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Bhavnagar
Around Bhavnagar >
Excursion
[ Talaja | Palitana | Gopnath
Beach | Gaurishankar Lake | Alang
]
 Talaja
(birthplace of Narsinh Mehta, a group of rock cut Buddhist caves)
54 km
Talaja is a Jain temple spiraling on a 350-foot high volcanic hill.
This is a holy place of Shri Shatrunjay panchteerthi. It is counted
as part of Shatrunjay hills. All the 32 caves (small & big)
have been constructed without pillars. Such caves are unique. Prabhu
idol is full of miracles (chamatkar); with the effect of its appearance,
complete area was relieved from the disease spread here during that
period. Since then the idol is called as Sacha Sumatinath. Prabhu
idol was established after last renovation of the temple and akhand
jyoti was lighted which is still in practice.
The idol is 79 cms high and blue in colour. The idol of Shri Sacha
Sumatinath Bhagwan is present in the temple in Padmasan position.
Present on the Sangam place of Shetrunji and Sarita rivers on a
hill, this teerth was considered to be a part of Shri Shatrunjay
Mahateerth in the olden days and is still recognized in the Shatrunjay
Panchteerthi.
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 Palitana
A 56 Kms drive from Bhavnagar, Palitana lies at the foot of the
Shatrunjaya Hill, with the Shatrunjaya River flowing to its south.
The sacred hill rises in a crescendo of magnificent temples - 863
in all - that soar in marble splendour to the top of the hill. The
temples were built over an impressive span of 900 years with each
generation of pilgrims making its contribution to the shrines of
Shatrunjaya. The 600-metre climb to Shatrunjaya is usually made
on foot. Dolis or lift-chairs are also available for the ascent.
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 Gopnath
Beach
Gopnath was the summer home of Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singhji of
Bhavnagar. 75 kms from Bhavnagar, Gopnath is well connected by rail
and bus to Ahmedabad. The breathtakingly beautiful seacoast with
its spectacular limestone cliffs and great views, sea breezes and
colourful birdlife, must have made an excellent break from the city
during the summer months. The Gopnath beach has lovely, firm, sands.
The high tidal difference of the coast makes the water murky and
not very inviting for a long swim. One can go sight seeing from
here.
The 700-year-old Gopnath temple is perhaps the only one in India
with flags of two colours a white flag denoting a Vishnu temple
and a saffron flag representing a Shiva temple.
State transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various
centres of Gujarat. It is situated 200 kms from Ahmedabad via Sihor.
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 Gaurishankar
Lake
It is a beautiful picnic spot. Near the lake, there is also a well
laid out park. It is a good bird-watching spot especially for ducks,
geese, pelicans, cranes and wading birds. Plovers and terns nest
on the island. The lakeshore Bhav Vilas Palace, owned by a relative
of the family, was the former club of the royal family with sports
complex and hunting trophies.
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 Alang
the world's largest ship breaking zone (50 km)
For Gujarati industrialists, it serves as the jumping-off point
for the massive and controversial ship-breaking yard at Alang, where
20,000 highly paid labourers literally tear ships apart by hand
and with explosives. The yard has been strictly off-limits to the
foreigners since Greenpeace red-flagged it for environmental damage,
toxic spills and hazardous work.
Other places worth visiting are Sihor (Darbargadh, fresco paintings,
brass utensils) 25 km, Ranpur (13th century fort) 163 km and Piram
Islands (turtle breeding) 25 km.
Bhavnagar is a rich princely city around 51 km away from Palitana.
The place is also a base for the tourists visiting Palitana. A famous
site of the Indus Valley Civilization, Lothal is around 143 km away
from Palitana on the way to Ahmedabad. Valabhipur, north of Palitana
was once the capital of this region. Extensive ruins have been located
and archeological finds are exhibited in a museum nearby.
Botad is famous for diamond polishing industries.
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Information on Places around Bhavnagar city of Gujarat - India
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