Tribal Gems of Gujarat
Day – 01 –Ahmedabad
Arrive at Ahmedabad Airport / Railway Station. Meet Guide& Driver and proceed to visit Hutheesingh Jain Temple: An affluent Jain trader Sheth Hutheesing Kesarisinh planned to build a sacred Jain Temple.Construction of the famed temple was completed in 1848 AD. Sompura artisans are well known artisans famed for their craftsmanship skills in stone carvings and sculpting and are especially involved in making sculptures in Hindu and Jain temples. Legends state that there is a 170 years old lamp that is still lighting beneath the sanctum sanctorum.
Sabarmati 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 center of India’s freedom movement. It was from here, in 1930, that Mahatma began his famous Dandi March to the sea to protest against the Salt Tax imposed by the British. Hridaya Kunj, the simple cottage where he lived, is now a national monument and preserved as it was during the Mahatma’s life-time.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Proceed to see Kalamkari Work: The holy cloth used as an offering to the goddess; the community that is making this painting are known as Vaghari.
O/N Ahmedabad – House of MG, Lemon Tree Atrium, Cosmopolitan, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Grande Residency
Day – 02 –Ahmedabad Today proceed to visit to Calico Museum, (Calico Museum: Reporting time at Calico Museum is 1015 Hrs sharp. Tour starts at 1030 Hrs and ends by 1300 Hrs, it’s a Guided tour): The museum was founded 1949 by the industrialist Gautam Sarabhai and His sister Gita Sarabhai. In Calico Museum you can see remarkable collection of fabrics spanning varied and remote regions of India exemplifies handicrafts textiles across five centuries. (Online booking websitehttps://www.calicomuseum.org/information-for-visitors/tour-booking/)
Lunch at local restaurant.
Later after lunch proceed to see Sanskar Kendra Museum designed by Le Corbusier. (Open from Tue-Sun, Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays – 1000Hrs to 1200Hrs and 1600Hrs to 1800Hrs)The Sanskar Kendra designed by none other than the renowned architect Le Corbusier in 1954 as a cultural center of Ahmedabad. Located near the Sardar Bridge in the vicinity of the famous Tagore Hall, across the National Institute of Design it is a discerning example of modernist architecture.
In afternoon proceed to visit Shodhan Villa which is a private residence of the Shodhan family, this visit will be possible only from outside: Designed by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier, it was built between 1951 and 1956; Building on his previous projects whilst integrating the traditional features of Ahmedabad design.
Also visit Amdavad Ni Gufa (Hussain- Doshi Ni Gufa) designed by B.V. Doshi. (Open from Tue-Sun, Closed on Mondays – 1600Hrs to 2000Hrsonly): Amdavad Ni Gufa is an underground art gallery in Ahmedabad, India. Designed by the architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, it exhibits works of the Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain.
Breakfast: On your Own Lunch: On Direct Payments Dinner: On Direct Payments
O/N Ahmedabad – House of MG, Lemon Tree Atrium, Cosmopolitan, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Grande Residency
Day – 03 –Ahmedabad
Today proceed for Heritage Walk of Old City of Ahmedabad which is declared India’s only world heritage city: These small neighborhoods are both the backbone and heartbeat of the old city of Ahmedabad. In recent years, families have started moving out to live in more modern houses further from the city center, but many of them still feel a strong attachment to the close- knit communities of the pols that shaped their lives while growing up. Many of them have their own temple at the center of the neighborhood, one or more small shrines for whatever faiths are present.
Later visit Siddi Saiyed Jali: Mosque built by, Sidi Sayed, is famous the world over for its exquisite stone window tracery – a superb & peerless example of delicate carving that transforms stone into filigree.
Later visit ATMA Building Designed by Le Corbusier, subject to getting permission (Closed on Sat-Sun). (Permission still awaited, shall keep you informed once we get a reply.) http://atmaahd.com/
Lunch at local restaurant.
Later visit Sangath designed by B.V. Doshi architecture (Closed on Sat- Sun), for this will need to take prior permission and for that you will need to fill up the form by link (https://www.sangath.org/visit-us/), they do charge some token amount for the visit which will be collected on direct basis.
IIM (A) designed by Louis Khan, (Closed on Sat-Sun).https://iima.ac.in/
Visit Sarabai Villa which is designed by Le Corbusier
Visit Dada Harir Step Well: Built around 500 years ago by Sultan Bai Harir, this stepwell is like others around Gujarat, with elaborate craftsmanship and construction built underground to provide access to a permanent source of water. For many years’ step wells like this one provided most of the water for the city during the long dry seasons.
