Bhavnagar Travel Essentials

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"The Hub of Diamond Industry"

Bhavnagar Tourism

Located at the southern tip of Gujarat peninsula, Bhavnagar is known as the cultural centre of the state of Gujarat. Literary achievers like Govardhan Tripathi, Kavi Kant, Narsihm Mehta and Ganga Sati have their roots in Bhavnagar. While on one side, you'd see the careless waves of Gulf of Khambat, on the other hand, you can see the busiest port of ocean trading in India.

It is located at a distance of 98 kilometres from the capital of Gandhinagar. This region has a rich legacy dating back to the 18th century. It was a major port city and had trade links with different countries across the globe. Presently, Bhavnagar is known for housing the diamond cutting and polishing industry in India.

Bhavnagar also houses one of the oldest educational institutions, Samaldas Arts College. In 1884 Mahatma Gandhi was the student of this college. Bhavnagar is one of the finest examples of architectural brilliance and houses iconic monuments that originated in the 19th century. Some of the major tourist attractions include Nilambag Palace, Takhteshwar Temple, Barton Library, Victoria Park, Bhav Vilas Palace and more.

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History of Bhavnagar

The historical city of Bhavnagar, situated in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat became what it is today because of a series of events that took place in the early 16th century and the years that followed. The then Gohil Rajput King, Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil, in 1723 established a new capital for himself, 20 kms away from his former capital, Sihor and named it Bhavnagar - after himself. Later in 1807, the city came under the British jurisdiction and finally, during Independence, the last ruling Maharaja of Bhavnagar, Krishnakumar Sinhji handed over the administration of his Bombay State to the people's representative in 1948, and thus Bhavnagar merged with the rest of the Indian Union.

Natural Heritage Sites

Bhavnagar is an ancient city in Gujarat with volumes of history to speak throughout the city. Amid the amalgam of modern and ancient sites inclusive of religious and historical marks, Bhavnagar also hosts an array of national parks and ecological sites.

Some of the prominent picks of the several attractions in Bhavnagar are the Victoria Park; a secured wildlife forest, the Nilambagh Palace; a preserved colonial mansion-turned-hotel, Gaurishankar Lake; the city's major supply of water and a local sightseeing spot.

Home to over 1000 blackbucks, the Velavadar National Park is another popular haunt. The hilltop Takateshwar temple, Shri Adeshwar Temple and the Khodiyar Temple are some of the major religious sites in the city. The Gandhian remnants and relics at the Gandhi Smriti of the Barton Museum and the Barton Library are other significant mentions.

Restaurants and Local Food in Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar has, to its acclaim, some of the best and most delicious, tasty vegetarian food dishes to boast off in all of Gujarat.
  • Starting from Fafda Ganthiya which is a crispy fried snack made with gram flour, topped with carom seeds and black pepper to Pav-Ganthiya, which is a speciality of Bhavnagar and can be found at Laacchchhu’s Cart, the city is every foodie’s delight.
  • The 'khougali' at Ghogha Circle which is flocked by hundreds of people on a weekly basis, a testimony to that.
  • Spend an afternoon here, indulging in a variety of food dishes and devouring street food like the Bhungda Bateta. Bhungda means deep fried yellow fryums and bateta means hot and spicy, potato garlic curry which are prepared separately but served together, making it lip smackingly delicious.
  • If the spiciness gets to you, have some thirst quenching soda or a healthy milkshake made from dates and almonds, also available in and around Ghogha Circle.
  • The other must try are the local dishes of the state. Khakra, Thepla, Dhokla, Khandwa. These dishes might be available in the rest of the country too but they taste the best here.
The Gujarati Thali consists of various dishes like ringana methi nu shak, Gujarati khatti mithi daal, undhiyu, bhindi sambhariya, aloo rasila, steamed basmati rice, badshahi khichdi, Chapati, methi na thepla and bhakhri with kachumber salad along with various types of chutneys and buttermilk. There are many restaurants in Bhavnagar that make Gujarat's best a whole lot better!

