu.

After breakfast, you will take a private guided tour of Diu Town including St. Thomas Church & Museum, Diu Fort and The St. Pauls Church.

The old St. Thomas Church has now been converted into a lavish museum where you will get to see antique statues, many stone inscriptions of the earlier rulers, wooden carvings and idols, and multi-coloured fountains and special lighting of the imposing building in the evening. This gothic architecture was built in 1598.

The Fort of Diu is another lavish structure, constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD, situated on the coast of the island. You would see the magnificent view of sea from the fort.

The fort is surrounded by the Sea on three sides. The Fort has been very creatively lit. On the fort stands a giant Light House. The main front wall has five huge windows with stone galleries.

Next in the schedule will be St. Paul’s church dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Construction between 1601-1610, the main attraction of this church are the motifs and the wood carving, the panelling of the church is rated as one of the best in church craftsmanship.

Rest of the day will be at leisure to relax at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, you will set out for a 1.5 hours’ drive, on an excursion to Palitana to see the Palitana Jain Temple, a prominent Jain pilgrimage centre, located on Mount Shatrunjaya. Almost a 2 to 3 kilometres climb up 3950 steps, the temples are grouped into nine enclosures. Palintana is located 50 kilometres in the southwest of city of Bhavnagar. Also named Siddhakshetra, it is believed to be a place where one attains moksh.

At the foothill you would see chains of temples with shrine constructed by Babu Dhanpatsinh of Murshidaba. Earlier the pilgrims have to ascend 3745 steps to reach the 1800 feet hill. We would book sling chairs for you to climb. Note that you cannot take any eatable on the way. However, water posts are provided all along the route. You would also see the footprints of Tirthankars. Every shrine could be seen with the idols of Tirthankars adorned with jewelled eyes.

The Pilgrims make their offerings at the temple containing the Adinath idol. The temple has been rebuilt several times since its inception.

After sightseeing tour you will return to Bhavnagar for an overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will be met and transferred to Bhavnagar airport to board your flight for Mumbai. Flight time from Bhavnagar to Mumbai is 1 hours. On arrival in Mumbai, you will be received and transferred to your hotel. You will get the time to relax in your hotel rooms. Rest of the day will be free for self-exploration of the city. Overnight stay would be at a hotel in Mumbai.