Day 01: Bombay To Bhavnagar

Mid morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Bhavnagar. You are met on arrival and transferred to Hotel Nilambag Palace. Founded as a port in 1723, Bhavnagar is an important trading post for the cotton goods manufactured in Gujarat. Spend the afternoon visiting the beautiful old bazaar area with overhanging wooden balconies, thousands of little shops and ateliers. The Takhteshwar temple sits on the highest hillock, offering panoramic views of the city and the Gulf of Cambay. Overnight at NILAMBAG PALACE

Day 02: Trip to Palitana

After breakfast visit Palitana, which lies 57 km from Bhavnagar, The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temples, 863 in all, that soar in marble splendour to its top. The construction of these temples dates back to the 4th century AD. They were built, destroyed by marauding armies, then rebuilt by devout Jains, including rulers of nearby states. The oldest shrines that exist today are attributed to the 11th century. They are typical of Jain temple architecture and each feature appears to assert its indispensable part in the integral structure. The Shri Adishwara temple dedicated to Rishbhadev, stands on the apex of the northern ridge. Palitana is one of the most sacred of Jain shrines, and it is the ambition of every Jain to visit the hill at least once, and if possible to build a temple here according to his means. The devotion has been expressed in the most exquisite and inspiring forms. The superbly carved marble spires glisten like ivory towers of a fairy tale city in the sun and the craftsmanship and beauty of the sculpture compare with the finest anywhere. Return to Bhavnagar for overnight at NILAMBAG PALACE.

Day 03: Bhavnagar To Ahmedpur Mandvi

After breakfast depart on the 5-hour drive to the sleepy little town of Ahmedpur Mandvi, once a walled port town famous for shipbuilding. Overnight at SAMUDRA BEACH RESORT.

Day 04: Trip To DIU

After breakfast visit the old Portuguese colony of Diu. The small island is separated from the coast by a narrow channel. Diu’s crowning glory is its huge fort, constructed in 1547 to the east and a huge city wall to the west, which sandwiches the town. The main gateway in the wall has beautiful carvings of lions, angels and a priest, while just inside the gate is a miniature chapel with an icon dating to 1702. The town is a maze of narrow, winding streets, with many well ornamented and brightly painted houses. The two remaining churches are St. Paul’s and St. Francis of Assisi. At the back of the town square, there is also a tiny but interesting bazaar where most of life’s necessities can be found. Return to Ahmedpur Mandvi for overnight at SAMUDRA BEACH RESORT.

Day 05: Ahmedpur Mandvi To Gondol

After breakfast depart on the 4-hour drive to Gondol. En route visit Junagarh, which lies at the foot of the Girnar Hill, the second most sacred mount of the Jains. Junagarh literally meaning 'old fort' is today a picturesque city, an extension of the walled city of Uparkot. Among the magnificent Jain temples on Girnar hill are the 12th century Neminath Temple, the shrine of Ambaji, which is auspicious for newly-weds, Gorakhnath and Guru Dattaraya further up. Also of interest are a Shiva Temple and the tomb of a Muslim Saint. All these attract followers of Jain, Hindu and Muslim faiths. On the way to Girnar is the rock with Ashoka's edicts and inscriptions of Rudraman (150 AD) and Skandagupta (454 AD). Nearby is the sacred pond, Damodar Kund. An old Rajput palace, two stepwells and Buddhist caves are of special interest in this historic Uparkot Fort.

On arrival in Gondol check in at the Riverside Palace hotel. Gondol was the capital of one of the most progressive, affluent and efficient princely states during the British period. The impressive 17th century Naulakha Palace with a sculpted façade, pretty jharokha windows and carved stone pillars has an impressive Durbar Hall and a museum of paintings, brass and silver. Overnight at the RIVERSIDE PALACE.

