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Gujarat Tourism

3.8 / 5

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India

Deserts | Heritage

₹ 5,000 onwards (View Packages)

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Ideal duration: 4 - 12 days

Best time: October to March (Read More)

Major Airports: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat

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"Vibrant Gujarat"

Gujarat, India

Located in the westernmost part of India, Gujarat is home to several architectural marvels and is famous for its vibrant culture and rich heritage, apart from the scenic landscapes and mouth-watering cuisine. Offering a broad range of the most spectacular attractions, Gujarat, also known as 'The Land of Legends', presents a perfect blend of art, history, music and culture.

Being the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions, Gujarat also offers splendid views of the scenic beauty ranging from the Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of Satpura. Apart from the picturesque landscapes and the more than 1600 kilometres long coastline, Gujarat also offers its tourists with some magnificent ancient cave paintings, historic murals, holy temples, historic capitals, wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, hill resorts and fascinating handicrafts. Gujarat is a dry state but the cultural exuberance of the Gujratis will give rejuvenate you.

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Top Places to Visit In Gujarat

Ahmedabad

Kutch

Gir

Somnath

Porbandar

Junagadh

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Top Attractions In Gujarat

Great Rann of Kutch, Kutch

Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Kutch

Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Kutch

Dholavira, Kutch

Kutch Museum, Kutch

Diu Fort, Diu

Gujarat Packages

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Remarkable Somnath, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar & More

₹ 13,849 onwards
Royal Gujarat Package - Somnath, Sasangir & Dwarka

₹ 13,900 onwards
Enthralling Sasan Gir & Bhuj

₹ 16,300 onwards

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Stories about Gujarat

Food of Gujarat - Gujarati Dishes You Can Treat Your Tastebuds With!

Gujarati Culture, Dress and Food - The Heart and Soul of Gujarat

Traditional Dresses Of Gujarat

Airports In Gujarat

Top Historical Places in Gujarat

Hill Stations in and near Gujarat

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Holidify's Opinion

What's Great?

Very well connected domestically and internationally by road, rail and air. Highly industrialised cities with modern amenities. Varied types of destinations suitable for all.

What's not so Great?

It has now become commercialised and sees a large number of tourists in peak season. Alcohol and non-vegetarian food are banned in this state which may discourage some visitors.

For Whom

The vast number of natural habitats in Gujarat are excellent for nature lovers, while ancient ruins dating back to over 4000 years along with temples and palaces are sure to attract the history buffs. The cities are beautiful and ideal for sightseeing.

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The Land of Bapu

The father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi was born in Gujarat and returned to his land from South Africa in 1915 to propagate his philosophy of non-violence. As a result, Gandhi and many of his followers have built ashrams and monuments in his name in and around the country that are popular among tourists who want to get a peek into the life of the man responsible for India's mass movements. His birthplace, Porbandar has been developed as a tourist destination and has a museum chronicling his deeds. Dandi, the place where he led the famous Dandi March also lies on the coast of Gujarat. Kocharab Ashram near Ahmedabad was one of the first Ashrams set up by Gandhiji, and till today, retains the relics he used in his daily life. Sabarmati Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram, is a destination that every Indian must visit as the ideas of Swadeshi and khadi germinated here.

Wildlife of Gujarat

The deciduous forests, grasslands and marshy swamps- all spread over acres and acres and combine to contribute to rich wildlife that Gujarat has today. The wildlife in Gujarat also includes very rare and endangered species, the most famous one being the Asiatic Lion. The Gir National Park has become a home to many of these Asiatic Lions. Gujarat takes pride in the abundance of wildlife sanctuaries that it has, which are all worth paying a visit to. The Rann of Kachchh shelters animals and birds ranging from black bucks, hyenas, wild asses to innumerable migratory birds who make their way to the flatlands and marshes of Gujarat from all over the world. This includes flamingos, different types of ducks, seagulls and Arctic Terns who fly to Gujarat from the North Pole. The Jamnagar Marine Sanctuary is the first of its kind in India and is famous for the shallow lagoons where tourists can spot amazing animals like stingrays and rockfish while casually strolling through ankle-deep water.

