Destination : Ahmedabad(1n) | Dwarka(2n) | Somnath(1n) | Bhavnagar(1n) | Nadiad(1n) | Nathdwara(1n) | Udaipur(1n)
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Ahmedabad
Morning Arrival At Ahmedabad Airport / Railway Station, Meets, Greet And Transfer To Hotel, Later City Tour Visits Of Gandhi Ashram, Hathee Singh Jain Temple, Adalej Step Well, Akshardham Temple.
Adalaj Step Well
The Step Well Was Built In 1499 A.D. By Queen Rudabai Wife Of Veer Singh, The Vaghela Family. The Designs On Its Walls And Pillars Include Leaves, Flowers, Birds, Fish And Other Breathtaking Ornamental Designs. In The Past, These Step Wells Were Frequented By Tourists And Caravans As Stopovers Along Trade Routes. The Five-Storied, Step-Well Located In The Sleepy Village Of Adalaj Is A Marvel Of Architecture. This Unique Water Work Is An Excellent Blend Of Hindu And Islamic Styles. The Intricately Carved Monument Served Religious And Utilitarian Purposes Of The People Around Though Its Origin Is Marred By Tragedy. The Indo-Islamic Style Of Architecture, Which Developed In India In The Early Centuries Of The Medieval Period, Is Neither A Local Variant Of Islamic Art, Nor A Modification Of Hindu Art, But It Is An Assimilation Of Both The Styles, Though Not Always To An Equal Degree. The Architecture Of This Well Also Shows The Influence Of The Earlier Solanki Rulers Of Gujarat. Built Entirely Of Sandstone, One Can Enter Into This Step-Well From Three Sides, Which Consist Of Octagonal Landings With Huge Carved Colonnades And Intricately Carved Niches. The Step-Well Served Both Ritualistic As Well As Utilitarian Needs.
Akshardham Temple (Monday Closed)
Akshardham Is A Unique Cultural Complex That Celebrates The Past, Addresses The Present, And Blesses The Future. It Upholds The Universal Values Of Humanity And Symbolizes The Glory Of Indian Culture. It Is A Huge Temple Built In Pink Stone And White Marble. The Central Attraction Of This Temple Is Idol Of Swaminarayan Is Sitting Posture Of 3.3 Mtrs. Universal Ideals Of Indian Culture Are Brought To Life Through The Most Modern Exhibition Technology. Shows, Walk-Through Dioramas, Audio-Visuals, Light And Sound Programs, And Surround Experiences Within The 45,000 Sq. Ft. Of Exhibition Space, Educate And Enthrall Visitors. The Sahajanand Hall Depicts The Life Of Lord Swaminarayan. The Mystic India Addresses The Quest For Eternal Happiness Through A 14-Screen Multi Media Show. The Nityanand Hall Visualizes Values From The Upanishads, Ramayana. The Audio Animatronics Show Features The Lifelike Assembly Of Statues That Sing And Speak. The Water Show Reveals India’s Ancient Secret Of Inner Light Through An Upanishad Story Of Nachiketa, A Nine Year Old Boy, Who Bravely Confronts Yamraaj, The God Of Death, And Receives From Him The Knowledge That Has Made India, A Land Of Enlightenment. Performed By Live Actors, With A 70-Feet High Water Screen, Water Features, Fire Spreading On Water Along With Several Fireballs, Powerful Lasers, All Enhanced By A 10.2 Surround Sound System, It Is A Uniquely Entertaining And Educational Show With A Spiritual Message. The 45-Minute Show Takes Place Every Evening (Except Monday) At Akshardham.
