Gujarat Beaches
Porbandar Beach
On the south-east coast, about midway between Veraval and Dwarka
in Gujarat, Porbandar is located.It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.
Dhows are still built here and fish-drying is an important activity here.
Porbandar produces gold and silver trinkets, manufactures fine quality
silk and cotton.
Chorwad Beach
66 km from Junagadh and 23 km from the fishing centre of Veraval,
Chorwad is a delightful beach with it's resort on the sunny coast of Gujarat.
An excellent road connects it to Junagadh, Girnar, the Gir Forest Sanctuary
and the famous temple of somnath. There are trains from Ahmedabad to Chorwad
road station.
Beyt Dwarka
Dwarka has some fine stretches of beach. Though it is a crowded
place always full of pilgrims, you can always find a quiet spot to unwind.
Shore birds gather in large numbers along the coast. Okha, north of Dwarka
is a jetty, from where one can get ferries for Beyt Dwarka, an island
covered with temples. The eastern tip of the island, to visit which one
may need to charter an entire boat, has a lovely white beach, coral reefs
and extensive marinelife. Dolphins and porpoise can be seen surfacing
to breathe, sea turtles inhabit the beach, octopus, star fish, sea urchins
etc abound. Accommodation options are limited. Dwarka receives trains
from Bombay.
Somnath & Veraval Beach
The Somnath temple is beautiful and quiet impressive.The aura of
devotion is more awesome,
but the high point is it's location by the blue
waters of the Arabian sea. The beach of Somnath is unshaded but lovely,
the views stupendous, and one can enjoy cool, fresh coconuts, camel rides,
and spray of the waves as one wade along the shoreline.
Just 6 kms from Somnath, Veraval was a fortified port town of the royal
family of Junagadh. The old walls have been pulled down but the impressive
Junagadh gate and Patan gate, both with intricate carvings, can still be
seen, as can the old Nawabi palace with Gothic features facing the sea.
The beach near the palace, has benches and a jogging path, and is a popular
place for strolls and swimming in the morning.
The most spectacular sight of Veraval is the fishing port, where thousands
of trawlers, country crafts and dhows can be seen unloading their catch.
Dhows are built in this region by master artisans who use simple tools to
turn piles of rafters and timber into perfectly proportioned, symetrical
sea going vessels (the latest instrument used is a measuring tape). Accomodation
can be availed at Hotel Park. Other hotels are near the bus or rly station
and offer simple a/c or non a/c rooms. If one wants to be near the sea,
there are some cheap hotels, guest houses and dharamshalas at Somnath.
Mandvi Beach
It is one of the finest beaches in Gujarat and also a historic
port town of the Maharao of Kutch.It is situated 298 kms away from Ahmedabad.
One of the finest beach resorts of the country, Ahmedpur Mandvi offers excxiting
options to entertain oneself by lazing in the beach, swimming, or enjoying
water sports. The port of Mandvi was an important sea trade post between
the near east and the far east, and brought considerable prosperity to the
royal family of Kutch. Mandvi town is important to the Maharaos as their
capital city of Bhuj, and they endowed it with some splendid palaces and
buildings. The prettiest of the beaches is the one which is now being promoted
by Gujarat tourism. The beach has lovely blue waters, lots of birdlife,
sandy beaches and colourful fishing hamlets.
