Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
India - Gujarat - Ahmedabad – Bhavganar - Palitana – Gir National Park – Gondal - Rajkot
100% customisable for you
Passports at the ready: your holiday starts today. Head to the airport to catch your overnight flight to Ahmedabad, which takes just under nine hours.
When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by your driver-guide, who’ll accompany you throughout your trip. You’ll then be privately transferred to your hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next four nights.
Spend the rest of the day settling into your new home. Come evening, enjoy a tasty dinner at your hotel or head to nearby Manek Chowk Square, where street food reigns supreme after dark.
Today, kick things off properly with a private tour of Ahmedabad. Accompanied by a friendly guide, take in the city’s best monuments, including Swaminarayan Temple, dedicated to a 19th-century Hindu ascetic thought to be an incarnation of Krishna. You’ll also visit the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, built in the 16th century, whose famous jali (sculpted marble screen) is a wonderful example of elegant Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Next, continue to the Hutheesing Temple, a 19th-century Jain temple dedicated to Dharmanatha, the fifteenth Tirthankara (spiritual teacher) of Jainism. Just outside of Ahmedabad, about 12 miles away, you’ll also visit the magnificent 15th-century Adalaj Stepwell, an Islamic-Indian structure. The tour concludes at the Sabarmati Ashram, founded by Gandhi in 1915 and now a museum dedicated to Gandhi’s teachings of non-violence.
Today, venture outside Ahmedabad to Patan and Modhera. Patan, the former capital of Gujarat, is located just over 60 miles north of Ahmedabad. These days, the city’s silk weaving is its claim to fame: Patan produces beautiful saris, which you can see for yourself in local workshops.
Next, visit the UNESCO-listed Rani Ki Vav, an 11th-century stepwell adorned with exquisite bas-reliefs. Finish the day in Modhera, where you'll visit the Modhera Sun Temple, dedicated to Surya, the sun god. The temple complex consists of three Chalyuka-style buildings, built by the powerful southern dynasty that reigned from the 6th to the 12th centuries: a ceremonial stepwell and basin, an open assembly hall and a Gudamandap (main shrine), shaped like an inverted lotus.
Today, meet your friendly driver-guide again for the three-hour journey to Bhavnagar. Along the way, stop to visit a must-see site: the Lothal archaeological site. Set in the Gulf of Cambay, this historic site showcases the remains of the Indus Valley Civilisation, an advanced Bronze Age civilisation which traded with Mesopotamia in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. With its complex planning, once-thriving dock and artificial canal connecting the city to the Sabarmati River, it represents a remarkable level of urban development.
Once you’ve had your fill of exploring, hop back in the car and finish the journey to Bhavnagar. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing before enjoying a traditional dinner at the hotel restaurant.
It’s back on the road today as you’re transferred one-and-a-half-hours to Palitana for an overnight stay at the foot of the Shatrunjaya Hills.
This afternoon, head out to explore Palitana. A holy city of Jainism, Palitana boasts a breathtaking concentration of ornate temples in one vast, sacred complex. Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara, is said to have been born here, and the main temple (of nearly 900) is dedicated to him. To reach the complex, climb over 3,700 steps, soaking up views over the maze of temples and accompanying domes, colonnades, stupas and esplanades, all carved from marble – a symbol of purity.
This morning, it’s time to head to Gir National Park, your base for the next two nights. Here, you’ll be treated to total peace and quiet – aside from the calls of migratory birds and the roar of lions, of course.
Spend the rest of the day lounging poolside or soaking up the views you’re your terrace. If you’re still raring to go, we can arrange a private tour of Diu Island, a small island separated from the mainland by a tidal creek.
Today, embark on an exciting safari through Gir National Park. The park is known for being home to the last wild population of Asiatic lions, whose numbers are gradually increasing thanks to strict conservation measures.
Besides lions, you might also spot marsh crocodiles, monitor lizards, striped hyena and antelope, including the rare four-toed Chowsingha variety. There are also over 200 bird species in the park, so keep your eyes peeled for crested serpent eagles, secretary birds and Sri Lankan grey hornbills.
Hit the road again today as you set off on the three-and-a-half-hour drive north to Gondal. When you arrive, check in and spend a few hours relaxing in your new hotel.
Later, pay a visit to Junagadh. Set at the foot of the Girnar Mountains, Jundagh boasts a number of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Muslim monuments, and today you’ll be discovering the Buddhist side of this fortified city. Begin at the 14 Edicts of Ashoka, historic rock engravings that mark one of the earliest material attestations of Buddhism, before visiting the Uparkot Caves and Fort, to admire ancient religious sculptures. Finally, head to the Mahabat Maqbara, home to the Gothic mausoleums of Mahabat Khan II, the 19th-century Nawab (ruler) of Junagadh, and his first minister, Bahauddin Hussain Bhar.
Today, you’ll be privately transferred to Rajkot, just over an hour away. When you arrive, check into your new hotel, where you’ll be staying for the night.
Later, head out on a tour of Rajkot. First, visit the Watson Museum, which showcases works of art and everyday objects from across Gujarat. Alongside these historic artefacts, the museum displays a variety of documents illustrating the history of the city and the region, including a significant section dedicated to the Indus Valley Civilization.
Next, visit Kaba Gandhi No Delo, where Mahatma Gandhi grew up. Once the Gandhi family home, the building now houses a museum dedicated to the champion of non-violence, taking visitors on a journey through his life through images and documents.
Finally, visit Wankaner Palace, a former royal residence built in an Indo-Gothic style. From the beginning to the end of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see how the city’s architecture reflects changing styles throughout history.
It’s time to return to Ahmedabad for the final night of your holiday. This morning, your driver will whisk you from Rajkot all the way back to the capital, a four-hour drive away.
Once evening hits, head out to explore the city’s night markets. As you stroll past the bustling stalls, sample a taste of local cuisine, including chaat (fried dough), panipuri (stuffed fried buns) and pakora or kachori (vegetable or lentil fritters). While you will find meat dishes, Jains and Hindus follow a predominantly vegetarian culinary scene, so there truly is something for everyone.
It’s sadly time to begin the journey home. This morning, a private transfer will take you to the airport to catch your flight back to the UK. The flight time is just under ten hours, and you’ll touch down this evening, ready to plan your next trip to India.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
