Gujarat : An Ultimate Travel to the Incomparable Places

DAY 1 : Arrival in Ahmedabad

Landing in Ahmedabad, greeted by our representative at the airport, then transfer to your heritage style hotel, including one of the best Gujarati cuisine restaurants in the city. After your lunch, you will start your journey in Gujarat by visiting a Mata Ni Pachedi workshop also known as Kalamkari: a sacred cloth used as an offering to goddesses. Then evening free, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 2 : Ahmedabad

A first day of visits dedicated to the historical Indo-Muslim heritage of the old districts located up to the bank of the Sabarmati river, the Hutheesingh temple with the Jain statues, of which Gujarat is a land of election. Then you will discover a remarkable monument: the Dada Hari Step Well dating from the 15th century and some Haveli, finely carved wood. You will also be invited to the Ashram built by Gandhi in the middle of a park, on the bank of this same river. It is in this city that Gandhi launched his campaigns of civil disobedience in the 1920s. Through it you will discover a handmade paper factory with social and ecological vocation, as well as a Gurukulam school, teaching free of charge the ancient precepts of Indian education such as the Sanskrit language, Nyay (justice) or Jyotish Shastra (astrology), etc.. (Availability to be confirmed). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 3 : Ahmedabad

Today you will continue to explore this world heritage city. With your guide you will participate in a morning walking tour of the city’s community quarters, the ‘pols’, Ahmedabad has about 600 of them, some dating back nearly 600 years. These are autonomous village-like neighborhoods with their own leaders who are community elders who take care of the daily problems of the community. At noon, you will be invited to a local house in the old town, in one of the typical old houses with colonial influences. After a visit of the house, you will have a meeting with the family for a cooking demonstration in this warm atmosphere. In the early afternoon you will pass by a modern and contemporary architecture, with notably the achievements of three great architects: Le Corbusier, Louis Khan and Charles Correia. Then, on the left bank, you will visit the Calico Museum dedicated to Textile Arts, a speciality of this state, located in a magnificent park with trees. The teak building alone is a marvel. The fabrics are presented by period, region and technique. Mirror embroideries from Kutch, printed cotton fabrics using different techniques (tie and die or block-print), silk embroidered hangings and Patan patola. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 4 : Rann of Kutch

After your breakfast, departure in direction of Dasada, you will pass by the village of Adalaj, which owes its fame to the Adalaj Stepwell. This 15th century building is considered a fine example of Indian architectural work. Then you will stop at the Sun Temple of Modhera, dating from the 11th century and one of the finest examples of devotional architecture in western India, carved with traditional erotic scenes and images of numerous gods and goddesses. Pass through Siddhpur, the city of Havelis with carved wooden facades. Continuation with the visit of Patan where we admire the ‘vavs’ wells of Gujarat whose Rani Ki Vav, well of the queen is registered on the list of the inheritance of UNESCO. One finds there sculptures of the gods of the Hindu pantheon of a great quality. Visit of the famous Patola Museum, to discover fabrics which make the glory of the city. Arrival at Dasada, a pristine white desert territory. Nicknamed the Little Rann and the Great Rann of Kutch, these areas form a natural border with Pakistan. Dinner and night at your lodge. (Total distance : 100 km, 2h30)

 

DAY 5 : Rann of Kutch

In the morning, wake up at your lodge and go on a horse or camel safari in the Rann of Kutch to observe the wildlife. Discover a wild territory where flora and fauna seem to be absent and where men harvest the salt left by the sea during the high tides. This desert is also the playground of wild donkeys called onagres, gazelles and antelopes; resistant ethnic communities are still present like those of the villages of Rawari and Bhairwad, composed of shepherds, pastors and craftsmen, possibility to visit them. After lunch you will be invited to a traditional Tangaliya weaving workshop. Enjoy also the comfort of your lodge, mixing traditional decoration and modern comfort. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

