Draft:List of tourist attractions in Gujarat

Tourist attractions in Gujarat refer to the captivating destinations within the Indian state of Gujarat. It is situated on the western coast of India, Gujarat is known for its cultural heritage, festivals, and diverse landscapes. It is the sixth-largest state in India by area and the ninth-most populous,]having a mix of historical and natural sites and modern urban centers. Gujarat shares its borders with the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, as well as the Union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The Arabian Sea bounds its western coastline.

The state capital is Gandhinagar, while Ahmedabad, the largest city, serves as an economic and cultural hub. Gujarat features two distinctive geographical regions: the fertile plains of Saurashtra in the west and the arid landscapes of Kutch in the northwest. Its diverse topography includes the Gir Forest National Park, the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. Historically, Gujarat played a pivotal role in trade and commerce, with ancient ports like Lothal in its maritime history. The state also has a unique architectural legacy with influences from various periods, including the Solanki dynasty's temples, Islamic monuments, and colonial-era structures. Ahmedabad, an UNESCO World Heritage City, reflects a blend of Hindu, Islamic, and Jain influences in its architecture. The city's pols (traditional housing clusters) and Sabarmati Ashram, associated with Mahatma Gandhi, attract history enthusiasts. Vadodara, another major city, boasts the Laxmi Vilas Palace, a symbol of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The state's diverse cultural tapestry is showcased during festivals like Navratri, Uttarayan (Kite Festival), and Rann Utsav in Kutch. Gujarat is well-connected by a network of roads, railways, and airports. Major cities like Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara are crucial transportation hubs, facilitating easy exploration of the state's myriad attractions.To track tourist numbers, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited (TCGL) launched the AATITHYAM portal, becoming Gujarat the first state in India to do so.

Top tourist attractions

In 2022, the most visited tourist attractions in the Gujarat were:

Place	Location	Visitors (millions)
Statue of Unity	Kevadia, Narmada District	4.3
Gir National Park	Junagadh
Somnath Temple	Prabhas Patan, Gir Somnath
Dwarkadhish Temple	Dwarka
Rann of Kutch	Kutch
Sabarmati Ashram	Ahmedabad
Adalaj Stepwell	Adalaj, Gandhinagar
Modhera Sun Temple	Modhera, Mehsana
Laxmi Vilas Palace	Vadodara
Ahmedabad Heritage City	Ahmedabad	1.54

By district

Top Visitors by districts

No.	Name	Nov-2023 (Lacs)	Annually 2023 (Lacs)
1	Ahmedabad	35.3	339.49
2	Junagadh	19.12	54.04
3	Banaskantha	14.85	147.65
4	Gir Somnath	12.62	117.36
5	Devbhumi Dwarka	12.48	122.22
6	Surat	10.38	73.91
7	Panchmahal	9.91	99.32
8	Rajkot	9.06	45.69
9	Narmada	6.67	34.55
10	Mahisagar	6.52	43.47

National parks

For a more comprehensive list, see List of protected areas of Gujarat.

• Gir Forest National Park: It is situated in Junagadh district and covers an area of 258.71 km2. Established in 1975, it is known for being the sole home of the Asiatic lion. The park also habitat for a diverse range of wildlife including leopards, chausingha, spotted deer, hyenas, sambar deer, and chinkara.
• Blackbuck National Park: In the district of Bhavnagar, the Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar, spans an area of 34.53 km2 and was notified in 1976. This park is a vital habitat for blackbucks, foxes, Macqueen's bustard, and lesser florican.
• Vansda National Park: It is located in Navsari district, covers an area of 23.99 km2 and was notified in 1979. This national park is home to a variety of wildlife, including leopards, hyenas, deer, and chausingha.
• Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch: The Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is a conservation area spanning 162.89 km2, notified in 1982. Encompassing regions in Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, the park is known for its marine life, including sponges, corals, jellyfish, seahorses, octopuses, pearl oysters, starfish, lobsters, and dolphins.

