Destinations

Dwarka

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 SabhaMandap. 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.

Places to visit

Bet Dwarka

Bet is situated at 30kms from Dwarka and is surrounded by sea from all sides. One can reach Bet from Dwarka through Okha by road. On reaching Okha port jetty, one can reach Bet through a little sea journey in a launch or in a small boat.

Nageshwar Temple or Nagnath Temple

It is located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bait Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The Jyotirlinga enshrined in the Temple of Nagnath is known as Nageshwar Mahadev and attracts thousands of pilgrims all round the year. This powerful Jyotirlinga symbolizes protection from all poisons. It is said that those who pray to the Nageshwar Linga become free of poison. The Rudra Samhita sloka refers to Nageshwar with the phrase ‘Daarukaavane Naagesham’

The Rukmini temple

Dating from 12 to 13 Century, was built in honor of Rani Rukmani, princess of Vidharba, which was to be married to Sishupala, but fled with Lord Krishna. This small temple, 1.5 km north of the city, is an architectural masterpiece. The temple walls are decorated with beautiful paintings and sculptures.

Gopi Talav

This is the place where Lord Krishna used to play with his Gopikas. There is a small pond where it is said that Lord Krishna used to play with the Gopika Strees (Gopika Women).

Ahmedabad was founded by Sultan Ahmad Shah in the year 1411 A.D. with Blessings of his spiritual adviser Shaikh Ahmad Khattu Ganj Baksha of Sarkhej at the site of an old town of Ashawal and Karnavati. Ahmedabad grew in wealth and splendor for a hundred years and became the centre of skilled craftsmen and merchants. The ancient monuments in and around the City of Ahmedabad may be broadly grouped under two main periods, the first that of Ahmad shah – 1 datable to the first half of the 15th century A.D. , and the second, the period of Mahmud Begada, datable to the second half of 15th century A.D.

Places to visit:

The Heritage Walk

The Heritage Walk of Ahmedabad is a guided walk of two and a half hours. The walk begins from the picturesque Swaminarayan Mandir in Kalupur and ends in the most glorious architectural legacies the Jumma Masjid, covering in between the numerous pols, havelis, ornamental facades, workplaces of artisans and number of magnificent Hindu and Jain temples.

Gandhi Ashram

On a quiet peaceful stretch of the Sabarmati river, Mahatma Gandhi set up a simple retreat in 1915. This was his Satyagrah Ashram and for many years it was the nerve centre of India’s freedom movement

Hutheesingh Jain Temple

Built outside the Delhi Gate in 1850 by a rich Jain merchant, the Hutheesing Temple is the best known of Ahmedabad’s many ornate Jain temples.
Shreyas Folk Museum :Shreyas Folk Museum is an educational museum exhibiting folk arts and crafts of Gujarat.

Vishala Utensil Museum

It has Vichar Utensil Museum worth visiting. The museum houses a unique

Sewa ni Haveli

A heritage house located at Dhalni Pol in the Walled City was restored a couple of years ago and is now a centre that helps preserve, nurture and promote heritage art forms and crafts. Collection of utensils..

Calico Museum

This museum will showcase the Indian textile history of different states of India .This one is ultimate place to visit for the textile lovers.

SidiSayed Mosque

One part of the wall in the old citadel of the mosque built by Ahmed Shah’s slave, SidiSayed, is celebrated the world over for its exquisite stone window tracery – a superb & peerless example of delicate carving that transforms stone into filigree.

Adalaj Step-well

It is situated 17kms north of Ahmedabad. Adalaj Vav is richly carved, every pillar and wall surface covered with leaves and flowers, birds and fishes and friezes of ornamental designs.

Sanskar Kendra and City Museum

The Sanskar Kendra building, designed by eminent French architect LE CORBUSIER, is situated near Sardar Bridge. It includes the City Museum, which highlights Ahmedabad from various angels including history, craft, architecture, religion and fine arts.

Kite Museum

One of the most unique Museum in Ahmedabad is Kite Museum.. This museum in Ahmedabad houses an extraordinary collection of rare kites built over 50 years kites that have been crafted from 400 unique colours, the Kite Museum Ahmedabad and other tourist attractions of Gujarat and other parts of India.

Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

The collection includes Indian sculptures, paintings and coins. Ever since its inception in 1956, the institute has been collecting and preserving rare manuscripts and artifacts of various kinds.

Lothal

A perfect place to get an insight of the Indus Valley civilization. The most dominating site at Lothal is the massive dockyard spanning an area of 37 meters by 22 meters perhaps the greatest work of Maritime Architecture. Lothal was also famous for its arterial streets, microbes of gold, ivory and coppersmiths’ workshops, potteries and underground sanitary drainage. It is located at a distance of 78kms from Ahmedabad.

Pethapur

Elaborately illustrated floral or geometric motifs, over all or alternate repeats, bold or delicate patterned, block prints mark the epitome of textile design sensibility of Gujarat. Block printing is one of the oldest surfacial textile craft forms in world and Gujarat is renowned for this manifestation. The block though a tool in the printing of a textile is a work of art in itself requires great finesse and dexterity and it is a pleasure to watch a block maker at work. The magical marriage created by the transference of patterns delicately etched on a simple block of wood on to the surface of a fabric has created an especially Indian patina which is one of the highlights of world textile history.

Modhera

The Sun temple of Modhera is one of the finest examples of Indian architecture of its period. Built in 1026 A.D. the temple is dedicated to the Sun-God, Surya and stands high on a plinth overlooking a deep stone-steeped tank. Every inch of the edifice, both inside and outside is magnificently carved with Gods and Goddesses, birds, beasts and flowers. Sun Temple of Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I (1026-27) and bears some resemblance to the later, and far better known, Sun Temple of Konark in the state of Orissa, which it predates by some 200 years. Like that temple, it was designed so that the dawn sun shone on the image of Surya, the sun God, at the time of the equinoxes. The main hall and shrine are reached through a pillared porch and the temple exterior is intricately and delicately carved. As with the temple of Somnath, this fine temple was ruined by Mahumad of Ghazni

Patan

India has the rich & ancient heritage in fine textiles. (Double Ikat ) Patola from the area of Patan with its unique gem like qualities , gorgeous colours, designs & durability. Its very appearance lures the connoisseur of fine textiles. It has no reverse side. Both the sides have equal intensity of colour and design.
The peculiar quality has its origins in a very intricate and difficult technique of Tie dyeing or Knot dyeing known as Bandhani Process on the wrap & weft separately before weaving.

Champaner

This city, located at 47 K in the north-east of Vadodara, was conquered in 1484 by Sultan Mahmud, and he renamed Begara Muhammadabad.

Named World Heritage Site by UNESCO, counts 114 monuments of historical and archaeological interest, among them stand the mosque of Jama Masjid, for its impressive interior courtyard, its porches, beautiful arches and slender minarets.

Worth a visit also Shahr Masjid, with its row of columns, domes and delicate mihrab (niche facing Mecca) and Nagina Masjid with a charming porch.

Beside the village is built on three levels of the Pavagadh Hill, a hill topped by the ruins of a fortress. According to Hindu legend, the hill would be a fragment of the Himalayas that the Monkey God Hanuman took away with him to Lanka in one of the episodes recounted in the Epic Ramayana – hence the name Pavagadh, which means “quarter of a hill.”

Diu

Diu a beautiful blend of sea, sand and sun, Diu is a God’s gift to those in quest of a blessed land where the weary weight of this unintelligible world can, for a while, be lightened and the waking soul can hear the music of the nature. This tiny island of breeze, beauty and serenity situated off the southern tip of the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat, lapped by the Arabian Sea, is a picture of calmness with superb beaches and a fascinating history.

Places to visit

St.Paul’schurch

The Church adorned with curiously treated volutes & shell-like motifs and the magnificient wood carving is considered to be the most elaborate of all the Portugese churches in India.

St.Thomas Church Museum

A hunge edifice in gothic architecture was built in 1598. A part of it has been converted into a museum an Archeological treasure house.

Diu Fort

This majestic structure stands onthe coast of Diu sentinel. Once inside, you are overwhelmed by the gaunt majesty of the ancient stone work

which transports you to a bygone era of gallant soldiers where time stands still.