Sabarmati Ashram - Gandhi Ashram - Harijan Ashram - Satyagraha
It’s Located On The Western Bank Of The Sabarmati River. Ashram Was The Residence Of Mahatma Gandhi. From This Ashram Gandhi Started The Dandi March In 1930. The Ashram Now Has A Museum, Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. The Museum Building Was Erected (Designed By Architect Charles Correa), And Memorial Activities Were Then Started Here. One Of The Important Activities Undertaken Is The Establishment Of A Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya. Initially Started In 'Hriday Kunj,' Gandhi's Own Cottage In The Ashram, The Sangrahalaya Has Now Shifted To Its Own Well-Designed And Well-Furnished Building. Exhibits At The Museum Includes: Gandhi Quotations, Letters, And Life Size Oil Painting Gallery.
Hathee Singh Jain Temple
It Was Built By Seth Hathee Singh In 1850. It Is Easily Distinguished By Its High Carved Column, Visible From Road. Built Entirely Of White Marble Embossed With Smooth Carvings Of Dancers, Musicians, Animals & Flowers, This Serene Temple Is Dedicated To Dharmnath, Whose Statue Stand In The Main Temple. It Has A Paved Courtyard Surrounded By An Imposing Row Of Cloisters Containing 52 Shrines, Each With An Image Of A Tirthankara, Profusely Decorated With Rich Carvings, One Containing The Marble Image Of The 15th Tirthankara. The Temple Is A Two-Storied Structure With Elaborate Porches On Three Sides And Front Porch Crowned By A Large Dome.
Overnight Stay Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad - Jamnagar - Dwarka (470 Kms / 9.5 Hrs)
Ahmedabad To Dwarka, En-Route Visit Jamnagar - Lakhota Lake & Bala Hanuman Temple. Then Drive To Dwarka, Late Evening Reach At Dwarka Check In The Hotel, Evening Attend Aarti At Dwarkadhish Temple, Overnight Stay At The Hotel.
Bala Hanuman Temple
Bala Hanuman Temple, Is Famous For Its Continuous Chanting Of The “Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram” Since August 1st, 1964, For Which It Is Even Listed In The Guinness Book Of World Records. Early Evening Is Particularly Good Time To Visit As It's Fairly Animated Then. In Fact This Whole Area On The South-Eastern Edge Of The Lake Becomes Very Lively Around Sunset, When People Come To Public Walk.
Lakhota Lake (Talav)
The Lake Is Most Lively In The Evenings, When People Relax Around The Lake To Enjoy The Breeze And A Tea, Ice Cream, Or Chat From One Of The Many Food Stands, And At Night The Lake Is Beautifully Lit. You Can Go For A 15-Minute Boat-Ride Around It, Or Rent A Paddle Boat. Around The Lake There Are Parks, A Night Market For Vegetables. Every Year About 75 Species Of Birds, Including Pelicans, Flamingos, Spoonbills, Ducks, Terns, And Gulls, Descend On This Lake, Making It A Lively Bird Watching Site.
Dwarka Local Sightseeing
Gopi Talav
Gopi Talav Is 21 Kms Far From Dwarka. It Is A Small Pond. Gopis (Young Girls) Used To Take Bath In This Lake So It Is Called Gopi Talav. In Mathura, Krishna Often Danced Rass With Gopis. After He Left For Dwarka, They Missed Him So Much That They Decided To Visit Him. They All Reunited At A Lake North Of Dwarka And Dance Once More Under The Full Moon. At The End Of The Dance, Unable To Part With Krishna, The Gopis Decide To Merge Into The Earth. A Legend Says That They Transformed Into Yellow Soil Called Gopi Chandan. Even Today The Soil Of The Gopi Talav Is Extremely Smooth And Yellow In Color. The Main Attraction Of Gopi Lake Is Mahaprabhu Ji Bethak.
Dwarkadhish Temple
The Main Temple At Dwarka, Situated On Gomti Ravine, Is Known As Jagat Mandir. The Temple Has A Five Storey Tower Supported By 72 Pillars Which Was Built By Krishna's Grandson, Vajranabha, Who Is The Grandson Of Lord Sri Krishna. The Temple Is Made Of Limestone And Sand. There Is A Flag Hoisted In The Temple Tower Four Times Each Day, Which Waves In The Air Beautifully Welcoming The Pilgrims. The Structure Of The Temple Is Quite Complicated. There Are Two Gateways: Swarga Dwar, Where Pilgrims Enter, And Moksha Dwar, Where Pilgrims Exit.
