Serene Saurashtra

Today morning after Breakfast, depart for Sasan Gir! It'll be a long and tiresome drive. Once you reach Sasan Gir, check into your designated hotel and take ample rest! Overnight Stay at Sasan Gir

Today after Breakfast, get yourself ready for a full sightseeing day at Gir National Park! The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also called Sasan Gir is a wildlife sanctuary and forest located at Talala Gir, Gujarat. It is the only known habitat of the Asiatic Lions in the world. Established in 1965, the national park containing about 507 plant species as per a survey by the University of Baroda, is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecosystem. It provides shelter to around 2,375 different wildlife species including Asiatic Lions. The total area of the park is spread over 1,412 sq. kms, out of which the area for 258 sq. kms is fully protected as a national park and 1,153 sq. kms as wildlife sanctuary. Known as the jewel of Gujarat's ecological resources, the Gir National Park was also the location of the Indian Crocodile Conservation Project in 1977 when the state government of Gujarat introduced about 1000 Marsh Crocodiles into the water-bodies of Gir to preserve the population of crocodiles there. You can indulge yourself here in an array of activities like lion safaris, wildlife photography, bird-watching, trekking and camping. You can take a jeep safari to see the Asiatic lions, have guided tours to discover the park's diverse landscapes and spot its wildlife or can set up camps in designated areas to spend some time in the park. You can go to the Interpretation Zone, which provides visitors with information about the park's history, wildlife and conservation efforts! Go to Devaliya Park, which is an interactive wildlife park that provides visitors with a detailed view of the park's animals like lions, leopards and various species of deer! You can also go to Kamleshwar Dam, which is a popular spot for picnicking and bird-watching. Visit Bhavnath Temple, which is situated on the banks of the River Sarovar! It’s a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Come back to your hotel at Sasan Gir! Overnight Stay at Sasan Gir

Next morning after Breakfast, hit the road for Somnath! After reaching Somnath, check-in to your hotel! Take rest and later, head for Somnath Jyotirling Temple! The Somnath Temple, located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. The temple represents a splendid symbol of India’s profound spirituality and cultural heritage. The temple has seen many destructions in the past, only to be rebuilt in Chalukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951. The temple has been a pilgrimage site, being a Triveni confluence of three rivers, namely Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati. The legend is that SomaMoon God lost his lustre due to a curse, which is why he bathed in the Sarasvati River at this site to regain it. The result is the waxing and waning of the moon, symbolizing the waxing and waning of the tides at this sea-shore location. The chief architect of this new Somnath temple was Prabhashankarbhai Oghadbhai Sompura. The temple is a 7-storeyed structure with the highest point being at 155 ft. A majestic Kalash or pot vessel, weighing nearly 10 tonnes, tops the temple peak. The summit is decorated with a flag that has a 371-ft. long mast. The temple’s walls have been inscribed with elaborate and intricate carvings. The most amazing fact about the Somnath Temple is, that it is situated at such a place that there is no land in a straight line between Somnath seashore to Antarctica. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Somnath

Next morning after Breakfast, start for Dwarka! En route make a stop over Porbandar! In Porbandar, visit Sudama Mandir! Right at the heart of Porbandar city and at a distance of nearly 1 km from Porbandar Railway Station, Sudama Mandir is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Sudama who was the childhood friend of Lord Krishna. Built between 1902 and 1907 by Shri Ram Devji Jethwa of the Jethwa dynasty, this is the only temple in India dedicated to Sudama. Enclosed by a garden, the temple radiates an aura through its carved marble pillars and beautifully decorated peak. A lovely mural, portraying Lord Krishna washing Sudama's feet, adds to the overall grandeur. The temple-premises contain a maze as well. Go to Kirti Mandir also! Situated very near to Sudama Mandir, Kirti Mandir is a memorial built in the honour of our Bapu, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Located on Kasturba Road, Kirti Mandir is E-shaped in structure and appearance with domes, terraces, balconies and a summit. The ancestral house of the Gandhi family, where Mahatma Gandhi was born is just adjacent to the Kirti Mandir. The temple stands to a height of 79 ft. as a symbol of Gandhi's 79 long years of life on earth. The place of Gandhi's birth is marked with 'Swastika' for easy identification. Once you reach Dwarka, check into your designated hotel! Overnight Stay at Dwarka