DAY 6 : Dholavira

Today you will explore by Jeep the city of Dholavira, an excavated city of the ancient Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley, the very cradle of civilization, circa 3500 BC. Enjoy the sunset on this grandiose site, overlooking the great Rann of Kutch. Settle in at your hotel near the city for dinner and overnight (Distance: 267 km; Duration: 5 h)

 

DAY 7 : Bhuj

This morning you will take a long drive with your driver to Bhuj, the capital of Kutch. This small, lively and modern city opens the doors to a hostile land where some Gujarati minorities still live from their many skills. On the way, stop at the village of Ajrakhpur, famous for its indigo dyeing factories, lunch and visit of its LLDC Textile Museum, then to the villages of Shrujan and Bhujodi to admire the weaving of shawls: it is a major textile center of the Kutch region with a people who still practice their traditional arts and customs. Settle in your charming accommodation in a traditional Parsi house, located in the historical part of the city. (Total distance: 213 km, 4 hours)

 

DAY 8 : Mandvi

After your breakfast at the guest house and a visit of the vestiges, in the heart of the city: Aina Mahal palace, Prag Mahal palace, you will have today again the choice on the continuation of your excursions. You could go to Mandvi beach and its Vijay Vilas Palace, summer residence of the royal family of Kutch, with on the way the visit of villages with picturesque houses “bhungas” and a guided tour of their communities which live from their numerous know-how. Then, visit of a shipyard where we can still see the famous dhows, old sailing boats very much present in the region. Back to the hotel, in the evening, stroll in the old bazaar of Buhj, dinner and night. (Total journey: 100 km, 2 h)

 

DAY 9 : Banni Villages

This morning, drive to the Banni villages. First, the village of Zura to see the work of leather and the manufacture of copper bells: iron bells enamelled with copper and bronze, so many shapes and sizes emitting soft melodies but carried in the desert air. Then visit the village of Nirona to see Rogan painting: a traditional textile art form involving painting on cloth. Rogan art originated in Syria and is also practiced in Peshawar, Lahore, Sindh. The process of creating color itself is time consuming and involves great skill. Continue to Bhirandiyara village to see the embroidery of Meghwal: The people of Meghwal are known for their fine embroidery and colorful mud bhungas (houses). Later visit Hodko village and its patchwork, on the way have lunch at hotel Shaam-E-Sharhad. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (Total distance: 120 km, 2h30)

 

DAY 10 : Gondal

After breakfast and check-out, continue your colorful journey to Gondal and visit the city’s vintage Maharaja’s car collection, then discover the city’s oldest palace, the 17th century Naulakha Palace, overlooking the river. You will pass by the gardens of the Orchard Palace, the residence of the royal family, before going to the Bhuvaneswari Ayurvedic Center, a family business for 250 years. All their medicinal preparations are made in the traditional way under the supervision of their Ayurvedic doctors. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (Distance: 275 km, duration: 6 h).

DAY 11 : Gondal – Junagadh – Sasan Gir Reserve

You will join the wildlife reserve of Sasan Gir, en route make a stop at Junagadh, a small town very animated, and discover its sites and many monuments: domes and minarets, Buddhist monuments and especially engravings of the edicts of the emperor Ashoka dating from 250 BC  en route, visit Jetpur and discover one of the largest centers of screen printing. In the late afternoon arrival at Sasan Gir. This mountainous region is the refuge of the last lions of Asia and home to hyenas, leopards, parrots, peacocks, crocodiles, antelopes and monkeys. Settling in your lodge, before enjoying a first safari in the reserve to observe this particular wildlife. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. (Drive: 120 km, duration: 2h30)

DAY 12 : Sasan Gir Wildlife Reserve

Early in the morning and in the afternoon, safaris in the reserve in order to observe this fauna so particular to India (lunch at the hotel). This mountainous region is the refuge of the last lions of Asia and shelters hyenas, leopards, parrots, peacocks, crocodiles, antelopes and monkeys. Early morning safari The best time of day to see the lions is early in the morning. Let yourself be enchanted by this other India, wild and secret. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

