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Voykit pocket guide · India
Porbandar
Half a day is enough for Gandhi's birthplace and the seafront; stay one night only if you are breaking a Saurashtra road trip.
Porbandar is a small port city on Gujarat's Saurashtra coast, best known as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. The main sight is Kirti Mandir, the Gandhi family home turned museum. Most travellers stop for a few hours between Dwarka and Somnath or Junagadh. The city has a working fishing harbour, a couple of beaches and a planetarium, but no major attractions beyond the Gandhi connection.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (very hot), Jul–Sep (monsoon, rough sea)
- Stay
- 0 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 ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ 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 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 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 |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Vegetarian thali | ₹100–200 |
| Khajli (local snack) | ₹50–100 per pack |
| Auto-rickshaw, short ride | ₹30–50 |
| Kirti Mandir entry | ₹10 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PBD · Porbandar Airport
- One daily flight from Mumbai (check schedule); airport is 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the centre.One daily flight from Mumbai (check schedule); airport is 3.1 mi (5 km) south of the centre.
Typical fares
- Porbandar Airport → centre
- auto ₹100–150, taxi ₹300–400
- Porbandar → Dwarka by bus
- about ₹100–150, 2 h (check)
- Porbandar → Junagadh by bus
- about ₹80–120, 1.5 h (check)
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
Auto-rickshaws are the main option; agree on the fare before you get in. A ride across town costs ₹50–100. Taxis are available for day trips. The city is walkable only around Kirti Mandir and the market.
See and do
Known for
- Kirti Mandir – Gandhi's birthplace
- Sudama Mandir
- Porbandar Beach
- Fishing harbour
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarka | Bus or taxi, about 2 h | 2–2.5 h |
| Junagadh | Bus or taxi, about 1.5 h | 1.5–2 h |
| Somnath | Bus or taxi, about 2.5 h | 2.5–3 h |
| Diu | Bus or taxi via Somnath, about 3 h | 3–3.5 h |
Sleep
- Near Kirti Mandir / MG Road
- Closest to the main sight; a handful of budget and mid-range hotels.
- Porbandar Beach area
- Quieter, with a few newer hotels; 2–3 km (1.2–1.9 mi) from the centre.Quieter, with a few newer hotels; 1.2–1.9 mi (2–3 km) from the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | નમસ્તેnamaste |
| Thank you | આભારaabhaar |
| How much? | કેટલું?ketlu? |
| Where is Kirti Mandir? | કીર્તિ મંદિર ક્યાં છે?keerti mandir kyaan che? |
| Please take me to… | મને… લઈ જાઓmane… lai jaao |
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
- Kirti Mandir closes for lunch (check current hours).
- Beaches are not swimming-friendly; strong currents and no lifeguards.
- ATMs are available but carry enough cash for small purchases.
- Touts may approach at the Gandhi sites; ignore politely.
Porbandar is safe for tourists, with petty crime rare. Watch for traffic on main roads and avoid isolated beaches after dark. The sea has strong currents – do not swim.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Porbandar yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kirti Mandir – Gandhi's birthplace
- Sudama Mandir
- Porbandar Beach
- Fishing harbour
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Airports Authority of India – Porbandar Airport: www.aai.aero/en/airports/porbandar
- Wikivoyage: Porbandar, revision 5334877 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5334877
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/porbandar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.