Soul of Gujarat

Tour Itinerary

Day 01: Ahmedabad – Jamnagar – Dwarka (450 kms, approx 07 hrs)

Morning arrivals at Ahmedabad where on arrival you are meet at the airport and drive to Dwarka, en route visit Jamnagar Bala Hanuman Temple

Bala Hanuman Temple – Bala Hanuman Temple is a pilgrim place venerated by the devotees of Lord Ram. It is a world famous temple, known for the continuous chanting of Jai Ram, Shri Ram. The chanting is going on since 1964 and has found a place for it in the Guinness Book of World Records. People chant the name of the Lord in shifts, 24 hours a day.

On arrival at Dwarka check in into the Hotel, Evening attend Aarti Darshan at Dwarkadhish Temple

Overnight stay at Dwarka

Day 2: Dwarka

Morning visit Dwarkadhish Temple. & thereafter visit Bet Dwarka & Nageshwar Jyotirling.

Bet Dwarka – also known as Bet Shankhoddar, Bet Dwarka is only 5 kms from Okha Junction in sea and Okha is 30 kms from Dwarka. It is said to be the place where Lord Krishna lived with his family when the ruled at Dwarka. It is also the place where Vishnu slew the demon Shankhasura. Visitors make it a point to visit the Krishna temple at this site which holds much of interest to be seen and experienced.

Nageswar Mahadev – The Puranas mention 12 Jyotirlingas or columns of light representing Lord Shiva, who manifested himself in that form in different parts of India. This shiva shrine near Dwarka is one of these and is there- fore accorded great respect.

Rukmani Temple – Temple of Lord Krihsna’s wife.

Overnight stay at Dwarka

Day 03: Dwarka – Porbandar – Somnath (250 kms, approx 05 hrs)

Morning breakfast after proceed to Somnath en route visit to Porabandar(130 Kms) visit of Kirti temple known as house & born place of Mahatma Gandhi. In back side house of Kasturba wife of Gandhi. Also visit of Gandhi museum, study room of Mahatma Gandhi in the Kirti temple. Later visit of Sudama temple & continue procced to Somnath,

Evening Aarti Darshan at Somnath Temple – A lord shiva temple known as Jyotirling built by Moon God. Enjoy lighting and sounding Show.
Overnight stay at Somnath.

Day 04: Somnath – Diu

Early morning attends Aarti Darshan at Somnath Temple, after visit Bhalka Tirth and Triveni Ghath

Bhalka Tirth – This sacred teerth is located 5 km on Prabhas Veraval highway. The arrow of the poacher named Jara at this spot hit Bhagvan Shree Krishna. Bhagvan Shree Krishna was resting in meditation pose under a pippal tree when the poacher misread the foot of Bhagvan Shree Krishna as a deer and hit from a distance. This divined leela of Bhagvan Shree Krishna is immortalised by a beautiful temple and an ancient pippal tree. Bhagvan Shree Krishna then walked a small distance and arrived at the holy banks of river Hiran from where he took his last journey to his Neejdham.

Triveni Ghat – Triveni Ghat in Somnath is the meeting point of three holy rivers – Kapil, Hiran and a mystical River Saraswati, which are believed to be flowing to their ultimate destination – Arabian Sea. These stages of rivers where they meet and then flow together to the sea symbolises human birth, life and death.

After lunch proceed to Diu, check in into the Hotel, after visit Diu Fort

Diu Fort – Diu Fort is a very large and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. This fortwas 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. Thefort offers a magnificent view of sea. On the fort stands a giant structure which now houses a Light House and the Diu jail. The beam from the lighthouse reaches to about 32 kms. Several canons are still located on the top of the fort and peep out of the holes on the walls of this gigantic structure.

Evening leisure at Beach, Overnight stay at Diu

Day 05: Diu – Sasan Gir (85 kms, approx 02 hrs)

Diu, a beautiful blend of sea, sand and sun, Diu is a God’s gift to those in quest of a blessed land where the weary weight of this unintelligible world can, for a while, be lightened and the waking soul can hear the music of the nature. This tiny island of breeze, beauty and serenity situated off the southern tip of the Saurashtra (Kathiawad) peninsula of Gujarat, lapped by the Arabian Sea, is a picture of calmness with superb beaches and a fascinating history. Diu was ruled by many well-known kings and dynasties during the prehistoric, ancient and medieval times. It was a Portuguese colony until 1961. It is now a Union Territory, separated from Goa in 1987.It was an important trading post and naval base from where the rulers controlled the shipping routes in the northern part of the Arabian Sea between the 14-16th centuries.

After fresh up we will visit Diu city

St. Paul’s Church – St. Paul’s Church is dedicated to the Lady of Immaculate Conception. This church was built during the 17th century and the most elaborate of all Portuguese churches in India. St. Paul’s Church was founded by Jesuits in 1600 and then rebuilt in 1807. Inside it is a great barn, filled with heavy dark wood, with a small cloister, next door. The main entrance of the church is adorned with volutes and shell-like motifs.

