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VIBRANT
GUJARAT
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Duration:
10 Days/9 Nights
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Itinerary
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Day
1 : Arrive New Delhi
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On
Arrival in New Delhi, you will be met by our local representative
and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Oberoi Maidens
or similar hotel.
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Day
2 : New Delhi - Ahmedabad
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After
breakfast, check out and proceed for a half-day city tour visiting
India gate, Humayun tomb and Qutub Minar. Later proceed to the
airport for flight to Ahmedabad. On arrival, you will be met by
our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight
at Cama Park Plaza or similar hotel.
Ahmedabad was founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1411 AD and was
graced with splendid monuments, mosques, pavilions and mausoleums,
marking the beginning of the Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture.
Modern day Ahmedabad, popularly known, as the capital of the State
of Gujarat is the largest city and a leading industrial center
in Gujarat. It is also the sixth largest in India.
Popularly known as the Manchester of the East, Ahmedabad boasts
of the largest denim production in the world. It is also home
to several interesting museums. Many of Ahmedabad buildings bear
the signatures of world-renowned architects like Le Corbusier,
Louis Khan, Doshi and Correa.
It is from the austere habitat of Sabarmati at Ahmedabad, that
the 'Father of the Nation' - Mahatma Gandhi took on the mighty
British Empire, and gave human race one of its most remarkable
ways to fight oppression - non-violence.
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Day
3 : Ahmedabad
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 After
breakfast, proceed for a full day sight seeing and shopping
tour. Visit the Shaking minarets, Calico textile museum,
Sabarmati ashram, Vishala vichar museum and Kite museum.
Later visit the famous Law gardens (for handicrafts) and
C.J road for shopping. Later return to the hotel. Overnight
at the hotel.
Shaking minarets - are two minarets located at the Siddhi
Bashir mosque. They are uniquely designed in a way that
when one minaret is shaken the other one shakes too.
Calico textile museum - is one of the finest textile museums
in the world. Housed in one of Gujarat's famous carved wooden
havelis, the museum displays a magnificent collection of
rare textiles that date back to the 17th century. There
is also an excellent reference library on textiles.
Sabarmati Ashram - On a quiet stretch of the river Sabarmati,
7 kms north of the city, Mahatma Gandhi set up a simple
retreat in 1915. This was his first Satyagraha Ashram and
for many it was the nerve center of India's freedom movement.
Hridaya Kunj, the cottage where he lived is preserved as
it was in the Mahatma's lifetime. The Gandhi Ashram has
a memorial center, library and a sound and light spectacle
to offer its visitors.
Vishala Vichar museum - is a restaurant with traditional
Gujarati food in village surroundings. It has Vichar Utensil
Museum worth visiting. The museum houses a unique collection
of utensils.
Kite museum - houses a wonderful variety of kites that depict
their colorful history and regional flavors.
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Day
4 : Ahmedabad - Bhavnagar
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After
breakfast, check out and proceed to Bhavnagar. On arrival,
check in at the hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight
at the hotel Nilambagh Palace.
Bhavnagar lies in the southeast corner of the peninsular region
of Gujarat known as Kathiawad or Saurashtra. Once the capital
of a princely state, Bhavnagar is home to several lakes and temples.
For the tourist, Bhavnagar serves as a convenient base to visit
the Jain temples at Palitana on the Shatrunjaya hills and the
Velvadar Sanctuary, the home of the famous Indian Black buck.
Founded in 1743 A.D., by Bhavsinhji Gohil, on the site of a small
village of Vadva, near the creek, Bhavnagar was once a flourishing
port. Today, however the only activities related to the sea near
Bhavnagar take place at the port of Ghogha and at Alang, which
is also, Asia's largest ship breaking facility.
The Nilambagh Palace was built in 1859 AD as the Yuvraj Bungalow
(residence of the crown prince-of the Gohil Rajput clan). The
Nilambagh palace is set in 40,000 sq.ft. of lawn and garden. The
pillared portico, stepped arches, pleasant centre courtyard, turning
marble staircase, the dining hall furnished with European chandeliers
and the historic library are some highlights of the property.
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Day
5 : Bhavnagar
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After
breakfast, proceed for a full day excursion to Palitana temples
and Velvadar Black buck sanctuary. Overnight at the hotel.
Velavadar Black buck sanctuary - is the home of the Indian black
buck. Velavadar in the Bhal region of Saurashtra is a unique grassland
ecosystem that has attracted fame for the successful conservation
of the black buck - the fastest of the Indian antelopes, the wolf
and the lesser florican.
