Day 82 - Dwarka

Dwarka is situated towards the western-most part of the Indian state of Gujarat. Located on the tip of the Saurashtra peninsula on the Arabian Sea, Dwarka was once referred to as the Golden City. Dwaraka has remarkable significance as per Hindu lore since the place is categorized under both the ‘Chardham’ sites and the ‘sapta-puris’ (seven sacred cities). The name ‘Dwarka’ that came from two words – dwara (door) and ka (Brahma) – stood for ‘gateway to the spiritual union with Brahma’. Dwarka is one of the ancient cities of India with a history that dates back to the 1500 BC and is linked to the ancient Hindu texts like the Gita and Puranas. Dwarka is associated with the life of Lord Krishna, who is believed to be one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. According to legend, Dwarka was submerged in water after the death of Lord Krishna and the demise of the Yadava Dynasty. The present-day Dwarka was the Kushasthali of the ancient times which enjoyed a proud spot along the Saurashtra coast.  It is believed that Dwarka was rebuilt six times by different civilisations and the present-day Dwarka is the 7th one. The search for the lost city of Dwarka commenced in the early 1930’s. Archaeologists of the Marine Archaeology Unit (MAU) discovered the immersed township of Dwarka during their explorations which were conducted in 1983 – 1990. This submerged township was built in six sectors and its general layout corresponded to the descriptions of the golden city of Dwarka as mentioned in the ancient texts.  Copper coins, foundations of boulders, old constructions, pottery samples, etc. that date back to around 1500 BC were also excavated.Present-day Dwarka sits on the right side of the river banks of the Gomati.


How to reach here:

By Air:The closest domestic airport to Dwarka is located at Jamnagar, which is about 137 km away. There are regular flights from Jamnagar to Mumbai International Airport.

By Rail: Dwarka railway station in the Ahmedabad - Okha rail route is connected to other major railway stations. Tourists can take trains from Ahmedabad (Gorakhpur Exp), Delhi (Uttaranchal Exp), Mumbai (Saurashtra Mail), Kolkata (Okha Howrah Exp) and Bangalore (Vivek Express)


Best time to visit: October to June


Languages spoken: Gujarati, Hindi.


Must eat: Pooda, Khichdi,Fansi nu Shaak,Methi na Gota,Lasaniya mamra,Ladu, ladwa.


Famous Restaurants: Drool Kitchen, Chappan Bhog multicuisine Restaurant, Meera, Radhika.


Places you must visit:

Gita Mandir is situated towards the Western Ghats of Dwarka.  This temple was built by the industrialist family of Birlas in 1970. The temple is constructed using marble, which adds to the beauty of the temple. This shrine was built to protect the rich scripture, teachings and values of the religious book of Hindus, the 'Bhagavad Gita'.Besides, the walls of the temple are carved with the hymns of Bhagavad Gita. Along with this, the temple ceiling is designed is a special way so that every voice heard in the hall is echoed.



Dwarka Lighthouse was constructed at Rupen Creek during the early 19th century. In order to lift a lamp, a flag mast was posted at the port, which thereafter served as a lighthouse. In 1866, eighteen meters tall square tower was constructed at this site, along with an installation of an oil wick lamp.The present day tower measures around 43 meters in height and was constructed between 1960 and 1962. On 15th July 1962, this lighthouse was inaugurated by the then transport minister Mr. Raj Bahadur. In addition to the tower, a RCC Baffle wall was constructed at the site for installing the sound horn equipment and vibrators that can work as fog signals. In 1988, this fog signal service was terminated.Further, on 15th April 1964, this lighthouse was commissioned with other advanced facilities. From this lighthouse, travelers can see the panoramic sight of sunset.







Beyt Dwarka is an island, situated at a distance of 30 km from the main town. This island is surrounded by few temples, white beach and coral reefs. The main temple at Beyt Dwarka is that of Lord Krishna, which is believed to be located at a site that was once the residence of Lord Krishna and His family. This temple is over 500 years old and was built by Sri Vallabhacharya. Beyt Dwarka features temples of Vishnu, Radha, Lakshmi, Satyabhama, Devaki and Jambavati. There is a narrow street which leads to these temples that are crowded by vendors selling local crafts, idols, cassettes, coconut and seashells.This island is also known as Beyt Shankhodhar, which was one of the main ports of the town, before the development of Okha. The beach is popular among travelers for its rich marine life, marine excursions, water sports, camping and picnics.






