Ahmedabad

Gandhinagar

Baroda

Vadodara means the village near the Banyan trees. But is could well be called the city of Palaces and museums. The Gaekwads, the royal family ruled Vadodara for centuries and transformed it into the Sanskarnagari of today. Vadodara to and outsider conjures up an image of cosmopolitan city with a perfect blending of composite cultures, of liberal attitudes and quiet sophistication.

Vadodara has a living tradition of arts and crafts which reached the zenith under Maharaja Sayaji Rao’s Patronage. While the Akota Bronzes dating back to 5th centaury A.D. account for the long standing tradition of arts and crafts in Vadodara, the wall paintings and wood carving of temples and havelis in  Vadodara vouchsafe the continuity of this tradition even as late as in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Important place to visit in Vadodara; Palaces of Vadodara-Lakmi Vilas Palace, Prate Vilas palace , Makurpura Palace, Nagarbag Palace, Museums of Vadodara, Nyay Mandir, Kirti Mandir, MS university, Shri Aurobindo Nivas, Hajira etc.

Excursion from Vadodara :
Ajwa and Nimeta twin garden in Ajwa and Nimeta have been laid out on the pattern of the famous Brindavan Garden of Myosre Ajwa is 22kms from Vaododara and Nimeta is 15kms from Vadodara.
Daboi the 13centyar fortified town of Solanki Rajputs s one of the dozen greatest forts in India. It is 29 kms from Vadodara.

Pavagadh

Pavagadh hill is scared due to Goddess Mahakali, residing on its highest peak an important place of Pilgirimage  in Panchmahalss district. The hilltop shrine is near Baroda and 160kms from Ahmedabad The 2500=foot hill contains a temple of Kali Mata.  Pavagadh  means quarter of a hill, thousands of Pilgrims visit Pavagadh every year. Godess Kali, was invoked and installed in a shrine on the peak of Pavagadh by sage Vishwamitra and worshipped as a form of Durga or Chandi in her fierce and angry mood. The shrine contains idol of the goddess which shows only the eyes painted in red colour. There is also a yantra which is also worshipped.

Other places worth seeing are Makai Kotar (maize granaries), Navlakha Kotar or nine lakh granaries, on the top of the hill is Sadan shah’s tomb.

An added attracaation to the pilgrims is the ropeway which goes over the valley presenting a beautiful view.

Chhota Udepur

Chhota Udepur was among the three princely states of Eastern Gujarat- the other two were Devgadh baria and Rajpilla. The founders of Chhota Udepur are the direct descendants of the famous Hindu King Prithviraj Chauhan. The town is situated at the edge of a big lake, with blooming lilies and a boulevard with palm trees. The series of temples along the lake dotting the skyline makes a perfect setting for the colourful Tribal haat (market)-Among several temples at Chhota Udepur, the Jain derasar and Kali Temple are worth visiting. The Jain derasar is a typical example of plaster-decorated buildings of Gujarat, imitating wood carvings and figurines in plasterwork, showing the influence of Victorian art.

The visit to the sprawling 18 acre palace campus is must for any visitor to Chhota Udepur. The two palaces- Kusum Vilas Palace and Prem Bhavan Palace are the finest examples of early 20th century Indian palace architecture.

Excursions :

Ratanamahal Sanctuary (home of sloth bears, panthers, various bird species) 80 km, Jambu Ghoda Sanctuary (panthers, four horned antelopes, bird watcher’s paradise) 48 km. Tribal hattts of Bhil and Rathawa tribes in nearby villages, Hapeshwar Mahadev, pavagadh (Kalika Mata temple, rope way, Patai Rawal Palace, fortification) 80kms . Champaner (Jami Mosuque and other beautiful mosques, fortification ) 80 km. dobhoi 75km, Sardar Sarovar Dam  110kms, Sankheda (famous for its lacquered furniture work) 60kms.

Danta

Danta town is situated at the foothills of Aravalli hill range. The landscape of forest and hills, with huge boulders, makes a perfect setting for this town. The entire region is populated by the Bhil tribe and has forests with diverse flora and fauna. The royal house of Danta was ruled by the Parmar Rajputs. They arrived in Gujarat in the 12lh century AD, and established their first capital at Chandravati, which was later shifted to Taranga in the Arasur hills. Taranga finds mention in Mughal history as the rebel Jahangir was given shelter at Taranga. About 350 years ago, the capital was finally moved to Danta. Danta is located close to the Gujarat-Rajasthan border. The royal edifices of Danta reflect the blending of architecture of both the region. Another palace, Bhavani Villa, the present residence of the royal family the palace is built at several levels on a hill edge with a skyline of domes, offering a fantastic view of the Aravalli hills. A part of the palace is being converted into a heritage hotel.

Excursion :

Ambaji (22kms is one of the major shakti-pits of India) Kumbahariaya (30kms) Taranga (32kms, a Jain temple built  in 1166A.D.)

Ambaji

The shrine of the Goddess Ambaji located in the village bearing her name, lies at the foothills of the Aravalli mountain range. It is the principal shrine of the Goddess in Gujarat and its origin are lost in the mists of time. There is a reference to this location as far back as A.D. 746. The deity is represented by a triangular Vishwa yantra. She is an aspeact of Goddess Parvati shiv’s consort Amba or Ambe Mata is shown riding a tiger during the Navratri celebrations. Navratri in gujara is comparable to the worship of Saraswati in Bengal. Large number of devotes visit the shrine during the Purnima fairs held on the full moon day of Kartik, Chaitra, Bhadrapad and also Navrati is celebrated on a grand scale here.

A short distance from Ambaji is the Gabbar Hill. It is said that the goddess revealed herself on the Hill and left her footprints.

Vadnagar

Excavations indicate that Vadnagar was an ancient town of considerable influence. The Most famous monument in the town is the Toran , a pair of 12th century columns supporting an arch, with delectable carvings. It  is a semi-religious or civic form that flourished  under the Solanki rule in Gujarat. Two of the finest example are at Vadnagar. Of The two, the one that stood at what was the edifice of Rewah, is a trly imposing structure. Almost complete and typical example of its kind. It rises to a total height of 40 feet. All the parts forming the toran are devised on the same principles as those employed in the temple design. The sharmishtra Talao is an interesting example of the water retaining systems of the Solanki period as it is still in use.