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Colours of Gujarat

Breathtaking locations, scenic landscapes and cultural travelogue.

About trip

Discover Gujarat's historic temples, rich heritage, cultural values and grasslands of Kutch..

Destinations

Mumbai – Vadodara – Bhavnagar – Sasan Gir – Diu – Somnath – Junagadh – Porbandar – Jamnagar – Bhuj – Kutch – Ahmedabad – Mumbai

Duration

12 nights / 13 days

Colours of Gujarat

When Indians say “Atithi Devo Bhava” or “Guests are a form of God”, you will get to experience it truly in Gujarat. In Gujarat you will get to experience the extremely humble nature of the residents and the exotic cuisine.

The speciality of this tour is that you will not only get to experience the magnificence of palaces but also the wild exotic life that’s preserved here. A jungle safari in dense forest with an opportunity to spot Lions will make your trip even more exciting.

A wonderful tour covering the length and breadth of Gujarat offers a complete experience of this colourful state from its cultural heritage, ethnic exchanges to its wildlife and natural beauty. Gujarat is a combination of anthropological interests, great temple architecture, rich cultural and heritage values, art and history, bedrocks of the fossil fields, the grass lands of Kutch, the salt marshlands, and the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation.

starts £ 1995 per person

TOUR GALLERY

ITINERARY

Day 00 : Departure from UK

Departure from UK to begin your holiday experience

Day 01 : Arrive Mumbai

The tour starts at Mumbai, rightly termed as the city of dreams. You will be accompanied by our representative who will assist you to the hotel. Mumbai, the financial hub of India, is also known as the City that never sleeps. The always hustling junta and the innate energy among the people is the spirit of city.

In Mumbai we will visit the Marine Drive, which looks like a Queen’s Necklace past twilight. You may also visit the Coloba shopping street, Siddhivinayak Temple in Dadar, among others.

Day 02 : Fly to Vadodara - City Tour

On this day you will fly to Vadodara. After checking into your hotel you will proceed for a city tour. You will visit the Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery. It was founded in 1887 by the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. Apart from old paintings and articles, the Museum is unique on its own as it also houses a 22 meter long Whale skeleton which was washed up on the shores of River Mahi in 1972. Besides that, it also has a beautiful and grand garden which is about 140 years old.

Next, we will visit the Laxmi Villas Palace, which was constructed in the 1890s by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The beauty of this palace is that it uniquely represents the Indo-western style of construction. The Palace is said to be four times the size of Buckingham palace. The palace is surrounded by sprawling garden and showcases beautiful marble statues.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03 : Vadodara - Champaner and tribal area in chota Udaipur (Jambhughoda)

After an early morning breakfast you will proceed towards Champaner to visit the Champaner-Pavagadh Archeological park, a UNESCO world heritage site. The speciality of this park is that it very nicely documents the transition between Hindu and Muslim culture and art. Spread over an area of more than 3,280 acres, the site includes ancient equipments for storing water, agriculture and also contains vestiges from 8th century. The park receives many pilgrims among Hindus.

After visiting the Champaner-Pavagadh Archeological park you will proceed towards Jambhughoda to witness the tribal life of the local people in Chota Udaipur. The villagers in this tribal area are known for their Holi celebration where in they walk over burning coal and perform other traditional acts. The experience is one of the most interesting things you will ever witness.

You will head back to your hotel in Vadodara. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 04 : Vadodara - Bhavnagar via Lothal

On this day, you will start your journey for Bhavnagar en route Lothal, a prominent Indus valley civilisation location. You will visit the museum which showcases artifacts recovered from the excavation that was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1955 to 1960. It provides evidence to modern antiquities in the Indian archeology. It is believed that the Harappan people made Lothal their mainland but it did not survive longer owing to floods and destructive winds in that area.

