One of the finest beaches in Gujarat is at Mandvi,
a historic port town of the Maharao of Kutch.
The port of Mandvi was an important sea trade
post between the near east and the far east,
and brought considerable prosperity to the royal
family of Kutch. The sailors of Mandvi were
known to be adventurous and it is said even
Vasco Do Gama used a Sailor from Mandvi to navigate
to Zanzibar. As most of the top ports of India
were controlled by Europeans, specially the
Portugese, even the Mughals held the Maharaos
of Kutch in high esteem, as they needed the
port of Mandvi for exports, imports and for
pilgrimages to Mecca. Mandvi town was therefore
as important to the Maharaos as their capital
city of Bhuj, and they endowed it with some
splendid palaces and buildings.
Mandvi beach
Nagoa
beach, Diu
Vijay vilas palace, Mandvi
The famous Aina mahal of Mandvi, built in the
mid-18th century by Ram Singh, who had been ship
wrecked in Europe, learnt the arts of foundry,
glass blowing, stone carving etc in the Dutch
and Venetian tradition, and was patronised by
the Maharao Lakhpat Sinhji of Kutch, is no longer
as grand as the same sort of extravangaza they
created in Bhuj, having been converted into a
college for girls, but still has some interesting
sculpture of Dutch sailors and dancing girls.
Instead, you must see the much more recent Vijay
vilas palace, erected in the 1940s, with splendid
architectural features- umbrella domes and cupolas
of the Rajasthani and Bengali styles consort with
Gothic arches and Baroque features! The impressive
palace is now open to visitors who can see the
paintings and trophies inside, and enjoy views
of the huge grounds to the sea, from the terrace.
If you are looking
for absolute peace and tranquility, visit the Maharao’s
private beach with beautiful white sands, superb sea
views and a splendid pavilion offering views of the
sunset, accessible for a fee of Rs.30/-. If on the other
hand, you prefer crowds, join the locals and tourists
at the beach near the town, with pleasant sands, good
swimming, camel and horse riding, stands selling coconuts,
tea and biscuits, and views of the neighbouring wind
mills. The prettiest of the beaches is the one which
is now being promoted by Gujarat tourism. The beach
has lovely blue waters, lots of birdlife, sandy beaches
and colourful fishing hamlets. Next to the beach are
the docks where wooden ships are being built. In the
town, you s ee numerous old buildings of princely times,
and can pick up handicrafts like silverware, shell-work,
Kutchi embroideries, Bandhini tie-and-dye sarees and
block prints.
