Gujarat Tribal and Cultural Tour

Day 1: Ahmedabad
Get a warm welcome by the tour representative on arrival at Ahmedabad. Head to Sayla from there. Also take a visit to Latura to see the Asiatic Wild Ass in the afternoon.

Once the capital of Gujarat, Ahemdabad is located on the banks of Sabarmati River and is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. An important commercial center of Gujarat, Ahemdabad is also known as Karnavati and is frequented by large number of business and leisure tourists every year.

Overnight stay at House of Mangaldas Girdhardas, a heritage hotel, or Hotel Cama, one of the first star-rated hotels of Ahmedabad.

Day 2: Ahmedabad - Darbargadh Poshina (Four Hours)
Drive to Sayla and on reaching take lunch at a textiles hotel. Take a tour of the nearby villages to watch weavers at work and see local beadwork. Continue to Gondal, which is known for its beadwork, silver jewelry and brassware. Visit the cottage industries of Gondal to watch spinners, weavers and other artisans at work. Also visit the famous Naulakha Palace housing a collection of beautiful beadwork, brass utensils, silverware and hand-painted wooden toys from the princely collection.

Lying on the banks Gondali River, Gondal was founded in 1634 and was once a princely state of Kathiawar. Situated in the Rajkot district of Gujarat, Gondal is known for its palaces and monuments and is a major tourist attraction.

Overnight stay

Day 3: Poshina - Bhavani Villa, Danta (Two Hours)
Head for Danta and visit the 1062-1134 AD Kumbhariyaji Jain Temples, the 12th century Taranga Jain Temple and the monuments of Vadnagar near Danta.

Overnight stay at Bhavani Villa, a heritage hotel.

Day 4: Danta - Rann Riders Safari Resort, Dasada (Four Hours)
Day 04 of the Tribes and Cultural Highlights of Gujarat starts with a journey to Dasada. Visit the stepwell and silk weavers of Patan and the 11th century Sun Temple of Modhera.

Overnight stay at Rann Riders, safaris resort. The resort is imaginatively designed from local materials and handiwork.

Day 5: Dasada
Inhabited by pastoral communities like the Vadiara Rabaris and the Bharwads, and nomadic/semi-nomadic groups like the Mirs and Bajanias is Dasada Taluka a beautiful place of Gujarat. Enjoy your day with a safari across the Little Rann of Kutch and witness the desert wildlife and magnificent birds at the lakes. Also visit the Kolis at the salt works.

Overnight at Rann Riders, a safari resort imaginatively designed from local materials and handiwork.

Day 06: Dasada - Sharma Resorts, Kutch
Day starts with a drive to Anjar which is a centre for textile and metal handicrafts.

Stay at the Sharma Resorts, the only four-star in Kutch District and later visit the nearby Gandhidam known for its textile market

DAY 7: Anjar - Bhuj - Anjar
Drive to Bhuj the following day and enroute visit various villages known for their ajrakh block printing, Ahir embroidery, Rabari embroidery and master weavers. Rest of the day visit markets and monuments.

Overnight stay at Sharma Resorts, the only four-star in Kutch District. .

Day 8: Full Day Village Tour
Day kept reserved to tour villages. Visit the villages of Sodha Rajputs, Muslim pastoral groups like the Jaths and Muthwas and their sub-groups, Hindu pastoral groups like the Rabaris, Meghwal Harijans and other communities known for their exquisite embroidery.

Stay at the Sharma Resorts, the only four-star resort in Kutch District.

DAY 9: Sharma Resorts - Rajkot - Palaces Of Gondal (Five Hours)
Proceed to Gondal and enroute visit the Watson Museum and weaving institute at Rajkot. Known for its Naulakha Palace where the royal family has exhibited beadwork, silverware, brass utensils, hand-painted wooden toys and other artifacts from their antique collection, silver jewelry, brass boxes called pataras and Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy is the beautiful city of Gondal. Also visit the Bharwad and other pastoral villages around Gondal town.

Overnight stay at the Riverside Palace/Orchard Palace. These are heritage hotels decorated with pieces of beadwork, embroidery and other handiwork from the Maharani's collection.

Day 10: Gondal - Jetpur - Junagadh - Gir Birding Lodge
Move to Gir and visit Jetpur enroute. Jetpur is known for its screen-printing, block-printing and other textiles. Junagadh is a historic city with a fort, royal mausoleum complexes, palaces, museums and cave-sites. Lying on the banks Gondali River, Gondal was founded in 1634 and was once a princely state of Kathiawar. Situated in the Rajkot district of Gujarat, Gondal is known for its palaces and monuments and is a major tourist attraction. Situated at foot of mountain Girnar, Junagadh is a beautiful city in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Once a princely state of British India, Junagadh is famous for its forts and palaces. . Overnight stay at Gir Birding Lodge.

Day 11: Gir Birding Lodge
Visit Gir the last abode of the Asiatic lion on day 11 of the tour. The Park is also famous for other exotic and wildlife species. Besides also visit Maldhari pastoral settlements, Sorathi Rabari pastoral villages and a Siddi village (Siddis are believed to have come to Gujarat in medieval times from African countries).

Last abode of the Asiatic Lion, Gir in Gujarat is a deciduous forest. The forest is known not only for its thriving panther (leopard) population but is also a home to large population of chital or spotted deer, sambar, blue bull antelope, chinkara gazelle, chousingha (the world's only four-horned antelope), wild boar and other wildlife. Besides, you will also see a large number of avian population on the game-drive trail.

Overnight stay at the Gir Birding Lodge

Day 12: Gir - Vijay Vilas, Palitana
Head to Palitana, the next day and visit Koli and Bharwad colonies, Jain museums and the marketplace.

Located in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, Palitana was once a princely state and is one of the major pilgrimage centers for Jains.

Overnight stay at Vijay Vilas, a heritage hotel.

Day 13: Palitana - Balasinor (Full Day)
Take a tour of Palitana the next day. Visit the Jain temple complex atop Shatrunjaya Hill, which is one of the most important Jain holy places.

Proceed to Balasinor afterwards. On reaching have dinner with the Nawab's family.

Overnight stay at the Garden Palace

Day 14: Balasinor - Kali Niketan, Chhota Udepur (Three Hours)
Start your day with a journey to Chhota Udepur which is known for its Rathwa, Bhil, Bhilala and Nayaka villages. Also visit tribal haat (market) and the tribal museum.

Stay overnight at Kali Niketan, a heritage hotel.

Day 15: Chhota Udepur - Champaner - Chhota Udepur
Visit the medieval monuments of Champaner the only Gujarat site on the World Heritage List on day 15 of the tour.

Stay at Kali Niketan, a heritage hotel.

Day 16: Chhota Udepur - Mandu/Indore/Baroda/Ahmedabad
Head for Ahemdabad and on reaching transfer to the airport to board a flight for the onward destination.

India Profile offers online information about Tribal and Cultural Highlights of Gujarat .