Gujarat Heritage Tour

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 - DANTA 180 km (Five hours driving and sightseeing)

Early morningwe take a stroll in the Dasada village, known for its Rabari and Bharwad embroidery, weaving and other handiwork. Depart for the 11th century Sun Temple at Modhera, one of the finest examples of Chalukya architecture, and Patan known for its 11th century stepwell and Patola Silk Weaving. Arrive at Danta for dinner and o/n halt at the Bhavani Villa, a four-room heritage hotel run by the owners.

Day-7: DANTA - MT ABU

EXTENSION TO RAJASTHAN

Udaipur - Kumbhalgarh - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Pushkar - Jaipur - Ranthambore - Bharatpur - Agra - Delhi