Jain Temples at Palitana
High up on Shatrunjaya hill, Palitana temple city is the largest of its kind in India. The winding 3.5-km path to the top has 3950 steps. The 863 temples date from the 11th to the 16th century and are dedicated to the 24 different Jain Gurus.The climb is tiring, but well worth the effort, once you see the beautiful temples and the fabulous all round views.
Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary
A short one hour drive takes you to the Velavadhar Blackbuck sanctuary. This small Savannah-like sanctuary has herds of Blackbucks, the most elegant of antelopes. Considered the fastest long distance runners, the handsome males are black and white with a white ring around the eyes and ringed spiral shaped horns. The female is a more delicate brown and usually hornless.Besides the large population of Blackbucks, the park also has Jungle cats and Indian Grey Wolves.
The best time for viewing is early in the morning and dusk. The best time to visit the park is from October to June. The park is closed during the monsoons.
