Gujarat Historical, Cultural, Religious & Wildlife Discovery Tour

Day 1: Arrive Ahmedabad

Arrival transfer to hotel check in. Rest time free to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Ahmedabad (B)

Visit Hatheesing Jain Temple established in 1850 by Seth Hatheesing a rich Jain merchant, the temple is dedicated to 15th Jain Tirthankar Dharamnath. Bhadra Fort a beautiful monument that is famous for its intricate carvings, pattern works and beautiful frescos suits. Located in the middle of lush greenery the huge 44 acre Fort got its name from the Bhadrakali Temple that it houses. Sabarmati Ashram once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi located on the tranquil and serene stretch of Sabarmati River. The museum is one of the most interesting sections of the ashram as it has on display some of Gandhi`s personal letters and photographs. Shaking Minarets one of the most intriguing architectural wonders & an unsolvable mystery that the world has ever seen. VECHAAR Utensils Museum it house an elaborate collection of utensils ranging from hundreds of years back to the current times. Kite Museum in the premises of Sanskar Kendra the museum had an elaborate display of about 125 uniquely carved kites including mirror embroidered kites, block print kites and Japanese kites such as Rokuku. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Ahmedabad - Bhavnagar (175km) (B)

Drive to Bhavnagar enroute visit archaeological remains of Harappa Port-Town at Lothal of Indus Valley Civilization. Unlike many other doorways into Harappan culture, Lothal passed through all the phases of the society, from earliest development to most mature. Roam the ruins with your heart open to the ancient, and with the help of the local museum here, allow yourself to be transported to an era 4,500 years ago.

On arrival check in at hotel. Visit Gandhi Smriti & Barton Museum. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Bhavnagar - Palitana - Diu (225km) (B)

Drive to Diu via visiting Palitana Temples are known for being the largest cluster of Jain temples on Shatrunjaya hills. These hills have similarities to other hills where Jain temples have been built in Bihar, Gwalior, Mount Abu and Girnar. The Jain`s sacred hill of Shatrunjaya have 863 temples atop itself. The path is climbed through 3950 steps spanning 3.5 km up the Shatrunjaya Hills. The construction of temples of Palitana spanned over a period of 900 years and was structured in two phases.

Drive to Diu check in & overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Diu - Sasan Gir (100km) (B,L,D)

Visit Diu Fort a very large and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. This fort was constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD after the treaty signed between the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese. The fort is surrounded by the sea on the three sides and a canal on the fourth side. On the fort stands a giant structure which now houses a Light House and the Diu jail. Several canons are still located on the top of the fort and peep out of the holes on the walls of this gigantic structure. Old Town has a few old mansions belonging to rich Portuguese and Indian merchants. The colorful three-story Nagar Sheth Haveli has porticoes, carved balconies, stone-made lions and intricate arches in European and Indian styles.

Drive to Sasan Gir, check in & overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Sasan Gir National Park (B,L,D)

Gypsy safari in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary sprawling in an area of 1424 sq kms. Gir forest is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. Other predators are panther & hyena. Sambhar, Chital, Blue Bull, Chinkara and four horned antelope are found here along with the bear and the long tailed langur. Gir is also one of the finest bird sanctuaries. Some of the typical birds of Gir are the crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle, brown fish owl, king vulture, jungle quail, paradise flycatcher, pygmy woodpecker, hard headed oriole etc. Another attraction is a crocodile farm developed in the forest. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Sasan Gir - Rajkot (160km) (B)

Drive to Rajkot via visiting Junagadh an ancient fortified city rich in myth and legend, at the foot of the temple-studded Girnar Hill. The Girnar Hills are a holy sanctuary to the Jains. Ashoka inscribed 14 edicts on a huge boulder at Mt. Girnar peak. Also visit Uperkot fort an inaccessible fortress at Junagadh. And Gondal the former princely state ruled by the Jadeja Rajput clan. Visit Navlakha Palace one of the oldest and most beautiful palaces situated on riverbank.

Continue drive to Rajkot check in at hotel.

Arrive Rajkot check in at hotel. Visit Jubilee Garden a large open park area featuring many monuments of colonial time. The Garden include the historic Mohandas Gandhi High School, Kaba Gandhi No Delo, Rashtriya Shala, Watson Museum, Lang Library, and Rotary Midtown Library. The museum houses a varied collection of old artefact`s from the ancient city of Mohenjodaro. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Rajkot - Dholavira (260km) (B,L,D)

Drive to Dholavira check in at village resort. Explore Dholavira archaeological & historical sites dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization 4500 years ago. It is full of historic treasures, including seals with animal figures, funerary structures, letters of the Indus script, stone sculptures, pottery with painted motifs, terracotta ornaments, sign boards, and several other structures and objects. The ancient water reservoirs are certainly a highlight and excite visitors with their well-preserved state. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Dholavira - Bhuj (220km) (B)

Drive to Bhuj check in at hotel.