Nageshwar Jyotirling
It Is Located On The Route Between Dwarka And The Bet Dwarka Island, On The Coast Of Saurashtra In Gujarat. This Temple Enshrines One Of The 12 Jyotirling In India. This Powerful Jyotirling Symbolizes Protection From All Poisons. It Is Said That Those Who Pray To The Nageshwar Ling Become Free Of Poison. According To Shiv Puran, A Shiva Devotee By Name Supriya Was Attacked By A Demon Daruka While In A Boat. The Demon Imprisoned Him Along With Several Others At His Capital Daruka Forest (Jungle) Where He Resided With His Wife Daruki. Supriya Advised All Prisoners To Recite The Mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. When Daruka Came To Know About This He Ran To Kill Supriya. Instantly Lord Shiva Appeared In The Form Of A Jyotirling. One Of The Nageshwar’s Attractions Is The 26 M Statue Of A Sitting Shiva Outside
Bet Dwarka
Bet Dwarka Is Located 30 Kms North Of Dwarka On An Island In The Middle Of The Arabian Sea, Next To The Coastal Town Of Okha. Here Vishnu Is Said To Have Kill A Demon. Bet Dwarka Is Considered The Original Residence Of Lord Krishna. The Main Temple Was Built About 500 Years Ago And Has An Idol Believed To Have Been Made By Rukhmani. The Traditional Donation Of Rice To Brahmins Has Special Importance Here, As It Is Believed To Be The Place Where Krishna’s Friend Sudama Presented Him With Rice. The Temple Complex Includes Several Small Temples Dedicated To Shiva, Vishnu, Hanuman And Devi. There Is A Deserted Beach On The Northern Coast.
Rukhmani Temple
Rukhmani Temple Is Located 2 Kms Away From Dwarka There Is A Myth Associated With It Once Krishna And Rukhmani Went To 'Durvasha Rushi' To Invite Him At Dwarka. He Was Agreed On The Condition That They (Krishna & Rukhmani) Have To Carry The Cart Instead Of Any Animal. Krishna & Rukhmani Happily Agreed To Do So. While Driving The Cart, Rukhmani Became Thirsty. Then Krishna Stopped The Cart And Made Water From Holy River Ganga By Pressing Leg Thumb At Land. 'Durvasha' Upset By The Action And Nuisance Rukhmani To Stay Away From Shree Krishna Hence Rukhmani Temple Is Located 2 Kms. Away From Dwarka‘S Jagat Mandir.
Overnight Stay Dwarka.
Dwarka - Porbandar - Somnath (250km/5hrs)
Today After Breakfast Drive To Somnath, En-Route Visit Porbandar - Kirti Mandir & Sudama Temple, Then Drive Somnath Check In To Hotel Visit Bhalka Tirth Temple, Attend Evening Aarti At Somnath Jyotirling (One Of The First Among The Twelve Jyotirling Shrines Of Shiva.) Evening Visit Light & Sound Show At Somnath Temple, Overnight Stay At Hotel
Kirti Mandir
Porbandar Was The Birthplace Of Mahatma Gandhi Whose Father Was The Head (Diwan) Of The Ruling Family. The Kirti Mandir Memorial Built Next To Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthplace (1869) Lies In The Old Walled Township Of Porbandar. The Kirti Mandir’s Premises Is A Three Storeyed Ancestral House Of Gandhi Wherein The Exact Place Where Putlibai, Gandhi’s Mother, Had Given Birth To The Child Gandhi Marked With A 'Swastika'. Kirti Mandir, The Memorial Of Mahatma Gandhi Was Inaugurated, By The Auspicious Hands Of Sardar Shri Vallabhbhai Patel On 27th Of May In 1950. It Was Built By Shri Nanji Kalidas And Shri Purushottam Mistry. Adjacent To The 165 Years Old Residence Is The 24 M High Kirti Mandir With 79 Lamps On Its Peak, One For Each Year Of Gandhi’s Life. There Is Kasturba Dham (Wife Of Mahatma Gandhi) Behind The Kirti Mandir. The Kirti Mandir Has A Memorial Of Mahatma Gandhi And Contains A Library With Books On Gandhi, A Spinning Hall, A Children's Nursery And A Lovely Prayer Hall.
