20 Tourist Places in Gujarat You Must Visit

While other regions of India may lay claim to have some attraction or the other, rarely will you find most of them in one region. Gujarat has the longest coastal line in India. It has a desert. It has dense forests in the South. There are palaces and forts. You will find some hill resorts too. The region is rich in cultural diversity too as you travel from the arid wastes of Kutch to Saurashtra to North Gujarat to Central and then South Gujarat. It is worthwhile planning trip to Gujarat to explore all or possibly a few of its many attractions.

Kutch

Kutch has the great Rann and the smaller Rann or deserts. You might think these are desolate places but if you do take a trip to Kutch you will find that even deserts can teem with life.

Bhuj: Your tour of Kutch starts in Bhuj, an erst princely city. The city itself has an old Mahal, the Aina Mahal built by Maharao Lakhpatji and famed for its Hall of Mirrors. It is a perfect blend of European and Indian artistic skills.
Great Rann of Kutch: Winter is when you can admire the vast white sandy stretches of the Great Rann of Kutch. This is when Siberian flamingoes flock to the Narayan Sarovar. The lake itself is host to hundreds of species of birds. Arrive here at the time of the Rann Mahotsave and you are in for a delightful time with Kutchi food to sample, local music and folk performances.
Kalo Dungar: The black hillock is the highest point of the desert from where you can see the Indo Park Border and visit the 400 year old temple dedicated to Dattatreya.
Mandvi: This ancient sea port has a palace but it is visited more for its beautiful beach and the nearby Topansar Lake that is home to migratory birds. Ride a camel on the beach and visit the Vijay Vilas Palace nearby.
Dholavira and Siyot caves: If you like ancient sites, Dholavira will pull you towards it. The site showcases Harappan civilization. The first century Siyot Caves are not so well known but they are worth a visit to view the paintings that show Chinese migration to India.
Marine National Park: Nature lovers can go to the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in the lesser Rann of Kutch or you can visit the Marine National Park, the biggest of its kind. Pirotan Island is as desolate as it gets in terms of human population because there is none but it is home to a variety of marine life. Take a boat, explore it all day and return by evening. The coast has brackish salty water that is home to mangroves and its own ecosystem of life whereas the interiors have wildlife of another kind. There is nothing like it in India.

Saurashtra

Local princes and princesses and their heroic valour have been immortalized in stories, poems and Gujarati films. It is the land of Romance. Visit Saurashtra and you will find yourself in a different place. There are dozens of places you can visit but here are a few you should not miss.

Girnar Hill and Gir Sanctuary: The sanctuary is home to the last of the Asiatic Lions. You will also find 29 species of reptiles, 33 species of mammals, plants, trees and wildlife.
Somnath and Dwarkadhish Temples: Dwarkadheesh is the kingdom of Krishna and it is one of the major Char Dhams. The temple here is 5 storeys high with a large flat at the top. Nearby places to visit include Rukmini’s temple, Bet Dwarka and Okha. Somnath is also along the coast, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. So, apart from a bit of religion, you can also relax on the beach. From here it is not far to Diu, the island Union Territory of India with decided Portuguese influences. Visit the fort and the caves on the island.
Palitana: Shatrunjaya Hill near Bhavnagar is unique in that it is home to Palitana, the Jain temple city. What is amazing is that Palitana complex has 108 large temples and 872 smaller ones dedicated to various Tirthankaras. Climbing the innumerable steps is an ordeal but the view at the top is magnificent. You have to leave by sundown because no one can stay overnight. While in Bhavnagar do not forget to sample gathiya made of besan with fried green Chillies and Chikki as well as Kachariyu made by crushing sesame seeds with Jaggery. Dine on Undhiyu!
Velavadar National Park: You will find it not far from Bhavnagar, a sanctuary for blackbucks. Relatively small, it is nonetheless interesting.
Junagadh: The princely city has for legacy the Uparkot Fort dating back to 2300 year or even more. It has a moat inside the walls and two step wells, Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuwo. The city is also home to the beautiful Mausoleum of Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai with beautiful architecture. If you find time you can drop in at the Sakkarbaug Zoo or relax in the grand Moti Bag gardens spread over 2485 hectares.
Jamnagar: The famed cricketer Shri Ranjitsinhji hailed from the princely family that ruled this city. You will find dozens of places worth a visit. Start with the Lakhota Palace located on an island in the middle of Ranmal Lake. You walk on a stone bride to reach the palace. Do drop in at the museum here to know about the city’s past. The Kotha Bastion is unique in that you have an old well here with a hole at the top in which you blow to draw up water. The new palaces of the Jams who ruled the city are also worth a visit, especially the Solarium. From the city you can go on to the beaches, to Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, to the Bardar Sanctuary, to the Marine National Park or to Darbargadh, the original residence of the earlier rulers.

