Top things to do in Mandvi, the port city of Gujarat

I got to visit Mandvi, a port city in the Kutch district of Bhuj during the Rann Festival in January 2016. The city is 56 kms away from Bhuj. Mandvi, once used to be a major port and is known for the Mandvi beach and centuries old ship building yard.

How to reach :

You can stay at Bhuj and take bus/rickshaws to reach Mandvi. Buses are easily available from Bhuj in about every 30 minutes for Mandvi. If travelling in a group, getting a private vehicle is feasible.

Nearest Railway station : Bhuj

Nearest Airport : Bhuj

I was excited to be at the beach, as being at Vadodara does not expose me much to the beaches.

1. Mandvi Beach: 

The beach is pleasant and clean. I chose to reach here by 4:00 pm to catch the sunset after tripping around whole day. Take a walk around the salt waters and allow the breeze to wash over your feet. I had some great time running over water, playing in the mud. You may also try swimming in the warm waters of Arabian Sea. Just spend some time relaxing, try water sports or have a healthy coconut water & boiled corn. Your Mandvi visit is all worth.

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2. 72 Jinalaya :

72 Jinalaya is a holy temple for the Jains. This is on the way to Mandvi from Bhuj, a home to 72 deris of Lord Mahavira, at Koday village known as Bauter Jinalay (72 Temples). It is also known as “Adishwar Bauter Jinalay Mahatirth”. Spread over 80 acres of Area, the temple also has residence facility at Dharamshala & dining facility at Bhojanalaya. The time spent at the temple is tranquil and you will love it more when the lights are lit up in the evening after 7:00 pm.

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3. Vijay Vilas Palace :

 

Vijay Vilas is an exquisite and huge Palace built in the 1920’s by the Maharaja’s of Kutch. It was built to be used as a Summer Resort  by f Maharao Shri Khengarji III for his son King Vijayaraji, hence it was named as “Vijay Vilas Palace”. The Palace is spread over 450 acres of Land and built in an an Indo-European style with impressive stonework. The well known Bollywood movie”Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” was shot here.

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4. Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial

Shyamji Krishna Varma was an Indian revolutionary fighter well known for the foundation of  the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London. The memorial was inaugurated by then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, who worked hard and paid a tribute to the freedom fighter in making this a place to remember his great work towards the nation.

There is an auditorium on the ground floor of the building where they show visitors a 20 minute video detailing about life which was a good watch for me as I did not know much about him. Do not miss the exclusive view of the Mandvi beach from the window of second floor.

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5. Food and Streets: Apart from checking these locations, exploring the streets of Mandvi on foot is one good option if you like to know more about the culture. The streets are beautifully lined with old buildings. You may also want to check out the local street food to satisfy your taste buds. Dabeli is one of the famous street food here.

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Also read:

How to make a budget Trip to Rann Utsav

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