A Guide to the Best Offbeat Destinations in Gujarat You Can Visit
The best Offbeat Destinations in Gujarat You Can Visit: Have a look at these Offbeat Destinations and try to visit all of them to explore in the state of Gujarat.
Offbeat Destinations in Gujarat: Gujarat is one of the well-known Indian states that offers a wealth of experiences to share. When visiting Gujarat, you will have plenty of alternatives for things to see and do as a traveler. This essay mostly focuses on exploring this wealthy State’s unusual locations.
There is always satisfaction in discovering a new place without spending hours in line and indulging in some peace too distant from the hubbub. Perhaps this is the reason why you are hunting for Gujarat’s undiscovered tourist attractions as well.
The sheer virginity of the uninhabited terrains is these locations’ defining characteristic. A trip to these locations will not only refresh you but also provide you noteworthy photos.
Here are some offbeat places to visit in Gujarat, including temples, animals, art, culture, architecture, and more.
Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar
| About the location | This stunning 34-square-kilometer park is located an hour’s drive north of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, and features large expanses of pale, custard-colored grassland extending between two seasonal rivers. It is well-known for its blackbucks, which are graceful, swift antelopes with elegant spiraling horns that can grow to 65 cm in mature males. Along with blue bulls and birds like wintering Siberian harriers, the park is home to about 1800 people. The park and the surrounding area are home to around 120 different kinds of birds. You could even see wolves if you’re lucky! Early in the morning is the best time to visit the sanctuary because there is a much greater probability of sighting the wolves there. Blackbucks are simple to identify during the day, but wolves are difficult to find. There are blackbuck herds scattered around the pale yellow grassland. |
| Brief history | In July 1976, the sanctuary was created as an initial 18 sq km protected area. The acreage was increased by 16 sq km in 1980, bringing the total to 34 sq km. Despite being one of the smaller national parks in the nation, it has a significant number of species for the wildlife enthusiast. |
| How to get there | Bhavnagar, which is 47 kilometers distant, is the closest airport and railroad station. |
| Best time to visit | From November through February |
Modhera Sun Temple Mehsana
| About the location | The village of Modhera may be reached by taking a tranquil drive through lush farmlands about 25 kilometers from Mehsana, where the goddess Bahucharaji’s shrines are located. The renowned Sun temple of Modhera is situated against the backdrop of the River Pushpavati, encircled by a terra-formed landscape of blossoming trees and the chirping of birds. Living glimpses of a long-gone age appear out of the intricate details of story sculptures as you unwind, calm your nerves, integrate with nature, and open your mind to the poetry in stone, devoted to the sun god. The Sun Temple ruins at Modhera are artifacts from a bygone age when veneration for the natural elements—fire, air, earth, water, and sky—was at its height and shared space with a wide variety of Vedic deity appearances. The life cycle was thought to be driven by the ancient philosophy that revered nature and its connection to humanity. You become aware of the location’s favorably powerful aura of energy after taking a stroll around the calm temple site. The wonderfully sculpted kund and the specially carved temple complex are works of art in the masonry of the Solanki era, which is often referred to as the Golden Age of Gujarat. Enjoy your trip back in time to the glorious era of the Golden Age as you are personally greeted by the lifelike idols who are telling you the tales and legends of Modhera! |
| Brief history | A tribute to our illustrious past when we were technologically adept and excelled in engineering, vaastu, design, astronomy, optics, geography, physics, water harvesting, and much more, the structure was built in the 10th century during the rule of the Chalukya dynasty. Even after more than a thousand years, the Modhera Sun Temple and the Surya Kund remain a visual delight. They were constructed just on the Tropic of Cancer. Each element pays honor to the sun deity, the directions, and the solar calendar that we use today, including the 365 elephants at its foot, the 52 finely carved pillars in the sabha mantapa, the 12 sculptures of the sun god, and the many vastu devatas for each. Just to accept it, you need to give yourself a few hours. |