If time permits visit Gandhi Labour Institute designed by B.V. Doshi
O/N Ahmedabad – House of MG, Lemon Tree Atrium, Cosmopolitan, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Grande Residency
Day – 04 –Ahmedabad – Siddhpur – Patan – Modhera– Dasada (Approx – 300Kms/6Hrs)
Morning drive to Dasada en-route visitAdalaj Stepwell: It was built in 1498 in the memory of Rana Veer Singh, by his wife Queen Rudadevi. It is a fine example of Indian architecture work.The history of the Adalaj step-well is established by an inscription in Sanskrit found on a marble slab positioned in a recess on the first floor, from the eastern entry to the well. VisitBohra Muslims Haveli at Siddhpur: Bohra Muslim’s old Havelis and mansions are over 100 years old. They have made the homes in European flavor.
Lunch Later visit Rani Ki Vav, Patola Museum and also see Mushroo weaving at Patan: Patan was an ancient Hindu Capital before it was attacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024. Now a pale shadow of it remains, Patan is also famous for its beautifully designed Patola silk saris.
Later visit Sun Temple at Modhera: 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.
Continue drive to Dasada.
O/N Dasada – Rann Riders
Day – 05 –Dasada Today enjoy jeep safari in Wild Ass Sanctuary: A jeep safari will take you to the Little Rann of Kutch to see the rare species of the ‘Indian Wild Ass’. Little Rann of Kutch (Wild Ass Sanctuary), Little Rann of Kutch, a sanctuary for the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass. The mammals of the Rann other than the wild ass, there are chances of seeing nilgai, chinkara gazelle, white-footed desert and Indian foxes, the wolf, jungle cat (occasionally also desert cat), pale and long-eared hedgehogs and hare.
Crested and Sykes larks, Oriental skylark, greater short-toed lark, singing and Indian bush larks, ashy-crowned and black-crowned sparrow-larks, are likely sightings and greater hoopoe lark is possible. Desert and variable wheatears, southern grey, long- tailed, rufous-tailed and bay-back shrike, common wood shrike are also likely sightings and the desert warbler is among the many winter visiting warblers. We will also look for chestnut-bellied and spotted sand grouse, Indian courser (cream- coloured visits occasionally), quails, yellow-legged and barred buttonquails, grey francolin, wryneck, brown-rock chat, pied bush cat, rufous-tailed scrub robin, blue- headed rock thrush, black redstart and buntings in the scrubby areas. At sunset, it is possible to watch marsh, Montagu and pallid harriers, Aquila eagles, falcons and buzzards heading for their roosting sites.
After lunch proceed for Village Safari to see communities like Bharwad, Kharapati Rabari, and Mir: Visit the nearby villages to see the local tribes such as Rabari, Koli and Bajania still maintaining their rich heritage of lifestyle clothes, jewelry and dances. Their embroidery is exquisite.
O/N Dasada – Rann Riders
Day – 06 –Dasada – Dholavira (Approx – 300Kms/6Hrs)Today drive to Dholavira and visit Indus Valley Civilization Site: Dholavira presents a Harappan city par excellence, measures about 600m on the north-south axis and 775m. On the east- west. Inside the general fortification, there are three distinct complexes-An Acropolis, a middle town and a lower town. In addition, the acropolis and the middle town had been further furnished with their own appertinent defense-work, gateways, built-up areas, street-system, wells and large open spaces. The city within the general fortification accounts for 48 hectares. Visit the Site and Museum, Fossil Park, sun set point and the Great Rann of Kutch in a Jeep provided by the hotel.
O/N Dholavira – Dholavira Tourism Resort Day – 07 –Dholavira – Ajrakhpur – Bhujodi – Bhuj (Approx –300Kms/6Hrs)
Today drive to Bhuj en-route visit Ajrakhpur to see LLDC Museum at Ajrakhpur.
Lunch at LLDC Canteen.
Ajrakh Block Printing: Ajrakh Block printing by the use of natural Dyes. The Khatri community, whose ancestors have been printing with Ajrakh blocks for centuries, migrated to Dhamadka, Kachchh from Sindh.
Later visit Shrujan and Bhujodi village to see Shawl Weaving: It is a major textile center of Kutch, with the vast majority of the 1200 inhabitants involved in textile handicraft production.
Continue drive to Bhuj
O/N Bhuj – Hotel Comfort Inn Prince, Hotel Ilark, Bhuj House
Day – 08 – Bhuj – Banni Villages – Bhuj (Approx –300Kms/5-6Hrs)
Morning drive to Banni Villages.Zura village to see Leather Work and Copper Bell Making: See the musical crescendo signals a phoenix like birth of a new bell emerging from mud and fire. Iron bells enameled in copper and bronze, so many shapes and size emitting melodies which are soft yet carry sonorously through the desert air.