Bhavnagar is a very famous port city with a unique identity of its own. While an industrial town the city has maintained its character from old times. The city still operates its old clothes bazaar and scrap bazaar where in thousands of individuals flock to the market. The sight is worth witnessing in person.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 05 : Bhavnagar - visit Palitana

After the morning breakfast, your city visit will include a visit to the Nilambagh Palace, which is the residence of the current maharaja of Bhavnagar, and Takhteshwar Temple, which is located at a height and one is able to see the entire city from there. There on, you will proceed for a visit to Palitana temples, a pilgrimage site for Jains. Nicknamed the City of Temples, it is located in the Shatrunjay hills, which has over 3000 Temples. The 11^th century Palitana Jain temples, located at the highest point of the hills, have around 900 temples. These temples are carved in marble, and are very sacred to the Jains. However, if you have to visit the main temple, you will have to climb more than 3500 steps. The site has a unique tradition of not allowing anyone to stay overnight, even the priests have to vacate the premises after sunset.

You will travel back to Bhavnagar for an overnight stay.

Day 06 : Bhavnagar - Sasan Gir

On this day, you will travel to Sasan Gir, famous for the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Santuary. The forest is the only place where you will find the Asiatic lions. Decades of hunting have left only 523 lions in the forest as of a 2010 census. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965. Located in the Western Ghats, the main herbivores of Gir are Chital, Nilgai (or Bluebull), Sambar, Chinkara, Four-horned antelope, and Wild boar. Blackbucks from the surrounding area are sometimes seen in the sanctuary.

Upon arrival, you will rest for the day at your resort.

Day 07 : Sasan Gir (Lion Santuary)

The seventh day of the trip will be the most exciting one for nature loves. It starts with a visit to the Gir forest. Over here you will be visiting the lion sanctuary through a Jeep Safari. You can spot lions in their natural habitat during the Jeep Safari from the roof top. You will be allowed to take photos during the safari. Interestingly, the lions from this forest are known to not attack humans unless provoked. It’s almost as if they have accepted humans among their community.

Lose yourself in the unmatched adventure at the Sasan Gir national park.

The Gir forest, while famous for its Asiatic lions, also hosts numerous other species. There are more than 2500 different animals, including birds, reptiles, and insects. Other animals that can be found include Indian leopards, wild cats, striped hyenas, among others.

After an exhausting day, you will return back to your resort. Overnight stay at the resort.

Day 08 : Sasan Gir - Diu - Somnath - Porbandar

On this day, you will travel to Porbandar via Diu, Somnath and Junadagh. In Somnath, you will visit the Somnath Temple which is considered as the place where Lord Krishna began his journey to heavenly abode. The temple also has a unique history in the sense that it was destructed and reconstructed plenty of times by Muslim and Hindu rulers. The last reconstruction, in fact, happened in 1947.

It is believed that the Shiva Linga housed in the temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple location also provides an exotic scenic beauty of the sea.

Continue to Porbandar which is the home of Mahatma Gandhi, who was the father of the nation, and lead India into freedom in 1947 through his principles of non violence. The ancestral house or the Haveli is also known as the Kirti Mandir. One of the other interesting temples is the Sudama temple, who was the dearest friend of Lord Krishna.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Porbandar.

Day 09 : Porbandar - Jamnagar - Wankaner - Bhuj

After an early morning breakfast, you will proceed for your journey towards Bhuj via Jamnagar and Wankaner.

You will travel through Jamnagar, which was also known as the Nawanagar, under the rule of Jam Rava Jadeja. It is also known as the Ayurvedic centre of the state. Upon reaching this town, you will visit the old markets or Bazaar of the old city. One of the famous markets in the old city is the Chandi Bazaar or Silver Market. You will be allowed to shop around the area.

You will proceed towards Wankaner, (meaning curve of the river) which is another city with rich heritage, located near Rajkot, on the bend of the river Machchu. It was the capital of the Jhala Rajputs founded by Amar Sinhji, who led a very flamboyant lifestyle, who introduced the reforms in society through co-operatives, education systems, infrastructure, and tramways, etc.. In Wankaner, you will visit the Ranjit Vilas Palace. It was the residence of the Maharaja of Wankaner. It is regarded as the most beautiful palace in the country due to its architecture and well maintained nature.

