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Vadodara, a city in Gujarat in India, also known as Baroda, is named for the vad (banyan) trees that flourish in the area. Vadodara City is also known as cultural capital of Gujarat. The city has a cosmopolitan mixture of Indian nationals as well as that of Non Resident Indians with various tourists visiting this city. The major residents of this City happen to be from the native land of Gujarat and speak Gujarati. Being a multicultural mix, the city has people who are generally found to be able to speak Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Sindhi as well as English. For the people of Vadodara today, it's modern history begins with Sayajirao III. Maharaja Sayaji Rao III, who took the throne in 1875, did much to modernize Baroda, establishing compulsory primary education, a library system and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He also encouraged the setting up of textile factories, which helped create Baroda's textile industry. He is well known for offering B. R. Ambedkar a...

The Statue of Unity is a colossal statue of Indian statesman and independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950), who was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home minister of independent India and the chief adherent of Mahatma Gandhi during the non-violent Indian Independence movement. It is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 ft). The number 182 represents the total democratic assembly constituencies in the state of Gujarat. Patel was highly respected for his leadership in uniting the 552 princely states of India to form the single Union of India, aptly conferring him the title of "The Iron Man of India". It is located in the state of Gujarat, India, on a river facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada in Kevadiya colony, 100 kms southeast of the city of Vadodara and 150 kms from Surat. The project was first announced in 2010 and the construction of the statue started in October 2013 by Larsen & Toubro. At the time,...

Ahmedabad (also called Amdavad, Ahmadabad or Ahemdavad), Gujarat’s major city, grows on you. Yes, during peak hours with traffic, noise, and air so thick you can chew it, the place can be a little overwhelming, but it’s well worth taking the time to get to know this remarkable city. It wins you over with its wealth of architecture – from centuries-old mosques and mausoleums to cutting-edge contemporary design. Then there’s the fascinating maze of an old quarter, excellent museums, fine restaurants, a bustling street-food scene and the tranquility of the Sabarmati Ashram (Gandhi’s former headquarters). It was the capital of Gujarat until the establishment of Gandhinagar, though a lot of people still believe the former to be the capital. The city has seven bridges which connect the historic city to the modern or the commercial part of the city. It is known for its handicrafts, theme-based restaurants and traditional cuisine. Ahmedabad city has witnessed the rule of different dynastie...

Bharuch, formerly known as Broach, is a city at the mouth of the river Narmada in Gujarat in western India. It is the oldest city of Gujarat. It is also the second-oldest city of India having continuous inhabitation, first being Kashi (Varanasi). It has a known history for about 8000 years. Being one of the biggest industrial areas including Ankleshwar, it is also referred to as the chemical capital of India. The city and its surroundings have been settled since times of antiquity. It was a ship building centre and sea port in the pre-compass coastal trading routes to West, perhaps as far back as the days of the Pharaohs. The route made use of the regular and predictable monsoon winds or galleys. Many goods from the Far East were shipped there during the annual monsoon winds, making it a terminus for several key land-sea trade routes. Bharuch was known to the Greeks, the various Persian Empires, in the Roman Republic and Empire, and in other Western centres of civilisation throu...

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary also known as safe haven for birds located in Jamnagar district of Gujarat, India. This small (6 sq km) sanctuary, about 12km northeast of Jamnagar, encompasses both salt- and freshwater marshlands. It hosts over 200 bird species, including rarities such as the Dalmatian pelican and black-necked stork. The sanctuary, created over the 1920’s and ’30s, is formed from two man-made dykes that separate fresh water from sea water. This creates the opportunity to simultaneously observe species that belong to each ecosystem, and some that share both. Along with the marine and fresh water habitats, there are also marshy lands, mangroves, Prosopis areas, mudflats, salt pans, creeks, forest scrub, sandy beaches, and even farmlands bordering the area. As the Khijadia Bird Sanctuary at Gujarat lies on the western-most part of the country that falls on the traditional route of the migratory birds, a large number of such birds nest here in the winte...

Narara Marine National Park is one of the rare places in the world where one can look at corals, octopus, puffer fish, crabs, etc without having to dive into the water. It is rich in marine and bird life. It is located in Jamnagar district of Gujarat, India. The best time to visit is from December to March. One can do the 5 km walk when the tide recedes. Great place for nature lovers, families and anyone who is looking to do something different than touristy sightseeing. Note: Good footwear is a must so that one can comfortably wade through sea water.

Gujarat State of India has a lot of lesser known but increasingly popular tourist spots. One such place is the seven rock-cut caves at Kadia Dungar. These caves are situated near Bharuch. The uniqueness of these caves is the monolithic lion pillars. The shape of these caves suggests that they were Buddhist Viharas which were in use as early as 1st and 2nd centuries AD. These caves have a religious aura in them, which attracts Buddhists and people of other religions from across the world. When tourists go to visit Kadia Dungar caves, they also visit the Brick Stupa located at the foothills, which is dated around the same time. People believe that Pandavas had spend some time of their forest life at Kadia Dungar. There is also a legend that the Pandava brother Bhima married Hidimba here. The monument well-known as “Ghodki Ghadhiyal” is also enchanting. The marvelous style of ancient Buddhist architecture can be seen. ...