The largest city in the state of Gujarat located on the left bank of the river Sabarmati is named after Sultan Ahmed Shah who built the city. Who was the medieval ruler of Gujarat, associated with the great thinker and freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi, Ahmedabad offers the traveler an exclusive blend of Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. With a vibrant past and an equally interesting present, Ahmedabad is one of those few cities which can boast about its well preserved ancient heritage along with being a highly industrialised centre and it is also home to one of the best known management institutes of the world- Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

It is one of the major industrial cities of India. It is called the 'Manchester of the East' as there are many textile industries. Ahmedabad blends harmoniously an ancient heritage with a vibrant present. The city offers a lot to visitors in terms of aesthetic experience- there are many beautiful monuments of historical and archaeological importance, places of religious significance, picnic spots, excursion sites etc.

Located about 25 kilometers north of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar is the newly built capital of Gujarat, named after Mahatma Gandhi. Although Ahmedabad was entitled to be the capital of Gujarat state when the old state of Bombay was split into Maharashtra and Gujarat, a new capital was planned at north-east on the West Bank of the Sabarmati River.
Named Gandhinagar after Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, it is India's second planned city after Chandigarh and, like that city, is laid out in numbered sectors and preplanned areas.

The eighteenth largest and one of the cosmopolitan cities of India This is 112kms south of Ahmedabad. This is also called 'Vadodara'. Places of tourist here are The Sayaji Bagh, Baroda Museum, Lakshmi Vilas Palace. At the Sayaji Bagh is a park where a planetorium is situated. The Jami Masjid, the Pavagadh hill is worth seeing.

Vadodara, the cultural capital of Gujarat is a place known for its age old cultural tradition of music, and fine arts. Vadodara alias Baroda is located on the banks of Vishwamitri River. This garden city is the industrial capital and the third most populated town of Gujarat and also the administrative headquarters of Vadodara District. Due to its rich cultural traditions, the district is referred to as Sanskari Nagari.

The erstwhile capital of a state of the same name and ruled by the Suryavanshi Rajputs from Marwar, Bhavnagar is situated to the southeast of Rajkot in Gujarat. 250kms from Ahmedabad, Gandhi Smriti Library, Museum, Gauri Shankar Lake, Takhteshwar temple are to be seen here.
About 56 kms from this place is Palitana where atop hill are 860 temples, this is a pilgrimage centre for Jains. All these temple are Jain temples. Bhavnagar remained a major port, for almost two centuries, trading commodities with Africa,Mozambique, Zanzibar, Singapore and the Persian Gulf. This flourising maritime trade resulted in the high rate of urbanization surplus wealth and cosmopolitan culture of the town.

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 Portuguese seized Daman and were officially ceded the region by Bahadur Shah, the last major Gujarati sultan, 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 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.

This laid-back beach town was the first landing point for the Parsis when fled from Persia, although they stayed only three years. Like Daman and Goa, Diu was Portuguese colony until it was taken over by India. There are also two tiny mainland enclaves. One of these, on which the village of Ghoghla stands, is the entry point to Diu if you arrive through the town of Una. Diu's crowning glory is thc 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.

Jamnagar is A small 16th century pearl fishing town and capital of the Jamthe Jadeja, the Rajput ruler of Nawanagar, Jamnagar was built around the small Ranmal Lake around 1540. The city is today well-known for having the only Ayurvedic university in India and a temple listed in the Guinness Book of Records. A walled city with several gateways, typical of traditional towns, Jamnagar is also famous for pearl fisheries, tie & die fabrics and Bandhini work. It is one of the fastest growing towns in the state of Gujarat.

Prior to independence, the princely state of Jamnagar was ruled by the Jadeja Rajputs. Jamnagar has a long history of pearl fishing and tie-dyeing, but in modern time its more well known for having the only ayurvedic university in India and a temple listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The old part of town has a number of interesting and impressive old buildings, such as the Mandvi Tower, and is very colourful. The centre of the old town is known as Darbar Gadh, a semicircular gathering place where the former Maharaja of Nawanagar used to hold public audiences.

Rajkot is located on the banks of the Aji river in the west Indian state of Gujarat. The city has a rich cultural history and is also associated with India's freedom struggle. It is the place where Mahatma Gandhi spent the early years of his life. The city was a former British government headquarters and still has a number of massive structures and educational institutions which remind one of the city's colonial past. The city is also a religious centre and is a must visit for those interested in colonial history and architecture.

Surat The second largest city in Gujarat and the ninth largest city in India, Surat is known for its textile and diamond business. This administrative headquarters of Surat district is located on the banks of Tapti river. The city narrates the history of thousands of years, from the period of Mahabharatha to the period even after the independence of the country. An important center for textiles, zari (gold and silver threadwork) and diamond cutting and polishing, Surat in Gujarat is one of the favorites tourist sites.

It was one of western India's major ports and trading towns in the 17th and 18th centuries and the first European settlement in India. Surat is renowned for its silk weaves like the Tanchoi and Gajee sarees and Kinkhab brocades sometimes woven with gold and silver threads. It is famous for its jewellery market and diamond cutting as well as ivory and wood inlay work. 92% of world's diamonds are cut and polished from this city. Surat is also known for its culture and cuisines

On the south-east coast, about midway between Veraval and Dwarka, modern-day Porbandar is chiefly noted as the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. In ancient times, the city was called Sudamapuri after Sudan, 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 virtually separate caste of Dalits. Porbandar has several large cement and chemical factories and a textile mill. Dhows are still built here and fish-drying is an important activity lending a certain a room to the town.