Rukshamanee Mandir is dedicated to the beloved wife of Lord Krishna, Devi Rukmani. Among all His 16,108 wives, Devi Rukmani was Lord Krishna’s favourite. The Rukshamanee Mandir, which is also known as Rukmani Temple, features varied paintings of the 12th century on its walls. These paintings capture the time spent by Lord Krishna and Devi Rukmani.It is located on the banks of Bhagirathi River, which can be seen while travelling to Beyt Dwarka. The Mandir comprises a beautiful marble deity of Devi Rukmani, with four hands or Chaturbhuja. These four hands hold Shanka, Chakra, Gada and Padma, which symbolise her being reincarnation of Goddess Maha Lakshmi.Due to the curse spelled by Rishi Durvasa to Devi Rukmani, this Rukshamanee Mandir is placed away from the main Dwarkadish Temple in the town.




Dwarkadhish Temple, popularly known as the Jagat Temple, was built in the 16th century. The original Dwarkadhish Temple was built by the great grandson of Lord Krishna, King Vajranabha. It is a 5 storied temple constructed using sand and limestone. This temple is located in the middle of the town, with a 70.5 meters high spire.On the top of the temple dome, there is a 24 meters long multicolored flag, with symbols of moon and sun on it. The temple has a platform area of 1800 sq. feet and comprises a shrine, which is well supported by 60 pillars. These pillars are made of sandstone and granite, which render extra strength to the shrine.Tourists have to climb around 56 steps, representing the 52 administrative divisions of the Yadava kingdom and remaining four represents Krishna, Balaram, Pradyuman and Anirudhha, respectively. This Jagat Mandir has two main entrances, one facing north and another facing the south. The north entrance, which is also the main entrance to the temple, is known as the 'Moksha Dwara' (Door to Salvation). This entrance also leads towards the town market near the temple.The south entrance of the temple is known as the 'Swarga Dwara' (Gate to Heaven). This entrance opens towards the Gomati River, where devotees are required to take a bath before entering the temple. The main deity in the temple is Lord Dwarkadhish or Lord Krishna. There is also a statue of four-armed Vishnu known as Trivikrama.In addition to the main deity, there are various shrines dedicated to different deities, like Balarama, Devki, Vasudeva, Rukmani Devi, Satyabhama Devi and Jambavati. The temple also comprises shrines of Lakshmi-Narayan and Saraswati. Non-Hindus can also enter the temple after filling a form stating that they believe in the Hindu religion.

Gomati Sangam Ghat is the sacred place where Gomati River flows. This ghat can be reached by climbing down 56 steps from the Swarga Dwar of the Dwarkadish Temple. The Gomati River, which is also known as the descended Ganges, meets the sea at the Chakratirtha Ghat.The Chakratirtha Ghat is famous for a wheel with white porous type stones, called as Dwarkashila or Chakrankitha. There are over 12 ghats surrounding the Gomati River, which are venues of Samudra Narayana Temple, Gomatiji Temple, the Panchanada and Chakra Narayana. The point where the Gomati River meets the ocean is known as the Gomati Sangam.On the river banks of Gomati, there is a holy Gomati Kund, where Rishi Durvasa was served by Lord Krishna. At this Gomati Kund, the Gomati River merges with the Arabian Sea and it is considered sacred to take bath here.Gomati Ghat features many temples including Shiva Temple and other smaller shrines of Lord Krishna and his friend Sudama.

Samudra Narayana Temple is situated at the Gomati Sangam Ghat, which is at the back of the main Dwarkadish Temple. The deity in the Samudra Narayana Temple is goddess Gomati, who is believed to be brought from heaven by Rishi Vasistha. This temple is surrounded by Panchanada Tirtha, which comprises 5 wells that have sweet water.There is also a Chakra Narayana Temple nearby the Samudra Narayana Temple, which features a stone marked with a chakra that manifests Lord Vishnu. This temple is very close to the confluence of Gomati River and Arabian Sea. The main idols enshrined in the temple are that of Samudra Deva, Lord Varuna, Mother Astha Bhavani and Mira Bai. There is a sacred kund or tank in the temple, where several ceremonial sacrifices are performed. This temple is also located close to a meditation cave, Manoratha Dwar, where saints are seen engrossed in meditation.





