|
Population:
726 089
Telephone
Area Code:
0281
 This
bustling town was once the capital of the princely state of Saurashtra
and is also a former British government headquarters. Mahatma Gandhi
spent the early years of his life here. The Gandhi family home, the Kaba
Gandhi no Delo, now houses a permanent exhibition of Gandhi items. The
prestigious Rajkumar College dates back to the second half of last
century and is regarded as one of the best private schools in the
country. It was one of five schools set up by the British for the
education of the sons of nobility (rajkumar means prince).
Guidance
!
Rajkot
has a helpful tourist office (Tel: 234507), but it's hidden away behind
the old State Bank of Saurashtra building on Jawahar Rd, almost opposite
the Galaxy Hotel. It's open weekdays and the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the
month, from 10.30 am to 6 pm (closed for lunch from 1.30 to 2 pm). The
State Bank of India, to the north of the Jubilee gardens, has
money-changing facilities. Entry is from the rear of the building.
How
to reach !
Air
The Indian Airlines office (Tel: 227916) is on Dhebar Rd. Indian
Airlines has four direct flights a week between Rajkot and Mumbai
(US$65). NEPC (Tel: 227330) and UP Air (Tel: 225369) also have daily
flights to Mumbai.
Bus
STC buses
connect Rajkot with Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Veraval and
Ahmedabad. The trip from Rajkot to Veraval via Junagadh takes about five
hours and costs Rs 43. Rajkot to Jamnagar is a two hour journey and
costs Rs 25. There are also a number of private buses which operate to
such places as Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Bhavnagar, Una (for Diu), Mt Abu,
Udaipur and Mumbai. The offices of these companies are on the road
behind the bus stand.
Train
A number of broad-gauge express trains connect Rajkot with Ahmedabad,
246km away. Fares are Rs 57/266 in 2nd/lst class, and the
trip takes about hours. There are other trains to and from Jamnagar
(75km, Rs 25/128 in lst/2nd class), Porbandar (221km, Rs 53/229 in lst/2nd
class, and Mumbai (738km, Rs 136/625 in 1st/2nd class).
There's a metre-gauge service to Veraval (186km, Rs 47/213 in lst/2nd
class).
|
