| Location |
| Rajkot is situated in the Saurashtra region of the western Indian state of Gujarat. The city extends from latitude
23°32' in the North to longitude
70° 4' in the East. Rajkot has good air, road, and railway networks that connect it to other parts of the region. |
| Climate |
| The climate of Rajkot is generally pleasant. The summer season extends from March to June with daytime temperature reaching a high of around 42°C. The monsoons are from July to September. Winter season sets in during October and extends until February. In association with cyclonic storms or depressions in the Arabian Sea in the post-monsoon months, and to a lesser extent in May and June, Rajkot experiences strong winds and heavy rain. Thunderstorms occur in June and July. In the cold season occasional fog occurs. The summer temperature ranges from 24°C to 42°C and winter temperature ranges from 10°C to 24°C. The average annual rainfall is around 276 mm. |
| History |
| Vibhaji Jadeja and Raju Sandhi founded Rajkot (the City of Princes) in the year 1610. Vibhaji is said to have cooperated with the Mughal army for which he received some villages as a gift for his services. This bustling city was once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra and the headquarters of the British Government Headquarters. It became the administration centre of the British after the treaty of 1818 imposed by Colonel Walker on behalf of the East India Company, which finally helped freeze borders between nearly 200 kingdoms. Today it is best known as the town where Mahatma Gandhi spent the early years of his life when his father was a Diwan or Prime Minister to the king of Saurashtra. Mahatma Gandhi is also said to have married Kasturba in Rajkot, although she too, like Gandhi, was born in Porbandar. Gandhi started his famous Rajkot Satyagraha from the Rashtriya Shala in Rajkot. Today Rajkot is a city vibrant with business activities and one of the major cities of Gujarat. |
| Tourist attraction in Rajkot TOP |
| Watson Museum and Library |
| Located in the Jubilee Gardens, the Watson Museum and Library is a memorial dedicated to Colonel James Watson, who was a political agent of Saurashtra from 1886-89. Two imperial lions flank the entrance of the museum. Among the exhibits are copies of artefacts from Mohenjodaro, 13th-century carvings, temple statues, natural history exhibits, and dioramas of local tribal costumes and housing styles. There is a huge marble statue of Queen Victoria seated on a throne. Some other exhibits here are impressive collections of statues, silverware, textiles, ancient coins and rare books, which provide a glimpse of the cultural traditions of Saurashtra. |
| Shri Ramakrishna Ashram |
Jagat Mandir is the beautiful carved temple of Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Built of red stones, it is a replica of Belurmath.
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| Kaba Gandhi No Delo |
| Kaba Gandhi No Delo is the house where Mahatma Gandhi grew up. It now holds a permanent exhibition of Gandhian items. It is within the old city on Ghee Kanta Road. |
| Alfred School/Mohandas Gandhi Vidyalaya |
| When Gandhiji's father shifted to Rajkot as Diwan of the local ruler, the young Gandhi was sent to Alfred School in the town, now known as Mohandas Gandhi Vidyalaya. The famous incident of Gandhi not copying the spelling of "kettle", despite his class teacher repeatedly prompting him to do so during the visit of a school inspector, took place here. |
| Rajkumar College |
| The British built the Rajkumar College for the education of princes of Indian state in 1870. It is still regarded as one of the best private institutions in the country. |
| Rashtriya Shala |
| The Rashtriya Shala founded by Gandhi is also worth visiting. It is from here that Gandhi undertook his fast unto death during his Rajkot Satyagraha. It is now a centre of village industry. All these memorials are well preserved. |
| Lal Pari Lake and Randerda |
| About 5 km from Rajkot, Lal Pari Lake and Randerda are picnic spots that attract a lot of tourists around the year. |
| Aji and Nyari Dam |
| Aji and Nyari Dam are situated near by Rajkot and supplies the city with water. And develop good site for picnic. |
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| Weekend Trips/Excursions TOP |
| There are several places to see and visit near Rajkot too. |
| Wankaner |
 |
About 50 km from Rajkot, on the way to Kutch, is the Royal Palace of Wankaner. The palace has been converted into a hotel and is one of the more exotic holiday resorts in the state. A museum, a game reserve, and the erstwhile Maharana's vintage car collection are the other attractions here. |
| Morbi |
| Morvi, an off-track tourist destination, is situated around 65 km north of Rajkot. There is an interesting swinging bridge here and it actually shakes, creaks, and rocks as one passes through it. |
| Surendranagar |
| Surendranagar is situated on the Rajkot-Ahmedabad main route and houses the ancient temple of Ranik Devi. |
| Tarnetar |
| Tarnetar is around 65 km northeast of Rajkot and hosts the Tarnetar Fair every year around September at the Trineteshwar Temple. |
| Gondal |
| Gondal is 39 km south of Rajkot on the River Gondali and famous for some impressive buildings like the Naulakha Darbargadh Palace. |
| Jamnagar |
Eighty-eight kilometres west of Rajkot, situated a little off the Gulf of Kutchh, is the 450-year-old city of Jamnagar. At the centre of the city is a lake around which are located two majestic buildings-the Kotha Bastion and the Lakhota Palace. The Kotha Bastion is an arsenal while the Lakhota Palace is a museum with collections of art, craft, and sculpture.
