Overview
Porbandar: The heritage coastal town of Gujarat
Resting along the western coast of Saurashtra, Porbandar is a heritage coastal town of Gujarat. Famed for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, it is also fabled for being the legendary region of Lord Krishna and Sudama. Oscillating between its rich past and the modern face of industrialisation, the city gracefully manages to retain its archaic charm and elegance.
History points to an established trade link of Porbandar with countries like Africa, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. It was the last capital of the Jethwa Rajputs who ruled it for about 1200 years. It was a prosperous and thriving port during the time of Mughals. Portuguese attacked it in 1531 A.D. to win over the sea-trade. The Walker Treaty of 1807 between the Saurashtra Rulers and Britishers marked an end to this conflict, leading to the civic development in Porbandar.
Following are the main attractions of Porbandar:
Kirti Mandir: Situated near the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Kirti Mandir is the place where Mahatma Gandhi used to live along with his wife. It has now been turned into a small museum with a Gandhian Library, a prayer hall and a spinning hall. It is also known as the 'Temple of Fame' and is the major draw of Porbandar tourism.
Tara Mandir: Also called as the Nehru Planetarium, it gives a vast and scientific description of the universe. It has stars, planets and other celestial bodies virtually projected on an over-round screen in a theatre and explained to its visitors.
Chowpatty:
Porbandar's coastline popularly called as Chowpatty is one
of the major attractions, both for locals and tourists. It is well known for
its round-the-year scenic beauty, flamingos and other shore birds.
Darbargadh Fort: This fortified palace was built by Rana Sartanji in Rajput architectural style. The palace speaks volumes of the royal legacy of Gujarat. It has huge stone-carved entrance gateways, flanked by high towers and wooden doors.
Huzoor Palace: Built in the European style of architecture, this sprawling palace is located at the end of Marine Drive in a huge campus. It has sloping roofs, several blocks and huge windows overlooking the sea. These blocks are interspersed with the front and backyards which bring liveliness to the edifice. The manicured gardens, with water sprinkling from the majestic fountains make it quite enchanting.
Shopping in Porbandar: The city is famous for its Bandhani thread work. Gharchola is a special type of Bandhani done on cotton. Besides fabrics, shoppers can also buy handicrafts, handmade jewellery, brass, iron and clay items. Food lovers must try the Dhokla and Khandvi, the sumptuous local food.
Excursions from Porbandar: Travellers can hop on to nearby places like Bileshwar (15 km) and Gop (50 km).
When to reach:
Prefer the months between
October and March to explore Porbandar as the weather is cool
and pleasant. Porbandar Mela (August–September) celebrated annually also
sees large numbers of tourists visiting Porbandar.
How to reach:
Air: Porbandar Airport is the nearest airport with frequent
flights from Mumbai.
Rail: The city has its own railhead, well connected to major Indian
cities. Express trains are available from Mumbai to Porbandar via
Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Vadodara.
Road: Porbandar is accessible from almost every part of
Gujarat through state transport services.
