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Introduction To Bhavanagar

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Gujarat Map	Bhavnagar District Map	Bhavnagar City Map

Bhavnagar is fifth largest city of Gujarat and second largest city of Saurastra. Bhavnagar is known as the cultural capital of Saurastra. Bhavnagar is a coastal city, located in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, known as Kathiawar. Bhavnagar is city of education and culture, known as cultural capital of Saurastra.

Major tourist attraction of Bhavnagar is Takhteshwar Temple, Gandhi Smriti Museum, Clock Tower & Gaurishankar Lake. Palitana, 56 kms from bhavnagar is one of the most picturesque places of pilgrimage in India.

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.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

The best time to visit Bhavnagar is during winters, as summers tend to be harsh here.

HISTORY

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.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

Tour to Bhavanagar 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.

PLACES AROUND BHAVNAGAR

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.

Bhavnagar City - Travel into & within