21 Best Heritage Sites & Historical Places near Surat

At a distance of 27 km from Ahwa and 35 km from Saputara Bus Station, Pandava Cave is an ancient cave located at Javtala village in Dang district of Gujarat. It is one of the places of heritage in Gujarat and among the top places to visit during Saputara Tour.

Pandava Cave or Pandav Gufa is one of the most popular historical attractions in the state of Gujarat as it is believed that Pandavas, the heros of epic Mahabharata spent some time during their exile days here. The cave is about 60 m long and 15 m wide. There is an impressive Shivling in the cave which were used by Pandavas to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva. It is said that there are multiple chamber inside the cave of which the biggest one belongs to 'Bhima'.

The best way to visit the cave is from Javtala via Linga. From Javtala one needs to trek around 1.5 km to reach the cave. The trekking route is scenic and also provides glimpses of tribal villages and fort ruins. And the other option is to go to Pandava village on the route to Chinchali village and trek 2-3 km to the Pandava caves. There is no food stall available so visitors need to carry enough food and water.

End of Monsoon season is the best time because after rain, greenery spreads throughout the forest.

Timings: 7 AM - 6 PM

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At a distance of 28 km from Mehsana, 35 km from Patan and 100 km from Ahmedabad, Modhera Sun Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located at Modhera village near Patan in Gujarat. Situated on the banks of River Pushpavati, it is one of the popular places of heritage in India, and among the must include places in Patan packages.

Dedicated to the Sun God, the Sun Temple in Modhera was built by King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty in 1026 AD, and is one of the prominent heritage sites near Ahmedabad. This temple not only reflects the architectural abilities of the Solanki rulers but also, speaks highly of the devotional zeal of the ruling dynasty at that time. As in the Sun Temple at Konark, this temple was also designed that the first rays of the Sun fall on the image of Lord Surya at the time equinoxes. The temple was plundered by Mahmud Ghazni but still the architectural grandeur does not vanish. At present, no worship is offered here and the temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014.

Built-in Maha-Gurjara style, the temple complex is divided into three parts - the main temple with a Garbha Griha and Guda Mandap, a detached Sabha Mandap, and Surya Kunda. Also known as Rama Kund, Surya Kund is a rectangular ...

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At a distance of 35 km from Palitana and 55 km from Bhavnagar, Talaja is a historical town situated near Palitana in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. Located on the banks of Shatrunjaya River, it is one of the popular places to visit in Gujarat and among the must include places in Palitana Tour Packages.

Talaja is better known as the birthplace of the famous poet Narsinh Mehta. Also, it is home to some important sites for Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. The main attraction here is the ancient Buddhist Rockcut Caves on Talaja hill. The rock-cut cave group includes 30 caves among which 15 are water tanks. The Ebhala Mandapa, a large hall with four octagonal pillars is the most impressive structure of all. These caves are adorned with fine carving of Boddhisatva. The caves are around 2000 years old and require about a 15-20 minutes walk up the hill to reach them. They are of the 4th stage of Buddhist cave architecture, noticeably earlier than the famous Buddhist caves of Maharashtra.

There is a Jain temple along with a Hindu temple of Khodiar Mata atop the hill near the Buddhist Caves. This Jain temple was established by King Kumarpala during the 12th century CE. This is a holy place of the Shri Shatrunjay Panchteerthi and is part of the Shatrunjay hills. The temple was last renovated in 1815 and belongs to Shwetambar sect. of Jainism. The sanctum of the temple house 79 cm tall black colored idol of Sacha Sumatinatha Bhagwan in padmasana posture. Besides this temple, ...

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At a distance of 8 km from Nashik Central Bus Station, Pandavleni Caves or Trirashmi Caves are the ancient rock cut caves situated on Trirashmi Hills to the south of Nashik. The location of the caves is a holy Buddhist site in Maharashtra and also one of the popular places to visit in Nashik.

Pandavleni Caves are a group of 24 caves carved between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD, representing the Hinayana Buddhism and has nothing to do with the characters of Mahabharata (the Pandavas).These caves were built by the rulers of that time like Satavahanas and Kshaharatas for Hinayana Buddhist monks. More ancient name of caves is Trirashmi Caves where the root 'Trirashmi' means 'triple royal'.

Most of the caves are Viharas except for the 18th cave which is a Chaitya. Caves 3, 10, 18 and 20 are the most significant and fascinating caves among the 24 caves which are noted for their magnificent sculptures. Cave 3 has a large Vihara with fascinating sculptures. Cave 10 is also a Vihara but it is much older and finer than Cave 3. It is believed to be as old as the Karla Caves near Lonavala. These caves houses shrines, cisterns, rare inscription, carved figures of Buddha and Bodhisattva, along with icons of some of the Jain Teerthankaras like Vrishabhdeo, Ambikadevi, Veer Manibhadraji etc. The Chaitya (Cave 18) is well sculptured with an elaborate facade.

