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Day 1:Ahmedabad
Arrival transfer from Airport to hotel, check in at hotel.
Morning Visit Calico Museum with a prior permission from museum authority.
Calcico Museum: The museum and the Gallaries are open on all days of the week, except
Wednesdays and public holidays. However, visits to the Museum and the Galleries shall
be limited to the hours given below.
Rights of admission to the Museum and the Galleries are reserved by the Management.
GUIDED MUSEUM TOUR - MORNING : 10:30 am TO 12:30 pm (NO ENTRY AFTER 11:00 am)
Entry restricted to 20 visitors - 10 visitors on first come first basis and 10 by group booking.
Tour Organiser-upto 10 members are
requested to contact the administration to make & comfirm the arrangement in advance.
Location: CHAUK - CALICO TEXTILE MUSEUM:
Kalamkari, Court Textiles, Trade Textiles, Shawl, Costumes, Embroideries, and Tie & Die etc.
Location: HAVELI - Textile Techniques an overview Embroidery, Wooden blocks for printing etc
Afternoon - visit Gandhi Ashram, Shreyas Folk & Art Museum, and Institute of Indology.
Gandhi Ashram: On a quiet peaceful stretch of the Sabarmati river, Mahatma Gandhi set up a simple retreat
in 1915 A.D. This was his Satyagrah Ashram and for many years it was the nerve centre of India’s freedom
movement. It was from here, in 1930 A.D, that Mahatma began his famous Dandi March to the sea to protest
against the Salt Tax imposed by the British. Hridaya Kunj, the simple cottage where he lived,
is now a national monument and preserved as it was during the Mahatma’s life-time.
Shreyas Folk Museum is an educational museum exhibiting folk arts and crafts of Gujarat. It is
located 2.5km west of Sabarmati in the suburbs of Ahmedabad district. As the name suggests,
the exhibits at the museum include art, craft, textile and clothing, coins, weapons, toys,
costumes, masks, puppets and musical instruments. One of the highlights at this museum is a
complete elephant skeleton (3.19 m high). The museum is open from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 2:00 pm
to 5:30 pm on all days except Mondays and
public holidays. Photography is not allowed and visitors are charged a modest fee.
Institute Of Indology: The Institute contains some of the best collections of Jainism, illustrated
manuscripts and miniatures. The museum is open from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm
on all days except Mondays and public holidays. Photography is not allowed.
Evening Market at Law Garden displays beautiful textile handicrafts of Gujarat.
Vishalla is a restaurant with traditional Gujarati food in village surroundings.
It has Vichar Utensil Museum worth visiting. The museum houses a unique collection of utensils.
Overnight AHMEDABAD.
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Day 2: Ahmedabad - Adalaj Stepwell - Modhera - Patan - Dasada / Bajana
Today morning drive to Dasada / Bajana 97 km enroute visiting Adalaj Stepwell, Modhera Sun Temple & Patan.
Adalaj Step-well : Situated 17 km north of Ahmedabad, this step well at the village of Adalaj is another
fine example of magnificent architectural form. ‘Adalaj Vav’ is richly carved. Every pillar and wall surface is
covered with leaves, flowers, birds, fishes and friezes of ornamental designs.
Modhera: The Sun temple of Modhera is one of the finest examples of Indian architecture of its period.
Built in 1026 A.D. the temple is dedicated to the Sun-God, Surya and stands high on a plinth overlooking
a deep stone-steeped tank. Every inch of the edifice, both inside and outside is magnificently carved
with Gods and Goddesses, birds, beasts and flowers. Sun Temple of Modhera was built by King Bhimdev
I (1026-27) and bears some resemblance to the later and far better known, Sun Temple of Konark in
the state of Orissa, which it predates by some 200 years. Like that temple, it was designed so that
the dawn sun shone on the image of Surya, the sun God, at the time of the equinoxes. The main hall
and shrine are reached through a pillared porch and the temple exterior is intricately and delicately carved.
As with the temple of Somnath, this fine temple was ruined by Mahmud of Ghazni.
Patan: Home of the famous patola silk saris, Patan is a beautiful old town with Jain temples
and carved wooden houses. Rani ki vav (step well) is an excellent example of subterranean
architecture of Gujarat. The exclusively carved side walls, pillars, beams, series of steps
& platforms lead to the elaborately carved water well. Every surface is adorned with finely
chiselled sculptures of maidens & Hindu deities, religious motifs & geometrical patterns.
Drive to Dasada/Bajana for an overnight stay in a hotel.
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Day 3: Dasada / Bajana - Wadhwan (About 52 KM) - Dasada / Bajana
Today morning enjoy morning safari to Little Rann Of Kutch.