Palitana - is a 'must visit' destination for all those who would
like to witness what the subtle combination of human enterprise,
architectural skills, philanthropy and channelized religious fervor
can achieve. The entire summit of majestic mount Shatrunjaya is
crowned with about 900 temples, each rivaling the other for beauty
and magnificence, presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle to devotees
and visitors.
There are many temples at Palitana, which are revered by Hindus
and some are prominent Jain pilgrim centers.
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Day
6 : Bhavnagar - Sasan Gir
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 After
breakfast, check out and proceed to Sasan Gir. On arrival, check
in at the Gir Lodge which is a part of Taj group of hotels. Later
visit the Gir wildlife sanctuary. Overnight at the hotel.
Gir Wildlife Sanctuary - Sprawling in an area of 1424 sq. kms,
Gir with its dry deciduous forest is a luxuriantly rich ecosystem-
endowed with floral and faunal plentitude. Thirty species of mammals,
twenty species of reptiles, several species of insects and birds
are found here. The forest is the only place in the world, outside
Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The
number of lions in Gir had dwindled to a mere 15 by the turn of
the century, due to extensive trophy hunting. The forest also
harbors a number of smaller birds and animals. Other predators
are the panther and the hyena. The largest Indian deer, Sambhar,
Chital (spotted deer), Nilgai (blue bull), Chinkara and the unique
Chowsingha (four horned antelope) are found here along with the
bear and the long tailed langur.
Few people know that Gir is also one of the finest bird sanctuaries
in India. Some of the typical birds of Gir are the crested serpent
eagle, crested hawk eagle, brown fish owl, king vulture, jungle
quail, paradise flycatcher, pygmy woodpecker, hard headed oriole
etc. Adholia, Valadera, Ratanghuna and Pilipat are rewarding places
for bird watching. Another attraction is a crocodile farm developed
in the forest. |
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Day
7 : Sasan Gir - Junagadh (Junagarh) - Sasan Gir
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 After
breakfast, proceed for a full day excursion to Junagadh. Return
to the hotel in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Junagadh is an ancient fortified city rich in myth and legend,
Junagadh lies at the foot of the temple-studded Girnar Hill. It
derives its name from the 'old fort', which circles the medieval
town.
The Girnar Hills that landscape Junagadh are a holy sanctuary
to the Jains. The history of Mount Girnar dates back to the awesome
empire of Ashoka, one of India's greatest emperors. Ashoka inscribed
14 edicts on a huge boulder en-route to Mt. Girnar peak. Junagadh's
main feature is the Uperkot fort (upper fort), a somber and inaccessible
fortress.
Ashoka's Rock Edicts : On the way to Girnar, there is a huge boulder,
housed in a small roadside building, on which are fourteen Rock
Edicts inscribed by Emperor Ashoka.
As was the tradition of Kings of yore, in his quest to expand
his empire, Ashoka fought fierce wars. After one of his most ferocious
battles, a victorious Ashoka visited the battlefield of Kalinga.
But the sight of mass slaughter of human beings had a catalytic
effect on his mind. Remorse-stricken, he turned to Buddhism for
absolution. He devoted rest of his life for the propagation and
practice of Buddha's teachings.
The inscriptions carry Brahmi script in Pali language and date
back to 250 B.C. The fourteen edicts of Emperor Ashoka are moral
lectures.
These edicts, preserved in the Girnar hills, bear testimony to
the benevolent attitude and activities of the Emperor.
On the same rock are inscriptions in Sanskrit added around 150
A.D. by Rudradama and in about 450 A.D. by Skandagupta, the last
emperor of the Mauryas.
Uperkot Fort - is believed to have been constructed by the Yadavas
(the clan to which Lord Krishna belonged) when they came to settle
in Dwarka. Famous in bygone times for its virtual inaccessibility,
the Uperkot or upper fort is girdled by a wall that is, in some
places, over 20m. high. An ornate entrance gateway leads to the
ruins.
The fort has many interesting exhibits like the two guns placed
on the western wall and believed to have been cast in Egypt. The
bigger one is called the Nilamtope and the other one is known
as Kadanal. In and around the fort one can find several Buddhist
caves belonging to the 200 B.C. to 200 A.D era.
In the Uperkot is a two storied cave said to belong to the first
century which is believed to be a Buddhist Chaitya cave. There
are also Buddhist caves at Bava Pyara Math found below the Southern
walls of Uperkot arranged in three rows. Scholars believe that
they are Buddhist caves possibly belonging to the period between
200 B.C to 200 A.D. |
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Day
8 : Sasan Gir - Gondal
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After
breakfast, check out and proceed to Gondal. On arrival, check
in at the hotel. Later in the afternoon visit the Navlakha Palace,
the Orchard Palace and see the vintage car collection. Overnight
at Orchard or Riverside Palace hotel.