Porbandar Porbandar has Kristi Mender, the birthplace of Gandhiji. Gandhiji's photographs are exhibited here. A swastika on the floor in a small room marks the actual spot where Gandhiji took his birth. Nearby is a planetorium and Bharat Mandir where a huge relief map of India lies on the floor. One can find number of paintings on the pillars related to Hindu epics

Known popularly as the doorway to Kutch, the old walled city Bhuj is one the most important tourist destinations in India.

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

To the west of Bhavnagar, situated at the base of the Girnar Hills of Gujarat is Junagadh. The place to be seen in Junagadh is the rock edict of Emperor Ashoka, dating back to 250 BC.
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.

Junagadh This is a pilgrimage centre for Jains. The city is situated at the base of the temple studded Girnar hill. This is 380 kms from Ahmedabad. To visit the famous Gir forest one has come to Junagadh. Gir forest is famous for lions. To the east of Junagadh is Uparkot, an old fort. Inside the fort is Jami Masjid Nuri shah's Tomb and two wells.
The Girnar hill has a sacred tanks of Damodar Kund, Neminath Temple, Amba Mata Temple are prominent temples here.

Bharuch alias Bhroach, an ancient town, one of the oldest in Gujarat with a 2000 year is situated at the mouth of the holy river Narmada. It was an important Buddhist center in the 7th century and considered to be sacred among sages. Located between Vadodara and Surat, the city derived its name from 'Bhrigukachba', the temple of the great saint Bhrigu Rishi, which was later abridged to Bharuch. As it is a major seaport and the administrative headquarter of the district Bharuch, a number of trade activities have flourished here.

This heavily industrialised city is renowned for its textile mills, chemical plants, long staple cotton, dairy products and much more. Gujarat's biggest liquid cargo terminal is situated here. It also houses many reputed multinational companies like Videocon, BASF, Reliance, Welspun Stahl etc. Bharuch is a shopping center well known for its salty peanuts. Because of the distinctive colour of the soil here that is ideal for cotton cultivation, Bharuch is sometimes referred to as 'Kanam Pradesh' (black soil land).

Godhra is the capital town and the administrative headquarters of Panchmahal district in Gujarat. It was an important centre during the Mughal and Maratha periods. Godhra which derived its name from the two words 'Gou' means cow and 'Dhara' means flow, is a developing town with the establishment of several industrial units and educational institutions for higher education

coming up. As the nearby towns of Devgadhbaria and Dohad, located north of Godhra forms a tribal and forest belt, it is also a market place and a small trade center for forest products. Dahod, the birthplace of Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, and Godhra are the twin cities in the state of Gujarat. Godhra is widely known for the riots in 2002 which began with the train burning

Kheda also known as Kaira, one of the 25 districts of Gujarat, is located 35 km away from Ahmedabad. Located on the bank of the rivers "Vatrak" and "Shedhi", Kheda is one of the major trading towns of the state bounded by the districts of Sabarkantha on the north, Panchmahals on the east , Ahmedabad on the west and Anand on the south. Dating from the 5th century AD, Kheda, an ancient settlement is believed to have been in existence at the time of 'Mahabharatha' and was known by the name 'Chakravati Nagar'. The reign of the town of Kheda remained with the Babi family from the early 18th century till 1763, and was later taken by the Marathas.

In 1803, British took over the control of the district, made it a part of the Bombay Presidency of British India and developed a military garrison there until 1830. The district of Kheda has great historical significance as it was the breeding ground of India's national struggle against the British rule. It is at this place that Gandhiji started the Satyagraha struggle against oppressive taxation by the British. The town has a Jain Temple with superb carvings, a church consecrated in 1822 by Bishop Herber, and an early 19th Century Town hall Somnath Somnath is 5 kms from Veraval, a costal town (450 kms from Ahmedabad). Here the Somnath temple was renovated by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. The temple earlier was destroyed by Muslims during the invasion of Ghazni Muhammed.

Sasan Gir forest - 54 kms from Junagadh. This famous sanctuary has been spread over an area of 1,400sq kms. Lions, Hyenas, Foxes, Deer and Antelopes are founded here. Dwaraka - A Hindu pilgrimage centre. The place is much related to Lord Krishna. The Dwarakanath Temple here is a 5 storey building supported by 60 colomus. Krishna Janmashtami is a famous festival that is celebrated here on a grand scale. Nageshwarlinga Temple, one of 12 of the Jyotirlingas is also seen here.

Lying on the northern tip of the Saurashtra peninsula, at the convergence of the Gomti River and the Arabian Sea, the holy town of Dwarka is yet another pilgrimage site. On the extreme western tip of the Kathiawar; peninsula, Dwarka is one of the four most holy Hindu pilgrimage sites in India and is closely related to the Krishna legend. It was here that Krishna set up his capital after fleeing from Mathura. Dwarkanath, the name of the main temple here, is dedicated to Krishna.