BEST OF DWARKA – SOMNATH - DIU - GIR - JUNAGADH (SAURASHTRA) IN 6 DAYS

At a distance of 3 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Gomati Sangam Ghat is a sacred bathing ghat on the banks of River Gomti in Dwarka, Gujarat. Situated behind the Dwarkadhish Temple, it is one among the popular places to visit in Dwarka.

Gomti Ghat is situated at the mouth of Gomti River, a tributary of Holy Ganges, the most sacred river for all Hindus. The river originates in the Himalayan ranges of Nepal, flows down across many Indian states and finally empties into the Arabian Sea here. Gomti Ghat also has a great religious and mythological significance. According to myths River Gomati is the daughter of Sage Vashishta and her waters are powerful enough to purge one's mortal sins. Thus pilgrims make it a point to bathe in River Gomti and they usually take their holy dip into the Gomati Kund, the point of confluence of River Gomti and Arabian Sea.

There are over 12 ghats surrounding the Gomati River, which are venues of Samudra Narayana Temple, Gomatiji Temple, the Panchanada .....

At a distance of 3 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Samudra Narayan Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Gomti Sangam Ghat in the holy town of Dwarka. Located behind the Dwarkadhish Temple, it is one of the must visit temples in Dwarka as part of Dwarka Packages.

Situated at the confluence of River Gomti and the Arabian Sea, the Samudra Narayan Temple is dedicated to Goddess Gomti. According to the legend, River Gomti has been brought from heaven by Rishi Vasishtha to sanctify Rama after his battle with Ravana. After purification of Rama, Goddess Gomti manifested here on the ghat and got submerged into the Arabian Sea. Along with Goddess Gomti, the temple enshrines beautiful idols of Lord Varuna, Samudra Deva, Mira Bai and Mother Asta Bhavani. There is a sacred kund or tank in the temple, where several ceremonial sacrifices performed.

This temple is surrounded by Panchanada Tirtha, which comprises 5 wells that have sweet water. A meditation cave known as Manoratha Dwar is situated .....

At a distance of 3 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Sudama Setu is a wonderful hanging bridge built on Gomati River near Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat. It is one of the popular places to visit in Dwarka as part of Gujarat Tour Packages.

Named after Sudama, the childhood friend of Lord Krishna, Sudama Setu connects Dwarkadhish Mandir of mainland Dwarka and Panchnad or Panchkui Tirth on the island in southeast of it. The bridge boasts of a great religious as well archaeological significance as the island has five sweet water wells called Panchkui associated with five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata.

The bridge was proposed in 2005 to boost tourism on the island. Gomti River was crossed by boats until construction of the bridge. As Jagat Mandir is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected site, permission was needed for construction of the bridge. The ground breaking ceremony for the bridge was held in 2011 but the construction was delayed due to ASI Delhi not .....

At a distance of 1 km from Dwarkadhish Temple and 4 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Dwarka Beach is a sea beach located in Dwarka, Gujarat. Situated along the Arabian Coast, it is one of the popular beaches in Gujarat, and among the well-known Dwarka tourist places.

Known for its turquoise waters and white sand, this beach is really worth visiting. It is the best place to relax and take a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of city life during Dwarka trip. This beach is situated close to many temples. The Dwarka Beach is neat and clean that provides a serene and calm environment for the tourists and the pilgrims to sit and spend their evenings. Visitors can also see a large number of sea birds at the beach.

The beach also holds a lighthouse and is one of the major tourist attractions in the city .....

At a distance of 3 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Dwarkadhish Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in the holy town of Dwarka, Gujarat. Also known as Jagat Mandir or Trilok Sunder Temple, it is one of the revered temples in Gujarat, and among the must include places in Gujarat tour.

Situated on the banks of the Gomti River, Dwarkadhish Temple or Dwarkadheesh Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is worshiped here as Dwarkadhish or 'King of Dwarka'. According to legend, the temple was originally believed to be built by Vajranabh, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna, more than 2500 years ago on the palace where Lord Krishna lived. However, it was later enlarged in the 15th-19th century. It is also part of the famed Char Dham, the four sacred temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu while the other three are Rameswaram, Badrinath, and Puri. Since it is a Pushtimarg temple, it follows .....