Today after Breakfast, get ready to explore Dwarka and surrounding areas! Go to Bet Dwarka or Beyt Island! Bet Dwarka is a small island which was the main port in the region before Okha was developed as a sea-port. You will get a bus from the Dwarka Bus Stand to Okha, some 30 kms far. Once you reach Okha, you can get a jetty to Bet Dwarka, situated nearly 3 kms across a small creek. Located at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, the island is surrounded by a few temples, white sand beaches and coral reefs. You can indulge yourself in dolphin spotting, marine excursions, beach camping etc. The island is believed to be the home of Lord Krishna when he was the king of Dwarka. You can visit Shri Keshavrai Ji Temple here. The temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is believed to have been established by Vallabhacharya almost 500 years ago. Hanuman Dandi Temple here houses idols of Lord Hanuman and his son, Makardhwaja. On the way to Bet Dwarka, you can stop by Gopi Talav. Gopi Talav is a mid-sized lake located around 20 kms from Dwarka on the way to Bet Dwarka. The area’s smooth yellow soil, popularly known as Gopi Chandan, is thought to have divine properties that can cure many diseases, especially those related to skin. The entire area around Gopi Talav is replete with Ghats for bathing, with many shrines scattered around them. To your amazement, you get to see many species of fishes and birds here. Next you can visit Nageshwar Temple, located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island. Famous as Nagnath Temple also, Nageshwar Temple is counted among one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. The temple has a massive 80-ft. tall south-facing statue of Lord Shiva, the main deity, also known as Nageshwar Mahadev. As per the Shiva Purana, those who pray at the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, become free from all poisons, snake-bites and worldly attractions. The Nageshwar Shiva Linga is made up of a stone, known as Dwarka Shila, having small Chakras on it. In Dwarka, you start with visiting Dwarkadhish Temple, also known as the Jagat Mandir! The temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is shaped in Chalukya-styled architecture. This five-storeyed edifice, standing on 72 pillars, is majestically constructed of lime-stones and sand. As per the mythological stories, the temple was built by Vajranabha over the land reclaimed from the sea by Lord Krishna himself. Traditionally the devotees take a dip in the Gomti river before proceeding into the temple through the Swarg Dwar. Within its premises, there are some other shrines dedicated to Subhadra, Balarama, Vasudeva, Rukmini and others. Rukmini Temple is located at a distance of 2 kms from Dwarkadhish Temple. Rukmini Temple is dedicated to Rukmini, one of the wives of Lord Krishna and an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. The temple’s soothing architecture with elaborate carvings and paintings illustrates various stories. Devotees sit in the Sabha Mandap and listen to the local priest’s narration of the legend related to this shrine. Nearby the Dwarkadhish Temple and 4 kms from Dwarka Railway Station, you find Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple, an ancient Shiva temple. Built on a small hillock on the Arabian Sea, Bhadkeshwar Temple is dedicated to Chandra-Mouliswar Shiva. This temple enshrines a Shiva-Linga in the sanctum which was found at the confluence of Gomati, Ganga and Arabian Sea by the Jagatguru Sankaracharya himself. There are 1200 Salgramshilas, 1300 Shiva Lingas and metal forms of 75 Sankaracharyas in the temple-premises. Gita Mandir is a small temple located at a walking distance from Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple. Gita Mandir is dedicated to the sermons of Gita, one of the best-known religious texts of Hinduism. The inner walls of the temple describe 18 Chapters of Gita. When you go behind the temple, you find a Sunset View Point, from where you get a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea against the setting Sun. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Dwarka