Nagoabeach

The Nagoa beach is exceptionally beautiful & quiet. In the exceptionally beautiful horse-shoe (semicircular) shaped beach.

Chotta Udaipur

The essence of the town, however, is that it lies in the heart of a tribal area with rich indigenous history and culture. Every Saturday there is a haat or tribal market. The town is a good base from which to explore the surrounding tribal villages, particularly in the Rathwa communities. The Tribal Museum is also worth a visit, though of course not nearly as important as day-to-day interaction with people alive today.

Gondal

The Riverside palace at Gondal, a Govt. of India classified heritage hotel, and the Orchard Palace in the same town, are two mansion guest houses opened as heritage hotels. The interiors of these properties are equipped with period furniture, antiques and artifacts reminiscent of the days of the Raj. The highlight of staying at these properties is that guests can see the Royal Garages, housing vintage & classic cars, and the Naulakha Palace, which is a festival of stone carvings & houses royal memorabilia including toys of the late 19th & early 20th century, silver caskets that carried messages & gifts for the Maharaja, elephant howdahs & royal portaits. It has a royal saloon suite, which has its own drawing, dining, bedroom & bathroom in a converted railway carriage.

Little Rann of Kutch

The Little Rann Kutch is a depression that during the rainy season is first invaded by salt water and then the Indian Ocean and fresh water of the rains, becoming a pescosissima area of brackish water. With the end of the rains the waters recede, creating arid areas and wetlands, and the latter are to winter thousands of migratory birds including flamingos and cranes until the arrival of summer. These characteristics make it a unique ecosystem. The Little Rann and ‘the last place where a few surviving specimens (three thousand) dell’onagro, the Indian wild ass (EquushemionusKhur), an ancient animal that the Sumerians used to pull carts. In the Little Rann has focused Agaryas ethnicity, dedicated to the extraction of salt from the desert during the period that goes from the end of the monsoon in early summer, then from October to April. After their takeover of the fishermen, that during the rains, tweak their own networks and surf the brackish waters, especially shrimp fishing.

Little Rann of Kutch villages, the Indian province that lies between the deserts of Sind and Thar, near the border with Pakistan. Here, in remote villages in the desert of salt, interesting people live, the Rabari, Banni, the Koli, Harijan and the others, who live in round huts interior whitewashed and inlaid with many mirrors.

Bhuj

Bhuj is the main town of Kutch, another example of a fortified town characterized by narrow streets and labyrinthine alleyways, walls within walls and imposing gates towers, old buildings from the wards and fanciful carved Hindu temples. Amidst the Desert land of infinite dimensions, are suspended, quaint little villages. These are the last villages on the India-Pakistan border. Here you will come across master craft people’ exposing their traditional art, turning our master pieces every day. Their ornaments, clothes, utensils, everything they use – will make you feel as if you have stepped into lifestyle museum leaving you spellbound.

Places to visit:

Ajarakhpur

Ajrakhpur is a new village established by the traditional Muslim Khatri hand block printers after the earth quake that struck in 2001. This is a craft village where you will find artisans practicing traditional hand block printing in the resist technique on cotton/silk fabrics using the age old Ajrakh prints as well as new design motifs. Visit Ismail Khatri, a master artisan who has been awarded an honorary ph.D. Degree by De Montfort University for his knowledge of natural dye practices. You can also visit a number of block printing units like that of Abdul Rahim, Abdul Gani Hasam, Abdul Raheman Buddha, and Adam.

Bhujodi

A small town just 8 km southeast of Bhuj, Bhujodi is a major textile center of Kutch, with the vast majority of the 1200 inhabitants involved in textile handicraft production. Here you can meet weavers, tie-dye artists and block printers, most of whom belong to the Vankar community. Many will let you watch them work; just ask around.

Prag Mahal

Prag Mahal was constructed by Rao Pragmalji II (1838-76 AD). Rao Pragmalji appointed a famous architect, Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins to design Prag Mahal, who had earlier designed Deccan College, Sasoon Hospital, Ohel David Synagogue. Prag Mahal took about 10 years to get built at the cost of 20 lakh rupees.