At a distance of 15 km from Dwarka, Nageshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Nageshwar village in Gujarat. Also known as Nagnath Temple, it is one of the popular pilgrimage sites near Ahmedabad, and among the prominent places to visit as part of Dwarka sightseeing packages.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Nageshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva, and among the oldest temples mentioned in the Shiva Purana. The Jyotirlinga has a special significance in Nageshwar as this is believed to be the first of all 12 Jyotirlingas. The swayambhu lingam enshrined in the underground chamber at Nageshwar Temple is known as Nageshwar Mahadev and attracts thousands of pilgrims all-round the year. This powerful Jyotirlinga symbolizes protection from all poisons and is believed that one who prays here obtains freedom from all kinds of poison including .....

At a distance of 20 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Gopi Talav is a small sacred pond located at Samlasar village near Dwarka, Gujarat. Situated on the way to Beyt Dwarka, it is one of the important religious places to visit in Dwarka.

Gopi Talav or Gopi Lake has a special significance in the Hindu mythology, as it is believed to be the divine place where all the Gopis performed their last raas leela with lord Krishna. When Lord Krishna moved to Dwarka, the Gopis could not bear the separation and came to visit him. After the last raas leela, they united with Lord Krishna at the Gopi Talav and attained moksha on the night of Sharad Purnima.

The legend has it that they turned into yellow sand which is popularly known as Gopi Chandan. Even today the soil of the Gopi Talav is extremely smooth bearing a yellow color and is believed to have divine properties that can cure many diseases, especially those related to skin. It is also applied by several Hindus on their foreheads as .....

At a distance of 33 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Beyt Dwarka is an inhabited island located off the coast of Dwarka on Gulf of Kutch. Also known as Beyt Shankhodhar, it was one of the main ports of the town before the development of Okha and is among the popular places to visit in Dwarka.

Bet Dwarka or Beyt Dwarka is an extremely sacred pilgrimage destination as it is believed to be the original home of Lord Krishna during his ruling years at Dwarka. It is said that lord Krishna resided with his family at Bet Dwarka. The place derived its name from the word 'beyt' which means meeting and this is the place where Sudhama came to meet his friend Lord Krishna. Beyt Dwarka is also mentioned in the ancient epic, 'Mahabharata' as 'Antardvipa' to which people of the Yadava clan needed to travel by boat. The island is also known as Shankhodhar as the island is source of conch shells.

The ASI explorations revealed that the presence of certain settlements whose age can be traced back .....

At a distance of 13 km from Dwarka and 23 km from Okha, Shivrajpur Beach is a serene beach located near Shivrajpur village on the Arabian coast of Gujarat. Situated on Dwarka - Okha Highway, it is one of the famous beaches near Ahmedabad, and among the must-visit places as part of Dwarka holiday packages.

Shivrajpur Beach is a beautiful beach with clear waters and white sands. The beach offers stunning sunsets and picturesque views to tourists. Regarded as one of the best places of sightseeing in Dwarka, the beach is not much commercialized which makes it an ideal place to spend some peaceful time with family and friends. One can spot Dolphins and some beautiful birds on the sea here. For making it an ideal tourist destination, the beach management has introduced water sports, food, and shopping areas .....

At a distance of 5 km from Dwarka Railway Station, Rukmini Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated in Dwarka town of Gujarat. Located on Dwarka - Okha Highway, it is one of the important places to visit in Dwarka.

The Rukmini Devi Temple is dedicated to the beloved wife of Lord Krishna, Devi Rukmini, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. The temple is said to be more than 2500 years old, but its domed mandapa and stepped sanctuary belongs to 12th century. The sanctum of the temple has a beautiful marble idol of Devi Rukmani, with four hands holding Shanka, Chakra, Gada and Padma. This shrine is an architectural masterpiece in itself. The rich paintings on the walls depicting Rukmini and Krishna leave the visitors spell bound.

Rukmini Devi Temple is situated 3 km away from the main Dwarkadhish Temple on the banks of Bhagirathi River. According to the legend, once Lord Krishna and his wife Rukmini went to the sage Durvasa to invite him for dinner at Dwarka. He agreed .....

At a distance of 1 km from Porbandar Railway Station, Sudama Mandir is a Hindu temple situated in the center of Porbandar city. Located near Kirti Mandir, it is one of the revered sites in Gujarat, and among the most visited Porbandar tourist places.

Sudama Temple is dedicated to Sudama who was the childhood friend of Lord Krishna and is the only temple in India dedicated to him. The temple was built by Shri Ram Devji Jethwa of the Jethwa dynasty between 1902 and 1907 CE. It is said that during the construction of this shrine, the funds were exhausted and the people of Porbandar had to host various drama shows to raise the required funds. The temple holds a lot of historic and religious importance that lures a large number of devotees, especially the newly married Rajasthani Kshatriya couples who visit the temple to take the blessing as part of Porbandar sightseeing packages.

