Local Expert Guide · Updated 2026

Best Places to Visit in Gujarat

From Krishna's Dwarka and Somnath's Jyotirlinga to the lions of Sasan Gir and the white salt flats of Kutch — the places we take our own families when they visit Gujarat, with practical tips you won't find on generic travel sites.

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Gujarat covers 1,600 km of coastline, the world's largest salt desert, India's only wild lions, and some of Hinduism's most sacred temples — all in one state. Most first-time visitors try to cover too much and end up rushed. This guide is written the way we plan trips for our own relatives: what's actually worth your time, when to go, and how to get there without wasting a day in transit.

Written by the team at Diu Holidays — 12 years running private Gujarat tours, based in Diu.

In this guide

#1

Dwarka

Lord Krishna's ancient kingdom on the Arabian Sea

Best time to visit
October – March (pleasant coastal weather)
By air
Jamnagar Airport (137 km); Rajkot (225 km) for more flights
By train
Dwarka Railway Station is on the main Ahmedabad–Okha line
By road
6–7 hrs by car from Ahmedabad via NH 47

What to see

  • Dwarkadhish Temple — 2,500-year-old Krishna shrine, aarti at dawn is unmissable
  • Bet Dwarka — boat ride to the island Krishna is said to have lived on
  • Nageshwar Jyotirlinga — one of India's 12 sacred Jyotirlingas
  • Rukmini Devi Temple — quiet 12th-century temple, best at sunset
Local tip

Skip the queue at Dwarkadhish by attending the 6:30 AM Mangla aarti. Wear a shirt with sleeves — the temple enforces a dress code.

#2

Somnath

The first of the 12 Jyotirlingas, rebuilt seven times

Best time to visit
November – February
By air
Diu Airport (85 km) or Rajkot (190 km)
By train
Veraval station is 7 km away; well-connected from Ahmedabad and Mumbai
By road
2 hrs from Diu, 3 hrs from Junagadh

What to see

  • Somnath Temple — nightly Sound & Light show narrates the temple's saga
  • Triveni Sangam — confluence of three rivers meeting the Arabian Sea
  • Bhalka Tirth — where Krishna is said to have left his mortal body
  • Somnath Beach — a peaceful sunset walk after temple darshan
Local tip

Pair Somnath with Diu (85 km) for a temple + beach combination that most itineraries miss.

#3

Sasan Gir

The only home of the Asiatic lion outside Africa

Best time to visit
December – March (park closed 16 June – 15 October)
By air
Diu (75 km) or Rajkot (160 km)
By train
Junagadh (60 km) or Veraval (45 km)
By road
Best reached by private car — public transport inside the park is limited

What to see

  • Gir Jungle Trail — jeep safari through Devalia zone, near-guaranteed lion sighting
  • Kamleshwar Dam — crocodile sightings and birdwatching
  • Siddi tribal village — descendants of African settlers, unique music & dance
Local tip

Book safari permits 60+ days ahead on the official Gujarat Forest Department portal — walk-in permits are almost impossible in season.

#4

Rann of Kutch

The world's largest salt desert — surreal white at full moon

Best time to visit
November – February (Rann Utsav festival)
By air
Bhuj Airport (85 km from Dhordo tent city)
By train
Bhuj is the closest rail head with direct trains from Mumbai & Ahmedabad
By road
1.5 hrs from Bhuj to Dhordo by car

What to see

  • White Rann at full moon — walk out onto endless salt flats under the moonlight
  • Rann Utsav tent city — cultural performances, camel rides, hot-air balloons
  • Kala Dungar (Black Hill) — highest point in Kutch, views into Pakistan
  • Handicraft villages — Nirona (Rogan art), Bhujodi (weaving), Ajrakhpur (block prints)
Local tip

The Rann is a border area — carry a photo ID and get a free permit at the Bhirandiyara checkpoint. Book Dhordo tents 2–3 months ahead in December.

#5

Ahmedabad

India's first UNESCO World Heritage City

Best time to visit
November – February
By air
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (well-connected globally)
By train
Ahmedabad Junction is a major hub on the Western Railway
By road
8-lane expressway from Vadodara; well-connected by NH via Mumbai and Delhi

What to see

  • Sabarmati Ashram — Gandhi's home during the freedom movement
  • Heritage Walk in the old city — pols, havelis, hidden Jain temples
  • Adalaj Stepwell — 500-year-old five-storey stepwell
  • Manek Chowk night market — legendary street food after 9 PM
Local tip

Do the official Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation heritage walk (7:30 AM daily from Swaminarayan Temple) — it's ₹100 and covers what tourists always miss.

#6

Diu

Portuguese-era island with quiet beaches and colonial forts

Best time to visit
October – March
By air
Diu Airport (direct flights from Mumbai & Ahmedabad)
By train
Delvada (8 km) or Veraval (90 km)
By road
2 hrs from Somnath, 4 hrs from Junagadh

What to see

  • Diu Fort — Portuguese-built cliffside fort, cannons still in place
  • Nagoa Beach — the island's calmest swim beach, palm-fringed
  • St. Paul's Church — 400-year-old Baroque church, still active
  • Naida Caves — natural cave system carved by the sea
Local tip

Rent a scooter (₹300/day). The whole island is 40 km end-to-end and the coast road is one of the most scenic in India.

#7

Statue of Unity

The world's tallest statue at 182 metres (Sardar Patel)

Best time to visit
October – February
By air
Vadodara Airport (90 km); Surat (150 km)
By train
Kevadiya station has direct trains from Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Delhi
By road
3.5 hrs from Ahmedabad via Vadodara

What to see

  • Viewing gallery at 153 m — 360° view of the Narmada valley
  • Valley of Flowers — 17 km of themed gardens beside the Narmada
  • Jungle Safari Park — 1,100 species from six continents
  • Nightly laser & sound show on the statue itself
Local tip

Buy the express-entry ticket online in advance — the standard queue can be 2+ hours on weekends.

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