Gujarat's Unique Wildlife, Tribes, Textiles & Crafts with Anecdotes DMC
For those yearning for a fresh perspective on India’s natural beauty, wildlife and rich culture, Anecdotes DMC know just the place. High on the western coast of the subcontinent, the state of Gujarat is a world of unique landscapes, breathtaking wildlife and ancient civilisations - adorned with the vibrant hues of handwoven textiles and whispering with the echoes of bygone royalty.
From the architectural marvels and bustling bazaars of Ahmedabad and Gir (India's last remaining home to wild Asiatic lions) to the 4,000 year-old Indus Valley city of Dholavira, the shimmering salt flats of the Little Rann of Kutch and the thriving textiles industries of the tribal communities, Anecdotes have pulled together an irresistible two-week tour of this hidden gem that’s sure to delight and surprise even the most seasoned of India travellers. This Great Circuit adventure is Anecdotes doing what they do best, with a signature itinerary driven by their passion for celebrating the beauty, diversity and transformative power of the whole of India, not just the well-travelled route. We begin - and end - in the historic city of Ahmedabad…
Old meets new in Ahmedabad
Your guests’ adventure starts with 2 days in Ahmedabad, a 15th-century UNESCO World Heritage City whose multilayered past and intricate wooden architecture of "havelis" and "pols" are vital to local identity, and contrast wonderfully with its modern vibrancy. Anecdotes’ guided tours are the best way to discover this exceptional place, with guests expertly directed around key sights that range from medieval residences to some of the most important Indo-Islamic monuments of the 15th to 17th centuries.
Taking in the beautifully carved windows of Siddi Saiyyed mosque, Sabarmati Ashram (home to Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian independence movement), the historic three-arched gateway Teen Darwaza and UNESCO-listed Bhadra Fort, the tour also heads to the famous Calico Museum of Textiles, where the exquisite collection of fabrics sets the stage perfectly for further discoveries throughout this trip. And, just a short drive away, visitors can also head out of the city to Hutheesing Jain Temple and the Adalaj Stepwell, a 15th-century, 5-storey-deep stepwell adorned with intricate carvings and motifs in a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles.
Anecdotes can recommend a number of unique places to stay, including the House of MG, a boutique, heritage hotel which is one of the oldest buildings in the city and wonderfully represents the architectural colonial heritage architecture of the early 20th century. For something even more authentic why not stay in your own traditional, 300-year-old "Haveli", "Mangaldas Ni Haveli I" which is now a 2 suite accommodation or "Mangaldas Ni Haveli II" which is 150 years old and has 6 rooms.
Royalty and Craftsmanship in Gondal and Sayla
From Ahmedabad, guests head to the quaint town of Gondal, known for its regal palaces and rich cultural heritage. On the way, a stop to discover the old-world charm of Sayla is time very well spent. This little town is bursting with majestic Rajput architecture and serene Jain temples - but it’s best known for its stunning textiles. Here, the women of the Kathi community specialise in beautiful beadwork jewellery, and the town’s weavers in single Ikat weaving and Khadi handspun cloth - all of which guests can discover at their leisure as they browse the bustling local markets and visit families working together over dye tubs and hand looms to create their stunning fabrics.
Gondal, another hub for traditional crafts, is a 3-hour drive. After checking in to the luxury of their hotel, an evening visit to the Naulakha Palace, with its ornate carvings and antique collections of beadwork, silverware and hand-painted wooden toys, transports visitors to an era of royal opulence.
The Magnificent Lions of Gir
Gir National Park is one of the only places in the world where you can see Asiatic lions - and, outside Africa, the only place in the world where you can see lions of any kind - in the wild. This biodiversity hotspot is teeming with wildlife, from leopards and antelopes to a myriad of bird species and is also home to the Maldhari tribes, who have coexisted with the animals here for centuries - but of course, visitors come longing to see the most majestic of the sanctuary’s inhabitants. Averaging 2.75 metres in length, the lion population of Gir is around 600 and growing, thanks to the efforts of the state Government to improve numbers after hunters precipitated a sharp decline in the 19th century.
