Duration: 08 Days & 07 Nights

Tour path: Ahmedabad (1Nt) - Bhuj (2Nts) - Dwarka (1Nt) – Somnath ( 01 Nt ) –Diu - Sasan Gir ( 01 Nt) –Junagadh - Rajkot ( 01 Nt) - Ahmedabad dep.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Ahmedabad

Upon arrival in Ahmedabad, check into the hotel (By Own). Day is at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel. (Dinner included in the Hotel)

Day 2: Ahmedabad – Bhuj (Approx 410 km / 8-9 hrs)

Highlights: Aaina Mahal , Prag Mahal , Kutch Museum

This morning after breakfast you will be driven to Bhuj. Upon arrival, check into the hotel.

The historic city of Bhuj derives its name from the Bhujiyo Dungar, a hill, overlooking the present day Bhuj town. Bhuj is a typical example of a desert town located between two geographical features - Bujiyo Dungar on the east & Hamirsar Lake on the west.

Later visit Aaina Mahal which was constucted by Rao Lakhpatji (1707-61 AD) in 1750 AD, who was a great patron of art, rchitecture, music & literature. Aaina Mahal is a unique example of an Indian palace built in the mid-eighteenth century with European influence.

Prag Mahal : Rao Pragmalji II (1838-76 AD) undertook the constuction of Prag Mahal. He appointed a famous architect- Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins to design it, who had designed Deccan College, Sasoon Hospital, Ohel David Synagouge, St.Paul's Church at Pune, Frere Hall at Karachi & Secretariat at Bombay. It is built inthe Italian Gothic style, having a large Darbar Hall, big rooms, wide verandahs & a 45meter high lofty bell tower. It was built using the various type of stones available in Kutch region. This is a fine example of Indian craftmanship combined with European architectural design.

The Kutch Museum : Formerly known as the Fergusson Musuem, was founded by Maharao Khengarji III in 1877 AD. Its the oldest museum in Gujarat. Constructed in the Italian style, the museum is located in picturesque surroundings on the bank of Hamirsar Lake. The museum has been a center of attraction for scholars due to its large collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions, carious archaeoligical objects, fine collection of arms & specimens of  various crafts of Kutch region. Other places of interest at Bhuj are- Cenotaphs of Kutch rulers, Snake Temple at Bhujiyo Hill Fort, Swaminarayan temple, Vegetable market, Hatkeshwar temple & Alfred High School. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03: Bhuj (Approx 150 km / 3-4 hrs)

Highlights: White Desert ( Rann of Kutch) , Black Hill

Today after breakfast we will do full day excursion at Bhuj-Kutch.

Khavda ( 85 Km.) – a Small village ,One can visit to Khatrivas to see artisans printing & selling Ajrakh. The town also has skilled Leather Craftsmen and there are some shops retailing local crafts, including Leather Slippers. Off the main road is a clinic run by Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS), Federation of Kutchi Women’s groups.

Ludia Village is comprised of several hamlets belonging to the Meghwal & Samma Communities. The latter community, primarily herdsmen, is more conservative when it comes to tourists. Gandhi nu Gam, populated by the Meghwal community, features beautifully Painted Bhungas .The Kanjari (Blouses) of the women and the Bhunga decoration of this village are especially colorful.

To curb exploitation & experiment with community marketing, the hamlet has set up an “Otlo” or a roofed platform next to the Temple, where each household brings out their embroidered goods for selling.

Drive to Hodka. Take typical Kutchi Lunch at Shaame-e-Sarhad Village Resort. Hodka – a cultural village is located in the Banni Grassland, right on the edge of the great Salt Desert – the Rann. The name Hodka is derived from the Gujarati word “Hodi” meaning Boat, as the shape of the Jheel is believed to be in the shape of a Boat. It is believed to have been set up by the Halepotra clan. ‘Halepotra’ literally means the ‘Son or the descendant of Halaji’, who is believed to have immigrated from Sindh. The village is now a part of National project. The village is famous for its craft like Decorative Mirrors, Lamps, Hand Fans, Letter Boxes, Wall Hanging, Lather, Clay, Wood, Metal and Mud Work especially the exquisite Silver Jewellery. The artisans sell their goods directly from their artistic Huts.

Full day excursion to Banni Villages (Suggest with pack lunch). The last village on the border is a Desertland of in finite  dimensions, and in its midst, quaint little villages suspended in Time.Here you will come across master craft people' expositioning their traditional art,turning our master pieces everyday.Theirments,clothes,utenisils,everyrthing they use - will make you feel as if you have stepped into lifestyle museum leaving you spellbound.. Evening Back to the Hotel for Overnight at Bhuj.

Day 04: Bhuj - Dwarka (Approx 400 km / 8-9 hrs)

Highlights: Dwarkadish Temple

This morning after breakfast you will be driven to Dwarka. Upon arrival, check into the hotel.

Dwarka an ancient city, housing one of the principal pilgrimages - ‘Dwarkadhish temple’ of Hindus. According to the legend, Lord Krishna moved to this coastal town to set up a capital. Marine excavations of the Dwarka coast have revealed important evidences of ancient city, which probably include the ‘Dwarawati’ of the ‘Krishna Lila’. Today, it is not only a major pilgrimage site but a pleasant spot for a beach holiday.