Day 06: Gondol To Jamnagar

After an early breakfast depart on the 3-hour drive to Jamnagar. The district headquarters is a walled city with several gateways, typical of traditional towns. The older parts are bursting at the seams but many areas were scientifically planned, as recently as 1914, and have a systematic layout of facades, squares, circles and broad streets. Master craftsmen spend months tying intricate traditional designs on saris before dying them on a variety of brilliant colours. The Kotho Bastion of Lakhota Palace is located in the middle of a tank and is approached over a stone bridge. It could accommodate a thousand soldiers and now houses a fine museum. Jamnagar has a solarium, which was built in 1933. With the destruction of two similar solaria in France during the Second World War this is probably now the only one of its kind in the world, and certainly in Asia. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight at HOTEL ORBIT PARK INN.

Day 07: Jamnagar To Bhuj

After and early breakfast depart on the 6-hour drive to Bhuj. En route visit the 16th century Halvad Palace, renowned for its fine wood and stonework. The journey is through interesting villages, giving you a glimpse of tribal life. On arrival in Bhuj drive to the District Collector's office to obtain the special permit required to visit this restricted area, before checking in at the hotel. Overnight at HOTEL PRINCE.

Day 08: In Bhuj

Spend the day exploring this old walled town. The capital of the former Kutchh state, Bhuj is an arid land, having a predominant population of accultured tribal communities. Rao Pragmalji’s Palace, built in traditional Kutchhi style, in a small fortified courtyard in the old part of the town, is today a beautifully presented museum. The Maharao Sinh Madansinhji Museum has a varied collection of paintings, photographs and embroideries as well as a collection of old princely-state coins minted from the 17th century right up to 1948.

The Fuvara Mahal (Fountain Palace) is a room devoted entirely to decadence and leisure. Most of the floor area is an ornamental pool, lined with tiles, which were manufactured by the Maharao himself. In the centre of the pool is a small platform where the Maharao used to sit and be entertained by local musicians and dancing girls. The Hira Mahal (Diamond Palace) has some superb embroidery pieces. The beautiful inlaid wood and ivory door is particularly noteworthy. The Kutchh Museum was founded in 1877 by Sir James Fergusson, a governor of Bombay under the British Raj. It is the oldest museum in Gujarat and has an excellent collection of anthropological and archaeological finds, textiles, weapons, musical instruments and a picture gallery. Overnight at HOTEL PRINCE.

Day 09: In Bhuj

Spend the day exploring the villages around Bhuj to get a glimpse of various pastoral nomads, their lifestyle, arts and crafts. The region is renowned for its silverware, tie-and-dye fabrics, weaving, block printing and particularly its fine needlework. Banni is the Arabic name for needlework and legend has it that the inhabitants came from Saudi Arabia in the 10th-11th century to settle in this region. Overnight at HOTEL PRINCE.

Day 10: Bhuj To Zainabad

Depart early in the morning on the 4-hour drive to Zainabad, situated at the edge of the Rann of Kutchh. The Little Rann of Kutchh is a breeding ground for flamingos and pelicans. The Indian wild ass lives in the Little Rann and part of the area is a sanctuary to preserve this rare animal. On arrival check in at the Desert Coursers Camp. There may be time to take a jeep safari into the sanctuary. Overnight at DESERT COURSERS CAMP.

Day 11: Zainabad To Ahmedabad

Take an early morning jeep safari into the sanctuary. After breakfast, depart on the 5-hour drive to Ahmedabad. En route, visit Patan, an ancient Hindu capital before it was sacked by Muhamud of Ghazni in 1024. Now a pale shadow of its former self, it still has over 100 Jain temples and is famous for the manufacture of beautifully designed Patola silk saris. Also visit the Sun Temple at Modhera which is a rare edifice of the Solanki era (11th century) when the art of temple building had reached its height. Anahil Patan, the capital of Gujarat at that time was known for gorgeous temples, imposing palaces and fine buildings of the kind seen at Modhera. On arrival in Ahmedabad check in at the hotel. Overnight at HOTEL CAMA.

