Porbandar Tourism And Travel Guide

Porbandar was the capital of the princely state of Porbandar province during the reign of the Jethwa Rajputs who ruled it in the 16th century. It was later incorporated into independent India. The city of Porbandar is also famous historically because it’s the place where India’s most prominent leader, Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869. Religiously, the city holds a strong significance for many Hindus as one of Lord Krishna’s childhood friends, Sudama was also born here. Therefore, this city is visited by thousands of people from India and abroad every year. Below we provide a brief travel guide of Porbandar for you to enjoy tourism here.

Porbandar is decently connected with rail, road, and airways with other parts of Gujarat and India. There are several options to get to the city. Trains, however, are the most convenient option and also the cheapest. Whereas, airways provide the fastest mode of transport but can be expensive.

By Rail:

Porbandar Station is the main railway station in the city. Several trains have their stoppages here. Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara have direct connectivity through trains. From other cities, you have to take connecting trains either from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, or Jamnagar.

By Road:

If you prefer the road journey instead of taking a train, you will not be disappointed with your preference. Porbandar is well connected through roads from Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Delhi and other cities in Gujarat and India. Private and ST buses are available frequently to Porbandar and the ride can be comfortable as you get several options to choose from. So check online and book your seats.

By Air:

Porbandar has a domestic airport and you can reach directly to this city from Mumbai in some 2 hours. However, from other metropolitan, you will have to take connecting flights either from Mumbai or Ahmedabad to Porbandar.

Getting Around:

Auto rickshaws, city local buses, and private cabs can help you get around the city comfortably. For small hops, rickshaws are a good option. Local city bus service is cheap and managed privately. However, to visit the neighboring tourist spots a private cab is the only convenient option.

Porbandar is amongst those few places in Gujarat where the climate remains pretty attractive throughout the year, excluding the two tough months of Summer. The best time to visit the city is the winter season that starts in November and remains until the start of March. 

Summer (March - June):

The summer season in Porbandar starts from the month of March and spans till June. It's only in May and June when the temperature sores up to 40 °C, but it hardly gets to above 40°. The temperature remains between 30 °C and 35 °C on an average and goes to 40 °C only during extreme conditions. Generally, it is suggested to avoid planning any trip during this time as sightseeing can become difficult. 

Monsoon (July - October):

The south-west monsoon knocks at the door of the city from the mid of June and remains active till September. It is only in July and August when the rainfall gets heavy, otherwise, it remains pretty decent. The rainfall helps in getting the temperature down and making the atmosphere pleasant for visiting. 

Winter (November - February):

Winter is the best time to visit Porbandar as the climate during this period is at its most pleasant. Very occasionally, the minimum temperature of the city falls to below 10 °C. Otherwise, these four months offer the best opportunity for sightseeing and traveling the neighboring regions. The minimum temperature during the winters lingers near 10 °C, whereas the max temperature remains at around 22 °C.

Extol the Virtues of Temples:

With numerous temples, Porbandar is again a holy spot for people who love visiting temples and seeking blessings from the deities. Jadeshwar Mahadev Temple, Shree Hari Mandir, Tara Mandir, Bhileshwar Shiva Temple, Sudama Mandir, Kirti Mandir, Rokadiya Hanuman Temple, and Bharat Mandir are some of the well-known temples in Porbandar. So you can pick and choose depending upon the number of days of travel, and other things that you have planned to do in the city.

Experience the Beauty of Porbandar Chowpatty:

Walking around the shore of the Porbandar Chowpatty is probably one of the best things that you can do in this amazing city. This Chowpatty is the finest picnic spot for locals and tourists that will leave you speechless with its beauty, especially during the sunset. A must-visit place to capture a stunning view of the sun hiding in the sea.

Get Mesmerized by the Historic Architecture:

Porbandar has an extensive list of historic sites which (when visited) will blow your mind not only with the stories associated with them but also with magnificent architecture. Sartanji Choro, Jambuvan Cave, and Huzur Palace are the best of the prominent and must-visit sites in Porbandar.

Take a Joy Ride at Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary:

Hilly terrain with wide-spread forest turned sanctuary is another top thing to do in the historic city of Gujarat. Being here is your opportunity to spot rare species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. The best amongst them are Lion Sambar, Crocodile, Spotted Eagle, and Crested Hawk-Eagle.

The most important information that visitors look forward to is related to “eating”. We all love eating, don’t we? So when you are in Porbandar, you can’t go back without trying the local, traditional Gujarati food. This dry state is a food-heaven for those who love eating. The local delicacies are not only mouth-watering but very affordable. Being a sacred state with thousands of temple, you will mainly find vegetarian food in every city of Gujarat. But the best part is, every single Gujarati dish is delicious and delightful.

The must-have dishes such as sev, shrikhand, dhokla, handvo, Mohan thal, and undhyo are only meant to serve as starters. Farsan, khakhra, Fafda Jalebi, papad, khakhra are again served as side-food items. In dessert, try shrikhand with Puri, basundi, Puran Poli, sutarfeni, malpua, ghevar, and halwasan. Siddh Restaurant, Vimal Restaurant, and Shri Raghuvanshi Dining Hall are some of the reputed food joints in the city.