Porbandar
This Place Is Situated On The Western Coast Of Saurashtra, Gujarat, Lays The Harbor City Of Porbandar, Better Known As The Birth-Place Of Gandhi - The Father Of The Nation. Extremely Poor But Self-Respected Sudama And Krishna’s Friendship Brings Tears Of Joy, When Remembered. The Jethwa Rajput Named It Their Capital & Ruled It From 1200 Years. Porbandar Is Often Called “White City” For The White Local Stone Is Used For Local Construction. The Name Porbandar Is Derived From The Combination Of Two Words: Porai – Local Goddess & Bandar Means Port, Which Comes To Porbandar.
Sudama Temple
In Respect To The Childhood Friend Of Lord Krishna, This Temple Was Constructed Between 1902 And 1907. It Is Said That Funds Were Exhausted While This Temple Was Being Constructed And The People Of Sudamapuri. This Is A Popular Tourist Spot In Gujarat. The Shrine Marks Where Sudama’s Hut Once Stood And Is The Only Temple Dedicated To Him In India.
Sandipani Ashram
It Is Also Known As Bhai Shri’s Ashram. There Are So Many Activities Are Going In This Ashram. School, Hostel, Science Gallery Are The Main Activities In This Ashram.
Later Proceed To Somnath
Lord Krishna Temple, Bhalka Tirtha, On The Site Where Krishna Is Said To Have Been Mistakenly Shot In The Foot. Nearby Is Dehotsarg, Where He Succumbed To His Mortal Wound. The Temple At Bhalka Tirth Is Known As Mahaprabhuji's Bethak, And A Tulsi Tree Has Been Planted In Lord Krishna's Memory. The Arrow Of The Poacher Named Jara At This Spot Hit Bhagvan Shree Krishna. Bhagvan Shree Krishna Was Resting In Meditation Pose Under A Pippal Tree When The Poacher Misread The Foot Of Bhagvan Shree Krishna As A Deer And Hit From A Distance.
Somnath
Somnath Temple - Lord Shiva Temple Known As Jyotirling Built By Moon God. Somnath Is One Of Among 12 Jyotirling. The Temple Of Somnath Itself Is Believed To Have Appeared First In Gold, At The Request Of The Sun God, Next In Silver, Created By The Moon God, A Third Time In Wood At The Command Of Lord Krishna & Finally In Stone Built By Bhimdeva. The Temple To The Tenth Century When It Became Rich From Follower Donations, Such Wealth Become To The Attention Of The Mahmud Of Ghazni Who Destroyed The Place Of Pilgrimage & Carried Its Wealth Off To Afghanistan. The Current Temple Was Built To Traditional Designs On The Original Costal Site. Walkin G Distance From The Temple Is The Prabhas Patan Museum Housing Architectural Fragments Of The Original Temple Of The Somnath Before They Were Destroyed By Invaders. Photography Is Prohibited.
Bhalka Tirth
Overnight Stay Somnath.
