Aavo Padharo, two words of welcome in the Gujarati dialect that entwine any visitor coming to Gujarat with warmth and compassion. This beautiful state set in the lap of the Aravali Mountain’s with a coastline of the Arabian Sea, is located in the North Western region of India. Gujarat has always been known for its beautiful landscape, breath-taking holiday destinations, warm people, rich tradition and culture along with a never-die attitude.
Gujarat tourism has grown over the years and has by far attracted many people across India and abroad. The various historical sites, art, culture, music, artistic cave paintings, murals, man-made and natural caves, etc. come together to form the perfect cultural mixture to exude tourism of Gujarat. Few of the important places of interest in Gujarat are Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Sabarmati Ashram, Mandvi, Morbi, Daman & Diu, Sasan Gir, Junagarh, Rann of Kutch, Bhuj, Baroda, etc. Gujarat tourism boasts of various architectural and cultural wonders located across the spread of this beautiful land. Forts, Havelis and Palaces, Museums, Gardens and Lakes, Beaches, Stepwell, Archaeological and Architectural structures, historical monuments, etc. are all an integral part of Gujarat Tourism.
Come to Gujarat and explore the vibrant and colourful hues of this magnificent state!
History of Gujarat
Gujarat has made a significance contribution and played a very important role in the history of India. It has played a crucial part in pre-independence and post-independence of India. Gujarat- often referred to ‘as the land of legends’ is located in the north-western region of India. Gujarat derives its name from its earliest settlers-Gujjar. Though their origins are uncertain but they happen to be an ethnic tribe of India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Gujarat has traces of the early Indus Valley Civilization and the Harappan civilization. This marvellous city, situated in the lap of Aravali, has witnessed the rise and fall of many royal dynasties such as the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire, Pala Empire, famous flourishing Maurya Dynasty, Scynthians or Sakas, and Solanki Dynasty, the Muslim rule, The Maratha-Gaekwads of Baroda as well as the modern influences of Dutch, English, French and Portuguese invasions. The first factory of British East India Company was established in 1614 AD in Surat, Gujarat. Thereafter there was a significance of the British rulers in Gujarat which led to it being a state of importance in years to follow. The golden era of India during the freedom movement pre 1947 AD, had major revolutionaries from Gujarat like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Narhari Parikh, Bhulabhai Desai, Ravi Shankar Vyas, Morarji Desai, Mahadev Desai and K.M.Munshi. All these political stalwarts were responsible in one way or the other in securing the Independence of India. The most famous contributor popularly known as the “Father of our Nation”- Mahatma Gandhi hailed from this beautiful state and led his non-violent movement from the banks of Sabarmati, which still has his influence in the form of the famous Sabarmati Ashram.
Gujarat has witnessed many hardships and has risen above all to become one of the most triumphant states of modern India. The history of Gujarat has made it as strong as it is today!
Culture of Gujarat
Festivals and major cultural events Incredible Gujarat, has coloured the landscaped the skies of India with its beautiful and breath-taking hues over the decades. This state is not only known for its rapid infrastructural development but also its colourful culture. The rich tradition and culture of Gujarat is strongly imbibed in every Gujarati family. The aesthetic sense of arts, lifestyle and culture in Gujarat is definitely worth the experience for every Indian as well as foreigners.
Festivals of Gujarat are not only popularly celebrated in this beautiful state but also in the entire nation with equal fervour if not more. Traditional culture of Gujarati’s is well presented through their famous Garba, Raas, Garbi and folk music. The famous Garba-Raas is known to have originated in Gujarat and made very popular and passed on world-wide by Lord Krishna himself. Few of the most festivals and cultural events of Gujarat are-
Navratri: The nine-day festival held in the honour of Goddess Durga is full of dancing and singing coupled with fasting for nine days. Gujarat comes alive to the tunes of folk music and traditional music and you can experience the people dancing to the beats doing the Dandiya-Raas and Garba.
Uttarayan: The famous kite flying festival of Gujarat is celebrated during Makar Sankranti in January. The landscape of Gujarat comes alive with the beautiful colourful kites grazing the sky line of this marvellous state.
Janmashtami: This marks the birth of Lord Krishna and is very delicately and beautiful celebrated by all Gujarati’s. One can see the Raas-Lila come alive commemorating the divinity of Lord Krishna. Besides these festivals Diwali, Holi, Kutch Mahotsav, Mahashivratri, etc. are celebrated with equal fervour.
