Before you go
Gir lion safaris, Velavadar and the Wild Ass Sanctuary close from 16 June to 15 October. Gir permits are sold only at girlion.gujarat.gov.in (Gujarat Tourism).
The White Rann at Dhordo needs an online entry permit from rannpermit.gujarat.gov.in. Tent City bookings are on booking.gujarattourism.com (Gujarat Tourism).
Top places to visit in Gujarat
One place from each district that our guide covers in depth.
Historic City of Ahmadabad
World Heritage City inscribed in 2017, founded in 1411 by Ahmad Shah I: Bhadra Fort, Manek Burj, Manek Chowk and the Jama Masjid of 1423 (Wikipedia; Gujarat Tourism).
Amreli (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Amreli district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Anand (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Anand district. Formed in 1997 (Wikipedia list). Gujarat Tourism still describes Anand as a town in Kheda district.
Modasa (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Aravalli district. Created in 2013 (Wikipedia list).
Palanpur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Banaskantha district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list); Vav-Tharad was carved from it in October 2025.
Bharuch (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Bharuch district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Palitana and Shatrunjaya Hill
Hundreds of Jain shrines built over about 900 years from the 11th century, reached by over 3,750 steps; open 6:30 AM-6 PM (Gujarat Tourism). The page's summit height is wrong and is not used.
Botad (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Botad district. Created in 2013 (Wikipedia list).
Chhota Udaipur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Chhota Udaipur district. Carved from Vadodara on 26 January 2013 (Wikipedia).
Dahod (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Dahod district. Formed in 1997 (Gujarat Tourism).
Ahwa (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Dang district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir)
Krishna temple with a 43 m spire and a 52-yard flag; open 7 AM-12:30 PM and 5-9 PM. Sudama Setu over the Gomti creek is open 7 AM-1 PM and 4-7:30 PM (Gujarat Tourism).
Gandhinagar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Gandhinagar district. One of the districts formed in 1964 (Wikipedia list).
Gir National Park (Sasan Gir)
Last home of the Asiatic lion: sanctuary 1,412 sq km (1965), national park core 259 sq km (1975); 674 lions in the 2020 census. Safaris closed 16 June-15 October; permits only at girlion.gujarat.gov.in (Gujarat Tourism).
Jamnagar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Jamnagar district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Girnar Hill
About 10,000 steps to Hindu and Jain temples; Gorakhnath peak at 1,117 m. Neminath (12th century), Mallinath (1177), Amba Mata and Dattatreya; open dawn to dusk (Gujarat Tourism).
Nadiad (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Kheda district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Great Rann of Kutch (White Rann)
Salt flat that floods in the monsoon and dries to white crust; open dawn to dusk. Entry permits for the White Rann at Dhordo are issued online at rannpermit.gujarat.gov.in (Gujarat Tourism).
Lunawada (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Mahisagar district. Created in 2013 (Wikipedia list).
Modhera Sun Temple
Built 1026-27 under Bhima I of the Chaulukyas (ASI, via Gujarat Tourism), with the Surya Kund of 108 shrines; open 7 AM-6 PM; solar-powered projection show since October 2022.
Morbi (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Morbi district. Created in 2013 (Wikipedia list).
Statue of Unity
182 m statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, inaugurated 31 October 2018; open 8 AM-6 PM, closed Mondays; tickets at soutickets.in (Gujarat Tourism).
Navsari (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Navsari district. Formed in 1997 (Wikipedia list).
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
World Heritage Site since 2004: the 16th-century Gujarat Sultanate capital with the Jama Masjid, Saher ki, Kevda, Nagina and Lila Gumbaj mosques (Gujarat Tourism; Wikipedia).
Rani ki Vav
Stepwell built from 1063 by Queen Udayamati in memory of Bhimdev I; World Heritage Site since 2014. Evening 3D projection shows at 7:30 and 8:00 PM (Gujarat Tourism).
Porbandar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Porbandar district. Formed in 1997 (Wikipedia list).
Rajkot (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Rajkot district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Himmatnagar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Sabarkantha district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Surat (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Surat district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Surendranagar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Surendranagar district. One of the districts of 1960 (Wikipedia list).
Vyara (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Tapi district. Created in 2007 (Wikipedia list).
Valsad (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Valsad district. Formed in 1966 (Wikipedia list); formerly Bulsar (Gujarat Tourism).
Tharad (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Vav-Tharad district. Carved from Banaskantha; established 2 October 2025 (Wikipedia).
Laxmi Vilas Palace
Built 1890 for Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, chief architect Major Charles Mant; open 10 AM-5 PM, Tuesday to Sunday. The page's "largest private home" claim is not checked (Gujarat Tourism).
Districts of Gujarat 34
34 (Vav-Tharad, 2 Oct 2025) — Vav-Tharad (HQ Tharad) carved from Banaskantha; gazette 24 Sep 2025, effective 2 Oct 2025.