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Suggested Itinerary for Bhavnagar

Day 1 - Arrive, check-in and rest. Then visit Gandhi Smriti Memorial, Malnath Shiv Temple, Aksharwadi Temple, Nishkalang Mahadev Temple, Khodiyar Mandir and Takhteshwar Temple.
Day 2 - Visit Barton Library, Ganga Deri, Tramak Falls and Ghogha Beach. Rest of the day off for shopping and enjoying local dishes.

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How to Reach Bhavnagar

How to Reach Overview

Bhavnagar city is well connected with all major cities and towns of India via air, rail and road. The Bhavnagar airport is the closest local airport, which is about 4 to 6 km from the city and can be covered through a 10 to 15-minute drive.

The Bhavnagar Railway Station, also known as the Bhavnagar Terminus at Madhia in Kumbharwada is about 2.6 to 3.2 km from Bhavnagar city. It can be reached via a 10 to 13-minute taxi or auto drop off.

There are quite a few bus stands in Bhavnagar. The Bhavnagar State Transport Bus Stand is about 2 to 4 km from the city and can be covered either through a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk.

How to reach Bhavnagar by flight

Bhavnagar airport is about 5 km from the city centre. Local cabs and buses are are available for commutation. However, the Bhavnagar airport only hosts specific airlines such as Air Deccan and Alliance Air from Ahmedabad and Mumbai, respectively.

The nearest international airport is the Surat International Airport which is approximately 345 to 380 km from the city. Although this is a massive distance, this international airport would host multiple airlines such as Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India Express from several destinations including Bangalore, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad and Sharjah.

How to reach Bhavnagar by road

Although Bhavnagar hosts efficient roadways with various nearby and far off cities and states, there are just a couple of picks considering the duration and distance of the drive.

Some of the great options of starting points to either self-drive or take a taxi to Bhavnagar include Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, Surat and Udaipur. The distance and duration between these cities are as follows:

Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar - 170 km in 3 to 4 hours
Rajkot to Bhavnagar - 175 to 200 km in 3.5 to 4.5 hours
Vadodara to Bhavnagar - 195 to 203 km in 4.5 to 5 hours
Palanpur to Bhavnagar - 308 to 350 km in 6 to 7.5 hours
Surat to Bhavnagar - 330 to 360 km in 6.5 to 7.5 hours
Udaipur to Bhavnagar - 425 to 510 km in 8.5 to 9.5 hours

How to reach Bhavnagar by train

The Bhavnagar railway station on the western railway line is the nearest and most efficient transit station in Bhavnagar.

Well-connected to the rest of the country, this junction hosts trains from a couple of starting points such as Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Mangalore and Surat. Some of the major trains running to and from Bhavnagar are the Tapti Ganga Express, Mahuva Express, Parasnath Express and the CCT BVC Express.

How to reach Bhavnagar by bus

There are an array of buses to Bhavnagar ranging between Volvo buses to private or state buses from various destinations. Considering distance and duration, some of the feasible places to start a bus journey to Bhavnagar are Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara, which are at a distance of about 170 km, 360 km, 200 km and 203 km respectively. 

Some of the notable bus operators between Bhavnagar and cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat and Mumbai are Nida Travels, Athithi Travels, RK Travels Bhavnagar, Shree Patel Travels, JK Travels and Jay Khodiyar Travels. The Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar route is the most convenient for a bus journey, and the course is fastest via NH8A.

Local transport in Bhavnagar

Cycle rickshaws, motor rickshaws, shared bikrams, buses and cabs can be used for commutation within the city.

Most frequently searched routes to Bhavnagar

Route Name Distance Time
Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar 170 km 3 hours 19 mins
Mumbai to Bhavnagar 620 km 10 hours 33 mins
Delhi to Bhavnagar 1,108 km 17 hours 23 mins
Hyderabad to Bhavnagar 1,348 km 23 hours 13 mins
Varanasi to Bhavnagar 1,580 km 1 day 0 hours
Udaipur to Bhavnagar 431 km 7 hours 18 mins

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Bhavnagar Photos

Bhavnagar, Gujarat
GauriShankar lake
Water lock gate
Nilambag Palace

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FAQs on Bhavnagar

What is the best way to reach Bhavnagar?

