Gujarat with Asiatic Lions

Arrive Ahmedabad by flight. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay in Ahmedabad for 02 nights.Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, is one of the major industrial cities of India. Many textile industries are located here. Ahmedabad is a noisy city full of vitality, offering everything for a tourist with wanderlust. Interesting museums, rare blends of architecture (a blend of Islamic and Hindu Architectural styles), colorful, narrow bazaars, scenic river locales (the city sprawls across the Sabarmati river), artisans' villages and some great Gujarati food. The city was founded in the early years of the fifteenth century by Sultan Ahmed Shah. In the 17th century, it was one of India’s most important cities, but the city’s fortunes declined over time.Vechaar Utensils Museum, located near Vasna Tol Naka At Juhapura, Ahmedabad. This uniquemuseum showcases 3600 Utensils collected from the different parts of India .It includes storage jars, cooking utensils, feeding cups for infants and tantric havan kunds etc.

After breakfast depart by road to Bhavnagar, enroute visiting Lothal. A journey of about 05 hours. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Bhavnagar for 01 night.One of the southernmost outposts of the Indus civilisation, and certainly one of the most interesting of Harrapan townplanning, Lothal is around 80 kms from Ahmedabad. The unique lockgated dockyard is perhaps the greatest of maritime architecture from the ancient world, and to the Sabarmati river just before its meeting with the sea in Gulf of Cambay.The citadel is obviously seperated an acropolis, with its own paved baths, and a lower town more humble residential quarters, coppersmithing workshops, sheds and bead factories. The whole exhibits system an excellent of sanitary drainage.The History of Bhavnagar goes back a lot further then the city itself. It begins in the 12th-13th century, when the Gohil Rajputs of the Surya Vanshi clan, facing severe competition in Marwar, moved down to the Gujarat coast and finally settled at Gogha port, near present-day Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar was founded by Bhavsinhji Gohil, the rulers of Sihor in 1723 AD. It was the time of persistent Maratha raids of the States of Saurashtra. The last princely ruler Late Sir Krishnakumarsinhji handed over the administration of his State to the people's representative in 1948 on the advice of Gandhiji.Founded as a port in 1743, Bhavnagar is still an important trading post for the cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat. The Bhavnagar lock gate keeps ships a float in the city's port at low tide.

After breakfast depart by road to Diu, enroute visiting Palitana a journey of about 07 hours. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Diu for 02 nights.Amongst all the Jain temples, Palitana temples are considered to be the most sacred. Located on Shetrunjaya hills there are 863 temples, exquisitely carved in marble. No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Bihar, Gwalior, Mt Abu and Girnar. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan.Palitana houses perhaps the largest cluster of Jain temples anywhere. From the base to the peak of the Shatrunjaya Hill, where the Palitana temples are located, there are in all 863 temples. These temples were built in two phases-the 11th and 12th centuries as a part of the resurgence of temple building all over India, and in the 16th century. Some of the earliest temples built in the 11th century were destroyed by Muslim invaders in the 14th and 15th centuries. The current temples date back to 16th century onwards. Not any one person or group was responsible for the construction of these magnificent temples. It was the effort of the wealthy businessmen who were followers of Jainism that these buildings came into existence.Diu is a beautiful place with it's splendid and to serve tourist with all of the best services. It has a very great heritage and a rich culture, formed by the mixture of local Gujarati culture and the foreign Portuguese culture. The all over 6 beaches make the trip best to offer all from water sports to bath or sunbath.

Morning sightseeing tour of Diu. Afternoon free for independent activities.Nagoa Beach A perfect semi circle beach where the gentle lapping waves beckon you to wade into them for a fun filled time of swimming, gamboling or just lolling around the soft sand shores or to find you napping under the palm trees filled with the soothing breeze.Panikotha-Fortim Do Mar Legend has it that this ship shape structure was one connected with land by an under sea tunnel. You can see this monument in famous bollywood movie.Gangeshwar The gentle sea waves offering their obeisance to the "Shiva Lingas" in stone have a mystic aura around them in the cave temple of Gangeshwar where the Lord makes his presence felt.

After breakfast depart by road to Sasangir, enroute visiting Somnath temples. A journey of about 04 hours. Overnight stay at Sasangir for 02 nights.According to the legend, Somnath is as old as creation, built by none other than the Moon God himself. The remains of the temple of Somanath "withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of destroyers. The temple has imposing architecture and is a beautiful sight facing the blue expanse of the Arabian Sea. A short distance from the Somnath temple is Bakhla Tirth, where Lord Krishna was said to have been struck by the stray arrow of a Bhil tribal. The Present Temple, Kailash Mahameru Prasada is built in the chalukya style of temple architecture and reflects the inherent skill of Sompuras, Gujarat's master masons.Mythology Soma is the name for the moon, the son in-law of Daksha. Once Soma disobeyed a certain instruction of his father-in-law. Daksha was so angry that he cursed him, saying, "Thou shalt wane!" The moon, who used to shine in full splendor every night till then, started to shrink. However, before the curse brought about an absolute end to the moon, many a god requested Daksha to revoke his curse. Daksha asked Soma to take a bath in the sea at the mouth of the river Saraswati and then to pray to Lord Shiva. Hence at Prabhasa, Shiva came to be known as Somanath, the Lord of the moon.The Sasan Gir Lion Sanctuary lies on the southwestern fringes of the Saurashtra Peninsula. The sanctuary is home to some 300 Asiatic lions. The sanctuary was created in 1913 to provide protection to the largest surviving groups of the Asiatic lions. It was given the status of the sanctuary in 1965. The vegetation of the sanctuary consists of teak and deciduous trees including Sal (Shorea), Dhak (Butea frondosa) and Thorn Forests. The forest has a rugged terrain with steep rocky hillsides. There are A few springs also, but their flow generally depend upon the season.