Aaina Mahal Palace

Aina Mahal Palace was built by Rao Lakhpatji in 1750 AD. Aina Mahal is a part of a large palace complex. It is a two storey building with Darbar Hall, hall of mirrors, and suites for royal family. In the 18th century, the Rao Lakhpatji sent a local craftsman Ramsingh Malam to Europe to perfect his skills in glassmaking, enamelling, tile making and iron founding.

Kutch Museum

The Kutch Museum, formerly known as the Fergusson Museum, was founded by Maharao Khengarji III in 1877 AD. The Kutch museum is the oldest museum in Gujarat. This museum is built in the Italian style and located in picturesque surroundings on the banks of the Hamirsar Lake. The museum has a large collection of Kshatrapa inscriptions, various archaeological objects, arms and specimens of various crafts of the Kutch region

Sumrasar Village

Sumrasar – Kala Raksha Center in Sumrasar Sheikh village, designed by Ahmedabad architect R. J. Vasavada, follows KALA RAKSHA’s philosophy of innovation within traditions. The buildings are based on the traditional round bhungas, but use contemporary materials and technology.

JURA – NIRONA

Jura and Nirona to meet master craftsmen elias Lohar or Haji Vali Mohammad to learn about the skill-intensive process of tuning the famous copper bells of Jura. Nirona, about 6 km from Jura, is home to about half a dozen distinct craft forms. Visit Abduk Gafar Khatri, who belongs to the last remaining family of Rogan artisans, and watch him use a metal stick and some castor-oil based colors to create vivid compositions,. Observe Sugar saya or mala Khamisa in Vadavas as they transform wood with bright lacquer colors.
On arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon will proceeds to visit

Ludiya Village

Ludiya is located 70kms north of Bhuj in Banni districk of Kutch. It is 3 kms from Khawda. The total area of the village is about 5 square kilometers and the population is about 2000 people predominantly Muslims and a few Harijan families. The main occupation of the women folk in the village is making beautiful embroidery work and tradional crafts while the men make decorative furniture. The village has no streets. The space between two houses is used as a pathway.

Khavda Village

Khavda, 66 kms along the principal road going north of Bhuj, is a major stop and the last place to get bottled water and fruits before heading to other destinations. The center of town also has Kutchi food available. The town has excellent potters and leather craftsmen (indicating a heavy Muslim presence, as Hindus do not use leather), and ajrakh blockprinting at khatrivas.

Kalo Dunger

Kalo Dungar or Black Hill is the highest point in Kutch, Gujarat, India, at 462 m. It is located at 97 km from District headquarters of Bhuj and 25 km from nearest town Khavda. This is probably the only place in Kachchh from where a panoramic view of the Great Rann of Kutch is possible. Since it is located very near to the Pakistan border, there is an Army post at the top; beyond here, only military personnel are allowed.

Dhaneta Jats

The Jats are a Maldhari cattle hearding group, and are mainly distributed in Kutch and Saurashtra region. They have three territorial divisions, the Halai Jat (found in Jamnagar and Porbandar), Verai Jat (Banaskantha District), and Kutchi Jat (found in Kutch District). The Kutchi are further subdivided into the Dhanetah, Girasia and Fakirani, the latter consider themselves superior to the other two, and are strictly endogenous. They are further divided into clans like the Badajang, Podani, Aamar, Vangayi, while the Girasia are divided into the Mudrag, Bhallad and Hallayi. All these clans, except the Fakirani, enjoy equal status. The Saurashtra Jat, known as Malaks, maintain a system of Gotra exogamy.

Dhordo

Dhordo is a tribal settlement situated on the Ludiya-Bhuj road, in Kutch District of Gujarat. From this place, it is around 20minutes drive to the fringes of the Indo-Pak frontier.
This ethnic village is famous for Mutwa embroidery, which is a native art of the Maldhari, as sub-caste of the Muslim community. This highly involved sewing usually makes use of silk threads.

The Bhungas, the grass-roofed mud huts, are typical of this village. Made of traditional clay and white wash pattern, the huts are decorated with wall paintings glinting with mirror-work.

