Day 03 (3rd December): Pune / Mumbai / Porbandar

We begin day 3 of the tour with an early breakfast at the hotel, and drive back to Mumbai. From Mumbai’s domestic airport we will board a flight to Porbandar, a port city on India’s west coast, and the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. On arrival, the group will be met and transferred to Hotel Harmony to freshen up following which we will visit Kirti Mandir, Gandhi’s ancestral home.

On October 2, 1869, the Gandhi household was blessed with a baby born to Karamchand Gandhi and his wife Putli bai. 

They named him Mohandas, and he went on to become the Father of the Nation. Therefore, the ancestral complex of the Gandhis was converted into a temple, to commemorate and reflect Gandhi’s life. This temple or mandir, situated opposite the home, sprawls at 79 feet, a parallel to Bapu’s life that spanned 79 years.

We will join in the regular prayers that evening, reciting Gandhi’s favorite hymns and verses integrated from faiths like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Parsi, Buddhism, and Jainism. 

Kirti Mandir symbolizes the religious integration of six religions of the world, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Muslim and Christian demonstrating Gandhi’s respect toward all religions.

If time permits, we will be able to spend the sunset at the vast Porbandar seashore.

Meals Included: Buffet breakfast at the Hotel HYATT Pune + Lunch on the flight + Buffet dinner at the hotel in Porbandar. Kathiwadi folk dance show subject to availability. 

Accommodations: Hotel Harmony Porbandor

Travel: Pune-Mumbai (By VOLVO Bus – Approx 4 hrs drive) and Mumbai- Porbandar (By Jet Airways # 9W 3403 – 1:25 PM / 3:40 PM) 

Weather:  December is the Winter season in the city of Porbandar and is the best time to visit.  Temperatures fluctuate between 36°C (96.8 °F) and ten degrees 10°C (50 °F) in the evening.