Bhavnagar is a city in the Bhavnagar district of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, a state of India. It was founded in 1724 by Bhavsinhji Gohil. It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a princely state before it was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.
Bhavnagar city is well connected with all major cities and towns of India via air, rail and road. The Bhavnagar airport is the closest local airport, which is about 4 to 6 km from the city and can be covered through a 10 to 15-minute drive.
The Bhavnagar Railway Station, also known as the Bhavnagar Terminus at Madhia in Kumbharwada is about 2.6 to 3.2 km from Bhavnagar city. It can be reached via a 10 to 13-minute taxi or auto drop off. There are quite a few bus stands in Bhavnagar. The Bhavnagar State Transport Bus Stand is about 2 to 4 km from the city and can be covered either through a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk.
October till January are the best months to visit Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar experiences hot and dry summers. June experiences heavy rainfall which adds to the high temperature resulting in humidity. Winters begin from October and go on till January- February. It is thus considered best to visit Bhavnagar during winters.
Located at the southern tip of Gujarat peninsula, Bhavnagar is known as the cultural centre of the state of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of 98 kilometres from the capital of Gandhinagar. This region has a rich legacy dating back to the 18th century. It was a major port city and had trade links with different countries across the globe. Presently, Bhavnagar is known for housing the diamond cutting and polishing industry in India.
Bhavnagar also houses one of the oldest educational institutions, Samaldas Arts College. In 1884 Mahatma Gandhi was the student of this college. Bhavnagar is one of the finest examples of architectural brilliance and houses iconic monuments that originated in the 19th century. Some of the major tourist attractions include Nilambag Palace, Takhteshwar Temple, Barton Library, Victoria Park, Bhav Vilas Palace and more.