North Gujarat

North Gujarat too has something to offer too (other than being the region from where Narendra Modi, the PM, hails):

Ambaji Mata Mandir: Millions of devotees make a pilgrimage to the Ambaji Mata Temple in Banaskantha in North Gujarat. Considered a Shakti Peeth, the place is where her heart is said to have fallen when Lord Shiva was carrying her body in the sky.
Idar: There is a hill here which you can climb and come across the remnants of a fortress.
Polo: However, the interesting place is Polo, a nature camp and forest reserve located not far away. The Vijaynagar forest here is home to the Sarneshwar temple, the Lakha Dera Jain Temple and the Shiv Shakti Mandir. The carving is simply amazing. Of more interest is that you can stay in tents (prior booking necessary) and enjoy trekking in the forest. September is the best time when the rains have stopped and everything is green all around.
Patan: This is an historic city that served as the model for Ahmedabad. Patan is famed for its Patola Sarees. It takes six months to weave one Saree that costs upward of Rs. 1.5 lakhs. Visit one of the Salvi (weaver) places to see the Saree being woven. While here you must visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rani ki Vav, a stepwell dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his ten avatars. Dating back to the 11^th century the Vav lay undiscovered until the 1970s since it was covered by earth due to the river changing course. Due to this the carvings are in a fine state of preservation.
Ahmedabad: Once known as the Manchester of India, the city’s large mills have closed but this old city is still worth a visit. It is not Kankaria or modern attractions you must visit but the heart of the city made up of pols with narrow paths lined by old houses. It is an entirely different world inside the pols. From here you can go on to Adalaj Vav, another stepwell on the way towards Gandhinagar. Do not forget to visit Dastan Farm in Kathwada. You will see a marvelous collection of vintage cars, especially Rolls.
Modhera Sun temple: Proceed further towards Mehsana and you will come across the Modhera Sun Temple, a must visit place because it is one of the few temples dedicated to the Sun God.

Central Gujarat

Drive down from Ahmedabad and arrive at Baroda, a princely city and explore attractions of Central Gujarat.

Baroda: Vadodara, as it is known locally, is a modern city but it has a rich heritage left behind by the Gaekwar’s. Not far from the railway station you will come upon the Museum, a rich repository of cultural artifacts. It was once a royal residence. There is still another modern royal residence, the Laxmi Vilas Palace, one of the largest of its kind. Built in 1890 the palace covers an area of 700 acres, four times the size of Buckingham Palace. The entire complex is worthy of an exploration.
Dakor: If North Gujarat has Ambaji, Saurashtra has Dwarka and Somnath then central Gujarat has Dakor. It is where lakhs of pilgrims make a pilgrimage on foot for a Darshan at the Ranchodrai Temple.
Champaner: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where you will find remnants of a royal city founded by Mahmud Begada. There is a beautiful mosque and a fort here. The site is at the foot of the Pavagadh Hill. Climb up to the top and you will find a temple dedicated to Kali Mata. On the way you will find a nice little lake and remnants of Jain heritage. From here you can go on to Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary and enjoy a day or two in absolute tranquility.
Balasinor: Not far from Champaner you will come across Balasinor, an erstwhile princely region but better known for its find of dinosaur bones and fossils.

South Gujarat

South Gujarat is quite a change from the dry and arid Kutch and Northern parts. People, culture and cuisines also differ. There are dozens of places worth a visit but here are a few.

Saputara: This is one of the rare hill resorts, relatively unknown until recently. Drive down here from Surat and you can spend a couple of days exploring Gira Water Falls, the sanctuary, ropeway, sunset point and indulge in paragliding.
Surat: Surat is known for textiles and diamonds and you can shop for exotic Sarees here but the city also has some places to visit such as the Fort, the Gopi Talav, Dumas Beach and, of course, a walk through the narrow lanes of the old city. Sample Ghari a sweet for which the city is famous and of course, regional cuisines like Surti Locho and Undhiyu.
Kabirvad: Not far from Bharuch, alongside the Narmada you will find Kabirvad, a picnic spot. The unique aspect is that it is home to a very old banyan tree. You will not be able to tell which trunk is the original one! From here you can go on to Rajpipla, a princely town and visit the palace as well as the Shri Harsiddhi Mataji Temple.
Purna Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the tribal Dang region of Panchmahal in South Gujarat, Purna has the lushest forests home to hundreds of species of birds and animals. The park covers 160.8 square kilometres and it is worth visiting. You could also visit Vansda, another National Park in the same region.
Navsari: The city is just 30 km from Surat but the atmosphere is different because this is where the Parsis, who migrated from Persia, made a home. There are quaint areas here, innumerable bakeries and peace. Do drop in at the Meherjirana library established by a Parsi priest of the same name.

Nowhere else does the landscape change so dramatically from dry and arid desert at the top to green fields and lush forests in the South. This is Gujarat.