Holy Varanasi & Gujarat Nature

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Delhi Airport. Take your flight to Varanasi. Also known at various times in history as Kashi (City of Life) and Benaras, this is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities and is regarded as one of Hinduism's seven holy cities. Pilgrims come to the Ghats lining the River Ganges here to wash away a lifetime of sins in the sacred waters or to cremate their loved ones.

A private car will pick you up from Varanasi Airport and transfer you to the hotel. Check in at the hotel and relax. In the evening, explore the old city and stroll along the Ghats. Exploring the Ghats is one of the best things to do in Varanasi. The city has almost a hundred Ghats, the steps of each leading to the banks of the River Ganges. These are bathing Ghats and praying Ghats. Each Ghat is associated with some legend or mythologies. Also attend the mesmerising evening aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges. 

Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Varanasi.

Start your day with an early morning boat ride on the Ganges River. Rowing boat rides during the dawn is perhaps one of the best things to do in Varanasi. Witness the daily rituals. The best time to enjoy a boat ride on the Ganges River is from 5:30 AM to 8 AM. This is when the colour and clamour of the place will enthral you.

After breakfast, visit the famous silk market of Varanasi. Varanasi silk is famous all over India and abroad. Silk weaving is a manufacturing industry in Varanasi. Varanasi is known throughout India for its production of very fine silk and Banarasi saris. Later, visit Banaras Hindu University. Established by Madan Mohan Malviya in 1916, Banaras Hindu University is a 5.3 square kilometre campus in the city. It has about 30,000 students residing on the campus and is the largest residential university on the continent. The Indo-Gothic architecture and the sprawling lawns add to the beauty of the place. In the evening, visit the Ghats of the Ganges. Enjoy another boat ride on the Ganges at sunset. Later, witness the enchanting Ganga Aarti ceremony.

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Varanasi.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Varanasi airport. Take your flight to Vadodara. 

On arrival at Vadodara, a private car will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.  Check in at the hotel and relax. 

In the afternoon, head out to visit Laxmi Vilas Palace. The term Maharaja Palace actually refers to a series of palaces in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, constructed since the Gaekwad a prominent Maratha family started ruling the Baroda State. The first one was a building known as the Sarkar Wada. Reach the hotel by evening and relax. 

Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Vadodara.

After breakfast, head out to visit the “Statue of Unity”, located around 90 km from Vadodara. It is a colossal statue of the great Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is highly respected for his leadership in uniting 562 princely states of India to form the single Union of India. Situated on the bank of the Narmada River and a short distance from the Sardar Sarovar Dam, it is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet). The total height of the structure is 240 m (790 ft), with a base of 58 m (190 ft) and the statue measuring 182 m (597 ft).

Reach back at the hotel by evening and relax. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Vadodara.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Sasan Gir. On the way, visit the Somnath Jyotirling temple. Shree Somnath is the first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlings of India. It has a strategic location on the western coast of India. The intricately carved honey-coloured Somnath temple on the western edge of the state is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. The temple lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow, touching the shore on which it is constructed.

By late evening, reach Gir National Park in Gujarat, which is the only place in the world where you can spot lions roaming free in the wild. The real discovery channel of India is situated approximately 65 km southeast of the Junagarh District. The Government notified the large geographical extent of Sasan Gir as a wildlife sanctuary on 18th September, 1965, in order to conserve the Asiatic Lion. It covers a total area of 1412 square kilometres, of which 258 Km forms the core area of the National Park. Indiscriminate hunting by the people of Junagarh led to a drastic decrease in their population, while they were completely wiped out from the other parts of Asia.
Reach Sasan Gir by Afternoon. Check in at the hotel and relax. 

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the hotel in Sasan Gir.

Early in the morning, head out for a jungle safari tour. Sasan Gir National Park A ride in wild jungle is such an adventurous idea for every visitor. While you are on a Jeep Safari, you can spot the Lions in their natural habitat when they are on the prowl. Watching the Lions from an open-roof jeep is altogether a wonderful experience. During your Jeep Safari tour, you can also click some pictures of the Lions. Check back at the hotel and have breakfast.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight stay & Dinner will be at the hotel in Sasan Gir.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Dwarka. Located on the western tip of the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, it is believed to be the capital city of Lord Krishna's kingdom. Legend has it that the city was once engulfed by the sea, and recent excavations reveal that a city did exist here.

Reach Dwarka by late afternoon. Check in at the hotel & relax. 

The evening is at your leisure. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Dwarka.