Wildlife sanctuaries

• Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary: The Wild Ass Sanctuary in Kutch, covering a vast area of 4953.70 km2 and notified in 1973, serves as a habitat for diverse wildlife such as chinkara, nilgai, blackbuck, onager (wild ass), wolf, fox, Macqueen's bustard, waterfowl, and herpetofauna.
• Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary: Established in 1988, the Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary in Mehsana, spanning 6.99 km2, is a home to cranes, geese, flamingos, sarus, and approximately 125 other waterfowl species.
• Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary: The Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Narmada, covering an area of 607.70 km2 and notified in 1982, supports a variety of wildlife, including sloth bears, leopards, rhesus macaques, chausinga, barking deer, pangolins, herpetofauna, and birds, including the Alexandrian parakeet.
• Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary: In Dahod district, the Sloth Bear Sanctuary, established in 1982 and spanning 55.65 km2, is home to sloth bears, leopards, hyenas, jackals, chausinga, civet cats, jungle cats, birds, and herpetofauna.
• The Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary: The Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Morbi, covering 15.01 km2 and notified in 1988, is home to species like blue bulls, chinkaras, wolves, foxes, jackals, birds, and herpetofauna.
• Purna Wildlife Sanctuary: Spanning 160.84 km2, the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in Dangs, established in 1990, is a habitat for leopards, barking deer, macaques, four-horned antelopes, sambhar, hyenas, herpetofauna, and birds.
• Porbandar Bird Sanctuary: The Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, covering a minimal area of 0.09 km2 and notified in 1988, attracts flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, and various other bird species.
• Pania Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in Amreli district, the Pania Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1989 and spanning 39.63 km2, is home to lions, chinkaras, leopards, chitals, hyenas, wild boars, four-horned antelopes, pangolins, blue bulls, birds, and herpetofauna.
• Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary: The Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary in Kutch, notified in 1981 and covering 444.23 km2, is home to chinkaras, green day, desert cat, hyenas, desert foxes, jackals, birds, and herpetofauna.
• Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary: Notified in 1969, the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary spans 120.82 km2 across Ahmedabad and Surendranagar districts, is home to flamingos, pelicans, coots, ducks, waders, storks, herons, and other waterfowl, along with herpetofauna.
• Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary: The Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary in Amreli, established in 2004 and covering 18.22 km2, is a habitat for lions, blue bulls, chitals, chinkaras, and panthers.
• Marine National Park: Marine Sanctuary in Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, and the Gulf of Kutch, covering 295.03 km2 and notified in 1980, is known for its diverse marine life, including sponges, corals, jellyfish, seahorses, octopuses, oysters, pearl oysters, starfish, dolphins, dugongs, and waterfowl.
• Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary: The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1986 and covering a vast 7506.22 km2 in Kutch, is home to chinkaras, hyenas, foxes, flamingos, pelicans, and other waterfowl, along with herpetofauna.
• Kutch Bustard Sanctuary: In Kutch district, the Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, notified in 1992 and spanning 2.03 km2, is home to the Great Indian bustard, lesser florican, Macqueen's bustard, chinkara, blue bulls, and herpetofauna.
• Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary: The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in Jamnagar, established in 1981 and covering 6.05 km2, attracts approximately 220 bird species, including Indian skimmers, ibises, painted storks, cormorants, and herpetofauna.
• Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary: The Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Banaskantha, covering 180.66 km2 and established in 1978, is home to sloth bears, leopards, hyenas, birds, and herpetofauna.
• Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary: The Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchmahal, established in 1990 and covering 130.38 km2, is home to sloth bears, leopards, jungle cats, hyenas, wolves, four-horned antelopes, herpetofauna, and birds.
• Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary: Covering 6.54 km2 in Rajkot, the Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary, established in 1980, is a habitat for chinkaras, blue bulls, wolves, hyenas, foxes, birds, and herpetofauna.
• Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary: The Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh, established in 2008 and covering 178.87 km2, is home to lions, leopards, chitals, sambars, and various bird species.
• Gir National Park: Gir Wildlife Sanctuary & National Parks, covering 1213.42 km2 across Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Amreli districts, was established in 1965. It is known for its diverse wildlife, including lions, leopards, chausingas, chitals, hyenas, sambars, chinkaras, herpet.
• Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary: The Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary in Devbhumi Dwarka district covers an area of 3.33 km2 and was notified in 1988. This sanctuary is home to the Great Indian bustard, wolves, jackals, various bird species, and herpetofauna.
• Barda Wildlife Sanctuary: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Porbandar, spans an extensive area of 192.31 km2 and was established in 1979. It provides a habitat for leopards, blue bulls, hyenas, wild boars, jackals, various bird species, and herpetofauna.
• Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary: The Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary in Banaskantha covers a vast area of 542.08 km2 and was established in 1989. This sanctuary supports a diverse range of wildlife, including sloth bears, leopards, blue bulls, hyenas, wolves, wild cats, various bird species, and herpetofauna.
• Kachchh Biosphere Reserve: The Kachchh Biosphere Reserve, with an expansive area of 12454.00 km2 in Kutch, was notified in 2008. This reserve is dedicated to the conservation of the Indian wild ass.
• Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve: Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve, spanning 227.00 km2 in Kutch, was established in 2008. This reserve is crucial for the preservation of wetland birds.
• Banni Grasslands Reserve: The Banni Grasslands Reserve in Kutch serves as a habitat for wetland birds, Houbara bustards, chinkaras, and various raptors such as Tawny Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, and Steppe Eagle.
• Polo Forest: Polo Forest is situated near Vijaynagar, in the Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. The region is known for its serene environment, lush greenery, and ancient ruins. There are remnants of a medieval period, including temples, step wells, and other archaeological sites. The forest is named after the Polo (pronounced as "Pavagadh") nearby, which has historical significance.

