Gujarat is richly rewarding tourism destination offering travelers a wide range of holiday possibilities. The state has a fascinating architectural heritage with some impressive and some distinctive monuments embracing Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain and European styles, a wide variety of sceneries ranging from desert areas of Kutch and Surendranagar districts in the northwest to the hill resort of Saputara in the moist of the forests of Dangs district to Gujarat’s southeast, and a long coastline with lovely beaches, shore temples, historic coastal cities, seaside palaces and India’s first Marine National Park.
Gujarat has an excellent tourism infrastructure with more operational infrastructure with more operational airports than most other states of India, High-rail connectivity with most state capitals of India and withion the state, some of India’s best highways, good cell phones and broadband networks, entertainment complexes like waterparks, amusement areas, multiplexes, malls and food courts, and accommodations ranging from star rated hotels in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Bhavnagar and other major business centers to palaces, forts, havelis and mansions converted into heritage hotels, wildlife resorts and eco-camps near Gir National Park, Velavadar National Park, Little Rann Of Kutch, Banni, Jambudhoda and Kilad (near Vansda National Park), rural resorts, and Hindu, Jain and Parsee dharamshalas at the respective pilgrimage destinations.
Gujarat has important sites of Harrapan Civilisation which thrived from 2600 to 1600 BC in various parts of Indus Valley and Gujarat. Some of best known sites of this civilization in Gujarat are Dholavira, which is one of the largest Harappan sites in India, and Lothal which reflects one of the most mature phases of the civilization in its own planning, drainage systems and dockyard.
Some of India’s finest Hindu temples can be seen in Gujarat including the 11th century Modhera Sun Temple built during the reign of Solanki rulers. During this period exquisitely carved Jain Temples were built at Girnar, Taranga and Kumbhariyaji. The Gujarat Sultanate developed an Indo Saracenic architectural style blending elements of Islamic and Hindu architecture.
Good examples of this architectural style are the 15th century mosques of Ahmedabad and the 16th century monuments of Champaner, a world heritage site.
Gujarat is known for its silk, cotton and wool weaving, the diversity of embroidery techniques seen in its village, bandhani or tie-and-die, block-printing, appliqué, beadwork, woodcarving, metalwork, terra cotta handicrafts and tribal crafts.
These handicraft skills can best be experienced by coinciding a visit to Gujarat with one of the many fairs and festivals that occur in the state when people dress in their brightest attires and sport artistic jewellery, and marts come up for the sale of handicrafts. Whether it is Janmashtami at the holy town of Dwarka, Shivratri at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple near Junagadh or Holi in the tribal areas of Chhota Udepur taluka, the livestock fair at Vautha during the full moon period of Kartika Poornima or the tribal fair at Chitra Vichitra on the moonless night of Amawas after Holi, Navratri when millions across the state dance to traditional music or Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana) when the terraces throng with people flying kites, festivals in Gujarat are vibrant and participatory. Gujarat welcomes travelers to enjoy the festivities in the state.
Besides cultural heritage tourism, Gujarat is also a delightful destination for the eco-traveler. It is the abode of endangered wildlife like the Asiatic Lion and Indian Wild Ass not seen elsewhere, Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, White-backed and Long-billed Vultures, and rare marine species.
For the religious traveler, Gujarat has some of the most important Hindu, Jain and Parse temples in India.
Gujarat has an excellent tourism infrastructure with more operational infrastructure with more operational airports than most other states of India, High-rail connectivity with most state capitals of India and withion the state, some of India’s best highways, good cell phones and broadband networks, entertainment complexes like waterparks, amusement areas, multiplexes, malls and food courts, and accommodations ranging from star rated hotels in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Bhavnagar and other major business centers to palaces, forts, havelis and mansions converted into heritage hotels, wildlife resorts and eco-camps near Gir National Park, Velavadar National Park, Little Rann Of Kutch, Banni, Jambudhoda and Kilad (near Vansda National Park), rural resorts, and Hindu, Jain and Parsee dharamshalas at the respective pilgrimage destinations.
Gujarat has important sites of Harrapan Civilisation which thrived from 2600 to 1600 BC in various parts of Indus Valley and Gujarat. Some of best known sites of this civilization in Gujarat are Dholavira, which is one of the largest Harappan sites in India, and Lothal which reflects one of the most mature phases of the civilization in its own planning, drainage systems and dockyard.
Some of India’s finest Hindu temples can be seen in Gujarat including the 11th century Modhera Sun Temple built during the reign of Solanki rulers. During this period exquisitely carved Jain Temples were built at Girnar, Taranga and Kumbhariyaji. The Gujarat Sultanate developed an Indo Saracenic architectural style blending elements of Islamic and Hindu architecture.
Good examples of this architectural style are the 15th century mosques of Ahmedabad and the 16th century monuments of Champaner, a world heritage site.
Gujarat is known for its silk, cotton and wool weaving, the diversity of embroidery techniques seen in its village, bandhani or tie-and-die, block-printing, appliqué, beadwork, woodcarving, metalwork, terra cotta handicrafts and tribal crafts.
These handicraft skills can best be experienced by coinciding a visit to Gujarat with one of the many fairs and festivals that occur in the state when people dress in their brightest attires and sport artistic jewellery, and marts come up for the sale of handicrafts. Whether it is Janmashtami at the holy town of Dwarka, Shivratri at the Bhavnath Mahadev Temple near Junagadh or Holi in the tribal areas of Chhota Udepur taluka, the livestock fair at Vautha during the full moon period of Kartika Poornima or the tribal fair at Chitra Vichitra on the moonless night of Amawas after Holi, Navratri when millions across the state dance to traditional music or Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana) when the terraces throng with people flying kites, festivals in Gujarat are vibrant and participatory. Gujarat welcomes travelers to enjoy the festivities in the state.
Besides cultural heritage tourism, Gujarat is also a delightful destination for the eco-traveler. It is the abode of endangered wildlife like the Asiatic Lion and Indian Wild Ass not seen elsewhere, Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, White-backed and Long-billed Vultures, and rare marine species.
For the religious traveler, Gujarat has some of the most important Hindu, Jain and Parse temples in India.