Post Ranjit Vilas Palace, you will proceed towards Bhuj, the capital of Kutch, which means Island. In Bhuj, you will see the various facets this land has to offer. The pre historical and mythological sites on the Mahabharata era, the insights into the Harappan civilisation. In Bhuj, you will visit the Kutch Museum which is known for its display of textile tools used during ancient times. It houses hundreds of spanning textile tools and has tribal costumes on display. The Museum is Gujarat’s oldest museum.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10 : Bhuj - visit Rann of Kutch

On this day you will visit the Rann (Deserts) of Kutch, a desert salt marsh land stretching from Gujarat in India to Sindh province of Pakistan. The 30,000 stretched land receives around 200-300 migratory birds every year. It is also home to the dessert fox. You will also visit small villages where you will get to experience the traditional life of Kutch people.

The Ranns of Kutch were believed to be submerged in the water during the Indus valley civilisation, and it took an earthquake of 1819 to change the entire topography of the land. The land is now converted into vast saline flats. Overnight stay at Bhuj.

Day 11 : Bhuj - Patan - Motera - Ahmedabad

After an early morning breakfast, you will start your journey towards Ahmedabad, via Patan and Modhera. In Patan, you will be visiting the Rani ki Vav or the Queen’s Stepwell, located at the banks of the Saraswati River. The marvellous structure is a perfect example of architectural efficiency in achieving water sourcing. The structure is so well maintained that you can still recognise its original form.

Post Patan, you will visit the Vishwakarma Temple in Motera. The temple has one of the most beautiful structures. You will head to Ahmedabad and check-in to your hotel.

Day 12 : Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad or Amdavad, is the largest city and the former capital of the State of Gujarat. The city established itself as the hub for textiles, and was nicknamed as the Manchester of the East during the British rule. Ahmedabad was established in the 11^th century by the Solankis, but in 1411, it was named after Delhi sultanate Ahmad Shah. Several havelis, and historical monuments will appeal to you during you visit to the city.

In Ahmedabad, you will visit the Havelis, the Sidhhi Sayad masjid and the Akshardham Temple.

You are free to roam around independently for the rest of the day

You may choose to visit the Sabarmati Ashram where mahatma Gandhi performed the Satyaghara for the freedom of India.

Or you may also visit the Thor Lake in Ahmedabad. The lake is known for hosting more than 200 species of birds — migrating and local. This is the perfect place to visit if you want to have a peaceful time with yourself. The lake in itself is surrounded by agricultural land and offers a scenic view from every angle.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 13 : Depart Ahmedabad

The tour comes to an end. A transfer will be provided to the Ahmedabad airport.

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Your tour begins with your arrival in Mumbai, Maharashtra and our representative will meet and assist you to the hotel. The tour starts from Mumbai, the financial capital of India. In Mumbai we will visit popular places like Marine Drive, the Gateway of India, Colaba, among others.

From Mumbai, you will fly to Vadodara, the city which was constructed and maintained by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The city has beautiful art and architecture all over the place. From Vadodra, you will travel to Champaner. Here, you will visit the Champaner-Pavagadh Archeological park, a UNESCO world heritage site. It has preserved the tools used by people in the 8th century and above. It gives a good insight into the way of living for people in the 8th century. After a visit to the Archeological park you will visit a tribal village — Jambhughoda to experience the lifestyle of these people.

You will visit Lothal, a prominent city of the ancient Indus valley civilisation. The place was the sight for excavation wherein various artefacts were recovered. You will begin your journey towards Bhavnagar, which is known as an industrial town. It was the revenue centre of Gujrat under Bhavsinhji Gohil. You will visit the famous Jain temples at Palitana, which is the world’s largest temple complex with over 900 temples.

The highlight of the tour is the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, located on 258 Sq kms. The Gir forest has over 500 Asiatic lions and was once the hunting grounds for the Princely states of Junagadh.

During the trip, you will also visit Junagadh which means Old Fort, and is an impressive Mauryan Dynasty Fort believed to be built in 319 BC and was in use until the 16^th century. The fort was besieged about 16 times.

