Gujarat Spiritual Tour
Day 01. Arrive in Ahmedabad, Assistance on arrival and transfers to the hotel. Later today you will be visiting Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram was the centre of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent struggle against the British for the independence of India. His aura still lingers here and one can travel back in time to get a sense of his ideology and remarkable life. Lunch at Local Restaurant and you will be visiting Hutheesingh Jain Temple and Adalaj Stepwell. Stepwells are common in the arid and semi-arid regions of India, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The term used for step-wells in Gujarat is Vav while in Rajasthan they are called Baoli. They are similar in form and function but have unique architectural characteristics that can help differentiate the two. It is believed that about 200 such stepwells survive in the Gujarat region itself, so it is easy to imagine their numbers in the bygone era. Continue to Gandhinagar to visit the “Akshardham Temple” – Where peace lies in pink stone. {Akshardham remains closed every Monday} Visit the Akshardham Temple followed by SAT CHIT ANAND SHOW - As the sun sets, take your seat in the outdoor amphitheatre and experience the enlightenment that is the Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show. Transport yourself to the land of death and watch fearless Nachiketa confront Yama, the God of Death, and ultimately receive from him the knowledge of immortality and eternal happiness. The Sat-Chit-Anand Water Show is a breathtaking 45-minute presentation, which brings to life an age-old tale from the Kathopanishad. The Sat-Chit-Anand water show instantly captivates you with its 80ft wide x 60ft high water screen, multi-colour lasers, video and light projections, fireballs and underwater flames, water jets, and surround sound symphony.
Return to your hotel for Dinner. Overnight in Ahmedabad.
Day 02. Post early breakfast drive to Dwarka {475 km – 9 hrs}, Lunch en route at Rajkot. Continue to Dwarka – If you are in time well before sunset to visit Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary or Bala Hanuman Temple which is into the Guinness book of the World Records for its nonstop Ramdhun. Drive to Dwarka – Dinner, and overnight at Hotel.
Arrive at Dwarka – Check into your hotel pre-booked. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.
Dwarka -The sacred town is one of the main centres of Lord Krishna. Situated on the western side of Gujarat Overlooking the Arabian Sea. Dwarka is also mentioned as Golden City in Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Skand Purana, Vishnu Purana and also in Harivansh and Mahabharat. Legendary Krishna's kingdom means Dwarka.
Day 03. Today early morning attend Mangla aarti at Dwarkadish Temple at 6.30 Am, Return to your hotel for breakfast and later continue to visit Nageshwar Jyotirling - It is enshrined by one of the 12 swayambhu (self-existent) Jyotirlingas in the world, Nageshwar was believed to be known as ‘Darukavana’, which is an ancient epic name of forests in India.
Later you will be visiting Beyt Dwarka - Beyt Dwarka is an island, situated at a distance of 30 km from the main town. This island is surrounded by a few temples, a white beach, and Coral reefs. The main temple at Beyt Dwarka is that of Lord Krishna, which is believed to be located at a site that was once the residence of Lord Krishna and His family. This temple is over 500 years old and was built by Sri Vallabhacharya.
In addition to this, Beyt Dwarka features temples of Vishnu, Radha, Lakshmi, Satyabhama, Devki and Jambavati. There is a narrow street that leads to these temples that are crowded by vendors selling local crafts, idols, cassettes, coconut, and seashells. Visiting Beyt Dwarka, you have to first reach Okha port Jetty from here, you have to hire a ferry or small boat to visit Beyt Dwarka, which is just 5 km from Okha. Return to Dwarka enroute to visit Rukmani Temple - (Lord Shree Krishna's Patrani), There is a myth. associated with it once Krishna and Rukmani went to 'Durvasha Rishi' to invite him to Dwarka. He agreed on the condition that they (Krishna & Rukmani) have to carry the chariot instead of any animal. Krishna & Rukmani happily agreed to do so. While driving the chariot, Rukmani became thirsty. Lord Krishna then stopped the chariot and made the water of Holy River Ganga. 'Durvasha' annoyed by the action and curse Rukmani to stay away from Shree Krishna Hence Rukmani temple is located 2 km. Away from Dwarka’ s Jagat Mandir.
