A part of history that has played an extremely major role in the shaping and nurturing of the vast culture of Gujarat, Jamnagar is something that every Gujarati is proud of. Popularly referred to as the Jewel of Kathiawar, the city of Jamnagar is a must-visit in the western Indian state of Gujarat. This is due to it being home to a plethora of beautiful lakes, a stunning coastline, and ancient structures.
Formerly known as Nawanagar, the city of Jamnagar was established by an heir of Lord Krishna, Shri Ram Javal on the banks of River Nagmatti and Ragmatti. Later the city received a European facelift under the supervision of the famous cricketer KS Ranjit Sinhi and architect Edward Lutyens.
This rich and diverse past of the city has resulted in multiple attractions, which comprise of ancient and natural sites of interest. Be it a part of our rich Indian history or something close to nature, Jamnagar is ready to serve the needs of any globetrotter.
Located at a distance of 4 kilometers from the city of Jamnagar, Swaminarayan Temple is a magnificent brown marble temple situated in a huge sprawling area. The temple is surrounded by beautiful gardens and lawns. The biggest asset of the temple is its architecture that is modern yet astonishing. The temple provides you with a calm and serene atmosphere. A number of marvelous sculptures and carvings on the walls can be witnessed that attracts the attention of all the visitors. Millions of devotees every year visit the temple in search of peace and serenity. The temple can be visited anytime between 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm and the entry is free. The best time to visit the temple is during the time of morning and evening aarti. One can easily reach the place through any kind of transportation mediums.
Marina National Park built in the Gulf of Kutch was the country’s first Marine National Park and is spread over an area of 458 square kilometers. The park is blessed with a great diversity of habitats. All these varieties of habitats support multitudes of birds, fishes, reptiles, and many more. It also has coral reefs and mangroves, which have great conservational value. It is considered to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in entire Gujarat. A treasure trove of vibrant sponges and corals, jellyfishes, sea horses, giant sea anemone, octopus, starfish, Portuguese man of war, and pearl oysters are some of the most popular varieties of water creatures and plants found here.
A beautiful and tranquil lake, surrounding the premises of Lakhota Fort. Also known as the Ranmal Lake, Lakhota Lake stands in the middle of the city of Jamnagar. The lake along with the palace was built by King of Navanagar, Jan Ranmal II around the 19-century AD. The lake serves as a major recreational place for the locals as well as the tourists. The most visited hours are during the early morning and in the evening, when people come here to relax and socialize. Bird watching is the most common activity that one can do here. There are more than 75 species of both native and migratory birds that can be found here. Some of them are flamingos, spoonbills, gulls, and pelicans. For enjoying the best bird watching experience, one should visit the place during the migration period.
Amidst the Gulf of Kutch, Pirotan Island is one of the 42 islands, which comes under the Marina National Park. The island lies 12 nautical miles off the Bedi Port and stretches around 3 square kilometres. Among the two islands in the National Park that can be visited by the public, Pirotan Island is the most popular one while the other one is Narara. In order to visit Pirotan Island, one needs to follow a very strict official procedure under the supervision of Department of Forest Department, Customs Department, and the Ports Department. In case of a non-Indian, one needs to take the permission of the Police Department as well. Originally known as ‘Pirjothaan’, the name signifies the sacred place of Saint Khwaja Khizar Rahmatullahi Alaih. To reach the island, one needs to hire a boat from the port. Around two hours will be needed to reach the island. There is no place to stay on the island. Also, there are no arrangements for food and water arrangements here so prepare accordingly.
Dedicated to one of the principal deity of Kutch, Maa Ashapura Temple is one of the most popular places to visit in Jamnagar. As the name suggests, Maa Ashapura is the Goddess who fulfils the desires and wishes of people who believe in her. The most distinctive feature of Maa Ashapura idol is that it has seven pairs of eyes. The original temple was built around 1300 AD by a minister in the court of Lakho Fulani, ruler of Kutch named Karad Vanias. The temple is famous for its special location that is at the gateway of the city of Jamnagar at the eastern part of the city. The temple is also close to Darbargadh.
At the centre of the beautiful Lakhota Lake, stands Lakhota Fort and is among the most famous tourist attractions in Jamnagar. Originally built as a fort in a way such that soldiers posted over here can easily fend off an invading army with the help of the lake working as a moat. The place is now known as the Lakhota Museum. The museum owns a variety of artefacts from 9-century to 18-century along with pottery from the Medieval times and a skeleton of a whale. On entering the palace, the very first thing that you would see before the archaeological and historical information is a guard room that has muskets, swords, and powdered flasks reminding you of the history of this fort.