Somnath – Nishkalank Mahadev Temple - Bhavnagar ( 300km/6hrs)
Nishkalank Mahadev Temple
Nishkalank Mahadev Temple In Koliyak, Bhavnagar, Gujarat Is Full Of Wonders And Awe. This Temple Is Buried Inside The Sea. On A Heavy Tide Day, All That Can Be Seen Are The Flag And A Pillar. It Is Beyond Ones Comprehension That There Is A Lord Shiva Temple Just Under The Fierce Sea. This Temple Is Still In Use, And People Visit This Place On Foot! The Temple Has 5 Distinct Swayumbu Shiva Lingams Inside. This Is Definitely One Of The Best Spiritual Destinations!
The Following Temple Story Dates Back To Mahabaratha Era. Pandavas Killed All The Kuravas And Won The Battle. Pandavas Were Grief Stricken Knowing They Acquired Sins For Killing Their Own Relatives. In Order To Find Redemption For Their Sins, Pandavas Met Lord Krishna. To Remove The Sins, Krishna Hands Over A Black Flag And A Black Cow. He Asks The Pandavas To Follow It, When Both Cow And Flag Turns White, They All Will Be Pardoned. Krishna Also Advises Them To Do Penance To Lord Shiva, After That. The Angst Stricken Brothers Followed The Cow Wherever It Went And Carried The Flag. They Walked For Days, To Different Places And The Color Did Not Change. Finally, When They Arrived At The Koliyak Beach, Both Cow And The Flag Color Turned To White. Pandavas Were Exalted. And All The 5 Brothers Sat For Deep Penance, Meditated On Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva Impressed By The Brothers Showed Up In Lingam Form To Each Brother. As They Meditated, Each Lingam Appeared In Front Of Each Brother. In Total There Were 5 (Swayumbu) Lingams That Showed Up On Their Own. Pandavas Were Delighted To See This And They Worshiped All The Five Lingams With Great Devotion. Lord Shiva Here Is Known As Nishkalan Mahadev. ‘Nishkalank’ Has Many Meaning They Are Clean, Pure, Guiltless, To Cleanse, To Purify, Etc. It Is Said That Pandavas Established Nishkalank Or Nakalank Mahadev On A Amavasai Of The Indian Calendar Month Of Bhadarva. The Famous Fair Popularly Known As ‘Bhadarvi’ Is Held On The No Moon Night In Month Of Sharvan (August), As Per The Indian Calendar. An Idol Of Lord Shiva Was Established In An Island, Over The Sea About 3 Km To The East Of Koliyak. Each Lingam Has A Nandhi Facing It. The Lingams Are Spread Across A Square Platform. There Is A Pond Called Pandavas Pond And Devotees’ First Wash Their Hands And Legs And Only Then They Visit The Lord Shivas Shrines.
Overnight Stay Bhavnagar.
Bhavnagar – Dakor – Nadiad. (250 Kms / 5 Hrs)
Dakor Lords Krishna Temple
The Main Temple, Enclosed By A Fort Wall, Is Situated Near The Bank Of The Holy Lake Gomti In The Midst Of The Main Bazaar Of Dakor. The Temple Is Covered With 8 Domes And 24 Turrets, With The Central Dome Reaching A Height Of 27m. Crowned With A Golden Kalash And A White Silken Flag, This Temple Is The Tallest In The District. Though Not Very Rich In Carving, The Main Cupola Derives Its Influence From The Maharashtrian Style Of Temple Architecture. The Main Hall Features Paintings Depicting Events In Lord Krishna’s Life.
It Is Believed That Ranchhodji, A Name For Lord Krishna Meaning "He Who Left The Battlefield", Inspired Gopal Jagannath Ambekar, A Shroff Of A Peshwa’s Court In Poona, In A Dream To Build A Vast And Magnificent Temple. The Temple Was Built In 1772 A.D. The Main Ranchhodrai Idol Is In Black Touchstone, 1m Tall And 45 Cm In Breadth, Richly Adorned With Gold, Jewels And Expensive Clothes. Its Throne, An Ornate Masterpiece Of Woodcarving Plated In Silver And Gold, Was Presented By The Gaekwad Of Baroda.
