Best Time To Visit Gujarat - Seasons In Gujarat

Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi, is located on the western part of India and has one of the longest coastlines in the country. When one talks about tourism, unfortunately, Gujarat has not been as heavily promoted as Kashmir or Rajasthan or Kerala with the result that not many people know of its attractions. It is not only the temples, mosques, palaces, old forts and beaches that are its attractions; people here are warm and friendly and the food is quite different. If you have not enjoyed authentic Gujarat thali, you have not enjoyed food in its many splendors. So, if you wish to visit Gujarat, what would be the best time?

Summer

Summers in Gujarat, especially the Northern part and Kutch, can be blisteringly hot. There is a saying that only mad dogs and Englishmen would venture out in the sun in summers but in Gujarat, if you dare, summer can be an enjoyable time for a vacation. Think of beaches and you can head to the beaches at Mandvi or Daman or Diu. You can just as well visit Chorwad in Saurashtra and enjoy summer in Gujarat. Inland, day temperatures can rise to above 40 deg. C so it is best to avoid mid-day travel but still, even if you perspite you do not feel uncomfortable because, unlike Mumbai or coastal areas, humidity is not high. Enjoy cool coconut water and lemon sharbat while you roam the bazaars or visit monuments. Early mornings are cool and pleasant and evenings can be fun whether you are in Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Himmatnagar or Baroda. Ice gola and kulfi is what you can have your fill of along with a variety of chaat, bhaji pau, bhajias, samosas, khaman and a variety of Gujarat foods enjoyed in the open air till late at night. Summer is for the intrepid traveller to enjoy Gujarat.

Monsoon

Monsoons are iffy because, when it rains, it literally pours and areas can become inundated like the recent rains and flooding in most parts of Gujarat but still, monsoon season can be one of the finest times to enjoy Gujarat. Visit sometime in late August when rains are decreasing and the land is swathed in a mantle of green. It is best for travel over distances because it is cool and you enjoy the breeze. Whether you are in Surat or Porbandar or Dwarka or Somnath, it is a common sight that after a downpour, people will rush out to buy and eat steaming hot “farsan” items like bhajia, dalwada and fafda-gathiya. Enjoy. In most areas rains are not continuous so you get wet, dry out and slosh about in ankle deep water. It is fun. Lakes and rivers are full to the brim and that is another attraction of monsoon. Perhaps it could be the best time to explore Gujarat. This is also the time when Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami are celebrated with fervour for which you can visit Dakor, Shamlaji or Dwarka.

Winter

Majority of tourists prefer to travel Gujarat in winter because it is pleasant throughout the day and you can stay outdoors without working up a sweat or experiencing a chill. Temperatures rarely go below 15 degrees. It is only in Kutch that night temperatures can be below 10 deg. C. So, it is a perfect time to tour Gujarat and enjoy the sights as well as foods of which Undhiyu and jalebi are must have foods. Winter is when there is a festival held at the Modhera Sun temple, not far from Mehsana. Winter, January 14, is when people have a date with kites and turn into rooftop warriors, vying with ech other in kite flying and cutting competitions while wolfing down til chikki, undhiyu and jaleb. Winter is when you can truly enjoy nine nights of Navratri raas garba dance festival that occurs before Diwali in all small villages, towns and cities across this State.

Unfortunately for those who love to drink, Gujarat is a dry State so you have to make do with mocktails, lassi, chaas and fruit juices but of food, there is plentiful variety.

You could pick a seashore visit and start from the Kutch coastal areas, exploring the Marine National park, come down to Jamnagar and view its palaces, proceed to Dwarka and Somnath and then downwards to Diu and Surat. You can explore the forests of Panchmahals and Dangs and chill at Saputara resort. You can visit Champaner and similar other forts and palaces spread across this State. If temples are what you want to visit, Gujarat has its share of ancient and modern. If you are a nature lover, there are small and large nature parks across the state. The wild beauty of the Kutch desert is in stark contrast to the lush jungles of Jambughoda in South Gujarat. Any time and any season is good enough to travel in Gujarat.