Porbandar Travel Essentials
Ideal duration: 1-2 days
Best Time: Throughout the year Read More
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"Gandhi’s birthplace and a coastal town in Gujarat"
Porbandar Tourism
Porbandar, best known as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, is a beautiful beach town with some temples and dams and is now also a popular trading hub. The ancient port city with a significant event in its history is a tourist destination which modestly offers a number of attractions.
Apart from the haveli where Gandhiji was born which has now been converted into a temple, there are a few more temples, dams, reservoirs, serene beaches and wildlife spots as well to add to your experience in Porbandar. It attracts pilgrims with temples such as the Sudama Mandir, Bharat Mandir, Ram Dhoon Mandir, Hanuman temple and more.
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History
Archaeological digs in and around Porbandar brought to light the remains of a late Harappan settlement dating back to the 16th - 14th century BCE. This is other evidence to suggest that the Harappan legacy of maritime activity continued for a long time during the Harappan period on the Saurashtra coast.
Porbandar, for the otherwise magnificent city that it is, has also historically been of great importance to the Indian subcontinent. Excavations around Porbandar have put light and opened up the possibility of there being a city from the Harappan civilisation around Porbandar, from as long as the 12th century BC. A lot of ancient styled jetties and boats have been found which indicate that it may have been a significant centre for maritime activities, due to its obvious proximity to the sea, during that time. In Indian mythology, it is known to be the birthplace of Sudaama (friend of Lord Krishna in Dwaparyug). By the 16th Century of the Common Era, the city had become imminent for bread factories to export pao ruti to Arab nations through the Arabian Sea, which is why it was also called Pao Bandar. The name slowly turned into Pore Bandar, through colloquial changes. From the 20th Century onwards, it has become a popular tourist attraction, for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Porbandar, for the otherwise magnificent city that it is, has also historically been of great importance to the Indian subcontinent. Excavations around Porbandar have put light and opened up the possibility of there being a city from the Harappan civilisation around Porbandar, from as long as the 12th century BC. A lot of ancient styled jetties and boats have been found which indicate that it may have been a significant centre for maritime activities, due to its obvious proximity to the sea, during that time. In Indian mythology, it is known to be the birthplace of Sudaama (friend of Lord Krishna in Dwaparyug). By the 16th Century of the Common Era, the city had become imminent for bread factories to export pao ruti to Arab nations through the Arabian Sea, which is why it was also called Pao Bandar. The name slowly turned into Pore Bandar, through colloquial changes. From the 20th Century onwards, it has become a popular tourist attraction, for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Restaurants and Local Food in Porbandar
Porbander is brimming with options for food that is rich, easily available and light on your pocket. The restaurants here offer Indian, Punjabi, Chinese and Continental food along with local Gujarati delicacies that you just cannot miss. The food is mainly vegetarian. Do try out local favorites like Dhokla, Khandvi, Thepala, Khakhra as well as sweet treasures such as Ghevar, Basundi, Shrikhand and numerous more.
View Top Restaurants in Porbandar
View Top Restaurants in Porbandar
Suggested Itinerary for Porbandar
Day 1 - Begin tour of the city at the Porbandar Beach. Then visit Sri Hari Mandir and Kirti Mandir. Day 2 - Begin day at Chowpatty Beach. Then visit Sudama Mandir and Harsiddhi Mataji Temple. Rest of the day off for shopping and enjoying local dishes.
Best Time to Visit Porbandar
Nearby Places
How to Reach Porbandar
How to Reach Overview
Porbandar, is an important and major port city along the Gujarat coastline, has become well-connected to the other major cities of the country, by road, rail or through the air. Public and private busses connect Porbandar with many big cities in the state of Gujarat. Porbandar has decent rail connectivity as well Daily trains to Rajkot, Somnath and Mumbai, run from the Porbandar Railway Station, which connects the major cities of India to Porbandar. Porbandar Airport is a public airport, which can handle 100 arriving and 100 departing passengers at a time.
How to reach Porbandar by flight
Porbandar has its own airport which is connected to all the major cities. Porbandar Airport is a public airport, which can handle 100 arriving and 100 departing passengers at a time. There are some duty free shops available on the airport which makes shopping affordable for passengers, including a number of food shops and restaurants. You can easily hire a taxi from outside the airport for local sightseeing.
How to reach Porbandar by road
Buses are available from most nearby cities and towns to Porbandar. You could also hire cabs/cars from most nearby cities.
How to reach Porbandar by train
The Porbandar Railway Station connects Porbandar to most cities in and around Gujarat. Daily trains to Rajkot, Somnath and Mumbai, run from the Porbandar Railway Station, which connects the major cities of India to Porbandar. Trains run to Delhi, Kolkata and Rajasthan periodically, and there are also weekly trains to Kerala and Hyderabad, down South.
How to reach Porbandar by bus
The National Highway 8B, which connects the famous cities of Ahmedabad and Rajkot - is also connected to Porbandar. Many public and private buses run daily at different time intervals, to neighbouring cities of Gujarat like Vadodara, Surat, Jamnagar and even Mumbai.
Local transport in Porbandar
Operated by the Kargil Parivahan Company, a city bus in the form of local transport connects the key areas of the city to one another. Auto rickshaws are also available around the city, as cheap but efficient means to travel around the city, where in one can expect to experience the daily hustle bustle of Porbandar, in all its glory. Sudaama Chowk is the hub for taxis and buses, and regularly frequented by both locals and travellers.
Most frequently searched routes to Porbandar
| Route Name | Distance | Time | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad to Porbandar | 394 km | 6 hours 7 mins | View Details |
| Mumbai to Porbandar | 885 km | 13 hours 47 mins | View Details |
| Chennai to Porbandar | 2,212 km | 1 day 9 hours | View Details |
| Delhi to Porbandar | 1,332 km | 19 hours 51 mins | View Details |
| Bangalore to Porbandar | 1,859 km | 1 day 4 hours | View Details |
| Pune to Porbandar | 1,023 km | 16 hours 11 mins | View Details |
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Porbandar Photos
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FAQs on Porbandar
What is famous about Porbandar?
Great road connectivity. Beautiful temples.
What is not so good about Porbandar?
Summers can be harsh.
Who should visit Porbandar?
Porbandar is a great place for pilgrims and foodies.
What is the best time to visit Porbandar?
The town is pleasant throughout the year and you will find Porbandar equally welcoming around the calendar
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What is the local food in Porbandar?
Porbander is brimming with options for food that is rich, easily available and light on your pocket. The restaurants here offer Indian, Punjabi, Chinese and Continental food along with local Gujarati delicacies that you just cannot miss. The food is mainly vegetarian. Do try out local favorites like Dhokla, Khandvi, Thepala, Khakhra as well as sweet treasures such as Ghevar, Basundi, Shrikhand and numerous more.
Read More
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What is the best way to reach Porbandar?
Porbandar, being an important and major port city along the Gujarat coastline, has developed immensely and has become well-connected to the other major cities of the country, by road, rail or through air. Public and private busses connect Porbandar with many big cities in the state of Gujarat. Porbandar has decent rail connectivity as well. The city has its own airport too.
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What are the things to do in Porbandar?
The top things to do in Porbandar are Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Kirti Mandir, Porbandar, Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, Porbandar Beach, Nehru Planetarium, Miyani Beach. You can see all the places to visit in Porbandar here