On the way to the sanctuary, guests stop to stretch their legs and explore the block and screen printing of Jetpur and the Junagarh Museum which, built in a beautiful old palace of Junagarh, preserves the treasures of the Junagarh rulers and is amongst the finest museums in Gujarat. After a night unwinding in the luxurious surroundings of their hotel, morning brings guests a full day of unforgettable safari adventure, with two trips - morning and afternoon - broken with a spot of lunch back at the hotel.
And are they guaranteed to see the lions? It’s well worth saying here that the Gir National Park experience is truly breathtaking, whether you see its largest residents or not. As always with these experiences, there are no guarantees - but the most knowledgeable guides (who Anecdotes have access to, naturally) have years of experience in choosing the right slots and conditions to ensure visitors’ chances of a sighting are the best they can be.
The Temples, Bird Sanctuaries and Bazaars of Jamnagar and Anjar
A morning transfer towards the coast brings guests to Jamnagar, the jewel of Kathiawar. Set on the Gulf of Kutch, the city is renowned for its temples and is also a paradise for bird watchers, with sanctuaries like the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary attracting thousands of migratory birds including flamingos, pelicans and storks. It’s also famous for its Bandhani, or Bandhej, textiles - intricately tie-dyed fabrics created using a traditional Indian technique, whose vibrant patterns, rich colours and unique designs are often used for sarees, turbans and dupattas.
After strolling the streets and perusing the silver jewellery and textile wares of Chandi Bazaar (the Old City), heading down to Ranmal Lake is a must. Tranquil, picturesque and full of beautiful birds, the calm surface of this serene lake reflects the surrounding greenery and the historic Lakhota Palace, which sits on an island in its centre, making it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Here, travellers can visit the Bala Hanuman Temple, famous for its unique practice of continuous chanting. Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the temple has earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for its uninterrupted chanting of the mantra "Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram" since 1964 - an experience that is wonderfully powerful for observers.
After breakfast, guests head on to Anjar, the centre of the textile and metal handicrafts industry in the Kutch district. Steeped in history and cultural richness, it’s impossible to leave here empty handed! An evening trip to Gandhidham, famous for its marvellous textile market, is the perfect place for guests to shop for metalwork, Bandhani textiles - and much more - to their heart’s content.
Bhuj - the Gateway to Kutch
Bhuj, the gateway to the Kutch region, is a vibrant blend of history, culture and crafts. With its wealth derived from a thriving sea trade across the Persian Gulf, this unique city was once the capital of the princely state of Kutch and has an architectural heritage that richly reflects its regal past. Today, Bhuj is a textile tourism hotspot, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world to browse the beautiful handwoven fabrics produced by artisans both in the city and surrounding villages like Bhujodi, a weaver’s paradise. Here, an evening visit to the Swaminarayan Temple to witness the evening prayer ceremony is a must.
The ritual, known as the aarti or the Arti Darshan, is incredibly significant in Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), involving the offering of light to the deity while hymns and prayers are recited. Signifying the dispelling of darkness and ignorance, the aarti is a symbol of reverence and devotion and participation is believed to invoke blessings and divine grace, leading to inner purification and spiritual growth. And no matter your beliefs, there’s no doubt that the whole experience, with the rhythmic chanting of mantras in the background, creates an incredibly meditative and uplifting atmosphere, creating a perfect end to a brilliant day of cultural and spiritual exploration.
The Ancient Arts of Kutch
A peaceful night dawns on a day of culture, craft and community as guests visit Ajrakhpur, the LLDC Museum and Bhujodi Handicraft village. Ajrakhpur is famous for Ajrakhi (hand block) printing, a tradition brought to Kutch from Sindh by ancient artisans that has been passed down between the generations ever since. And it’s lost none of its relevance, being featured regularly in modern fashion shows - just part of the fascinating story which guests will learn from a family of local Ajrakhi experts.