Nageshwara Jyotirlinga Temple, also called the Nagnath temple, is located in the outskirts of Dwarka, in Gujarat. It is a famous Lord Shiva Shrine in India, which is situated between Gomati Dwarka and Beyt Dwarka Island. Nageshwara is one of 12 Jyotirlingas mentioned in the Shiva Purana.The lingam enshrined in this temple is that of Nageshwara Mahadev, symbolising protection from all kinds of poison. The highlight of the temple is the Nageshwara Mahadev Shiva Lingam, which is a giant statue.This temple is unique in the sense that the Shiva Lingam faces to the south and the Gomugam faces towards the east. According to the Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva started residing in the temple after he killed a demon named Daaruka. This place was thus named after this demon as Darukavana.

Shardha Peeth is the first Peeth among the four Peeths established by Adi Shankaracharya. Other Peeths founded by Adi Shankaracharya are at Sringeri, Puri and Jyotirmath. The Shardha Peeth is over 250 years old and is visited every year by thousands of pilgrims from across India.Adi Shankaracharya found this Peeth in 491 AD for withholding the traditions of India. This Peeth is also known by various names like Kalika Matha, which is in charge of the Sama Veda, the Paschimamnaya Matha and the Western Matha.The Shardha Peeth operates a museum, Shardha Vidhyapeeth Art College and an Indian Research Temple. This Peeth is an ideal learning centre for students who want to acquire knowledge about Indian Culture and Archaeology. The entire research work in the Peeth is carried out in Sanskrit language. This Peeth is managed by Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati, who also heads the Northern Matha at Jyotirmath.

Dunny Point is situated at Beyt Dwarka, embraced by sea and coral islands. This is the first eco-tourism site in Gujarat, which is ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The site also features a wide variety of marine life, including dolphins, turtles, fishes and dugongs. Tourists indulge in several activities like bird watching, water polo, kite flying, meditation and cruise vacations.





Gopi Talav or the Gopi Tank is a small pond surrounded by sandal like yellow sand, known as Gopi Chandan. This Chandan is used by devotees of Lord Krishna to make tilak marks on their bodies. The Talav has a special significance in the Hindu mythology, as it is believed to be the place where gopis came to see Lord Krishna in Dwarka.It is believed that Lord Krishna killed a demon named Bhaumasura and freed 16,000 princesses from his palace at this site. This site got its name as Gopi Talav after the Gopi princesses, who fell in love with Lord Krishna and wanted to marry him.

Hanuman Dandi Temple has been built at the place where Hanuman and his son Makardhwaj met. The Hanuman Dandi Temple is the only temple in the whole India which has idols of Hanuman and his son Makardhwaj. Devotees coming to this temple take back home a supari (beetle nut) and when their wishes get fulfilled; they bring back the same supari, plated with gold. 

Rukmini Hrid, which features seven ponds, is one of the popular tourist attractions in Dwarka. These seven ponds are collectively known as the Rukmini Hrid. According to the Hindu Mythology, this place washes away all human sins and bestows salvation on mankind.It is also believed that taking a dip at Rukmini Hrid can help in attaining Moksha or freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Rukmini Hrid is commonly known as Bhrigu Theertha, as Rishi Bhrigu is associated with this place.

Brahma Kund which is located just few kilometres from the town is famous for bathing. Local residents believe that the nectar from this kund got mixed with the sacred water of river Ganges, which consequently turned the water sweet.Lord Krishna came to Dwarka after bringing the sinners to the path of virtuosity. During that time, Indra, Yama, Sun, Moon, Kuber and Varuna came to greet Lord Krishna on His accomplishment. Soon after this, Lord Krishna created a pilgrimage site at this place which came to be known as Brahma Theertha or the Brahma Kund. This Brahma Kund is believed to free human beings from all their sins.  

Panch Kuai, also known as the Panchard or five rivers, is venue of a popular Lakshmi-Narayan Temple, who is the main deity of the place. The Panchard Temple also features idols of Lord Krishna, Durvasa, Hanuman and Goddess Ambaji.This site boasts footprints of Pandavas, Charan Padooka, footprints of some powerful sages and Bhajan Caves. 

Sindhu Sadan  lies in the ancient city of Dwarka, which also houses several other popular temples. The building of this sacred site was built by Shree Purushotam Vikram Mavajee in 1906. He was known as the jewel of Okha Mandal and constructed this building for his residential purpose.Sindhu Sadan features a nearby Sunset Point, from where tourists can get a beautiful view of sunset.

