Jamnagar — pearl city, lake palace & marine park
A flagship princely town with a heritage lake, a vibrant bazaar, India's first Marine National Park nearby, and one of the country's most eccentric temples.
Lake, marine park, eternal chant
The Lakhota Lake and Palace in the centre of town is a small island pavilion converted into a museum of local history and crafts — lovely in the evening light, with storks nesting on the lake walls in season.
A short drive south brings you to the Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch — India's first marine park, with coral reefs, sea turtles, octopuses and over 200 species of fish. Day-trip boats depart from Okha (en route to Beyt Dwarka). It's a quieter, wilder Sri Lanka-marine-life experience than India's better-known coral sites.
And while in town, do not skip the Bala Hanuman Temple — a small temple whose Ram Dhun (continuous chanting of the name of Lord Ram) has been going on since 1 August 1964 and earns it a Guinness World Record.
Add Jamnagar
A gentle stop on the coastal Saurashtra loop.