"If you are fortunate enough to be travelling in India, and specially in the regions that he has already covered, then look no further. This is the one book you really need"
"Ward, in one sweep of his pen, with the strength of his convictions to back him, convinces his readers of the reality and the magic that is India". - The Hindustan Times
Between the hills of Maharashtra and Rajasthan to the north and east, the Pakistan border to the west, and the Arabian Sea to the south, Gujarat is a state which is unsurpassed for architectural and natural beauties. Starting from the shinning Islamic monuments of its former capital, Ahmedabad, and the related cities of Mehmedabad, and Champaner, this new travel guide explores the coastal cities of Cambay, Bharuch, and Surat, the princely state of Baroda, the Parsi sanctuaries of Udvada, Navsari and Sanjan, and the hill resorts of Bansda and Saputara. The great Sun Temple at Modhera introduces us to the early Hindu Kingdom of Gujarat based at Patan, with the Hindu and Jain sites of the north.
Interludes in the former Portuguese enclaves of Daman and Diu present another intriguing aspect of life in mediaeval and modern India. The bulk of the book is taken up with the magnificent former princely states of Saurashtra peninsula: Jamnagar and Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Wankaner, Porbandar and Junagadh, each with its lavish palaces and grand urban projects. The world-famous lion sanctuary of Sasan Gir and the wild ass sanctuary near Dasara have to be seen, as do the religious centres of Dwarka and Somnath, and the magnificent Jain complexes at Girnar and Shatrunjaya. You can relax on beaches at Chorwad or Ahmedpur Mandvi, or seek out historic Hindu temples at Bileshwar, Ghumli and Gop. Lothal rivals Mohenjo Dam in Pakistan in its insight into the prehistoric Indus Valley civilization.
The book ends fittingly in the isolated region of Kutch, with walled towns, beaches, desert wildlife, and tribes untarnished by commercialism. Gujarat is a great experience that nobody should deny himself. For sheer depth of understanding and quality of information, this title represents essential background information for anyone thinking of travelling to this area and, as such, remains unsurpassed since its first publication in 1993.
See also: South India - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa (Search 978-0900891311), Rajasthan, Agra, delhi (Search 978-0906672440) Western India - Bombay, Maharashtra, Karnataka (search 978-0900891328.
Part of the Oleander Classics series, this title has been reproduced using the highest-quality modern scanning technology. This is in order to keep important works from the Press’s 50-year history from going out of print. In this way, the invaluable resources provided by this and other books in the series remain available for general readers, academics and other interested parties.