Gujarat hosts nearly 3500 festivals annually in the stream of commerce, art, trade fairs, religious fairs, etc.
Tourist Attractions in Gujarat
Gujarat has many wonderful tourist attractions right from temples to historical monuments, forts and palaces or Lakes and rivers, beaches and gardens to hills and mountains. You can enjoy all these Gujarat tourist attractions by chalking out your itinerary and the places you would like to visit. Few Gujarat attractions come on your must-see or must-do list while touring this magnificent state.
For all history lovers you should visit places in Gujarat like Bhujia Fort, Kanthkot Fort, Roha Fort, Champaner, Lakhpat, Tera Fort, Pavagadh fort, Dhabhoi fort, Bhadra Fort in Ahmedabad, Huzoor Palace, Maharaja Palace, Uperkot Fort, Prag Mahal Palace, etc. You can also choose to visit the famous lake, waterfall, garden or beach places in Gujarat such as Kankaria Lake, Adalaj Stepwell, Sabarmati Riverfront, Vastrapur Lake, Maniar’s wonderland Snow park, Narmada Canal, Ten Talav, Saputara Lake, Gira waterfalls, Suvali Beach, Trambak falls, White desert, great Rann of Kutch, Narayan Sarovar, Porbandar beach, Mandvi beach, Parimal garden, etc. If you are interested to visit the wildlife sanctuaries or nature parks you must visit the Sasan Gir National park, Kutch Bustard sanctuary, Kutch Desert wildlife sanctuary, Sakkarbaug zoological gardens, Sarthana National Park, Blackbuck national park, etc.
Besides these other places to visit in Gujarat are the famous temples like Somnath temple, Akshardham temples, Goddess Amba temple, Jama Masjid, ISKCON temples, Sri Hari temple, etc. Gujarat places to visit are located in every city of Gujarat and each has its own uniqueness. One cannot define the best or the ultimate place to visit, but yes, it sure is an experience by itself. Come explore the various Gujarat tourist attractions with your family and friends.
Best Time To Visit
Gujarat is open for tourists all through the year. Hence you can plan your visit as per your convenience and chalk out the places you would like to visit. The best time to visit Gujarat is from October to March with the onset of winter. The air during this time of the year is generally dry and warm. Winters are normally quite mild and not very cold. The temperature during the day and night is comfortable for everyone to travel in and around Gujarat.
Most of the places have a planned itinerary during this time frame making it the peak season for Gujarat tourism. During this period you will witness the big and most celebrated festival of Gujarat- Navratri. This is a festival of colour and energy followed by the festival of lights- Diwali. Besides this, you can also plan your travel during the month of January, which is again peak season for Gujarat as it celebrates the famous Kite festival attracting people from across the globe especially India. Winter is the best time to travel to Gujarat if you are looking at respite from extreme cold weather or extreme hot weather. Gujarat temperature during winters is very comfortable for everyone to enjoy the beauty and natural sights.
Pack your bags and have a fun filled holiday during winters- the best time to travel to Gujarat!
Shopping Places in Gujarat
Gujarat is an extremely picturesque state in India. This state not only boasts of its tradition and culture but also the typical handicraft paraphernalia and clothes that tourists can shop from here. There are lot of cities in Gujarat famous for some their typical goods and products that are sold not only in their city but across Gujarat and India too. Gujarat specialises in production of dates, peanuts, milk and milk products (Amul being the leading and local brand), sugarcane, cotton, etc.
The local markets in Gujarat cities provide you with plenty of shops, stalls and emporiums to shop from. You can indulge in shopping sprees in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Bhuj, Kutch, Surat, Gandhinagar, Junagarh, Rajkot, etc. Gujarat shopping is incomplete without buying their traditional Ghagra-Choli’s with mirror work and lot of embroidery, typical Gujarati jewellery and accessories made of silver and oxidised metal, embroidered footwear, Bandhini’s, Patola Sarees, etc. Gujarat local markets are the best place to buy some good, strong, traditional and reasonable products. If you know someone or have a good guide, do not miss the local markets of the visiting city. Many shopping complex in Gujarat have multiple big brand shops and traditional Gujarati shops as well, where you can choose from a wide variety of products.