Gangeshwar Temple – Gangeshwar Temple is situated 3 kms away from the Diu town in Fudam village. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are five lingas which are located in the middle of the rocks on the seashore, and are washed by the waves of the sea. It is believed that these lingas were established here by the five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata during their exile.

Later proceed to Sasan Gir, Overnight stay at Sasan Gir

Day 06: Sasan Gir – Junagadh – Gondal – Virpur – Ahmedabad (430 kms, approx 07 hrs)

Enjoy Morning & Safari at Gir National Park.

Sasan Gir Lion sanctuary is home of some 300 Asiatic Lions. Sasan Gir is only place in world outside African continent where lion can be seen in its natural habitat. Gir Widllife Sanctaury is the last refuge of Asiatic lions in India and the lion population residing in the park is a little over 300.
The whole coverage area of Gir Sanctuary is about 560-square-mile (1,450-sq-kms). Gir is not just about Lions, the second most commonly found predator in the Gir is Leopard. Infact, Gir national park is also home to one of the largest Leopard populations in any park in India, and especially in the hotter season they can sometimes be seen at night close to the lodges.

There animal residents of the Gir national park are Sambar Deer, Chital Spotted Deer, Nilgai Antelope, Chowsingha Four-Horned Antelope, Chinkara Gazelle, Wild Boar, Langur Monkey, Jackal, and Hyena and numerous birds like Paradise Flycatcher, Bonneli’s Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Woodpeckers Flamingo etc. bout 10, 000 years ago lions spanned vast sections of the globe, but as the human population started to increase, trees were cut and forests were cleared to make more land for people to live in.

Now lions only in small fractions in some parts of the world. And Asiatic lions, a subspecies that split from African lions perhaps 100,000 years ago, are only found in the Girwildlife Sanctaury.

Later proceed to Ahmedabad, En route visit Junagadh Uperkot fort, Gondal Navlakaha Palace and virpur Jalarambapa Temple

The Naulakha Palace was erected around 1748 AD in the Darbargadh or walled palace complex of the rulers, and since then has been extended by successive rulers. The façade is a festival of stone carving with splendid sculpture, relief, carved columns and ornate jarokha balconies.
The former living quarters of the palace have been converted into a private museum exhibiting textiles, brassware, royal wardrobes, library, silver caskets that carried gifts and messages for Maharaja Bhagwat Sinhji on special occasions like his golden jubilee as ruler of Gondal, the weighing scales on which he was measured against gold on his golden jubilee with proceeds going to charity, trophies won by the Gondal princes at motorsports events, and a collection of toys including 1800s wooden pieces hand-painted with natural colours.

Virpur – Visit Shree Jalarambapa Temple
Overnight stay at Ahmedabad

Day 07: Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, The city was built in open and spacious plane to the East of Sabarmati. It compromised of smaller known Fort as Bhadra Fort. The city fort wall was enclosed containing 12 Gates. The city of Ahmedabad went on expanding in every direction by the addition of new areas on both the sides of the river. With the well laid out beautiful buildings, lakes and mosques. In 1753 combined armies of Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad took the fort, which resulted into end of Mughal Rule in Ahmedabad. In 64 years during the rule of Gaekwad and Peshwa, city became worse. In 1818 British took over the administration of Ahmedbad. During this period Ahmedabad developed,

After freshening up we will visit the following:

Gandhi Ashram In 1915 Mahatma Gandhi came from South Africa and established Ashram on the banks of Sabarmati River. The Ashram was the residence of Mahatma Gandhi. From this Ashram Gandhi started the Dandi March in 1930. The ashram now has an intereesting museum. The museum building was erected (designed by architect Charles Correa), and memorial activities were then started here

Hathee Singh Jain Temple It was built by Seth Hate Singh in 1850. It is easily distinguished by its high carved column, visible from road. Built entirely of white marble embossed with smooth carvings of dancers, musicians, animals & flowers, this serene temple is dedicated to Dharamnath, whose statue stand in themain temple. It has a paved courtyard surrounded by an imposing row of cloisters containing 52 shrines, each with an image of a tirthankara, profusely decorated with rich carvings, one containing the marble image of the 15th tirthankara. The temple is a two-storied structure with elaborate porches on three sides and front porch crowned by a large dome.

Adalaj Step well visit step well is an architectural wonder built by Queen Rudabai and is certainly one of the finest monuments of Gujarat. It is a seven-storied structure in the form of a well with chambers one behind the other. The ‘Vav’ or stepped wells of Gujarat were used as meeting and resting-places during summer since their cool interiors offered unbelievable respite from the scorching sun outside. In the summer people warmed themselves on the spacious sunny corridors while wide verandahs offered shelter during the rains. Adalaj is a village to the north of Ahmedabad.

Akshardham Temple (Monday Close) a specimen of fine craftsmanship, the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar is one of the largest and most prominent temples in the entire state of Gujarat. Located in Gandhinagar city, the famous Akshardham temple is a place, which consists of a number of things under one roof like art, education, architecture, exhibitions and research. It is truly an architectural masterpiece.