Tourism in Anand District, Gujarat offers beautiful tourism opportunities to travellers in the form of historical structures, ancient buildings and religious spots. Plenty of national and foreign tourists throng this region to watch the tourist attractions located here which include the Flo-Art Gallery, Amul Dairy Cooperative Museum, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Veer Vithalbai Patel Memorial, Swaminarayan Mandir, Khapra Zaveri Palace and numerous others.
Flo-Art Gallery
The Flo-Art Gallery is renowned for its marvellous collection of cottage industry handicrafts and a vast quantity of artefacts which serve domestic utilitarian purposes. It occupies an area of nearly 1000 square meters. Wedding gifts, murals, sculptures, table bases, pots and corporate gifts are some of the several interesting objects displayed in the galleries of Flo-Art Gallery. Such unique masterpieces are available in various colours, textures, materials and shapes. Objects of metal work, cement, fibre and wood are also existent here.
Amul Dairy Cooperative Museum
Considered one of the most significant tourist destinations of Anand District, the Amul Dairy Cooperative Museum is surrounded by water body, made of beautiful red stones. Numerable photographs adorn the pathway to the gallery, which portray the development of the museum with the passage of time into its current state. There also exists an auditorium in this museum, which possesses 100 seats that depict the birth and growth of milk evolution in the country. Dr.Verghese Kurien deserves a mention, who contributed largely to the creation of the milk industry of Amul Dairy.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Veer Vithalbai Patel Memorial
Located in Karamsad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Patel and Veer Vithalbai Patel Memorial consist of a magnificent garden and a library. It occupies an area measuring about 70 acres and is based close to Shri Krishna Hospital, Karamsad and Pramukh Swami Medical College. Cultural events are often conducted in the `Bhavan` of this memorial. These buildings contain a main, central hall which is equipped with seating arrangements and is surrounded by balconies and also an open area meant for social interaction. A photo gallery is present in the Vallabhbhai Patel and Veer Vithalbai Patel Memorial, which boasts of photographs, banners portraying lifestyles of Veer Vithalbai and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and paintings.
Swaminarayan Mandir
The Swaminarayan Mandir comprises six storeys and the main idols present here include those of Narayan Lakshmi and Harikrishna Maharaj, which are based in the first shrine of this temple. The idol of Guruparampara is placed inside the second and the third shrine while the idol of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj is located in the fourth shrine. The idol of Lord Ghanshyam has been placed inside the fifth shrine.
Khapra Zaveri
Khapra Zaveri Palace is another thrilling tourist locale of Anand District and is located on the way to Machi. Kalika Temple and Makai Kothar are the two famous monuments situated in this part of the country. Tourists can also visit the Atak Gate which is present near this palace.
Ranchhodrai Dakor Temple
Ranchhodri Dakor Temple consists of eight domes and 24 turrets and the main complex of this shrine is surrounded by a fort wall. The temple is situated near the river banks of Gomti, close to the market based at Dakor. The central dome of this shrine measures about 27 metres. The architecture of this temple portrays a Maharashtrian style and is decorated with a white flag and a `Kalash`. It is believed to have been built in 1722 A.D. The presiding deity of the Ranchhodrai Dakor Temple is Ranchhodrai, an avatar of Lord Krishna. The idol is composed of black sandstone, which measures about one metre and is embellished with dazzling jewels and gold.
Other Tourism Spots of Anand District
A famous Jain temple known as Stambhan Parshvanath Jinalaya built in the 11th century, BD Rao College Museum, Darbar Ghat, Air Manzil and the area of Khambat are the other interesting tourist spots which are located in this district. Khambat, which is about 60 km from Anand district, is reputed for its chintz and silk.