Sasan Gir

Sasan Gir is the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in his natural habitat. Gir’s bio-diversity rivals any National Park in India. The forest harbors a variety of smaller animals and birds. Other predators are Panther and the Hyena. The Indian Deer, Sambar, Spotted deer, Blue bull, Chinkara and the Chowsingha (four horned antelope) are found here, along with the bear and the long tailed langur.

Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a city in the Bhavnagar district of the Saurashtra region of the Gujarat state of India. It was founded in 1724 by Bhavsinhji Gohil (1703–1764). It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a princely state before it was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.
Bhavnagar is situated 198 km from the state capital Gandhinagar and to the west of the Gulf of Khambhat. It has always been an important city for trade with many large and small scale industries along with the world’s largest ship breaking yard, Alang located 50 km away. Palitana Jain temples, which are important holy places for Jains, are situated 56 km away, and Velavadar national park, home to endangered species of wolves, antelope, and blackbucks, is situated 70 km away

Velavadar National Park

The best national park for black buck viewing in India is the 36sq km, which comprises a tapestry of grasslands and scrubby plains reminiscent of the African Savanah. The national park also provides suitable habitat for the endangered Indian wolf, the jackal, the Indian fox, the jungle cat, blue bull antelope and hare to proliferate successfully and attracts a large number of birds.

Poshina

Poshina is Famous for the tribal villages around. You will have the opportunity to discover the customs of ethnic groups and Garacia Bhil and visit the temple of Ambaji, dedicated to the mother goddess Amba.

Garasia

Contrary to other ethnic groups, living in the Garasia Poshina, at the confluence of the rivers and Aakar Sabarmati, in north Gujarat, bordering Rajasthan. Among Garasia is generally widespread monogamy marriages are contracted between persons of the same clan, but not among members of the same village and among people with family ties. Can be combined or occur as a result of a leak. It ‘s customary for couples to escape for a trial period, in which case the bride’s father is given as compensation a sum of money, if the union fails, the wife comes home with another sum to be delivered to its parent . Garasia I believe in Bhagwan, the figure of the supreme God, which is never personified. Their traditional offerings are small horses in red clay, which are usually placed under trees or near sacred rocks or water sources, elements that are associated with the strength of spirits. Little is known about these sanctuaries, religious observances and rituals related to the terracotta horses are given in case of need and help maintain peace in the life of the village.

Vadodara

Vadodara, formerly called Baroda, is a city in Gujurat, a state in western India. Kirti Mandir is the mausoleum of the Gaekwad dynasty, which ruled until 1949. It has murals by Bengali artist Nandalal Bose. Tambekar Wada is a 4-story wooden townhouse with 19th-century murals depicting scenes from the Mahabharata epic poem. The Lakshmi Vilas Palace features both Indian and European architectural styles.

Places to Visit

The Laxmi Vilas Palace

The Laxmi Vilas Palace was the official residence of the erstwhile Maharajahs of Baroda. Though a little down at heel and run down, the palace still has impressive interiors done up with Venetian glass, crystal chandeliers, Italian marble and mosaic and find porcelain and marble statues from Europe. The tiered step-well called the Naulakhi Baoli which got its name because of the fact that it could store 9million gallons of water is near the palace.

Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery

The famous museum was built in 1894 on the lines of Victoria & Albert and Science Museums of London. Major Mant in association with R.F. Chisholm who refined some of Mant’s finest works to make genuine Indo-Saracenic architecture designed the Building of this Museum. It preserves a rich collection of art, sculpture, ethnography & ethnology. Several of the paintings are not only original but masterpieces at the picture gallery. The picture gallery which offers an excellent collection of originals by famous British painters Turner and constable and many others attract tourists from every part of the country.

Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum

The building was constructed as a school for the Maharaja’s children. Today a large number of works of art belonging to the Maratha Royal family are displayed in the museum. The museum contains works of art collected by Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III during his numerous trips out of India. The major works of art in this museum are the paintings by European and Indian artists including a collection of the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, who was specially commissioned by the then Maharaja of Baroda. The collection includes portraits of the Royal family in addition to the paintings based on Hindu mythology for which Raja Ravi Varma was famous.

Porbandar

Porbandar City in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama (friend of lord Krishna). It is the administrative centre of Porbandar district.

