Jamnagar

Former capital of the Nawanagar princely state, with Lakhota Palace on an island in the lake, Bala Hanuman Temple where chanting never stops, and coral reefs that can be walked at low tide at Narara.

Jamnagar lies on the north coast of Gujarat's Saurashtra peninsula, facing the Gulf of Kutch. It was the capital of the former Nawanagar princely state, founded in the 16th century by Jam Rawal. The city is a traditional center of Bandhani tie-dye and bead embroidery in India. Nearby, the world's largest refinery complex, owned by Reliance Industries, has earned it the nickname Oil City.

The heart of the old city is Lakhota Lake. The Lakhota Palace Museum on the lake, the Bhujiyo Kotho tower on the shore, and the Bala Hanuman Temple, where chanting never stops day or night, can all be reached on foot around the lake. The area is liveliest in the evening, with lights and snack stalls along the water. To the east are Darbargarh Palace, Ratanbai Mosque, and the ornate Jain temple complex, all between old streets such as Chandi Bazaar, where you can buy tie-dyed fabric. The city's biggest attraction on the outskirts is India's first marine national park. About 60 km west, at Narara, you can walk the reef flats at low tide to see corals and marine life. Pirotan Island requires advance permission and a boat trip. About 12 km northeast, the Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary has flamingos and pelicans in winter.

The best season is October to February, when the weather is cool and migratory birds are most abundant. April to June is scorching, and during the July to September monsoon, the marine park is often closed.

Getting there: Jamnagar has an airport with flights to Mumbai. Trains reach Ahmedabad in about 6 hours, and Dwarka is about 2.5 hours away by car. Plan 2 days. Check tide times before visiting the marine park.

Top sights

• Lakhota Lake & Palace – An artificial lake in the old town centre. The round Lakhota Palace on the lake is now a museum, and the evening lakeside promenade is the…
• Bala Hanuman Temple – A Hanuman temple on the southeast shore of Lakhota Lake. Since 1964, devotees have chanted Lord Rama's name day and night without pause, a…
• Narara Island, Marine National Park – The most accessible intertidal zone of India's first marine national park. At low tide, walk the exposed reef flats to see starfish, octopu…
• Pirotan Island – A coral island in the Gulf of Kutch with mangroves, a lighthouse and tidal reef flats. Landing requires permits from forestry and customs.
• Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary – A Ramsar-listed wetland where freshwater and saltwater meet. Flamingos, pelicans and more than 300 bird species can be seen in winter.
• Bhujiyo Kotho – A five-storey round defensive tower on the shore of Lakhota Lake, once an armoury for the princely state. Damaged in the 2001 earthquake, i…
• Darbargadh Palace – The old palace complex of the Jam rulers of Jamnagar. Its semicircular square and facades mixing Rajput and European styles form the heart…
• Jain Temples of Chandi Bazaar – A group of Jain temples in the old town around Chandi Bazaar, dazzling with mirror mosaics, painted domes and marble carvings.
• Pratap Vilas Palace – A princely palace built between 1907 and 1915, blending Victorian Gothic and Indo-Saracenic styles, with a row of domes on its roof.
• Ratanbai Mosque – A mosque in the heart of the old town, known for its sandalwood doors inlaid with mother-of-pearl and its pair of tall minarets.
• Jamnagar Solarium – A rotating solarium tower completed in 1933, once among the earliest sunlight therapy hospitals in Asia. Its design is unusual.

Where to eat

• Hotel Aram Restaurant – A fully vegetarian restaurant in a heritage hotel converted from an old palace, where the unlimited Gujarati thali is r…
• Bajrang Dosa Center – A dosa shop loved by locals in Patel Colony, open only in the evenings, with every dosa cooked in Amul butter and queue…
• Rajbhog Restaurant – Ranked first in Jamnagar on Wanderlog, this vegetarian thali restaurant is known for its Rajbhog thali served with swee…