COASTAL PARADISE
For those who want a change from the beach destinations of Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra, the 1666 long coastline of Gujarat offers a delightful alternative. Featuring the beaches of Gujarat state and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, the coast is easily accessible from Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat, which have high connectivity to Dehli and Mumbai by air/rail, and Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Gandhidham with frequent connections to Mumbai. You can even drive up from Mumbai to the beaches of Daman and south Gujarat. For dwellers of landlocked north Indian cities, Gujarat is easier to access than the coastline of southern India. Here is a selection of beaches along the Gujarat coast:

MANDVI
The beach of Mandvi, in Kutch district, is one of the finest in Gujarat. The sand quality is good, the water is safe for swimming, and the views of the blue seas is fantastic. Visit the Vijay Vilas Palace at Mandvi, set in acres of grounds leading to a private beach, and enjoy a fabulous sea view from the terrace or from the evening pavilion on the beach. At sunset the view is picture postcard perfect! Palms and windmills enhance the view. Pony and camel rides are available at Mandvi. If you one of those who like to explore, visit the wooden ship building yard and roam around Mandvi town to find interesting buildings including a girl's college that was once a palace of an amorous 18th century Maharao of Kutch. Mandvi is also an ideal base to visit Tunda Vandh, a Rabari village where artisans can be watched at work on embroidery. Mandvi and nearby Mundara are known for their bandhini tie-and-dye. Beaches like Ashapura and Pingleshwar can be visited from Mandvi. The creeks are excellent for birding with flamingos among the many regular visitors.

PLACES TO STAY:-
There is a luxurious tented camp facing the Maharao's private beach in the palace estate of Vijay Vilas. The tents are spacious and attractively furnished, and each is an individual double bedroom with an attached bath with hot showers and western fittings. The restaurant is a semi-open Thai-style bamboo platform with an unending sea view.

GETTING THERE:-
Flights to Bhuj from Mumbai, then 60 km by road to Mandvi. Gandhidham and Bhuj are important railway stations nearby.

DIU ISLAND
Situated offshore from the mainland of Saurashtra, Diu has retained its strong Mediterranean flavour with Portuguese forts, churches, European colonial era buildings, wide roads, clean streets and unspoiled beaches. The island has a laid back charm and relaxing feel that is ideal for a beach holiday. There is lots to see as well. The five sq km Portuguese fort at Diu is one of the largest fortresses on India's west coast. The fort has high walls, protected by the Arabian Sea and tidal moats, impressive gateways, canon guarded ramparts, chapel and old buildings. Nearby is St Paul's church with an imposing Baroque façade and ornate interiors. The Diu museum is a converted St Thomas church with a fine collection of Christian statues and archaeological relics. Also in town are a number of imposing Portuguese colonial period administrative buildings and residences. Stroll down Panchwati and Zampa to see havelis and European style mansion of the merchants of Diu, specially the variously coloured and attractive Nagarseth haveli, renamed Ambica Haveli Hotel as the owner plans to convert his ancestral home into a heritage hotel.

The most popular beach is the sheltered cove of Nagoa, shaped like a crescent, with pretty palm groves and smooth sand. The water here is safe for swimming. Water Sports like skiing, surfing, para sailing and speed boat rides are available seasonally. Large crowds gather here for camel and horseback riding, swimming, wading and strolls on the beach, and Europeans sunbathe on the sands. There is a Sea Shells Museum near Nagoa with a good collection of mollusc and crustacean shells collected by a Merchant Navy officer during his travels round the world. To get away from the crowds walk down to Gahirmata beach, a 10-12 km stretch that has not yet been found by the crowds. Other beaches are Jalandar and Chakratirth. On the mainland is Goghla beach and across the border into Gujarat is Ahmedpur Mandvi beach. You can also watch fishing people unloading their catch at Vanakbara and tour the Portuguese style village of Bucharwada, near Fudam. There is a church, St Francisi, at Fudam. Other sights of Diu are the Bird Sanctuary, Malala Mines, Musical Fountains and Waterfall.

PLACES TO STAY:-
Radhika is a 3-star facing Nagoa Beach. When the beach gets warm, you can swim in the hotel pool. Kohinoor is a ritzy 3 star with a disco, pool, gym and other mod conveniences. Magico Do Mar is a cottage complex, set in a palm grove facing Ahmedpur Mandvi beach. Other modern hotels are Suzlon, Sea View, Apana, Ankur, Prince, Samrat etc. Diu also has a number of restaurants, including sea food places, and you can get home-cooked food at Christian homes.