Situated .....

At a distance of 2 km from Porbandar Railway Station, Kirti Mandir is a memorial located in the coastal city of Porbandar in Gujarat. Situated on Kasturba Road, it is one of the popular monuments of heritage in India, and among the prime Porbandar places to visit.

Also known as the Temple of Fame, Kirti Mandir is built in honor of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in his birthplace in the city of Porbandar, Gujarat. The foundation stone of Kirti Mandir is said to be laid in 1947 and the building was completed in 1950, by which time Gandhiji was no more. The ancestral house of the Gandhi family, where Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 is just adjacent to the Kirti Mandir. It was here that Bapu's grandfather Uttamchand Gandhi, father Karamchand Gandhi, and his uncle Tulsidas Gandhi lived with their respective spouses and children. They had all served as Prime .....

At a distance of 2 km from Somnath Railway Station, Somnath Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Prabhas Patan on the coast of Arabian Sea in Gujarat. It is one of the most important temples in Gujarat for Hindus and among the must include places in Somnath tour.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Somnath Temple is believed to be the first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. Somnath means 'Lord of the Soma', an epithet of Shiva. According to history scholars, the site of Somnath has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times as it was said to be the confluence point of three rivers, Kapila, Hiran, and the mythical Saraswati. The confluence was called Triveni Sangam and is believed to be the place where Soma, the Moon-god bathed and regained his luster.

According to Puranas, the original temple of Somnath was built in gold by the moon god Soma, in silver by the sun god Ravi, .....

At a distance of 1 km from Somnath Temple and 2 km from Somnath Railway Station, Shri Ram Temple is a Hindu temple built near Triveni Sangam Ghat in the temple town of Somnath. It is one of the splendid temples to visit in Somnath.

Shri Ram Mandir is dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple was built by Shree Somnath Trust in 2017. The temple is the newest addition to the array of religious places in and around Somnath. The temple is graceful and the sanctum has artistic idols of Lord Rama, Sita Devi and Lord Lakshmana. There are also two mini shrines dedicated to Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesh beside the sanctum. All the idols are made of marble.

Built from Bansi Pahanpul pink stone, the mandir has two floors. It has auditorium and kirtan hall on the ground floor. It has also a theater with 260-280 chairs in which the life of Shri Ram will be presented on large screen. The gate of this temple is in shape of Shri Ram's dhanushya. One can get a glimpse of Somnath temple, Somnath coast, .....

At a distance of 2 km from Diu Bus Station, Diu Fort is an ancient fort located in Diu. Situated near Diu Collectorate, it is one of the historical forts in India and among the prominent places to visit in Diu during your Diu Trip.

The Fort of Diu, formally Fortaleza de São Tomé, is an expansive and imposing structure situated in the extreme southeast point of the island. It was built by D. Nuno da Cunha in the year 1535 subsequent to a defense alliance forged by Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese when Humayun, the Mughal Emperor attempted to annex this territory. Later, the fort was rebuilt by D. Joao de Castro in 1546. The Portuguese ruled over this territory for 424 years from 1537 to 1961 even after India's independence from British and were ousted from Diu only when the government of India launched a military action called the 'Operation Vijay'.

Spread over an area of 5.6 hectares, the Diu Fort is protected by the sea on three sides. The outer wall .....

At a distance of 2 km from Diu Bus Station, St. Paul's Church is an ancient church situated in Diu Island, on the west coast of India. It is one of the oldest churches in India and among the most visited places in Diu.

The St. Paul's Church is one of the three churches built by the Portuguese in Diu and is solely dedicated to 'Our Lady of Immaculate Conception'. The construction of the church was started in 1601 and finished in 1610. Named after St. Paul, the Apostle of Jesus also known as the Apostle to the Gentiles, it is said to be the largest and the only functioning church in Diu till date.

Built in the Baroque architectural style, this 400 years old church of St. Paul exhibits strong similarity but with better workmanship and design than the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Goa, which was also built by the Portuguese in 1605 AD. Renowned all over the world for its stunning architecture by Indian craftsmen, the church boasts of rich wood carvings, splendid facade, intriguing volutes, .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Diu Bus Station, Diu Museum is a prominent museum located in Diu. Situated near St. Paul's Church, it is one of the museums in the Union Territory of Diu - Daman and among the must-visit places in Diu town.

