Rajkot - Introduction
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STD Code: 0281
Population: 1.17 million
This bustling town
was once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra and is also
a former British Government headquarters. Mahatma Gandhi spent
the early years of his life here, and his memory is marked with a
statue.
The prestigious
Rajkumar college dates back to the second half of the 19th century
and is regarded as one of the best private schools in the
country. It was set up by the British for the sons of nobility
(ramkumar means prince). |
Rajkot -
Information
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Rajkot's helpful
tourist office (+91 281 234507) is hidden away behind the old State
Bank of Saurashtra building on Jawahar Road, almost opposite the
Galaxy Hotel. Opening hours are from 10.30am to 1.30pm and 2
to 6pm weekdays and the first and third Saturday of the month.
The State Bank of
India, to the north of the Jubilee Gardens, has money changing
facilities. Entry is from the rear of the building. Some
mid-range hotels will also change money, although usually for only
the guests.
For Internet
access, head to the Interlink Cyber Cafe (+91 281 227237, interlinkindia@rajkotonline.com),
in the lane opposite the Sarovar Restaurant. One hour costs Rs.
30; this place is open 9am to midnight.
Watson Museum
& Library
The Watson Museum
& Library, standing in the Jubilee Gardens, was built to
commemorate the work of Colonet John Watson. Watson was
political Agent (Administrator) from 1886-89.
The entrance is
flanked by two imperial lions. Among the exhibits are copies
of artefacts from Mohenjodaro, 13th-century carvings, temple
statues, natural history exhibits and dioramas of local Adivasi
costumes and housing styles.
Perhaps the most
startling exhibit is a huge marble statue of Queen Victoria seated
on a throne, looking decidedly not amused. This museum is open
from 9am to 1pm and 2 to 6pm Thursday to Tuesday; admission cost Rs.
2.
Kaba Gandhi No Delo
This is the house
where Gandhi grew up, and it now holds a permanent exhibition of
Gandhi items. The Mahatma's passion for the handloom is
preserved in the form of a small weaving school. It's within
the old city on Ghee Kanta Road and entry is free. Opening
hours are flexible, from around 9 am to noon and 3 to 5.30 pm.
Monday to Saturday. The surrounding streets of the old city
are atmospheric places in which to wander around.
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Places to Stay -
Budget
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| Vijay
Guest House north of the bus stand in a lane off Dhebar Road, is
basic but friendly with rooms for Rs. 70/130/200 a
single/double/triple. All rooms come with private bathroom and
bucket hot water.
Hotel Yash (+91 281
223574, Dhebar Road) a five-minute walk from the bus stand, is newer
and has clean, pleasant rooms, with TV, telephone and bathroom,
although most have no window. There are two small singles for
Rs. 195, and a range of other rooms for Rs. 245/345 or Rs. 345/586
with air conditioned. There's no restaurant, but the 24-hours
room service goes some way towards compensating.
Places to Stay - Mid
Range and Top End
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rooms in this category have satellite TV and noon checkout.
Hotel Samrat
International (|+91 281 442234, 37 Karanpara Road), south of
the bus stand, has well-appointed rooms for the remarkably
precise rate of Rs. 322.50/483.75 (including tax) or Rs.
605/806.25 with air conditioned rooms. There are more
expensive deluxe rooms for Rs. 920/1100, although this is one
place where even the cheaper rooms are attractive, spacious
and excellent value. There's a good veg restaurant here.
Hotel RR
Palace (+91 281 241473), nearby also has very pleasant, modern
rooms with a touch less character for Rs. 250/400 or Rs.
400/500 with air conditioned. The rooms at the front can
be little noisy.
Galaxy Hotel
(+91 222904), on the 3rd floor of the Galaxy Commercial Centre
on Jawahar Road is another excellent choice with a classy
ambience. Spotless rooms cost Rs. 440/660 or Rs.
675/1010 with air-condition. The rooms are specious, the
staff friendly and although there is no restaurant, management
seems to be able to rustle up just about anything through the
24-hours room service. There's a pleasant open terrace
area on the roof with swing chairs. |
Places to Eat
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Rainbow Restaurant
(Lakhajiraj Road) is very popular in the evenings and serves
tasty and cheap South Indian cuisine. There's an
air-conditioned section upstairs. This place has an
impressive selection of ice cream; See if you can resist
the 'Nuts in Love' !!
Havmor, near
the Jubilee Gardens, serves Indian, Chinese and Western food
from Rs. 40 (veg/nonveg)
Jai Ganga,
opposite the Galaxy hotel and Sarovar Restaurant north of the
bus stand are similarly good value.
The quality
and ambience of the Woodland Resturant (Kanak Road) in the
Hotel Kavery makes this place feel like an upmarket place, but
the prices are very resonable. Vegetarian dishes start
at Rs. 25; Gujarati Thalis are Rs. 65.
Getting there
and Away & Getting Around
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| Air
Indian
Airlines (+91 281 227916) has a daily flight to Mumbai
(US$ 75).
Bus
STC
buses connect Rajkot with Jamnagar (Rs. 35), Junagadh (Rs.
35), Porbandar (Rs. 60), Veraval (Rs. 58) and Ahemdabad
(Rs. 122)
There
are number of private buses that operates to Ahmedabad,
Bhavnagar, Una (for Diu), Mt. Abu, Udaipur and Mumbai.
These companies' offices are on Kanak Road by the bus
stand.
Train
There
are at least four trains daily between Rajkot and
Ahmedabad (Rs. 62/97/279 in general/sleeper/3A class,
around six hours, 246km). Trains also go to/from
Jamnagar, Porbandar and Mumbai. Inquiry number is
131 or 443535.
Getting
Around
A
rickshaw to the airport from the city center costs about
Rs. 50; to the train staion expect to pay Rs. 15.
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Around
Rajkot
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| Tarnetar
Every
year in the month of Bhadra (around September), the
Trineteshwar Temple at Tarnetar, 65km north-east of
Rajkot, hosts the three-day Tarnetar Fair. The
fair is best known for the different Chhatris
(dome shaped Mughal Kiosk) made specially for the
occasion, and is an opportunity to find a spouse: One of
the main functions of the fair is to enable villagers
from the Bharwad community to form matrimonial
alliances. Prospective candidates are bedecked
intheir finery, making this fair an extraordinary
colorful spectacle.
According
to legend, Arujna once danced at this site and the River
Ganges flows into the tank here once a year.
Special
state buses go to/from Rajkot during the fair.
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Today's Weather
in Rajkot
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