Top 5 tourist cities to visit in Gujarat

Gujarat is a state that offers something for every tourist. You can find pristine beaches, beautiful temples, colourful fairs and extraordinary cities buzzing with life and erupting with a unique culture. The luscious cuisine, the beautiful bandhanis and amazing handicrafts are unique and redolent with the petichor of Gujarat’s soil.  Gujarat is also conveniently located in the Western part of India and has excellent connectivity via buses, trains and flights to all parts of the country and the world. It offers you amazing diversity in landscapes from the largest salt marsh in the world to desert, virgin beaches, moutains and bustling cities. The land of the Mahatma sees tourists thronging to this amazing land all through the year. More than 20 million tourists visited Gujarat last year.

Let us look at some amazing cities of Gujarat:

Ahmedabad: A modern city, Ahmedabad, still retains its connections to its rich history and traditions. The city offers the amenities that you will find in some of the biggest cities of India. It has an excellent road network and an exclusive BRTS or bus rapid network system in the country. The city encompasses the fabulous Akshardham Temple, a large Kankariya lakefront amusement park, Sabarmati Ashram, the amazing and historic Adalaj Vav step wells. A walk through the old city is a must to see another side to this modern city.  Kankariya amusement park hosts a week-long carnival every December. After renovation, it is one of the hotspots in the city with its toy train, zoo, water rides, kiddie attractions and some great food stalls. Indulge in shopping at Ahmedabad’s finest malls and stores.

Vadodara (Baroda): The city is a great modern city with excellent industrial growth. It also houses many offices. A bustling, cosmopolitan city, it is well connected and close to the city of Ahmedabad both via road and rail. Interesting the city is named after a species of tree called Vad that grow in abundance here. Some excellent spots for sightseeing here are Laxmi Vilas Palace, Tabmekar Vada and Maharaja Fateh Singh museum. Khanderao market is excellent for shoppers. You can also make a day trip to the renowned UNESCO site of Champaner. A lovely, developed city, it still retains its cultural charm that beckons visitors.

Bhuj: The capital of Kutch is well developed with excellent infrastructure. It is truly a window to amazing culture, cuisine, handicrafts and arts. It is a place of historical significance and some great geographical diversity. You can visit the famed Rann of Kutch and quaint little villages that will show you the diversity of Kutchi culture. Some lovely places to see here are the Swami Narayan Sampradey Temple, Darbargadh Palace Complex, Prag Mahal and Kutch Museum. Don’t forget to visit the wildlife and bird sanctuaries in this area. The Little and Big Rann of Kutch are delightful natural wonders that must not be missed at any cost! Do not miss the Rann Utsav in December! It is a spell-binding event.

Bhavnagar – Palitana: If the soothing waters of Gulf of Khambat are of interest for you, then Bhavnagar is perfect for your visit.  The town has some lovely architectural marvels. It is also renowned for many literary greats. The town is well known for its silver work. And its markets hold special charm for the tourists. You must not miss the Jain temples at Palitana that are extremely beautiful.  Don’t miss the regal Nilambagh Palace and the lovely markets of Alang. The lovely beaches are spectacular and hold great charm for all. Bhavnagari cuisine is also distinct and well known. Don’t forget to include this city in your itinerary.

Junagadh: Junagadh is the 7^th largest city in Gujarat. It is situated at the base of Girnar hills. Uperkot, a Fort built by the Mauryan dynasty many centuries ago is a great attraction for tourists. An edict of Ashoka engraved in the rocks attracts visitors. It is 2 kms. to the east of Junagadh. There are ancient step wells  known as Adi-Kadi and Navghan Kuvo that have been engraved from a rock at the base of Mount Girnar. Other places of interest are the regal Junagadh Palace, Mahabat Ka Maqbara and Jumma Masjid. You can also see some lovely temples here. You can visit the town of Porbandar, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace, that lies to the North of Junagadh.

Pics: Wikipedia

Reference Links:

http://goindia.about.com/od/gujarat/tp/5-Fabulous-Tourist-Places-In-Gujarat.htm