Rajkot Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Rajkot’s sights focus on Gandhi’s early life, the former princely state and the wider Saurashtra region.

• Kaba Gandhi No Delo — The family home where Mahatma Gandhi lived as a boy, now a small memorial with photographs and exhibits.
• Mahatma Gandhi Museum — Housed in the former Alfred High School, which Gandhi attended, with displays on his life and ideas.
• Watson Museum — A colonial-era museum in Jubilee Garden with sculptures, textiles and royal artefacts of Saurashtra.
• Rotary Dolls Museum — A colourful collection of dolls in traditional dress from many countries.
• Pradyuman Zoological Park — A green park on the city’s edge with lakes and native wildlife.
• Gondal — Visit the palaces and vintage car collection of this nearby former princely town.
• Gir National Park — Travel south to the last wild home of the Asiatic lion, best visited on an overnight trip.

Rajkot has a hot, semi-arid climate. Summers, from about March to June, are very hot and dry, and the monsoon brings rain from late June to September. Winters are mild and sunny, with cool mornings and evenings.

November to February is the most comfortable time for sightseeing and for safaris at Gir, which usually reopens after the monsoon. Navratri, celebrated in autumn, is one of the best times to experience Rajkot’s culture, when large garba and dandiya dance events fill the city at night. Diwali and the Gujarati New Year follow soon after.

Rajkot’s commercial flights now use Rajkot International Airport at Hirasar, north-east of the city along the Ahmedabad highway, which replaced the old airport close to the centre. The drive into Rajkot takes longer than from the old airport, so plan your onward travel accordingly.

Taxis and app-based cabs are the most practical options, and many hotels arrange pick-ups on request. Within Rajkot, auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing services are widely available for short trips. Allow plenty of time when heading back for a departing flight.

Rajkot has a good choice of business and mid-range hotels spread across the central and western parts of the city.

• City centre near Jubilee Garden — Close to museums, markets and Gandhi sites; ideal for sightseeing.
• Kalawad Road — A popular western corridor with modern hotels, restaurants and shopping.
• 150 Feet Ring Road — Newer business hotels and malls, convenient for travellers with a car.
• Near the railway station — Practical for travellers continuing by train.

• Money: Cards and mobile payments are common in hotels and shops; carry cash for rickshaws and small vendors.
• Alcohol: Gujarat has long had alcohol prohibition, so alcohol is not served in ordinary restaurants and bars.
• Etiquette: Dress modestly at temples, and note that many restaurants serve vegetarian food only.
• Local rhythm: Rajkot is known for a traditional afternoon break, when some shops close for a few hours, so plan shopping for mornings or evenings.
• Gir trips: Lion safaris require permits that are limited in number, so arrange them well in advance through official channels.