SHORT AND SWEET - GUJARAT TOURS ( Ahmedabad - 1 Night - Bajana 1 Night - Bhuj 2 Nights - Gondal 1 Night - Bhavnagar 1 Night)
Detailed program
07 Days/06
Nights
Day 01
Arrival Ahmedabad
You will arrive by domestic flight [AI 017 at 0640 Hrs] at Ahmedabad
Airport. Following formalities and baggage collection, a representative will
meet you as you EXIT the ARRIVALS TERMINAL building and transfer to your
hotel
Founded in 1411 by Ahmed Shah I on the site of the ancient city of
Karavati, Ahmedabad is today the great textile and commercial city of western
India. Omnipresent is the Sabarmati River over which four bridges connect the
old city with the new. On one side are the crowded streets leading to Manek
Chowk, where rows of traders dealing in silver jewellery or printed fabrics lean
against spotless white bolster-pillows, waiting for customers. The upper floors
of the old havelis [family homes] have exquisitely carved wooden balconies,
windows and doorways. The most beautiful ones stand in Doshiwala ni Pol. In
Ahmedabad, the Indo-Saracen architecture blends beautifully Hindu and Muslim
styles. Sidi Saiyad's Mosque is one of the most eloquent examples of the finest
such work in sandstone.
Spend a few contemplative moments at Hridey Kunj, Mahatma Gandhi's austere
Ashram set amongst mango trees where he experimented in non violent methods of
political struggle.
Later continue visit to The Adalaj Vav [stepwell] is located 18 kilometers
north of Ahmedabad in the quiet village of Adalaj. This vav has served as a
resting place for hundreds of years for many pilgrims and caravans along their
trade routes. Built in 1499 by Queen Rudabai, wife of the Vaghela chief,
Veersinh, this five-storey stepwell was not just a cultural and utilitarian
space, but also a spiritual refuge.
Overnight: Ahmedabad
Day 02
Ahmedabad – Patan –Modhera – Little rann of Kutch
After an early breakfast, depart on the 126-km [3-hour] drive to Patan, an
ancient Hindu capital before it was sacked by Muhamud of Ghazni in 1024. Now a
pale shadow of its former self, it still has over 100 Jain temples and is famous
for the manufacture of beautifully designed Patola silk saris.
Located in the heart of the city, The Rani ki Vav [Queen’s stepwell,
Archaeological Sight] it is the greatest reminder of the days when kings and
queens ruled here. The stepwell is the oldest and perhaps the grandest among 120
plus stepwells in Gujarat. Built in the 1050 A.D.
Some 52 kms [1 hour drive] away lies the Sun Temple at Modhera which is a
rare edifice of the Solanki era when the art of temple building in Gujarat had
reached its height. The temple dates back to early 11th century and was built by
King Bhimdev I in 1026.
Continue on to the tented camp at Banjana another 70-km [1.5 hour],
situated at the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch.
Overnight: Bajana
Day 03
Little rann of Kutch - Bhuj
Early in the morning, take a jeep safari into the sanctuary in the Little
Rann of Kutch, a fascinating vast stretch of flat, salt cracked barren desert.
This is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India, spanning some 4953 sq.
km in area. The sanctuary is the only home of chestnut brown Asiatic Wild Ass or
Ghudkhar, which is the last of India's wild horse family, and one of the most
endangered species in the world. The sanctuary is also a home for gazelle, blue
bull, wolf, and Indian foxes, jackal, jungle cat and hare. The sanctuary
comprises of a range habitats from saline desert plains, arid grasslands, rocky
and thorn scrub to lakes and marshes. It is also a home for Black Bucks and Wild
Boar.The vast expansion of barren land is also a heaven for bird-watchers.
Continue on the 5 drive to Bhuj- [280 kms / 6 hour] and check in at
hotel.
