FACTS &
FIGURES
Population : 750,000
Languages : Gujarati, Hindi and English
Best Time to Visit : Winters
STD Codes : Winters
CITY
OF MERCHANTS
Bhavnagar is a sprawling industrial city and an important
trading post for cotton products. The commercial importance
of this city is increased by its proximity to the
Gulf of Cambay and the Arabian Sea. As the origin
of this city is recent, one can find few historical
monuments. However, there are a number of places of
tourist attraction in and around the city. The city
offers vibrant shades of traditional Gujarati culture
to the traveler.
LOCATION
Bhavnagar is located in the peninsular part of the
state of Gujarat, in the western region of India.
It is 203 km from Ahmedabad and 690 km from Mumbai
(Bombay). It is near the Gulf of Cambay, a part of
the Arabian Sea. Bhavnagar is at sea level. Though
Bhavnagar is near the coast and experiences coastal
climate, yet it has hot summers (April-June). Winters
are cool (November-February). It experiences southwestern
monsoon rains during (July-September). As Bhavnagar
is near the coastline, it is generally humid throughout
the year.
VISITING TIME
The best time to visit Bhavnagar is during winters,
as summers tend to be harsh here.
THE PAST
The history of Bhavnagar city is .quite recent. Local
rulers established it in the first half of the 18th
century and ruled from here. It formed the part of
a princely state, which continued during the British
rule. It was finally merged into India, at the time
of independence in 1947, and formed the erstwhile
state of Saurashtra. It finally became a part of the
present-day state of Gujarat.
TOURIST SPOTS
Though Bhavnagar is a modern city, there are a number
of important tourist spots here. One of the important
tourist attractions of Bhavnagar is the Takhteshwar
Temple, built on a small hillock overlooking the city
by the local royal family, dedicated to lord Shiva.
It not only offers a great view of the city and the
adjacent Gulf of Cambay, but is also an important
pilgrim center. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple
every year. Gandhi Smriti Museum or Gandhi Memorial
is another important tourist attraction-it houses
a collection of photographs and memorabilia associated
with Mahatma Gandhi. Near Gandhi Smriti, the traveler
can see the Clock Tower, which is an important landmark
of this city. Gaurishankar Lake is an important picnic
spot with its well-maintained parks. There is a small
planetarium for children to visit. The Central Salt
and Marine Research Institute is an important place
to visit and a must for the science freak. Samaldas
College, established 100 years ago, is an important
monument and it is said that Mahatma Gandhi was once
a student here. The Barton Library with its museum,
located at the heart of the city, is worth paying
a visit. The Water Lock Gate of Bhavnagar is also
worth paying a visit, as it is the first of its kind
in Gujarat. The water locks maintain the water level
of the docks, thus helping ships to stay afloat at
the time of low tide.
SITES NEARBY
There are number of interesting tourist places around
Bhavnagar. Forty-two kilometers northeast of Bhavnagar
is the ancient city of Valabhipur, which is well known
for its ruins. Velavadar National Park is 65 km north
of Bhavnagar and is famous for its protected species
of blackbucks. The town of Palitana, which is 51 km
southwest of Bhavnagar, is famous for its Jain temples.
It is one of the holiest pilgrim sites for Jains.
Palitana has 863 temples on hilltops. Sihor (28 km)
and Mahuva shore (150 km) are other places to visit.
SHOPPING
Like most parts of Gujarat, Bhavnagar is also known
for its traditional handicrafts, which include embroidery
and high quality appliqué work. Locally made
tie and dye and block-printed fabrics are also popular.
The traveler can buy these items from Gandhi Smriti,
located on Crescent Circle, near the Clock Tower and
from Avsar, located at the Madhav Hill complex. The
main shopping center is located in Darbargarh area
of the city. Bhavnagar offers both traditional and
modern goods to the traveler.
HOW TO REACH
Bhavnagar has an airport, which is southeast of the
city center. One can take auto-rickshaw from the airport
to reach the city. The Indian Airlines Office (Ph:
426503) is located near the Ganga Jalia Tank. Indian
Airlines operates four flights to Mumbai per week.
Other domestic airlines also have regular flights
to Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar is well connected by road
with towns and cities in the region. The main bus
stand is about a kilometer from Ganga Jalia Tank.
There are five daily buses for Diu (5 hours) and hourly
buses for Palitana (1½ hour). There are a number
of points within the city from where the tourist can
get private buses to different parts of Gujarat and
beyond. Bhavnagar is well connected by train to Ahmedabad
and Palitana. There are four daily trains to Ahmedabad
and it takes 5-6 hours to reach there. There are three
daily trains to Palitana with a total time of about
1½ hour. It is also connected to Mumbai by
train.
The tourist can use auto-rickshaw and cycle-rickshaw
to move within the city.
PLACES TO
STAY
Tourists with low budget can get cheap accommodation
in the old city near the railway station. Medium-budget
hotels are common here, with very few high-end hotels.
PLACES TO
EAT
Bhavnagar has a number of restaurants and eating
points, which offer a wide variety of cuisine ranging
from traditional Indian and Gujarati dishes to Chinese
and fast food. Gogha Circle and Waghawadi Road are
famous for their fast-food joints and restaurants.
