Gujarat’s Garrisons

The state of Gujarat is renowned for its beaches, temple towns and historic capitals with its rich wildlife and hill resorts. Apart from this Gujarat is one of the most popular pilgrimage centers for the Jains, with some interesting sights at the Jain Temple centers near Junagadh. On your tour to Gujarat you cannot afford to miss a glimpse of the colorful tribal villages of Kutch.There are innumerable Heritage Hotels in Gujarat offering you a unique opportunity to enjoy the rich culture and ethos in a royal ambience. The holiday at the Heritage Hotels in Gujarat increases multifold with the fusion of luxury with beauty and comfort.[Read more]

With a 1600km long coastline, the state of Gujarat is dotted with some really fine beaches like those of Ahmedpur-Mandvi, Kutch-Mandvi, Chorwad and Gopnath. The coast with its interesting Portuguese forts, shore temples, princely port cities and beach palaces was a popular historical center.

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Location

Gujarat is the westernmost state in India. It is home to the Gujarati speaking people of India. The state encompasses major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization such as Lothal and Dholavira. Gujarat played an important role in the economic history of India throughout the history of India. It is home to major ports in India's ancient and modern history, leading it to become one of the main trade and commerce center of India. Lothal one of the world's first ports is located in Gujarat. Also Mahatma Gandhi, India's father of the nation was born in Gujarat and led the Indian Independence Movement against British. Modern Gujarat has one of the fastest growing economies in India.

Why Gujarat?

Gujarat is a popular state in India. There are many Gujarat Tourist Attractions which makes the state, world famous. The Gujarat Tourist Attractions include palaces, national parks and temples.

One of the popular Gujarat Tourist Attractions is the Gir National Park located in Gujarat. The main attraction of the national park is the Asiatic Lion. The other animals that are also found in this Gir National Park include leopards, chinkara, sambhar, wild boar, pale hedgehog, Indian fox, spotted deer ,jackal, Indian porcupine, Indian flying foe, antelope, the jungle cat, grey musk shrew, Indian hare, desert cat, rusty spotted cat and nilgai.[Read more]

The Moksha Dwara is the main entrance of the temple. The other entrance of the temple is known as Swarga Dwara. Gomati River also lies close to the Dwarkadhish Temple. During Janmashtam pilgrims from all over the world come to visit this temple to get blessings from Lord Krishna. During your visit to the Dwarkadhish Temple you can also visit some other temples located nearby. The temples are Trikamji temple, Durvas temple, the Patrani temple as well as the Kalyanrai temple.

There are many palaces in Gujarat which forms an important part of Gujarat Tourist Attractions. The popular palaces in Gujarat include:

• Lothal Palace
• Utelia Palace
• Nilambagh Palace

Akshardham Temple in Gujarat is the other celebrated Tourist Attractions in Gujarat. The main deity of the Akshardham Temple is Lord Swaminarayan.

There are several attraction to see in Gujarat, in this post i present the forts of Gujarat.

Pawagadh Fort

A visit to Pawagadh Fort and an attendant visit to Tourism of Gujarat, offers travel related information that Pawagadh Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, is an exemplary historical monument which is known all over the region for its architectural finesse. Pawagadh Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, is situated atop a hill with the hills near Pawagadh being constituted by a rocky terrain and the fort came as a later addition to the hill. Pawagadh Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, is easily accessible from the cities of Vadodara and Ahmedabad. People coming to Pawagadh Fort, located in Gujarat, India, come to consider it as an ideal picnic spot for the people of Vadodara and Ahmedabad, situated in Gujarat, India.

• Pawagadh, located in Gujarat, India.
• Consists of several amazing and uncommon features like the structure of Makai Kota, where the rulers of Pawagadh, located in Gujarat, India, stored their grains.
• It is the home to other attractions like the ruins of Patai Rawal Palace and Naulakha Kotha mansion and Pawagadh, located in Gujarat, is equally important for Hindus and Jains going by their separate religious beliefs.
• Sultan Muhammad Beghada, knew that it was not an easy task to vanquish the fortifications of Pawagadh Fort, so he built a city near the Pawagadh Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, now known as Champaner to launch forth a siege on the Pawagadh Fort, situated in Gujarat, India.

Dabhoi Fort

The fort is of immense value, both historically and beauty wise and the fort happens to be located near Darbhavati town, which is further situated in the Gujarat, India. Dabhoi Fort, located in Gujarat, is attributed to Siddharaj Jaisinh and the architectural style and the iconography present in the Dabhoi Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, is of immense value and it is apparent that it was conceived in the same time period as the forts of the order of Rudra Mahalaya and Zinzuwada Fort located in Gujarat, India.

