Glories of Gujarat

 Fly overnight from London Heathrow, via Dubai, to Ahmedabad, the old capital of Gujarat.

On arrival, transfer to Vadodara for a two-night stay at the 4-star Vivanta by Taj. Afternoon at leisure in the city, spread behind riverbank banyan trees, and known as Gujarat’s ‘capital of culture’.
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Drive north to visit the Champaner Archaeological Park, the Islamic-Mughal city focused on its fortress citadel and featuring beautiful mosques and minarets. Lunch at the historic Jambughoda Palace, part heritage hotel, part royal residence; and continue to a tribal village to view Pithora paintings, the simple and colourful murals created as offerings to the God of food grains.
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A morning tour in Vadodara visits the lavish Lakshmi Vilas palace, as grand in size as in style, and still a royal residence; and the Baroda Museum, with collections including Tibetan art, 5^th-century Akota bronzes, and Mughal miniatures. Travel to Bajana, a princely state in Gujarat, for two nights at the 4-star Royal Safari Camp.
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Discover the Little Rann of Kutch by jeep safari. The silt and salt-encrusted desert, transformed to wonderful wetlands after the rains, forms the habitat for myriad migratory birds, but is best known as the home of the world’s last population of Wild Ass (Equus Hemionus Khur). This afternoon, enjoy a village safari.
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Today’s journey pauses first at the village of Modhera, where the Hindu Sun Temple complex  marks almost a thousand years of history with over a hundred shrines; continues to Patan for the superbly preserved Rani ki Vav stepwell, the 11^th-century structure combining carved colonnades with more than 800 sculptures; includes an interlude in Sidhpur to see its colourful ‘haveli’ courtyard townhouses; and visits the intricately ornate Adalaj (aka Rudabai) medieval stepwell, set at the edge of Ahmedabad, and haunted by tragic legend. Three nights at the 4-star Hyatt Regency, Ahmedabad.
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With its UNESCO listed old quarter encircled by 15^th-century city walls, a full-day tour of the city visits the Sidi Saiyyad Mosque, its intricate ‘jali’ windows depicting the Tree of Life; the Jain Hutheesing Temple set within a graceful courtyard; the Gandhi Ashram, on the bank of the holy Sabarmati River; the five-storey Dada Harir stepwell / water temple; and Shreyas Folk Museum. This evening, enjoy a Thali mixed-platter dinner at the historic House of MG, one of Ahmedabad’s oldest havelis, now a heritage hotel.
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Exploration in the city today includes a morning heritage walk visiting the carefully restored Mangaldas Ki Havel; Manek Chowk city square, a fabrics and jewellery market during the day, a street food hub at night; the City Museum of history and culture; and, in nearby Makarba, the medieval mosque and mausoleum complex of Sarkhej Roza.
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Travel (3hrs) to Velavadar to discover the wildlife of Blackbuck National Park, which stretches north from the Gulf of Khambai coastline. Two nights at the 4-star Blackbuck Safari Lodge, with a bush dinner in the lodge grounds this evening.
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 A fairly flat, semi-arid swathe of grasslands, scrub and salt plains, the park is perfect terrain for wildlife that is fleet of foot. In the past, maharajas used hunting cheetahs for the surprisingly speedy blackbucks, but now the reserve is known for conservation of the swift-running Lesser Florican bustard, and of the endangered Indian grey wolf. Explore Blackbuck on a morning game drive and perhaps add an optional afternoon game drive (pre-bookable).
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This morning, visit the Jain Temple complex at Palitana, an astonishing collection of over 3,000 shrines, linked by over 3,000 steps, and covering the steep climb of Shatrunjaya Hill. Devout Jains aspire to scale the hill at least once in their lifetime; less able, or less determined, pilgrims make most of the ascent by hiring a ‘dholi’ (a seat on poles carried by four bearers). A tour of the temples can take up to 5hrs, but you may opt for a peaceful interlude and spectacular views of the scene from the grounds of the heritage hotel Vijay Vilas, where we re-gather for lunch. Travel (5hrs) to coastal Diu for two nights at the 3-star Radhika Beach Resort.
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Just six metres above sea level and with one exception to its low-rise buildings, the 16^th century fort, Diu Island is split from the Kathiawar Peninsula by a narrow creek, meeting the sea on its other three sides. A walking tour of the town visits the fort, the fish market, and the multi-coloured Nagar Seth Haveli. Afternoon at leisure to relax or explore independently.
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Leave Diu and visit the Somnath Temple to the Lord Shiva, a stately and sacred site, at the confluence of three rivers; continuing to the undisturbed hills and forests of Sasan Gir National Park, for two nights at the 4-star Gateway Hotel.
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Sasan Gir National Park is home to a large number of Asiatic lions. Billed as the last natural habitat of these powerful Big Cats, its pristine wilderness is also home to leopards, jackals, hyenas, and Sambar deer. Explore the park with a morning game drive, and add more wildlife-watching with an optional afternoon game drive (pre-bookable).
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 Travel toward Rajkot calling in at regal Gondal to visit Navlakha Palace, within the grounds of the royal residence, and view the prince’s collection of classic vintage cars; and the Swaminarayan Temple, a beautiful building and a place of pilgrimage, steeped in spirituality. After lunch at the Riverside Palace, continue to Rajkot for the flight to Mumbai, and transfer to the 5-star Trident Hotel for a farewell dinner and overnight stay.
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An optional city tour includes the Marine Drive promenade, curving around the bay to the British-built Gateway of India at its southern tip; the UNESCO listed Victoria Terminus railway station; the Dhobi Ghat, billed as the biggest open-air laundry in the world, and handling half a million items a day; the Prince of Wales Museum, housing collections of ancient artefacts; and the arty Kala Ghoda district, mixing Indie exhibitions with pavement art stalls and prominent galleries (pre-bookable). Transfer to Mumbai airport for the overnight return flight.
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Arrival at London Heathrow.