5 Best Places to Visit in Gujarat
Latest Update : For the upcoming season 2024/25, safari bookings are open for Gir National Park. Always book your safari in advance.
Gujarat, the high-spirited state on the western coast of India, finds its place in the list of top tourist destinations for its eclectic mix of living culture, pristine wilderness and unique cuisine. From ancient temples to the tallest statue in the world, Gujarat has many overwhelming features that present you the real India.
Gujarat is also the seventh-largest state in the country and thus serves a choice of multiple attractions to choose from. To ease your scouting for the best places to explore in Gujarat, we have listed five of the top tourist destinations in Gujarat, each familiarising you with a unique aspect of the state. So, let us dive straight to list:
For lovers of raw nature and wildlife in its pristine form, Gir National Park is undoubtedly a wonderland to add to their must-visit places list while in Gujarat. Officially known as the Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, the park is a massive biosphere spread over an area of over 1400 sq km (540 sq mi). Amazingly, this is the only place in the world where you can see the Asiatic lions roaming in a natural habitat.
Gir National Park is a dry deciduous forest that also has some semi-evergreen and evergreen regions catering to varied experiences in wildlife sightings. Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, which now has over 600 Asiatic lions, had a dearth of these big beasts with only a dozen Asiatic lions left at the start of the 20th century due to aggressive poaching and depletion of habitat. Then the province's rulers and government aided in reviving the species from the brink of extinction. Now with a thriving population and excellent chances to see lions, Gir National Park is the most appreciated place to visit in Gujarat tourism.
Besides the lions, other significant species to look for in Gir include Indian leopards, striped hyenas, crocodiles, reindeer, crocodiles, monitor lizards, eagles, owls, chousingha, pangolins, around 300 bird species, and many more.
Best Time to Visit: October to May.
How to Reach?
Take a flight to Keshod Airport (100 km) or Rajkot Airport (160 km) or a train to Junagadh (80 km) or Veraval (72 km) Railway Station from your city. Hire a cab or taxi or take a bus from the airport or railway station to Sasan Gir (the entry point of Gir National Park).
Important Tip: A guide accompanies you on your Jeep safari. Listen to the interesting facts and information she/he gives about the jungle and animals.
Dedicated to the life and philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi Ashram or Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad is another top tourist place in Gujarat, and ideal for you if you are an enthusiast of historic events, especially the freedom struggle of India. Wrapped in a serene atmosphere and neighboured by the Sabarmati River, Gandhi Ashram is now an exhibition complex that once was the residence of Gandhiji.
Gandhi Ashram reflects the life of Mahatma Gandhi, simple and full of wisdom. There is an endless stream of photos, posters, and quotes from Gandhiji's life that create a picture of India in the first half of the 20th century. Well-architectured in a Swadeshi style incorporated with modern considerations, the Ashram is a perfect balance of green space around the structure.
Gandhi Ashram was built in 1915, initially called Satyagraha Ashram, by Mahatma Gandhi himself. Gandhiji lived in the Ashram from 1917 to 1930, until he started the famous Dandi Salt March, a 240-mile-long protest journey to Dandi against the tax on Salt, imposed by Britishers from this Ashram.
Now this place carries all the records, information, books, pictures, and philosophies from Mahatma Gandhi's life, that everyone must see during their Gujarat tour.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit Sabarmati Ashram is during the winter months (October to February) when the weather is pleasant. However, the Ashram is open throughout the year, and you can visit any time, except Mondays.
How to Reach?
Take a flight to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport or a train to Ahmedabad Junction from your city. You can hire a taxi or take a bus to the Ashram from the airport or railway station.
Important Tip: Consider taking a guided tour for more valuable insights into Gandhiji's life and the Indian Independence Movement.
Since the year 2018, Gujarat also has the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity. This is the statue of a renowned Indian independence leader and the first deputy prime minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Sardar Patel is who made the present geographical map of India possible by completing a seemingly impossible task of merging 562 princely states into newly independent India of 1947. People gave him the name "Unifier of India" likewise his statue. The Statue of Unity is thus one of the best places to visit for history lovers in Gujarat.
The 182-meter (579 ft) tall statue was completed in about four years and built around a splendid location of Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges. The statue faces east, towards one of India's largest dams, the Narmada Dam. There is a viewing gallery at the height of 153 m (500 ft) at the chest level and inside of this Statue offering a panoramic view of the valley and the dam.