GETTING THERE:-
There are flights from Mumbai to Diu. You could also get Trains to Ahmedabad from Mumbai, Dehli, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc, then change for Veraval two hours from Diu.

SOMNATH
Somnath is well known for its shore temples. The Shiva Temple here is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas which are a must for Shaivite pilgrims. Nearby is the Prabhas Patan museum with relics of Somnath's Shiv temple before it was engulfed by wave upon wave of invaders. Other important temples are the 11th-12th century Sun Temple, the Triveni Tirth Krishna Temple, Bakhla Tirth temple and the 17th century Ahilya Holkar temple.

The temples face pretty beaches which, though lacking shade, are quite nice for strolls. Camel and pony rides are available on the beaches of Somnath. You can get a cool coconut or a cup of tea with snacks at the beachside. Veraval town nearby, well known for its dhow building yard and fisheries, has a pleasant beach with benches for sit-outs facing the sea.

PLACES TO STAY:-
Park Hotel at Veraval is a good hotel near Somnath. Veraval has many eateries, some of which serve seafood, and Gujarati thali restaurants.

GETTING THERE:-
Trains to Ahmedabad from most important cities, change for Veraval.

CHORWAD
The beach at Chorvad is fringed by dangerous rocky reefs and the sea is turbulent-certainly not a place for a swim. But do not miss a stop at Chorvad for some great views of the sea, the colourful fishing colonies and walks on the fine beach. You may get a camel ride on the sand or a ride in a fishing boat with the locals. The Nawab of Junagadh has his palace here with a sea water swimming pool to compensate for the lack of good swimming. Visit the colourful village of Chorvad for a glimpse of culture. Chorwad is the home-town of the Ambani family.

PORBANDAR
The princely city of Porbandar has an attractive location on the seashore with a scenic stretch of beach called `Chowpatty' overlooked by palaces and colonial bungalows. This is the recreational centre of Porbandar.

The city's name evokes visions of Mahatma Gandhi who was born in this prosperous princely city on October 2, 1869. The Jetwa Rajputs made Porbandar their major port and capital in the 18th century AD. The Bharat Mandir is a pleasant temple with a relief map of India and beautiful carvings. The Daria Rajmahal or seashore palace was built around the turn-of-the-century by Maharana Bhav Sinhji, who took Porbandar on the path to modernisation with bridges, good roads, schools, courts and wide ranging reforms,and has now been turned into a school-the shimmering chandeliers of the darbarhall are no more, but one can see the impressive facade punctuated by ornate Venetian-Gothic arches around the open courtyard, and enjoy great views of the sea from the tower. Maharana Natvar Sinhji who succeeded him, and further modernised Porbandar and set up a progression towards industrialisation of Porbandar, built another sea shore palace-the Huzoor palace, in a zigzag form overlooking a lovely white sanded beach, which remains the private property of the family. As at Veraval, dhows are made at the docks.

The monumental heart of the city does not have the pleasant drives of the coast and parking can be a problem. Karamchand Gandhi was the minister of His highness Natvar Sinhji and his son was Mohandas K Gandhi, the world's most loved Gujarati, who was born in the Gandhi haveli, which has now been extended by adding the Kirti Mandir monument with a library, paintings of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife, Kasturba, and a museum of Gandhian memorabilia. You can see the Grishmabhuvan at Sartanji Choro, one of Porbandar's oldest monuments with intricate cusped arches and superb architecture, and the Sudama mandir, which is popular pilgrim spot.Flamingoes are abundant in the creeks of Porbandar and terns and gulls wheel and swoop at the fisheries of Jhawar. Chowpatty at Porbandar is a popular place for locals-they gather here for views,sit-outs, jogging and walks. A more pleasant beach can be found near the Huzoor palace.

South of Porbandar towards Veraval are the palm groves of Mangrol and Madhavpur, the latter has a beach with a Krishna temple worshipped by the colourful Mer tribes.

The picturesque coast road to Dwarka takes you past Khuchdi, where marshes are rich in birdlife. The Khuchdi beach is nice too, and there is an ancient temple facing the sea shore. Stroll on the beach and find lots of crabs and other marinelife.

DWARKA
Dwarka is an important center for Hindu pilgrimage. This was the kingdom of lord Krishna, who came here with the Yadav clan from Mathura, and marine excavations have revealed a grand city. The Dwarkadish temple, or Jagat mandir, the main reason for visiting Dwarka, is said to be thousands of years old, but the present incarnation is 17th century and the shikara dome dates from the 19th century. Intricate sculpture lines the facade. Krishna's consort, Rukmani, has been honoured by a fabulous temple, with exquisite carvings, dated to the 12th-13th century. Do not miss any of the other temples along the coast and the Ved Bhuvan, where Vedic principles are taught. Dwarka has some fine stretches of beach, and though crowded by pilgrims, you can always find a quiet spot to unwind. Shore birds gather in large numbers along the coast.

