Rajkot is a fast-paced city known for its colourful hand-dyed textiles, atmospheric historic district and traditional Gujarat street food. You can also visit a handful of museums, including the house where Gandhi spent much of his childhood.
Things to do in Rajkot
Much of Rajkot's charm is centred around the Old City, where narrow streets are lined with colourful spice shops and street-food stands. Fill up on fafda gathiya, a fried gram flour snack seasoned with caraway seeds and black pepper. You'll also find shopfronts draped with Indian trinkets, glittering saris and traditional Patola textiles.
Rajkot is known for its Patola-weaving industry, a tradition that's been passed down for centuries. It's an intricate skill, with each thread individually dyed before being woven into reels of fabric. In the Sarvoday Society neighbourhood you can visit traditional weaving studios like Mayur Patola Art, where you can chat to local artisans and purchase handmade souvenirs.
Find out more about India's beloved activist at Kaba Gandhi No Delo, Gandhi's childhood home, where you can browse original photographs, letters and other memorabilia. You can also visit a small weaving school producing khadi, the hand-woven natural cloth famously favoured by Gandhi.
The serene Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama monastery offers welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's set in lush gardens and welcomes worshipers and visitors alike. At sunset, the beautifully carved red-stone temple acquires a golden glow.
Getting around Rajkot
Rajkot's Old City is best explored on foot, while auto rickshaws, taxis and buses are also available. Flights arrive at Rajkot Airport, four kilometres from the city centre.