Late afternoon, explore Bhuj. Rao Pragmalji’s old palace, built in
traditional Kutchhi style, in a small, fortified courtyard in the old part of
the town, was a beautifully presented museum. It was, unfortunately, destroyed
during the earthquake of 2001. The Maharao Sinh Madansinhji Museum [Closed on
Thursday & Public Holiday], which had a varied collection of paintings,
photographs and embroideries as well as a collection of old princely-state coins
minted from the 17th century right up to 1948, was also severely damaged.
The Kutchh Museum [Closed on Wednesday , 2nd , 4th Saturday & Public
holidays] was founded in 1877 by Sir James Fergusson, a governor of Bombay under
the British Raj. The oldest museum in Gujarat, it had an excellent collection,
which included anthropological and archaeological finds, textiles, weapons,
musical instruments and a picture gallery. While extensive restoration work has
been undertaken, it will take years for Bhuj to be restored to its former
glory.
After the tour drive back to hotel
Overnight: Bhuj
Day 04
Breakfast at the hotel. Spend full days visiting the villages around Bhuj
to get a glimpse of various pastoral nomads, their lifestyle, arts and crafts.
The region is renowned for its silverware, tie-and-dye fabrics, weaving, block-
printing and particularly its fine needlework.
Visit Banni Village, an Arabic name for needlework and legend has it that
the inhabitants came from Saudi Arabia in the 10th-11th century to settle in
this region. To protect themselves from invaders, their villages were well
camouflaged that it is difficult to locate them, until you come right upon them,
often appear on these articles. These textiles are decorated with tassels made
of torn cloth and cowrie shells and concentric rectangles or parallel horizontal
lines are the preferred patterns.
Banni Embroidery is derived from the semi-desert areas in Kutch - a long
tract of 2,144 sq. km. People in these areas are engaged in tertiary occupations
like embroidery, leather work, dairy and other cottage industries. Banni
embroidery is locally known as Kutchi Bharat, Khambira, Kharekh, Kudi Kacho Pako
etc. are the main stitches used by the migrant Harijans of the area. The
needlework is known for its intricate and minute designs in gorgeous colours.
Mirror-Work Embroidery is also found in the Banni area. There are some
villages famous for different types of handicrafts, including mirror-work.
Mutva Embroidery derives its name from Mutva [Maldhar] a sub caste of
Muslims living in Banni. They excel in workmanship of all styles of embroidery
in the Banni area of Kutch.
Gotam stitch [Sindhi Kadai], close chain-stitch and button-hole stitch with
microscopic mirrors are used in this intricate style of work.
Rogan Painting is more than a 100 years old. Hand-pounded castor oil is
turned into a paste by boiling it. Later, yellow, red, blue, green, black and
orange coloured powder diluted in water is mixed with the castor oil paste. An
iron rod, flattened at both ends is used to paint half of the design with the
support of left hand fingers on the bottom of the cloth. The impression is
transferred on the other half of the cloth to complete the design.
Overnight: Bhuj
Day 05
Bhuj - Gondal
After breakfast, depart on the 260 kms/5.5 hours drive to Gondal. Enroute
visit enroute visit Bhujodi Village & Ajarkpur Village.
Bhujodi, The terrain and weather of Kutch is well suited for sheep
raising. The availability of good quality wool enables the craftsmen to produce
artistic products required by shepherds, cowherds and other rural communities.
Bhojodi is one of the villages en route to Bhuj which is known for its
weaving.
Ajarkpur, Ajrakh printing is one of the most popular traditional crafts of
Kutch. It means "keep it today" and in Arabic it means "beautifying". Ajrakh
denotes the blue colour, which is a must. The Khatri community has practiced
this craft since many centuries, the technique handed over from generation to
generation. Of late, Harijan artisans trained under the expertise of Khatri
craftsmen are also pursuing this craft.
Upon arrival in Gondal, check in at hotel
Spend the afternoon exploring Gondal, the capital of one of the most
progressive, affluent and efficient princely states during the British period.
