West India
Gujarat: History, Architecture, Beaches & Crafts
Day 1: Delhi: Arrive in Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
Day 2: Delhi – Ahmedabad: After breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague, who will escort you to the airport and help you to check-in for your flight to Ahmedabad.
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit Adalaj Stepwell, set in the quiet village of Adalaj. This vav (stepwell) has served as a resting place for hundreds of years for many pilgrims and caravans along their trade routes.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 3: Ahmedabad: After a quick cup of tea/coffee early this morning, you will start the day with a walk around the bustling, industrial and interesting Old Quarter of Ahmedabad, best visited early in the morning.
Breakfast will be served at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, you will visit Shreyas Folk Museum, a tribute to the folk art of Gujarat. It features multiple exhibits of utensils and domestic articles featuring beadwork wood carving, metal and leather work.
You will then return to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Sabarmati Ashram, Hutheesingh Jain temple and Jama Masjid (mosque).
Set up in 1915, Sabarmati Ashram was the central point from where the struggle for India’s Independence was started.
Constructed in 1850 AD, Hutheesingh temple is a renowned Jain temple known for its fabulous architectural styling and designs that consist of intricate carvings.
The Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad was constructed in 1423 AD by Sultan Ahmed Shah, the founder of Ahmedabad city. Made of yellow sandstone, the architecture of this mosque is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styling.
Day 4: Ahmedabad: After breakfast, you will visit the Calico Museum of Textiles. A premier textile museum of the country, it is one of the most celebrated institutions of its kind and is known for its distinguished and comprehensive collection of textiles and artifacts.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we will arrange for you to visit Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch, a non-profit organization working to empower the nomadic and de-notified communities so that they get access to citizenship rights, education, health facilities, housing and livelihood support.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 5: Ahmedabad – Patan – Modhera – Dasada: After breakfast, you will drive to Dasada (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops). On the way, you will visit Patan and Modhera.
Patan is home to a stepwell, Rani-ki-Vav (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) initially built as a memorial to a king (believed to be Bhimdev I) in the 11th century AD. The central theme of this stepwell is the Dashavatar (10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu).
This will be followed by a visit to Modhera, known for its 11th-century Sun Temple. A grand sandstone monument built by the Solanki dynasty in the year 1027 A.D., it is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God.
On arrival in Dasada, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 6: Dasada: After breakfast, you will take a jeep safari into the Little Rann of Kutch, an enormous salty desert. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers because of its contrasting habitats – desert plains, scrub grasslands and wetlands.
You will then return to your hotel for lunch.
Later, you will be taken on a village safari to see the fascinating embroidery and weaving styles practiced by the villagers of this region.
Day 7: Dasada – Vadodara: After breakfast, you will drive to Vadodara (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops).
In the afternoon, you will visit Laxmi Vilas Palace, one of the most majestic structures in India and the erstwhile private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Four times the size of Buckingham Palace, the Laxmi Vilas is reputed to be the largest private dwelling ever to be built.
This will be followed by a visit to Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. Originally built as a school for the Maharaja's children, the museum now houses a collection of royal paintings and other art treasures.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 8: Vadodara: Today, you will take an excursion to the historical city of Champaner (approximately an hour, excluding stops). The archaeological park set in the heart of the city is a walk back in time – the UNESCO site includes remains from the Chalcolithic period (3rd and 4th millennia B.C.), a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital and remnants of the 16th century capital of the state of Gujarat.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery. Constructed by the Gaekwads in 1894, the museum and picture gallery displays European paintings, Indian miniatures, sculpture, folk art, scientific exhibits and ethnography.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 9: Vadodara – Bhavnagar: After breakfast, you will drive to Bhavnagar (approximately 05 hours, excluding stops). En-route, you will visit Lothal which is one of the most famous sites of the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization.
On arrival in Bhavnagar, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 10: Bhavnagar: Today, you will visit Takhteshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Perched atop a small hillock, this all marble temple offers splendid views of Bhavnagar city.
This will be followed by a visit to Barton Library, one of the oldest libraries in Gujarat.
You will then return to your hotel and the rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 11: Bhavnagar – Diu: This morning, you will drive to Diu (approximately 06 hours, excluding stops). On the way, you will stop at Palitana to visit the collection of Jain temples on the top of the holy Shatrunjaya hill.
On arrival in Diu, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 12: Diu: A former Portuguese colony, Diu is a quiet town with pristine beaches, fabulous architecture and a laid-back lifestyle.
The entire day will be at leisure for independent activities.