Visit Nirona village to see Rogan Painting: A traditional textile art form involving painting on fabric. The art of Rogan originated in Syria and is practiced through Peshawar, Lahore, Sindh and Kutch. The colour making process itself is time consuming and involves great skill.
Bhirandiyara village to see Meghwal Embroidery: Meghwal people are known for their fine embroidery and colourful mud bhungas.
Later visit Hodko Village and lunch at Shaam-E-Sharhad.
Visit Dhordo village to see Muthwa Embroidery: One of the most intricate and meticulous form of embellishment which intensifies the elegance and flamboyance of any textile product. The varied collection of motifs used in Mutwa embroidery almost compliments the diverse stitches used in this art form.
Also visit White Rann.
O/N Bhuj – Hotel Comfort Inn Prince, Hotel Ilark, Bhuj House
Day – 09 – Bhuj – Gondal (Approx –300Kms/6Hrs)
Today drive to Gondal en-route we stop at Village Dhaneti to see Ahir embroidery: Ahir community from Dhaneti is famous for their embroidery & they use mirrors in various shapes: round, lozenge, rectangular, square, triangular, and beak shaped. Little mirrors encircled with chain stitch forming geometrical and abstract patterns, enriches any garment or home furnishing with of natural simplicity.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Continue drive to Gondal and visit Naulakha Palace: it dates back to the 17th C. The palace has excellent stone carving with exquisite jharokhas. Some of the carvings show Kathiawadi swordsmen and images from the Hindu pantheon. The large Darbar hall has stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture and antique mirrors. Vintage Car Museum: The second of its kind in Gujarat has 32 cars from the world’s most reputed brands, such as Ford and Mercedes, dating 1915 to 1970.
O/N Gondal – Orchard Palace, Riverside Palace
Day – 10 – Gondal – Jamnagar – Dwarka (Approx –300Kms/6Hrs)
Today drive to Dwarka, en route visit Crescent Market and Bala Hanuman Temple at Jamnagar. Lunch at Jamnagar. Continue drive to Dwarka. In the evening proceed to visit Dwarkadhish Temple (Open from 0630 Hrs to 1300 Hrs and 1700 Hrs to 2130 Hrs).
O/N Dwarka – The Fern Sattava, Regenta Inn The Dwarka, Hotel Manek Svasti Inn, Goverdhan Greens
Day – 11 – Dwarka
Morning proceed visit Dwarkadhish Temple (Open from 0630 Hrs to 1300 Hrs and 1700 Hrs to 2130 Hrs): 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. Rukmini Temple, Beyt Dwarka (Open from 0900 Hrs to 1230 Hrs and 1500 Hrs to 1800 Hrs): Beyt 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. Drive back to Dwarka.
Lunch at local restaurant
Nageshwar Temple (One of the Twelve Jyotirlings):Nageshwar Temple or Nagnath Temple 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 Jyotirling become free of poison.
O/N Dwarka – The Fern Sattava, Regenta Inn The Dwarka, Hotel Manek Svasti Inn, Goverdhan Greens
Day – 12 – Dwarka – Porbandar – Sasangir (Approx –300Kms/6-7Hrs)
Today drive to Porbandar and visit Kirti Mandir: The ancestral house of Gandhi family, where Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 is just adjacent to the Kirti Mandir.
Later visit Sudama Temple (From 1130-1200): This temple is dedicated to Sudama who was the childhood friend of Lord Krishna. This temple is often visited by thousands of devotees particularly the newly married Rajasthani Kshatriya couples who visit the temple to take the blessing.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Continue drive to Sasangir.
O/N Sasangir – The Fern Gir Resort, The Gateway Hotel Gir Resort, Gir Lion’s Paw, Woods at Sasan, Gir Lion Safari Camp
Day – 13 –Sasangir
Today proceed for Morning and Evening Jeep Safari at Sasangir Lion Sanctuary: Gir is the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in his natural habitat. Sasangir bio-diversity rivals any National Park in India. The forest harbors a variety of smaller animals & birds. The Indian Deer, Sambar, Spotted deer, Blue bull, & the Chowsingha (four horned antelope) are found here, along with the long tailed langur.After Morning safari we can visit the Siddi Community staying near Sasangir.