• Dabhoi Fort, located in Gujarat, India, is mentioned in various historical texts and the Dabhoi Fort
• It  is based on the lines of the various shastri traditions, which are mentioned in the various Vastu scriptures and tomes of ancient India.
• It  also happens to be the birthplace of the great and popular Gujarati poet, known as Raskavi Dayaram in Gujarat, India. Then, this poet Raskavi Dayaram has composed various garbis which are the Gujarati devotional songs.

Nazar Bagh Palace

The Nazar Bagh Palace is a very stylistically constructed spot. Nazar Bagh Palace, is a wonderful tourist spot.  It was constructed in the year 1721 A.D. and it  is a privately owned royal property. It  is home to exotic royal heirlooms which are a much sought after attraction of the Baroda province as the Nazar Bagh Palace,  is located in the city and the province of Baroda, situated in Gujarat, India.The home of royal gold and silver guns with heavy metallic barrels with the barrels weighing uptill 127 kilograms each. Also houses in its middle, the exotic and much visited Sheesh Mahal.

Kusum Vilas Palace

Kusum Vilas Palace, offers a golden opportunity to the tourists to investigate and explore the historical recesses of Gujarat, located in India. Kusum Vilas Palace is an equally picturesque, scenic and historically eminent travel and tourist destination. Kusum Vilas Palace along with the Prem Bhawan Palace, are two of the finest examples of twentieth century, Palace architecture in Gujarat. The Kusum Vilas Palace of Gujarat exhibits a rich architectural marvel. The city of Gujarat is full of forts and palaces which represents an exceptional blend of Hindu, Islamic, and European architecture. Kusum Vilas Palace conglomerates the architectural style found in Champaner, elevators and modern functional requirements. Kusum Vilas Palace of Gujarat is a picturesque and historically significant tourist destination in Gujarat.

Kusum Vilas Palace was constructed very systematically by one of the most famous architectural firms of Mumbai, known as Bhatkar and Bhatkar, and in the early twenties of this century. The central concept of Kusum Vilas Palace, hovered around the idea of architecture found in Champaner with an intelligent admixture of elevators and modern functional requirements to add to the attraction of this travel destination. The carved pilasters, a large porch and an attendant large and imposing façade along with an attractive dome, lend majesty and style to the Kusum Vilas Palace.

• Extraordinary architectural treatment of the five-storied central wing capped with a dome
• British-made elevator enclosed by series of exquisitely carved stone ‘jalis' allowing in a magical light effect
• Grand reception room with large doors, a carved false ceiling, Belgian mirrors, French furniture, and superb Italian marble statues
• Wall paintings by an Indian artist, showcasing the picturesque settings of Chhota Udaipur and Mohan, the previous capital
• History of Kusum Vilas Palace in Gujarat: Kusum Vilas Palace was constructed by one of the most famous architectural firms of Mumbai, Bhatkar and Bhatkar, in the early 1920s.
• The Kusum Vilas Palace at Gujarat is an important tourist destination of the city.

Uparkot Fort

The fort offers a golden opportunity to explore the interior recesses of Gujarat, located in India. A well inclined tourist would gain a lot in terms of novelty and knowledge of historical and architectural finesse of Uparkot Fort, situated in Gujarat, India. A visit to Uparkot Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, informs the tourist about various interesting details and architectural sights.

Uparkot Fort, situated in Gujarat, India, offers information that Uparkot Fort  came up during the Nawabi period. The city of Junagadh has the Uparkot fort as the background, which rises from a hill, with old palaces, Buddhist caves, step well, tanks, moats and huge battlemented walls. Uparkot Fort,  is a medieval era historical monument which is provided with well defined battle stations in the form of battlements all around the Uparkot Fort.[Read more]

Uparkot Fort was built during the Nawabi period. Uparkot Fort is said to have been sieged sixteen times, including one which lasted twelve years.

Specialties of Uparkot Fort:

• Fort wall, which is over 20 meter high in some places
• A huge moat, around 300 feet deep
• Ornate entrance gateway leading to the ruins of the fort
• Ruins of a mosque
• Jama Masjid
• Buddhist caves including a three-storeyed one, which dates back to 2nd century AD.

The walled fortress of Uparkot has witnessed all that has happened in Junagadh – monastic Buddhism, Aryan Hinduism, pious Jainism, Islamic invasions, British colonization, the Nawabi grandeur, and finally, the victory of democracy, as the Nawab was out-voted in the elections.