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The places to visit near Gadhada include temple towns, archaeological sites, forest reserves, and riverfront complexes, each offering a unique experience. Some let you explore ancient settlements, while others take you through open grasslands where blackbucks and rare birds still thrive. You can spend time exploring stone-carved temples in Palitana, watch flocks of birds across open savannahs in Velavadar, or trace remnants of the Harappan era at Lothal. There’s also architectural grandeur to see in Gondal and spiritual sites like Khodaldham and Nilkanth Dham.
9 Places To Visit Near Gadhada Worth Exploring
You’ll find Jain pilgrimage hills, archaeological ruins, forest zones, and royal estates scattered across the region. Each of these places to visit near Gadhada has its history, layout, and reason to stop.
1. Shatrunjaya Hill
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons
Among the most spiritually significant places to visit near Gadhada, Shatrunjaya Hill draws pilgrims from across Gujarat and beyond. Located in Palitana, this hill is crowned with hundreds of marble-clad Jain temples built over several centuries. You reach the top by climbing around 3,800 steps, which can take up to two hours on foot. For those unable to make the ascent, palkhi and doli services are available at the base. You get a clear view of the Shetrunji River running parallel to the hill’s base.
Distance From Gadhada: 85.1 km
Nearby Attractions: Palitana Museum, Shri Vishal Jain Museum, Taleti
2. Velavadar Blackbuck National Park
Photo: Mangesh Dave / Unsplash
Velavadar is among the few places to see near Gadhada, where dry grasslands stretch for miles with barely any trees breaking the horizon. It remains one of Gujarat’s only open savannah zones. Wildlife here is easy to spot in motion due to the flat terrain and uninterrupted visibility. Herds of blackbucks are commonly seen crossing the paths in groups, especially around sunrise when the light is low and the animals are most active. Striped hyenas, Indian foxes, and wolves are also part of the habitat, though they usually move along the quieter outer limits of the park.
Distance From Gadhada: 54.2 km
Nearby Attractions: Alang Shipyard, Bhavnagar Velavadar Roadside Lake, Bhadbhut
3. Bhavnath Mahadev Temple
Photo: Nikhil Patil / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
The temple lies at the base of Girnar Hill and is closely tied to local Shaivite worship that has continued here for generations. Though the structure is small and unadorned, it stays active throughout the day, with evening aartis drawing people from the surrounding lanes and ashrams. The Shiva lingam is placed inside a small stone shrine, and you’ll see brass bells and garlands hung by regular devotees. The Bhavnath fair, held once a year during Maha Shivratri, draws Naga sadhus and large crowds from across Saurashtra. Behind the temple, there’s a shallow pond called Mrigi Kund, where many locals perform ritual baths before climbing Girnar.
Distance From Gadhada: 166.3 km
Nearby Attractions: Girnar Hill, Damodar Kund, Bhavnath Taleti Market
4. Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden
Photo: VasuVR / Wikimedia Commons
This zoo is one of the oldest in India and still functions as a recognised breeding centre for Asiatic lions. As one of the most educational attractions near Gadhada, Sakkarbaug was first opened in 1863 under the rule of the Nawab of Junagadh. The enclosures are spread out across a well-shaded layout, with clear signboards explaining species and habitat. While the zoo does have lions and leopards in open viewing sections, you’ll also see enclosures for hyenas, crocodiles, deer, and lesser-known species like civets and porcupines. Conservation is a major focus here; some areas are off-limits to the public but used for breeding programmes and veterinary care.
Distance From Gadhada: 154.2 km
Nearby Attractions: Upperkot Fort, Darbar Hall Museum, Mahabat Maqbara
5. Gir National Park
Photo: Vijay Kumar Gaba / Unsplash
Gir is one of the few tourist attractions near Gadhada, where you can see Asiatic lions in their natural habitat. The park is spread over a large forested area of dry teak, acacia, and grassland. Entry is regulated, and safaris are only allowed in designated zones with registered forest vehicles. Each safari follows a different trail depending on your time of entry, so the chances of what you’ll see change throughout the day. Leopards and jackals often pass through the scrub near Kamleshwar Dam, while marsh crocodiles stay closer to the water’s edge.
Distance From Gadhada: 142.2 km
Nearby Attractions: Devaliya Safari Park, Kamleshwar Dam, Kankai Mata Temple
6. Watson Museum
Photo: Craig Adderley / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Watson Museum is one of the more informative places if you’re interested in how local history, crafts, and colonial administration shaped this region. It’s located inside the Queen Victoria Memorial building in Rajkot’s Jubilee Garden and dates back to the late 1800s. Inside, you’ll find separate halls for sculptures, old coins, textiles, and arms, along with British-era portraits and administrative records. Many items are labelled in both Gujarati and English, including carved sandstone panels from nearby temple sites and wooden artefacts from Saurashtra’s smaller princely states.
Distance From Gadhada: 104 km
Nearby Attractions: Jubilee Garden, Kaba Gandhi No Delo, Lang Library
7. Gondal Palace
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons
Naulakha Palace, also known as Gondal Palace, is located in Gondal, where royal heritage is still preserved through original interiors, not reconstructions. The palace complex was part of the Darbargadh of the Gondal State and still houses vintage wooden staircases, intricate jharokhas, carved arches, and open courtyards with decorative tiles that haven’t been altered much over time. One section of the palace is converted into a museum, where items like silverware, ivory-framed mirrors, and turbans worn by former rulers are displayed without digital embellishments or audio guides.
Distance From Gadhada: 90.6 km
Nearby Attractions: Riverside Palace, Shri Bhuvaneshwari Aushadhashram, Orchard Palace
8. Khodaldham
Photo: Koushalya Karthikeyan / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
Khodaldham is one of the busiest temple complexes near Gadhada, especially among communities that follow Khodal Mata as their kuldevi. The main idol, carved from a single black stone slab, stands at the centre of a high mandap, surrounded by carved stone pillars and wide corridors where people usually sit after darshan. The structure isn’t centuries old, but the temple follows a traditional layout with open courtyards, side altars, and a large pradakshina path. There’s also a block with display panels that explain how the temple was built and when it opened.
Distance From Gadhada: 121.5 km
Nearby Attractions: Shree Lakhubapa Mandir, Kagvad Gaushala, Rajkot Jetpur Highway temples
9. Lothal Archaeological Site
Photo: Vijayakumarblathur / Wikimedia Commons
Lothal is one of the few archaeological places where you can walk through the remains of an actual Harappan-era settlement. The site includes a dockyard with a defined inlet channel, once connected to an ancient river route. You’ll also see the layout of platforms, mud-brick walls, and narrow streets that follow a grid pattern used for drainage and storage. Unlike heritage spots developed for tourism, Lothal retains its raw excavation feel. The on-site museum displays tools, jewellery pieces, seals, and pottery recovered from the site, with English and Gujarati captions explaining how each item was used.
Distance From Gadhada: 113 km
Nearby Attractions: Archaeological Museum, Saragwala Village, Bhurkhi Temple
Explore remarkable places to visit near Gadhada, from temples, ancient ruins, museums, to wildlife sanctuaries, each deeply connected to the region’s heritage. Skip the tourist crowds and take scenic road trips to sites like Shatrunjaya Hill, Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, and the Harappan city of Lothal. These short trips offer a blend of faith, history, and nature. Perfect for a weekend escape. Plan your journey now with TripXL and discover more, closer to home.
Cover Photo: Nikhil Patil / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