Today after Breakfast, you move to Rajkot, which is nearly a 4-hour drive. But on the way, probably after 2.30 hours, you can take a detour to Bala Hanuman Temple in Jamnagar. The Bala Hanuman Temple, also called Shri Bala Hanuman Sankirtan Mandir, stands on the south-east banks of Ranmal Lake in Jamnagar. The temple is dedicated to the child-form of Lord Hanuman. The temple was built in the year 1964 by Shri Prem Bhushan Ji Maharaj. Bala Hanuman Temple is globally recognized for its continuous chanting of the 'Ram Dhun' since August 1, 1964. Thanks to the incessant devotion through continuous chanting of the 'Ram Dhun', the temple has secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The temple also houses statues of Ram, Lakshmana and Sita. Once you reach Rajkot, check into your designated hotel and take a good rest! Later, visit Rotary Dolls Museum! Rotary Dolls Museum houses a collection of more than 1600 dolls from over 102 countries. Each doll embodies a country’s specific culture and traditions. The dolls have been donated to the museum by various rotary clubs throughout the world. The museum also runs a Cinematheque which plays movies and documentaries created by Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel and other different channels. Go to Shri Swaminarayan Mandir! Located on Kalawad Road and at a distance of 4 kms from Rajkot Railway Junction, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple, built in 1998 by the Swaminarayan Community. The temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. Constructed as per the Ancient Vedic Shilpa Shastra techniques without any contemporary building-material, this is one of the most renowned temples in Gujarat. Don’t miss to visit Rashtriya Shala! Located on the Dr. Yagnik Road in Rajkot, Rashtriya Shala is an organization that runs like a school that imparts educational and vocational training on manual oil pressing, khadi, cotton, patola weaving etc. Stretching over an area of 66 acres, Rashtriya Shala was set up in 1921 to propagate the notion of Non-Cooperation of the Father of Our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. You’ll find here several data, artefacts and segments relating to the Non-Cooperation Movement and India’s freedom struggle. Come back to your designated hotel! Overnight Stay at Rajkot

Today morning after Breakfast, you'll depart for Ahmedabad. After reaching Ahmedabad, take a good rest in your designated hotel! Later, visit ISKCON temple, located in the Sarkhej area on Satellite Road in Ahmedabad! You will be surely immersed in the grandeur of the temple and environs. It has a mesmerizing exterior, signifying a unified blend of Gujarat Sompura and Rajasthani Khamira architectural styles. The expansive 4-acre premises have the imposing temple, manicured gardens and attractive fountains. Apart from being primarily dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha, the temple also houses idols of other Hindu deities. Later, go to see Jhulta Minar, often called the Shaking Minarets, located in the Laxmi Bazar area of the city! These minarets represent an architectural marvel. You touch one and the other starts vibrating after a few seconds, but amazingly despite their nearness to the railway station, they do not shake when trains pass by. Once a part of Sidi Bashir Mosque, these three-storeyed minarets had been constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style with Rajputana influence. They are narrow and are around 70 ft. tall, with delicately carved balconies around each level. Then go to Bhadra Fort! Bhadra Fort was built in 1411 under the instruction of none other than the founder of the city of Ahmedabad, Sultan Ahmad Shah. The fort derives its name from a temple namely Bhadra Kali Temple which stands inside its premises. The imposing fort has a magnificent courtyard with lavish green lawns and many palaces around it. Located right next to Bhadra Fort, you get to see another super structure, Jama Masjid. It was Sultan Ahmed Shah again who got Jama Masjid constructed in 1423. The huge mosque was built for the Muslims of Ahmedabad to give them a shelter where they could congregate for their Friday prayers. The grand building is made up of yellow sand-stones and two hundred and sixty pillars with elaborate carvings. Its architecture symbolizes a blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles. If time permits, then you also go to visit Vastrapur Lake, a man-made lake! Vastrapur Lake still retains a serene ambiance in this bustling city. Spend some quality-time at the place, nestled in the luxuriant greenery all around! There is an open-air theatre here wherein many cultural shows are conducted round the year, giving the spectators insights into Gujarat’s vibrant culture and traditions. Come back to your hotel! Overnight Stay at Ahmedabad

Today morning after Breakfast, we drop you off at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Airport/Railway Station in Ahmedabad as per schedule for your onward journey.