my next stop

Gujarat

Gondal

Naulakha palace, a royal car shed and river ghats

HeritageCultureOffbeat

Best time to visit Gondal

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Gondal season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

At 12-30 C it is an easy day out: Naulakha's carved jharokhas, the royal vintage car shed and the herb pharmacy.

Summer March to May Shoulder

April-June sits at 42 C on the Kathiawad plain, the palace galleries have no cooling and the car shed is a tin oven.

Monsoon June to September Mixed, read the detail

July-September brings around 600 mm, the Gondali river actually runs past the ghats, and the palaces stay open in the wet.

Autumn October to November Prime time

October-November is dry and warm, Navratri garba takes over the squares, and Gir reopens 90 km south from 16 October.

What Gondal is actually like

Palace-hotel town still run by the royal family: a few mid-range beds, day trippers from Rajkot, no backpackers

Things to do in Gondal

The local places worth your time in and around Gondal, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Naulakha Palace

    Palace · in town

    The old darbargadh with stone jharokhas, a spiral stair and a museum of brass, silver and howdahs; camera fee on top.

  • Royal Vintage Car Museum

    Museum · in town

    Forty odd royal cars in the Orchard Palace sheds, 1910 onwards, garaged rather than restored; ticket at the palace desk.

  • Bhuvaneshwari Pith

    Temple · 1 km out

    Temple that runs an old Ayurvedic pharmacy whose tonics sell across Gujarat; the shop counter stays open through the day.

  • Akshar Deri

    Temple · 2 km out

    Marble Swaminarayan shrine over Gunatitanand Swami's memorial, busy with pilgrims; free, shoes off at the gate.

  • Riverside Palace

    Palace · 1 km out

    1875 palace built for the crown prince on the Gondali river, now a heritage hotel; ask at reception before wandering in.

Getting to Gondal

Gondal station on the Rajkot-Veraval line; Rajkot 40 km with buses every 15 min on NH-27

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
135 m
State
Gujarat
Coordinates
21.9575, 70.8010

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Gondal?

November to February is peak season in Gondal. March and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. October-November is dry and warm, Navratri garba takes over the squares, and Gir reopens 90 km south from 16 October.

How many days do you need in Gondal?

1 day is the usual stay. Palace-hotel town still run by the royal family: a few mid-range beds, day trippers from Rajkot, no backpackers.

How do you get to Gondal?

Gondal station on the Rajkot-Veraval line; Rajkot 40 km with buses every 15 min on NH-27. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Gondal expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Gondal?

Naulakha Palace, Royal Vintage Car Museum, Bhuvaneshwari Pith, Akshar Deri and Riverside Palace. The old darbargadh with stone jharokhas, a spiral stair and a museum of brass, silver and howdahs; camera fee on top.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Gujarat

All 32 destinations in Gujarat