Description

Gujarat *◆ Ahmedabad ◆ Dwarka ◆ Nageshwar ◆ Somnath ◆ Kevadia ◆ Bhavnagar ◆ Vallabhbhai Idol* The name Gujarat is said to have originated from the Gurjara people who migrated to present-day Gujarat from Central Asia. In 1960, the state of Gujarat was formed with 17 districts from the North and North-West Bombay province. Currently, Gujarat consists of 33 districts. Gujarat is the state with the most industrial growth after Maharashtra in India. Its northwest border is with Pakistan, while Rajasthan lies to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and Maharashtra to the south. Gandhinagar is its capital, located near Ahmedabad, the former capital and economic hub. Gujarat has numerous tourist destinations and is a confluence of spiritual places. The Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, built near the Sardar Sarovar Dam, is a major attraction. ________________________________________ * Day 1: Ahmedabad – Dakor Dwarka – Patel Statue* • *Travel Distance:* 240 km • *Travel Time:* 5 hours Depart from Chennai / Bengaluru airport in the morning and arrive at Ahmedabad. From Ahmedabad airport, proceed to Dakor Dwarka temple, located 85 km away. Reach Dakor in about 2 hours and have Darshan at the temple, the foremost among the 7 Dwarkas in Gujarat. It is believed that Krishna performed illusory feats here during battle, protecting the Yadavas. Then, proceed 140 km to Sadhu Bet Island near the Sardar Sarovar Dam to see the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In the evening, visit the Valley of Flowers, Jungle Safari, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam. Enjoy the Laser Light & Sound Show on the statue from a distance. Check into a star hotel in Kevadia and stay overnight. *Meal Plan:* B/L/D ________________________________________ * Day 2: Kevadia – Bhavnagar* • *Travel Distance:* 275 km • *Travel Time:* 5.5 hours After breakfast in Kevadia, check out from the hotel, get Observation Deck View tickets, and visit the Statue of Unity. Depart for Bhavnagar at around 11:00 AM. En route, visit the Mani Lakshmi Jain Temple. In the evening, arrive in Bhavnagar and visit the Takhteshwar Temple for Darshan. Then check into the hotel and stay overnight. * Meal Plan: B/L/D ________________________________________ * Day 3: Bhavnagar – Nishkalank Mahadev – Somnath* • *Travel Distance:* 290 km • *Travel Time:* 6.5 hours After breakfast, check out from the hotel and proceed to Koliyak Beach to visit Nishkalank Mahadev Swamy, a temple located in the sea. Darshan timing depends on the lunar day (tithi). Next, visit Mul Dwarka, the second Dwarka, believed to be Krishna’s earlier dwelling. Then proceed to Prachi Gaya, also called Pithru Gaya, one of the five Gayas in India, and perform Arghyam (Theertha Pindam) for ancestors. Later, reach Somnath and have Darshan at the Somnath Jyotirlinga temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, associated with the Moon. Also visit the nearby Adi Somnath Temple. Check into a hotel in Somnath and stay overnight. *Meal Plan:* B/L/D ________________________________________ * Day 4: Somnath – Porbandar – Dwarka* • *Travel Distance:* 250 km • *Travel Time:* 5.5 hours At 6:00 AM, take an auto to Mukti Dwarka in Prabhas Patan, where Krishna ended his earthly avatar. This is the third Dwarka among the seven. Visit nearby temples and return to the hotel. After breakfast, check out and proceed to Porbandar. Visit Kirti Mandir, Kasturba Gandhi’s house, Gandhi Museum, and Mahatma Gandhi’s room. Visit Sudama Temple, the birthplace of Krishna’s friend Sudama, known as Sudama Dwarka (the fourth Dwarka). After lunch, visit Rukmini Dwarka Temple, the fifth Dwarka, where Rukmini Devi blesses individually. Then, proceed to Gomati Dwarka. In the evening, visit the Dwarkadheesh Temple, the sixth Dwarka, located on the banks of the Gomati River. Witness the evening aarthi, complete special worship, check into a hotel in Dwarka, and stay overnight. *Meal Plan:* B/L/D ________________________________________ * Day 5: Bet Dwarka – Nageshwar – Rajkot* • *Travel Distance:* 236 km • *Travel Time:* 5.5 hours After breakfast, check out and proceed from Gomati Dwarka to Bet Dwarka via the newly constructed bridge. Visit the palace of Krishna, where he accepted poha from Sudama. Then visit Gopitalav, where the 16,000 Gopis freed from Narakasura turned into sandalwood according to legend. Next, visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the second in Gujarat. Travel to Rajkot and visit the Swaminarayan Temple. Check into a hotel in Rajkot and stay overnight. *Meal Plan:* B/L/D ________________________________________ * Day 6: Rajkot – Ahmedabad* • *Travel Distance:* 290 km • *Travel Time:* 5.5 hours After breakfast, check out from Rajkot and proceed to Ahmedabad. En route, visit a Shwetambar Jain Temple, Watson Museum, and Mahatma Gandhi Museum (Kaba Gandhi No Delo). In the evening, visit the Modhera Sun Temple, one of the four Sun Temples in India. It is located in Mehsana district on the banks of the Pushpavati River, about 102 km from Ahmedabad. Check into a hotel in Ahmedabad and stay overnight. *Meal Plan:* B/L/D ________________________________________ * Day 7: Ahmedabad – Chennai / Bengaluru* After breakfast, check out from the hotel and visit the Adalaj Stepwell, a five-story stepwell built in Solanki architecture using sandstone. Then visit the Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple and explore the Sabarmati Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi spun Khadi and launched the Dandi March. Afterward, go shopping at Lal Darwaja, then head to Ahmedabad Airport for departure to Chennai/Bengaluru. The Gujarat Devotional Journey concludes happily. *Meal Plan:* B/L/D ________________________________________ *HOTELS (Premium Package)* • *Ahmedabad:* Hotel Fairfield Marriott or similar • *Ekta Nagar:* Hotel Fortune or similar • *Dwarka:* Hotel Fern or similar • *Somnath:* Hotel Sarovar Portico or similar • *Rajkot:* Hotel Fern or similar • *Bhavnagar:* Hotel Sarovar Portico or similar ________________________________________ *HOTELS (Standard Package)* • *Ahmedabad:* Hotel Ginger • *Ekta Nagar:* Hotel BRG Budget or similar • *Dwarka:* Hotel Ginger or similar • *Somnath:* Hotel Aditya Mansingh or similar • *Rajkot:* Hotel Grand Regency or similar • *Bhavnagar:* Hotel Clarks Inn or similar ________________________________________ *INCLUSIONS* • Two-way airfare • Luxury A/C vehicle for travel • Accommodation in 3-star / 4-star premium hotel A/C rooms • High-quality vegetarian food for all meals • Accompanied by a Tamil-speaking tour manager ________________________________________ *EXCLUSIONS* • Separate charges for single occupancy • Entrance fees at all places • Statue of Unity entrance ticket • Boat, auto, and rickshaw fare • Anything not mentioned in the Inclusions section