Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat with Hindi and Gujarati as its official language. It is about 23 kms from Ahmedabad which is the largest city of Gujarat. It lies on the Western Bank of River Sabarmati and is approximately 464 kms from Mumbai. The most important thing is there are many places that you can visit from Gandhinagar in your weekend. These places are just perfect for your weekend trip with your families as well as friends.
Ujjain
At a distance of about 420 kms from Gandhinagar, lies the place of old sculptures and monasteries- Ujjain. This place attracts many pilgrims and has an unparalleled religious enigma which is incomparable. According to Hindu Legend, Lord Krishna and His brother got their education here. It is a place which boasts of a great historic as well as religious heritage.There are numerous places to be visited in Ujjain especially the temples like Ram Janardhan Mandir, Gopal Mandir, Vikrant Bhairav Shrine and amongst the monuments those that areworth visiting are Yantra Mahal, Vikramaditya throne and eually interesting is the wildlife sanctuary- Shanti-Van.
Ujjain is dotted with temples and if you happen to be of a religious bent of mind then it will be a trip worth remembering.
Jamnagar
Founded by great Jam Rawal in 1535 A.D, Jamnagar is a place of exotic beaches and islands. Along with being the home of bird and marine life there are many historical monuments too. It is called the Jewel of Kathiawar and is an amazing place to visit.Some spots which are not for a miss are the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, the Marine National Park and the Balachadi Beach which are all breath-takingly beautiful bringing you close to nature. A historic place here which is rich in heritage and architecture is the Lakhota Fort. You also must visit the temples which are many in number to give your trip a feeling of completeness.
Silvassa
A place meant for the adventurous, Silvassa has many constructions dating back to the times of the Portuguese as well as some Roman catholic Churches which reflect the art and architecture of Portugal besides the Madhuban Dam which is an ideal spot for a picnic and boating. Dudhani attracts tourist for the water sports while the Silvassa Museum is the place to go to if you are keen to understand the rich history and culture of this place.Palanpur
Another important place which played a role in the Indian History, this grand princely state is the epitome of rich Gujarati heritage. It is an important pilgrim spot with temples like Ambaji and Balaram Mahadev which are a must visit and as well as the Bhawani Lake for the nature lovers while the Shatrunjay Jain Museum is a good place to explore the history of this place. There are more than one thousand temples located in Palanpur which are managed by the Anandji Kalyanji Trust.Champaner
Considered to be the Medieval capital of Gujarat, Champaner has exquisitely built mosques and many imposing remains of homes and palaces from the eighth to the fourteenth century. Visitors to this town make a bee line for the White Kali Mata Temple on the Pavagadh Hill which also houses some old Muslim, Jain and Hindu Shrines. This place has gained fame after the film ’Lagaan’ was shot here keeping the 1893 era as a background. For the wildlife lovers there is the Champaner Pavagadh Sanctuary which has a variety of birds and animals to see.Kumbhalgarh
This is a small village in Rajasthan and the most famous place here to which people flock for excursions from Udaipur is Kumbhalgarh Fort. It is located in the middle of the desert and has stones sculptures with intricate work done on them. Another reason why this place is noticeable is that it was the birth place of Maharana Pratap. From the top of this Fort you can have a bird’s eye view of the Keekar tree jungles which are very enchanting. In the evenings, if you are one who is keen to know about the Mewar Rulers you can enjoy a light and sound show. For animal lovers a visit to the Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary will be interesting as you can hire an open jeep to get a glimpse of the exotic birds and animals. Two more interesting places which must be mentioned are Badal Mahal and the Muchchal Mahavir Temple.Ahmedabad
If you are in Gandhinagar, you cannot miss going to the closest city which is just 40 minutes drive that is Ahmedabad. A well known tourist spot with a good number of restaurants and shopping centers, Ahmedabad is a place worth visiting.Besides these there are many more places around Gandhinagar which are good weekend getaways and are worth visiting.
