Attractions of Porbandar

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 birth place 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 the 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 the 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 window 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 makes it quite enchanting.

Shopping in Porbandar: The city is famous for its Bandhani thread work. Gharchola is a special type of Bandhani which is done on cotton. Besides fabrics, shoppers can also shop for handicrafts, handmade jewellery, brass, iron and clay items. Foodies must try the Dhokla and Khandvi, the sumptuous local food.

Excursions from Porbandar: Travellers can hop on to nearby places like Bileshwar(15km) and Gop (50km).

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 number 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 the major Indian cities. The express trains are available form Mumbai to Porbandar via Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Vadodara. 

Road: Porbandar is accessible from almost every part of Gujarat through state transport services.