Ahmedabad
The World Heritage walled city, Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, the Kite Festival, and day trips to Lothal and Nalsarovar.Highlights: Historic City of Ahmadabad, Gandhi Ashram (Sabarmati), LothalAmreli
Lion country on the edge of Gir: Ambardi safari park and the Pania sanctuary.Highlights: Ambardi Safari ParkAnand
Amul's dairy museum and plant tour in the "Milk City".Highlights: Amul Dairy Museum and plant tourAravalli
Shamlaji, the Vishnu temple on the Meshvo, and its November fair.Highlights: Shamlaji Temple, Shamlaji FairBanaskantha
Ambaji, one of the Shakti Peethas, and the Aravalli sanctuaries of Balaram and Jessore.Highlights: Ambaji TempleBharuch
An old Narmada river port with its hill fort, Golden Bridge and Bhrigu temple.Bhavnagar
The Jain temple hill of Shatrunjaya at Palitana and the blackbuck grasslands of Velavadar.Highlights: Palitana and Shatrunjaya Hill, Velavadar Blackbuck National ParkBotad
The Kashtabhanjan Dev Hanuman temple at Sarangpur.Highlights: Shree Kashtabhanjan Dev Hanumanji Mandir, SarangpurChhota Udaipur
Rathwa country: the Kavant fair, Pithora painting and the palaces of Chhota Udaipur town.Highlights: Kavant (Kwant) FairDahod
Ratanmahal sloth bear sanctuary and eco-campsites on the Madhya Pradesh border.Highlights: Ratanmahal Sloth Bear SanctuaryDang
Gujarat's hill station at Saputara, the Gira falls and Purna forest.Highlights: SaputaraDevbhoomi Dwarka
Dwarkadhish and Nageshwar, Bet Dwarka across the Sudarshan Setu, and the Blue Flag beach at Shivrajpur.Highlights: Dwarkadhish Temple (Jagat Mandir), Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Bet DwarkaGandhinagar
The state capital: Akshardham, the Adalaj stepwell and the Indroda fossil park.Highlights: Adalaj ni Vav, Akshardham TempleGir Somnath
The Asiatic lions of Gir and the Somnath Jyotirlinga on the coast.Highlights: Gir National Park (Sasan Gir), Devalia Safari Park (Gir Interpretation Zone), Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga TempleJamnagar
The Marine National Park's reefs, Khijadiya bird sanctuary and Lakhota on Ranmal Lake.Highlights: Marine National Park (Pirotan, Narara), Khijadiya Bird SanctuaryJunagadh
Girnar's temple steps, Uparkot fort and its stepwells, the Ashokan edicts and the Bhavnath fair.Highlights: Girnar Hill, Bhavnath (Mahashivratri) Fair, Uparkot FortKheda
The Krishna temple town of Dakor and the Galteshwar temple.Highlights: Ranchhodrai Temple, DakorKutch
The White Rann and Rann Utsav, Harappan Dholavira, Bhuj's palaces, Lakhpat and Mandvi, and the craft villages of Banni.Highlights: Great Rann of Kutch (White Rann), Rann Utsav and Tent City, Dhordo, Kalo Dungar (Black Hills)Mahisagar
The Balasinor dinosaur fossil park at Raiyoli and Kadana dam.Highlights: Dinosaur Fossil Park and Museum, RaiyoliMehsana
The Modhera Sun Temple, ancient Vadnagar and the Jain hill temple at Taranga.Highlights: Modhera Sun Temple, VadnagarMorbi
Ceramics town with the Rampara sanctuary near Wankaner.Highlights: Rampara Wildlife SanctuaryNarmada
The Statue of Unity at Kevadia, the Sardar Sarovar dam and the Shoolpaneshwar forests.Highlights: Statue of UnityNavsari
Dandi, the end of Gandhi's Salt March, and Vansda National Park.Highlights: National Salt Satyagraha Memorial, DandiPanchmahal
Champaner-Pavagadh World Heritage Site, Kalika Mata on Pavagadh, and Jambughoda forest.Highlights: Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Pavagadh Hill and Kalika Mata TemplePatan
Rani ki Vav, the World Heritage stepwell, patola weaving and the Bohra havelis of Sidhpur.Highlights: Rani ki VavPorbandar
Gandhi's birthplace at Kirti Mandir, Sudama's temple and Madhavpur beach.Highlights: Kirti Mandir and Gandhi's birthplaceRajkot
Gandhi's boyhood home, the Watson Museum and day trips to Virpur and Gondal.Highlights: Kaba Gandhi No DeloSabarkantha
Polo Forest and the old hill town of Idar in the Aravallis.Highlights: Polo ForestSurat
A Tapi river port city with its 16th-century castle, Dumas and Suvali beaches.Highlights: Surat CastleSurendranagar
The Indian wild ass of the Little Rann and the Tarnetar fair.Highlights: Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch, Tarnetar FairTapi
Forest and bamboo country with the Padam Dungri eco-campsite on the Ambika.Highlights: Padam Dungri eco-campsiteVadodara
Laxmi Vilas Palace and the Gaekwad city of museums and gardens; the base for Champaner and the Statue of Unity.Highlights: Laxmi Vilas PalaceValsad
Tithal's black-sand beach and Udvada, home of the Iranshah fire temple.Highlights: Tithal Beach, UdvadaVav-Tharad
Gujarat's newest district: the Seema Darshan border point at Nadabet and the Rann wetlands.Highlights: Seema Darshan, Nadabet
Festivals and dates to plan around
- Rann Utsav 2026-27 — Dhordo, Kutch: 1 Nov 2026 - 7 Mar 2027 per Travel Trade Journal; official page still shows 2025-26 (to confirm)
- Girnar parikrama — Junagadh: November, Kartik Ekadashi to Purnima; 2026 dates to confirm
- Shamlaji Fair — Shamlaji, Aravalli: 20-24 November 2026 (Incredible India)
- International Kite Festival — Ahmedabad: 10-14 January 2026 edition; 2027 to confirm
- Bhavnath fair — Girnar Taleti, Junagadh: 3-8 March 2027 (Incredible India)
- Kavant fair — Kavant, Chhota Udaipur: After Holi; 7 March 2026 listed; 2027 to confirm
- Saputara Monsoon Festival — Saputara, Dang: 8-29 August 2026 (passed)
- Tarnetar fair — Tarnetar, Surendranagar: Bhadarva (Aug-Sep); 26-29 Aug 2025 last listed