Marine Sanctuary & Marine National Park

India’s first Marine National Park is spread over an area of nearly 458 sq.km, just 30 km. away from Jamnagar. Located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch, this was established in the year 1982, under the Wildlife Protection Act. The landscape showcases varieties of coral reef ecosystem along with the mangrove plantation. One can see six species of mangrove in the Marine National Park of Gujarat. One can see Avicennia marina, Avicennia alba, Avicennia officianalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, Aegiceros corniculata.
One of the largest herds of blackjacks grace the grasslands of Velavadar and till recently Gujarat was the place where flamingos nested in huge numbers.Dugong, a marine mammal which resembles a seal, along with the rare Borolo species have found home in the protected areas of the Marine National Park.
There are fishes to be seen which puff-up when threatened, octopuses that mimic the color and texture of the surroundings in the blink of an eyelid so as to vanish without a trace.

Ashapura Temple

In the 14th century, Jam Unndji came from Sindh area with an army to conquer Ghumali, but he could not conquer, so after that his son Bamaniyaji came and surrounded Ghumali with a huge army, at that time, the king Bhaman Jethwa, escaped to Ranpur via the route of Kileshwar. So Bamniyaji attacked and destroyed Ghumli.On the same night Goddess Ambaji came in his dream and told him that, as she has granted the wish "Asha" of his father to conquer Ghumali, he should make a temple in her name.So Bamaniyaji built the Temple of Ambaji on the hill in the middle of Ghumali and named it as Ashapura Temple ( Ashapura means the granter of wishes). Till today this temple is very popular among pilgrims, who climb up the numerous steps for paying homage to Goddess Ashapura.

Nageshwar Jyotirling

Nageshwar Jyotirling is a very famous temple, located on the route between Gomati Dwarka and the Bet Dwarka Island on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. It is 11 km far from Dwarka. The Jyotirlinga enshrined in the Temple of Nagnath is known as Nageshwar Mahadev and attracts thousands of pilgrims all round the year. This powerful Jyotirlinga symbolizes protection from all poisons. It is said that those who pray to the Nageshwar Linga become free of poison. The Rudra Samhita sloka refers to Nageshwar with the phrase 'Daarukaavane Naagesham'

Dwarka Tample: One of the four Dham of India

Dwarka is the most important place on the Saurashtra coast. It is said that Krishna, after slaying Kansa fled Mathura and and traveled with the entire Yadava community and founded a town called Swarnadwarika.
Vajranabh, Krishna's successor and great grandson, is believed to have built the present Dwarka Temple, one of the four Dham of India. It is believed that a dying Krishna asked his devotees to leave Swarnadwarika so that the sea could engulf it and to this day, the city lies below the sea. Excavations have revealed that the sea swallowed five settlements with Dwarka being the sixth.The main attraction here is the Dwarka Temple, also known as Jagat Mandir dating back 2,500 years. The main structure is five-storeys high with a lavishly carved conical spire rising to a height of 157 ft. There are 60 columns supporting the roof of the audience hall of the Temple.

Dhanvantri Mandir: India's only Ayurvedic University

Jamnagar is home to India's only Ayurvedic University. Dhanvantri Mandir was built under the personal supervision of Dr. Pranjivan Manekchand Mehta, Chief Medical Officer of Guru Govind Singh Hospital. After independence it gained the status of Ayurvedic University. Ayurvedic medicine, yoga and naturopathy are taught in diploma and degree courses. Gujarat Ayurvedic University being a premiere institution of Ayurveda and W.H.O. collaborative center became a center of attraction for foreigners. Students from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius came here for regular P.G. degree course. The University started a three-month introductory course in Ayurveda in 1990. Since then students from the all over the world have come to this University to attend various courses. In 1998 the University has broadened its objectives and set a goal to popularize Ayurveda in foreign countries and opened all its courses for foreigners. Many new courses have been introduced exclusively for foreign nationals.

Tourist Attractions

Lakhota Palace and Kotha Bastion:

The Lakhota Palace is a small palace that once belonged to the Maharaja of Nawanagar. Today it houses a small museum with displays from archaeological sites in the area. Located in the center of Old Jamnagar on an island in the middle of a lake, two old structures namely Lakhota Fort and Kotha Bastion are sure to captivate you. The terrace of Lakhota Fort displays a fine collection of sculptures that date back to the time of yore. The Kotha Bastion is Jamnagar's arsenal. It has a fine collection of sculptures, coins, inscriptions and copper plates and the skeleton of a whale. Its major attraction is an old well, the water of which can be drawn by blowing into a small hole in the floor.

Marine National Park:
Marine National Park, the only marine sanctuary of India is near Jamnagar. It is situated on the coral reef island of Pirotan. The park is spread over an area of 458 sq kms. Here you will find plants that look like animals and animals that look like plants. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among corals. The Marine National Park is 30 kms from Jamnagar.

Bhujio Kotho:
Bhujio Kotho enjoys a distinct place among the tourists due to its height and circumference. It is believed that the monument was constructed for protection during the invasions. It has five floors and on the first floor there are guns placed in each directions. On the upper floor a tank is constructed to store water and on it's peak a dancing peacock is placed.

Jain Temples:
Jamnagar is well-known for its four marble Jain temples: Vardhman Shah's Temple, Raisi Shah's Temple, Sheth's Temple, and Vasupujya Swami's Temple.All were built between 1574 and 1622. Shantinath and Adinath temples are known extraordinary for the quality and quantity of the murals on the walls, ceilings and pillars of the temples. Shantinath Mandir, is a maze of brightly coloured columns, each section of roof between them highlighted with individual designs. The marble floor beneath is emblazoned with distinctive Jain patterns in yellow, black, white and red. Above the main sanctuary, an enormous dome rises in a series of concentric circles glinting with gold. The outer side of the large dome over Adinath Mandir is inlaid with gold and coloured mosaic, and both Temples have cupolas enriched with design of mirrors above the entrance porch.

Bala Hanuman temple:
Bala Hanuman temple is highly venerated among the devotees of Rama. The Bala Hanuman Temple is noted for the continuous chanting of the mantra "Jai Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram". Started on August 1, 1964, the chant continues for 24 hours a day, in shifts, and is still continuing. This has earned the temple a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Jamnagar contains several ancient and archeologially important temples, such as the Navlakha Temple in Ghumli, Kileshwar Temple in Barda Hills, The Ancient Sun Temple at Gop and The Ancient Bhid Bhanjan Temple built by the Jams.

Geographical Location

Jamnagar district lies between 21º 47' and 22º 57' north latitude and 68º 57' and 70º 37' west longitude in the peninsular region in the north west, in the state of Gujarat India , known as Kathiawar or Saurashtra.Jamnagar district measures about 128.75 km. from North to South and about 167.37 km. from East to West. The area of the district is 10,921 sq. km.This district is bounded on the North by the Rann and Gulf of Kutch, on the East by Rajkot district, on the South by Junagadh district and on the West by the Arabian Sea.