Highlights of Gujarat Tour

Day 1 - Welcome to Gujarat! An Active India Holiday representative will greet you at the pickup point at the Ahmedabad Airport. As you drive to the hotel in comfort, enjoy the sights along the way while our representative briefs you about the experience that awaits you. Check in at the hotel and freshen up. The rest of the day is free to explore the historic city of Ahmedabad, a major centre of traditional and contemporary textiles. Depending upon your arrival time, you may choose to have a traditional Gujarati dinner in the evening with an entertaining live show at the Vishala Village Restaurant. Overnight stay in Ahmedabad.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 2 - Ahmedabad is a city defined by its architecture and is home to a variety of styles. After breakfast, we proceed on a city tour of Ahmedabad. First, we visit the Calico Textile Museum, one of the finest textile museums in the world, housed in one of Gujarat's famous carved wooden havelis (mansions). After lunch, we visit another architectural marvel - the step well in Adalaj, a village 17 kilometres north of Ahmedabad. On our way back, we stop by the Gandhi Ashram, also known as the Sabarmati Ashram, once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi. Established by Mahatma Gandhi it in 1915; it is Ahmedabad's most popular tourist attraction. Our day ends with a visit to the Swaminarayan temple, a magnificent example of 19th Century architecture, embellished with vibrant colours and exquisite carvings.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 3 - After breakfast we drive to Vadodara, the Cultural Capital of Gujarat and home to one of India's most opulent palaces - the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, as well as other legendary monuments. Upon arrival, we head to a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Champaner. This is an ancient fort conquered in 1484 by Sultan Mahmud, that he renamed Begara Muhammadabad. The fort consists of 114 monuments of historical and archaeological interest. The most famous is Jama Masjid for its impressive interior courtyard, porches, arches and slender minarets. Shahir Masjid, with its row of columns, domes, and delicate mihrab (niche facing Mecca), and Nagina Masjid, with its charming porch, are also worth a visit. We return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Vadodara.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 4 - Today we travel to Palitana, an ancient princely state in Bhavnagar. En-route we stop in Lothal, an important historical and archaeological site with some of the most interesting Harappan relics. The archaeological ruins of Lothal date back to the Indus Valley Civilization and clearly suggest that it was a very significant centre at the time. We then continue our journey to Palitana. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. The evening is free to take a stroll through the market. Overnight stay in Palitana.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 5 - Today we rise early to visit the splendid Palitana Jain Temple. Palitana is a major pilgrimage centre for the Jains, known the world over for their non-violent way of life. The Jain community considers the Palitana temples to be the most sacred places of pilgrimage. There are over 3,000 temples on the Shatrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble. The summit is reached by climbing (or by being carried up) 3,572 steps – a stiff 2-hour-ascent. We pass several devotees dressed in white, some wearing gauze masks to filter harmless microbes from the air they breathe. Following the tour, we drive to Diu, a small island in Gujarat near the port of Veraval that was once a Portuguese colony and is now surrounded by beaches. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay in Diu.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 6 - Breakfast at the hotel. The day free for you to unwind and relax on the beach and to explore the city independently. Suggested Sightseeing The Diu Fort, a primary Portuguese imprint on the area's history and architecture, is a prominent tourist attraction. Another fascinating site is Vanakbara, a tiny fishing village with charming colourful fishing boats and the hum of day-to-day life. St. Paul's Church is adorned with intricately carved scrollwork and shell-like motifs, and the magnificent wood carving is considered the most elaborate of all Portuguese churches in India. St. Thomas Church Museum is a Gothic building built in 1598. Part of it was turned into a museum and archaeological treasure. Nagoa Beach is exceptionally beautiful and quiet.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 7 - We leave Diu and drive to the Sasan Gir National Park. En-route we stop at the Somnath Temple. Somnath means ‘The Protector of (the) Moon God’. The Somnath Temple is known as ‘the Shrine Eternal’, having been destroyed six times and rebuilt the same number of times. Most recently it was rebuilt in November 1947 when Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel visited the area integrating Junagarh and mooted a plan for its restoration. Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Later we continued our drive to Sasan Gir and upon arrival check-in at the hotel.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 8 - Today is an adventurous day as we get to go on two game drives (morning/afternoon) into the Gir Forest National Park to spot the Asiatic Lions. We head out early morning for a dawn safari into the national park. While waiting for access to be granted to the park, we spend some time looking at the engaging interpretation centre, providing an insight into the park and its flora and fauna. Gir's 2,375 distinct fauna species include approximately 38 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles, and over 2,000 species of insects. The carnivorous group mainly comprises Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, King Cobra, Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Indian Mongoose, Indian Palm Civet, and Ratel. Return to hotel for breakfast. Post lunch we head out for our next exploration game drive into the national park.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 9 - Post-breakfast we drive to Gondal. On the way to Gondal we stop and discover the ancient city of Junagadh, which is at the base of the Girnar Hills in West India. It is a popular tourist destination known for its monuments, temples and diverse culture. We visit the magnificent Junagadh fort, built by the powerful Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in 319 BCE. This strategically built fort is said to have withstood many sieges over the years. We also explore the nearby Buddhist caves intricately cut out of rock in the 2nd Century CE, featuring monastic cells, ornate pillars and prayer halls. We continue our drive to Gondal and upon arrival, checked-in at the hotel. Later, we visit Naulakha Palace - one of the oldest palaces in Gujarat. This palace was built in 1748 CE in Darbargadh, by the Jadeja Rajputs who ruled Gondal. Enjoy the beautiful silverware, beadwork, brass utensils, hand-painted wooden dolls, other objects, silver jewellery, and brass boxes on the guided tour of this palace. Overnight stay in Gondal.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 10 - We visit the hotel's 'Royal Garages’, which house a wonderful array of classic cars from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, once owned by the Maharaja and said to be Asia's largest collection. Later we drive to the walled city of Bhuj, stopping on the way to visit the village of Ajrakhpur, which is renowned for its indigo block printing. Ajrakhpur artisans are experts in Ajrakh, a block-printed cotton fabric commonly used by local herdsmen and dyed with natural dyes. Its geometrical and non-figurative motifs often resemble those seen in Islamic-influenced Indian architecture. Upon arrival at Bhuj, check-in at the hotel.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 11 - After breakfast we take a tour of the villages surrounding Bhuj, which are known for their distinct styles of embroidery, tie-and-dye effects, and other handicraft work. We first visit the Nirona Village, which is the only place in the world where the Rogan art culture is still practiced (a method of producing dyes from natural resources and castor oil and creating intricate and long-lasting designs on silk and cotton). Due to its unique characteristics, it is practiced by only one family in India. Rogan art is an unusual craft that is little known outside of India. Next, we explore the Bhujodi Village, known for its traditional Bandhani (tie-and-dye), block printing, and weaving work. We also meet the National Award winning artists and see how they do traditional weaving. We then make our way to Mandvi, is situated on the banks of the Rukmavati river. We enjoy the beach and watch the famous tie-and-dye printing being done. We also visit the Vijay Vilas Palace, a royal abode set in the middle of well-laid gardens. Jaipur architects and craftsmen designed and built the palace in 1920 CE. The palace has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. It illustrates the typical skills of early 12th Century craftsmen. Return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Bhuj

Overnight - Hotel

Day 12 - Our tour of Gujarat comes to an end and it’s time to pack your bags and head back with memories of a lifetime. After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and get a transferred transfer to the Bhuj Airport for a connecting flight to Mumbai. From Mumbai airport take flight for onward travel.

Tour Ends