Shop till you drop- is the never dying motto of Gujarat, and if you are a culture and tradition aficionado you must visit and indulge in some Gujarat shopping!
Weather of Gujarat
Gujarat generally experiences very dry and arid climate mostly throughout the year. Though it enjoys all the Indian seasons, however there are certain unique characteristics that set it apart from the other regions in western India. Gujarat enjoys four major seasons: summer, winter, monsoon and autumn. You can plan your trip to Gujarat based on the then prevailing weather conditions and the season you are planning to visit.
The weather can be divided quarterly to give you a fair idea about what is in store when you decide to visit Gujarat:
Jan, Feb and March: Gujarat has mild winters and January is the middle of the winter season. January and February have mild weather conditions and serve as good months to visit Gujarat. March is mostly the end of winters and the beginning of summer season. Though the temperature is not very high at this of the year, you should check with the planned places whether it is good to come this time.
April, May, June: April and May is the peak summer season. Gujarat during summers is extremely hot and is not advisable to visit any place during this time of the year. Due to the proximity of the sea, there is a lot of humidity and extreme heat in the air as well. You can expect to receive ‘mango showers’ towards the end of May, however it gets more humid after the first shower. June marks the official onset of Monsoons in Gujarat.
July, Aug and Sept: These are the monsoon months in Gujarat. Southern Gujarat like Saurashtra, Gulf of Cambay, etc. receives very less rainfall. The arid region around Rann of Kutch faces acute water scarcity due to lack of rainfall in this region. The Northern region of Gujarat receives considerable rainfall as compared to other regions. One can experience floods too incase of heavy rainfall in some parts of Gujarat. Overall Gujarat experiences very moderate rainfall and the weather gets humid.
Oct, Nov and Dec: October officially marks the onset of the winter season. The winter season is the best time to visit Gujarat as the winters in Gujarat are mild to moderate with dryness and low humidity and pleasantness in the air. Maximum places experience heavy influx of tourists during this time of the year.
Gujarat displays unique characteristics in weather which ranges from dry to moist climate throughout the state.
Nightlife in Gujarat
Gujarat is a state of many wonderful places to visit and sights to be seen. Gujarat is predominantly a dry state and hence you have to be careful not to carry any form of liquor to this state. The state laws are very strict with having or possessing liquor. Though the hard beverages are not popular in this state few 5 star hotels are allowed to serve them. Gujarat nightlife is still full of energy and a lot of vibrancy.
You can choose to visit the beaches of Gujarat and enjoy a peaceful yet comforting time with your loved one under the bright moonlight and the dazzling sea. Taking a stroll and spending some romantic moments with your loved one is a good way of enjoying the nightlife in Gujarat. Discotheques are not popular in Gujarat as it is primarily a very traditional state and does not boast much about its nightlife. However, you can try partying in a disco in Baroda or Ahmedabad or enjoy a midnight walk in the streets of Surat or Ahmedabad. Nightclubs in Gujarat are nearly non-existent for party seekers but you sure can cherish some good folk music or attend theatre shows or other cultural programmes for all locals and tourists. Night Life in Gujarat can be enjoyed by indulging in some good traditional Gujarati cuisine or street food to savour your taste buds. Besides these you can visit the shopping malls which are open till late evening hours and have a good time while exploring the nightlife in Gujarat. If you are party seeker then there are farmhouses available to enjoy the happening nightlife in Gujarat.
Food, dance and music are all an integral part of Gujarat and hence your nightlife in Gujarat will revolve around these essentials mostly!
Food in Gujarat
Gujarati is one of the most appetizing and delicious food of India. The uniqueness of this cuisine comes from the fact that it is predominantly vegetarian with a lot of variety. Despite of having a long coastline, Gujarati food is primarily vegetarian owing to the fact that it is influenced by traditional Hinduism and Jainism. Gujarati food is majorly categorized into four sections given the region they hail from like Kathiawar, Surti Gujarat, North Gujarat and Kachchh. There are different flavours that one can find in Gujarat food from sweet to salty to spicy, all at the same time.