In the evening you will be visiting Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir located on a hillock in the sea. This Temple is dedicated to Chandra-Mouliswar Shiva. This temple enshrines a Shivling in the sanctum which was found at the confluence of Gomti, Ganga and the Arabian Sea by the Jagatguru Sankaracharya himself.
Late evening you will be free to explore the market area of Dwarka to buy some local and ethnic embroidered handicrafts items, colourfully embellished footwear, graceful Ghagra Choli and Dress materials beautifully decorated with sequins, mirror chunks, and colourful strings. Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Dwarka
Day 04. Early breakfast and drive to Somnath via Porbandar {230 km – 5 hrs}. You will be visiting ‘Kirti Mandir’ which is the memorial house kept in memory of Mahatma Gandhi now a museum. Continue to Somnath – Check into your hotel pre-booked – Later you will be visiting Bhalka Teerth - Where Lord Krishna is said to have been mistakenly shot in the foot. Nearby is Dehotsarg, where he succumbed to his mortal wound. The temple at Bhalka Tirth is known as Mahaprabhuji's Bethak, and a tulsi tree has been planted in Lord Krishna's memory. The temple also contains a beautiful tribhangi idol of Lord Krishna playing his flute. Later visit Somnath Temple. Which is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirling shrines of Shiva. Reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by several Muslim invaders and Portuguese the present temple was reconstructed in Chaulukya style of Hindu temple architecture and completed in May 1951. The site of Somnath has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times on account of being a Triveni Sangam (the confluence of three rivers — Kapila, Hiran and Saraswati. Attend evening aarti at 7.00 pm followed by the Sound and Light show have been planned to highlight all facets of the historic site. The show will weave the three strands of the narrative – mythical, historical and modern – to put together the fabric of the story of Somnath in the most spectacular manner. The shows tell you about the history of the temple that was destroyed and reconstructed several times. Return to your hotel for Dinner. Overnight in Somnath.
Day 05. Post breakfast drive to Ahmedabad at 8.00 am en-route visit the historic sites of Junagadh – Upperkot Fort, Edicts of Ashoka and Mohabbat Makbara – Which according to me is more beautiful than the Taj Mahal in Agra – Further you will be visiting Jalaram Temple in Virpur - The history of Jalaram Bapa is very interesting, As per the famous tells once Lord Rama appeared before Bapa by changing their look and ask Bapa that they want someone to take care of him, Without thinking any more Bapa tells his wife to go with Rama and she has done it gladly. She started the journey with the old man. After passing some route Rama gave a stick and a bag to Virbhai and disappeared. Jalaram knew that he was Rama. That original stick and bag still are in the Jalaram Temple. People also think that which food they eat given by the Bapa, reached for the door of heaven.
The main attraction in the temple is the portrait picture of Jalaram Bapa and the original photo of Bapa whim has been taken before one year of the death of Jalaram Bapa. Temple trust provides a nice arrangement for devotees to get free food and free accommodation called ‘Dharamshala’ without any cost. The temple is very beautiful and not accepting any type of donation or money. The idol of Bapa is having a smiling and holding a stick and wearing a white turban and a dhoti-Kurta. This is the first temple that doesn’t accept any money or donation.
Arrive in Ahmedabad by the early evening – Time free for shopping at Naranpura – Sardar Patel Bavla - This place is good to buy stitched and Unstitched Dresses or you can even stop at Kamdhenu Khadi Ghar to buy some ethnic Khadi and some handmade original products. Quick meals can be taken at Sankalp near Metropole Hotel at Subash Bridge before heading to the airport for a journey back home taking back sweet memories of your trip to Gujarat.