THE LURE OF GUJARAT’S UNCROWDED VILLAGE EXPERIENCES

Small destinations with big hearts and rich offerings

 From coastal kaleidoscopes to architectural marvels… from historic haunts to crafting hubs, Gujarat’s scenic villages offer visitors immersive insights, fresh experiences, and great memories of its rural landscape.

Here’s a handful of villages that should be on your must-do- list.

Mandvi 

The lesser trumpeted coastal charms of Mandvi are truly deserving of greater hype amongst travellers who enjoy uncrowded places to relax and sink into the local culture.

Just 60km away from Bhuj, which is accessible by air, this coastal village whose name is inspired by the Sage Mandavya once had big-time trading links dating as far back as the 16^th century. The shipyard, which you can visit offers a window to its old ship-building tradition that was powered by all these hectic activities on the old sea routes which brought in the laden sailing ships from South Africa and Zanzibar from the west and, Malaysia, China, and Japan from the East. You can still see remnants of the fort wall near what was the trading hub.

The shipbuilding yard lies about 300 m away from Mandvi Bus Stand by Rukmavati River.  By chatting up the friendly workers at the yard you can learn a lot about the history of the shipyard which still offers reminders of the Dutch craft of shipbuilding. You can also get to watch the workers deconstructing and working on some ships here.

 Most of the action is at the clean and relatively less crowded Mandivi Beach, even though it’s quite popular with the locals. Water sports is a big lure here. Camel rides on the shoreline can be fun as can camping, sunbathing, and strolls by the waterline. If you want a quieter experience, you can head out for a slice of a seaside resort called The Beach at Mandvi Palace. The Vijay Vilas Palace, dating to the times of the rule of Maharao Shri Khengarji III, the Maharao of Kutch, can be explored for a small fee. More of a mansion than a palace, it is partially run as a guesthouse now. Check out the elaborate jali work, coloured glass, and frescoes.

The sunrises and sunsets over the sea are just spectacular. The windmills in the distance make for pretty silhouettes at twilight.

Patan

Chhani, located in Patan district nestles by the sacred waters of the Narmada River.  An unmissable characteristic of this place is its serene natural beauty and access to the stunning stepwell Rani Ki Vav. The architectural heritage of Patan surely has that extra lustre thanks to the stunning Rani Ki Vav. This spectacular, intricately carved stepwell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, still blows visitors away with its exquisite craftsmanship. Water conservation is one of the most important issues for village communities. This superb stepwell aligns well with the unique Maru-Gurjara architectural style. Seven levels of steps lead down to the base of the structure. Every inch of these is ornamented with beautifully sculpted panels. Dating back to 1063 CE it was commissioned by Rani Udayamati as a memorial to her late husband Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty.

You should also explore the Sahasralinga Talav repaired and renovated by King Siddharaj from 1093 – 1143. Much of the structure, originally known as Durlabh Saravor, remains undiscovered. What you do see from the excavations carried out in 1942–43, offers a window to the stunning craftsmanship of the superb sculptures and pillars which embellished this water heritage site.  Remnants of an old multi-pillared Shiva temple and several smaller shrines stand brooding on the embankment.

Dholavira

Delve deep into Gujarat’s antiquity in the ancient remains discovered at Dholavira on Khadir Island, 130km away from Bhuj. The awesome site is believed to be one of the five most important finds of the Indus Valley Civilisation. This planned Harrapan site, known by the locals as Kotada, features three segments as ascertained by archaeologists— the citadel, middle town, and lower town. The walled settlement has an array of features of interest in all three segments which are worth exploring on a guided tour.

Bhujodi

It’s not just textile buffs who will enjoy explorations of what has come to be known as the ‘Textile Village’, 8 km southeast of Bhuj. This home to the Vankar weaving community is the perfect place to come and explore some of India’s most ancient artisanal skills which are still a living tradition.  The ‘Kutchi’ shawls or ‘Dhabda’ have also received the ‘GI (Geographical Indication) tag’. Their over-500-year-old weaving techniques of the Vankars, to produce the most exquisite handcrafted blankets, shawls and textiles have gained global fame. Do take time out to spend time at one of the workshops, interact with the weavers, and purchase authentic handmade textiles to support the local economy.

Poshina

This picturesque village in the Aravalli Range is the ancient home of the Garasia and Bhil tribal communities. Visitors here will get to see another side of rural Gujarat. The people here are acknowledged for their expertise as potters, silversmiths, and blacksmiths. An unmissable site in the village mass of terracotta tribesmen churn out, which serve as offerings to the local deities for their protection of the community.