Another popular place in Dwarka, part of the Dwarkadhish Temple is Sabha Mandap. It is a 60-pillared hall, which houses almost 2500 years old scriptures. The hall has ‘jharokhas’, offering a nice view of the nearby flowing Gomti River. Overnight stay at Dwarka.

Day 05: Dwarka - Somnath (Approx 230 km / 5 hrs)

Highlights: Kirti Mandir , Somnath Temple

This morning after breakfast you will be driven to Somnath. Upon arrival, check into the hotel.

Somnath: One of the most revered & an important center of culture & nationalism. The legendary temple contains a ‘jyotirlinga’. Looted & destroyed, built & rebuilt several times, it represents the eternal beauty & strength of the Indian society. The present splendid structure was rebuilt about five decades ago, at the exact spot where the original shrine was located. The iron man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in the construction of the present temple. Overnight at Somnath.

Day 06: Somnath – Diu – Sasangir (Approx 200 km / 4 hrs)

Highlights: Diu Fort , Nagaoa Beach , St. Paul Church

Today after breakfast we will drive to Diu. Diu is a tiny island in the Arabian Sea which is situated near the port of Veraval in Gujarat and is separated from the southern extremity of the Saurashtra peninsula by a narrow channel running through the swamp. Diu is a sensuous blend of sun, sand and deep blue sea. It is a multi-ethnic society.

Our sightseeing in Diu and visit the Diu Fort. Diu Fort is an expansive and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. It was constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD and offers a magnificent view of the sea. After visiting the fort we visit the St. Paul's Church. St. Paul's Church is dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception. This church was built during the 17th century and adorned with curiously treated volutes and shell-like motifs. Later we visit the Diu museum. Diu museum houses wooden carvings, statues, idols, shadow clocks and other important artifacts collected from various sites. Countine Drive to Sasan Gir. Sasan Gir, Popularly known as Gir, the most famous loin sanctuary in India. And the one place in the subcontinent where Asiatic Loins can be found in the wild. Sasan Gir on the southwestern border of Surasthtra peninsula in Gujarat and is home to nearly 400 Asiatic loins.

The Santucary was created in 1913 to provide protections to the largest Surviving groups of the Asiatic loins and was given the status of the sanctuary in 1965; the numbers of loins has been steadily on the rise since 1980.This is the only place in the World outside the African continent where the loin can be seen in its natural habitat.

The loin safaris are popular among tourist & jeep are freely available for touring the forest. Though the most famous inhabitants of the park are Asiatic loins it also provides natural habitat to a lot of other species like chital, chinkara (Gazelle) four horned antelope. Leopard .nilgai, spotted deer, wild boar and wild ass, monkeys, parrots and peacocks and birds etc.

Overnight stay at Gir. (Lunch & Dinner Included at the hotel

Day 07: Sasangir – Junagarh – Rajkot (Approx 160 km / 4 hrs)

Highlights: Jeep Safari at Sasan Gir , Uparkot Fort , Ashoka Rock Edicts , Maqabara

Today after breakfast we will drive to Rajkot en route visit Junagadh . An ancient fortified city rich in myth and legend, Junagadh lies at the foot of Girnar Hill and takes its name from the ‘Old Fort’ which circles the medieval town. The Girnar Hills stands from 2500 years BC having a legend of it’s own. The antiquities of Junagadh go back to the times of the Emperor Ashoka (250 B.C.) whose fourteen Rock Edicts can be seen cut into a great rock outside the city.

UPARKOT FORT : Famous in bygone times for its virtual inaccessibility, the Upar Kot or Upper Fort is girdled by a wall that is, in some places, over 20m. high. An ornate entrance gateway leads to the ruins. A mosque still stand in a state of preservation. A Nilamtope (canon)  was acquired by the Nawab ofJunagadh from a Turkish Sultan. There are also two step-wells, Jami Masjid and Buddhist caves in the fort premises.

ASHOKA ROCK EDICTS : On the way to Girnar, fourteen Rock Edicts of the Emperor Ashoka can be seen inscribed on a great boulder. The inscriptions carry Brahmi script in Pali language and dates back to 250BC. On the same rock are inscriptions in Sanskrit.

MAQBARA : The mausolea of the Nawabs, the traditional rulers of Junagadh.

Continue Drive to Rajkot. Rajkot is a very pleasant provincial town. Mahatma Gandhi spent a few years of his life in this town. His father was the Dewan (Chief Minister) of Rajkot, once a small princely State.

In the evening arrive Rajkot and visit Kaba Gandhi No Delo (literally "Kaba Gandhi's house"). Mahatma Gandhi spent the early days of his life here. You can see the exhibition of Gandhi's items here.

This will be followed by a visit to Rajkumar College. Mahatma Gandhi completed his secondary education from this school. Overnight at Rajkot.

Day 08: Rajkot – Ahmedabad (Approx 225 km / 5 hrs)

Highlights: Kaba Gandhi No Dhelo , Rajkumar College , Watson Museum

After breakfast will drive to Ahmedabad to catch flight or train for your onward journey.

TOUR ENDS.