After breakfast, head out for sightseeing and temple visits. Start with the visit to Dwarkadhish Temple. Also known as the Jagat Mandir, it is a Chalukya-style architecture, dedicated to Lord Krishna. The five-story main shrine is grand and marvellous in itself, constructed of limestone and sand. Then visit Swaminarayan Mandir, a shrine dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, and located very close to the beautiful seashore and the Dwarkadish temple.

After that, visit Nageshwar Jyotirlinga. Nageshwar Temple, situated in Dwarka, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Also sometimes known as Nagnath Temple, the main deity here is Lord Shiva, also known as Nageshwar Mahadev. Later, visit Dwarka Beach. Located along the Arabian Sea coast, the Dwarka Beach is a refreshing day out in the coastal holy site of Dwarka.

Reach back at the hotel by evening. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Dwarka.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Rajkot. Reach Rajkot by noon. Check in at the hotel and relax. 

In the evening, visit the Swami Narayan Temple, situated on the Kalawad Road, at a distance of 4 km from the Rajkot Junction. Swaminarayan Mandir is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. Mostly known for its architectural brilliance, the temple is one of the most celebrated temples in Gujarat and is among the top tourist attractions in the city. The temple was set up in 1998 by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) Sanstha and hence is also known as BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir. 

Later, explore the local market. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Rajkot.

After breakfast check out from the hotel, and transfer to Bhuj. Bhuj is famous for centuries old buildings many of which were damaged in 2001 earthquake. This city has a long history of kings and empire hence many places to visit. After arrival check into hotel and relax. 

In the afternoon, visit Aaina Mahal Palace, which was built in 1761 by Rao Lakpatiji. Then visit the Italian Gothic–style Prag Mahal palace. Many Italian artisans were involved in its construction. Evening at your leisure.

Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Bhuj.

After breakfast, set out for the sightseeing of the famous 72 Jinalaya Temple, which is close to Mandvi. It was built in memory of Gun Sagar Surishwarji Maharaj back in the year 1982. It has an octagonal shape and is believed to be a milestone for future generations. The construction of this tirth (pilgrimage) began in 1982 and took around 19 years to complete.

Later, take a visit to Vijay Vilas Palace. It was built of red sandstone in the Rajput style, with a main central dome, Bengal domes at the sides, bastions at the corners, and colored glass windows. The balcony at the top affords a superb view of the surrounding area, and the king's tomb can also be seen. 

Later, visit the Mandvi beach, standing near the Vijay Vilas palace estate in Bhuj. Mandvi Beach is a secluded and undiscovered beach destination with clean water and a beautiful view. Take a long walk along the shore as you witness the sun setting over the horizon, or go for bird spotting and discover the beauty of Kutch through its fauna. By the late evening, return to the hotel in Bhuj.

Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Bhuj.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Dhordo. Dhordo is a village that lies in the white desert of Kutch. It is set on the edge of the Indo-Pak border, north of Bhuj and is renowned for its White Desert, bird watching and craft villages.

Check in at the resort on arrival and relax. Have lunch at the resort. In the Evening, visit the White Rann of Kutch, which looks beautiful during sunset.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the resort in Dhordo/ Hodka.

After breakfast, spend the morning at your leisure. After lunch, head out for a sightseeing tour to Kalo Dungar, the highest point in Kutch at 462 m. From here, the entire northern horizon vanishes into the Great Rann, the desert and sky often becoming indistinguishable. On the route visit to Handicraft Village 'Gandhi nu Gaam'. 

Reach back at the resort by afternoon. Evening at your leisure.

Dinner & overnight stay will be at the resort in Dhordo.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head towards Bhuj airport. Take your flight to Ahmedabad.

Reach Ahmedabad by evening. Check in at the hotel and relax. Evening at your leisure. 

The private car will be at your disposal.

Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Ahmedabad.

After breakfast, head out for a day trip to Mehsana. Visit Rani Ki Vav, a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in the state of Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of the Saraswati River. Its construction is attributed to Udayamati, daughter of Khengara of Saurashtra, queen and spouse of the 11th-century Chaulukya king Bhima I. Silted over, it was rediscovered in the 1940s and restored in the 1980s by the Archaeological Survey of India. It has been listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites since 2014.

Then visit the Sun Temple, which is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya, located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. No worship is offered now, and it is a protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. 

Then visit Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell, a stepwell located in the village of Adalaj, close to Gandhinagar city in Gandhinagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat, and considered a fine example of Indian architectural work. It was built in 1498 in memory of Rana Veer Singh by his wife, Queen Rudadevi. Reach Ahmedabad by evening and relax.

Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Ahmedabad.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel. The car will drop you at Ahmedabad Airport. Board your flight for Delhi. 

Bid farewell with the memories of this amazing, fun-filled 17-day trip through the Best of Gujarat, worth remembering for a lifetime!