Waterfalls

• Juna Ghata Falls, located in Narmada district along the Narmada River.
• Gira Falls, situated near Saputara, is a waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. Gira Falls, also called Giradudh, originates above the Kapri River and flows into the Ambika River. The height of the waterfall is about 75 feet. The Gira waterfall naturally descends 30 meters to the Ambica River.
• Hathni Waterfall, with a height of 100 meters, is situated in Panchmahal and is located near the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary. Near the waterfalls, in the cave, is a small temple devoted to Hathni Mata.  
• Jamjir Falls, standing at 12 meters, is situated near the Gir Forest National Park in Junagadh. It is situated amidst the greenery of dense trees near the Jamadagni Ashram at Jamwala village in Somnath district. This waterfall is also infamous as the waterfall of death. The height of the falls is 1214 feet
• Ninai Falls, located in the Dediapada taluka of Narmada district. It is approximately 35 km from Dediapada and approximately 143 km from Surat.
• Zanzari Waterfall is situated on the banks of the river Vatrak near the Dabha, Bayad taluka, Arvalli district. About 12 km from Bayad, this beautiful place is situated 7 km south of Bayad-Dahegam Road.
• Zarwani Falls in Narmada, near Kevadiya, in the Narmada district. It is 7 km from the Thawadia checkpost. It is situated inside the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to a gamut of flora & fauna.
• Girmal Falls, situated in Dang, Girmal, Dang District. This waterfall extends to a height of up to 100 feet, making it the highest waterfall of Gujarat.
• Jatashankar Falls in Junagadh, Girnar, Junagadh District, is a waterfall surrounded by the Girnar mountains.