There are several inscriptions found in these caves. Inscriptions in caves 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19 and ...

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At a distance of 30 km from Nashik, Sinnar is a town and a municipal council in Sinnar taluka of Nashik district in Maharashtra. Sinnar is mainly famous for Sri Gondeshwar Temple and Gargoti Museum. It is one of the famous places to visit near Aurangabad.

Gondeshwar Temple is situated about 2 km from Sinnar Bus Station and it represents the best example of the Hemadpanti style of architecture. The structure was constructed using the locally available black basalt stone and lime. The temple's origin dates back to 12 - 13th century during the Yadava dynasty. Some sources claim that Raj Govinda of the Yadava dynasty built this great temple. Yet another tradition assigns the building to Govindaraja, another Yadava king who ruled about the beginning of the twelfth century AD.

It is a Shaiva Panchayatan or a group of five temples within a large enclosure. The central shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the remaining four temples are dedicated to goddess Parvati, Sri Ganapathi, Surya Bhagwan, and Lord Vishnu. This is the largest, most complete, and best-preserved example of the medieval temples of the Deccan of the Indo-Aryan style.

The temple is an astonishing display of stone carvings and sculptures portraying the stories from the Puranas, Mahabharata & Ramayana. Sculptures of Gods, Goddesses, Apsaras, Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Gandharvas adorn the entire complex. The temple of Lord Shiva is beautifully ...

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At a distance of 8 km from Khireshwar, 15 km from Malshej Ghat, 50 km from Bhandardara, 166 km from Pune & 218 km from Mumbai, Harishchandragad is a historical hill fort situated in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the famous places to visit as part of Malshej Ghat packages.

Situated at an altitude of 1,424 m, the fort once played a major role in guarding and controlling the surrounding region. Among the most prominent tourist places in Malshej Ghat, the fort originally dates back to the 6th century during the rule of the Kalchuri dynasty. The citadel was built during this era and various caves probably have been carved out in the 11th century AD. Sage Changdev used to meditate here in the 14th century AD. Later the fort was under the control of Mughals and Marathas captured it in 1747 AD. Remnants of Microlithic human inhabitants have been discovered here. The fort of Harishchandragad has been mentioned in various Puranas like Matsya Purana, Agni Purana, and Skanda Purana.

Rohidas, Taramati, and Harishchandra are the three peaks in Harishchandragad. Taramati peak is the highest peak in the fort and provides a beautiful panoramic view of the nearby surroundings and the forest area. Many peaks and attractions ...

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At a distance of 48 km from Malshej Ghat, Ajoba or Ajaparvat is one of the highest peaks in the Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. Situated near Dehene village, it is one of the popular places of trekking near Mumbi and among the best places to visit as part of Malshej Ghat Packages for adventure enthusiasts.

Standing at a height of over 4,511 feet, Ajoba Hill is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats. Midway to the fort lies Valmiki Ashram which is believed to be the place where Valmiki wrote the epic 'Ramayana'. According to the legend, this is the place where Goddess Sita was said to be staying after being separated from Lord Rama. Carvings on the Ashram wall depict stories of Gods and Goddesses. The fort was named 'Ajobagad' after the great sage Valmiki who was called 'Ajoba' or grandfather by Luv and Kush.

Nestled amidst thick greenery, the Ajoba Hill Fort is a delight for trekkers as it presents an exciting trail to the top. People interested in rock climbing also come here to feel the adrenaline rush. The trek to the Ajoba hill starts from the Dehene Village. The trek is in two halves where the first half is till the Valmiki Ashram which is a leisure walk through the sacred forest with rich flora and fauna. There are some carved stones and a small hut near the ashram where one can stay. A little downhill from the Ashram lies a mountain stream carrying clear potable water. While, the second half of the trek is to Luv Kush Cave from Nalichi ...

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At a distance of 13 km from Malshej Ghat, Sindola or Shindola Fort is a small hill fort situated on top of Malshej Ghat Plateau. It is one of the wonderful places of trekking near Pune and among the famous places to visit in Malshej Ghat.

Situated at an altitude of 1128 feet, Sindola mountain is distinct by its pinnacle structure visible from anywhere. Sindola is more of a sort of military base as it offers a whole view of Malshej and the Pargaon region and all of its neighboring forts. Sindola dates back very old at similar times of Nimgiri and Hadsar. Sindola fort is a small fort. Ruins of bastions & only a couple of water cisterns and idols of Ganesh are present on the top.

