Porbandar, originally a fortified town, with high rampart walls, bastions and five gates, lost its fortification by the order of Colonel Lally in 1888 AD. Even today, a ritual to circumambulate the fortification is performed by Hindus.

 

The prosperity of Porbandar was due to maritime trade and it was a thriving port in the Mughal period. It was attacked by the Portuguese in the wake of achieving supremacy over sea trade in 1531 AD. The Walker Treaty of 1807 AD between the ruling clans of Saurashtra and the British put an end to the feuds and it resulted in a favorable environment for the civic development of the Porbandar State.

The most impressive feature of Porbandar is the city planning and the stone buildings with ashlar masonary and rich carving. The facades of the houses on either side of the streets, with series of windows, carved gateways, using eclectic architectural language, invites tourists to experience the streetscape on foot. The series of vistas enriched by a skyline of temples and beautiful public buildings and edifices overlooking the sea on Marine Drive puts Porbandar on the list of coastal heritage towns of Gujarat.

Tourist Places of Porbandar :

Sudama Temple

Kirti Mandir

Sandipani Ashram

Arya Kanya Gurukul

Madhavpur

Chowpatti

Madhavpur Ghed

Ancient Temple

Madhavpur Fair

Balej

Gokarna

Bileshwar Mahadev

Original Dwarka

Bardas Sanctuary

Caves of Jambuvan

Khimeshwar

Randal Temple (Bagvadar)

Bharat Temple

Planetarium

Grishma Bhavan (Sartanji no Choro)

Dhruvala Chital Sanctuary

Mocha Hanuman Temple