Most common and traditional Gujarati food comprises of Kadhi or Dal, Roti, Sabzi (also called Shaak) made of a variety of vegetables with traditional with a considerable amount of spices and Rice. What makes food in Gujarat distinct and unique from rest of the country are its composition of sweet and spicy at the same time and a serving of curry served in every meal along with Rice, which is subtle. Chaas or buttermilk is consumed in large quantities by the people in Gujarat and forms an important part of their daily diet along with traditional Gujarati pickles and salads. Few specialities of Gujarat are- Khandvi, Dhokla, Fafda, Daal Dhokli, Sev Khamani, Cholafali, Bajri no Roti (or Roti made of Bajra pulse), Oondhiyan, Meethi or Sweet Kadhi (Yogurt preparation), Thepala, Dhebara, Bhakhri, Khaman, Handwoh, Khakra, Khaman Dhokla, Keri nu Ras (or mostly famously known as Aam Ras or fresh mango pulp), Sutarfeni, etc. to name a few.
You can experience all these delicacies by indulging in some traditional Gujarati Thali anywhere in Gujarat. Gujarat cuisine is definitely to be tried by all tourists visiting this magnificent state.
Accommodation in Gujarat
Gujarat has evolved as a top tourist destination in the past couple of years and hence there are plenty of options for accommodation in Gujarat. Due to the heavy influx of tourists throughout the year, hotels in Gujarat will warranty a contended stay during your time of visit. You can choose from heritage hotels and resorts to 5 star accommodations or budget accommodation in Gujarat.
Few good heritage hotels in Gujarat include Balaram Palace resort, Bhavnani Villa, Rajmahal Palace Wadhwan, Sarita Mandvi Hotel, The Palace Utelia, Nilambagh Palace, Garden Palace hotel, etc. 5 star hotel accommodation in Gujarat can be explored by visiting The Pride, Taj Residency, Le Meridien, Inder residency, Fortune Landmark, Gateway Hotel, Madhuban Spa and resort, Welcome Hotel Baroda, Cambay Grand hotel, Peninsula Kalay Resort Vapi, Radisson Blu hotel, Country Inn Suites by Carlson, The Fern Gir Forest Resort, Infinity Rann of Kutch, Lion Safari Camp Sasan Gir, etc. Budget accommodation in Gujarat includes Hotel Host Inn, Hotel Ginger, Hotel Accolade, Hotel Summit, Cambay Sapphire, The Metropole, Chicago, Ritz Inn, Grand Bhagwati, Surabhi Regency hotel, Revival Lords Inn, Kadoli Farms- Eagles Nest, etc. Cheap accommodation in Gujarat includes plenty of hotels around cities and towns of Gujarat. These are Vishal Hotel Surat, Cadillac Hotel Ahmedabad, Skylon Hotel Gandhinagar, Toran Hill resort Saputara, President Hotel Jamnagar, Chorwad Holiday Home Chorwad, Salty Beach Resort Tithal, Sheetal Hotel Porbandar, Hotel Landmark, Adina palace hotel Valsad, White Rose Hotel Bhavnagar, Kaveri Hotel Veraval, Hotel Harmony Junagarh, etc. among others.
Hotel accommodation in Gujarat differs from tourist to tourist depending on your budget and duration of stay. Come to Gujarat and experience its vivacity!
How to Reach Gujarat
Gujarat is easily accessible by all major destinations through air, road and train. There are various options you can choose from while planning your trip to Gujarat. There are lot of flexible air, road and train services passing through Gujarat and all its major destinations. Your budget and time can decide your mode of transportation while visiting Gujarat.
By Air: All the major cities in India have flights operating on a daily or weekly basis in and out of Gujarat. There are major flights operators like Spice, Jet Airways, India Airlines, etc. which have flights going in and out from Gujarat making it easily accessible for all tourists. The international airport of Gujarat is located in Ahmedabad besides other 10 domestic airports across Gujarat.
By Rail: Gujarat has a well-connected and planned railway network throughout the state. This makes it easy and convenient for all tourists planning their trip to Gujarat via rail. The railway line is well connected to most of the major and minor cities in India and has made travel easier. There are few superfast trains running from Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Delhi on a regular basis.
By Road: Gujarat has the best roadway and boasts of the best highways in western India. There are many two to four lane highways linking the entire nation. There are various bus services and taxi services that operate in and out of Gujarat. For all car travellers, the highways of Gujarat serve as a wonderful mode of transportation.
Gujarat offers variety of transport services for all tourists whether you visit by air or rail or road. Reaching Gujarat has never been easier than today!
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