About Jamnagar

Country: India | State: Gujarat

Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days

Nearest City to Jamnagar: Jamnagar

Best Time to Visit Jamnagar: October to February

Peak Season: November to February

At a distance of 92 km from Rajkot, 131 km from Porbandar, 132 km from Dwarka, 139 km from Junagadh, 153 km from Okha, 213 km from Gandhidham, 231 km from Somnath, 256 km from Bhuj, 266 km from Bhavnagar, 310 km from Ahmedabad, 331 km from Gandhinagar, 379 km from Vadodara, 531 km from Surat, 565 km from Udaipur, 686 km from Indore and 813 km from Mumbai, Jamnagar is a city on the coast of Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. Ideally located at the confluence of Nagamati River and Rangmati River, it is one of the best places to visit near Rajkot, and among the must include places in Gujarat tour packages.

Often called the Jewel of Kathiawar, Jamnagar is an industrial city of Gujarat brimming with exquisite Rajput architecture and a pristine coastline. Built around Lakhota Lake, Jamnagar was the capital of the former state of Nawanagar, founded by Jam Rawal in 1540 AD, who is deemed as one of the heirs of Lord Krishna. It was later rechristened as Jamnagar and was one of the most important princely states of the Jadeja rulers in the Saurashtra region. The famous cricketer Ranjit Singhji was its ruler from 1907 to 1933 AD and his successor, Jam Sahib became the President of Saurashtra until it was merged into Bombay state in 1956.

The word 'Jam' means 'king' and this area was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput rulers, who were thought to be the descendants of Krishna's Yadava clan. According to Puranic literature, Lord Krishna had relocated the Yadavas from Mathura to establish his kingdom in Dwarka which falls under the Jamnagar district. Legends even say that Lord Krishna used to stay in this city when he moved out of Mathura.

The city witnessed a major makeover during the rule of Ranjit Singh, who was also a famous cricketer. Ranjit Singh reconstructed the city on European town planning principles, under the guidance of Sir Edward Lutyens - architect of New Delhi. The ancient city of Jamnagar was given a face-lift by adding structures like markets, axial roads, arcades, clock tower, entrance gates, gardens, and residential plots. Jamnagar is also known as the Chhoti Kashi as the whole town is dotted with several Hindu and Jain temples, which are the must-visit attractions as part of Jamnagar tour packages.

Known as one of the stunning destinations of Gujarat, Jamnagar is home to the first marine sanctuary in India and the largest oil refinery in the world. Besides, the city has several tourist attractions that lure a great number of tourists from all over the world throughout the year. Pratap Vilas Palace, Ranmal Lake, Lakhota Palace and Museum, Bala Hanuman Temple, Darbar Gadh, Adinath Jain Temple, and Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary are some of the top places to visit in Jamnagar. Besides, Jamnagar is also famous for its bandhani (tie-dyed) fabrics, embroidery, and silver ware.

Several fairs and festivals are celebrated in Jamnagar that showcases the cultural, religious, and social aspirations of the people for a better life. The most important festival to be celebrated here is Navratri which is a 9-day festival held in the honor of Goddess Ambaji. Both males and females dressing in colorful costumes gather and perform the famous Garba Ras and Dandiya. Makar Sankranti, Diwali, Holi, and Janmashtami are the other festivals celebrated in the town with immense fervor.

About 9 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Jamnagar Airport is the nearest airport that has direct flights from Mumbai. Jamnagar Railway Station is well connected by train with Guwahati, Dwarka, Gorakhpur, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Okha, Mumbai, Surat, Hyderabad, Allahabad, Porbandar, Somnath, Varanasi, Bangalore, Kochuveli, Tirunelveli, Rameswaram, Bhavnagar, Pune, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Vadodara, Howrah, Dehradun, Puri, and Tuticorin. Jamnagar well road connectivity with the nearest towns and cities of Gujarat along with Mumbai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Pune, Indore, Mount Abu, and New Delhi.

With pleasant and cool weather, October to February is the best time to visit Jamnagar for sightseeing while November to February is the peak season.

