Historical Sights, Regal Cities & Ws Of Gujarat - Extension Tour From Ahmedabad

Itinerary

Day 1: Ahmedabad - Modhera - Patan - Dholavira (385kms/ 8hrs approx)

Stop At: Sun Temple, On Becharaji Highway, Modhera 384212 India
Morning pick up from your hotel in Ahmedabad and drive to Dholavira with stop to visit Modhera Sun Temple & Rani ki Vav & Panchasara Jain Temple at Patan.

Modhera Sun Temple a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of Mehsana district. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. No worship is offered now and is protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir. The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Rani Ki vav, Near the Patan Highway, 384265 India
Rani ki Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the banks of the Saraswati River. The world famous 11th century Solanki era step well was built by the Queen in memory of her husband. Designed as an inverted temple, it is highlighting the sanctity of water and is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels; more than 500 principle sculptures and over a thousand minor ones combine religious, mythological and secular imagery, often referencing literary works. Panchasara Jain Temple was built by king Vanraj Chavada around VS 802. There are 51 mini temples around the temple. It was said that main idol of lord parshwanath much older than Vikram Samvat 802- hindu calendar(around 8th century). There are around 10 parashwanath temples among 108 are situated in the patan city in different pole. All this temples are century old and marvelous example of carving in marbles.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dholavira, Dholavira, Kutch District, Gujarat
Continue drive to Dholavira check in at resort.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight at resort.

Day 2: Dholavira - Little Rann Of Kutch (255kms/ 5hrs approx)

Stop At: Dholavira, Dholavira, Kutch District, Gujarat
Breakfast at hotel, Explore Dholavira a real treat for historians, and one of Gujarat’s best-kept archaeological and historical sites dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization 4500 years ago. It is full of historic treasures, including seals with animal figures, funerary structures, letters of the Indus script, stone sculptures, pottery with painted motifs, terracotta ornaments, sign boards, and several other structures and objects. The ancient water reservoirs are certainly a highlight and excite visitors with their well-preserved state. What this site offers you, in the intense environment that comes with being surrounded by the Great Rann of Kutch, is a unique insight into the pioneering Harappan mind, with one of the world’s earliest and best planned water conservation systems and what might be the world’s first signboards, written in ancient Indus script. The excavation also tells the story of the 7 stages of the civilization, from development to maturity to decay, the last of which hints at a strange piece of history, with more questions than answers. After the peak of the civilization Dholavira was temporarily abandoned, after which it seems that the settlers returned with a markedly de-urbanized culture. There are hints that they willingly chose to simplify their lives, rather than try to ride the collapse of their once glorified civilization. Here, on the ruins, you will have a chance to contemplate what progress and civilization mean and what, if anything, is truly permanent.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Little Brook, Little Brook, Municipality of Clare, Southwest Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia
After sightseeing drive back to Little Rann Of Kutch and check in at resort. Dinner
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight at resort.

Day 3: Little Rann Of Kutch - Rajkot (160kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Little Rann of Kutch, Thar Desert, Kutch India
Early morning Jeep Safari in Little Rann of Kutch a unique place on earth with an unending possibility of exploration, numerous sites for unbelievable sights and unforgettable experiences. Covering an area of 4954 Km2, Little Rann of Kutch is one of the most remarkable and unique landscapes of its kind in the entire world. It is a vast desiccated, unbroken bare surface of dark silt, encrusted with salts which transforms into a spectacular coastal wetland after the rains. The present saline desert of the Little Rann of Kutch is believed to have been shallow sea. The variety of the geomorphic facets of Kutch such as the present surface configuration, its landforms, drainage characteristics and relief pattern clearly reveals a complex interplay of tectonics, sea-level changes and lithology as also erosion and deposition.

Little Rann of Kutch is the only haven on earth for endemic Asiatic Wild Ass. It is also a charismatic birding paradise and a declared Ramsar Site. The marshes in the Rann, and nearby lakes like Nawa Talao and Savada Wetlands, attract huge flocks of water birds. Flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks, ducks, waders etc can be seen in large numbers. Some very unique dry habitat species like Variable, Isabelline & Desert Wheatears, Isabelline Shrike, Macqueen's Bustard, Lesser White-throat, Greater Short-toed Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Graceful Prinia, Merlin, Short-eared Owl etc. You can also do a village safari to see communities like Mir, Bharwad, Rabari, and Bajanias.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Rajkot, Rajkot, Rajkot District, Gujarat
After safari and sightseeing tour drive back to Rajkot check in at hotel.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Rajkot - Gondal - Junagarh - Sasan Gir National Park (160kms/ 3hrs approx)