On The Upper Floor Of The Gate There Is A Tokorkhana (Music Room) Where Music Is Played On Shehnai And Drums Daily Every Three Hours. Shri Bhalchandrarao And Other Descendants Of The Builder Of This Temple, Inamdar Tambekar, Give Their Services To This Temple Even Today. For Many, Listening To The Devotional Songs Sung By Champavatiben Tambekar Is A Very Special Experience.
Nadiad – Shyamlaji – Nathdwara. (330 Kms / 6.5 Hrs)
Shyamlaji Lords Vishnu Temple
The Temple Of Shamlaji Stands On The Banks Of The River Meshwo, In Veneration Of Vishnu. The River Meshwo Meanders Over Its Rocky Bed In The Valley Immediately Below, And The Waters Of A Splendid Natural Lake, Of Great Beauty Sparkle Amid The Well-Wooded Hills.
Sakshi Gopal Or Gadadhar Is A Black Representation Of Vishnu Worshipped At The Shamlaji Temple. This Is One Of The Rare Temples Of Lord Krishna In Which Cow Idols Are Also Worshipped Depicting His Childhood As A Cowherd. For The Vaishnavites Shamlaji Is One Of The Hundred And Fifty Four Most Important Places Of Pilgrimage In India.
It Is Believed That This Shrine Has Existed For At Least 500 Years. Built Of White Sandstone And Bricks, It Has Two Storeys Supported On Rows Of Pillars. It Is Profusely Carved And Episodes From Sacred Epics Of The Ramayana And Mahabharata Are Engraved On The Outer Walls. Its Beautiful Domed Ceilings And A Traditional North Indian Spire Over The Main Shrine Add To The Magnificence Of Its Open Courtyard Accompanied By The Carving Of A Life-Size Elephant.
Nathdwara Lords Krishna Temple
Shrinathji’s Idol Was Brought To Rajasthan From Govardhana Near Vrindavan To Protect It From The Hands Of The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Who In 1665 Was Bent Upon Vandalizing The Area Of Vrindavan By Widespread Destruction Of Hindu Temples. When The Mughal Army Came To Govardhana, The Devotees Of The Lord Showed Them The Titles And Gifts Given To The Temple By The Previous Mughal Rulers. The Army Commander Then Ordered The Deity To Be Taken Away From Govardhana. For Almost Six Months The Statue Stayed In Agra After Which The Custodians Of The Idol Of Shrinathji Left That Place With The Idol In Search Of A New Heaven.
While Several Other Princes Were Diffident, It Was Maharana Rajsingh Of Mewar Who Dared To Provide Refuge. The Idol Went On A Journey To Mewar Which Took 32 Months To Complete. The Decision To Settle The Lord Here At Nathdwara Involves An Interesting Story. When The Wheel Of The Chariot Carrying The Lord Got Stuck In The Mud At A Place Called Sihar, The Rana Saw It As A Divine Sign That Lord Krishna Wished To Settle Here, And Thus A Temple Was Built At This Spot And The Holy Township Of Nathdwara Grew Around The Temple
In 1672 Lord Shrinathji Was Placed In A New Temple Built In Village Sihad, Now Called Nathdwara, On The Banks Of River Banas.
Overnight Stay Nathdwara Hotel.
Nathdwara – Kankroli – Udaipur. (90 Kms / 2 Hrs)
Kankroli Temple
Ekling Ji Temple
Overnight Stay Udaipur Hotel.
Nathdwara – Kankroli – Udaipur. (90 Kms / 2 Hrs)
Jagdish Temple
City Palace
Lake Pichola
Saheliyo Ki Bari
Today In Time Transfer To Ahmedabad Airport / Railway Station To Board Flight / Train For Your Hometown. Let’s Stay In Touch On Facebook/Email And Meet Again On Another Memorable Holiday. See You Soon!
