Saurashtra: Dwarka, Somnath & Gir

Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Somnath and the lions of Gir, ending with Virpur and Gondal.

Your route

1. 1 Ahmedabad 1 night
2. 2 Jamnagar 1 night
3. 3 Dwarka 1 night
4. 4 Somnath 1 night
5. 5 Sasan Gir 1 night

1. Day 1 Ahmedabad

   Arrive, Gandhi Ashram and Akshardham.

   Arrive in Ahmedabad, where our driver meets you at the airport or railway station. Begin with a city tour: visit the Sabarmati Ashram, Mahatma Gandhi's home on the river, the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, which is closed on Mondays, and the Adalaj stepwell with its carved stone galleries. In the evening, try Gujarati street food at Manek Chowk. Check in to your hotel and rest for the road journey ahead. In the evening, try a Gujarati thali, with its mix of sweet and savoury dishes. Overnight in Ahmedabad.

2. Day 2 Jamnagar

   Drive to Jamnagar, Lakhota Lake.

   After breakfast, drive to Jamnagar, about 300 km and five to six hours, through the farmland of Saurashtra. Jamnagar is known for its bandhani tie-dye fabric and its lake palace. In the evening, walk around Lakhota Lake and see the Lakhota Palace on its island, and visit the Bala Hanuman temple, famous for its continuous chanting of Ram Dhun, which has gone on without a break since 1964. Lakhota Lake, in the middle of the city, is a pleasant place for an evening walk. Overnight in Jamnagar.

3. Day 3 Dwarka

   Dwarkadhish, Bet Dwarka, Nageshwar.

   Drive to Dwarka, about 140 km and three hours, the ancient city of Lord Krishna. Visit the Dwarkadhish temple and Gomti Ghat, then cross the Sudarshan Setu bridge to Bet Dwarka, believed to be Krishna's home. On the way, visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga and the Rukmini Devi temple. Attend the evening aarti at Dwarkadhish. Mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple. Mobile phones, cameras and leather items are not allowed inside the Dwarkadhish temple, so leave them in the lockers. The evening aarti here is a moving experience for every devotee. Overnight in Dwarka.

4. Day 4 Somnath

   Porbandar, Somnath aarti and light show.

   After breakfast, drive along the coast to Somnath, about 230 km and five hours. Stop at Porbandar to visit Kirti Mandir, the house where Mahatma Gandhi was born. Arrive at Somnath, the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas, on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Attend the evening aarti and watch the light and sound show. Visit Bhalka Tirth, where Lord Krishna is believed to have left his body. The coastal road passes salt pans, fishing villages and long quiet beaches. Overnight in Somnath.

5. Day 5 Sasan Gir

   Drive to Gir, lion country.

   After morning darshan at Somnath, drive to Sasan Gir, about 45 km, the only home of the Asiatic lion in the wild. Check in to your jungle resort and relax. In the afternoon, a jeep safari in Gir National Park or a drive through the Devalia Safari Park can be booked at extra cost, subject to permits. The national park is closed from mid June to mid October. Gir is closed to visitors from mid June to mid October every year. Overnight in Sasan Gir.

6. Day 6 Ahmedabad

   Virpur, Gondal, drop in Ahmedabad.

   After breakfast, drive back to Ahmedabad, about 350 km. On the way, visit the Jalaram Bapa temple at Virpur, known for its free food for all and for accepting no donations, and the Swaminarayan temple and the Naulakha Palace in Gondal. Arrive in Ahmedabad in the evening and our driver drops you at the airport or railway station. We recommend late evening departures. Pick up Gujarati snacks such as khakhra, thepla and farsan for the journey home. Your journey through Saurashtra ends here.

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