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Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar

city · Gujarat

Bhavnagar is a historic coastal city, founded in 1723 by Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil on the western rim of the Gulf of Khambhat.

State
Gujarat
Type
City
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Bhavnagar is a historic coastal city, founded in 1723 by Maharaja Bhavsinhji Gohil on the western rim of the Gulf of Khambhat. It spent centuries as a maritime trading capital exporting the region's goods, and now takes in business travellers as readily as those who come for its history. Grand colonial buildings and public squares fill the centre, the hilltop temples look out over working industrial shipping lock gates rather than over anything prettier, and the city is the main way in to the world-famous blackbuck savanna at Velavadar.

When to go

October to March is mild: good weather for the wildlife safaris and for the heritage buildings out in the open.

Why visit

Indo-Saracenic royal palaces, rare grassland reserves where herds of endangered blackbuck run, and sacred hilltop shrines cut straight out of dark volcanic cliffs.

Cultural notes

Bhavnagar has long been one of western India's progressive centres for literature, traditional folk theatre and educational movements, and it holds on to a cultivated, gentle version of Saurashtra community life.

How to reach

By Air: Bhavnagar Airport (BHU) has regular domestic flights. By Train: Bhavnagar Terminus (BVC) has daily direct express trains to the main railway centres of western India. By Road: Ahmedabad is about 3.5 hours away by state highway.

Bhavnagar in 3 days

See the full itinerary

3 days in Bhavnagar

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Takhteshwar TempleDay 1

Day 1

Takhteshwar Temple

Built in 1893 on a small hill in the middle of Bhavnagar, carried on eighteen pillars. Climb it for the view over the town to the shipping channels in the gulf rather than for the temple itself.

Day 1

Gaurishankar Lake evening walk

Gaurishankar Lake evening walk

Day 1

Barton Library & old bazaar streets

Barton Library & old bazaar streets

Day 2

Day 2

Blackbuck National Park safari

Blackbuck National Park safari

Day 2

Grassland birding — harriers & floricans

Grassland birding — harriers & floricans

Day 2

Return via Nilambag Palace exterior

Return via Nilambag Palace exterior

Day 3

Day 3

Climb the 3,000-plus steps of Shatrunjaya

Climb the 3,000-plus steps of Shatrunjaya

Day 3

Jain temple city on the summit

Jain temple city on the summit

Day 3

Khodiyar temple stop on the way back

Khodiyar temple stop on the way back

Bhavnagar guide & itineraries

Bhavnagar is perfect for

familyheritagebudget

Shopping

Bhavnagar is popular for its high-quality local jewellery designs, traditional brass metal vessels, and regional handicraft tapestries. Do not leave without a box of Bhavnagari Gathiya, the crisp local speciality, from an old town confectioner.

Popular attractions

The places in Bhavnagar most people come for.

Takhteshwar Temple

Takhteshwar Temple

Attraction1 hrevening

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park

Velavadar Blackbuck National Park

Attraction3 hrsmorning

See all attractions

Frequently asked questions

How far is the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park from Bhavnagar city?

The national park is located approximately 45 km north of Bhavnagar city, making it a highly accessible day trip option via taxi or private charter vehicles.

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