Not just a tall statue but its beautifully designed complex has multiple attractions. The complex has a museum, exhibition hall, and multiple gardens. There is also a zoological park for safari, boat and cruise rides at Narmada river, and a laser light show in the evening. Altogether, the Statue of Unity has become one of the top tourist attractions in Gujarat by combining multiple experiences from heritage walks and sightseeing to nature stroll and water activities.
Best Time to Visit
Although it is open throughout the year, cooler months (between November to March) are more comfortable to visit the Statue of Unity.
How to Reach?
Arrive at Vadodara airport or Pratapnagar railway station and hire a taxi to Kevadia. Take the free state operated bus from Kevadia to the Statue of Unity.
Important Tip: Tickets to the Statue of Unity can be booked online but make sure to take a printout of the online ticket.
Shree Dwarkadhish Temple or Jagat Mandir is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of Gujarat dedicated to Lord Krishna and located in Dwarka. It holds a strong cultural, architectural, and mythological value as it was built by Lord Krishna after he left Mathura because of an invasion on Mathura by King Jarasandha of Magadh. Dwarka was the capital of Krishna and his wife Rukmini afterwards.
The temple has references to the Hindu epic Mahabharata and Puranas. The present complex has a structure that is roughly about 1200 years old and an excellent example of Chalukya architecture. The outer structure consists of finely carved arches, tall towers, and a monumental gate. The main shikhara is 78.3 meters tall and has a total of seven floors symbolizing the Sapta Puris (Seven divine cities).
The layout of this temple emulates Lord Krishna’s palace, with each shrine room being a section of his palace. The main temple structure in the center resembles the resting place of Lord Krishna and surrounding sections are dedicated to other members of his family including his mother Devaki.
Shree Dwarkadhish Temple is one of the Char Dham, four supreme pilgrimages in Hinduism which includes Badrinath Temple, Jagannath Temple, Rameshwaram, and Dwarkadhish Temple. Dwarkadhish Temple is also one of the Sapta Puris – seven cities of Hindu religious significance. However, it has suffered invasions many times in its past; however, the temple has been carefully rebuilt every time to maintain its religious and architectural value. At present, it is the best place when exploring Gujarat to understand its religious history.
Best Time to Visit
Visiting Dwarkadhish Temple is best during the winter months, from November to February, when the weather is cooler and more comfortable for sightseeing.
How to Reach?
Reach the nearest airport (Jamnagar) or the nearest railway station (Dwarka Junction) and take a taxi or bus to the Dwarkadhish Temple.
Important Tip: Any electronic devices, including mobile phones, are not allowed in the temple. You can use the locker facility at the temple.
If one wants to get a perfect blend of spirituality, history, location and architecture then one must visit the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. Somnath Mandir has one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and features high importance for Hindus who come in millions throughout the year to worship Lord Shiv here.
Somnath Mandir, throughout its history, has been damaged multiple times. Sometimes due to natural causes while most of the time during foreign invasions in the territory. Still, every time, the structure has been rebuilt by devotees and rulers. Thus, Somnath Temple also stands as the strength and resilience.
The appearance of this temple looks amazing, the walls are richly decorated, and the main sanctum's roof is formed by a tall shikhara under which the Shiva Linga is placed. Somnath temple is located right on the shores of the Arabian Sea offering the best ambience. It has been designed to enable visitors to watch or join daily prayers. You can watch the spectacular early morning and the night aarti and even the ritual of bathing the Shiva Lingam with milk, honey, ghee, etc. Having a pilgrimage to Somnath Temple is much more than just a Gujarat tour – it is a powerful experience of faith, history and resilience of Indian culture, making your visit an incredible memory.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Somnath Temple is between October and March because the weather is cool and pleasant at this time. Contrarily Summer, between April to June, becomes unpleasant due to scorching heat.
How to Reach?
Somnath Temple is well-connected to all major cities by air, train, and road. The nearest airport (Diu) has regular flights and the nearest railway station (Veraval Railway Station) has direct trains from major cities. Hire a can from the airport or railway station to the temple.
Important Tip: Don’t miss the sound and light show in the evening, which narrates the temple’s illustrious history.