Stop At: Rajkot, Rajkot, Rajkot District, Gujarat
Breakfast at hotel. Visit Jubilee Garden a large and open park area in Rajkot. It features many monuments of colonial time. The centre of the city garden is the Connaught Hall and other notable places of interest near the Garden include the historic Mohandas Gandhi High School, Kaba Gandhi No Delo, Rashtriya Shala, Watson Museum, Lang Library, and Rotary Midtown Library. Watson Museum has a great collection of precious objects of colonial period and is considered to be one the finest in Gujarat. It was made to commemorate the works of the then administrator Colonel James Watson in 1888. The museum also houses a varied collection of old artefacts from the ancient city of Mohenjodaro.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Gondal, Gondal, Rajkot District, Gujarat
Later drive to Sasan Gir National Park. Enroute visit Gondal the former princely state ruled by the Jadeja Rajput clan till the independence of India. Visit Navlakha Palace one of the oldest and most beautiful palaces situated on a riverbank, on a grand masonry base, rising to the monumental scale of at least 30 meters, above the riverbed.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Junagarh Fort Road, Bikaner 334001 India
Further drive and visit Junagarh an ancient fortified city rich in myth and legend. Junagadh lies at the foot of the temple-studded Girnar Hill. It derives its name from the 'old fort', which circles the medieval town. The Girnar Hills that landscape Junagadh are a holy sanctuary to the Jains. The history of Mount Girnar dates back to the awesome empire of Ashoka, one of India's greatest emperors. Ashoka inscribed 14 edicts on a huge boulder en-route to Mt. Girnar peak. Junagadh's main feature is the Uperkot fort (upper fort), a somber and inaccessible fortress.
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Sasan Gir National Park, Sinh Sadan Gir Somnath District Sasan Road, Sasan Gir, Gir National Park 362135 India
Continue drive to Sasan Gir National Park check in at resort. Dinner

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight at resort.

Day 5: Sasan Gir National Park - Diu (100kms/ 2hrs approx)

Stop At: Sasan Gir National Park, Sinh Sadan Gir Somnath District Sasan Road, Sasan Gir, Gir National Park 362135 India
Breakfast at hotel. Jeep Safari in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. Sprawling in an area of 1424 sq. kms, Gir with its dry deciduous forest is a luxuriantly rich ecosystem endowed with floral and faunal plentitude. Thirty species of mammals, twenty species of reptiles, several species of insects and birds are found here. The forest is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The forest also harbors a number of smaller birds and animals. Other predators are the panther and the hyena. The largest Indian deer, Sambhar, Chital (spotted deer), Nilgai (blue bull), Chinkara and the unique Chowsingha (four horned antelope) are found here along with the bear and the long tailed langur.

Gir is also one of the finest bird sanctuaries in India. Some of the typical birds of Gir are the crested serpent eagle, crested hawk eagle, brown fish owl, king vulture, jungle quail, paradise flycatcher, pygmy woodpecker, hard headed oriole etc. Adholia, Valadera, Ratanghuna and Pilipat are rewarding places for bird watching. Another attraction is a crocodile farm developed in the forest.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Vaishali, Vaishali, Vaishali District, Bihar
Further drive to visit Vaishali a city of great importance in Buddhist history. Among other significant events, the Buddha admitted women into the monastic order at the Kutagarasala Vihara and delivered the famous Jewel Discourse (Ratana Sutta) to purge the city when faced with a devastating drought, famine, and plague. Visit The Ashoka pillar, King Ashoka became a great follower of Buddhism after the massacre of Kalinga and erected one his famous Ashokan pillar in Vaishali which was to memorialize the last sermon of Lord Buddha that took place here. There is a life like figure of a lion flawlessly engraved, at the top of the pillar facing north, believed to be the direction of Lord Buddha's last voyage. There is a brick stupa and a pond known as Ramkund next to the pole which sums up to make a sanctified spot for Buddhists. Vishwa Shanti Stupa a 125ft, tall peace pagoda which was built by the Buddh Vihar society in collaboration with Japanese government was excavated in 1969. Just next to Vishwa Shanti Stupa is Abhishek Pushkarni known as coronation tank and the sacred waters of this tank were used for anointing the elected representatives before their pledge, at the time of Lichchavis. And as you amble around you will find a museum on the north bank which houses the artifacts found during excavation, dividing them into four galleries, one is terracotta items of Human figures, another gallery has terracotta items of animal figures with wheels, cast coins etc. The third gallery exhibits antles, bones and iron and copper commodities. And the fourth gallery houses earthen wares.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Diu, Diu, Diu Island, Diu District, Daman and Diu
After lunch drivew to Diu check in at hotel.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Diu

Stop At: Diu, Diu, Diu Island, Diu District, Daman and Diu
Breakfast at hotel, city tour of Diu. Visit Diu Fort a very large and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. This fort was constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD after the treaty signed between the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese. The fort is surrounded by the sea on the three sides and a canal on the fourth side. The fort offers a magnificent view of sea. On the fort stands a giant structure which now houses a Light House and the Diu jail. The beam from the lighthouse reaches to about 32 kms. Several canons are still located on the top of the fort and peep out of the holes on the walls of this gigantic structure. Fortress of Panikota is a magnificent stone structure in the sea, built right at the mouth of the creek. This fortress can be reached only by a canoe or a motor launch. This fortress has a light house and small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Sea. The fortress offers a very beautiful view whether seen from the jetty, from the Fort, from the village of Ghoghla or from Diu proper. Old Town has a few old mansions belonging to rich Portuguese and Indian merchants. The colorful three-story Nagar Sheth Haveli has porticoes, carved balconies, stone-made lions and intricate arches in European and Indian styles.

Rest time free and easy to relax and personal activities.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Diu - Departure (flight)

Stop At: Diu, Diu, Diu Island, Diu District, Daman and Diu
Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.