Exotica Tour of Gujarat
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Tour ID : |
ETG001 |
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Duaration : |
6 Nights & 7 Days |
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Destination Covered : |
Ahmedabad - Jamnagar - Dwaraka -
Somnath - Sasan Gir - Gondal |
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Day 01 : Ahmedabad
Meet on arrival at Ahmedabad airport/railway station and transfer to the
hotel. Later a half day city tour of Ahmedabad visiting the Calico Textile
Museum and Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram at Sabarmati is arranged. Rest of the day
is free for leisure activities. Overnight stay at Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad is an old textile city and was the nerve
centre of India's freedom struggle. Ahmedabad was home to some of India's
top business and cultural families renowned the world over.
Sabarmati Ashram, 7 kms north of the city, Mahatma
Gandhi set up this ashram in 1915. It was the nerve centre of India's
freedom movement. Hridaya Kunj, the cottage where he lived is preserved as
it was in Mahatma's lifetime. The Gandhi Ashram has a memorial centre,
library and a sound and light spectacle to offer to its visitors.
Calico
Textile Museum, 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.
Overnight stay at Bhubaneswar.
Day 02 : Ahmedabad
- Jamnagar by road (325km/6 Hrs)
Morning, drive to Jamnagar and on arrival check into the hotel. Later, an
option to visit India's only marine reserve. Overnight stay at Jamnagar.
Jamnagar built by Jam Rawal, a Jadeja Rajput leader who
migrated from Kachchh. Jamnagar is the hometown of the world famous
cricketers Ranjit Singh and Duleep Singh after whom the Ranji and Duleep
Trophy are named in domestic Indian cricket.
Marine National Park, India's first Marine Park is
located 30 kms from Jamnagar. Along with its archipelago of 42 islands
spread along the coast for approx 160 sq kms, it is a home to coral reef
formations. Here the marine life consists of turtles, shrimps, sponges,
eels, and sea urchins. The coral reefs are a blaze of colour, home to a
variety of rare life forms like the octopus, sea horses and 200 species of
molluscs. Also found are colorful fish like the puffer, butterfly and
parrot; and echinoderms like the star fish, brittle star, sand dollar, sea
urchin and sea cucumber. More than 40 species of sponges in vivid shades of
green, red, pink and other colours abound. Dugong, a marine mammal, which
resembles a seal and the rare Boralia species are found in these protected
areas. The Park has dense mangrove growth, which provides scores of birds
with nesting and roosting sites.
Day 03 : Jamnagar
- Dwarka by road (150 km)
Morning, depart to Dwarka, enroute visit the famous Nageshwar Temple and
Bet Dwarka. On arrival at Dwaraka, check into the hotel. Later visit the
Dwarakadish temple. Overnight stay at Dwarka.
Nageshwar Temple or Nagnath Temple or Nageshwar Mahadev
is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The
Jyotirlinga situated in the temple is considered to protect everybody from
all types of poisons.
Bet Dwarka is located on an island in the middle of the
Arabian Sea and can be reached by a boat. The idol here is similar to the
one at Dwaraka. There is also a Balarama temple here. Bet Dwarka is where
Sudama Brahman is said to have met Lord Krishna.
Dwarka is considered to be one of the holiest cities in
Hinduism and one of the four "dhams" along with Badrinath, Puri
and Rameshwaram. Lord Krishna established Dwarka as his capital after he
left Mathura.
Dwarakadhish Temple, The five-storey temple is located
right in the middle of the town. Dwarkadish is another name for Lord
Krishna, meaning the "Lord of Dwarka.". From the temple dome waves
a long multicolored flag. The temple sanctum is formed by the Jagat Mandir
or Nija Mandir. There are two gateways: the Swarga Dwar, from where the
pilgrims enter, and the Moksha Dwar, from where the pilgrims exit. The main
deity is Lord Dwarkadhish. The flag of the temple is changed three times a
day. Pilgrims and devotees vie with one another to pay for the flag.
Day 04 : Dwaraka
- Porbandar - Somnath - Veraval by road (230 km)
Morning, depart to Somnath, enroute visit Porbander, the birth place of
Mahatma Gandhi. At Somnath visit the famous Somnath Temple and proceed to
Veraval for the night. Overnight stay at Veraval.
Porbandar is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the
father of the nation. Kirti Mandir, built within the precincts of an old
house where Mahatma Gandhi was born, is dedicated to him.
Somnath Temple or Prabhas Patan or Shree Somnath
Jyotirling temple or Kailas Mahameruprasad is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is
one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It's been said that Somnath Temple was first
built with gold by Moon God, with silver by Ravana, with sandalwood by Lord
Krishna and with stone by Bhimdeva, a Ruler of Gujarat.
Day 05 : Veraval
- Sasan Gir by road (80 km/2 Hrs)
Morning depart to Sasan Gir. On arrival, check into the resort. A jeep
safari into the national park. Overnight stay at Sasan Gir.
Gir National Park and Sanctuary is the only remaining
habitat of the Asiatic lion, which has been confined to this forest. The
Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin. Nevertheless, a
large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to behold. The other animals
that can be found in this sanctuary are the chinkara, wild boar, striped
hyena, jackal, leopard, fox, musk shrew, Indian Pangolin, deer, common
langur, porcupine, hare, black buck and crocodiles. There are over 200 bird
species including the peafowl, grey partridge, Bonelli's eagle, crested
serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted sandgrouse, common green pigeon
and several species of doves.
Day 06 : Sasan
Gir - Gondal by road (140 km)
Morning, drive to Gondal via Junagadh enroute visiting the Ashok Rock Edict
and the Museum. Later visit the Palace and surroundings. Evening visit the
Jalaram Temple at Virpur. Overnight stay at Gondal.
Junagadh lies at the foot of Girnar Hill and takes its
name from the 'Old Fort' which circles the medieval town. The places of
interest are, Uparkot Fort which is surrounded by a wall that is, in
some places, over 20m high. An ornate entrance leads to the ruins. There are
also two stepwells, Jama Masjid and Buddhist caves in the fort premises.
Darbar Hall Museum has the usual display of weapons and armour, a
collection of chandeliers and thrones. The Ashokan Edicts are
inscriptions made by Emperor Ashoka in around 250 BC on huge boulder. His
inscription is in the Pali script.
Gondal, a historical town lies on the banks of the river
Gondali. The places of interest here are the Riverside Palace built in 1875
AD, the Naulakha Palace that dates back to the 17th Century, and
comprises stone carvings, exquisite "jharokhas" (balconies),
pillared courtyard and delicately carved arches, the Orchard Palace, known
because of its huge surroundings of fruit orchards and gardens, the Royal
Garage with its extensive collection of vintage cars and lastly the Jalaram
Temple at Virpur, which runs the "Food for Life" program,
which does not accept any contributions but still manages to feed thousands
daily.
Day 07 : Gondal
- Ahmedabad by road (260 km/5 Hrs)
Morning, drive to Ahmedabad Airport or Railway station for your next
destination.
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