Visit the Official Website Of Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation - GTDC

                      GUJARAT

The state of Gujarat is on the west coast of India of which Gandhi Nagar is the capital city. It is India's second well-planned city after Chandigarh. Makara Sankranthi is a big festival of Gujarat. The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi; the father of the nation, Porbandar is situated in Gujarat.

Porbandar Porbandar has Kristi Mender, the birthplace of Gandhiji. Gandhiji's photographs are exhibited here. A swastika on the floor in a small room marks the actual spot where Gandhiji took his birth. Nearby is a planetorium and Bharat Mandir where a huge relief map of India lies on the floor. One can find number of paintings on the pillars related to Hindu epics.

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad is 1514 kms from Bangalore and 551kms from Bombay. It is one of the major industrial cities of India. It is called the 'Manchester of the East' as there are many textile industries. It was founded by Ahmed shah.

The places of tourist interest are:

1. Sabarmati Ashram - National monument with a small museum. The Ashram is associated with Mahatma Gandhi.

2. The Ahmed Shah Masjid, Jami Masjid, Rani Roopmati Masjid, Sidi Syed Masjid, Rani Sipri Masjid, Sidi Basher Masjid, Hathee Sing Temple.

3. Museums - Calivo Textiles Museum, Utensils Museum, N.C. Metha Museum.

4. Swami Narayana Temple.

5. Artificial Lake Of Kankaria, Zoo and Children's Park Aquarium.

6. The Tribal Research and Training Institute Museum.

7. The Philately Museum.

8. Sarkhej (8kms), Mausoleum of Mahmud Begara.

9. Adalat vav (19kms) - a picnic spot. A step well is built here.

Modhera This place known for its Sun Temple resembling that of Konark is 100km to the north - west of Ahmedabad. Here the sun's rays fall on the image of Surya at dawn. The temple is beautifully carved.

Baroda This is 112kms south of Ahmedabad. This is also called 'Vadodara'. Places of tourist here are The Sayaji Bagh, Baroda Museum, Lakshmi Vilas Palace. At the Sayaji Bagh is a park where a planetorium is situated.
Champaner (150kms) - north - east of Baroda. The Jami Masjid, the Pavagadh hill is worth seeing.

Bhav Nagar 250kms from Ahmedabad, Gandhi Smriti Library, Museum, Gauri Shankar Lake, Takhteshwar temple are to be seen here. About 56 kms from this place is Palitana where atop hill are 860 temples, this is a pilgrimage centre for Jains. All these temple are Jain temples.

Junagadh This is a pilgrimage centre for Jains. The city is situated at the base of the temple studded Girnar hill. This is 380 kms from Ahmedabad. To visit the famous Gir forest one has come to Junagadh. Gir forest is famous for lions. To the east of Junagadh is Uparkot, an old fort. Inside the fort is Jami Masjid Nuri shah's Tomb and two wells.

The Girnar hill has a sacred tanks of Damodar Kund, Neminath Temple, Amba Mata Temple are prominent temples here.

Somnath Somnath is 5 kms from Veraval, a costal town (450 kms from Ahmedabad). Here the Somnath temple was renovated by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The temple earlier was destroyed by Muslims during the invasion of Ghazni Muhammed.

Sasan Gir forest - 54 kms from Junagadh. This famous sanctuary has been spread over an area of 1,400sq kms. Lions, Hyenas, Foxes, Deer and Antelopes are founded here. Dwaraka - A Hindu pilgrimage centre. The place is much related to Lord Krishna. The Dwarakanath Temple here is a 5 storey building supported by 60 colomus. Krishna Janmashtami is a famous festival that is celebrated here on a grand scale. Nageshwarlinga Temple, one of 12 of the Jyotirlingas is also seen here.

Wankaner (50 kms from Rajkot which is 256 kms from Ahmedabad) Royal Place of Wankaner and its Museum, the Maharana's collection of vintage cars, Ranik Devi temple, Watson Museum in the Jubilee Gardens are the places of tourist interest.