Day 81 - Vadodara (Baroda)

Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is one of the popular cities in Gujarat.  The city is located on the banks of the Vishwamitri River, the water stream named after rishi Vishwamitra. The name Vadodara is a dedication to its former ruler, Sayajirao Gaekwad III (1875-1939 AD). It was called as Chandravati, after its ruler Raja Chandan, then Viravati, which means ‘house of the brave’ and Vadpatra, as it featured plenty of banyan trees. The present name of Vadodara originated from Vadpatra.According to historians, Vadodara's history is over 2,000 years old and the city has been ruled by Hindus, Pathans, Mughals and Marathas. Baroda saw the settlement of traders during 812 AD and was dominated by the Hindu kings until 1297. During the early years of the Christian era, the town was ruled by the Gupta Empire and was taken over by the Chalukya Dynasty. With the spread of Muslim rule in the country, the city was ruled by the Delhi Sultans who were later overthrown by Mughal emperors. Finally, the Marathas took over the region from the Mughals.


How to reach here:

By Air :Vadodara has an airport that is located outside the city and it has regular to flights to many important cities in the country such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmadabad, Chennai and Bangalore.

By Rail: The Vadodara Railway Station is an important part of the rail network in the state and there are frequent rail services from different places such as Mumbai (Dee Bdts G Rath), Chennai (Navjeevan Exp), Delhi (Mumbai Rajdhani), Bangalore (Coimbatore Exp) and most of the other places in the country.


Best time to visit: October to March.


Languages spoken: Gujarati, Hindi and English.


Must eat: Methi na Gota,Dahi Vada, Kansar, Jalebi.


Famous Restaurants: Kai Asia, Offside Lounge, 22nd Parallel, Azure, Barbecue nation.


Places you must visit:

Aurobindo Ashram served as the residence of Aurobindo Ghose during his stay in Baroda (1894 - 1906) as private secretary to HH Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Maharaja of Baroda. During this period, Aurobindo Ghose was also the Professor of English and vice-principal of Baroda College (now MSU). In the following years, he gained glory as a social and political thinker, a freedom fighter, a philosopher and a yogi, named Sri Aurobindo.The bungalow was then visited by famous people like Lokmanya Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Sister Nivedita and Sakharam Ganesh Dueskar. Frequent visitors included wife Mrinalini Devi, sister Sarojini Devi and younger brother Barindar Kumar Ghose. The Niwas is now an ashram housing a library of Aurobindo literature, a study room and a sales emporium. The ashram features relics of Sri Aurobindo, and is open to all for meditation.









Maharaja Sayajirao University, commonly referred as M. S. University (MSU), is a teaching and residential university serving as one of the premier institutions of India. It was established in 1949 by Pratap Singh Gaekwad of Baroda, who named it after his grandfather Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The university has its origins in the Baroda College of Science, which was established in 1881 by the Baroda State.The main building of this university, now housing the Faculty of Arts, was designed by Robert Fellowes Chisholm. Posing an Indo-Saracenic architecture style, the building features a confluence of Indian and Byzantine arches, and domes in brick and poly chrome stone. Other attractions of the university are Faculties of Fine Arts and Performing Arts and the Hansa Mehta Library that has over 700,000 books and old journals.The M. S. University offers education in all fields, including science, commerce, arts, law   and many more. Unlike other universities in Gujarat, the medium of instruction for all courses in MSU is English. Spreading over approximately 275 acres of land, this university has roughly 25000 students on its rolls.





Laxmi Vilas Palace is a huge building of the Indo-Saracenic school that was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890. Designed by Major Charles Mant, this building is said to have been the largest private dwelling built till date. The interiors of this palace are reminiscent of a large European country house, and feature modern amenities like elevators. Presently, the palace serves as the residence of the royal family of Baroda.A striking feature of the palace is its Darbar Hall, which often serves as the venue of music concerts and other cultural events. Characteristic of a Venetian mosaic floor, Belgium stained glass windows and walls decorate with mosaic, this hall opens into an Italianate courtyard of water fountains. Besides, the 700 acres compound of the palace also houses other buildings such as the Moti Baug Palace and the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum.The museum exhibits a rich collection of art works that belong to the royal family, including paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and others depicting Hindu mythology. Entrance of this beautiful museum is marked by a refurbished train engine of what was once a miniature railway line. Evidences of the past can be found elsewhere in the palace as well, such as the old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble and terracotta by Fellici.









