Population: 178,700
Telephone Area Code:  0286

On the south-east coast, about midway between Veraval and Dwarka, modern-day Porbandar is chiefly noted as the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi. In ancient times, the city was called Sudamapuri after Sudan, a compatriot of Krishna, and there was once a flourishing trade from here to Africa and the Persian Gulf. The Africa connection is apparent in the number of Indianised Blacks, called Siddis, who form a virtually separate caste of Dalits. Porbandar has several large cement and chemical factories and a textile mill. Dhows are still built here and fish-drying is an important activity lending a certain a room to the town!

How to Reach !

Air
Gujarat Airways has daily flights to Mumbai; NEPC Airlines has two flights weekly. Flights with both airlines cost US$85. Bookings can be made with Bhutiya Travels (Tel; 41889).

Bus
The STC bus stand is a 15 minute walk from MG Rd. There are regular services to Dwarka, Jamnagar, Veraval and Rajkot. The private bus companies have their offices on MG Rd, in the vicinity of the Hotel Flamingo. They only have signs in Gujarati so you'll need to enlist some local help to find the one you want. There are buses to Jamnagar (21/2 hours, Rs 35), Dwarka (two hours, Rs 25), Veraval (three hours, Rs 35), Rajkot (31/2 hours, Rs 50), Diu (five hours, Rs 55) and Junagadh (two hours, Rs 25).

Train
Porbandar is the terminus of a railway line; the main service is the Saurashtra Express to and from Mumbai via Rajkot (41/2 hours, Rs 80/260) and Ahmedabad (10 hours, Rs 146/465). The 959km, 23 hour trip to Mumbai costs Rs 229/750 in 2 ^nd/lst class.