Forts and Palaces of Gujarat

Day-1: AHMEDABAD

Arrive at Ahmedabad. Visit the Calico Museum of Textiles, the historic Gandhi Ashram and the Sardar Patel memorial at Shahibagh Palace. Dinner nad o/n halt at the House of Mangaldas.

Day-2: AHMEDABAD - PALITANA 239 km (Appx four hours drive)

In the morning, we take the Heritage Walk in walled city of Ahmedabad to see the historic Swaminarayan Temple, exquisitely carved Jain and Hindu temples, ornate wooden havelis, the 15th century Jumma Mosque and the mausoleum complexes of the Sultans and Begums of medieval Ahmedabad.

Late afternon , we depart for Palitana stopping enroute at Lothal for an insight into the Harappan civilization. Time permitting, visit the Jain museum of Palitana and the local bazaar.

Home-cooked non-veg and veg dinner and o/n at the six-room Vijay Vilas Palace, the 1906 AD country house of the late Prince of Palitana now run by his grand-daughter as a heritage hotel.

Day-3: PALITANA - GONDAL 160 km (Appx three hours)

Early morning ascent to the 863-temple covered summit of Shatrunjaya Hill- one of the major Jain pilgrimage sites. Leave for Gondal after lunch . Visit the 1748 AD Naulakha Palace, the Vintage and Classic Car museum, the Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy and the Swaminarayan Temple. Overnight stay at the Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace of Gondal, both of them are heritage hotels.

Day-4: GONDAL - JUNAGADH - GONDAL 123 km round trip

Drive to Junagadh to see the Uparkot Fort & Buddhist cave-sites, Ashoka’s rock inscriptions (3rd century BC), palace museum, 18th & 19th century royal mausoleum complexes, Nawabi buildings and museums. Return to Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace of Gondal for overnight halt.

Day-5: GONDAL - DASADA 220 km (Appx four hours)

On arrival at Dasada, we take a jeep safari for Little Rann of Kutch in search of endangered desert wildlife like the Asiatic wild ass and witness the sunset at a lake Bajanathat attracts flamingos, pelicans, cranes and other attractive birds in large numbers. Overnight stay at Rann Riders, an imaginatively designed safari resort.

Day-6: DASADA - BALASINOR 180 km (Appx three and a half hours)

Early morning we take a stroll in the Dasada village, known for its Rabari and Bharwad embroidery, weaving and other handiwork. Later we drive to Balasinor and stay at the Garden Palace. Visit the dinosaur site, one of the largest prehistoric fossil sites in the world.

Day-7: BALASINOR - CHAMPANER - CHHOTA UDAIPUR

Drive to Champaner, the only Gujarat site on the World Heritage List, to see the impressive forts, mosques, mausoleum and temples. Proceed to Chhota Udepur and stay at Kali Niketan, a heritage hotel.