DETAILED ITINERARY

 

 

Day 1 - Departure

Depart from your home country.

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Day 2 - Ahmedabad

Arrive at Ahmedabad and transfer to hotel.  In the evening, we visit Gandhi Ashram, which offers a peaceful atmosphere with trees that provide a cool shade and are inhabited by several types of birds and squirrels.  The Ashram was Mahatma Gandhi’s headquarters during the long struggle for India’s independence, founded in 1915 offering live exhibition of handicrafts, handmade paper and spinning wheels. Overnight in hotel.

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Day 3 - Ahmedabad

Today, we visit Calico Museum in Ahmedabad known for its finest collection of antique and modern Indian textiles, all handmade, and up to 500 years old.  There are astounding beautiful pieces, displaying incredible virtuosity and extravagance.  You will see Kashmiri shawls that took 3 years to make, and double ikat cloths whose 100,000 threads were each individually dyed before weaving.  We then visit Siddi Sayid’s Mosque (Lal Darwaja) built in the year 1573 when Mughals conquered Gujarat by an Abyssinian in the Gujarat Army.  The Mosque is famous for its jali windows, spider web fine, depicting the intricate branches of “tree of life”.  Then we visit Jama or Juma (Friday) Masjid built by Ahmed Shah in 1423.  It ranks among  one of the most beautiful mosques in India.  Hindu and Jain temples demolished by Muslim rulers provided building material for the mosque, and therefore, the mosque displays architectural fusion of these religions.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 4 - Ahmedabad / Modhera / Patan / Dasada

In the morning, we start our drive of 260 km / 6 hrs to Dasada. On our way, we first stop at Modhera whose Sun Temple is one of the finest examples of Indian architecture. We also visit Patan, a beautiful town with Jain temples and carved wooden houses. It is also the home of famous Patola Silk Sarees. On reaching Dasada, afternoon free. Overnight in hotel.

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Day 5 - Dasada / Wankaner

In the morning enjoy jungle safari in little Rann of Kutch.  Wild Ass Sanctuary is well known for its group of the stale brown Asiatic Wild Ass, which does not live elsewhere in Indian lowlands.  We can also see in Little Rann of Kutch blackbuck (Indian antelope), nilgai (blue bull - India’s largest antelope), and the graceful Chinkara (Indian gazelle). The main carnivores of the Little Rann of Kutch are the endangered Indian wolf, desert fox, Indian fox, jackals, desert and jungle cats, and hyenas in addition to migratory avifauna such as flamingos, pelicans, ducks, cranes and storks. We drive 150 km / 3 hrs to the city of Wankaner, which was one of the princely states of India. Overnight in hotel.

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Day 6 - Wankaner / Bhuj

In the morning, we drive 220 km / 5 hrs to the interesting city of Bhuj.  The unsung artisans of the city produce some of the finest handicrafts of India.  Here, we find many craftswomen and craftsmen engaged in the work of hand block printing on silk and cotton fabric, embroidery and patchworks.  It is also famous for Bandhni (tie - die) works.  Free time after the flight for relaxation.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 7 - Bhuj

We spend the day in visiting the artisans of different villages around Bhuj, who are famous for their beautiful and elegant patchworks and other craftworks.  We visit the Hodka village.  A vibrant hamlet, the Hodka village takes pride in its mirror work, embroidery, textiles and a range of local crafts.  We also visit the villages of Sumrasar, Dhamanka and Dhorodo, which are all famous for patchworks, embroidery and other crafts.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 8 - Bhuj / Gondal

We visit the Naulakha Palace Museum, a 260 years old river side palace with beautiful stone carvings and balconies. We also visit the Swami Narayan Temple. Overnight in hotel.

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Day 9 - Gondal / Junagarh / Sasan Gir

Morning visit Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy in Gondal.  Thereafter, drive 150 km / 3 hr to Sasangir.  Enroute we visit Uparkot Fort, an ancient fort built in 319 BC by the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta.  The Fort has step wells - Adi Kadi Vav – 41 m deep and Navghan Kuvo 52 m deep both cut from rocks.  We also visit  Mahabat Maqbara, the stunning mausoleum of Nawab Mahabat Khan II of Junagarh (1851 – 82).  This mausoleum is one of the most glorious examples of Indo-Euro-Islamic design.  On road to Girnar Hills we visit Asoka’s Rock where14 Buddhists edicts are inscribed in Brahmi script in Pali language about 250 BC. The edicts impart moral instruction on dharma, harmony, tolerance and peace.  Durbar Hall Museum housing weapons, armour, palanquins, chandeliers and howdahs from the days of the Nawab, and huge carpet woven in Junagarh jail.  Continue drive to Sasangir.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 10 - Sasan Gir

Morning safari in Sasangir Lion Sanctuary, a home of some 300 Asiatic Lions - the only place in the world outside African continent where lion can be seen in its natural habitat.  Asiatic lions, a subspecies, are supposed to have split from African lions around 100,000 years ago.  Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the last refuge of Asiatic lions in India.  The  area of Gir Sanctuary is about 1,450 sq.km.  The other inhabitants of the Gir National Park are Sāmbhar, Spotted Deer, Antelope, Chausingha (Four-Horned Antelope), Indain Gazelle, Wild Boar, Monkey, Jackal, Hyena and numerous birds like Paradise Flycatcher, Bonneli’s Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Woodpeckers, Flamingo etc.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 11 - Sasan Gir / Bhavnagar

Drive 300 km / 6 hr to Bhavnagar.  Check into hotel.   Later we visit Gandhi Smriti Museum housing a moderate collection of Gandhi’s memorabilia, and Takhteshwar Temple, located on a small Hillock providing a good view over the city and to the Gulf of Khambat.  Evening take a stroll in the interesting Bazaar.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 12 - Bhavnagar / Palitana / Bhavnagar

Early morning proceed to Bhavnagar. En route visit Palitana Temple - Shatunjaya (Place of Victory) located on the hilltop with a sea of temples built over 900 years on a plateau dedicated to the Gods.  The temples are grouped into tunks (enclosures) each with a central and many minor temples. Some of the earliest were built in 11th century but were destroyed by Muslim attackers in 14th and 15th centuries.  The current temples date back to 16th century.  One will have to climb up 500 m over 3300 steps which is an experience itself and takes about 1 hr 30 minutes to reach the top.  The summit is the most revered by Jains.  After the sightseeing, drive back to Bhavnagar.  Overnight in hotel.

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Day 13 - Bhavnagar / Lothal / Ahmedabad / Departure

Drive 200 km / 4 hr to Ahmedabad.  En route visit Lothal, which is 80 km southwest of Ahmedabad.  An important archaeological site discovered in 1954 which shows that the city that stood here is nearly 4500 years old - thereby one of the most important of the Indus Valley civilisation with similarities to Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.  Continue drive to Ahmedabad where wash and change rooms will be available before we transfer you to the airport for your journey back home.