Forts

• Bhadra Fort: It is situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, India. It was built by Ahmad Shah I in 1411. With its well carved royal palaces, mosques, gates and open spaces, it was renovated in 2014 by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a cultural centre for the city.
• Surat Fort: It is a 16th-century structure in the city of Surat. The Ahmedabad king Sultan Mahmood-III (1538-1554) ordered its construction to defend the city from the frequent attacks that had devastated it. He entrusted the work to Safi Agha, a Turkish soldier who had been ennobled with the title of Khudawand Khan. The construction work of this castle was completed in the year 1546.
• Bhujia Fort: It is a fort located in the outskirts of the town of Bhuj in the district of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The fort is built atop Bhujia Hill overlooking the town.Kanthkot Fort in Bhachau is a historical fort with a unique architectural style, contributing to the region's cultural landscape.
• Kanthkot Fort: It is an old fort on the top of an isolated rocky hill about three miles (5 km) in circumference, has walls built of massive blocks repaired in many places by smaller stones. It is said, in the eighth century, to have been the capital of the Kathis and to have been taken from them by the Chavdas.
• Manek Burj: Itis a structure with historical significance, is the foundation bastion of Bhadra Fort in the old city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The Burj is associated with legendary saint Maneknath.
• Pavagadh: It is known for its historical and religious importance, features structures and fortifications that attract visitors.
• Roha Fort: The fort is located on the periphery of Roha village, in Nakhatrana Taluka of Kutch. It was the seat of Roha Jagir. One hundred twenty Soomra Rajput princesses sought asylum with Abda (Jagirdar of Abdasa) who died in the battle with Allaudin Khilji. Consequently, all the princesses sacrificed their lives and took samadhi here, consequently, the place came to be known as Sumari Roha.
• Uparkot Fort: A fort and town was established at the foothills of Girnar hill during reign of the Maurya Empire and continued to be used during Gupta period, but it lost its importance when the capital of Saurashtra region was moved from Junagadh to Vallabhi by Maitraka. Chudasamas settled around Junagadh from 875 CE according to bards when they acquired Vamansthali (Vanthli) from Chavda ruler.
• Songadh Fort: It is a 16th-century fort in Songadh town of Tapi district, Gujarat, India. The fort gots its name from the Gujarati language terms son (gold) and gadh (fort). It is located near the Tapi River Ukai Dam at an elevation of 112 meters above sea level.

Beaches

• Beyt Dwarka: It is an inhabited island at the mouth of the Gulf of Kutch, situated 2 km (1 mi) off the coast of the town of Okha, Gujarat, India, and 25 km (16 mi) north of the city of Dwarka. In Indian epic literature such as the Mahabharata and the Skanda Purana, this city is the abode of Krishna.
• Dandi Beach: It is a beach located in Dandi village along the Arabian Sea. Dandi Beach is historically prominent as Mahatma Gandhi led the salt sathyagraha from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) to Dandi. This is the beach where Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt tax law of the British after the Salt March.
• Dumas Beach: It is a beach along the Arabian Sea, located 21 kilometres (13 mi) southwest of the city of Surat in the Indian state of Gujarat.
• Tithal Beach: It is located in Valsad on the coast of Arabian Sea in the state of Gujarat. The sand of the beach is Black sand. Tourist attractions are Aquatic sports like Speed boats, Jet Ski etc near the beach. It also has other tourist attractions near the shore of the beach like Shree Shirdi Saibaba Temple, Shree Swaminarayan Temple.
• Nagrol Beach: It is located in Valsad on situated near the Maharashtra border. It is 62 km away from Valsad city and distance between umbergaon and nargol beach covers 16 kms or 9.9 miles or 8.6 nautical miles.
• Suvali Beach: It is an urban beach along the Arabian Sea situated near the village of Suvali in the Hazira suburb of Surat in Gujarat State, India. The black sand beach lies 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the centre of Surat.
• Mahua Beach: It is a beach along the Arabian Sea in the Bhavnagar district, located 96 kilometres from Bhavnagar.
• Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach: It is located on the coastline of the state of Gujarat, India. It is located in Ahmedpur Mandvi, near Diu (Union Territory of Daman and Diu) in Gir Somnath District. This is 370 km away from Ahmedabad.
• Madhavpur Beach: It is a beach along the Arabian Sea in the Porbandar district, located 58 kilometers from Porbandar.
• Porbandar Beach: It is a beach along the Arabian Sea, near the southwest coast of the Gujarat lies between the Veraval and Dwarka.
• Okha Madhi Beach: It is a beach along the Arabian Sea, 25 kilometres from Dwarka lies between Bhatiya and Dwarka is the coastline region of Okha Madhi.
• Shivrajpur Beach: It is located in the Devbhoomi Dwarka district near Shivrajpur village which was formed by the Baroda State during the early 19th century.
• Mandvi Beach: It is a beach in the Kachchh district (Kutch) in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Cutch State.
• Pingleshwar Beach: It is located close to the Nalia bird sanctuary in the Kutch, around 17 kilometres from the coastal NH 8A. It is well known  for being a wetland migratory birds and for featuring stunning wind farms.

