Glimpses of Wildlife & Footstep of Gandhi Gujarat Tour
Package price On Request
Product Code : AGORA284
With diverse natural habitats, ranging from sea coasts to lakes to salt flats, from grasslands to deciduous forests, Gujarat is home to many endangered species of animals, big and small. Don’t forget, this is the only place in the world where you can see lions roaming in the wild outside Africa. Gujarat is not only the birth place of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi but has also been the site of many important activities of the much revered Indian patriot and politician, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi. Follow the Gandhi Circuit through museums and memorials to know more about the Father of the Nation.
Day 1: Arrive Ahmedabad
On arrival at assistance & transfer to hotel (hotel check in/ out time 12pm).
Later visit Hatheesing Jain Temple established in 1850 by Seth Hatheesing a rich Jain merchant, the temple is dedicated to 15th Jain Tirthankar Dharamnath. Bhadra Fort a beautiful monument that is famous for its intricate carvings, pattern works and beautiful frescos suits. Located in the middle of lush greenery the huge 44 acre Fort got its name from the Bhadrakali Temple that it houses. Sabarmati Ashram once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi located on the tranquil and serene stretch of Sabarmati River. The museum is one of the most interesting sections of the ashram as it has on display some of Gandhi`s personal letters and photographs. Shaking Minarets one of the most intriguing architectural wonders & an unsolvable mystery that the world has ever seen. VECHAAR Utensils Museum it house an elaborate collection of utensils ranging from hundreds of years back to the current times. Kite Museum in the premises of Sanskar Kendra the museum had an elaborate display of about 125 uniquely carved kites including mirror embroidered kites, block print kites and Japanese kites such as Rokuku. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Ahmedabad - Dasada (180kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Early morning check out from hotel and drive to visit Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. Besides a few mammalian species including the endangered wild ass and the black buck, its migratory bird population includes rosy pelicans, flamingos, white storks, brahminy ducks and herons.
Next drive to Dasada check in & overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Dasada - Rajkot (165kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Early morning safari in Little Rann of Kutch a unique landscapes of its kind in the entire world with an unending possibility of exploration. The present saline desert of the Little Rann of Kutch is believed to have been shallow sea. Little Rann of Kutch is the only haven on earth for endemic Asiatic Wild Ass. Known for its speed, the wild ass lives in herds led by stallions and survived by migrating between the grassy bets through the season, in search of food. Sanctuary is also home to 32 other species of mammals such as chinkara, two types of desert fox, jackals, caracals, nilgais, Indian wolves, blackbucks, and striped hyenas along with 350 different species of birds, including the common crane, pelican and the lesser flamingo. Interestingly, the Little Rann gets a fair number of winged visitors in the winter months. Among these, the ceraneous vulture comes from Egypt, the common and demoiselle cranes arrive from Siberia, the blue-tailed bee-eater visits from Europe, and the houbara bustard of Iran and Iraq are the most commonly sighted birds here. Also, the sanctuary is home to a sizeable population of Rabari and Bharwad tribes.
Drive to Rajkot check in & overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Rajkot - Dwarka (225kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Jubilee Garden a large open park area featuring many monuments of colonial time. The Garden include the historic Mohandas Gandhi High School, Kaba Gandhi No Delo, Rashtriya Shala, Watson Museum, Lang Library, and Rotary Midtown Library. The museum houses a varied collection of old artefact`s from the ancient city of Mohenjodaro.
Later drive to Dwarka check in & overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Dwarka
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to visit Marine National Park by ferry.
On return visit Dwarkadhish temple dedicated to the god Krishna. The main shrine of the five storied building, supported by 72 pillars, is known as Jagat Mandir. Archaeological findings suggest it to be 2000 - 2200 years old. The original temple believed to have been built by Krishna`s grandson, Vajranabha, over the hari-griha, was enlarged in the 15th- 16th century. Swami Narayan Temple, located very close to the beautiful seashore and the Dwarkadish temple is a relatively new structure, with intricate architecture expressed through sculptures and embossed wall work. Nageshwar Temple, located on the route between Dwarka city and Beyt Dwarka Island, it enshrined one of the 12 Jyothirlingas in an underground sanctum. Rukhmini Devi Temple, a 12th-century remnant having some evident architectural marvels of the time through its mural carvings and other structures.Rest time to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Dwarka - Sasan Gir National Park (290kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Gir National Park via visiting Porbandar havelis where Gandhi was born.