Kirti Mandir, or the Temple of Fame, is situated near the Vishwamitri Bridge towards the north of Maharaja Fateh Singh Rao Gaekwad's statue. This cenotaph was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1936 to commemorate the cremation of his family members, and celebrate the diamond jubilee of his administration. Shaped like the alphabet 'E', this stone building is characteristic of domes, terraces and balconies.The 33 m high central shikhar is adorned with the sun, the moon and the earth in bronze and an undivided map of India. Inside the cenotaph are various rooms, featuring with the statues and photographs of the members of the royal family. The marble walls of this temple are decorated with the murals Gangavataran, battle of Mahabharata, Life of Meera and Natir Pooja, executed by the famous Bengali artist Nandalal Bose.





Tambekar Wada is a spacious, four-storey building that has been constructed in an oblong fashion. It is originally the former residence of the Baroda State Diwan or Minister, Bhau Tambekar, who owned the responsibility of the administration of the state. The walls, doors and ceilings on the first and second floors of this old fashion building are adorned with the best specimens of mural paintings dating back to 17th and 18th centuries.Other wall paintings dating back to the first half of the 19th century represent epic scenes depicting the life of the people. As the paintings have been made by some careless people, most of them had to be restored by the Archaeological Survey of India. The ASI still attend to the chemical treatments of these paintings on a frequent basis.

The scenic and impressive Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery was built in 1894 AD by the Gaekwads. The museum has on display innumerable an extensive collection of artefacts relating to archaeology, geology, natural history and a variety of personal collection pieces of Maharaja Sayajirao III. Amongst the notable display, you can view the 109 miniature paintings of the Mughal times, a Persian version of Mahabharata specially commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar, 11th century Shiva Natraj amongst others.



Sayaji Gardens, popularly known as Kamati Baug, is the largest garden in Western India, spreading over 45 hectares of land. The garden is named after Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, who built it in 1879 on the river Vishwamitri. Besides the rich flora of more than 98 species of trees, this park encompasses two museums, a zoo, a planetarium and a flower clock.Built in 1894, the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery within Sayaji Baug preserves a rich collection of art, sculpture, ethnography and ethnology. Major attractions of this museum include Egyptian mummy and skeleton of a blue whale. The picture gallery, which was opened in 1921, exhibits art works of British painters.The Floral Clock standing erect inside the park is the first of its kind in the state. The machinery of the clock is underground, and its hour, minute and seconds hands move on a 20 ft diameter dial.







EME Temple, often referred as the Dakshinamurti Temple, was built by the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Corps. Featuring an unusually modern geodesic architecture, this temple is dedicated to Dakshinamurti, a form of Shiva as supreme teacher. It is run by Indian Army Authorities, and incorporates holy symbols of all religions in one place as they do not have separate places of worship for different faiths.Depicting army architecture, the aluminium building of this temple is ringed by a garden featuring a rich collection of 106 ancient statues from the 6th to the 16th centuries.



Qutbuddin Hajira is the mausoleum of Qutbuddin Muhammad Khan, who was a general in the army of Mughal Emperor Akbar and later the governor of his region. Locally known as Hajira, this monument is certainly the most important Mughal monument in Vadodara. Built in 1586, the tomb features beautifully carved stone windows and an old step-well in the large grounds surrounding it.





Mandvi Gate, often termed as the North gate of the Royal Enclosure, is one of the major landmarks in Vadodara dating back to the Mughal period. Built by Sultan Muzaffar (1511-26 AD), this square-shaped pavilion features three bold arched openings on each of its four sides. Marked by a market place in today’s time, this gate separates the two intermingled streets into four that meet in the center. Under the orders of Damaji Rao II, this gate was renovated by Governor Malharrao Maloji in 1736 AD. On special occasions like festivals and cultural events, the gate is illuminated with colorful lights. Near Mandvi Gate is a Central Library that has been inherited by the Gaekwads, and carries over 300,000 books in the present time.







Khanderao Market is a palatial building that was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1906. Named after Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad (1856 – 1870), this building was presented by Sayajirao to the municipality as a gift on the silver jubilee of his administration. The building is now known to house several offices, including those of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. In the back garden of the building is a vegetable market.






