Jamnagar Travel Guide
Location :
Jamnagar is situated in the Saurashtra region of the Indian state of
Gujarat. It is around 302 km from Ahmedabad and extends from latitude 22°27'
in the North to longitude 70°07' in the East. The city is well
connected to other parts of Gujarat and western India through rail,
road, and air.
About Jamnagar :
Jamnagar, historically called Nawanagar, or the new city, was one of
the most important princely states of Saurashtra. It is about 310 kms
from Ahmedabad via Rajkot and is often called Chotta Kashi or Benares,
for it’s innumerable Hindu and Jain temples. It also has a Muslim
dargah. It is known for its tie-&-dye work on fabrics, silken &
gold embroidery. The foundation of Nawanagar State is credited to Jam
Raval. In AD 1540 after winning conquests Jam Raval founded the city of
Nawanagar.
The Jamnagar district, originally constituted as Halar district, is not
only recent in its origin but also in its modern set up. According to
Pauranik literature, Lord Krishna established his kingdom at Dwarka, now
in Jamnagar district, after His migration from Mathura. The Jams of
Nawanagar trace their descent to this great Yadava race. The present
district takes its name from the city and capital of Jamnagar so named
after the rulers who styled themselves as Jams. The centre of the old
town is known as Darbar Gadh.
Getting There :
By Air : Indian Airlines service connects Jamnagar
with Bombay and Bhuj.
By Rail : Jamnagar is directly connected with
Ahmedabad and Bombay. Hapa Jn.(9 km) from Jamnagar is another convenient
Railhead on the broad guage terminus
By Road : Jamnagar to Palitana 246 km, Rajkot 86 km,
Ahmedabad 304 km, Somnath 257 km, Dwarka 148 km. Gujarat State Transport
services connect Jamnagar with Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Porbandar,
Rajkot, Junagadh, Somnath.
Tourist Attractions :
Jain Temples
Out of a pair of Jain temples, one is dedicated to Adinath (the first
Tirthankara) and other built to honour Shantinath (the sixteenth ). The
quality and quantity of the murals on the walls, ceilings and pillars of
the temple are extraordinary. Hazy yellows, greens, pinks, oranges and
blues depict a riot of flowers, people, Gods and domestic objects, while
tableaux tell the life stories of Jain saints. The most spectacular of
the two, Shantinath Mandir, is a maze of brightly coloured columns, each
section of roof between them highlighted with individual designs. The
marble floor beneath is emblazoned with distinctive Jain patterns in
yellow, black, white and red. Above the main sanctuary, an enormous dome
rises in a series of concentric circles glinting with gold. The outer
side of the large dome over Adinath Mandir is inlaid with gold and
coloured mosaic, and both Temples have cupolas enriched with design of
mirrors above the entrance porch.
Lakhota Palace and Kotha Bastion
Lakhota Palace is reputed as one of the major tourist attractions among
the tourists visiting Jamnagar. Located in the center of Old Jamnagar on
an island in the middle of a lake, two old structures namely Lakhota
Fort and Kotha Bastion are sure to captivate you. The terrace of Lakhota
Fort displays a fine collection of sculptures that date back to the time
of yore. The Kotha Bastion is Jamnagar's arsenal. It has a fine
collection of sculptures, coins, inscriptions and copper plates and the
skeleton of a whale. Its major attraction is an old well, the water of
which can be drawn by blowing into a small hole in the floor.
Marine National Park
The North-West coast of Saurashtra, bordering the heavily tidal Gulf of
Kutch, is fringed with more than forty small islands, whose ever
depleting mangrove population gives rise to some of the richest marine
life off mainland India. The park is spread over an area of 458 sq kms.
Here you will find plants that look like animals and animals that look
like plants. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among
corals. The Marine National Park is 30 kms from Jamnagar.
Bhujio Kotho
Bhujio Kotho enjoys a distinct place among the tourists due to its
height and circumference. It is believed that the monument was
constructed for protection during the invasions. It has five floors and
on the first floor there are guns placed in each directions. On the
upper floor a tank is constructed to store water and on it's peak a
dancing peacock is placed.
