20 Best Heritage Sites & Historical Places near Rajkot

At a distance of 21 km from Ahmedabad Junction, Adalaj Stepwell, also called Adalaj ni Vav is a stepwell located in the village of Adalaj near Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. It is one of the famous places of heritage in Gujarat, and among the must-include places in Ahmedabad tour packages.

Also known as Rudabai Stepwell, Adalaj Stepwell was built in 1499 by Queen Rudabai, wife of Vaghela chief, Veer Singh. According to history, the construction of stepwell was started by King Rana Veer Singh and he died in a war with King Mahmud Begada unfortunately. Begada fell for the beauty of the widowed Queen Rudabai and asked her to marry him. The Queen agreed to marry Begada on the condition that he completes the construction of the stepwell that was started by her husband. He agreed and started the construction again. When the well got completed, Rani Rudabai jumped into the vav and committed suicide.

Regarded as one of the major Ahmedabad tourist places, the stepwell is built in the Solanki style of architecture with Islamic influence. It consists of five storeys, each of which is uniquely designed with beautiful carvings all over the walls and columns. The structure was built along the North-South axis with the entrance from the south. The stepwell is one of its kinds in Gujarat as it has three entrance ...

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At a distance of 6 km from Ghogha and 30 km from Bhavnagar, Piram Bet is a small island in the Gulf of Cambay, Gujarat. Also called Piram Island, it is one of the beautiful islands on the coastline of Gujarat and among the best places to visit during your Bhavnagar trip.

The Piram Bet Island is covering over an area of about 186 acres. History says that the island was under Muslim soldiers of Delhi Sultanate in the early 14th century and was captured by Mokhadaji Gohil, the Gohil chief of Umrala in 1325 CE. He made the island as his headquarters, built a fort and levied toll from all ships passing up the Gulf of Cambay. He became a noted pirate in Gulf. His demands came to the knowledge of the emperor Muhammad bin Tughlaq who was then quelling a revolt in Gujarat. He killed Mokhadaji in 1347 CE and destroyed the fort of Piram Island. The island fell into obscurity after the destruction of the fort. Later in 1729, Mulla Muhammad Ali, a merchant from Surat, built a fort on Piram Bet with an intention to establish himself as an independent chief. Subsequently, it falls under the royal family of Bhavnagar State who had built a bastion on the south west corner of the island to keep watch on the maritime activities.

The British built the 24m high circular masonry lighthouse tower on the bastion in 1864 CE. The lighthouse and quarters are now owned by Directorate General of Lighthouse and Lightships, Government of India which was the only settlement on the island and was ...

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At a distance of 42 km from Nalsarovar and 79 km from Ahmedabad, Lothal is an excavated site situated Bhal region in Dholka of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Lothal is one of the prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilization and among the best historical sites in Gujarat.

Literally called 'Mound of the Dead', this ancient and desolate ruined city of Lothal provides a fascinating insight into the life of the Harappan culture and the Indus Valley Civilization. The origin and history of Lothal can be dated back to 2400 BC. Discovered in the year 1954, Lothal is one of the primary sites of Archaeological Survey of India. The excavation work here began in 1955 and was continued till 1960.

Like other cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, Lothal too had an excellent architecture and town planning. Excavations have revealed that the town was divided into two parts. The upper part or the acropolis was where the ruler and other important people of the city lived while the lower part was meant for the common people. The entire city had a scientific drainage system, well laid-out, paved roads and a bath for every house, some of which were double storied and built on mud platforms.

The most architecturally sophisticated part of Lothal was its dockyard, which provided berthing facilities for the ships. Constructed from kiln-fired bricks, the dock comprised a basin 214 m long, 36 m wide, and 13 m deep. A 13 m wide channel on the northern side was included to facilitate ...

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At a distance of 17 km from Porbandar Railway Station, Jambavan Cave is an ancient cave located at Ranavav near Porbandar city of Gujarat. Situated near Saurashtra Cement Factory, it is one of the historical places in Gujarat and among the most visited tourist places in Porbandar.

