WANKANER

Location: 53 Kms from Rajkot, Gujarat.
Founded By: Sartanji.
Founded In: 1605 AD.
Main Attraction: Ranjit Vilas Palace.

On The Bend Of River Machchhu Wankaner derives its name from the geographical feature related to the location of the town: 'Wanka' means a bend and 'ner' means water stream in Gujarati. Wankaner literally means a bend on the stream and it is located on the bend of the Machchhu River.
The Jhala Rajput clan ruled Wankaner, The capital of the former princely state of Wankaner, till Indian independence in 1947 AD. It was one of the four princely states of Jhalawad, other three being Wadhvan, Limbdi and Dhangadhra. History Sartanji founded the princely state of Wankaner in 1605 AD and the town was fortified in the late 18th century for protection against the bandits and neighbouring enemies. King Amarsinhji, a noble ruler, who made Wankaner a rich city-state, ruled Wankaner up till 1947 AD.
Under the patronage of Amarsinhji, 5 palaces and many bungalows were built and named after the rulers of the princely states of Kachchh, Rajkot, Mayurbhanj and Jamnagar.
Wankaner was among the first few royal families of India to convert their palaces into Heritage Hotels, which have guestrooms, maintained in the original royal style. Prime Attractions

Ranjit Vilas Palace: Amarsinhji built the Ranjit Vilas Palace on a hill, overlooking Wankaner town. It took seven years to complete and was designed by Amarsinhji himself. It was inaugurated by and named after his dear friend Jam Ranjitsinjhi of Jamnagar.
The ground of the palace extends to two hundred and twenty five acres. The state guesthouse, Chandra Bhavan is also located in the same campus in the vicinity of the Ranjit Vilas Palace.

Step Well: Wankaner also has a step well, the last one to be built in Gujarat. In the Royal Oasis complex, the 3-storeyed step well, has 2 underground floors with cool subterranean marble rooms, fine sculptures and a fountain.

Morbi: 27 kms. Among the places worth seeing in Morbi have Green Chowk, Darbargadh, Art Deco palace, Wellington Secretariat, railway station, Nehru Gate and Lakhdhirjee Engineering College.

Halvad: (75 kms) Halvad is famous for Ek-Dandia Mahal, Wooden Palace, and cenotaphs of warriors step wells and the Shiva temples.

Air: Nearest airport in Rajkot (53 km), Ahmedabad (220 km).

Rail: Wankaner city is on Ahmedabad-Rajkot railway line.

Road: It is connected to nearby cities by road.

Local transport: non-metered auto rickshaws. Where to Stay Accommodation is available in several local guesthouses and heritage Hotels such as Royal Oasis and The Residency.

Nearby Cities