In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Palanpur
Spend a half‑day in Palanpur to see its stepwell, palace and market; add a night if you need budget lodging.
Palanpur is a small historic town in North Gujarat with a handful of free attractions—Mithi Vav stepwell, Joravar Palace, and a lively diamond market. A few hours cover the highlights; a night is useful only for budget accommodation near the railway or bus station.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Sep (high heat)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–1 200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1 200–2 000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical 108
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street food snack (kachori, fafda) | ₹30–80 |
| Tea/coffee at a stall | ₹15–30 |
| Autorickshaw (per km) | ₹15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMD · Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad)
- About 2 h by train or bus
Typical fares
- Palanpur ↔ Ahmedabad (train)
- about ₹250 one‑way (check)
- Autorickshaw 5 km
- ≈₹80–100
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Autorickshaws dominate; flag down on the street or book via local apps. Shuttle rickshaws run short routes near the market.
See and do
Known for
- Mithi Vav stepwell
- Joravar Palace
- Diamond market (Heera Bazar)
- Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Balaram Palace (Balaram village) | Bus from Palanpur to Balaram (≈45 min) | ≈1 h total |
| Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary | Hire a taxi or shared jeep (≈1 h) | ≈2 h total |
| Dantiwada Dam | Bus to Dantiwada (≈1 h 30 min) | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Welcome Guest House
- Near bus and railway stations; ₹200‑800 single, ₹300‑900 double
- Hotel Way Wait
- Near highway circle; basic rooms
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | માફ કરશોmaaf karsho |
| How much is this? | આ કેટલું છે?ā ketluṁ che? |
| Where is the railway station? | રેલવે સ્ટેશન ક્યાં છે?relve steśan kyāṁ che? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer temperatures can exceed 40 °C; carry water.
- Some attractions (Mithi Vav) lack signage—ask locals for entry times.
Palanpur is generally safe; petty theft can occur in crowded markets—keep valuables hidden.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Palanpur yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mithi Vav stepwell
- Joravar Palace
- Diamond market (Heera Bazar)
- Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Palanpur: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Palanpur, revision 5292558 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5292558
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/palanpur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.