Other

Heritage Sites

• Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Panchmahal
• Rani ki Vav, Patan
• Modhera Sun Temple, Mehsana
• Rann of Kutch
• Uparkot Fort, Junagadh

Religious Sites

• Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka
• Somnath Temple, Somnath
• Akshardham Temple, Gandhinagar

Buddhist Circuit

• Devni Mori, Sabarkantha
• Khambhalida Caves, Rajkot
• Sana Caves, Junagadh

Flora - Fauna

• Gir Forest National Park (Home of Asiatic lions), Junagadh
• Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, Bhavnagar
• Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch

Bird Watching Sites

• Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmedabad
• Thol Lake, Mehsana
• Khijadia Bird Sanctuary, Jamnagar

Museums

• Calico Museum of Textiles, Ahmedabad
• Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad
• Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, Vadodara
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Memorial, Ahmedabad
• Auto World Vintage Car Museum, Ahmedabad

Indus Valley Civilization Site

• Lothal, Ahmedabad district
• Dholavira, Kutch

Gandhi Circuit

• Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
• Kirti Mandir, Porbandar
• Dandi, Navsari

Art Museums

• Kite Museum, Ahmedabad
• Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery, Vadodara
• Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad
• Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad

Botanical Gardens and Arboretums

• Sayaji Baug, Vadodara

Amusement Parks

• Aalloa Hills Resort & Golf Course, Ahmedabad
• Swapna Srushti Water Park, Gandhinagar

Beaches

• Mandvi Beach, Kutch
• Dwarka Beach, Dwarka
• Gopnath Beach, Bhavnagar

Festivals

• Navratri Festival
• Kite Festival (Uttarayan)
• Modhera Dance Festival

National Wildlife Refuges

• Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary
• Thol Bird Sanctuary, Ahmedabad

Open-Air and Living History Museums

• Shreyas Folk Museum, Ahmedabad

Shopping Malls

• AlphaOne Mall, Ahmedabad
• Inorbit Mall, Vadodara
• Ahmedabad One Mall

Indoor Arenas

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, Ahmedabad

Seaside Resorts

• Madhubhan Resort & Spa, Anand
• The Fern Residency, Diu

Stadiums

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
• Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera
• Ahmedabad International Sports Complex

Zoos

• Sayaji Baug Zoo, Vadodara
• Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden, Junagadh
• Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden, Ahmedabad

Gallery

• 
  Rani ki vav, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 
  Dholavira, archaeological site contains ruins of an ancient Indus Valley civilization city
• 
  The cluster of Jain temples on Girnar mountain near Junagadh
• 
  Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka
• 
  Somnath Temple in Gujarat
• 
  Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara
• 
  Asiatic lions are found only in Gir Forest National Park
• 
  The Palitana temple complex consists of more than 863 temples located on the Shatrunjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble

See also

• Tourism in North East India
• Gujarat
• Tourism in Gujarat
• Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd
• Tourism in India

External links

• www.gujarattourism.com
• www.vibrantgujarat.com/culture-heritage

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Categories:

• Tourist attractions in Gujarat
• Lists of tourist attractions in Gujarat