Sasangir & Palitana

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Sasangir & Palitana

Lions & hilltop temples

Sasangir sanctuary is home of the last remaining Asiatic lions. Apart from the lions the sanctuary is also inhabited by bears, hyenas, foxes and a number of species of deer and antelope and the occasional tribal villager. You also visit the magnificent Jain hilltop temples at Palitana. You have to climb up to the top of Shatrunjaya hill but the reward is a superb view and the extraordinary sight of the temples themselves.



Day 1 - Gondal
Today you drive from Bhuj to Gondal (or from Dasada if you have just finished `The Little Rann of Kutch' module). Gondal is a picturesque town with plenty of gracious architecture, wide tree lined roads and European lampposts. Here you can enjoy a taste of the royal lifestyle in the Orchard Palace, now a heritage hotel. You can play squash, watch scores of colourful birds, take a boat ride, enjoy continental food from colonial period recipes, stroll in the orchards, shop in the silver bazaar, and relax on the lawns.

Day 2 - Sasangir
Drive from Gondal to Sasangir (3 hrs), the last remaining sanctuary of the Asiatic lion. The credit for not letting lions be totally extinct goes largely to the Nawab of Junagadh, who banned lion hunting much before India attained independence.

Day 3 - Sasangir
Morning and afternoon jeep rides into Sasangir Wildlife Park. Game viewing is done by jeep and is the best in the early morning or dusk time. The lions, even though not easy to track, are not shy once you find them. Other wildlife includes panthers, hyenas, foxes, wild boar, sambhar, chital, and nilgai. There is also a rich bird life including the rare paradise fly catcher. Just outside the sanctuary entrance is the crocodile hatchery.

Day 4 - Palitana
Drive to Palitana (6 hrs). Palitana is home to the cluster of 863 magnificent Jain temples that perch at the top of a 3800 step climb. This temple city is the largest of its kind in India. The 863 temples date from the 11th to the 16th century and are dedicated to the 24 different Gods worshipped by followers of the Jain religion.

Day 5 - Ahmedabad
Located atop the Shatrunjay hill, the Jain temples are accessed by a winding 3.5-km path with 3950 steps. The reward for the climb, are the superb views and the extraordinary temples themselves. After lunch drive back to Ahmedabad (5 hrs) for your onward travel.

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  • Experiences or activities that you fancy
  • As long as you want in each place

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Price Guide

  • From EUR 681 per person based on two people sharing.

Inclusions

    • Accommodation on twin share basis at selected hotels.
    • Stay on bed & breakfast basis; full board at Sasangir and Palitana.
    • Jeep safaris in Sasangir National Park.
    • Park entrance fees.
    • Visit to Palitana hilltop temples.
    • Transport by private chauffeur-driven airconditioned car.

    Tour price excludes

    • Tips and gratuities.
    • Services, Meals and Drinks other than those mentioned in the itinerary.
    • Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
    • Entrance fees (unless specifically mentioned in the inclusions) and extra charges for camera and video.
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Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

  • Where you would like to stay
  • Dates that best suit you
  • Experiences or activities that you fancy
  • As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

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Gondal Stay in Orchard Palace

Gondal is a former princely state which was known for its progressive rulers. In the late 19th century, Gondal did away with the women's purdah or veil, abolished land taxes and insisted on compulsory education for girls. Gondal is an interesting city with some finely carved palaces. The town is also home to an interesting 100 year old Ayurvedic pharmacy. You can stay in the Orchard Palace, originally built to house the guests of the Maharaja of Gondal.

Sasangir The last remaining home of the Asiatic lion

Sasangir is the only habitat of the lion left outside Africa. And with the lion population 300 strong, your chances of spotting one are very good. Game viewing is done by jeep and is the best in the early morning or late afternoon. Other wildlife includes panthers, hyenas, foxes, wild boar, sambhar, chital, and nilgai. There is also a rich bird life including the rare paradise fly-catcher. Just outside the sanctuary entrance is the crocodile hatchery.

Palitana Site of spectacular hilltop Jain temples

In the holy city of Palitana, Shatrunjaya Hill is an important place of worship in Jainism, a belief system that revolves around non-violence toward all living things - people, animals, even insects. Shatrunjaya is a hill of steps stretching 591m high. The 4-km ascent via the 3950 steps takes about two hours. You start at sunrise and walk on your own without a guide. Along the way are 863 magnificent marble Jain temples, comprising the holiest place on earth for Jainsm.They were built at different times but most belong to the 16th century and bear many common architectural features. From the top of the hill, a breathtaking panoramic view of the Gulf of Cambay and the countryside makes an unforgettable picture for any traveller.

Ahmedabad An architectural treasure house

Ahmedabad is the cultural capital of Gujarat and a major textile and crafts center of India. The city is also packed with a diversity of architectural styles, with over fifty mosques and tombs, as well as Hindu and Jain temples and grand step-wells which often display beautiful carvings. The old part of town has a maze of narrow winding alleys with carved wooden house fronts and thriving bazaars.

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Tweakable Holidays

This is just one of our holiday suggestions for you. If it's perfect as it is, great! If not, let us tweak it for you, or we could tailor-make your ideal trip including:

  • Where you would like to stay
  • Dates that best suit you
  • Experiences or activities that you fancy
  • As long as you want in each place

Just get in touch and we will start advising and planning with you.

Email us at info@travellers-palm.com or use our online form to get in touch.

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