This is the capital city of Gujarat. It is famous for the Akshardham Temple which has been built in the memory of Lord Swaminarayan.

On the south-east coast, about midway between Veraval and Dwarka, modern-day Porbandar is chiefly noted as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. In ancient times, the city was called Sudamapuri after Sudama, a compatriot of Krishna, and there was once a flourishing trade from here to Africa and the Persian Gulf. The Africa connection is apparent in the number of Indianised Blacks, called Siddis, who form a virtual separate caste of Dalits.

Porbandar has several large cement and chemical factories and textile mill. Dhows are still built here and fish-drying is an important activity lending a certain aroma to the town!

Swimming at Chowpatty Beach is not recommended. Swimming is said to be OK a few km down the coast towards Veraval.

Seven km from the centre of town, on the west bank of the Sabarmati River, this was Gandhi's headquarters during the long struggle for Indian independence. His ashram was founded in 1915 and still makes handicrafts, handmade paper and spinning wheels. Gandhi's Spartan living quarters are preserved as a small museum and there is a pictorial record of the major events in his life. There's also a bookshop selling books by and about the Mahatma.

The ashram is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (till 7 pm between April and September). Admission is free. At 8.30 pm on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings there is a sound & light show in English for a small charge.

Along the Sabarmati river is Porbandar. This place is famous as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.

SASAN GIR
Gir forest is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. Also one might come across a host of other herbivores like Chital, Nilgai, Blue Bull, rare four horned antelope.

The city takes its name from the fort which enclosed the old city. Dating from 250 BC, the Ashokan edicts near the town testify to the great antiquity of this site. At the time of Partition, the Nawab of Junagadh opted to take his tiny state into Pakistan. However, the inhabitabts were predominantly Hindu and the nawab soon found himself in exile, which perhaps explains the sorry state of his former palace and fort.

The temple is only open to Hindus (though one visitor reported that you can sign a form and go in), but the exterior, with its tall five-story spire supported by 60 columns, is far more interesting than the interior. Archaeological excavations have revealed five earlier cities at the site of the most important Janmashtami Festival which falls in August/September.

Dwarka's lighthouse is open to the public between 4.30 and 6 pm, and affords an excellent panoramic view from the top (Rs 1).

A little north of Dwarka, a ferry crosses from Okha to the Island of Bet, where Vishnu is said to have slain a demon. There are modern Krishna temples on the island.

Diu's crowning glory is the huge fort, a sight which justifies the long trip here. The northern side of the island, facing Gujarat, is tidal marsh and saltpans while the southern coast alternates between limestone cliffs, rocky coves and sandy beaches.

Diu is a popular hangout with travellers and you'll probably see more foreigners here than anywhere else in Gujarat. Although the beaches are nothing compared to those of Goa, this is still a great place to let your hair down, sit back with a cold beer and watch the world drift by.

Surat stands on the banks of the River Tapti and was once one of western India's major ports and trading towns inhabited by Parsis. In 1573 under Akbar's rule Surat became an important Moghul trading port and also the point of departure for Mecca-bound Muslim pilgrims.

Surat is no longer of any importance as a port, but it is a major industrial centre known for its textiles, Zaire work, and diamond cutting and polishing industry.

Dandi along the coastline, has been known as the salt centre. It gained a place of pride after the famous Dandi March Satyagraha, in 1930, by Mahatma Gandhi.

Saputara - Gujarat's best known hill resort offering breathtaking views of the sunrise and sunset.

Dwarka - the ancient sacred city, on the edge of the Saurashtra peninsula was once the capital of Lord Krishna's empire.

Bhavnagar known for Gandhi Smriti.

Junagarh - its special claim to fame is the rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka.

Ahmedpur unusual beach resort designed as a traditional ethnic Saurashtrian village.

Jamnagar - it is famous for its lake which is surrounded by two buildings called Kotha Bastion and Lakhota Palace.

Kankaria Lake, Teen Darwaja entrance to the Maidan Shahi or Royal Square, White marbled Hathee Singh's Temple, Sarkhej Roza - one of the most elegant architectural complexes of Ahmedabad, Mosque of Sidi Saivad, Dada Hari Vava - This step-well manifests a unique architectural feature of Gujarat, Jumma Masjid, Rani Sipri Mosque, the shaking Minarets of Sidi Bashir's Mosque.

Right in the south of Gujarat, the 56 sq km enclave of Daman was, along with Diu, taken from the Portuguese at the same time as Goa. For a time, Daman and Diu were governed from Goa but both now constitute the Union Territory of Daman & Diu, which is governed from Delhi. Daman is a laid back little town with a somewhat tropical flavour, although its beaches are rather drab and dirty.

Daman's main role now seems to be as a place to buy alcohol, since the surrounding state of Gujarat is completely 'dry'. The streets of Daman are lined with bars selling beer, 'finest Scotch Whisky - Made in India and various other spirits such as feni (distilled from fermented cashew nuts or coconuts). You are forbidden to take alcohol out of Daman into the dry state of Gujarat unless you obtain a permit. There are police checks as you leave Daman and alcohol without a permit will be confiscated.

The Portuguese seized Daman in 1531 and were officially ceded the region by Bahadur Shah, the last Gujarati sultan, in 1559. There is still a lingering Portuguese flavour to the town, with its fine old forts and a number of churches, but it's definitely not a smaller version of Goa. The town is divided by the Daman Ganga River. The northern section is known as Nani Daman, or Little Daman, and contains the hotels, restaurants, bars and so on. In the southern part, known as Moti Daman, or Big Daman, government buildings and churches are enclosed within an imposing wall.

Only on scattered 'islands' which rise above the salt level is there vegetation. During the dry season, the Rann is a vast expanse of hard, dried mud. Then, with the start of the monsoon in May, it is flooded first by sea water, then by the fresh water from rivers as they fill. Kutch is also separated from the rest of Gujarat to the east by the Little Rann of Kutch.

During the winter, the Gulf of Kutch is a breeding ground for flamingos. The Asiatic wild ass lives in the Little Rann of Kutch and part of the area has been declared a sanctuary for this rare animal. Few tourists make it to this remote part of India.

Bhuj, the major town of Kutch, is an old walled city - in the past the city gates were locked each night from dusk to dawn. You can lose yourself for hours in the intricate maze-like streets and alleyways of this fascinating town. There are walls within walls, attractive crenellated gateways, old palaces with intricately carved wooden pavilions, and striking, brightly decorated Hindu temples. Bhuj resembles much of India before the tourist invasion, and you're much more likely to come across that disarming hospitality which was once the hallmark of rural India.
Unfortunately if there has been no monsoon, picturesque lake remains dry.