Capital: Gandhinagar
Large Cities: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhuj
Language: Gujarati, Hindi, English

The West Coast State of Gujarat is not on popular tourist itineraries of foreign and Indian tourists. Although it is easy to travel to Gujarat during your trips to Mumbai or Rajasthan, few people pause to explore this very interesting part of India. Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat. It is India's second well planned city after Chandigarh. Makara Sankranthi is a big festival of Gujarat. The birth place of Mahatma Gandhi,the father of the nation.

State of Vibrant Culture: Gujarat covers an area of 196, 024 sq. km which is traditionally divided into three zones - the eastern mainland that includes the cities Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara; the Kathiawar peninsula better known as Saurashtra with its headquarters at Rajkot and Kutch with its most important town Bhuj. The state offers its visitors fabulous offbeat possibilities of exploring Gujarat's vibrant culture and history. Here one scarcely knows where legend ends and history begins.

Gandhi Ashram: The most distinguished son of Gujarat was Mahatma Gandhi who won for India its independence through non-violence. His Ashram (retreat) on the banks of the Sabarmati River near Ahmedabad reveals these tuff this man was made of - his austere mode of living and his great ambition to free his country from the foreign yoke. His spinning wheel symbolized India's goal of self-reliance and independence.

Gujarat - Important Events

Fairs and Festivals

Arts of Gujarat

Shopping

Important Tourist Places in Gujarat

History & Architecture

Pilgrim centres and Temples

Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks

Ahmedpur Mandvi - The Beach Resort

1. Vadodara

2. Ahmedabad

3. Lothal

4. Modhera & Patan

5. Rajkot & Jamnagar

6. Saurashtra

7. Junagadh & Girnar

8. Palitana (Bhavnagar)

9. Somnath & Wankaner

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited
Head Office
Block No. 17, 4th Floor
Udyog Bhavan, Sector 11
Gandhinagar - 382 011
Phone: 91 - 79 - 23222029, 23222645
Fax: 91 - 79 - 23222189, 23238908
Email: gujtour@icenet.net

Ahmedabad:
HK House,
Opp. Bata Showroom, Ashram Road
Ahmedabad - 380 009
Phone: 91 - 79 - 26589683, 26589172, 26587217
Fax: 91 - 79 - 26582183
Email: ahmedabad@gujarattourism.com

Rajkot:
Bhavnagar House, Jawahar Road
B/h State Bank of Saurashtra (main)
Rajkot - 360 001
Phone: 91 - 281 - 2234507

Surat:
1/847, Athugar Street,
Nanpura, Surat - 365 001
Phone: 91 - 261 - 2476586

Vadodara:
Narmada Bhavan
C - Block, Indira Avenue, Vadodara - 1
Phone: 91 - 265 - 2427489
Tele fax: 91 - 265 - 2431297

New Delhi:
A/6, State Emporia Building
Baba Kharak Singh Marg
New Delhi - 110 001
Phone: 91 - 11 - 23744015
Fax: 91 - 11 - 23367050
Email: delhi@gujarattourism.com

Mumbai:
Khaitan Bhavan, 1st Floor,
J. Tata Road, Opp. Ritz Hotel
Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020
Phone: 91 - 22 - 22024925
Fax: 91 - 22 - 22883541
Email: mumbai@gujarattourism.com

Kolkata:
Martin Burn Building
Shop No. 28, Ground Floor
1, R.N. Mukherjee Road
Opp. Lal Bazaar, Kolkata - 700 001
Tele fax: 91 - 33 - 2438357

Chennai:
Tourism Complex
Wallajah Road, Chennai - 600 002
Tele fax: 91 - 44 - 25366613
Email: chennai@gujarattourism.com

Jaipur:
Government Hostel Campus
M.I. Road, Jaipur - 302 001
Phone: 91 - 141 - 2378070

Visit our website at: www.gujarattourism.com