About 10km from Dwarka is the beautiful white-sanded beach of Shivrajpur, one of the finest in Gujarat.

GOPNATH
Gopnath, 80 km south of Bhavnagar, was the summer retreat of the Maharajahs of Bhavnagar. The Maharajah's 1942 AD summer mansion is now a heritage home offering comfortable accommodations facing the sea. The mansion has a splendidly scenic location on a promontory, flanked by rocks with a lighthouse on one side and unending views of the sea from the rooms. There is an outdoor eating place near the mansion offering regional thalis. Seafood can be obtained from the market and will be cooked for you on request at an extra charge. Walking distance from the mansion is Gopnath temple associated with mystic poet Narsinh Mehta, and give km away is the Jhanjmer fort.

Gopnath is the ideal base to visit the Jain complex and Buddhist caves of Talaja, the 863 temple topped summit of Mt Shatrunjaya over Palitana town, the Alang ship-breaking yard and the historic city of Bhavnagar.

PLACES TO STAY:-
Gopnath Bungalow has rooms open for guests in the main mansion and in the outhouses. When visiting Bhavnagar, spend a night at the Nilambag Palace Hotel, a converted 1859 AD palatial mansion with tennis courts, Romanesque swimming pool and business class hotel amenities.

GETTING THERE:-
Flights to Bhavnagar from Mumbai, hire a car for Gopnath. By train, you can get to Ahmedabad from most important cities of India and change for Bhavnagar.

DWARKA
Dwarka has an important shore temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and an exquisite medieval Rukmini temple. Near the temple town is the pretty Shivrajpur beach, ideal for a break from the temples. Dwarka is also good for coastal birdwatching. You can get a ferry to Bet Dwarka, an island offshore from Okha Jetty near Dwarka, to see the temples or hire a full boat for Dunny Point of Bet Dwarka. There is a pleasant white beach here, good swimming, and opportunities to visit coral reefs rich in marine life. Dolphins are often seen surfacing for air.

PLACES TO STAY:-
Dwarka has a number of economical hotels. An alternative is to make a day trip from Jamnagar, which has good hotels like Express and Orbitt Park at Motikhavdi, President and New Aram in the town.

GETTING THERE:-
Dwarka receives trains from many important cities of India.

DAMAN
Daman, like Diu, is a Union territory that was once ruled by the Portuguese colonial powers. The town is set on two sides of the river Damanganga, as it flows to the Arabian Sea, and there is a fort on each of the banks. Moti Daman fort, as the name suggests is the larger of the two with an ornate gateway. The interiors of churches and chapels of Moti Daman are among the most attractive in all of India, with ornate wood carvings and other decorations, though the exteriors are fairly plain. Moti Daman also has the Jampore beach, which is good for walking, wading and swimming. Across the river, Nani Daman has a fort, a cemetery and good views of the fishing fleet heading for or returning from the deep sea. This is the noisy side of Daman with Daman Tourism's lake resorts, hotels with discos, the crowded Devka beach, and restaurants playing loud music. Relax with a chilled beer and snacks at the floating island garden of the Lake Resort or in the Mughal theme bar of the Damanganga resort, and watch children enjoying themselves boating and playing in the garden. The plushest resorts line Devka beach.

Parsees can combine a visit to Daman with a pilgrimage to Udwada, with its sacred Iranshaw Fire Temple, Navsari, Sanjan and Surat.

PLACES TO STAY:-
There is a wide choice of hotels and resorts along Devka Beach. The better Jampore Beach has fewer options like China Town Hotel.

GETTING THERE:-
Trains to Vapi from Mumbai, Dehli and other metro cities.

TITHAL
Tithal, near the town of Valsad, has casaurina groves lining the beach. The beach is not remarkable but there is a nice long stretch for walking and wading, and seasonally also swimming. An open air cafeteria offers snacks and mini-meals facing the sea.

PLACES TO STAY:-
Tithal has basic accommodations. It is better to make a day trip from hotels in nearby Valsad and Vapi or from the 5-stars of Surat. You can visit Dumas and Hazira beaches from Tithal.

GETTING THERE:-
Trains to Valsad from Mumbai, Dehli and other metro cities.