Top attractions of Gujarat - and the best time to visit them

Jan 28, 2021

3 MIN READ

Gujarat offers an array of incredible experiences. Remarkable architecture, birding opportunities, the draw of seeing Asiatic lions, a diverse dining scene and a thriving textile and handicrafts tradition are the state’s many treasures. Sacred Jain and Hindu pilgrimage sites sit atop mountains that rise dramatically from vast flatlands, and colorful festivals burst into a cornucopia of culture. We bring to you some of Gujarat’s top attractions that can be experienced in the winter months.

Great Rann of Kutch

Arid salt flats sprinkled with colorful craft hubs defines the Rann of Kutch. A massive expanse of cracked earth, inland from the sea, the Rann takes your breath away. The nothingness for miles is eerily stunning, with small oases of water bodies and shrubland attracting pink flamingos. Tribal hamletsare the epicenter for Kutchi embroidery, tie and dye, leather work, pottery, bell metal craft and the famous Rogan painting. Approximately 200km east of the Rann, is the Little Rann of Kutch, a 4953sq m Wild Ass Sanctuary. It is home to the only remaining population of the Indian wild ass (khur), as well as bluebulls, blackbuck and chinkara.

Gir National Park

The last refuge of the Asiatic lion is a forested, hilly, 1412sq km sanctuary at Gir. Taking a safari through the thick, undisturbed forests would be a joy even if there weren’t the excitement of lions and other wildlife to spot. The sanctuary was set up in 1965, and a 259sq km core area was declared a national park in 1975. Since the late 1960s, lion numbers have increased from under 200 to over 600 in 2020. The sanctuary’s 37 other mammal species, most of which have also increased in numbers, include dainty chital (spotted deer), sambar (large deer), nilgais (large antelopes), chousinghas (four-horned antelopes), chinkaras (gazelles), crocodiles and rarely seen leopards. The park is a great destination for birders too, with more than 300 bird species, most of them resident.

Sabarmati Ashram

Inaugurated by his contemporary, Jawaharlal Nehru, there couldn’t be a more fitting shrine to commemorate the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Here, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, his erstwhile cottage has been converted to a simple but engaging museum. Fragmented in two sections, where he actually lived and the modern section conceived by architect Charles Correa, the ashram is ensconced in a peaceful aura, partially due to the reverence that visitors show and possibly due to a unique energy that the place actually has. This is the place where Gandhi started the Satyagraha Movement.

Champaner and Pavagarh

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Champaner and Pavagadh are often clubbed together as one of the most engaging historical attractions of Gujarat. Pavagadh stands on top of the hill that looks over the sprawl of monuments at the base in Champaner. The duo makes a rich heritage site dotted with forts, mosques, monuments, tombs, arches, temples, stepwells and fortresses from the 8th to 14th century. The Islamic-Mughal city of Champaner feels unchanged over the centuries and offers an authentic flavour of architecture of the era. Juxtaposed to this is the Kalika Mata Temple on the Pavagadh Hill, where thousands congregate during Navratri.

Sun Temple, Modhera

Witness the unparalleled architectural legacy of the Solanki dynasty at Modhera in northwest Gujarat, that lies on the edge of the Pushpavati River. The sacred and stunning Sun Temple rises from this peaceful setting in architectural majesty. Declared a monument of national importance, the 11th–century Sun Temple is an emblem of the golden era of the Solanki dynasty - a marvel simply not to be missed. The exterior is intricately carved with demons and deities, and the main hall and shrine are reached through a pillared pavilion. Centuries of invasions and climatic weathering have not diminished the temple’s astounding grandeur.

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