Day trips in Rajkot
- 01
Gondal palaces
A small former princely town about 38 km from Rajkot, known for the 18th-century Naulakha Palace and other royal buildings. It is the best day trip from the city.
- Time needed
- Half to full day including the drive
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, November to February
- Tickets
- Access varies. Naulakha Palace is part of the Darbargadh complex, and the durbar hall is still used by the royal family, so some areas may be limited. Orchard Palace operates as a heritage hotel. Confirm hours, tickets and visiting rules locally.
- 02
Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary
A small dry-scrub sanctuary near Jasdan, run by the GEER Foundation as a nature education site, with chinkara, nilgai, a long bird list and an old hill fort on the grounds.
- Time needed
- Half a day, plus 1.5–2 hours each way by road
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- November to February, early morning or late afternoon; monsoon greenery is lovely but the sanctuary then hosts school camps
- Tickets
- Entry arrangements, fees and guide availability are not clearly published online; one state tourism page lists no fees and a travel page gives daytime hours, so confirm with the local forest office or GEER before you go. Camera rules may vary.
- 03
Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary
A small scrub-and-grass sanctuary of about 15 sq km near Wankaner in Morbi district, once a royal shooting reserve, now a quiet place for antelope, foxes and birds.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours on site, plus travel of roughly an hour each way
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Winter months, early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- Entry fees and exact hours are not published on official tourism pages; one travel site lists daytime hours without confirmation. Confirm with the Gujarat Forest Department office before travelling, and ask whether private vehicles may enter.
Landmarks in Rajkot
- 04
Kaba Gandhi No Delo
The two-storey family haveli where Gandhi lived from about the age of 12, now a small memorial with photographs and belongings. It is short, quiet and moving.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, when it is open and the lanes are quieter; November to February
- Tickets
- The house is run as a memorial by the Gandhi Smriti Trust; check the current opening hours and any entry fee locally. A guidebook lists Monday to Saturday morning and late afternoon hours and a Sunday closure, but confirm before you travel.
- 05
Rajkumar College
One of India's oldest chiefs' colleges, founded in 1868 to educate the sons of Kathiawar's rulers, still a working school on a wide Gothic-style campus. It is a look-from-outside heritage stop.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning during office hours; November to February
- Tickets
- Visitors usually need permission from the school office, which a guidebook lists as morning hours only. This is a school, so access can change; check with the school or the official site before you go.
- 06
Rashtriya Shala
A Gandhian learning centre set up in 1921 that still works with khadi, hand spinning and patola weaving. It is a place to see crafts being made rather than a conventional sight.
- Time needed
- 45 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning visiting hours; November to February
- Tickets
- There is no formal ticket system reported; visitors are generally welcome in morning hours, but check locally before you go. Respect workers and ask before photographing them.
Museums in Rajkot
- 07
Mahatma Gandhi Museum
Gandhi's old school, Alfred High School, reborn as a large museum with galleries on his life and an evening light and sound show. It is the most complete single stop on Rajkot's Gandhi trail.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours; add the evening show if you stay on
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning for the galleries; evening for the light and sound show; November to February for comfort
- Tickets
- Tickets are modest for Indian visitors and higher for foreigners, with a separate ticket for the light and sound show; cameras carry an extra fee. The official site lists the museum as closed on Mondays and tickets on sale until early evening. Check current rates and hours on mgmrajkot.com.
- 08
Rotary Dolls Museum
A small private museum of more than 1,600 dolls in national dress from over 100 countries, donated through Rotary clubs. It is a light, indoor stop that children tend to enjoy.
- Time needed
- 45 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late morning or late afternoon, within opening hours; any time of year
- Tickets
- A modest entry fee is normal; confirm the current ticket price and hours locally, as listings differ. The museum is reported closed on Mondays.
- 09
Watson Museum
A colonial-era museum in Jubilee Garden with sculptures, coins, textiles, Harappan replicas and tribal artefacts. It is old-fashioned and quiet, and a cool break in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning or early afternoon, within opening hours; November to February
- Tickets
- Entry is inexpensive. One guide lists it as closed on Sundays, the second and fourth Saturdays and public holidays, with a lunch break, but check current hours locally.
Temples in Rajkot
- 10
Chotila Hill and Chamunda Mata Temple
A steep stepped climb up Chotila hill, about 1,250 ft high, to the Chamunda Mata temple, a major Gujarati pilgrimage shrine near the Rajkot–Ahmedabad road with wide views over the Saurashtra plains.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours including the climb and darshan
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- November to February, early morning; Navratri for the festival but expect large crowds
- Tickets
- There is no entry ticket for the temple. Footwear is left before the steps; confirm current temple timings and festival arrangements locally.
- 11
Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama
The Ramakrishna Mission's Rajkot ashram, with a Universal Temple, libraries, a book sale and a dispensary on one campus. It is a calm place for a short rest and the evening arati.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning worship or evening arati; any time of year
- Tickets
- Entry is free for visitors. The ashram lists temple hours of about 5 am to noon and 4 pm to 9 pm; confirm locally. Dress modestly, remove shoes and ask about photography, as it is often restricted inside temples.
Gardens and parks in Rajkot
- 12
Pradyuman Park Zoo
A large zoological park of about 55 hectares near Lalpari and Randarda lakes, opened in 2010. It is a half-day outing for families, with plenty of walking.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Early morning; November to February
- Tickets
- A ticket is required; check current rates, timings and closing days with the Rajkot Municipal Corporation or locally, as one travel site reports a weekly closing day that is unconfirmed. Food is not permitted inside according to one report.
Neighbourhoods in Rajkot
- 13
Race Course ring
A green ring of sports grounds, parks and a science centre where Rajkot walks in the morning and evening. It is the easiest place in the city for a gentle stroll.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or evening; November to February
- Tickets
- Walking on the ring is free. The nearby science centre and some sports facilities have their own timings and tickets; check locally.