| How to get there | The closest airport is Ahmedabad, and Mahesana is the closest railroad station, however Ahmedabad has the best connection. |
| Best time to visit | From August to February. |
Artisan Village of Nirona
| About the location | The award-winning ancient art of Rogan painting is one of the most distinctive crafts in the village of Nirona, 40 km northwest of Bhuj in Gujarat. It was brought over from Iran 300 years ago and is now only practiced by one extended family in India. Other distinctive crafts include bell-making and lacquer work. The Persian origin of the term Rogan gives it the meaning “oil-based.” It takes time to prepare colors for application. Castor oil is cooked on fire for around 12 hours, and then it is cast in cold water to create the Rogan, a sticky residue. After that, it is blended with stone pigments to create various hues. The artists stitch together images on fabric using a six-inch metal stick that has been dipped in this paint. In the cozy workshop of the village, one may discover a variety of patterns on various fabrics. The “tree of life” artwork is the most well-known of these. Months of labor go into creating these delicate, intricate fabric artworks. During Barack Obama’s visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a renowned gift to the American president. |
| Brief history | Although this little community in the Kutch region is the only place where rogan is practiced, Iran is where the skill originated. The Khatri family of Nirona came to our country more than 300 years ago; their ancestors are from Iran. Fortunately, they kept up with it and have given this art form life for eight generations. |
| How to get there | State and private buses are accessible for Nirona from Bhuj, which also has the closest airport and railway station. |
| Best time to visit: | From October to February |
Heritage Town of Siddhpur
| About the location | Sidhpur, which lies 103 kilometers north of Ahmedabad, is a holy town. It is located 24 kilometers upstream of Anhilwad Patan, the previous capital of Gujarat before Ahmedabad was established in the first half of the fifteenth century, on the left bank of the River Saraswati. Temples, kunds, ashrams, and other famous buildings along the town’s perimeter, making it a revered destination. |
| Brief history | Between the 10th through the 15th centuries, this historic town played a significant role in the Chalukya and Solanki empires. Their wealth can be seen in the lovely residences with Hacienda architecture, the fine clock tower in the midst of the market, and many other structures with Hindu, Islamic, and Hacienda architectural components. Its merchants and dealers conducted outstanding business with the far east and the west. |
| How to get there: | By bus, it takes 3.5 hours from Ahmedabad to Patan and 1 hour from Mehsana. While marginally faster, shared jeeps are less comfortable. You may go by train all the way to Mehsana and then from there take a bus to Patan. By Air Ahmedabad is 125 miles away and home to the closest airport to Patan. |
| Best time to visit: | From November to February |
Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch
| About the location: | The Little Rann Wild Ass Sanctuary is a 24 km national park that protects a different priceless habitat. Tourists cannot resist visiting the distinctive white desert environment and terrain. Jeep safaris and wintertime bird viewing excursions up the ante. The sanctuary attracts visitors to see these wonderful creatures since it is the only natural home in the world for wild asses. However, a great diversity of bird populations are found along more than 4000 kilometers of refuge. Earlier, the Rann was a shallow section of the Gulf of Kutch. It is created by the saltwater estuary’s siltation process. The Rann forms a wide shallow sheet of water during the monsoon, where the flow of river and rain waters combined with sea water blown up owing to south west winds, which dries out by October to November. Birds of numerous flocks descend down from distant regions to breed and nest in the unusual setting, especially when the terrain turns into a wetland. |
| Brief history | The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was the legal basis on which the wildlife refuge was created. |
| How to get there: | The primary entry points into the Sanctuary are Bajana, which is located 100 km from Ahmedabad, and Dasada, which is located 95 km from Ahmedabad. The Sanctuary is 25 kilometers from Patdi Railway Station. The closest airport is Ahmedabad Airport, which is 100 km from the Sanctuary. |
| Best time to visit: | From October to February |