The Little Rann Of Kutch: The highlight of this sanctuary is the Asiatic Wild Ass or 'Gudkhur' that
is endemic to the region & is one of the most endangered species in the world. Other mammals that
could be seen are nilgai, black buck antelope, chinkara gazelle, Indian wolf, Indian desert foxes,
jackals & lesser cats. Also is a paradise for bird watchers.The key dryland birds are Mcqueen's
houbara bustard, chestnut bellied & spotted sandgrouse, Indian coursedr, 13 speices of larks &
sparrow larks, 5 of quails (including buttonquails), thick-knee, desert warbler, desert & variable
wheatear, aquila eagles, short toed snake eagle, six species of falcon & three harriers. Five species
of vulture have been recorded. Apart from all these you can hope to see greater & lesser flamingo,
three speices of pelican, spoonbill, demoiselle
& common cranes, and a number of ducks in flocks of several thousand during winters.
Post lunch, an excursion to Wadhwan, the historic walled town is centre for bandhni tie & dye weaving and metal crafts.
Return to Dasada / Bajana for an overnight stay.
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Day 4: Dasada / Bajana - Bhuj (222 KM)
After breakfast, drive to Bhuj.
On Arrival, check in at Hotel and then Proceed DSP office for permit to visit the Banni.
(Interior visit of Kutch, which falls under the border and the permit, is necessary for the local tribal village).
Evening visit the Bazar and Aiana Mahal Museum.
Aaina Mahal: It was constucted by Rao Lakhpatji (1707-61 A.D.) in 1750 A.D.,
who was a great patron of art, architecture, music & literature. Aaina Mahal
is a unique example of an Indian palace built in the mid-eighteenth century with European influence.
Overnight at Bhuj.
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Day 5: Bhuj
Full day excursion to Banni Villages (you are suggested to carry Packed lunch).
Amidst the Desert land of infinite dimensions, are suspended, quaint little villages.
These are the last villages on the India-Pakistan border. Here you will come across master
craft people' exposing their traditional art, turning our master pieces every day.
Their ornaments, clothes, utensils,
everything they use - will make you feel as if you have stepped
into lifestyle museum leaving you spellbound.
Excursion includes: Anjar (old architecture), Banni ('Bhunga' mud houses,
kutchi handicrafts), Kera (11th century Shiva Temple)
Return to Bhuj for an overnight stay.
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Day 6: Bhuj - Mandvi (164 KM)
Today, after breakfast, drive to Mandvi.
Mandvi is located on the banks of the Rukmavati River, barely a km from the Arabian
Sea at the Gulf of Kutch. The town has
a very pleasant climate throughout the year and was a summer retreat of the Kutch Maharaos.
The center of attraction at Mandvi is the Vijay Vilas Palace, a royal abode set in the middle
of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The architect and craftsmen from
Jaipur designed and constructed the palace in 1920 AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput
architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. The central high dome
on the pillars, the Bengal domes on sides, the windows with coloured glass, carved stone jails,
domed bastions at the corners, extended porch and other exquisitely stone carved elements, make
the palace worth visiting. It owns a private beach, maintained in an eco-friendly manner to preserve
its pristine beauty. For these reasons, this palace has been used as
the setting in many Hindi films and has now become a popular tourist destination.
Mandvi has some very beautiful houses belonging to rich merchants. Their architectural
style reflects the fusion of Indian & European styles of architecture. The Swaminarayan
temple is also one such example with it’s brightly painted exterior and elaborate plaster decorations.
Other interesting buildings are a girls’ high school (a former palace) built by
Rao Lakhpat (1741-60 AD) and a light house. This old palace is a replica of the
Aaina Mahal of Bhuj, with intricate stone carvings. There is a wind farm on a picturesque beach nearby.
Overnight at MANDVI.
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Day 7: Mandvi - Gondal (165 KM)
Today morning drive to Gondal.
Gondal: The Riverside palace at Gondal, a govt. of India classified heritage hotel,
and the Orchard Palace in the same town, are two mansion guest houses opened as heritage hotels.
The interiors of these properties are appointed with period furniture, antiques and artifacts
remniscent of the days of the Raj. The highlight of staying at these properties is that guests
can see the Royal Garages, housing vintage & classic cars, and the Naulakha Palace, which is
a festival of stone carvings & houses royal memorabilia including toys of the late 19th & early
20th century, silver caskets that carried messages & gifts for the Maharajah, elephant howdahs
& royal portaits. It has a royal saloon suite, which has its own drawing, dining, bedroom &
bathroom in a converted railway carriage. Overnight Gondal.
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Day 8: Gondal - Junagadh (70 KM) - Gondal
After breakfast drive to Junagadh enroute visiting Jetpur (31 km)
known for its screen & block printing workshops, and yarn-dyeing centre.
Junagadh is situated in the Saurashtra region at the foot of the temple-studded Mount
Girnar, on the northern fringes of the Gir forest.
The city takes its name from the fort that enclosed the medieval town.
Return to Gondal for an overnight stay.
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Day 9: Gondal - Rajkot / Ahmedabad
Drive to Rajkot (39 Kms) to catch flight to Mumbai or drive to Ahmedabad airport for onward destination.