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Tribal and Cultural Highlights of Gujarat |
| Duration | : | 15 Nights / 16 Days |  |
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| Destinations | : | Ahemdabad - Darbargadh Poshina - Danta - Dasada - Kutch - Anjar - Bhuj - Anjar - Rajkot - Gondal - Jetpur - Junagadh - Gir - Palitana - Bala Sinor - Chhota Udepur - Champaner - Chhota Udepur - Mandu - Indore - Baroda - Ahemdabad |
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Detailed Itinerary
 Day 01 : Ahmedabad
Arrive at Ahemdabad and get greeted by the tour repersenataive on day 01 of the Tribal and Highlights of Gujarat Tour. Transfer to the hotel and later visit the museums of Ahmedabad.
Located on the banks of Sabarmati River, Ahemdabad was once the capital of Gujarat and is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. Also known as Karnavati, Ahemdabad is also an important commercial center of India and is visited by large number of both leisure and business tourists.
Stay at House of Mangaldas Girdhardas, a heritage hotel, or Hotel Cama, one of the first star-rated hotels of Ahmedabad.
Day 02 : Ahmedabad - Darbargadh Poshina (Four hours)
Head for Poshina the next day. Surrounded by Garasia and Bhil villages, Poshina is a beautiful place in the Gujarat state of India. Visit a tribal shrine and the village market in Poshina.
Stay at Darbargadh Poshina, a heritage hotel.
Day 03 : Poshina - Bhavani Villa, Danta (Two hours)
Head for Danta the next day and visit the 1062-1134 AD Kumbhariyaji Jain Temples, the 12th century Taranga Jain Temple and the monuments of Vadnagar near Danta.
Stay at Bhavani Villa, a heritage hotel.
Day 04 : Danta - Rann Riders Safari Resort, Dasada (Four hours)
Proceed to Dasada and visit the stepwell and silk weavers of Patan and the 11th century Sun Temple of Modhera.
Stay at Rann Riders, a safari resort. The resort is imaginatively designed from local materials and handiwork.
Day 05 : Dasada
Dasada Taluka is a beautiful place inhabited by pastoral communities like the Vadiara Rabaris and the Bharwads, and nomadic/semi-nomadic groups like the Mirs and Bajanias.
Go on a safari across the Little Rann of Kutch and witness the desert wildlife and magnificent birds at the lakes and also visit the Kolis at the salt works.
Stay at Rann Riders, a safari resort imaginatively designed from local materials and handiwork.
Day 06 : Dasada - Sharma Resorts, Kutch
Drive to Anjar on day 06 of the Tribes and Cultural Highlights of Gujarat Tour. Anjar is a centre for textile and metal handicrafts.
Stay at Sharma Resorts, the only four-star in Kutch District. Later visit the nearby Gandhidam that has an excellent textile market.
Day 07 : Anjar - Bhuj - Anjar
Drive to Bhuj the next day and enroute visit various villages known for their ajrakh block printing, Ahir embroidery, Rabari embroidery and master weavers. Spend rest of the day visiting markets and monuments.
Stay at Sharma Resorts, the only four-star in Kutch District.
Day 08 : Full Day Village Tour
Go on a tour of villages the next day and visit the villages of Sodha Rajputs, Muslim pastoral groups like the Jaths and Muthwas and their sub-groups, Hindu pastoral groups like the Rabaris, Meghwal Harijans and other communities known for their exquisite embroidery.
Overnight stay at the Sharma Resorts, the only four-star resort in Kutch District.
Day 09 : Sharma Resorts - Rajkot - Palaces Of Gondal (Five hours)
Head for Gondal and enroute visit the Watson Museum and weaving institute at Rajkot. Gondal is a beautiful palace known for its Naulakha Palace where the royal family has exhibited beadwork, silverware, brass utensils, hand-painted wooden toys and other artifacts from their antique collection, silver jewelry, brass boxes called pataras and Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy. Visit the Bharwad and other pastoral villages around Gondal town.
Stay at the Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace. These are heritage hotels decorated with pieces of beadwork, embroidery and other handiwork from the Maharani's collection.
Day 10 : Gondal - Jetpur - Junagadh - Gir Birding Lodge
Head for Gir and enroute visit Jetpur known for its screen-printing, block-printing and other textiles. Junagadh is a historic city with a fort, royal mausoleum complexes, palaces, museums and cave-sites.
Once a princely state of Kathiawar, Gondal is a beautiful city in the Rajkot district of Gujarat. Founded in 1634, Gondal lies on the banks of Gondali river and is known for its palaces and historical monuments.
Known for its forts and palaces, Junagadh is a beautiful city situated at foot of mountain Girnar. Located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, Junagadh was once a princely state of British India.
Stay at Gir Birding Lodge.
Day 11 : Gir Birding Lodge
Visit Gir the last abode of the Asiatic lion. This National Park is also famous for other exotic and wildlife species. Besides going on a game-watching drives also visit Maldhari pastoral settlements, Sorathi Rabari pastoral villages and a Siddi village (Siddis are believed to have come to Gujarat in medieval times from African countries).
Gir in Gujarat is a deciduous forest and is the last abode of the Asiatic lion. Besides, the forest also has a thriving panther (leopard) population. It also has home to large population of chital or spotted deer, sambar, blue bull antelope, chinkara gazelle, chousingha (the world's only four-horned antelope), wild boar and other wildlife. Besides, you will also see a large number of avian population on the game-drive trail.
Stay at the Gir Birding Lodge
Day 12 : Gir - Vijay Vilas, Palitana
Proceed for Palitana, the next day and visit Koli and Bharwad colonies, Jain museums and the marketplace.
One of the major pilgrimage centers for Jains, Palitana was once a princely state and is located in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.
Stay at Vijay Vilas, a heritage hotel.
Day 13 : Palitana - Balasinor (Full Day)
Go on a tour of Palitana the next day and visit the Jain temple complex atop Shatrunjaya Hill. It is one of the most important Jain holy places.
Later proceed to Balasinor and on reaching have dinner with the Nawab's family.
Stay at the Garden Palace.
Day 14 : Balasinor - Kali Niketan, Chhota Udepur (Three hours)
Day starts with a journey to Chhota Udepur. Chhota Udepur Taluka is known for its Rathwa, Bhil, Bhilala and Nayaka villages. Visit tribal haat (market) and the tribal museum.
Stay at Kali Niketan, a heritage hotel.
Day 15 : Chhota Udepur - Champaner - Chhota Udepur
Next day visit the medieval monuments of Champaner, the only Gujarat site on the World Heritage List.
Stay at Kali Niketan, a heritage hotel.
Day 16 : Chhota Udepur - Mandu - Indore - Baroda - Ahmedabad
Head for Ahemdabad airport to board a flight for the onward destination.
For Rajasthan, reverse the itinerary and drive Poshina to Mt Abu/Udaipur/Ranakpur.
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