Off The Beaten Track Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Ahmedabad.

Days 2-4  Ahmedabad

Take a heritage walk through the ancient UNESCO World Heritage City of Ahmedabad as an introduction to the region’s rich culture and history. The bustling streets are contrasted by tranquil temples and mosques, including the Gandhi Ashram.

 Take a full day excursion to see the ancient stepwells of Patan and see Patola silk weaving before visiting the 11^th century Sun Temple of Modhera. The temple is famed for its intricate carvings and provides a glimpse of medieval Hindu culture.

Day 5 Ahmedabad to Bhavnagar

Depart Ahmedabad and head South to the lost city of Lothal. Explore the once prominent city of the Indus Valley civilization, now an archaeological site dating back 4500 years. Many ancient artefacts are on display at the Lothal Museum and the site is home to the world’s oldest known artificial dockyard. Continue to Bhavnagar, a coastal city and home to the all-marble Takteshwar Shiva Temple with panoramic views of the city below.

Day 6 Bhavnagar 

Today, you’ll take a round trip to the 1000 temples of Palitana and join hundreds of pilgrims as they make their way up the nearly 4000 steps to the summit. Although the journey is a long one, the scale of the temple complex and unique spiritual atmosphere of devotion make it a wholly worthwhile climb, and you’ll have the rest of the day free to relax.

Days 7-8 Velavadar

The Black Buck Sanctuary is one of India’s smallest national parks but is densely populated with fascinating wildlife. Spend two days taking in the park's natural beauty and look out for the blackbuck antelope and some of the 120 species of birds that live here. 

Day 9  Velavadar to Dared

Just an house away from Velavadar is Dared where you'll stay tonight. En route explore the historical Darbargadh fort, before taking a walk through the village. After lunch you can explore the village where local trades include diamond polishing. In the late afternoon you can watch daily rituals from the balcony of the fort and end the day with a jeep ride to the riverside for sundowners. 

Day 10  Dared to Jambhugodha

Journey onwards to the UNESCO Heritage sites of Champaner and Pavagadh, home to forts, mosques, stepwells, and temples from the 8^th -14^th centuries. The Kalikamata Temple which sits on the summit of the mountain and draws pilgrims to worship the goddess Kali, and the Saher ki Masjid and Kayda Masjid mosques in the citadel.

Day 11 Jambhugodha – Kathiwara

Travel to Kathiwara and settle into your heritage hotel for the evening.

Days 12-13 Kathiwara

Spend time here relaxing in your lovely hotel. The restored mansion is full of historical art and artefacts from the region, and the surrounding area is worth exploring on a privately guided tour of local villages or a trek through the nearby forests and jungles on the state border of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Days 14-15 Maheshwar

Transfer by road to Maheshwar, located in south-western Madhya Pradesh, it is one of the most atmospheric and magical towns in India. The fort and many-tiered temples situated on the banks of the sacred Narmada River are stunning, and people of all faiths are welcome to enter any of the temples to participate in age-old rituals. Your base here is an incredible 250-year-old fort, quirky and enchanting, with delicious food and a lovely pool surrounded by lush gardens.

Two days at leisure to enjoy the activities on offer here as well as relax and soak up the atmosphere. You might wish to take a trip to the ruined city of Mandu. You can also explore the local area on foot, stroll by the ghats or shop for the famed local saris, woven in plain cotton with decorative silk ends.

Day 16 Fly Home

Depart your hotel for Indore Airport and fly back to the UK (or continue your tour in India).