Morning game view at Sasangir National Park and afternoon free for independent activities.The Asiatic Lions had once become almost extinct specie. The number of Asiatic lions has been steadily on the rise since 1980 in the Gir Lion Sanctuary. The Asiatic Lion attracts a lot of visitors to the park every year. Sasan Gir is the only place in the world where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat outside the African continent. The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African counterpart. The lion Safaris are popular among tourists. Jeeps and minibuses are freely available for touring the forest. The best time of the day to observe lions in their natural surroundings is at dawn and dusk, when they are on the prowl. Though the Asiatic lion is an elusive creature, a morning safari has a good chance of spotting the beast.The sanctuary provides natural habitat to other species like Chital, Chinkara (Gazelle), Four-Horned Antelope, Leopard, Nilgai, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar and Wild Ass. Monkeys, Parrots and peacock can also be seen around the forest. Adjacent to the Sihn Sadan Lodge is the Crocodile-Rearing and Research Center, where hatchlings are reared and then released into their natural habitat.

After breakfast depart by road to Wankaner enroute visiting Junagadh, a journey of about 06 hours. Overnight stay in Wankaner for 02 nights.Junagadh is situated right at the base of the temple-studded Girnar Hill, and is the departure point for visits to the Gir Forest. This interesting and unspoilt town has some exotic old buildings, most in a state of disrepair, and is a fascinating place to explore, but very few tourists come here. 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 inhabitants were predominantly Hindu and the nawab soon found himself in exile, which perhaps explains the sorry state of his former palace and fort.Wankaner derives its name from the geographical feature related to the location of the town: 'Wanka' means a bend and 'ner' means water stream in Gujarati. Wankaner literally means a bend on the stream and it is located on the bend of the Machchhu river.The Jhala Rajput clan ruled Wankaner, the capital of the former princely State of Wankaner, till Indian independence in 1947 AD. It was one of the four princely states of Jhalawad, other three being- Wadhvan, Limbdi and Dhangadhra.Sartanji founded the princely State of Wankaner in 1605 AD and the town was fortified in the late 18th century for protection against the bandits and neighboring enemies. King Amarsinhji, a noble ruler, who made Wankaner a rich city-state, ruled Wankaner up till 1947 AD.

Day free for independent activities. Car is booked for local running with in city limits.

After breakfast depart by road to Bhuj a journey of about 06 hours. Afternoon visit the Ferguson Museum. Overnight stay at Bhuj for 02 nights.Bhuj, the westernmost city of India, is a treasure trove of heritage and culture. Like few other towns, which have escaped the tourist invasion in India, Bhuj offers to the traveler hospitality hitherto unseen in modern times. Bhuj is known for its small, meandering streets, palaces and temples. It also has the oldest museum in the state of Gujarat. It not only has numerous places of interest within the city, but places (especially villages) around it are very famous for their traditional handicrafts and embroidery.A local ruler Maharao Hamir founded the city of Bhuj in 1510. In 1549 Rao Khengarji I, another local ruler, made Bhuj his capital. It remained an independent princely state during the rule of the British in India and became a part of India, when it gained independence in 1947.

Day free for independent activities. Car is booked for local running with in city limits.If you wish you can explore the tribal villages, specializing in different forms of handicraft including ahir embroidery, block printing and tie and dye. (To visit this village you will have to personally go and take permission from DSP / Collector office. Documents Required : 2 photo with photo copy of the passport with valid visa and duly signed application form).

After breakfast depart by road from Bhuj to Bajana a journey of about 6 hrs. After noon visit the national park. Overnight stay at Bajana for 01 night.Home of the Indian Wild Ass, Bajana is also a birders paradise. This afternoon enjoy a ride into the park to see the Wild Ass in its natural habitat. This is rough country and your drive will tell you about this harsh yet amazing place which is still home to a large variety of life. Rugged dry areas are interspersed with watery oasis where you can see many birds including the beautiful Pink Flamingoes.

After breakfast depart by road from Bajana to Ahmedabad a journey of about 3 hrs. On arrival you will be transferred to Ahmedabad airport for your flight to onward Destination.