Bhavnagar city is well connected with all major cities and towns of India via air, rail and road. The Bhavnagar airport is the closest local airport, which is about 4 to 6 km from the city and can be covered through a 10 to 15-minute drive.

The Bhavnagar Railway Station, also known as the Bhavnagar Terminus at Madhia in Kumbharwada is about 2.6 to 3.2 km from Bhavnagar city. It can be reached via a 10 to 13-minute taxi or auto drop off.

There are quite a few bus stands in Bhavnagar. The Bhavnagar State Transport Bus Stand is about 2 to 4 km from the city and can be covered either through a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk.
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What are the places near Bhavnagar?

The top places near to Bhavnagar are Mumbai which is 308 km from Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad which is located 148 km from Bhavnagar, Surat which is located 96 km from Bhavnagar, Vadodara which is located 122 km from Bhavnagar, Udaipur which is located 349 km from Bhavnagar

What are the things to do in Bhavnagar?

The top things to do in Bhavnagar are Gaurishankar Lake, Nilambag Palace, Shopping in Bhavnagar, Victoria Park, Takhteshwar Temple, Water lock gate. You can see all the places to visit in Bhavnagar here

How much does a package cost for Bhavnagar?

The packages for Bhavnagar start at INR 21000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the local food in Bhavnagar?

Bhavnagar has, to its acclaim, some of the best and most delicious, tasty vegetarian food dishes to boast off in all of Gujarat.
  • Starting from Fafda Ganthiya which is a crispy fried snack made with gram flour, topped with carom seeds and black pepper to Pav-Ganthiya, which is a speciality of Bhavnagar and can be found at Laacchchhu’s Cart, the city is every foodie’s delight.
  • The 'khougali' at Ghogha Circle which is flocked by hundreds of people on a weekly basis, a testimony to that.
  • Spend an afternoon here, indulging in a variety of food dishes and devouring street food like the Bhungda Bateta. Bhungda means deep fried yellow fryums and bateta means hot and spicy, potato garlic curry which are prepared separately but served together, making it lip smackingly delicious.
  • If the spiciness gets to you, have some thirst quenching soda or a healthy milkshake made from dates and almonds, also available in and around Ghogha Circle.
  • The other must try are the local dishes of the state. Khakra, Thepla, Dhokla, Khandwa. These dishes might be available in the rest of the country too but they taste the best here.
The Gujarati Thali consists of various dishes like ringana methi nu shak, Gujarati khatti mithi daal, undhiyu, bhindi sambhariya, aloo rasila, steamed basmati rice, badshahi khichdi, Chapati, methi na thepla and bhakhri with kachumber salad along with various types of chutneys and buttermilk. There are many restaurants in Bhavnagar that make Gujarat's best a whole lot better!

Read More

What is the best time to visit Bhavnagar?

October- January are the best months to visit Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar experiences hot and dry summers. June experiences heavy rainfall which adds to the high temperature resulting in humidity. Winters begin from October and go on till January- February. It is thus considered best to visit Bhavnagar during winters.
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Who should visit Bhavnagar?

Bhavnagar is a great place for pilgrims and foodies.

What is not so good about Bhavnagar?

Summers can be harsh.

What is famous about Bhavnagar?

Great road connectivity. Beautiful temples.

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Bhavnagar Reviews

Your rating

Maulik Pandya

on Takhteshwar Temple 2 years ago
Atmosphere is quit good not too much crowded on weekends you may find vendor selling flowers here. Overall good experience. Mahadev har

Pallavi Siddhanta

5 years ago
- Gujarat is a dry state. Don't ask for liquor in restaurants and land up in an extremely awkward situation.
- Whenever availing any service, cross check and compare prices.
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