Sindola is one of the popular trekking places in Malshej Ghat and is a one day trek. There are 3 base villages from where one can start the trek to Sindola Fort. The trek that starts from Karanjale village, is one of the best and popular routes. Bagadwadi at Pargaon is the other starting point of Sindola Fort trek. Karanjale is situated on Kaylan-Malshej-Alephata Highway in between Khubi phata & Velkhind. It is about 2 km from Malshej Ghat Bus Stop at Khubi Phata. The route starts from the fields opposite the signboard of Karanjale village. The 2.5 km trek route is pretty straight forward and easy to moderate climb (monsoon). The route is not marked but is quite distinct as one has to go up and reach Sindola plateau, the start point of the ridge. Climb to the ridge can be started from any ...

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At a distance of 2 km from Naneghat and 32 km from Malshej Ghat, Jivdhan Fort is a hill fortress located near Malshej in Maharashtra. Situated near Naneghat, it is one of the historical forts in Malshej Ghat and among the popular trekking places near Pune.
Situated at a height of about 3,757 feet in the Sahyadri Mountain range, Jivdhan Fort is a part of the 'Famous 5' forts near Pune. The other four being the Chavaand, Hadsar, Shivneri, and Naneghat. As per the history, Jivdhan Fort dates back to the Satavahana era and has been a significant fort throughout history due to its proximity to the historic Naneghat. Jivdhan Fort guarded this route, which was a strategic location for many kingdoms. The Mughals imprisoned Murtaza, the last ruler of Adilshahi of Ahmednagar, at Jivdhan Fort. In 1635 Shahaji Bhosle, the father of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj freed him from the prison and declared him the king of Ahmednagar. The fort was sacked and plundered by the British upon siege between 1815 and 1818.

Although the fortifications have crumbled down, one can see a huge storehouse or Kothi, which has was used to store grains. Besides the storehouse, there are several interesting ruins and remnants, including a few water cisterns and a temple dedicated to Goddess Jivai, who is supposed to be the patron deity of the fort. The fort's Northern bastion is in a pretty good condition even today. One can also see a few cisterns and remnants of old buildings near this bastion. From this ...

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At a distance of 36 km from Mandu, and 65 km from Indore, Dhar Fort is a historical fort situated in the Dhar city of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the top heritage sites near Indore, and among the must-visit places as part of Mandu holiday packages.

Dhar is an important medieval town and the erstwhile capital of Malwa Kingdom ruled by the Parmar dynasty from 800 - 1327 AD. Raja Bhoj, the most illustrious of the Parmaras shifted his capital from Ujjain to Dhar, where he established a university for Sanskrit studies, known as the Bhoja Shala. During the time of King Bhojdev (1010-1055), this fort was known as Dhar Giri Lilodyan. When Alauddin Khalji ascended the throne of Delhi, Islamic influence began to spread in Dhar, as a result of which in 1305 Ainul Mulk Multani, the general of Alauddin Khalji, attacked Malwa and killed the Parmara ruler Mahalakdev and ended the Parmar dynasty. Captured later, he renovated the fort and completed the work of fortification. In 1346, Muhammad bin Tughlaq also stayed for some time in this fort while going to Devgiri.

The Pawar dynasty captured this fort in 1732 AD and used it as a royal palace. During the Maratha struggle, Raghunath Rao's wife Anandi Bai took shelter here, and she gave birth to Peshwa Bajirao II at this place. Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan, also took refuge in this fort during the war with Aurangzeb. During the Revolt of 1857, Dhar ...

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At a distance of 94 km from Dhar, 102 km from Mandu, 117 km from Maheshwar, and 153 km from Indore, the Bagh Caves are ancient rock-cut caves situated along the southern slopes of the Vindhyas in Bagh town of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh. These are among the popular heritage in Madhya Pradesh, and among the major places to visit near Indore, and Mandu.

Bagh Caves are a group of nine rock-cut monuments renowned for mural paintings. Like Ajanta Caves, these caves were excavated by master craftsmen on the perpendicular sandstone rock face of a hill on the far bank of a seasonal stream, the Baghni. These caves are believed to have been built during the 5-6th century CE. A copper plate inscription of 416-17 CE by Maharaja Subandhu of Mahishmati, which is identified as the modern Maheshwar, talks about a grant for this Vihara. It is called Kalyana Vihara in the inscription. It is believed that a Buddhist monk named Dataka established Bagh Caves. The caves were probably abandoned with a fall in Buddhism, by 10th CE and later these caves became the abode of tigers of the region, hence getting the name Bagh.

Of the nine Buddhist caves, only five have survived. All of them are 'viharas' or resting places of monks' monasteries having a quadrangular plan. A small chamber, usually at the back, forms the 'chaitya', the prayer hall. Of the 5 better-preserved ...

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