HERITAGE TOURISM ASSOCIATION

Gujarat, with its wealth of history and art, has for long remained one of India’s best-kept tourism secrets. This looks set to change as a number of historical properties, worth visiting for their own architecture, interiors, memorabilia, or historical importance, are steadily being converted into heritage hotels, opening up romantically remote but richly rewarding destinations for visitors.
“Today, the 20-odd heritage hotels of Gujarat range from converted forts, palaces, and colonial-period villas, and country estates where maharajas and nawabs once entertained European guests, to rural heritage properties owned by the scions of feudal lords and the early 20th-century residences of Ahmedabad’s mercantile families.”
HERITAGE HOTELS
Garden Palace – Balasinor
Heritage Homes Balasinor, Central Gujarat
SAURASHTRA AND KUTCH
Many of Gujarat’s most iconic destinations are in Saurashtra or the Kathiawad Peninsula. For those interested in wildlife, this is where you can visit the Asiatic lion sanctuary of Gir, the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, India’s first Marine National Park, and bird sanctuaries like Khijadiya, Porbandar and Nalsarovar. The shore temples of Dwarka and Somnath beckon Hindu pilgrims, and the sacred summits of Palitana and Girnar are among the holiest places for Jains. At the entrance to Saurashtra from the mainland lies the archaeological site of Lothal. Buddhist caves can be visited at sites like Junagadh, Sana, Talaja and Khambhalida. This land has many important historical associations, with Mahatma Gandhi, Dayanand Saraswati, Sant Jalaram, Lord Swaminarayan and other leaders.
The long coastline of Saurashtra has many beaches and coastal areas of great beauty.
Historically, Saurashtra comprised about 200 princely and small states. The princely states like Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Dhrangadhra, Rajkot, Morvi, Gondal, Wankaner, Limbdi, Wadhwan, Muli, etc, have marvelous works of architecture like forts, palaces, mansions, cenotaphs, stepwells, temples, havelis, and the flamboyant mausoleum complex of Junagadh called Maqbara.
A bridge connects the Kathiawad Peninsula with Kutch, which is one of Gujarat’s fast growing regions for tourism. The handicrafts of the Kutch district are impressive in quality, diversity and the sheer quantity produced in its villages. Equally unique is the Great Rann of Kutch, a massive expanse of white desert wilderness covered with salt for much of the year and inundated with water in the rains. Kutch has many places of architectural, historical, artistic and geological interest. It is also a delightful area for birdwatchers.
Ambika Nivas Palace
Heritage Hotel Muli, Saurashtra Gujarat.
Dowlat Villas
Heritage Museum Himatnagar, North Gujarat
Divan’s Bungalow
Heritage Home Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Mani Mansion
Heritage Hotel Paldi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Alpana Heritage Museum
Heritage Museum Ahmedabad
House of MG
Heritage Hotel, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Jagdip Mehta’s House
Heritage Home Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Dowlat Villas Palace
Heritage Home Himatnagar, North Gujarat
Bhavani Villa – Danta
Heritage Homes Danta, North Gujarat.