Travel to Rajkot

Situated in the vibrant state of Gujarat in Western India, Rajkot is the hub of the Saurashtra region of the state. Standing on the banks of the Aji River and the Nyari River, Rajkot is placed at the center of important tourist destinations such as the Rann of Kutch, Diu, Somenath Temple and Gir Forest, all of which are very easily accessible from the city. This is the main reason why Rajkot often becomes an important part of the Gujarat itinerary of many tourists. While Rajkot is visited by tourists all through the year, the main attraction of the city lies during the autumn months when the residents adorn the city with the celebratory colours of the Garba and Navratri season. Rajkot is also famous for being the residence of Mahatma Gandhi during his childhood, and houses his childhood residence and school, which are big tourist draws throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit

Rajkot, like the rest of Gujarat, has typically tropical weather, with sweltering summers and short-lived but cool and pleasant winters. Winters are definitely the best time to visit this city. Winter temperatures revolve around 10 degrees Celsius and go up to 20 degrees Celsius, making Rajkot pleasant and particularly suitable for tourism-related activities. February is definitely the most moderate month and best time to travel to Rajkot. Tourists interested in the famed Garba celebrations in the city should definitely book their tickets for the autumn months, when the temperature is between 18 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius and the climate is very pleasant. Monsoons are also a good time for a trip to the city, between the Months of June and September, when the summer heat settles down to a comfortable temperature and there is a pleasant drizzle. It is best to avoid the Gujarat summer, because temperatures can go really high, hitting almost 42 degrees Celsius.

Local Transport

The city of Rajkot, being the nerve centre of the entire Saurashtra region, is well developed in terms of local transport and amenities like roads and highways. Gujarat is becoming a hub of tourism activities and the amenities that have been made available for travelers in the state are of international standards, which include high-quality local transport and high levels of road-safety. Rajkot has a very well-connected network of local transport, topped by its Bus Rapid Transit System, a whole host of high quality buses that ply through the city and connect travelers to each of its corners. Another way of going around the city is the vast network of auto-rickshaws, although this is far costlier than the bus option. Auto-rickshaws are a convenient way to hop from one tourist spot to another. For the luxury traveler, there are numerous travel agencies dotting the city which provide private car and taxi services.

Popular Things

The city of Rajkot has a motley array of interesting things that travelers can indulge in while passing through. There are the usual touristy spots, such as the the Aaji Dam built during the colonial era, and the Rashtriya Shala, an abode of Gandhian thought. But beyond these, Rajkot has many interesting places to visit. The Watson Meseum and Library is a treat for history buffs, with its collection of rare artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization, especially from Mohenjodaro. The Rotary Dolls Museum on the Yagnik Road is another unusual place to visit, showcasing interesting dolls from across the globe. Rajkot is also home to many temples such as the Omkareshwar Mahadev Temple, the Jain Derasar Temple and the Swaminarayan Temple, all of which might be of interest to tourists who are looking for spiritual peace. Apart from visiting these important places, travelers visiting Rajkot should remember that the city is famous for its authentic and mouth-watering Gujarati cuisine, especially sweetmeats and desserts. Sampling these should be a top priority for the foodies out there.

Travel Tips

While Gujarat is one of the most hospitable states in the country, as it is one of the most developed in terms of tourist facilities, there are certain things that need to be kept in mind while sojourning through the state.

The first and foremost is that Gujarat is a dry state and alcohol is not served and neither is it available anywhere legally in the state. For those who enjoy their tipple regularly, this is a tip that will make or break travel decisions.
Another tip to be kept in mind while travelling to Rajkot is that it is situated at the crossroads to many interesting places in Gujarat, such as Diu and Gir National Forest or the Rann of Kutch. While passing through the city, one can plan travel itineraries around these interesting spots.
For travelers hungry for an intimate flavor of Gujarat and willing to explore off the beaten track, the Tarnetar Fair held in the month of September is one of the most important fairs of the Saurashtra region, and while travelling to Rajkot, this should not be missed.

Cost of Travel

Travel to Gujarat, while being very pleasurable, can be quite heavy on the pocket. A round trip by flight can easily cost about Rs. 10,000. Also, the autos and public transport within the city are a bit on the higher side. While non-AC buses to Ahmedabad are available for around Rs. 400, AC Volvos are more expensive, even going up to Rs. 1,100 for a one-way trip to the capital in Eagle Tourism's now-famous 'Club One' buses. Accommodation can be managed on a budget with various kinds of hotels available around the city, the average being around Rs. 2,000 per night for a fairly decent stay. Food is an exception, though, as an average Gujarati meal does not cost more than Rs. 200 per thali.

Duration of Travel

Travelers who visit Rajkot are mostly always passing through the city, not giving it separate attention. Because Rajkot is on the way to various more well-known destinations of Gujarat such as Gir, Diu and the Rann of Kutch, tourists often use the city as a stopover. In this case, it does not take long to explore a stopover city, so travelers interested in quickly exploring Rajkot should plan a weekend-duration itinerary, perhaps for a day of two en route to their favourite destination. This duration is enough to see some of the most famous sites of Rajkot as quickly as possible. For travelers genuinely interested in exploring this city, it is advised to spend about a week, especially in the time of Garba and Navratri, or during the Tarnetar Fair, to actually experience the city and its people much more intimately. Foodies interested in sampling some great food and especially sweets and dessert preparations should also come to Rajkot with at least about four to five days in hand to get deep into the gastronomic life of the city.

Tourism Department Contact

Gujarat Tourism is one of the most professional tourism departments in the country, being extremely helpful and offering various international standard amenities to tourists from all over the world. Rajkot is a very easily navigable city, and there are tourism department support centers all over the city for the convenience of travelers from across the world. It is advisable for all tourists visiting the city to carry with them numbers and contact information of Gujarat tourism department and tourism kiosks. Tourists are also advised to make prior bookings via the tourism offices or the Gujarat Tourism website. Some of the contacts of the tourism departments in Rajkot have been listed below.

Gujarat Tourism Office, Rajkot
Trikon Baugh,
Bhavnagar House, Jawahar Road
Opp. Sps State Bank of Saurashtra
Rajkot - 360001
Phone: +91-281-2234507
Gujarat Tourism Main Office
Ground Floor, H.K. House
Off Ashram Road / Opp Bata Show Room
Ahmedabad - 380009
Phone: +91-79-26576434
Website: www.gujarattourism.com

her more Rajkot travel tips, please visit the below mentioned links;

Last Updated on : February 28, 2014

Places to visit in Rajkot

Travel to Gujarat

Hotels in Gujarat