Afterwards, trips to the Living and Learning Design Centre (where local craftspeople are trained and supported) and Bhujodi Handicraft village (a living craft museum built to preserve and promote Kutch’s traditional arts) bring further opportunities to interact with and learn from the local community. And at Nirona Village, visitors can meet the family dedicated to reviving the age-old techniques of Rogan painting, an inherited art form said to have originated from Muslim Khatri settlers some 400 years ago and which was practised exclusively in Gujarat.
The Prehistoric Civilisation of Dholavira
From Bhuj, guests travel on to Dholavira, where the remnants of a once-flourishing Indus Valley society emerges from its stark desert surroundings to offer a tantalising glimpse into one of the world's oldest civilisations. This ancient city is remarkably well-preserved, its meticulously planned layout, intricate water management and sanitation systems and imposing stone structures speaking volumes about the ingenuity of the pioneering Harappan people who lived here more than 4,000 years ago.
Here amongst the remains, guests can wander the thoughtfully planned streets of the middle and lower towns, gaze at the ancient citadel and marvel at what might be the world’s first signboards, written in ancient Indus script. The excavation also tells the story of the 7 stages of the civilisation, from development to maturity to decay - an utterly absorbing tale that includes a period of abandonment and a final stage of marked simplification, seemingly chosen willingly by the inhabitants of this once-glorious place.
The Little Rann of Kutch: A Unique Salt Desert
And from unique ancient wonders to unique natural wonders - on the final leg of this grand circuit, Anecdotes take guests to the Little Rann of Kutch, a stark yet stunning salt flat that is unlike any other landscape in the world. This vast, arid expanse is a seasonal salt marsh which transforms into a shimmering white desert during the dry months, the word “Rann” literally meaning “salt desert”. Its cracked terrain stretching as far as the eye can see, this place of saline plains, arid grassland, thorny scrub, lakes and swamps is one of the largest sanctuaries for wildlife in India, roamed freely by the endangered Indian Wild Ass and providing a home to rich flocks of flamingos and other migratory birds. And that’s not all on the list of inhabitants.
A dawn desert safari in an open Jeep offers guests the chance to see the plains in all their teeming glory, spotting everything from desert foxes, wolves and jackals to Blue Bulls, Blackbucks and quite a few snake species. After breakfast, a final day of travelling sees guests begin their journey back to Ahmedabad - but not without taking the chance for some cultural discovery on the way!
The Modhera Sun Temple is more than a millennia old, dedicated to the Hindu solar deity Lord Surya and, designed with the Shilpa and Vastra shastras (the ancient science of architecture and design) in mind, the whole structure seems to be floating on a base of blooming lotus. Starting with the famed recitation of Aditya Hridayam Strotra, Anecdotes’ storyteller leads an exploration of the temple, during which guests will learn the tale of the heritage of the Sun worship, and its historic associations with the myth of the Ramayana.
And the last stop before returning to Ahmedabad? The historic riverside town of Patan is best known for Rani Ki Vav - an astoundingly beautiful stepwell built in the 11th century by Queen Udayamati in memory of her husband, King Bhimdev I. Shaped like an inverted temple, the stepwell is a stunning example of Maru-Gurjara architecture, its multiple levels full of lines of intricately carved pillars and more than 800 sculptures of Vishnu-avatar gods, goddesses and mythological figures.
From here? Those with more time on their hands have the whole of India at their fingertips, thanks to Anecdotes’ wide range of themed itineraries and unmatched travel concepts, each of which dives deep into the undiscovered regions and hidden gems of this vast and stunning land.
Get in touch today to set up a meeting with Aditi one of Anecdotes' expert storytellers, connect with them on the SquirrelFish platform and follow them on Instagram @worldofanecdotes
