Gujarat Tour | Gujarat Holiday Packages | Gujarat Travel Agency

By Air
Indian Airlines connect Ahmedabad with Bombay, Delhi, Bangalore, Madras, Jaipur, Indore and Calcutta. East West Airlines also connects Ahmedabad with Bombay.

By Rail
Ahmedabad is directly connected to Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Trivandrum, Varanasi etc.
 
By Road
Ahmedabad to : Baroda (Vadodara) 113 km, Mt. Abu 228 km, Udaipur 252 km, Jaipur 657 km, Bombay 545 km, Delhi 1076 km, Gandhinagar 25 km, Modhera 110 km, Nal Sarovar 71 km and Lothal 80 km.

The Aryans were the first people to come from the north who either conquered or drove away the Bhils, the traditional rulers of Gujarat. Apart from these two distinct classes, a third class of people known as 'Kolis' are equally important and occupy an intermediate social position between the Aryans and the Bhils. Aryans are now commonly recognised as Hindus. The immigration during the medieval period brought Islam and Zoroastrianism to Gujarat and initiated the growth of a multi-religious society.

The peninsula of Kathiawar is named after the Kathis who came to Saurashtra at the close of the fourteenth century. Their origin is not fully known but it is possible that they were driven southwards by the Muslim invaders. 'Khachar' and 'Chotila' were the most important seats of the Kathis. Worshippers of the Sun, they were essentially nomadic and had developed, among other pastoral occupations, the art of horse-breeding. Successive waves of immigrants from other parts of India have led to a superimposition of different communities and cultures in Kathiawar. The powerful royal families, which conquered Saurashtra later on established their rule over there.

Mostly vegetarian, Gujarati cuisine is delightfully delicious with a combination of leafy vegetables and pulses subtly flavoured with spices to the accompaniment of rice and a variety of breads. The typical Gujarati meal basically bland, served traditionally on large silver or stainless steel platters; thali consists of one variety of dal, Kadhi- a curd preparation, two to three vegetables and pulses, salad savories, sweets, puri or chappati, rice chutneys, hot pickles and papad. There are slight differences in the modes of preparation and eating habits in the main three geographical regions of Kutch, Saurashtra (kathiawad) and Surat. In contrast to the majority of Hindus who are pure vegetarians, the Bohras, a community of Muslim traders, are famous for their beef preparations and a variety of soups. Some common delicacies include 'Khaman Dhokla', a salty steamed cake, 'Oondhiya' a vegetarian dish with potato, brinjal, green beans and other vegetables, 'Khichdi' a mixture of lentil and rice, 'Kadhi' curd with bay leaves, 'Debra' flour mixed with spinach and yoghurt etc. Gujarati 'farsans' or crunchy fried snacks like Chakli, Sev Ganthia and sweets like Doodh Pak, Gharis Nankhatais etc are also delicious.

Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states of India. This is due to the fact that it has a rich culture. The people of the state still follow the ancient practices of art and craft with great zeal. Gujarat arts and crafts are famous world wide. They were originally made for daily use purpose in homes. But with time, the stature of the crafts grew, converting it into a full fledged industry. Skilled artisans, inherent good taste, creativity and economical use of the resources contributed to the growth of the art and craft. Consequently, there are varied items available in the craft galore of the state.

The wide array of items to choose from include furniture, jewelry, metalwork items, embroidered garments, colorful linen, leatherwork, beadwork, mirror work, baked clay articles, etc. Gujarat is famous for its furnishings also. You can decorate your home with ethnic craft pieces, ranging from elegant cushion covers to quilts and from tablemats to bedcovers. These items are available in simple colorful geometric designs as well as complex patterns. Gujarat's arts and crafts are essentially the legacy of its glorious past. They truly reflect the lifestyle, culture and, above all, the spirit of the state.

Garments
The state garment industry of Gujarat is one of the most prosperous ones in India. It provides a wide variety to the buyers. Some of the popular dress items of the industry are Salwars, Kurtas, Ghaghras, Cholis, Odhanis, Skirts and Jackets. All of these are produced from authentic hand block-printed material.

Handicrafts
Gujarat has an ancient history and a glorious cultural heritage. The age old crafts of the place have survived till date. The art and crafts are preserved and are even practiced widely across the state. The handicrafts of Gujarat are famous for their color scheme, detail and intricate work and artistic appearance.

Patola Silk
Patola silk is often termed as the queen of all silks. Patola Sarees of Gujarat are one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced today. The place associated with Patola is Patan. Here, exquisite patterns are woven on sarees with great precision.

Textiles
Gujarat has a large flourishing textile industry which contributes to the arts and crafts of India. The textiles have a large variety to offer to the end consumer. It mainly depends on factors like varied raw materials, combination of yarns and effective use of traditional techniques.

Gujarat can be termed as the land of fairs and Festivals. Thousands of small and big fairs, and festivals are celebrated in different parts of Gujarat every year. The festivals are based on the lunar or solar calendar. Whether the festival is religious, social or related to agricultural, the people of Gujarat enjoy them with the same fervor. Many of the festivals are linked with myths and traditions. A tourist can experience the diversity of the cultural and religious traditions of the Gujarati people during the festival season. The main fairs and festivals celebrated here are International Kite festival, Diwali, Janmashtami, Holi, Tarnetar fair, Modhera Dance festival etc.

International Kite Festivals

The festival of Uttarayan is a uniquely Gujarati phenomenon, when the skies over most cities of the state fill with kites from before dawn until well after dark. The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. On what is usually a bleft warm sunny day with brisk breezes to lift the kites aloft, across the state almost all normal activity is shut down and everyone takes to the rooftops and roadways to fly kites and compete with their neighbors.

Kites are believed to have first arrived in India either through Muslim traders coming eastward through Persia or Buddhist pilgrims coming from China in search of sacred texts. Either way, they have a long history in the region. Over 1000 years ago, kites were mentioned in song by the composer Santnambe, and numerous classic miniature paintings of typical scenes in the area depict people flying kites. Since Gujarat is at the westernmost edge of India, it is one of the regions where Muslim and Hindu cultures have blended to a great degree in many aspects. Hence, the development of using kites probably brought by Muslims, to celebrate Uttarayan, a Hindu festival. Still, no one knows exactly when this tradition began.

Other Festivals

Navaratri | Modhera Dance | Holi | Diwali

Fairs

Tarnetar Fair | Shamlaji Fair | Madhavrai Fair | Ambaji Fair | Vautha Mela

Gujarat is one of the most vibrant states in India. It has rich cultural heritage, which is well rooted in its traditional value system. As a result, the traditional art forms have managed to survive in the state. The age old weaving techniques are practiced by the people with great zeal and pride. The state is a shopper's paradise and presents a wide variety to shop from. It is world famous for its handicrafts, handlooms and textiles, providing the perfect answer as to what to shop for. The exuberant shopping places of Gujarat are simply irresistible. You will be bound to pick something or the other, as a memoir of your trip.

Gujarat Specialties

•        Patola Silk Sarees
•        Bandhnis and traditional Gagra-Cholis
•        Marriage Costumes
•        Wall Hangings
•        Embroidered, Appliquéd Quilts
•        Cradle Clothes
•        Cloth Toys
•        Embroidered Footwear
•        Lacquer Furniture

Ahmedabad | Bhavnagar | Bhuj | Jamnagar | Junagarh | Kutch | Palitana | Rajkot | Surat | Vadodara.