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Other Info
Internet Availability: Average
STD Code: 0288
Languages Spoken: Gujarati, Kutchi, Hindi & English
Major Festivals: Navratri, Makar Sankranti & Janmashtami
Notes/Tips:
None

How to Reach Jamnagar

By Air

Nearest Airport: Jamnagar - Civil Enclave Jamnagar (9 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Train Station: Jamnagar (0 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Jamnagar Bus Station (4 Kms)

Top 10 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

Heritage

#1 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 2 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Pratap Vilas Palace is a beautiful royal palace situated in Jamnagar city of Gujarat. It is one of the finest royal palaces in Saurashtra, and among the must include places in Jamnagar packages.

Pratap Vilas Palace was built by Jam Ranjit Singhji between 1907 and 1915. The palace was constructed in Indo-Saracenic architecture style overlaid with European architecture inspirations, reminiscent of the Victoria Memorial Building in Kolkata. The three glass domes are the chief attraction here. The carvings of flowers, leaves, creepers, birds, and animals on the pillars enhance the appeal of the palace. The walls of the magnificent halls of the building are adorned with hung portraits and paintings by artists of that period. There are swords and armor.

Mainly built to serve as a guest house for royal guests, the palace sits in the middle of spacious grounds and a park that .....

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Heritage | Backwaters

#2 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 4 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Ranmal Lake is a manmade lake located in the heart of Jamnagar city. Also called as Lakhota Lake, it is one of the largest water bodies in the city and among the prime places to visit in Jamnagar.

The Ranmal Lake was constructed in the mid-19th century by Jam Ranmal II, the king of Nawanagar. The lake was intended to act as a water reservoir in times of need. It is a major place of recreation for the people of Jamnagar who wants to spend some quality time with family and friends amidst nature. It is an ideal place for bird watching, especially during winter season. The Ranmal Lake itself is a scenic breath of fresh air in the hustle of the city.

The lake is home to one of the oldest man-made structures in Jamnagar, the famous Lakhota Palace. The Lakhota Palace is situated on an island in the middle of the Ranmal Lake in the shape of a large bastion. This palace was constructed as a famine relief work in 1839-45 AD by the .....

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Pilgrimage

#3 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 5 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Bala Hanuman Temple is a Hindu temple situated on the southeast corner of Ranmal Lake in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It is one of the famous temples in Gujarat and among the top places to visit in Jamnagar.

Bala Hanuman Temple, also known as Shri Bala Hanuman Sankirtan Mandir is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The temple was established in 1964 AD by Shri Prembhikshuji Maharaj. The temple houses the idols of Lord Ram, Lakshman, Goddess Sita and Hanuman. The temple is very popular as it has been recorded in the Guinness Book of world record for its continuous 24 - hours chanting of the 'Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram' since 1964.

The temple portrays intricate architecture that consists of ethnically designed pillars and amazing carvings. Local population has deep faith in the temple and believes that it guards them from natural calamities and other troubles. The Aarti takes place twice in a day but it is the Akhand Ram Dhun that attracts .....

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Heritage

#4 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 5 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Darbargadh is an old royal palace situated to the east of Chandi Bazaar in Jamnagar. It is one of the historical palaces in Gujarat and among the best Jamnagar tourist places.

Darbargadh Palace is one of the most significant historical attractions in Jamnagar which served as the first royal residence of Jam Sahib. The construction of the palace was initially started in 1540 AD along with the construction of Jamnagar city but it went on intermittently leading to a final masterpiece of history. An exquisite mix of Rajput and European architectural styles, Darbargadh is situated in the center of the city where Jam Rawal had laid the foundation stone of Jamnagar city.

Darbargadh is in the form of a rectangular palace surrounded by walls, having gates in each direction to enter it. The palace complex consists of a number of buildings with very fine architectural features and detailing. It has some fine examples of stone carvings, .....

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Pilgrimage

#5 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar


At a distance of 5 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, the Jain Temple complex is a cluster of four Jain temples situated in the Chandi Bazaar area of Jamnagar. The complex is one of the popular places of pilgrimage for Jains and among the prominent Jamnagar places to visit.

The four Jan temples in the complex are dedicated to various Tirthankaras of the Jain Sect. These temples form the centerpiece of the old city with its lovely buildings of wood and stone, adorned with pastel-colored shutters and wooden balconies. The area around these temples is called Chandi Bazaar, meaning Silver Market, full of silver and gold jewel makers.