Place to Visit

Kirti temple

It is also known as house & born place of Mahatma Gandhi. In back side house of Kasturba wife of Gandhi. Also visit of Gandhi museum, study room of Mahatma Gandhi in the Kirti temple.

Sudama Temple

The Sudama Mandir, situated in the centre of the town, was built in the name of Lord Krishna’s childhood friend and devotee, Sudama, remembering their friendship. It is the only temple in the entire country that is dedicated to Sudama.

Somanth

One of the most revered and an important center of culture and nationalism. The legendary temple contains a ‘Jyotirlinga’. This temple 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.

Places to visit:

Somnath Temple

A lord Shiva temple known as Jyotirling built by Moon God

Bhaluka Tirtha

Bhalka Teerth) is a holy tirth (pond) in Somnath along Prabhas-Veraval highway. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Krishna was hit by an arrow shot by a hunter known as Jara. Lord Krishna was sitting under a Banyan tree in meditation when the hunter mistook the legs as a dear and shot at.

Triveni Ghat

Triveni Ghat in Somanth is the confluence of three holy rivers namely Kapil, Hiran and a mystical River Saraswathy. It is believed that the rivers flow to the ultimate destination of Sea from here. This symbolizes the human birth, life and death. This is a sacred location for taking dip in the Triveni Sangam. It is believed that the holy bath in the waters at this Ghat offers relief from all curses and ills happened in the whole life.Triveni Ghat has a significant place in Hindu Mythology and Puranas.

DANTA, Dungri Garacia tribales

Danta village (60 kms from Poshina). Visit Dungri Garacia tribales – The Garasias are bisected in two neighbouring states, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Dungri Garasia is generic term, covering half a dozen endogamous hierarchical sub-tribes calling themselves Garasia or Dungri Garasia. Garasia is very close to Bhil. Due to paucity of good agriculture land there are a few chances of substainable agriculture and animal husbandry.

Rajkot

The fourth-largest city in the state of Gujarat, India, after Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara. Rajkot is the centre of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Rajkot is the 35th-largest urban agglomeration in India, with a population more than 1.2 million as of 2015.[Rajkot is the seventh-cleanest city of India, and is the 22nd-fastest-growing city in the world. The city contains the administrative headquarters of the Rajkot District, 245 km from the state capital Gandhinagar, and is located on the banks of the Aji and Nyari rivers. Rajkot was the capital of the Saurashtra State from 15 April 1948 to 31 October 1956, before its merger with Bombay State on 1 November 1956. Rajkot was reincorporated into Gujarat State from 1 May 1960.

Places to visit

Watson Museum

The Watson Museum in Rajkot, India is a museum of human history and culture. Its collections precious objects of colonial period of India and History of Rajkot. It is amongst the largest and most comprehensive museum in State of Gujarat. Watson Museum is considered to be the finest amongst 7 such museums located across Saurashtra (region) and run by the State Government because it holds invaluable articles and state-of-the-art facilities like photography, guide service, reference library and sales counter of the museum’s publication.

Kaba Gandhi No Delo

Kaba Gandhi no Delo in Gujarati means the residence of Kaba Gandhi. This is Mahatma Gandhi”s ancestral house in Rajkot where he spent his childhood. The house, now declared as a national monument has a museum “Gandhi Smriti” with photographs and personal belongings of Gandhiji.

Palitana

Palitana is a city in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India. It is located 50 km southwest of Bhavnagar city and is a major pilgrimage centre for Jains.

Palitana is associated with Jain legends and history. Ādinātha, the first of the Jain tirthankaras, is said to have meditated on the Shatrunjaya hill, where the Palitana temples were later constructed.

Places to visit:

Shetrunjaya hills

The temple covered Shetrunjaya hill, 2000 ft over Palitana town, believed to span 863 shrines in all has some really exquisite marble temples of great religious and artistic importance, containing arches, carved pillars and bejeweled idols. The temples date from 11th to the 20th century. The summit is the most revered of Jain temple complexes, surpassing those of Mt Abu, Gwalior, Girnar and Bihar. Palitana town is a good place to shop for textile related handicrafts and has a Jain kala sansta.