Positioned near the Gulf of Kutch, Gandhidham is a relatively young city home to Bollywood cinemas, peaceful inner-city parks and a collection of iconic monuments. Gandhidham is best-known for its central memorial that holds the remains of Mahatma Gandhi, while it also boasts quality dining and shopping.
Things to do in Gāndhīdhām
Start your exploration of Gandhidham at the sacred Gandhi Samadhi monument, which houses some of the remains of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s world-famous activist. It backs onto Adipur Garden, which features a pond and children’s playground. Duck into one of the Indian eateries nearby, such as Mongini's Cake Shop for baked goods or Shree Gahajanand Juice Corner for a refreshing drink.
Immerse yourself in the local culture and history by ticking off some of the temples around the city, such as Santoshi Mata Temple, Jay Bhavani and Jay Jogni Mata Mandir. Most of these are quite modest temples with beautiful religious reliefs and serene services. You can experience India’s contemporary culture by catching a Bollywood flick at Om Cineplex or Rajhans Cinemas.
Visiting Gandhidham with your family? Take the kids to Water Park, where they can swim and zip down water slides. Afterwards, take them to Khavda Sweet House, where you can pick from a range of unique Indian-style confectionary. It’s positioned near Chawla Chowk, the city’s premier shopping neighbourhood that features jewellers, clothing boutiques and fabric sellers.
Drive about 30 minutes to the nearby town of Anjar to see fascinating historical sites, including Mac Murdo's Bungalow. Jesal Toral Samadhi houses the tombs of two lovers, which are said to move closer together each year.
Getting around Gāndhīdhām
Gandhidham is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Bhuj Airport and is connected to major cities through its port and Adipur Junction train station. You can walk around parts of the city, but will need to use taxis and auto-rickshaws to travel long distances.