Day 13: Diu – Sasan Gir: After breakfast, you will drive to Sasan Gir (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon, you will be taken for a “game drive” inside Gir National Park.
Day 14: Sasan Gir: Twice during the day – early in the morning and again late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Gir National Park.
Day 15: Sasan Gir – Gondal: Today, you will drive to Gondal (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops).
On the way, you will visit Mahabat Maqbara, the mausoleum of the former Nawab of Junagadh, Mahabat Khan II. One of Junagadh’s landmarks, it is a blend of European, Islamic and Hindu styles of architecture.
On arrival in Gondal, you will check-in to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Riverside Palace, Orchard Palace, Royal Garages and Naulakha Palace.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 16: Gondal – Bhuj: After breakfast, you will drive to Bhuj (approximately 06 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
If time permits, you will visit the old walled city of Bhuj.
Day 17: Bhuj: Today, you will take a full-day visit to the surrounding tribal villages.
This will be followed by a visit to the White Desert (Rann of Kutch) at sunset.
Day 18: Bhuj – Mandvi: After breakfast, you will drive to Mandvi (approximately an hour, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon, you will visit The Vijay Vilas Palace, an impressive palace estate (450 acres) where the Maharajas of Kutch spent the summer in the 1940s. The imposing palace is built in Indo-European style with exquisite stonework.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 19: Mandvi: Today, you will visit Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial. The memorial provides a glimpse of the freedom fighter’s life and his contribution during the freedom struggle of India.
This will be followed by a visit to the still-active shipbuilding yard. Craftsmen still assemble ships out of wood for local and international clients. You will get the opportunity to watch them work.
You will then return to your hotel.
In the evening, you will visit the Wind Farms beach, an exotic windmill farm that is said to have been Asia’s first wind electricity development project.
Day 20: Mandvi – Mumbai – Onward Destination: After breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague, who will escort you to Bhuj airport and help you to check-in for your flight to Mumbai.
On arrival, you will be met by our colleague and escorted to your hotel located inside the airport where a day-use room will be reserved for you.
Late in the evening, you will be met by our colleague who will escort you back to the airport and help you to check-in for your homeward bound flight.
Day 2: Delhi – Ahmedabad: After breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague, who will escort you to the airport and help you to check-in for your flight to Ahmedabad.
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit Adalaj Stepwell, set in the quiet village of Adalaj. This vav (stepwell) has served as a resting place for hundreds of years for many pilgrims and caravans along their trade routes.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 3: Ahmedabad: After a quick cup of tea/coffee early this morning, you will start the day with a walk around the bustling, industrial and interesting Old Quarter of Ahmedabad, best visited early in the morning.
Breakfast will be served at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, you will visit Shreyas Folk Museum, a tribute to the folk art of Gujarat. It features multiple exhibits of utensils and domestic articles featuring beadwork wood carving, metal and leather work.
You will then return to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Sabarmati Ashram, Hutheesingh Jain temple and Jama Masjid (mosque).
Set up in 1915, Sabarmati Ashram was the central point from where the struggle for India’s Independence was started.
Constructed in 1850 AD, Hutheesingh temple is a renowned Jain temple known for its fabulous architectural styling and designs that consist of intricate carvings.
The Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad was constructed in 1423 AD by Sultan Ahmed Shah, the founder of Ahmedabad city. Made of yellow sandstone, the architecture of this mosque is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styling.
Day 4: Ahmedabad: After breakfast, you will visit the Calico Museum of Textiles. A premier textile museum of the country, it is one of the most celebrated institutions of its kind and is known for its distinguished and comprehensive collection of textiles and artifacts.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we will arrange for you to visit Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch, a non-profit organization working to empower the nomadic and de-notified communities so that they get access to citizenship rights, education, health facilities, housing and livelihood support.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 5: Ahmedabad – Patan – Modhera – Dasada: After breakfast, you will drive to Dasada (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops). On the way, you will visit Patan and Modhera.
Patan is home to a stepwell, Rani-ki-Vav (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) initially built as a memorial to a king (believed to be Bhimdev I) in the 11th century AD. The central theme of this stepwell is the Dashavatar (10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu).
This will be followed by a visit to Modhera, known for its 11th-century Sun Temple. A grand sandstone monument built by the Solanki dynasty in the year 1027 A.D., it is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God.
On arrival in Dasada, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 6: Dasada: After breakfast, you will take a jeep safari into the Little Rann of Kutch, an enormous salty desert. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers because of its contrasting habitats – desert plains, scrub grasslands and wetlands.