The oldest extant palace in Gondal, the 17th-century Naulakha Palace is a
festival of stone carvings with exquisite jharokhas [balconies], a fabulous
pillared courtyard, delicately carved arches, and a unique spiral staircase. The
large chandelier-lit durbar hall has stuffed panthers, gilt wooden furniture,
and antique mirrors.
Built in 1875 AD by Maharajah Bhagwat Sinhji for his son Yuvraj Bhojraji,
the Riverside Palace is set in lawns and gardens beside the river Gondali. There
are two marvelously appointed sitting arrangements - the living room furnished
in typical colonial style with chandelier, antique wooden furniture and sofas,
and the Indian room decorated with beadwork, brassware and paintings-and many
pleasant sit-outs on the terraces and galleries overlooking either the river or
the garden.
Located in a huge complex of fruit orchards, lawns and gardens, the Orchard
Palace is a wing of the Huzoor Palace [the present royal residence] where the
ruling family of Gondal entertained personal guests, including relatives from
other princely states of Gujarat. The 'room of miniatures' is a splendid sitting
room with a collection of miniature paintings, brass, and antique furniture.
The Royal Garages have an extensive collection of vintage and classic cars.
Most of these cars are restored and some bear the original Gondal state number
plates. There are plans to restore a selection from the extensive collection of
horse drawn carriages, which includes Victorian showpieces and a Shetland pony
carriage.
Overnight: Gondal
Day 06
Gondal – Bhavnagar
After breakfast depart from Diu to Bhavnagar [200 kms /5 hours]
Founded as a port in 1723, Bhavnagar is an important trading post for the
cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat. It has a beautiful old bazaar area with
overhanging wooden balconies, thousands of little shops and ateliers.
In the afternoon visit the Takhteshwar temple which sits on the highest
hillock, offering panoramic views of the city and out into the Gulf of Cambay.
Overnight: Bhavnagar
Day 07
Bhavnagar – Palitana - Lothal – Ahmedabad [220 kms/6-7 hours]
Palitana 5:300 AM- Departure to the fabulous temples of Palitana. Atop a
hill are about 900 intricately carved temples dating back to the 11th century.
You can choose to either walk up the 3,500 steps to the temples or go up on
human-powered palanquins. Created by master craftsmen, these temples find their
place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest number of
temples on a single hill. ( Photography is strictly prohibited at the temple)
Lothal is the excavated Harappan site dating as far back as the 2nd
millennium BC Archaeologists have discovered a well planned city here, 1.75 kms
long and 400 meters wide, sub-divided into blocks with rows of houses. Each
house had its own bathroom and the water outlet from the baths was connected to
the city's channel of underground drainage system. Lothal was discovered in 1954
and till today it is the largest and the only full-fledged Harappan town in
India, though a few other minor sites have also been excavated. A unique
discovery of Lothal is a dockyard - 216 m long and 35 m wide, with a 5 m high
wall. It appears Lothal was a prosperous city and seaport. Goods like beads,
stone blades and other products manufactured here were exported. There is
evidence that the people of Lothal had commercial links with Mesopotamia [Iraq]
and Egypt. ## Note: Lothal Museum remains close on Friday
Later continue drive to Ahmedabad Airport
Evening Intime transfer to Ahmedabad airport to board flight to
Mumbai.
END OF THE TOUR
Hope the above in order and do let us know for any assistance
With Best Regards
LIJU MATHEW
============================================
JEL Tours Private Ltd
203, Crystal Arcade, C.G Road
Nr. Navrangpura Tel. Exchange
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad – 380 009 , Gujarat (INDIA)
Tel : 0091 79 26405607 / 40075607 / 40025607
Fax : 0091 79 26405608
Fax : 0091 79 26405608
Mobile : 0091 9712970354 / 9426070354
Email : tours@jelgroup.in or jel.tours@gmail.com
Website : https://jel-tours-pvt-ltd.business.site/
Email : tours@jelgroup.in or jel.tours@gmail.com
Website : https://jel-tours-pvt-ltd.business.site/
CIN.N0- U63040GJ2009PTC056540