You will visit the Somnath Temple near Veraval, which is one of the auspicious temples in Hindu mythology, and it is believed that Lord Krishna began his journey to heavenly abode here. It was destroyed several times by various attackers, but has been restored every time.

You will then travel to Porbandar, the home for the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Later, you will visit Jamnagar, known as the Ayurvedic hub of India. Over here you can purchase pure Ayurvedic items at the nearby bazaars. You’ll also visit Ranjit Vilas Palace, the residence of Maharaja of Wankaner (means curve of the river). The palace is considered to be one of the most beautiful palaces in the country.

From Wankaner, you will proceed to Bhuj, which offers you the reminiscence of the Indus valley civilisation or the Harappa culture, connects with the important pre historic archaeological findings, takes your through the places of the Mahabharata Era and the invasions of Alexander the Great, and influences of the Rajputs, Sultans and the British Raj. In Bhuj, a visit to Rann of Kutch will tell you how different one part of India is from another. The desert salt marsh land stretching from Gujarat in India to the Sindh province of Pakistan which is popular for the lifestyle that locals live.

On you way back to Ahmedabad, you will visit Patan, a fortified town, founded in 745 AD, which was the capital of Gujarat in the medieval era under the Chavda kingdom. The Motera Sun Temple, dedicated to the Sun god, was built in 1026, by the King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty. The sculptures and architecture at this temple have withstood the ravages of time, and depicts the essence of the ancient times.

Once in Ahmedabad, you will spend some time resting and visiting nearby places at leisure. The city of Ahmedabad has beautiful lakes and is one of the most advanced cities you will find in Gujarat. From here you will depart to Mumbai.

OUR OFFERS

PRICES / TERMS & CONDITIONS

Offer Starting from : £ 1995 per person *

Supplements may apply peak periods, city sold out dates, and high seasons.

Supplement for superior hotels apply.

* Please call us for Superior offers and special promo offers.

PACKAGE COST INCLUDES:

Economy class flights UK to India.
Accommodation at above mentioned or similar hotels on twin sharing basis as per the chosen Option
Daily buffet breakfast at all hotels
All transfers / visits / excursion as per the program by air-conditioned vehicle
Services of English speaking guide for sightseeing as per itinerary.
Entrances at the Monuments (01 visit).
02 Game Drives in Gir National park by sharing jeep (provided by Hotel).
All road taxes, parking fee, fuel charges, interstate taxes
Escorted arrival/departure transfers at airport/train stations as per itinerary
Government service Tax (Subject to change)

PACKAGE COST DOES NOT INCLUDE

Expenses of personal nature like tipping, laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic beverages camera/video fee at monuments, medical expenses, porterage, airport departure tax etc
Meals other than those specified above
Transport during days at leisure

BOOK THIS TOUR
GET CONNECTED

Connect with us:

Call Us now @ +44 (0) 2034684684

Colours of Gujarat

Breathtaking locations, scenic landscapes and cultural travelogue.

About trip

Destinations

Duration

Colours of Gujarat

starts £ 1995 per person

TOUR GALLERY

ITINERARY

Day 00 : Departure from UK

Day 01 : Arrive Mumbai

Day 02 : Fly to Vadodara - City Tour

Day 03 : Vadodara - Champaner and tribal area in chota Udaipur (Jambhughoda)

Day 04 : Vadodara - Bhavnagar via Lothal

Day 05 : Bhavnagar - visit Palitana

Day 06 : Bhavnagar - Sasan Gir

Day 07 : Sasan Gir (Lion Santuary)

Day 08 : Sasan Gir - Diu - Somnath - Porbandar

Day 09 : Porbandar - Jamnagar - Wankaner - Bhuj

Day 10 : Bhuj - visit Rann of Kutch

Day 11 : Bhuj - Patan - Motera - Ahmedabad

Day 12 : Ahmedabad

Day 13 : Depart Ahmedabad

TOUR DESCRIPTION

OUR OFFERS

BOOK THIS TOUR

GET CONNECTED

+44 (0) 203 468 4684

CALL US

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