Also known as Shankhodhar is a tiny island that served as the main port in the region before the development of Okha. To reach the place, one can easily use the state highway from Jamnagar to Dwarka. Several archaeological ruins and religious manuscripts corresponding to the original abode of Lord Krishna can be found here. Other than that, one can enjoy the scenic beauty of the place and see dolphins, do water diving, camping, and picnicking. Some very famous temples can also be found here like Hanuman Mandir.
Located around 30 kilometres away from Porbandar, Harsiddhi Temple is also known as Harshad Mata Temple. The original temple was built atop a hill called Koyla Dungar. It is believed that the temple was built by Lord Krishna himself who worshipped her during his lifetime. Lord Krishna needed to defeat and kill asuras and so he needed power, and to get the power he prayed to Harsiddhi Mata. With her blessings, Lord Krishna successfully killed all the asuras and after the success, he built this temple. And after Lord Krishna defeated Jarasandha, all the Yadavas overjoyed (Harshit) and they celebrated over there. Along with the historical importance, the place also provides you with a beautiful scenic view of the surrounding sea and beach.
Located at the banks of River Sinhan, Aradhana Dham is famous for its tranquil and serene surroundings. It is a Jain Pilgrim Centre that is spread over an area of 40 acres bordering the Jamnagar-Dwarka Highway. The place is among the most famous places to visit in Jamnagar in the list of globetrotters who are looking for peace and tranquillity. The Aradhana Dham also has rest houses where you can spend a longer time. Other than this it also has several facilities like STD Booth, Strong Room, Library, Pooja and Rituals Room. There is a beautiful garden that adds to the beauty of the Dham. There is a musical fountain that is another attraction within this complex. It can be visited on all the days from 6:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening.
Bhujiyo Kotho is one of the majestic places to visit in Jamnagar. It was constructed by the previous leaders of the city of Jamnagar to shield the town from the interference of enemy armies and so it was built near the Lakhota Lake. The biggest asset of Bhujiyo Kotho was its height as it provided the encompassing view of the entire city of Jamnagar, which was then called Nawanagar. Buses, autos, and private vehicles can be used to reach this place.
Also known as Shri Bala Hanuman Sankirtan Mandir, Bala Hanuman Temple is located at the south-east side of Ranmal Lake in Jamnagar. The temple as the name suggests is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Apart from Lord Hanuman’s idol, the temple also has idols of various Gods like Lord Ram, Lord Lakshman, and Goddess Sita. The local people have deep faith in this temple and so hundreds of people visit the place on a daily basis. The best time to visit the place is during the evening aarti. The beautiful lights, chants, and the hundreds of devotees during the time of the aarti offer a sensory explosion. It is an experience to be lived.
Located near the Bedi Gate, on the west of Town Hall is the Bhidbhanjan Temple. The temple has an astounding architecture that displays a local style. The most appealing feature of the temple is its intricate silver work on the doors of the temple. The reason behind the time being so popular is its rich historical significance. People from all around the world visit this place for its beauty and minutely detailed decoration and architecture. The place is accessible from all transportation mediums.
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary is spread over an area of 6 square kilometres and includes a rich diversity of species. Apart from having rich varieties of marine and freshwater habitats, the place also includes diverse ecosystems such as marshy lands, salt pans, Prosopis area, Mangroves, mudflats, creeks, sandy beaches, and forest scrub making it a must to visit place for nature lovers. The sanctuary includes around 220 different species of both native and migratory birds, including species close to extinction such as Dalmatian pelican, Asian open bill stork, Black-necked stork, Darter, Black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, and Indian skimmer. The sanctuary is at a distance of 12 kilometers away from Jamnagar. All kinds of transportation mediums can be leveraged to reach the place.
Those who are consumed by wanderlust love to travel cities that provides them with a variety of destinations to visit in just one place and Jamnagar is exactly the same place. From the serenity of Lakota Lake to a stupendous experience of marine life in Marina National Park to the sacred Aradhana Dham, Jamnagar can easily fulfil the thirst of any kinds of globetrotters. Pack up your bags and plan your next trip to Jamnagar. Use the provided list of tourist attractions in Jamnagar and plan your vacation accordingly.
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