Built between 1574 and 1622, the most intricate of the complex is Raisi Shah Temple dedicated to the 16th Tirthankara, Shantinath. Also known as Shantinath Temple, it has mirrored domes, colored columns, and intricate carving. The walls of Shantinath Mandir are richly decorated .....

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Wildlife

#6 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 16 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Khijadiya is a bird sanctuary located at Khijadiya Village in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat. Situated off the coast of Kutch, it is one of the popular bird sanctuaries in Gujarat, and among the must include places in Jamnagar sightseeing packages.

Covering an area of about 6 Sq.km, the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is unique having both freshwater lakes, salt, and freshwater marshlands. It was officially declared as a sanctuary in 1982. However, it became a natural habitat for local and migratory birds before India's independence when the then rulers constructed a small check dam on Ruparel River for storing the waters. This dam created a unique ecosphere with the freshwater lakes on one side and the salty water of the sea forming marshes on the other to support not only a variety of fauna but also flora. The main sanctuary covers .....

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Pilgrimage

#7 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 6 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu Temple located on Dwarka Road in the outskirts of Jamnagar city. Situated opposite to the airport, it is one of the popular Swaminarayan Temples in Gujarat and among the best places to visit in Jamnagar as part of Jamnagar Tour.

Dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, the Swaminarayan Temple in Jamnagar is a very beautiful temple with an air of silence and spirituality at its best. The temple is a remarkable structure of architectural brilliance. The temple also has two separate shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva-Parvati and Lord Rama-Sita. It has a small museum at the bottom of the main temple. It also has a vast well maintained garden and a cafeteria that serves delicious veg snacks.

The temple compound is so calm and serene and the sculptures, carvings on the wall and details are a treat to the eyes. It looks ethereal in the night due to its lighting. While you climb up the stairs that lead to .....

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Pilgrimage

#8 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 4 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Bhidbhanjan Temple is a Hindu temple located in Patrakar Colony of Jamnagar, Gujarat. Situated opposite to Jamnagar Municipal Corporation, it is one of the ancient temples in Jamnagar and among the marvelous places to visit in Jamnagar.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this beautiful temple was constructed during the rule of Jam Rawal, the founder of city. Bhidbhanjan Temple is a famous landmark and is best known for its Hindu-Rajput style of architecture. The temple walls and pillars are adorned with exquisite carvings. Especially, the intricate silver work on the doors is a testament to the craftsmanship that is found in Jamnagar even today. The shikhara of the temple is completely inspired from the architecture of the shikhara of South Indian temples.

Bhidbhanjan Temple is an oasis of divinity and peace in the heart of city. This temple attracts quite a number of devotees during Holy month of Shravan. There are also 10 small .....

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Pilgrimage

#9 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 5 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, the Bohra Hajira is a beautiful mausoleum, located in Nageshwar locality of Jamnagar in Gujarat. Also known as Mazar E Badri, it is one of the holiest of its kinds in entire Gujarat and among the important religious places to visit in Jamnagar.

Bohra Hajira is the resting places of Mota Bawa, a Muslim saint. The dargah of the Dawoodi Bohra community was built by Jam Rawal in 1540 CE. This is a magnificent structure on the banks of the Rangmati and Nagmati Rivers. It is a renowned place of pilgrimage and is visited by devout Dawoodi Bohras from all over the world to pay their respects, make a wish or take a vow.

Made out of white marble, the mausoleum that represents the Saracenic style of architecture has intricate carvings. The surroundings of the mosque are infused with an air of serenity and calm in the midst of bustling traffic and chaos all around. The time when the construction of this historical monument took place, .....

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Wildlife

#10 of 14 Places to Visit in Jamnagar

At a distance of 56 km from Jamnagar Railway Station, Narara Marine National Park is a marine wildlife sanctuary in the Gulf of Kutch near Jamnagar. Situated next to Vadinar Village, it is the first Marine national park in India, and among the top places of sightseeing in Jamnagar.

The Narara Marine National Park is one of the rare places in the world where one can look at corals without having to dive down into the water. About an area of 458 sq. km from Okha to Jodiya was declared as a Marine Sanctuary in 1980. Later, in 1982, about 163 Sq. km of core area was declared as a Marine National Park under the provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1972 of India.

There are 42 tropical islands on the Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park, most of them surrounded by reefs. Out of which 33 islands have coral reefs. Some of the best-known islands are Pirotan, Karubhar, .....

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