On arrival check in at hotel. dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Sasan Gir
Breakfast at hotel. Gypsy safari in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary sprawling in an area of 1424 sq kms. Gir forest is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. Other predators are panther & hyena. Sambhar, Chital, Blue Bull, Chinkara and four horned antelope are found here along with the bear and the long tailed langur. Gir is also one of the finest bird sanctuaries. Some of the typical birds of Gir are the crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle, brown fish owl, king vulture, jungle quail, paradise flycatcher, pygmy woodpecker, hard headed oriole etc. Another attraction is a crocodile farm developed in the forest. Lunch, dinner and Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: Sasan Gir NP - Bhavnagar (225kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Bhavnagar, enroute visit Palitana Temples are known for being the largest cluster of Jain temples on Shatrunjaya hills. These hills have similarities to other hills where Jain temples have been built in Bihar, Gwalior, Mount Abu and Girnar. The Jain`s sacred hill of Shatrunjaya have 863 temples atop itself. The path is climbed through 3950 steps spanning 3.5 km up the Shatrunjaya Hills. The construction of temples of Palitana spanned over a period of 900 years and was structured in two phases.
Arrive Bhavnagar check in & overnight at hotel.
Day 9: Bhavnagar - Ahmedabad (200kms)
Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to visit Velvadar Black Buck Sanctuary. Animal like Black - buck, nilgai, jackal, wolf, jungle cat, fox and bird like pelicans, flamingos, white and painted storks, three kinds of cranes, many birds of prey, rare Stolizcas Bushchat & one of the 50 rarest birds in the world Lesser Florican all live here.
Thereafter drive to Ahmedabad check in & overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Ahmedabad - Departure
Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule Departure transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Assistance on arrival at airport.
9 Nights accommodation in selected price category hotels.
Daily breakfast at hotels. Any other meal (lunch/ dinner) if clearly mentioned in the itinerary).
Private air conditioned deluxe car for airport transfer, sightseeing and excursion as per program.
English speaking tour guide on sightseeing days (local guide in each city), as per program.
Monuments entrances and activities charges mentioned in the itinerary.
1-Time shared Gypsy safari in Little Rann of Kutchh with forest department naturalist.
1-Time shared Gypsy safari in Gir National Parks with forest department naturalist.
Bottled drinking water in car.
Government taxes.
Hotels used or similar for 9 nights accommodations
Ahmedabad x 1 night
3* - WelcomHeritage Mani Mansion/ Parker Lords Eco Inn
4* - Ramada Hotel/ Lemon Tree Premier
5* - The House of MG/ Le Meridien
Little Rann of Kutch x 1 night
3*, 4* & 5* - Royal Safari Camp Bajana
Rajkot x 1 night
3* - The Fern Residency/ Marasa Sarovar Portico
4* & 5* - Fortune Park JPS Grand/ Regency Lagoon Resort
Dwarka x 2 night
3*, 4* & 5* - The Fern Sattva Resort/ Dwarkadhish Lords Eco Inn
Sasan Gir x 2 night
3* & 4* - The Fern Gir Forest Resort/ Lion Safari Camp
5* - Woods at Sasan/ The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest
Bhavnagar x 1 night
3* - Nilambag Palace Hotel
4* & 5* - The Fern Bhavnagar
Ahmedabad x 1 night
3* - WelcomHeritage Mani Mansion/ Parker Lords Eco Inn
4* - Ramada Hotel/ Lemon Tree Premier
5* - The House of MG/ Le Meridien
Any flight tickets.
Camera charges at monuments.
Meals other than mentioned in day plan.
Expenses of personal nature like liquor, laundry, tips, telephone, fax, internet etc.
Gratuities & optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in inclusions.