Places to visit in Mandvi

The loading and unloading of the ship takes place at this port and can be seen here.

A rich and versatile temple culture using heavy temple curtains of Goddess Durga is the uniqueness of Gujarati culture. It is generally hung on the main door as a symbol of warm welcome.

A source of second income for the wife of farmers, nomads and weaver community the elegant and accurate needle work of Gujarat is world famous. Wall hangings for the door, generally which are hung for the welcome of the guest are quite beautiful. The small mirror work which is enclosed in silk threads is a speciality of the Mandvi region.

Gujarat is a state that has the oldest and most beautiful pottery works. Till today this traditional art form thrives in almost every home of Gujarat. There are craftsmen who make clay utensils for home use. The Mandvi region is famous for the mirror work being done in clay inset and the wall paintings done in the mud.

Designing of jewellery using handicraft is the speciality of Gujarat. This work is done on metals like bronze, gold, silver and iron which depict the rich and versatile culture of the Gujarat state. The Folk Jewellery which the special designing from each culture which varies from village to village is the speciality of this state.

Done generally on a white background using different colourful beads for the purpose of looking all the more attractive and tempting, the bead work can be seen on a variety of things like dresses, wall hangings, etc. A single beading pattern or use of more than one beading pattern can be seen.

Gujarat has a versatile and well-flourished textile industry. The craftsmen have various methods of textile designing like the zari work, tye and dye, patola work, rogan. A combination of these work and traditional prints like the geometrical shapes, peacock designs, ikat weaves give the textile industry a reason to flourish and the visitors a tempting feeling to buy the clothes and other accessories from here.

The zari work is done usually with gold or silver threads. The hand embroidery done with these threads can make any ordinary-looking cloth piece look strikingly beautiful. Cushion covers, blouse pieces, caps, saris, jackets, kurtis are a few things on which zari work can be seen.

The traditional handmade cotton Gujarati saris with colourful and strikingly beautiful geometric patterns which are created using the tie and dye method to give an exact replica of the design on both sides is a speciality of this region. It a treat for the eyes to watch the craftsmen do their work with great enthusiasm and speed. Seeing the method of work and the beauty of these saris just make everyone crave to buy a few saris.

The wooden carvings and the handmade boats of the Mandvi region are quite famous. One can visit the workshops and have a glimpse of how traditionally the work is done and also see the detailed process of how the final artifact is prepared.

Deriving its name from the Shiv temple that stands nearby, this beach is located on the outskirts of the Mandvi city.

It is a privately owned beach present inside the Vijay Vilas Palace, generally not open to the visitors.

It is present in the heart of the Mandvi City and is an important landmark.

It is the river that separates the Salay from the Mandvi city.

It was built in 1883 on the Rukmavati river, on whose banks the Mandvi city thrives. The technique used in building this longest bridge of this kind can be seen only in this one since it is the only structure in India which exists at present. It was built by Vishram Karman Chawda of Chandiya who belonged to the backward artisianKhatriyacomminuty of Gujarat.

The Mandvi ship building centre is a 400-year-old ship building centre. These days only small fishing boats are made here using the old traditional techniques and that too only for the people who fancy owning those boats.

Vijay Vilas Palace is one of the best palaces in India with a slight touch of modern architecture. Built only 100 years ago in 1920, it is safe to call it a contemporary palace, especially when comparing it to the amazing centuries-old forts and palaces that India has. The fact that Vijay Vilas Palace is just a hundred years old is great because the palace is in the same shape it was a century ago. There has been no loss of any beauty that the artisans from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bengal and Kutch showcased in this palace. 

Located in Mandvi in Gujarat, it was built during the reign of Maharao Shri Khengarji III as a summer resort for his son and heir. Built with red sandstone, the sea-facing palace is simply breath-taking.

Interesting facts about the Vijay Vilas Palace: 

• The whole palace is built using red sandstone. 
• The architecture and plan of the palace is largely based on the palaces of Orchha and Datia.
• The current royal family of the Kutch state resides in this palace, and they made this summer resort their permanent residence after parts of Ranjit Vilas got damaged due to the  Bhuj earthquake in 2001. 
• The palace is named after Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraj Ji as it was built for him. 

About Vijay Vilas Palace:

Vijay Vilas Palace, located in Mandvi, took 9 years to build and is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture in Gujarat. The complete structure is laced with tiny lattices and windows which aid in the natural airflow in the palace. The jharokas, chatris, chajjas, murals, and paintings are all reminiscent of the Rajput architecture. The palace has its own private beach with air-conditioned accommodation in the form of tents. 

How to get to Vijay Vilas Palace:

There are many airports that are close to this palace such as Bhuj, Rudra Mata and so on. However, you will have to get a connecting flight from a major airport to reach here. 

By train : the nearest major railway stations are that of Bhuj and Dwarka. Even though they are at a distance of more than 50 kms from Mandvi, they are the most appropriate for travel as they have the highest frequency of trains. You will have to travel via cab or bus once you reach the station. 

By road : it is just 8 kms from the Mandvi Bus Stand and is easily accessible by road. 

Best time to visit:

The best time to visit the palace is during the winter season when the temperature is not soaring high. Since it is so close to beach, the humidity can be too much to bear during summers and rainy season. 

Timings and entry fees:

The Vijay Vilas Palace is open to tourists from 9 AM to 1 PM & 3PM to 6PM. The beach resorts and accommodations are open throughout the day though.

The ticket price for visiting the palace is just Rupees 10 and with an additional charge of Rupees 50 for photography. 

One of the finest examples of Rajput and Indo-Saracenic architecture, Vijay Vilas Palace is surely a must-visit place in Gujarat. Get in touch with Thomas Cook to get the best deals for accommodations at this palace. 

It is the old public bath system which has now become a tourist spot in Talav.

It is the newly constructed lighthouse for the purpose of County Craft Sea Transportation

A famous scholar and a freedom fighter, Shyamji Krishna Varma, was born in Mandvi. The monument is located near Lohana Mahajan Wadi. The India house in Britain which was built for the purpose of supporting the Indian students in Britain and later turned out to be a hub of the national Freedom fight in Britain was built by this famous personality. The monument was constructed in his memory.