The museum was set up in the St. Thomas Church, hence it is called as St. Thomas Church Museum. The church was built in 1598 by an order of Bishop D. Aleixo Menezes and was the first Parish Church of Diu. Lies on an elevated platform within the Diu Fort, the church was built in the Gothic style of architecture. This edifice came under various functions like an Orphanage, Old Age Home, Police Station and prior to liberation, it housed the Angolan Battalion. Post-liberation, it was abandoned for many years. Later in 1992, the church was converted into a museum. After the conversion of the building to the museum, the church does not organize prayer services anymore, although an annual mass is held on All Saint's Day on 1st November.

St. Thomas .....

At a distance of 1 km from Diu Bus Station, Naida Caves are the beautiful rock formations situated outside Zampa Gate following Vijaypath Road in Diu. These caves are often used in promoting Diu Tourism.

The Naida Caves are a group of interlinked caves below the ground level which keeps a person in awe. It is believed that these caves got their shape when the Portuguese broke down sections of a huge rock formation for construction of the Diu Fort. This is how the caves got shape eventually. However, it is also studied that the caves were formed due to geological irregularities and processes over a significant amount of time. These caves acted as a shelter for the Indian Army during Operation Vijay which was launched against the Portuguese.

The caves feature a big network of tunnels with square hewn steps that remain completely unexplored. The caves also have a natural opening that lets in sunlight, making it photogenic. The orange-brown walls of the caves, maze kind cave tunnels, .....

At a distance of 3 km from Diu Bus Station, Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Fudam village in Diu. Situated on the Arabian Sea coast, it is one of the important places of pilgrimage in Diu and among the must visit places as part of Diu Tour Packages.

Situated amidst serenity and scenic beauty, the Gangeshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the transformer of Hindu trinity. Here the presiding deity is called Gangeshwar, who is considered to be the Lord of River Ganga since it descended to the earth from the tresses of Lord Shiva. The Gangeshwar Mahadev Temple is more than 5000 years old. It is basically a cave temple located in the midst of rocks on the seashore.

The shrine has five Shivalingas of different sizes which are believed to have been installed by the Pandava brothers during their exile period. These Shivlingas are constantly washed by the lapping waves of the Arabian Sea and one has to touch the Lord when the waves are returning. .....

At a distance of 8 km from Diu Bus Station, Nagoa Beach is a stunning sea beach located at Nagoa hamlet of Bucharwada village in Diu. Situated near Diu Airport, it is one of the most popular beaches on the Arabian Sea coast and among the must include places in Diu Packages.

Nagoa Beach is a horseshoe-shaped beach known for its exotic ambiance and scenic beauty. Extends over an area of 2 km, the beach is characterized by an enclosing cove with white sands. It is considered to be the most beautiful as well as the most famous beach in Diu. A walk along the shore is a great way to relax one's body and soul. Also, Nagoa Beach is one among the most unique beaches in India as it is lined with rare Hoka trees which are not found anywhere else in the country. These trees were planted by the Portuguese which they brought from Africa. The trees were sacred to the Ancient Egyptians, evident from the discovery of Hoka seeds in several rulers' tombs.

The palm-fringed beach of Nagoa witnesses .....

At a distance of 500 m from Sasan Gir Bus Stand, Jungle Safari is the major attraction and one of the most popular options to spot animal movement and admire beautiful landscape in Gir National Park. Sasan Gir is the most celebrated wildlife sanctuary in India as it is the royal kingdom of Asiatic lions and essentially the only place on earth where these majestic beasts roam freely after Africa.

Only Jeep safari is available at Gir National Park. There is no canter safari or elephant safari unlike to the other national parks of India. There are eight safari routes, although most overlap with each other, with different entry and exit points. These routes have been made within the tourism zone of the Sanctuary with an average length of 35 km each. They are randomly assigned by the computer along with a driver and guide when you present your permit at the Reception Center, Sinh Sadan, Sasan Gir. One can also visit Kamleswar Dam while on a Gir National Park Safari where one can climb .....

At a distance of 1 km from Junagadh Junction, Mahabat Maqbara is a mausoleum situated in Mullawada locality of Junagadh. Also called Mausoleum of Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai, it is one of the historical monuments in Gujarat and among the prime places to visit in Junagadh.

Often considered as the most imposing architectural monument in Junagadh, Mahabat Maqbara was originally the residential palace of Babi Nawabs. The construction of the palace was started by Mahabat Khanji in 1878 CE and was completed by his successor Bahadur Kanji in 1892 CE. The palace complex is now houses the tombs of Mahabat Khan II, the 6th Nawab of Junagadh and Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai, the minister of Nawab Rasul Khanji.

