Gujarat Wildlife & Gandhi Legacy

Ahmedabad On arrival at Ahmedabad airport meet with our office executive assistance and transfer to hotel check in. Later city tour of Ahmedabad home to several interesting museums. Many of Ahmedabad buildings bear the signatures of world-renowned architects like Le Corbusier, Louis Khan, Doshi and Correa. Visit the Shaking minarets, Sabarmati ashram, Vishala vichar museum, Kite museum & Hatheesing Jain Temple. Overnight at hotel.

Ahmedabad - Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary - Little Rann of Kutch (180kms/ 3hrs approx) Breakfast at hotel drive to Little Rann of Kutch via visiting Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. 60km from Ahmedabad Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary consisting primarily of a 120.82-square-kilometre lake and ambient marshes. The lake attracts over 210 species of birds in the winter, and harbors a variety of plants and animals. Besides a few mammalian species including the endangered wild ass and the black buck, its migratory bird population includes rosy pelicans, flamingoes, white storks, brahminy ducks and herons. Thousands of migratory waterfowl flock to this sanctuary just after the Indian monsoon season. The shallow area and ponds on the outer fringes of the lake attract the wading birds that feed in the shallow waters. Millions of birds visit the bird sanctuary in winter and spring. Winter migrants from the north including purple moorhen, pelicans, lesser flamingos and greater flamingos, white storks, four species of bitterns, crakes, grebes, brahminy ducks (Ruddy shelduck) and herons visit Nal Sarovar.Continue drive to Little Rann of Kutch – Dinner, and overnight at The Royal Safari Camp. Overnight at The Royal Safari Camp.

Little Rann of Kutch - Rajkot (165kms/ 3hrs approx) Early morning Safari in Little Rann of Kutch followed by village safari to see communities like Mir, Bharwad, Rabari, and Bajanias.The Rann (barren land) in Gujarat is divided into two - the Great Rann of Kutch and the Little Rann of Kutch. Carved out of nearly 5,000 sq. km of the Little Rann of Kutch is the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary. Locally known as the ‘ghudkhar’, these sturdy animals are usually found roaming the vast saline desert and the scrub forest, in herds. Apart from the Indian wild ass, the Rann is also home to nilai, chinkara, blackbucks, jackals, etc. A Ramsar Site, the Little Rann of Kutch is also known for its avian varieties, which increases manifold in winter, especially in the seasonal wetlands. Afternoon drive to Rajkot check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Rajkot - Dwarka (225kms/ 5hrs approx) Breakfast at hotel city tour of Rajkot. It was here that Gandhi spend his childhood as his father was appointed as the Diwan of the Rajkot state. The family residence, now known as ‘Kaba Gandhi No Delo’, now hosts a small museum offering a look into various events in Gandhi’s life through pictures. Gandhi returned to Rajkot in 1939 to establish the Rashtriyashala to instil the tenets of Swaraj (self-rule) in the minds of the people as a key step towards the country’s fight for Independence. Today, the school imparts educational and vocational training. Interestingly, it was this Rashtriyashala that encouraged local weavers to master the art of single ‘ikat’ weaving that is now a popular buy in Rajkot. Also visit Jubilee Garden - a large and open park in Rajkot. 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.Afternoon drive to Dwarka check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Dwarka Breakfast at hotel excursion to visit Marine National Park by ferry. The 458 sq km of Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, is an archipelago of 42 tropical islands along the northern coast of Jamnagar district. As the sanctuary lies in the inter-tidal zone, it is convenient to observe the marine habitat, including saline grasslands, mudflats, coral reefs, and mangroves. Some of the commonly seen marine animals here are giant sea anemone, sponges, starfish sea cucumber, octopus, puffer fish, sea urchins, etc. Pirotan and a few other islands are known for their coral reefs. The mangroves shelter a variety of birds too. Return to hotel and visit Nageshwar temple (Jyotirlinga). Dwarka is an ancient city known as a Hindu pilgrimage site. The ancient Dwarkadhish Temple has an elaborately tiered main shrine, a carved entrance and a black-marble idol of Lord Krishna. Dwarka Beach and nearby Dwarka Lighthouse offer views of the Arabian Sea. Southeast, Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary protects migratory birds and endangered species like the Indian wolf.Rest time free and easy to relax on the beach. Overnight at hotel.

Dwarka - Porbandar - Gir National Park (290kms/ 6hrs approx) Breakfast at hotel, drive to Gir National Park via visiting Porbandar. The ‘haveli’ where Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on Oct 2, 1869, is one of the most popular attractions in Gujarat. The room where he was born has been preserved as it is, and has a stark look. A part of the house has now been converted into a museum and called the Kirti Mandir. Open from 9am to 12pm and again from 3pm to 6pm. After sightseeing drive to Gir National Park check in at resort. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Sasan Gir Breakfast at hotel, morning and afternoon safari in the national park. Sasan 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. The forest is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. 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. Overnight at resort/ jungle lodge.

Sasan Gir NP – Palitana - Bhavnagar (225kms/ 5hrs Approx) Breakfast at hotel drive to Bhavnagar. Enroute visit Jain temples at Palitana on the Shatrunjaya hills. The entire summit of majestic mount Shatrunjaya is crowned with about 900 temples, each rivaling the other for beauty and magnificence, presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle to devotees and visitors. Continue drive to Bhavnagar check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Bhavnagar - Blackbuck National Park - Ahmedabad (200kms/ 4hrs Approx) Breakfast at hotel. Excursion to visit Blackbuck National Park at Velavadar (45kms from Bhavnagar). Established in 1976 in the Bhal region of Saurashtra, hugging the coasts of the Gulf of Khambhat on the south, it is spread over an area of 34.08 km2, which was primarily a "vidi" (grassland) of the maharaja of the princely state of Bhavnagar for hunting the blackbucks with his famous hunting cheetahs. On the northern side, it is surrounded by wastelands and agriculture fields. The national park has been classified as 4B Gujarat-Rajwada biotic province of semi-arid bio-geographical zone. Flat land, dry grasses and herds of antelope have always attracted visitors to this park which has a grassland ecosystem. Successful conservation programs for the blackbuck, wolf and lesser florican (a bustard) are ongoing. Considered to be an endemic Indian species, the lesser florican, which once lived throughout the country, has become endangered in recent decades. Today, the largest population is in this park. Local wolf numbers are increasing, as are striped hyena, with sightings quite frequent during daylight.After safari drive to Ahmedabad and check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Ahmedabad - Departure (flight) Breakfast at hotel. As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.