Top 6 Offbeat Places to Go in Gujarat

Gujarat has a very vibrant culture with a lot of iconic sites like Gir National Park and the Rann of Kutch, but we are going to focus on the lesser-known destinations of Gujarat. From UNESCO World Heritage archaeological parks and ancient temples to remote islands, tranquil bird sanctuaries, and grasslands, these offbeat places showcase the state’s diversity far beyond its famous places. This is the perfect destination for all those seeking a place with rich heritage and culture along with beautiful nature.

Let’s take a look at offbeat places you can visit here:

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Vadodra, Gujarat, and one can find a lot of ancient palaces, religious buildings, and agricultural structures here that are dated from the 8th to 14th centuries. The Pavagadh hill here has a Kalika Mata temple that is an important Hindu pilgrimage site from where you can also get beautiful panoramic views. This place is mainly famous for its pre-Mughal Islamic architecture, which is a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles.

This Hindu temple is dedicated to Surya, the solar deity, and is located in the Mehsana district of Gujarat. This temple is quite unique and consists of three main elements: the sanctum, the assembly hall, and the stepwell-style reservoir called Suryakund or Ramkund. This temple is not used for worship anymore but is known for its beautiful ornate exterior carvings on the temple and the solar alignment. Along with that, it also hosts the annual Modhera Dance Festival every January on its premises, so visiting at that time will enhance your experience greatly.

This is a vast grassland located on the southern edge of the Rann of Kutch and is a legally protected reserve forest mainly known for its a wide range of biodiversity such as mammals including nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, wild boar, and also over 150 bird species. This place witnesses a unique natural phenomenon called the ghost lights or Chir Batti, where one sees unexplained dancing lights at night, and this is a seasonal phenomenon seen in the Banni grasslands and the surrounding areas.

One can visit some lesser-known beaches here such as Gopnath Beach in Bhavnagar district, which is a tranquil and lesser-visited shoreline with natural beauty and limestone cliffs, and one can also visit the Gopnath Mahadev Temple here. This beach is perfect for some quiet time where you can also walk on the shore and birdwatch as well. This beach is very different from other commercialized beaches of Gujarat.

This port town is an archaeological site in Gujarat and is also one of the southernmost cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. This place is mainly known for its ancient dockyard, which is also considered the world’s earliest known. If one visits this town, they will find remains of the dock, warehouses, residential and industrial sectors, and a bead-making factory, and in the museum, one can look at the artefacts such as pottery, tools, and beads on display. The layout of this ancient town seems quite planned, as there is an advanced understanding of the tidal movements and maritime architecture.

This is the only hill station located in Gujarat, located in the Western Ghats and overlooking dense forests and valleys. Here, one can go for cable car rides, do boating on the Saputara Lake, and also visit the rose and step gardens, and there are some viewpoints here as well, like the sunset point, which offers a breathtaking view of the hills. This place is mainly known for its pleasant climate and opportunities like trekking.