Gondal, the capital of the former princely state of Gondal, was
ruled by the Jadeja Rajput clan, till the independence of India.
Present day Gondal is a testimony to the great visionary ruler
Sir Bhagwatsinhji, who introduced social reforms, planned the
development of Gondal town and created a model state of Saurashtra
in late 19th and early 20th century. Sir Bhagwatsinhji's high
education and extensive tours to Europe enhanced his aesthetic
tastes, which can be seen in the architecture and planning of
public buildings, parks, bazaars and palaces built during his
regime.
Navlakha Palace - One of the oldest and most beautiful of Gondal
palaces, the Navlakha Palace complex, is situated on a riverbank,
on a grand masonry base, rising to the monumental scale of at
least 30 meters, above the riverbed. The palace is approached
by the high gateway with the clock tower from the town side.
The grand Darbar Hall, with a series of huge windows opening onto
a long balcony supported by intricately carved brackets, overlooks
the river.
Darbar Hall has large chandeliers, stuffed panthers, gilt wooden
furniture and antique Belgian mirrors. The private palace museum
displays artifacts, gifts and messages received by Sir Bhagwatsinhji,
on his 50th birthday.
Riverside Palace - The riverside palace is located at the edge
of the Gondali river; built in colonial style of architecture,
amidst a garden with huge trees. The living room is decorated
in European taste, while the Indian room has brassware, beadwork
and paintings in typical Indian style.
The series of galleries and terraces of the palace building bring
nature close to the visitors of this heritage hotel.
Orchard Palace - The Orchard Palace was originally a State guesthouse,
built in colonial style with an arcade of semi circular arches,
set in the midst of fruit orchards. The garden in the front, a
beautiful fountain with lily pond and marble statues enchances
the beauty of the palace. The main sitting room has a collection
of paintings, antique furniture, bird eggs and many interesting
art objects.
Vintage Car Collection - The rulers of Gondal were great lovers
of automobiles and one can see several vintage and classic cars
in the royal garage. Two rail saloons of the Gondal State were
renovated, keeping the original décor and are available
for accommodation in the Orchard Garden Palace. The stay at saloons
provides a unique experience: a nostalgia of the great days of
the Indian railways combined with royal grandeur.
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Day
9 : Gondal - Wankaner
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 After
breakfast, check out and proceed to Wankaner. On arrival, check
in at the hotel. Later visit Ranjit Vilas Palace and the step
wells. Overnight at The Palace hotel, Wankaner.
Wankaner derives its name from the geographical feature related
to the location of the town: 'Wanka' means a bend and 'ner' means
water stream in Gujarati. Wankaner literally means a bend on the
stream and it is located on the bend of the Machchhu River.
Wankaner was among the first few royal families of India to convert
their palaces into Heritage Hotels, which have guestrooms, maintained
in the original royal style.
Ranjit Vilas Palace - Amarsinhji built the Ranjit Vilas Palace
on a hill, overlooking Wankaner town. It took seven years to complete
and was designed by Amarsinhji himself. It was inaugurated by
and named after his dear friend Jam Ranjitsinjhi of Jamnagar.
The ground of the palace extends to two hundred and twenty five
acres. The state guesthouse, Chandra Bhavan is also located in
the same campus in the vicinity of the Ranjit Vilas Palace.
Step Well - Wankaner also has a step well, the last one to be
built in Gujarat. In the Royal Oasis complex, the 3-storeyed step
well, has 2 underground floors with cool subterranean marble rooms,
fine sculptures and a fountain. |
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Day
10 : Wankaner - Rajkot - Bombay
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After
breakfast, check out and proceed to Rajkot for a half day city
tour. Later transfer to the airport for flight to Bombay.
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Tour
price includes:
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Accommodation
on twin sharing basis in budget, superior or luxury hotels.
- Daily
Breakfast
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Guided
sight seeing and excursion as specified in the itinerary.
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Domestic (with India) Ground, Air and Train transportation
as per the itinerary.
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All
applicable taxes.
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All
transfers and sight seeing are by a private vehicle.
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Air
transportation is in economy class and Train journey is in
Air-conditioned coach.
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Tour
price does not includes:
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US
- INDIA - US airfare.
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Room
service, in room amenities such as bar, Telephone calls, laundry
and food items etc.
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Still
/ Video Camera or any other photography equipment fee wherever
applicable.
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Tips,
gratuities and porterage.
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Meals
other than those specified in the itinerary
Any other services not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
or Tour price includes as stated above.
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Note:
Fares
are subject to change without notice.
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