Porbandar is where Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born, on 2 October 1869, and that fact shapes almost every itinerary. The memorial at his family house, Kirti Mandir, is the town's anchor, but the town itself is a modest, working Saurashtra port on the Arabian Sea, with a fishing community, a deep-water harbour and a Jethwa Rajput past that goes back to at least the 16th century. It is not a city of grand monuments, and it is better for being taken at that scale.
Most visitors need a day, or a day and a half, in town. Kirti Mandir, Sudama Mandir and the Bharat Mandir exhibition are all short, level visits. Shri Hari Mandir, the Sandipani campus on the edge of town, is worth an unhurried hour. Add an evening on the Chowpatty seafront and a taste of khajli, the fried flour snack the town is known for, and you have covered the centre. The Bird Sanctuary and the exterior of Huzoor Palace fit in as short extras.
Porbandar also works well as a base on the Saurashtra coast. It sits between Dwarka and Somnath, with Madhavpur's beach, the Barda hills and Jambuvan cave within a morning's drive. The climate is the gentlest of Gujarat's big towns: it is the least hot of the state's major cities, and winters are dry and bright. For parents and older travellers the town is easy: little walking, few steps, and a pace that suits a family that does not want to rush.
Before you plan
Porbandar at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable: dry, bright and warm. March to May is hot, and June to September is monsoon, with the heaviest rain in July.
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 days for the town1 to 2 days for the town; add a day if you want Madhavpur, Barda or Jambuvan cave
- Airport
- Porbandar AirportPorbandar Airport (PBD), a few kilometres from the town; flights have been intermittent, so check the current schedule. Rajkot (RAJ) is the main alternative, about 3 to 4 hours by road.
- Railway station
- PorbandarPorbandar (PBR) on Western Railway, with direct trains to Rajkot and onward to Mumbai, Delhi and other cities
- Getting around
- Autos and taxis for town sightsAutos and taxis for town sights; a hired car and driver is the practical choice for Madhavpur, Barda, Jambuvan cave and the drive to Dwarka or Somnath
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,200 to ₹3,000 per person…Roughly ₹1,200 to ₹3,000 per person per day excluding hotel; most sights are low-cost, so car hire is the main variable
- Senior comfort
- Good: the town is flatGood: the town is flat, the main sights are short and level, and the climate is mild in winter. Jambuvan cave and Barda need more effort.
- Language
- Gujarati is the official and…Gujarati is the official and everyday language; Hindi is widely understood, and English works at hotels and major sights
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Porbandar: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Porbandar itinerary
One good day
1 day in Porbandar
Start at Kirti Mandir soon after it opens, so you see the house and the memorial before the groups arrive. Walk or ride to Sudama Mandir, which is in the market area and has shaded grounds. After lunch, visit Bharat Mandir during its afternoon session, and then drive out to Shri Hari Mandir on the edge of town for the Sandipani campus. End the day on the Chowpatty seafront and buy khajli to take home.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Porbandar
Begin at Kirti Mandir, then Sudama Mandir. After a long lunch and a rest, go to Bharat Mandir in the afternoon session and look at Huzoor Palace from the outside. Spend the evening at Chowpatty.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Porbandar
Kirti Mandir in the morning, Sudama Mandir next, then a rest through the heat of the afternoon. Visit Bharat Mandir in its second session and finish on the Chowpatty seafront.
Day-by-day plan →
