Top Things to do in Gujarat

From a bird’s eye view tourism in India would seem to consist of only a few things. One visits temples old and new and admires the architecture. There are dozens of forts and palaces strewn about the landscape of India to give glimpses of a royal past, a form of vicarious delight at best. Then there are nature parks. Is there not something different you ask? If you want something different, take a trip to Gujarat.

You can go on the standard, well beaten tourist track and visit these attractions:

Kutch

kutch at Night

The Rann of Kutch is a different proposition compared to the Thar desert. It has a rich biodiversity and a wild beauty, especially if go to the remotest locations along the coast. The hinterland is home to wild ass and other smaller animals whereas parts of the coastal regions form part of the huge Marine National Park, the only one of its kind in India. Do visit Mandvi, an old port town once famous on the trade route, Bhuj for its fort and palace and Dholavira, site of ancient civilization.

Saurashtra

mount girnar junagadh

Junagadh and Jamnagar are the two erstwhile princely cities where you dutifully visit the fabulous palaces and forts.

Central Gujarat

Laxmi Vilas Palace

Ahmedabad has a few historic, must visit places like the Sabarmati Ashram, Jama Masjid, Hutheesing Jain Temple and Adalaj, famed for its step wells. The step wells at Patan, once a glorious city and seat of power, are even better. Then head to Baroda for the obligatory tour through Laxmi Vilas Palace and to Champaner, an old city now in ruins where you can image the drum of horse hooves on the paths. Jambughoda, a nature reserve, comes as a delightfully quiet place to restore your nerves.

Do it different

Culinary delights

Fafda

If you love snacks then Gujarat is the place to go. Saurashtra is where you snack in the morning (and all day long if you like) on fafda and ganthia, delicious concoctions made of gram flour. Go to Ahmedabad and middle Gujarat and you you can snack on khaman and dhokla that can be meals in themselves. South Gujarat has its fair share of snacks like sev khamni.

Kite flying

kite festival

14^th January is kite flying day in Gujarat (as elsewhere) celebrated with fanatical passion when each citizen turns into a raving lunatic hell bent on cutting the string of all kites flying all around him. For energy you snack on til chikki and undhiyoo, a Gujarati specialty made by mixing winter vegetables and prepared in a special way. The day seems too short.

Navratri

navratri dandiya festival

The nine nights of Navratri preceding Dussehra are when you want to be in Gujarat where each lane is transformed by night into a scene of revelry. Everyone dances: aged to children. Yep, no other part of India will give you this form of community involvement. There are dance competitions and frenetic activity as each city and village comes alive. Dussehra is when you gorge on fafda and jalebi bringing to a glorious conclusion the festival you will enjoy when you take a Gujarat.cultural tour. 

Diwali

diwali festival of lights

The festival of lights is interpreted differently in Gujarat. People here seem to take a perverse, holy and passionate pleasure in bursting bombs with the highest decibel levels and that too at ungodly hours. It is fun as men and women attired in their best set out to celebrate.

Calico Museum
OK. This is not strictly a different activity but this is perhaps the one and only Museum dedicated to textiles. Since clothes are our second skin, it is worth knowing and seeing the history of fabrics.

Gir

Gir National Park

If you go to Gujarat and do not visit Gir and see the lions it is like visiting Agra and not visiting the Taj. Do not forget.

Pan Gallas
Each town and city has a large number of pan galas and parlours that substitute for bars and are common meeting places for men. Stand at any galla and you can overhear interesting gossip ranging from current events to experts propounding on what the Indian cricket team should and should not do.

Gujarat is a lively state with lots of energetic, colorful people. So when you plan Gujarat Holidays, go to them, not to monument.