About Bhavnagar

Bhavnagar is a significant port city in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, along the Gulf of Khambhat. The town is 50 km away from the port of Alang, South Asia’s biggest ship-breaking yard and a major trading harbour. Bhavnagar has temples, serene beaches, heritage sites, and relics of the city’s past.

Raja Bhavsinghji Gohil founded Bhavnagar in 1723 as a city and eventually a state in 1743. It was earlier known as Gohilwad and served as a trade link between Singapore, Zanzibar, Mozambique, and the Persian Gulf. You can experience the undulating waves of the Gulf of Khambhat here. Bhavnagar is a hub for India’s diamond-cutting and polishing industry. Bhavsinhji Takht Sinhji Gohil (1703–1764) laid the foundation stone in 1724. Before the Indian Union was formed in 1948, it served as the capital of Bhavnagar State, a princely state, before being incorporated into the Union. Since its inception, Bhavnagar has been a centre of maritime trade. Today, it is home to several weaving mills, sawmills, and ancillary industries, such as tiles and brick kilns, which support the construction industry. 

The temperature of Bhavnagar rises to 42 °C in summer and drops to below 5 °C in winter. A majority of Bhavnagar residents speak Gujarati and Hindi. Major tourist attractions of Bhavnagar include Nilambag Palace, Bhav Vilas Palace, Takhteshwar Temple, Barton Library, and Victoria Park. Bhavnagar Airport is 4 km from the city, and you can travel between the two via bus or taxi. Bhavnagar Airport is well-connected to Mumbai and New Delhi by flight. You can get a bus to Bhavnagar city from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Rajkot. It will take 4 hours to reach Bhavanagar from Ahmedabad by train. 

Places To Visit In Bhavnagar

1. Gaurishankar Lake

This artificial lake was built in 1872 by Sri Gaurishankar Oza, the Deewan of Bhavnagar. The lake, which also goes by the name Bor Talav, was initially created as a reservoir to supply water to the city. Kailash Vatika Planetarium is next to Bhavnagar Lake. Visit the lake with your friends and family. You can take them boating on the waters or lie down on the bank for a quiet picnic while enjoying the sunset.

2. Victoria Park 

This triangular-shaped park was designed in 1888 by Proctor Sins and is spread over 2 sq km. At the park, you can see foxes, owls, snakes, porcupines, hares, jackals, hyenas, peafowl, and nilgais. 

3. Takhteshwar Temple 

One of the oldest temples in Gujarat, Takhteshwar, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. A statue of Nandi is in the temple’s courtyard. The temple is supported by 18 pillars, was built in 1893, and was named after Maharaja Takhtsinhji. The best time to visit the temple is during Shivratri, which is celebrated here with much enthusiasm.

4. Gandhi Smriti 

Gandhi Smriti is 2 km from Bhavnagar Railway Station, constructed in 1955 to commemorate the life and service of Mahatma Gandhi. It is a two-storeyed museum with books and other memorabilia used by the Father of the Nation. You can buy khadi clothes at the souvenir shop as a memory of this revered place.

5. Barton Library and Museum 

The oldest library in the city, built in the 19^th century, is on the ground floor of Gandhi Smriti. Barton Library and Museum were designed in the magnificent Gothic architectural style. At this museum, spend time browsing history books and learning about Mahatma Gandhi’s contributions that shaped India’s independence struggle.

6. Palitana

This small town is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains. Palitana is 51 km from Bhavnagar. The people of this town follow a strict vegetarian diet. It is among the first two vegetarian villages in the world. Climb Palitana Hill and visit the temples on the summit. Along with Palitana, Shatrunjaya Hill is another holy shrine for Jains. A 900-year-old temple stands on top of the 7228-foot-tall hill. You need to climb 3750 steps to get to the top.

7. Velavadar National Park 

Bhavnagar Blackbuck National Park is dedicated to conserving blackbucks. It is also home to a variety of birds. The Velavadar National Park, also called the Blackbuck National Park, is located 48 km from Bhavnagar. The park spreads over an area of 34 sq km. Besides blackbucks, it is home to nilgai (blue bulls), wolves, and more than 100 different species of birds, including migratory harriers from Siberia. 

8. Aksharwadi Swaminarayan Temple 

The temple is on Waghawadi Road, 4 km from Bhavnagar Railway Station. It was completed in 2006 and is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan. It is a two-storeyed temple with three domes. The main temple has 97 stone pillars, 220 stone beams, 17 domes, 57 stone screens, three porticos, and 256 statues of deities and spiritual gurus.

9. Gopnath Beach 

Gopnath Beach is a serene, calm spot to spend the day. After a whole day of walking on the cliffside, relax here with your friends and family while watching the sunset. Talaja, a Jain temple, is a major attraction on the beach. The temple is built on top of a 350-foot-tall hill. The area also has a Buddhist cave that dates back to the 1st century BC. A regal resort was built beside the beach in 1942 and is a popular lodging place.

10. Trambak Falls 

Trambak Falls are 24 km from Bhavnagar. They fall from 30 ft and have a path to trek to Malnath Mahadev Temple. The best time to visit the falls is during monsoon. 

About Bhavnagar Airport

Bhavnagar Airport (IATA: BHU, ICAO: VABV) is a domestic airport located in Gujarat, around 4 km from the city centre. It is situated in Gujarat’s southeast corner. Bhavnagar Airport has a single terminal arrival and departure capacity of 100 passengers per hour. The terminal has one boarding gate, three check-in counters, and two security counters.

The Airports Authority of India developed this airport as a nearby airport for VIP visitors and subsequently changed it to a domestic airport. The airport has two major buildings: one for the domestic terminal and one for air traffic control with just an ILS system. This airport’s cargo bay can handle two Boeing 747 flights at the same time. This airport has flights to several major cities in India, with direct flights to and from Mumbai.

Bhavnagar Airport provides a variety of amenities and services. These include free baggage trolleys, wheelchairs, a medical facility, conveyor belts, public bathrooms, and a lost and found luggage counter for passengers. There are comfy cushioned couches, mobile charging outlets, entertainment television, a VIP lounge, local phone facilities, an announcement system, a post box, etc.