Celebrated for its colourful tie and dye fabrics, it is also an important centre for brocade embroidery (zardozi), pearl fishing, hand printing and gold and silver jewellery.and brass products from industrial to hardware decoration. |
| Junagadh |
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An ancient fortified city rich in myth and legend, Junagadh lies at the foot of Girnar Hill and takes its name from the 'Old Fort' which circles the medieval town. The Girnar Hills stands from 2500 years BC having a legend of the rimes of the emperor Ashoka (250 BC) whose fourteen Rock Edicts can be seen cut into a great rock outside the city. J unagadh breathes history. These edicts, set up by Ashoka, the Great Indian emperor, date back 2200 years. Within this ancient fort of Uparkot, the architectural marvels of Hindu Chudasma rulers and Muslim Mohmud Beghda coexist in perfect harmony. The majestic Mohabatkhan Maqbara, a memorial to Junagadh's Babi Ruler and the Veritable Darbar Hall Museum show that Junagadh continued to make history untill as recently as 100 years ago. |
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| Somnath |
| Somnath is one of the 12 jyotirlingas of lord Shiva. In the Shiva Purana and Nandi Upapurana, Shiva said, `I am omnipresent but specially in 12 forms and places, the jyotirlingas`. Somnath is one of these 12 holy places. Today, Somnath offers a holy pilgrimage, a beach holiday and a number of places of historic, religious or scenic importance. |
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| Bhavnagar |
| One hundred and seventy-eight kilometers to the south-east of Rajkot is the city of Bhavnagar, originally the capital of a state by the same name and ruled by Suryavanshi Rajputs from Marwar. The prime attraction here is the Takteshwar Mahadev Temple. |
| Dwarka |
Dwarka is one of the 4 principal dham yatras of Hinduism, the others being Puri, Badrinath-Kedarnath and Rameshwaram. It ranks with Ayodhya, Banaras, Mathura, Gaya, Kanchipuram and Ujjain among the holiest temple cities of India. Dwarka was the home of Lord Krishna, who moved to this pretty coastal town with the entire Yaduvanshi clan to set up capital. Marine excavations off the Dwarka coast have revealed important evidences of 4 ancient cities, which probably includes the Dwarawati of the Krishna lila. In the 15th century, Dwarka was a major sea port. Today, it is not only a major pilgrimage but a pleasant spot for a beach holiday. |
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| Porbandar |
| Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, is 187 km away from Rajkot. The great leader's ancestral home-Kirti Mandir-is almost 200 years old and houses his personal effects, a photo exhibition, and a library. In ancient times, the place was known as Sudamapuri and brisk trade with Persia and Africa was carried on from its port. A temple dedicated to Sudama, a compatriot of Krishna, is still found here, and bears testimony to the city's ancient roots. |
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| Events and Festivals TOP |
| There are several events and festivals that are celebrated with much pomp and show in Rajkot. |
| International Kite Festival |
| Besides Ahmedabad, Rajkot, too celebrates the International Kite Festival. This festival is held every year in the month of January and kite-flying enthusiasts from all over the country participate in it. |
| janmashtrami |
| Janmashtami, the birthday of Shri Krishna, is celebrated with great splendour. Rows of lights are lit everywhere, kirtans and bhajans are sung, sermons are delivered and Krishna is worshipped in his infant form. Thousands of people join in Rathyatra to welcome lord Krishna. Also people visit to the temple and participate in the fair. |
| Navratri Festival |
| The Navratri Festival is celebrated throughout Gujarat with great fervor. It precedes the Dashehara festival for nine nights. During the festival, people participate in the Dandiya dance. |
| Shopping |
| The city of Rajkot is mainly known for the handicrafts and jewelry that it produces. Especially famous are its bead and mirror work, tie and dye (bandhini), silk embroidery and appliqué work. |
| Where to stay |
| There are good accommodation options available in Rajkot. Most of the hotels are in the budget to mid-range categories. Some of the hotels also provide facilities for currency exchange. |
| How to reach |
- By Air : There is an airport in Rajkot and the major domestic airlines run flights between Rajkot and Mumbai. Indian Airlines has four flights a week to Mumbai while Jet and Sahara have daily flights.
