Bordered by Pakistan, and the states of Rajasthan to the north eastern India, Maharashtra and the Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the south and Madhya Pradesh to the east, the state of Gujarat is one of the major tourist destinations in India. A major seat for folk and classical culture, the state bears a rich legacy of the country’s past.
A trip to the colorful state of Gujarat during your tour to India will leave you totally charmed. You will have more on your platter to explore than you actually thought of. Strolls along the lovely beaches of Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach, Chorwad Beach, Diu Beach, Gopnath Beach and Kutch Mandvi Beach will offer some of the cherished moments of your life. The Rann of Kutch sprawls over a large area of western Gujarat, and is worldwide famous for its rare ecosystem, fossils, wildlife and terrain.
Gujarat offers some of the excellent tourist destinations in India and you will have to travel through the cities of Ahmedabad, Bharuch, Godhra, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Kheda, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara. These cities are home to some of the excellent tourist attractions in India – the temples of Gujarat. For example, the Dwarkanath Temple, dedicated to lord Krishna, located at Dwarka stands as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for the Hindus.
The complex of Palitana Temples is situated at a distance of 51 km to the south west of Bhavnagar. You will find 863 temples from foot to the top of the Shatrunjaya hill, where the Palitana temples are located.
Sited in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, the Somnath Temple is home to one of the twelve Jyotirlings (golden lingas) or symbols of the God Shiva. All known as ‘the Shrine Eternal’, the temple has been tore down six times, but was rebuilt on each occasion.
Modhera Sun Temple, another of the tourist attractions in India, is dedicated to the Sun God. The main temple is intricately carved and designed, with several beautiful paintings and sculptures.
Shankheshwar Jain Temples near Ahmedabad are devoted to the 23rd Tirthankar, Lord Parshvanath. Legend has it that this idol was revealed by Lord Krishna himself, through the preachings of Arisht Nemi, the 22nd Tirthanakra.
The 84 magnificent Jain Temples at Patan were built by Samrat Kumarpal, who was a disciple of Hemchandracharya, a Jain priest.
Girnar is an embodiment of communal harmony and fraternity among Jains & Hindus. This high-rising steep hill houses shrines of both major religions. One of them is dedicated to Neminath or Arisht Nemi, the 22nd tirthankara, where he is believed to attain nirvana and the other is devoted to Guru Dattatreya, a Hindu deity.
Apart from the temples that deserve a visit, Gujarat offers several cultural art forms like the Garba dance and Dandiya Raas that attract the interests of several tourists around the world. Treat your palate with the delicious Gujarati Thali consisting of the authentic Gujarati dishes.