Sasan GirA tapestry of dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub and grassland, fed by rivers and reservoirs, Gir is the last abode of the Asiatic lion and has a thriving population of panther (leopard), sambar, chital (spotted deer), nilgai (blue bull antelope) and wild boar. Gir is also one of the major habitats of chousingha (the world’s only four-horned antelope) and chinkara (Indian gazelle) that are hard to spot in the teak forests along the game drive trails. Among the many birds of Gir, changeable hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, Bonneli’s eagle, shaheen peregrine falcon, laggar falcon, shikra, painted sand grouse, quails, black-hooded and golden oriels, marshall’s and common iora, Asian paradise flycatcher, tickell’s blue, red-throated, verditer and Asian brown flycatchers, yellow-crowned, brown-capped pygmy, black-rumped flame back woodpeckers, green and blue-cheeked bee-eaters, coppersmith barbet, common, lesser pied and white-throated kingfisher, blossom-headed parakeet, hoopoe, black, ashy and white- bellied drongos, rufous treepie, large cuckoo shrike, small minivet, red-vented and white-eared bulbul, tawny-bellied, yellow-eyed, jungle and large grey babblers, grey- breasted, ashy, rufous-fronted, plain, jungle and graceful prinias, zitting cisticola, clamorous reed-warbler, booted warbler, greenish warbler, lesser and Hume’s warbler, orphean warbler and Blyth’s reed warbler, are among the many birds that could be seen here. O/N Sasangir – The Fern Gir Resort, The Gateway Hotel Gir Resort, Gir Lion’s Paw, Woods at Sasan, Gir Lion Safari Camp
Day – 14 –Sasangir – Somnath – Palitana (Approx –300Kms/7-8Hrs)
Today morning we can visit the Maldhari community staying near Sasangir.
Later drive to Palitana en-route visit Somnath Jyotirling Temple (Darshan timings are from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Aarti timings are at 7:00am, 12 noon and 7:00 pm.) at 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. If time permits visit Bhalka Tirth: The place where Krishna was hit by an arrow shot by a hunter named Jara, after which he is said to have left the earth for the heavenly abode, an act referred to in the Puranas as Shri Krishna NeejdhamPrasthan Leela.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Continue drive to Palitana.
O/N Palitana – Vijay Villas Palace (Home stay)
Day – 15 –Palitana – Velavadar (Approx –100Kms/2-3Hrs)
Early Morning at 0630Hrs climb Shetrunjaya Hill to see Jain Temple Complex Approx 3600 steps one way, we also have the option of being carried on Doli (Can pay on direct payment basis on the spot, Approx cost INR 3500 to 4000 for a Doli which has 04 people carrying you up and down): The Adinath Temple (Main Temple) has an idol which is about 2m tall. There are Approx 850 marble carved temples on the hills. The buildings are craved in marble the view is beautiful, with sights of surrounding valleys, rivers and temples on the way to top.
We come down around 1130Hrs and drive to Velavadar (Approx 2Hrs drive). Arrive at Velavadar around 1400HrsLunch at Velavadar.
Enjoy Afternoon Safari at Blackbuck Sanctuary (From 1600-1800).
Velavadar National Park: Known for its large blackbuck antelope population, Velavadar is also one of the few places where the wolf is proliferating in India though they are rarely seen in the daylight. Jackal, jungle cat and hare are more easily seen and Indian fox on the periphery. Sirkeer malkoha, painted francolin, chestnut-bellied and spotted sand grouse, rufous-tailed, crested and sykes’ larks, red-romped swallows, desert and variable wheatears and other birds are seen and many raptors visit specially short-toed snake eagle, imperial, steppe, tawny, greater and lesser spotted eagles, laggar falcon, hobby, common kestrel, red-necked falcon, peregrine falcon, white-eyed and long-legged buzzard, black-shouldered kite, shikra, Eurasian sparrow-hawk and occasionally northern goshawk
O/N Velavadar – The Black Buck Lodge
Day – 16 –Velavadar
Today enjoy Morning safari at Blackbuck Sanctuary: The best national park for black buck viewing in India is the 36sq km, which comprises a tapestry of grasslands & scrubby plains reminiscent of the African Savannah. The national park also provides suitable habitat for the endangered Indian wolf, the jackal, the Indian fox, the jungle cat, blue bull antelope & hare and also attracts a large number of birds.Early lunch at Hotel and Departure from Hotel at 1330Hrs. Approx 2Hrs Drive to Lothal on the way.
Indus Valley Civilization: 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, stone and clay beads and ornaments, gold beads, ivory bangles and ornaments and coppersmiths’ workshops, potteries and underground sanitary drainage.
Continue drive to Ahmedabad Airport/Railway Station to board Flight/Train