Day 12: In Ahmedabad

Spend the day exploring Ahmedabad, founded by Ahmed Shah I on the site if the ancient city of Karavati in 1411 and today the great textile and commercial city of western India. Omnipresent is the Sabarmati River over which four bridges connect the old city with the new. On one side are the crowded streets leading to Manek Chowk, where rows of traders dealing in silver jewellery or printed fabrics lean against spotless white bolster-pillows, waiting for customers. The upper floors of the old havelis (family homes) have exquisitely carved wooden balconies, windows and doorways. The most beautiful ones stand in Doshiwala ni Pol. Sidi Saiyad's Mosque is one of the most eloquent examples of Indo-Saracen architecture, which blends Hindu and Muslim styles. The shaking minarets of Rajpur Bibi's Mosque at Gomtipur and Sidi Bashir's Mosque at Kalipur are interesting - pressure exerted on the inner walls of the minarets sets them vibrating. The Calico Museum houses a rich collection of fabrics and garments from all over India. Hridey Kunj, Mahatma Gandhi's austere Ashram, is set amongst mango trees where he experimented in non violent methods of political struggle.

In the evening, visit the Vechaar Utensil Museum, a 15-minute drive out of Ahmedabad, which houses a remarkable collection of metalware: utensils of every imaginable shape and size in bronze, brass and other alloys have been collected from every corner of Gujarat. A traditional Gujarati meal at the Vishalla Restaurant appropriately rounds off the visit to the museum. Overnight HOTEL CAMA.

Day 13: Ahmedabad To Baroda

After breakfast, sightseeing of Udaipur includes a visit to the City Palace, which stands on the crest of a ridge overlooking Lake Pichola. The largest palace in Rajasthan, it was built at various periods but still preserves the harmony of design, enhanced by massive octagonal towers surmounted by cupolas. Now a museum, it is a labyrinth of courtyards richly decorated with inlaid mirror-work, galleries covered with frescos, temples and roof gardens, which afford a wide panorama below. Sahelion-ki-Bari (Garden of the Handmaidens) is a good example of the Hindu art of landscape gardening on a princely scale. Ornamental pools with finely sculptured cenotaphs of soft black stone are surrounded by a profusion of fountains. The Jagdish Temple in the old town was built in the mid-17th century and has a remarkable bronze statue of Garuda, the mythical bird, facing his revered master Lord Vishnu. The shops and craftsmen's ateliers in the narrow streets of the bazaar justify endless walks. The city is dominated by Lake Pichola. The steel blue waters of the lake, artificially created in the 14th century, reflect the white phantom Jag Nivas Palace (now the Lake Palace hotel), which was built in 1746 as the summer residence of the rulers, and Jag Mandir, said to be built by Maharana Karan Singh for his friend Prince Khurram, who was later to become emperor Shah Jehan. Huge seamless stone slabs of translucent thinness where used. The rooms were embellished with inlaid stones - onyx, jade, carnelian, jasper and agate. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Baroda To Daman

After breakfast depart on the 7-hour drive to Daman which, along with Diu and Goa, was a Portuguese possession until 1961. Situated on the south side of the Gulf of Khambat, Daman developed at the mouth of the tidal estuary of the Daman Ganga river as a Portuguese trading centre from 1531. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight at SANDY RESORT.

Day 15: Daman TO Bombay

Spend the morning in Daman. Moti Daman (“large Daman”) retains the atmosphere of its colonial origins - many inhabitants still speak Portuguese. The landward east side has a moat and a drawbridge. The shaded main street inside the fort runs between attractive arched gateways adorned with Portuguese arms. The road passes the former Governor’s Palace and other government buildings. The Cathedral Church of Bom Jesus was completed in 1603. Its main feature is its painted and gilded wooden alter and pulpit. The Rosario Chapel, formally the Church of the Madre Jesus, has a unique feature - carved and gilded wooden panels illustrate stories from the life of Jesus. The northern part of the town, known as Nani Daman (“small Daman”) is basically a trading place, with a small fort enclosing a church, now used as a school. Some of the oild h9uses retain beautifully carved wooden doors and lintels.