Geography of Gujarat

The western state of Gujarat has a long coastline of 1660 kilometres and is one of the most diverse states in the country. The topography varies from dense forests to grasslands, deserts, marshlands, mangroves and coastal habitats that are home to a large number of marine animals. The capital city is Gandhinagar and Ahmadabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot are the other main towns. It shares a border with three other states - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and also shares an international boundary with Pakistan along the Rann of Kutch. Many major ports like Kandla and Porbandar are located in this state, and it also has one of the largest ship-breaking yards in the world.

People Of Gujarat

In terms of religion, the majority of the Gujaratis are Hindus, Muslims and Jains. Gujarati, Urdu and Sindhi are some of the few languages that are widely spoken in and around Gujarat. The Gujaratis are known for their professionalism and bussiness-like mentality. The Jains are also found in most parts of Gujarat. They are known for their textile and chemical mills. They are mostly known for the interest they show in temples and charities like school and religious trusts. Gujarat is popular for its diverse, yet vibrant culture. The Charans and Gadhavis are communities who have managed to pass along the knowledge of folk music and folk arts from one generation to the other. These folk songs are mostly in the form of a lullaby, nuptial songs, festive songs and Rannade songs. Folk instruments adorn the folk dances and songs. Several big and small fairs and festivals are observed through the year based on lunar or solar eclipse calendar. People of different caste and religion celebrate these festivities together with enthusiasm and devotion. The Kites, the decoration, the local stalls blended with the kirtans, bhajans and dances are some of the few prominent things that represent the true tradition of Gujarat.

History of Gujarat

The history of Gujarat can go back to as far as the Indus Valley Civilization. Its cities, notably Bharuch served as a major port and trading centre during the Nanda, Maurya, Satavahana, Gupta as well as Western Kshatrapa empires. The Solanki Dynasty and The Vaghela Dynasty are other empires that had a hold over Gujarat for a few long years. Muslim rulers too had an eye on Gujarat, and Alauddin Khilji invaded the place in 1297 AD and paved the way for Muslim rule in the region for the next 400 years. Mahmud Ghazni too invaded the area in 1026 intending to loot the wealth from the temples.

Gujarat later shifted to the hands of the Mughals after Bahadur Shah saw faced defeat against Emperor Akbar. The Mughal reign lasted only until the rise of the Marathas. Shivaji attacked Surat twice, once in 1664 and 1672 and established created a strong foothold over various parts of Saurashtra and Gujarat. Later, the East India Company took over as Madhavrao Gaekwad aligned himself with the British in 1802. Gujarat became one of the crucial areas during the British rule where most of the freedom struggles led by Mahatma Gandhi took place.

The Ancient Magic of Gujarat

The history of Gujarat dates back to the earliest civilisation in India - the Indus Valley Civilisation. Several major cities from this period were located on the coast of Gujarat and flourished because of trade with the Persian Gulf. Today, the sites of Lothal, Dholavira and Gola Dhoro offer some of the best-preserved ruins of this period. There are old signboards, ingeniously designed seaports, ritual tanks and cities that are protected as world heritage sites. Gujarat was also a prominent area for various vast empires and has palaces and forts from different eras like the Lakshmi Vilas and Vijay Vilas Palace, the Tomb of Ahmed Shah, Prag Mahal, Shaking Minarets and many royal bathing houses called Vavs. The Surya Mandir at Somnath too is a miracle of architecture and sculpture.

Rann of Kutch - A barren beauty

Recognized as one of the largest salt deserts in the world, The Rann of Kutch in Gujarat is not only known for its splendour, but also for one of the biggest festivals that take place in the state, the Rann Utsav. As a way to celebrate the culture and flavour of this region, an annual festival of music, dance and culinary talent called the 'Rann Utsav' is held every year in winter between November and February. Guests get to stay in luxurious tents that are put out in the middle of the desert and re given a chance to enjoy the Gujarat culture to their heart's content. If one wants to have the real Gujarat experience, then one should definitely visit the Rann Utsav. Activities like dance, camel rides, paramotoring and cart rides are available for the tourists to enjoy. For those who want some time out of the chaos of the Rann Utsav, can take part in yoga and meditation routines as well.

Local Food and Cuisine of Gujarat

Gujarat's food is as vibrant, distinct and colourful as the cultures that reside here. With countless elaborate styles of cooking and unique dishes that are enjoyed all over, the traditional local food gives Gujarat a unique tint of its own.
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