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Morbi

As one enters Morbi swaying pylons of the suspension bridge and the beatific riverfront is a nostalgic reminder of Victorian London. Located 64 km from Rajkot is the town of Morbi with its quaint cobbled alleyways and buildings reminiscent of 19th century Europe. Morbi’s former ruler Sir Waghji inspired by Colonial influences designed a technologically planned and versatile city. The visitor is welcomed into the city through a grand suspension bridge, an artistic and technological marvel of that period. European influence in town planning further contributed to a central square known as the Green Chowk, approachable by three gates each designed in its own inimitable style incorporating both Rajput and Italian elements.

The original residence of the royalty the Darbargarh overlooking the river can be approached through an imposing gate with a magnificently carved façade. This structure has now been converted into a heritage hotel. Other noteworthy attractions are the Mani Mandir, a multi-religious Hindu shrine, the Wellington Secretariat with its marked Rajasthani influence and the Art Deco Palace constructed in 1931 with a magnificently varied interior.

This tinkering interest in technology has led to a mushrooming of clockmakers in a bevy of design variations and the sands of the River Machchhu are highly conducive to the fashioning of ceramic tiles in various sizes, color and hue.



Gondal

Drive south from Rajkot to Gondal and you pass Vintage Fords and Buicks taxis of a bygone era still plying the roads of  Saurashtra. Gondal, a city state mere 35 km away from Rajkot ruled by a family of car enthusiasts whose royal passion resulted in a fine collection of automobiles which are now part of a museum in the palace premises. Such was the royal passion that Gondal had the best planned and well designed road system in preindependent Gujarat. Gondal like its neighbors has some visually exciting palaces and living spaces; some like the Riverside Palace commissioned in 1875 by Bhagwatsinghji is now a Heritage Hotel. The palace grounds form a private forest reserve with frolicking deers and a variety of birds adding to the tranquil beauty of the place.

A building worth visiting is the old Darbargadh a seventeenth century structure which reputedly cost Rupees Nine Lakhs thus earning the sobriquet ‘Navlakha Palace’. The palace is built on series of arches delicately carved and inscribed in stone with a magnificent spiral staircase leading all the way to the top. The interior of the Darbargadh is open to visitors and for a fee one can experience the opulent living style of the Maharajas of old. Mandvi Chowk. The central marketplace of Gondal is a typical riot of color, the bustle of street cries and hawkers, vendors and beggars and wafting aromas of food stuffs amidst flowing bales of trade cloths in a variety of exotic prints. To experience Gondal is to take a walk down its winding streets inhaling the soul of the city and its people!
 



Khambhalida
A 28 km drive from Gondal gets you to Khambhalida. It has got three caves where the central one is called ‘Chaitya’ with a worn out stupa. The lonesome cry of peacocks and dancing dust devils guide you to an isolated cliff face where two imposing sentinels, statues carved in stone of the Bodhistava and on the right Vajrapani, guard a series of Buddhist caves hewn out of solid rocks some time in the 4th century AD.



 
Virpur
A short distance from Gondal is the town of Virpur, Jalaram Bapa the great social reformer and founder of the Jalaram movement was born here in the year 1800. His former residence is now part of a larger complex housing the main Jalaram temple and extensive kitchens to take care of needy pilgrims.



Jetpur
70 km from Rajkot on the way to Junagadh lies Jetpur, a town renowned in history as a center for Block printing and dyeing. The very air is laden with the smells of dye stuffs spiraling out of large copper vats with translucent layers of colored fabrics drying to the percussion beat of wooden printing blocks. Jetpur is a pleasure for textile enthusiasts who can visit and experience the process of printing and dyeing.
 


Tankara
In 1824, Tankara - a village 44 km from Rajkot was blessed with the birth of a child who later grew up to be a great social reformer and began a Hindu movement based on Vedic principles. This venerable personage was none other than Swami Dayanand and the movement that he initiated is the Arya Samaj of today.
 

Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary
Marked with fringes of hillocks around the bordering periphery of the arid shrubby plain land distinct with wild grass is the Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary got the status of ‘Reserve Forest’ in the year 1983 before which it served as a shooting reserve that belonged to the former princely state of Wankaner also known as Central Saurashtra.
 
The natural spread of the sanctuary is known and renowned for housing an entire troop of mammoth antelopes. These vivacious antelopes roaming around in flocks or solitarily hiding in the wooded landscape are gorgeous creatures known for their slender body and thick coat of short fur. Galloping around the terrain with their delightful jumps and leaps, the antelopes add in zest and verve in the ambience.  
 
Other animals like wolf, jackal, hyena, common fox, and blue bull are fellow residents of this sanctuary along with more than 130 species of birds flocking in this region. Partridge, Common peafowl, ring dove, large gray babbler, purple sunbird, yellow throated sparrow are indigenous varieties of birds inhabiting this area.

Drive around the wooded vicinity during the months of winter to enjoy the haven to the fullest. On a leisurely tour around the area you will come across the regal bluebull staring at you with wonder and inquisitiveness. The exquisiteness of the area is the galore of nature with herds of these antelopes grazing around and little ones in the group being mothered.

Being a responsible nature lover is our way of showing reverence to Mother Earth, a few tips for you to remember-

    * No smoking whatsoever (cigarette butts cause many forest fires.)
    * No flash or intrusive photography (for example, don’t pluck leaves to clear a better view; reposition the camera instead.)
    * Do not carry any music system or sound making device along with you and remember to keep them switched off if you are driving around.
    * Picking plants or insects prohibited; do not remove anything from the park.
    * No quick or sudden movements to scare off wildlife.
    * Do not try going to close to the animals.
    * No pets should accompany you.
    * No littering. Trash is only to be disposed of in proper receptacles.
    * No hunting devices or other weapons should be carried, as well as used.
 

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