OF HISTORICAL Legacy

Delving deeper into India’s history, UTTARA GANGOPADHYAY cherishes the culturally rich small town offerings

- UTTARA GANGOPADHYAY

FOUNDED BY THE JADEJA RAJPUTS, it was the capital of the former Saurashtra state. Today, Rajkot is one of the key commercial and transport hubs of Gujarat. The state of the art Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium — or more commonly the Khandheri cricket stadium — is also developing into a venue for international cricket matches. So while you are passing through the town or are here to watch a cricket match, and happen to have some extra time on your hands, try spending it our way.

If you’re a history buff, start your day with a round of memorials associated with Mahatma Gandhi and the museums. Post lunch head to the zoo or go in the reverse order, starting with the zoo.

Mahatma Gandhi spent his childhood here when his father — Karamchand Gandhi — was the Diwan of Rajkot. He returned only in 1939, to establish an institution that would teach people about swaraj.

THE BIGGEST AND most attractive museum in Rajkot currently is the Mahatma Gandhi Museum, housed in what was earlier the Alfred High School (Kathiawar High School) where the Father of the Nation studied. Apart from the photographic displays spread across several galleries depicting the transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma, there is also a state-of-the-art projection about the life of the Mahatma retold through a colorful light and sound effect.

* History buffs can also head to the Khambhalida Buddhist Caves which are a short drive away. these caves were discovered in 1958 by renowned archaeologist, PP Pandya, long after Buddhism made a long-lasting impact in Khambhalida, around the 4th century