 

DAY 13 : Bhavnagar

After your breakfast and check-out, morning drive to the city of Palitana, famous for its 863 stone and marble Jain temples built on the Shatrunjaya hill (600 m). You will attend the morning puja ceremony at the temple. Continue to Velavadar and settle in for the night and dinner at your lodge. (Total journey : 130 km, 3h30)

DAY 14 : Palitana – Velavadar

Après votre petit-déjeuner et check-out, route matinale en direction de la ville de Palitana, célèbre grâce à ses 863 temples jaïns en pierre et marbre construits sur la colline Shatrunjaya (600 m). Vous assisterez à la cérémonie matinale de la puja au temple. Continuation en direction de Velavadar et installation pour la nuit et le diner à votre lodge. (Trajet total : 130 km, 03 :30hrs)

DAY 15 : Velavadar

Today, enjoy a morning and afternoon safari at Blackbuck Sanctuary: India’s best national park for blackbuck viewing, which features a tapestry of grasslands and scrub plains reminiscent of the African savannah. The national park also provides suitable habitat for the endangered Indian wolf, jackal, Indian fox, blue bull antelope and hare, and also attracts a large number of birds. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 16 : Velavadar – Lothal – Vadodara

This morning, head to the archaeological site of Lothal to discover the remains of an ancient city and port dating back 4,500 years. Lothal means “land of the dead” in Gujarati. It was probably one of the most important trading ports with Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia at that time. In the early afternoon you will be driven to Vadodara, the ancient capital of the Gaekwad, ‘the Protectors of the Cows’. Parks, lakes and the extravagant Laksmi Palace Villas dominate the old city. At the end of the day, you will stroll with your guide through the bustling bazaars of the city in search of local Gujarati flavors and snacks. Night and dinner at the hotel. (Total distance: 193 km, 5h30)

DAY 17 : Vadodara – Chotta Udepur – Jambughoda

This morning visit the Laksmi Villas Palace, then visit the Baroda Museum in its gardens, offering a superb collection of paintings by the master Raja Ravi Varma. Then continue to Jambughoda, en route stop at the colorful markets of the town of Chotta Udepur, you will visit its tribal museum, which has a beautiful collection of tribal items, where different tribes of Gujarat gather like the Rathwas, Bhils and Nayaks. The men wear a red turban tied in a particular style, while the women are seen wearing mid-length skirts, colorful blouses and silver jewelry. These tribes live in small villages and come here to sell their vegetables, grains and other items of daily use. You will be invited to have lunch in a house of the Rathwa tribe to discover their typical ‘Pithora’ wall paintings. Settle in and overnight at your hotel in Jambughoda. (Total distance: 145 km, 3h30)

DAY 18 : Jambughoda – Champaner – Pavagadh – Ahmedabad

In the morning, direction Champaner and guided visit of this magnificent fortified city and its superb mosque, Jami Masjid, treasure of the Gujarati architecture and one of the rare sites of the region of Gujarat to be classified with the world inheritance of UNESCO, visit of the fortified city on the top of a hill, Pavagadh, and its temple of Kalikamata. This temple built in the 11th century and dedicated to the goddess Kali, the Destroyer, is the most sacred on the hill. This evening you will attend a folkloric show of the region while enjoying some of the typical specialties of the Rajas cuisine of the region. You will then take the road towards Ahmedabad. Check-in and overnight at your beautiful heritage hotel. (Total distance: 173 km, 3 hours)

 

DAY 19 : Ahmenabad – Return to France

Departure to the airport for your return flight. End of the services.

Selection of charming hotels and secret addresses. Ask us for the program!

This Trip Includes :

Accommodation in charming and comfortable hotels according to availability at the time of booking in double room

• Half board
• Excursions and site entries
• Guide – French speaking guide
• Private transportation
• The taxes of stay

 This Trip Does Not Include :

• e-visa fees
• Drinks
• photo and video permits on the sites
• Tips and personal expenses