Both mausoleums at Mahabat Maqbara palace complex are the fine examples of art and architecture, typical of the late 19th century royal monuments of Junagadh. Mahabat Maqbara, the mausoleum of Mahabat Khan, is a fusion of Indo-Islamic, European and Gothic architecture and was built in .....

At a distance of 2 km from Junagadh Railway Station, Upperkot Fort is an ancient fort located in Junagadh, Gujarat. Situated at the foot of the sacred Girnar Hill, this is one of the major places of heritage in Gujarat, and among the must include places in Junagadh packages.

Also known as Uperkot, the magnificent fort of Upperkot is said to be built by Chandragupta Maurya in 319 BC and continued to be used during Gupta period. The fort lost its importance when the capital of the Saurashtra region was moved from Junagadh to Vallabhi by Maitrakas and was abandoned for 300 years. Later it was rediscovered and rebuilt with all the updated requirements during 976 AD by Rah Grahar of Chudasama dynasty and later it came under the rule of Mughals in 1473 CE. Further down, the fort came into the hands of Babi Nawabs. The fort has survived for 16 sieges over a period of 800 years due to its .....

At a distance of 2 km from Junagadh Junction, Sakkarbaug Zoo is a massive zoo park situated in the Dolatpara locality of Junagadh. Also known as Junagadh Zoo, it is the second oldest zoo in India and among the must include places in Junagadh sightseeing packages.

The Sakkarbaug Zoo was established in the year 1863 AD by the Babi Nawabs of Junagadh state. Spread over an area of 490 acres, it is the fourth biggest zoo in India and the oldest zoo in Gujarat. The Nawabs of Junagadh has set up this zoo for saving the Asiatic Lions, as those days hunting among Nawabs and the princes from nearby areas were most common. The zoo provides purebred Asiatic lions for the Indian and the international endangered species captive breeding program for the critically endangered species.

Considered one of the prime Junagadh tourist attractions, the zoo authorities .....

At a distance of 2 km from Junagadh Junction, Darbar Hall Museum is a historical museum situated in Sardar Baug area of Junagadh in Gujarat. It is one of the finest museums in Gujarat and among the prime Junagadh Tourist Places.

Also known as Junagadh Museum, the Darbar Hall Museum was founded in the year 1964. The museum was initially a courthouse used by the then Nawabs of Junagadh state where cases were heard. The museum provides the tourists an opportunity to have a glimpse at the glory and grandeur of the Nawabs of Babi dynasty who have ruled Junagadh till India's independence. The majority of the exhibits in the museum date back to the 19th century.

Located in Taj Manzil Building, Darbar Hall Museum is exhibiting around 2900 artefacts in different galleries namely Picture Gallery, Palanquin Room, Textile and Costumes Gallery, Weapons Gallery, Darbar Hall etc. The Picture Gallery boasts a large collection of photographs and paintings of last Nawab with his numerous dogs. .....

At a distance of 4 km from Junagadh Junction, Shree Swaminarayan Temple is a revered Hindu temple situated at the Dipanjali locality of Junagadh. It is one of the important BAPS Mandirs in Gujarat and among the top Junagadh places to visit.

Located on Jawahar Road, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan - a Hindu saint, yogi, ascetic, and the founder of Swaminarayan Sampraday. This temple was ordered to be built by Lord Swaminarayan himself, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The land for this temple was gifted by Jinabhai, Darbar of Panchala of King Hemant Singh. The foundation stone for the temple was laid by Gunatitanand Swami in 1826 AD while the construction of this temple was supervised by Brahmanand Swami.

On May 1, 1828 AD, Swaminarayan himself installed Shri Ranchhodrai and Trikamrai in the inner sanctum, Radharaman Dev, and Harikrishna Maharaj in the eastern wing .....

At a distance of 5 km from Junagadh Junction, Bhavnath Mahadev Mandir is an ancient Hindu temple situated at Bhavnath village near Junagadh. Located at the foothills of Mount Girnar, it is one of the most popular temples in Gujarat and among the top places to visit in Junagadh.

Bhavnath Temple in Junagadh is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Shivling here is said to have emerged of its own divine intention. The Bhavnath Mahadev temple existence dates back to the ancient era and its story is found in the Puranic era. According to myth, once a while Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati were crossing the Girnar hills and then their divine garment fell over the present Mrigi Kund, making this place an auspicious site for Shiva worshippers. Even today, the naga bavas are known to bathe in the holy Mrigi Kund before joining the Mahashivaratri procession.

Visited by religious minded devotees all along the year, the shrine witnesses maximum footfalls on two religious occasions - during Maha .....