Top 10 Sightseeing places in Gujarat

If you are in the mood to explore some magnificent travel destinations in India during the upcoming vacation months then choose Gujarat. This state of India is popular for its beaches, and temple towns as well as also for being one of the historic capitals of India. The art and culture, wildlife and the beauty of the hill stations will surely make your vacation a memorable one in the pages of your travel diary. There are many places to see in Gujarat and we prepared a list of top 10 destinations which are worth visiting.

Top 10 Sightseeing Places in Gujarat

1. Jama Mosque, Ahmedabad

When you take a look at the western side of Manek Chowk in Ahmadabad you will find the magnificent Jama Masjid standing tall with its historic glory. This mosque was built in 1423 when Ahmed Shah 1 was reigning and he was Ahmadabad’s founder. To be very precise we can say that the Jama mosque is located outside the area of Bhadra Fort, right on the south side of the road which is coming forward from Teen Darwaza to Manek Chowk. It is among the largest mosques in India. It houses the tombs of Ahmed Shah I, his son as well as his grandson. The graves of the king’s queens are also there. The look of the mosque will give a perfect blend of both Hindu as well as Muslim styles of architecture. 13 years were invested to mark the completion of the mosque. The stones and rubble which were used in the construction of the mosque were collected from demolished Jain and Hindu temples. The elegant stonework will impress any visitor. The mosque has a beautiful courtyard having a pool located in the middle. unique meshwork is done in a prayer room which illuminates the complete room without any need for direct sunlight.

2. Sun Temple, Modhera

Sun Temple of Modhera is among those selected few shrines in India which is dedicated to Lord Surya. It is located by the side of the Pushpavati River and is one of the worth visiting spots of Gujarat. King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty took the initiative to construct this temple during the era of 1026. As per history, King Bhimdev was the direct descendant of the Sun God. This temple looks very iconic and resembles the look of the Sun temple of Konarak located in Orissa. The temple is designed uniquely so that the very first day of the sun falls on the Surya Lord’s image. Mahmud Ghazni attacked this temple but still, it holds its glory even today. Every corner of the temple structure has the sculptural patterns of Gods and Goddesses, and also of birds, flowers and beasts. There are 3 major parts in this temple: The Surya Kund, The Sabha Mandap, and the Guda Mandap. Surya Kund is a heavy-depth stepped tank located right in front of the temple. The Sabha Mandap was the assembly hall where important religious gatherings, as well as conferences, were conducted. The Guda Mandap represents the sanctum sanctorum and it remains supported by a plinth with a lotus-shaped base.

3. Rani Ki Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell), Patan

Rani Ki Vav is one of the beautifully crafted step-wells located in Patan a small town in Gujarat, India. The stepwell is located right on the banks of River Saraswati. Rani Ki Vav was constructed as a memorial well for one of the 11th-century kings named Bhima I. It was on 22 June 2014 this historical construction made an entry in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Rani ki Vav won the title of the “Cleanest Iconic Place” of India at the Indian Sanitation Conference (INDOSAN) which was held in 2016 in New Delhi. The monument received recognition at the conference, which was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

4. Kutch Region

Virtually it is an island which looks very similar to that of the shape of a tortoise. Kutch is one of the princely regions of India in Gujarat holding the beauty of the past with care. Witnessing the beauty of the white salt desert in the Rann of Kutch area is a magnificent experience. It is known as the wild nest of India. The region was ruled for several hundreds of years by the kings of the Jadeja dynasty. To explore the beauty of Raan of Kutch, you can start from Bhuj. Include in your itinerary the Dholavira one of the ancient towns of this area.

5. Marine National Park

Marine National Park is located in the Gulf of Kutch is positioned on the southern part of the Gulf of Kutch in the district of Devbhumi Dwarka in Gujarat. It was in the year 1980 when an area covering 270 km² from Okha to Jodiya was declared a Marine Sanctuary and this national park was born. It is the very first national marine park in India. There are altogether 42 Islands in this park’s Jamnagar coastal area. Out of this 33 have a coral reef. The period of October to February is the best reason to explore the beauty of this Marine Park.

6. Gir National Park

Gir Forest National Park is one of the popular wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat. It was established and opened to protect Asiatic lions from becoming extinct who reside with leopards and antelopes. The Trail of Gir Jungle, located outside the fenced area, is covered with thick deciduous forest and acts as a home for wildlife both vultures and pythons. Kamleshwar Dam located in this area is a house of marsh crocodiles and birds, which includes Indian skimmers and pelicans. You can go on a Jeep Safari with a guide to get a close view of the Asiatic Lions.

7. Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmadabad

Once upon a time the Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmadabad used to be the residence of Mahatma Gandhi and is one of the major attractions of Gujarat. It is located close to the Sabarmati River and is also known as Satyagraha Ashram, because of right from where Gandhiji started his historically popular Dandi March. The house was built on the 25th of May in the year 1915 after he came back from South Africa. You will get to see more about the activities of the Ashram.

8. Saputara

Saputara is one of the popular hill towns of Gujarat. It is one of the maximum visited hill stations of Gujarat. Starting From impressing visitors with its lush green natural beauty to becoming an artists’ village, Saputara is one perfect place where you can enjoy a leisurely holiday. Lake Garden, Rose Garden, and Step Garden are 3 popular gardens of this place which are worth visiting. If you want to know about the Dang tribe of this region then ensure you visit Saputara Museum for gathering knowledge. Visit Gira Waterfalls, sunset and sunrise point, Lake Garden and Echo point.

9. Palitana Jain Temple, Bhavnagar

The Palitana temples are dedicated to the Jain religion people and are located right on Shatrunjaya Hill Palitana city in Bhavnagar district. It houses a large cluster of Jain temples. There are altogether 900 temples covering the whole of Shatrunjaya Hill. The temples are formed out of careful and artistic carvings made of marble. The most important major temple in this area is Tirthankara, Shri Adeshwara; the temple has ornamental architectural motifs. Other important temples of Palitana are Kumar Pal, Sampriti Raja, and Vimalshah. Based on the historical data it is said that all Tirthankaras excluding Neminath achieved nirvana here in Palitana Jain Temple. One needs to climb around 3500 steps from the town to reach the top of the hill. One needs to come down from the hilltop before the evening and no soul is allowed to stay at the top including the temple priests.

10. Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar

Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar is a beautiful and large Hindu temple complex. This temple construction is done being inspired by Yogiji Maharaj who used to be the fourth spiritual successor of Lord Swaminarayan. Akshardham means the Abode of God. The beauty of the temple along with the feeling of non-violence and peace of mind will enlighten your inner self towards positivity. The temple was opened in the year 1992 in October. Used of sandstone is used for the construction of the temple. When you are in Gujarat then visiting this temple is a must to do the activity. The above are the top 10 places to visit in Gujarat. Covering the whole of Gujarat may not be possible for you but don’t miss the chance to explore the above Gujarat sightseeing places.