Also known as Jambavant Cave or Jambuvant ki Gufa, this cave was the resting place of the warrior Jambuvan, who had his own special role in both the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Krishna and Jambuvan fought for the Syamantaka jewel for 28 days. Legend says that Satrajit was the proud possessor of a precious gem named Syamantaka which had mystic powers. Once his brother Prasena went out in the forests for hunting wearing the jewel and was attacked by a lion to obtain Syamantaka. Later, the lion gets killed by Jambuvan who takes the precious stone from him and gives it to her daughter. On the other side, Satrajit accuses Lord Krishna for killing his brother just to gain the gem. On hearing this, Lord Krishna goes on the lookout of the actual killer and finally finds Jambuvan with whom he battles for 28 days. Recognizing Lord Krishna and his powers, Jambuvan withdraws from the fight and gives the gem and his daughter to the Lord.

Jambuvan Cave has over 50 Shivalingas which are formed naturally. The main shivalinga is inside a natural cave. Water drops from the ceiling of the cave trickle down over the linga in a continuous downpour, ...

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At a distance of 42 km from Porbandar, Ghumli is a small village located near Porbandar, Gujarat. Known for its archeological ruins, it is one of the popular places of heritage in Gujarat and among the prime tourist destinations to visit near Porbandar.

Earlier known as Bhumli, Ghumli was the capital of Saindhava dynasty which ruled western Saurashtra from the middle of the 8th century to the middle of the 10th century. Later in the 12th century, Ghumli was declared as the second capital by Rana Shiyaji of Jethwa dynasty, who took the title of Rana of Ghumli. Ghumli remained their capital till 1313 CE when Rana Bhanji Jethwa was defeated at a war with Barmaniyaji Jadeja attacked and defeated Rana Bhanji Jethwa. He completely destroyed Ghumli and turned it into ruins.

Being the prosperous capital of Saindhava and then the Jethwa dynasty of Saurashtra, Ghumli is now an important and preserved archaeological site due to its architectural ruins. The Archaeological Survey of India and Government of India have initiated a number of efforts to restore the lost glory of the town. Built-in the 12th century by the Jethwa rulers, Navlakha Temple is dedicated to Lord Surya and is considered to be the oldest Sun Temple of Gujarat. The temple is built in Solanki style of architecture with entwining tusk of three elephants as a trade mark of the temple. As the temple was constructed at a cost of nine lakh, it was named Navlakha Temple.

Just outside the main temple, there ...

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At a distance of 92 km from Rapar, 222 km from Bhuj, and 300 km from Great Rann of Kutch, Dholavira is an archaeological site at Khadir Bet in the Kutch district of Gujarat. Managed by ASI, it is the most prominent archaeological site in India belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization and among the must-include places in Kutch packages.

Dholavira represents the ruins of an ancient city of the Harappan civilization that was inhabited over 1,200 years from 3000 BCE through 1800 BCE. It is the larger of the two most remarkable excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization or Harappan culture in India, the other being Lothal. Locally called Kotada, the 250-acre area of Dholavira sprawls across the Khadir Island of the Great Rann of Kutch and is part of the protected Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, among the top tourist places in Kutch.

The site was unearthed by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1967 but has been systematically excavated only since 1990. The excavated site of Dholavira demonstrates the ingenuity of Harappan people to evolve a highly organized system of town planning with perfected proportions, interrelation of functional areas, street-pattern, and an efficient water conservation system that supported life for more than 1200 years against harsh hot arid climate.

Lies between two seasonal streams, ...

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At a distance of 48 km from Mandvi, 51 km from Bhuj and 127 km from Rann of Kutch, Roha Fort is an ancient fort located on the outskirts of Roha village in Nakhatrana Taluk of Kutch, Gujarat. Also known as Roha Sumari Fort, it is one of the historical forts of Kutch and among the major Mandvi Tourist Places.

Located 800 feet above sea level on Roha Hill, Roha Fort is believed to have been built by Thakore Noganji. There are about 52 villages under this fort. Roha is also called Sumari Roha after the princesses from the Sumara state who took Samadhi here. After the British took control over the fort during the early 18th century several changes has been made in the fort through the approach of renovation. The British made two deep wells within the fort.