- By Rail : Regular trains connect Rajkot to other important cities in Gujarat and India. There are trains for Delhi, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Cochin, Coimbatore, and Bhopal from Rajkot. There is also a meter-gauge service to Veraval.
- By Road : The State Transport Corporation runs regular buses to and from Rajkot to other cities of Gujarat. There are buses for Jamnagar, Junagarh, Porbandar, Veraval, and Ahmedabad. There are a number of private bus operators connecting this city with Mumbai, Bhuj, Bhavnagar, Una, Mt Abu, and Udaipur.
- Local Transport : To move around in the city, taxis, auto-rickshaws, and the best options.
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| Important Telephone Numbers TOP |
| Help for Telephone Information |
2227033 |
| Local Assistance (It is useful only for 44 series) |
199 |
| Local Complaint (All Exchanges) |
198 |
| Trunk Information STD Code & National Directory |
183 |
| Change Number Announcement |
195 |
| Directory Inquiry |
197 |
| Hospitals |
| Ashok Gondhiya |
2575611/2 |
| Ayurvedic |
2227806 |
| Cancer |
2443139 |
| Civil (Emergency) |
2445864 |
| Civil (General) |
2440298 |
| Dasha Shrimali |
2223963 |
| Eye |
2447485 |
| G. J. Sheth Orthopedic |
2440722 |
| H. J. Doshi |
2360531/2388994 |
| K. T. Children |
2442402 |
| Kothari Polydiag. Center |
2226456 |
| Netra Raksha |
2360515 |
| Padmkuvarba |
2228102 |
| Railway |
2443204 |
| T.B. (Kotharia) |
2386498 |
| Zanana |
2228026 |
| Airlines |
| Indian Airlines Booking Office & Inquiry |
141 |
| Indian Airlines Booking Office Inquiry |
2227916 |
| ReIndian Airlines servation |
142 |
| Indian Airlines Cargo |
2226675 |
| Airport Inquiry |
2453307/2453313 |
| Jet Airways |
2479623/2449512 |
| Gulf Air |
2476362 |
| Railway |
| Rajkot Railway Inquiry |
131 |
| Reservation Computer |
135 |
| Reservation Computer |
2443535/6 |
| Bhaktinagar Railway Inquiry |
2448736 |
| Bhaktinagar Railway Inquiry |
2443352 |
| S.T.Bus Stand |
| Inquiry Bus Stand No.1 |
2235025 |
| Inquiry Bus Stand No. 2 |
2235026 |
| Govt. Guest House |
| Circuit House Manager |
2449949 |
| Circuit House |
2446611/2/3 |
| City Guest House |
2226541/2 |
| Private Hotels |
| Hotel Aditya |
2220003/4/5 |
| Hotel Galaxy |
2222904 to 9 |
| Hotel Jayson |
2234371 |
| Hotel Jwelve |
2442660 |
| Hotel Kaveri |
2239331 to 36 |
| Hotel Koka |
2449951 |
| Hotel Rajdoot |
2442910 |
| Royal Inn |
2444074 |
| Samrat International |
2222269 |
| Hotel Silver Palace |
2450005 |
| Hotel Tulsi |
2231731 |
| Telegraph Service |
| Phonogram |
185 |
| C.T.O Inquiry |
2238406 |
| D.T.O Bhaktinagar |
2362172 |
| Bureau Fax C.T.O. |
222145/2225357 |
| Bureau Fax D.T.O. |
2364069 |
| Tourism |
| Gujarat Tourism |
2234507 |
| Blood Bank |
| Navdeep Blood Bank |
2226233/4 |
| Rajkot Vol. Blood Bank |
2234242/2225257 |
| Young Star Blood Bank |
2234298/2226095 |
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