Visit The Best Tourist Places of Gujarat!

Gujarat is one of the states in India that has immense tourist potential. From the religious sites and palaces to the scenic landscapes and beaches, The best tourist places in Gujarat are a blend of history, nature and archaeology.The culturally diverse state of Gujarat has never failed to attract a traveller. The colourful lifestyle and the lip-smacking cuisine of Gujarat are other reasons that would add to the enjoyment of a visit to Gujarat.Gujarat has many tourist attractions that are popular and lesser known to the world. This article takes you to some of the best tourist places of the state that are worth a visit on your next trip to Gujarat. The palaces in Vadodara are known for their fine artwork, attractive architecture and intricate carvings. The must-visit palaces here are the Lakshmi Vilas Palace, the Nazarbaugh Palace and the Makarpura Palace. The other major attractions in Vadodara include Dabhoi, Kadia Dundar Caves and the Vadodara Museum among the other attractions. The Sardar Sarovar Dam, located on the banks of river Narmada, is the largest dam on Narmada. The dam was built to provide water for drinking, irrigation and to generate hydro-power to the whole of Gujarat.Due to the natural beauty of the place, it has emerged as a tourist destination. The other attractions close to the dam include Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Vishal Khadi Eco Campsite and the historical towns of Bharuch and Rajpipla. The Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India. Apart from the endangered species of Indian Wild Ass, the other species like chinkara, nilgais and caracals are also found. Kutch also has other tourist attractions like Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Banni Grasslands and Siyot Caves. The Kutch Utsav also takes place here, which is visited by tourists from various parts of the world.Photo Courtsey: B Sarangi Jhulta Minara or the Shaking Minarets is one of the best tourist attractions of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Nobody knows why the minarets shake. Though it is not allowed to climb the minarets, it still is a popular tourist attraction of Ahmedabad.The other attractions of Ahmedabad include the Gandhi Ashram, Jama Masjid, Hutheesing Jain Temple and the Kankaria Lake among the large list of tourist attractions. The Adalaj Stepwell is located around 15 km from Gandhinagar in Gujarat and is a perfect specimen of Indo-Islamic architecture. The stepwell is one of the best tourist places of Gujarat.It has spiritual significance among the villagers of the region. The other attractions close to the stepwell are the Akshardham Temple, the Mahatma Mandir and Craftsmens Village. The Indroda Dinosaur and Fossil Park or the Indroda Nature Park is the second largest hatchery of dinosaur eggs in the world. It is located on the banks of Sabarmati river and is the only dinosaur museum in India. The park is also nicknamed as Indias Jurassic Park. The Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka is also known as the Jagat Mandir which means the universal shrine. This is perhaps the most popular Hindu Temple in the world. The main shrine of the temple is about 2500 years old and is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Beyt Dwarka is a religious and a scenic place as well. The small island of Beyt Dwarka is an ideal place to spot dolphins, enjoy camping and for marine excursions, making it to the list of best tourist places in Gujarat. The temples here include a Krishna Temple thats around 500 years old among other temples and religious sites.Photo Courtesy: Popeyezulu The Sun Temple is located in Modhera in Mehsana district. The temple is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. The temple was built in 1026 AD during the reign of Solanki dynasty who were believed to be the descendants of Sun God. The architecture of the temple is also a marvel to witness. It is one of the best tourist places in Gujarat. The Kirti Mandir complex in Porbandar is the place where Mahatma Gandhi took birth. His ancestral house and other possessions and some legal documents are now part of the complex and is one of the important places to visit in Gujarat.The other places of interest in Porbandar include Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Porbandar Beach and Huzoor Palace.Photo Courtesy: Jaydip3212 Saputara is a picturesque hill station in Gujarat that has a lot more to offer than just spectacular views of nature. The attractions here include the Gira Waterfalls, Governors Hill, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary and Vansda National Park. The Harappan City of Dholavira is one of the best tourist destinations in Gujarat. This archaeological site belongs to the Indus Valley Civilisation and was discovered in 1967-68. The town planning and design of Dholavira is considered an architectural marvel for its times. These mausoleums were built by the Dutch and British as a part of proving each others superiority. Ironically, these European tombs have a strong influence of Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. The other attractions you can visit in Surat include Chintamani Jain Temple, Dumas Beach and Mughalsarai among the rest. The suspension bridge in Morbi is a place that you should not miss on a trip to Gujarat. This is a specimen of engineering marvel and is a reminder of Victorian London. The other attractions close to the bridge are the Art Deco Palace, Green Chowk, Mani Mandir and Wellington Secretariat. The Gir National Park is one of the important reserve forests in Asia and is the only home of Asiatic lions. The other attractions of the national park are listed here. The remains of Harappan civilisation can be found at Lothal which is close to Ahmedabad. Though the city is in ruins today, it gives us an insight into the ancient society and structure. The place has been affected by floods, and couldnt withstand the fourth major flood. Champaner is a UNESCO site that was not known to people till recentlt. Earlier the city was a part of the forest and later became popular as a tourist site after several surveys. The attractions of Champaner are listed here. The Somnath Temple or the Somnath Mahadev Temple is one of the best tourist places in Gujarat. This temple was destroyed and rebuilt seven times. According to legends, the temple was built in gold by the Moon God, in silver by the Sun God, in wood by Lord Krishna and in stone by the Solanki Rajputs in 11th century. Here are the other attractions of Somnath.