Sursagar Lake, formerly known as Chandan Talao, lies in the middle of the city of Vadodara. Rebuilt with stone banks and masonry in the 18th century, this lake remains full of water throughout the year. A concrete wall rings the lake that is often used by people to sit and enjoy the evenings. Vadodara Municipal Corporation has recently constructed a 120 ft tall statue of Lord Shiva in standing posture, in the middle of this lake.Several underground gates have been constructed to empty the lake in case it shows signs of overflowing. Water from these gates gushes to river Vishwamitri, which flows through the city of Vadodara. The lake is now being used for boating purposes, and looks extremely beautiful particularly on moonlit nights.

Nazarbaug Palace, built in old classical style, was a Gaekwad Royal Palace erected by Malhar Rao Gaekwad in 1721. Made in white-stucco, this palace was the repository of the jewels of the Gaekwad family. In 1927, the palace was believed to house a collection worth INR 444,165,200, including a necklace adorned with 125 carat Star of the South diamond. A cloth embroidered with precious stones and seed pearls is also a part of this collection.The palace also owned barrels of solid gold and silver guns, each of which weighs more than 100 kg. Other displays at the palace are royal heirlooms and works of old masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo. The collection also includes Indian Paintings, Graeco-Roman exhibits, Chinese and Japanese art. Once used on ceremonial occasions by the Gaekwads, this palace houses a Sheesh Mahal.

Nyaya Mandir, or the Temple of Justice houses the District Court of Vadodara city in the state of Gujarat. Built in 1896, this building features an Indo-Saracenic architecture designed by the Madras architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm. Elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Mughal architectural styles are also reflected in the building.The central hall of the building, which is adorned with mosaic tiles, is currently used as the Town Hall. Inside the central hall is a statue of Maharani Chimnabai, who was the first consort of Gaekwad Maharaja Sayaji Rao III (1875 – 1939). 

Lehripura Gate, built in 1558, served as the western gateway to the old city. A towering structure with beautiful arches, the Lehripura Gate now serves as a busy market place famous for traditional Gujarati and Marwari artifacts. 

Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Gruh was constructed in 1954, and serves as the town hall of the city. Fully air-conditioned, this town hall can accommodate thousands of people at one time and is thus used for various cultural functions. Within the town hall are three dressing rooms and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi standing in the compound.

Surya Mandir is one of the most legendary temples of Vadodara and is thus frequented by a large number of devotees. It is situated in the Surya Narayan Baug.

Makarpura Palace, designed in Italian style, was a Gaekwad royal palace built by Maharaja Khanderao in 1870. It was supposed to be the summer palace despite the fact that the royal family spent most of their summers in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III extended the place and renovated it years after it was built.Presently, the 3-storey building of the palace is used by the Indian Air Force as a training school called No.17 Tetra School. 

Sayaji Sarovar, also known as the Ajwa lake was formed by damming the Surya River and Vaghali Nala, the Sayaji Sarovar is the principal source of water in Vadodara. The site was designed by Shri Jagannath Sadashiv, and was constructed between 1885 and 1890. Sprawling across an area of 190 sq. km, this reservoir is 5 km in length and can store water to the height of 212 ft.Near the earthen dam is a beautiful garden, which is patterned similar to the famous Brindavan Gardens of Mysore.

Kadia Dungar Caves: Seven rock-cut caves and monolithic lion pillars are present at Kadia Dungar, near Bharuch. The caves suggest that they were viharas. A Brick stupa was also found in the foothills. These caves were in use during 1st and 2nd century AD.

Vadhvana Wetland & Eco Campsite is an irrigation reservoir and wetland located 10 kms from Dabhoi & 20 km from the Jambughoda village, is the water source for 25 nearby villages, and a popular bird-watching site for species including stork, tern, ibis, and spoonbill. Apart from being a wetland, it also has an eco tourism campsite. The best time to visit the wetland is from October to March cause that is the main migratory seasons for birds which migrate here from all over the world.

Chhota Udaipur, towards the border with Rajasthan shares a history with Devgadh Baria and Rajpipla as one of the three princely states of eastern Gujarat. The small town sits on the edge of a big lake, with a series of temples along the skyline. The Jain temple is an interesting example of the influence of Victorian art on local building styles. Structures from the 1920s such as the Kusum Vilas Palace(also a heritage hotel) and Prem Bhavan are also worth visiting, though they need permission from the local royal family.