PHOTOS
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Gondal
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About Gondal city
Gondal is situated in the Indian state of Gujarat around 60 km from the district headquarter of Junagadh. A good road network connects Gondal to Rajkot, a major transport hub. Gondal is a testimony to the great visionary ruler Sir Bhagwatsinhiji, who introduced social reforms, planned the development of Gondal town and created a model state of Saurashtra in late 19th and early 20th century. Gondal, the capital of the former princely State of Gondal, was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput clan, till the independence of India. It is a fortified town located on the river Gondali. The climate of Gondal is generally pleasant. The summer season extends from March to June with daytime temperature reaching to around 42°C. The monsoons are from July to September. Winter season sets in during October and extends until February. In association with cyclonic storms or depressions in the Arabian Sea in the post-monsoon months and to a lesser extent in May and June, Gondal experiences strong winds and widespread rain. Thunderstorms occur in June and July. In the cold season occasional fog occurs. The summer temperature ranges from 24°C to 42°C and winter temperature ranges from 10°C to 24°C. The annual rainfall is around 276 mm. Attractions of the city Navlakha Palace
The oldest and most beautiful palace in Gondal is the Navlakha Palace. Built in the 17 th century, this palace is an architectural marvel with stone carvings and exquisite balconies. The place also has a marvelous collection of antiques, gifts and relics of the princely times. The most unique display item being the weighing scales on which he was measured against gold and silver on his anniversaries.
Riverside Palace
The Riverside Palace is another attraction on the banks of the river Gondali.It was built in 1875 Ad by Maharajah Bhagwat Singhji for his son Yuvraj Bhojrajji.It has a magnificent display of colonial and Indian styled furniture and decor. The Orchard Palace although just a wing of the Huzoor Palace, which is the present royal residence, is worth the visit .
Set amidst fruit orchards, lawns and gardens it is famous for its 'room of miniature', which has a splendid collection of miniature paintings. Orchard Palace The Orchard Palace was originally a state guest house, built in colonial style with an arcade of semi circular arches, set in the midst of fruit orchards. The garden in the front, a beautiful fountain with lily pond and marble statues enhances the beauty of the palace. The main sitting room has a collection of paintings, antique furniture, bird eggs and many interesting art objects. The rulers of Gondal were great lovers of automobiles and one can see several vintage and Classic cars in the royal garage. Two Royal Rail saloons of the Gondal State were renovated, keeping the original decor and are available for accommodation in the Orchard Garden palace. The stay at saloons provides unique experience nostalgia of the great days of the Indian railways combined with royal grandeur. Royal Garage
For car lovers, the Royal Garage is a must see with its vast collection of vintage and classic cars including a Daimler form the 1930's, a 1935 Mercedes, a 1935 Packard two-door convertible, 1941 and 1947 Cadillac, 1955 Cadillac limousine, sports cars from the 1950s and 1960s like the Mercedes 300 SL, Jaguar XK 150 and Chevrolet Camaro, numerous imposing American cars of the 1940s and 1950s, a fleet of four-wheel drive vehicles from the World War II and post-war period and some contemporary sports cars.
Other Attractions The Bhuvaneshwari Ayurvedic Pharmacy where you can see traditional herbal medicines being made according to ancient principles. The Bhuvaneshwari Stud Farm has remarkable specimens of Kathiawadi horses, Gir cattle and other ethnic breeds of livestock, which have won prestigious awards at national level and prizes at local horse and cattle shows. The Swaminarayan Temple is famous for its lovely wall murals of the various Swamis who preached this faith. The Sangram Sinhji High School, a model of Eton in Gondal is worth visiting with its impressive Gothic architecture, Italian marble floors, old European laboratory equipment, an antique clock tower, and intricate wooden ceilings. HOW TO REACH AIR - Rajkot (40 km) is the nearest airport from Gondal. There are regular flights from Rajkot to Mumbai. RAIL - Rajkot is the nearest railway station situated on the Western Railway broad-gauge network. ROAD - Gondal has good road connection to other cities in western India including Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Mumbai. |