Visit Aaina Mahal Palace built in the middle of 18th century. Explore the compound outside the palace, with its beautiful carved doorways, elaborate window boxes and balconies. Prag Mahal built-in the 19th century next to Aina Mahal, the grand palace boasts of Gothic-style windows and Corinthian pillars around it. The opulent Mahal has the second tallest clock tower in the country which offers an amazing view from the top. A part of the palace has been converted into a museum with archives and personal items of the royal family on display. Shri Swaminarayan Temple initially built in the year 1822, it was the first of many Sampraday Swaminarayan temples. Ramkund a square stepwell, whose walls have carved miniature idols depicting the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu and sculptures of Lord Rama, Devi Sita, Lord Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Bhuj - Hodka (65km) (B,L,D)

Drive to Banni Region of Kutch Nirona Village for Rogan arts on a piece of cloth. The word Rogan comes from Persian and means oil-based. The process of making the natural colors used in art gives it such a name. Castor oil is heated on a fire for about 12 hours and then cast into cold water to give a thick residue called the Rogan. This is then mixed with stone pigments to lend it different hues. Next, the artisan uses a six-inch metal stick to paint with a fine thread of Rogan on cloth.

Drive to Hodka check in at hotel. Evening drive short distance to enjoy the breathtaking views of the White Rann. Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Hodka - White Rann of Kutch (B,L,D)

Early morning drive to White Rann of Kutch to see the sunrise. The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert of Gujarat. It is about 7500 km² in the area and is reputed to be one of the largest salt deserts in the world.

Later visit Dhordo village in White Rann occupied by Mutwa Muslim Community. Next visit a small Pathan community hamlet engaged in Embroidery. Continue to Khavda to see Potters and Samma tribe. Later leave for Kala Dungar to view the beautiful sunset. Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Hodka - Mandvi (135km) (B)

Drive to Mandvi via visiting Sumarasar Village of Shawl and Stole Weaving in Kutch a traditional profession and skills passed on from father to son.

Arrive Mandvi check in at hotel. Visit Vijay Vilas Palace built in 1929 by Rao Vijayrajji, this palace is very well-maintained, and often the scene of filming for Bollywood productions. It was built of red sandstone in the Rajput style, with a main central dome, Bengal domes at the sides, bastions at the corner, and colored glass windows. The balcony at the top affords a superb view of the surrounding area, and the king`s tomb can also be seen. Mandvi Town known for its shipbuilding centre. The local carpenters still make ocean-going Dhows in much the same way that their ancestors had done a century ago. One can go and visit the men at work, shaping the great vessels with hand tools and coaxing the seasoned timber into shape. The carrying capacity of these boats can vary from 250 tons to 1000 tons. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Mandvi - Dasada (275km) (B,L,D)

Drive to Dasada enroute stop to see the finest Batik workshops in Mundra & Bhadreshwar Jain Temple an appreciated sites of great significance in religious history. It is claim the city was founded in 516 BC, and first temple was built 2500 years ago, about 45 years after the death of Lord Mahavir. The main temple is strikingly beautiful in all white marble with majestic pillars. Around the central one are 52 smaller shrines, one of which reputedly holds the original Parshavanath idol from 500 BC.

Arrive Dasada check in & overnight at hotel.

Day 14: Dasada - Ahmedabad (160km) (B)

Early morning safari in Little Rann of Kutch a unique landscapes of its kind in the entire world with an unending possibility of exploration. The present saline desert of the Little Rann of Kutch is believed to have been shallow sea. Little Rann of Kutch is the only haven on earth for endemic Asiatic Wild Ass. Known for its speed, the wild ass lives in herds led by stallions and survived by migrating between the grassy bets through the season, in search of food. Sanctuary is also home to 32 other species of mammals such as chinkara, two types of desert fox, jackals, caracals, nilgais, Indian wolves, blackbucks, and striped hyenas along with 350 different species of birds, including the common crane, pelican and the lesser flamingo. Interestingly, the Little Rann gets a fair number of winged visitors in the winter months. Among these, the ceraneous vulture comes from Egypt, the common and demoiselle cranes arrive from Siberia, the blue-tailed bee-eater visits from Europe, and the houbara bustard of Iran and Iraq are the most commonly sighted birds here. Also, the sanctuary is home to a sizeable population of Rabari and Bharwad tribes.

After safari drive to Ahmedabad via visiting Rani ki Vav 11th century Solanki era step well built by the Queen Udayamati & Karna in memory of her husband Bhima I. The stepwell is designed as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels, more than 500 principal sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery. And Panchasara Jain Temples, more than 100 Jain temples with exquisite domes & sacred carvings on the walls built by king Vanraj Chavada around 746 CE. And Modhera Sun Temple a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya built wetbeen 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir. The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines. Arrive Ahmedabad check in & overnight at hotel.

Day 15: Ahmedabad - Departure (B)

Departure transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.