Covers an area of 16 acres, the fort appears like a temple and was mainly built with the use of stone and baked bricks. Over the years, most of the parts of the fort have destroyed from earthquake and lack of proper management. But one can see a temple at the bottom and another one at the top of a small hill. The famous poet of Gujarat, Kalapi, wrote romantic poems at Roha hill because atmosphere of Roha was peaceful and close to the nature with many peacocks and other birds which can be seen here even now.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

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At a distance of 41 km from Junagadh and 66 km from Rajkot, Khambhalida Caves are the ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves situated at Khambhalida village in the Rajkot district of Gujarat. Also known as Rajkot Caves, it is one of the popular historical places to visit near Rajkot.

Dating back to the 4th or 5th century AD, the Khambhalida Caves are a group of three Buddhist caves situated at the foot of a small hill on the banks of a spring. These Caves were discovered in 1958 by P. P. Pandya, a prominent archeologist. It is said that they were carved in the limestone rocks by the Saint of Dinyan Branch of the Buddha tradition. It is also said that many Buddha Saints from Junagadh came to these caves for meditation and there is an inscription on a stone here that states Asoka might have come to this place for his meditation.

Among the three caves, the central one contains the stupa which is known as the chaitya cave. The entrance of the chaitya is flanked by two large sculptures of the Bodhisattvas. On the right is the figure of Padmapani under an Asoka-like tree with a female companion and five attendants. There is a yaksha-like dwarf on the left of it holding a basket. The figure on the left side of the entrance is probably Vajrapani and this sculpture is considered as one of the most ancient ones in India. The second such sculpture of Vajrapani came into existence 400-500 years thereafter at Cave No.2 of ...

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At a distance of 28 km from Mehsana, 35 km from Patan and 100 km from Ahmedabad, Modhera Sun Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Modhera village near Patan in Gujarat. Situated on the banks of River Pushpavati, it is one of the popular places of heritage in India, and among the must include places in Patan packages.

Dedicated to the Sun God, the Sun Temple in Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty in 1026 AD, and is one of the prominent heritage sites near Ahmedabad. This temple not only reflects the architectural abilities of the Solanki rulers but also, speaks highly of the devotional zeal of the ruling dynasty at that time. As in the Sun Temple at Konark, this temple was also designed that the first rays of the Sun fall on the image of Lord Surya at the time equinoxes. The temple was plundered by Mahmud Ghazni but still the architectural grandeur does not vanish. At present, no worship is offered here and the temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014.

Built-in Maha-Gurjara style, the temple complex is divided into three parts - the main temple with a Garbha Griha and Guda Mandap, a detached Sabha Mandap, and Surya Kunda. Also known as Rama Kund, Surya Kund is a rectangular ...

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At a distance of 35 km from Palitana and 55 km from Bhavnagar, Talaja is a historical town situated near Palitana in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. Located on the banks of Shatrunjaya River, it is one of the popular places to visit in Gujarat and among the must include places in Palitana Tour Packages.

Talaja is better known as the birthplace of the famous poet Narsinh Mehta. Also, it is home to some important sites for Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. The main attraction here is the ancient Buddhist Rockcut Caves on Talaja hill. The rock-cut cave group includes 30 caves among which 15 are water tanks. The Ebhala Mandapa, a large hall with four octagonal pillars is the most impressive structure of all. These caves are adorned with fine carving of Boddhisatva. The caves are around 2000 years old and require about a 15-20 minutes walk up the hill to reach them. They are of the 4th stage of Buddhist cave architecture, noticeably earlier than the famous Buddhist caves of Maharashtra.

There is a Jain temple along with a Hindu temple of Khodiar Mata atop the hill near the Buddhist Caves. This Jain temple was established by King Kumarpala during the 12th century CE. This is a holy place of the Shri Shatrunjay Panchteerthi and is part of the Shatrunjay hills. The temple was last renovated in 1815 and belongs to Shwetambar sect. of Jainism. The sanctum of the temple house 79 cm tall black colored idol of Sacha Sumatinatha Bhagwan in padmasana posture. Besides this temple, ...

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