You will then return to your hotel for lunch.
Later, you will be taken on a village safari to see the fascinating embroidery and weaving styles practiced by the villagers of this region.
Day 7: Dasada – Vadodara: After breakfast, you will drive to Vadodara (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops).
In the afternoon, you will visit Laxmi Vilas Palace, one of the most majestic structures in India and the erstwhile private residence of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Four times the size of Buckingham Palace, the Laxmi Vilas is reputed to be the largest private dwelling ever to be built.
This will be followed by a visit to Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. Originally built as a school for the Maharaja's children, the museum now houses a collection of royal paintings and other art treasures.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 8: Vadodara: Today, you will take an excursion to the historical city of Champaner (approximately an hour, excluding stops). The archaeological park set in the heart of the city is a walk back in time – the UNESCO site includes remains from the Chalcolithic period (3rd and 4th millennia B.C.), a hill fortress of an early Hindu capital and remnants of the 16th century capital of the state of Gujarat.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, you will Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery. Constructed by the Gaekwads in 1894, the museum and picture gallery displays European paintings, Indian miniatures, sculpture, folk art, scientific exhibits and ethnography.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 9: Vadodara – Bhavnagar: After breakfast, you will drive to Bhavnagar (approximately 05 hours, excluding stops). En-route, you will visit Lothal which is one of the most famous sites of the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization.
On arrival in Bhavnagar, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 10: Bhavnagar: Today, you will visit Takhteshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Perched atop a small hillock, this all marble temple offers splendid views of Bhavnagar city.
This will be followed by a visit to Barton Library, one of the oldest libraries in Gujarat.
You will then return to your hotel and the rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 11: Bhavnagar – Diu: This morning, you will drive to Diu (approximately 06 hours, excluding stops). On the way, you will stop at Palitana to visit the collection of Jain temples on the top of the holy Shatrunjaya hill.
On arrival in Diu, you will check-in to your hotel.
Day 12: Diu: A former Portuguese colony, Diu is a quiet town with pristine beaches, fabulous architecture and a laid-back lifestyle.
The entire day will be at leisure for independent activities.
Day 13: Diu – Sasan Gir: After breakfast, you will drive to Sasan Gir (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon, you will be taken for a “game drive” inside Gir National Park.
Day 14: Sasan Gir: Twice during the day – early in the morning and again late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Gir National Park.
Day 15: Sasan Gir – Gondal: Today, you will drive to Gondal (approximately 2.5 hours, excluding stops).
On the way, you will visit Mahabat Maqbara, the mausoleum of the former Nawab of Junagadh, Mahabat Khan II. One of Junagadh’s landmarks, it is a blend of European, Islamic and Hindu styles of architecture.
On arrival in Gondal, you will check-in to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Riverside Palace, Orchard Palace, Royal Garages and Naulakha Palace.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 16: Gondal – Bhuj: After breakfast, you will drive to Bhuj (approximately 06 hours, excluding stops). On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
If time permits, you will visit the old walled city of Bhuj.
Day 17: Bhuj: Today, you will take a full-day visit to the surrounding tribal villages.
This will be followed by a visit to the White Desert (Rann of Kutch) at sunset.
Day 18: Bhuj – Mandvi: After breakfast, you will drive to Mandvi (approximately an hour, excluding stops).
On arrival, you will check-in to your hotel.
Late in the afternoon, you will visit The Vijay Vilas Palace, an impressive palace estate (450 acres) where the Maharajas of Kutch spent the summer in the 1940s. The imposing palace is built in Indo-European style with exquisite stonework.
You will then return to your hotel.
Day 19: Mandvi: Today, you will visit Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial. The memorial provides a glimpse of the freedom fighter’s life and his contribution during the freedom struggle of India.
This will be followed by a visit to the still-active shipbuilding yard. Craftsmen still assemble ships out of wood for local and international clients. You will get the opportunity to watch them work.
You will then return to your hotel.
In the evening, you will visit the Wind Farms beach, an exotic windmill farm that is said to have been Asia’s first wind electricity development project.
Day 20: Mandvi – Mumbai – Onward Destination: After breakfast, you will be met by our Peirce & Leslie colleague, who will escort you to Bhuj airport and help you to check-in for your flight to Mumbai.
On arrival, you will be met by our colleague and escorted to your hotel located inside the airport where a day-use room will be reserved for you.
Late in the evening, you will be met by our colleague who will escort you back to the airport and help you to check-in for your homeward bound flight.
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