Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary

This is the home of the Indian black buck. Velavadar in the Bhal region of Saurashtra is a unique grassland ecosystem that has attracted fame for the successful conservation of the black buck - the fastest of the Indian antelopes, the wolf and the lesser florican.

Once found in open plains throughout the country and the state of Gujarat, its largest population at present occurs in Velvadar National Park. This exclusively Indian animal is perhaps the most graceful and beautiful of its kind. It has ringed horns that have a spiral twist of three to four turns and are upto 70 cm long. The body's upper parts are black and the underparts and a ring around the eyes are white. The female, light brown in colour is usually hornless.

The fastest of the Indian antelopes, they move off in a series of amazing leaps and bounds when threatened and then break into a lightening run.

A word of praise would not be out of place for the Kathi community who like the Bishnoi community have protected the black buck with vigour and zeal as it is associated with their past history of valour and religious practices.

How to get there:
It is situated 50 kms. north of Bhavnagar. The nearest air and rail connection is at Bhavnagar.

Horse Riding Club

Horse Riding Club run by the Bhavnagar District Police since last two years. Horse Riding Club covers the training of National Level Horse Riding Techniques.

The Course duration is 3 months. With request, the duration can be reshuffled. Certificate will be issued after successful completion of Course.

Gaurishankar Lake -A dry lake, it is currently used for organizing fairs and other public events. It also has a picnic spot nearby and a beautiful garden known as Pil Garden.

Gangajaha - In the midst of what was formerly a tank stands the temple of Gangadevi with a chhatri or partition. Made of white marble, designed by Sir John Griffits it was built by Maharaja Takhtsinghji in memory of Maharani Majirajba in 1893 A.D.

Other temples Thapnath Mahadev. Jagdish Temple, Bhid Bhanjan Mahadev, Dhareshwar Temple, Parsi Fire Temple, Jain Derasars.

Mosques Nagina Masjid. Jumma Masjid. Selarsha Dargah

Lakes, Parks, Gardens Khodiar lake, Sihor lake, Kailas Vatika, Bal-Ghar.An interesting excursion from the Vijay Vilas palace is Shihor, with its historic old palace of the Maharajah of Bhavnagar, featuring gardens, wall paintings and woodcarvings. It can also be used as a base to visit Alang ship breaking yard, the Jain temples of Talaja, the historic town of Vabhipur and the Velavadar National Park.

Khodiyar Mata Situated 4 Kms from Sihor, is a famous shrine commemorating the family Goddess of the rulers of the former Bhavnagar State. The deity is held in great reverence and the shrine with 36 pillars and a vast mandap presents a serene sight. The views are nothing short of breathtaking.

Alang A modern wonder of Gujarat, the ship-breaking yard at Alang is a fantastic spectacle in itself. It is located on the coast between Bhavnagar and Talaja. Large ships from America, Europe, Asia are brought here to be scrapped. The reason behind the selection of this site was the nature of its tide, suitable for such maritime activities and the proximity of industrial zones that could utilize its metal and other scrap. It's India's largest ship-breaking site. Here supertankers, container ships, warships and other vessels are reduced to scrap by 20,000 workers toiling day and night.

Gopnath A beautiful hamlet on the coast of the Gulf of Khambhat and at a distance of 10 Kms from Talaja, the taluka headquarter of Bhavnagar district is Gopnath. Vying for eminence on the tourist circuit with development of a heritage hotel- Gopnath Bungalow, it was a pleasant sea-shore retreat of Gohil rulers of Bhavnagar. The bungalow built in a European colonial style with cottages and mansions surrounding the courtyard faces the sea and offers a beautiful view of the gulf . It attracts marine life and birdwatching enthusiasts to the rocky shores on the coast. It is also renowed for the temple of Gopnath Mahadev, where Narsinh Mehta is believed to have performed penance.

Mahuva A minor part Mahuva is famous for its handicraft work in wood and ivory. Lacquer work on wooden furniture and toys is its speciality , its fertile land bears 'Jamadar' mangoes similar to the Alphonso. There is an old mosque, Laxmi-narayan Temple and a Jain Dehrasar. The Pipavav project nearby is fast coming up as a major port and coastal industrial centre.

Gadhada Famous for its Swaminarayan Temple, Gadhada is a premier town on the pilgrim circuit of Gujarat.

The temple, built in 1829 A.D. is a fine piece of architecture with a high plinth, spacious square, an assembly hall and large sarais.

Sahajanand Swami, born Ghanshyam, at Chhapaia near Ayodhya, was manifested with spiritual powers at an early age. During his wanderings he came to Saurashtra. Here he met Swami Ramananda, his religious preceptor, and founded the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

A saint of great spiritual attainment, he was one of the few to have been worshipped as an incarnation of God during his lifetime. He not only propagated religion but also spearheaded a reformist movement, which brought a wide cross-section of the people into the mainstream. The sect has now evolved into powerful socio-religious movement with a global appeal and its temples adorn the state in all its glory. The fair known as Jal-jhilani Ekadashi is held here on Bhadrapad Sud 11, which is attended, by a large number of devotee