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BEACH · COAST · RETREATChorwad Beach
A quiet coastal retreat — Chorwad, a peaceful seaside village west of Somnath, once the summer resort of the Junagadh Nawabs, with a rugged shore and old palace by the sea.
The Nawab's seaside
West along the coast from Somnath lies Chorwad, a quiet fishing-and-farming village with a rugged, rocky-and-sandy shore that was once favoured as a seaside retreat by the Nawabs of Junagadh, who built a summer palace here overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Away from the pilgrim crowds of Somnath, Chorwad offers a more low-key coastal experience — windswept beaches, fishing boats, sea breezes and the faded romance of the old Nawabi palace (long a heritage hotel) by the water. The coast here is more about scenery and quiet than swimming, with rocky stretches and strong currents in places.
For travellers seeking a peaceful seaside pause on a tour of the Saurashtra coast, Chorwad’s blend of nature, history and calm makes a pleasant detour from Somnath and Gir.
A rugged shore.
The Nawab of Junagadh's seaside palace
Palace by the sea.
The Nawabs of Junagadh built a summer palace at Chorwad, choosing this stretch of coast as a retreat from the heat inland.
The village has always lived on fishing and farming, and both still set the rhythm of the place.
The old palace was later converted for heritage accommodation, though its fortunes have varied over the years.
It remains a quiet, rugged stretch of coast a short drive from one of Gujarat's busiest pilgrimage towns.
Reasons to make the time
Quiet beach
Somnath is close but the crowds do not reach here — Chorwad stays a working village.
Nawabi palace
The Nawabi summer palace overlooks the sea and is the village's one piece of grand architecture.
Rugged coast
The shore is rocky rather than sandy in stretches, which makes it more dramatic and less swimmable.
Fishing village
Fishing boats and drying nets line the shore, and the catch comes in during the afternoon.
Sea breeze
The wind off the Arabian Sea is constant here, and the coast has a bare, windswept quality.
Low-key retreat
It works best as a quiet detour from Somnath rather than a destination in its own right.
What to look for inside
THE COASTRugged shore
A rocky, wind-scoured shore quite unlike the sandy beaches further along the coast.
THE PALACENawabi retreat
The Junagadh Nawabs' seaside summer palace above the water.
How to spend an hour or two
Walk the shore
Walk the rocky shore, which is more dramatic than the sand beaches on either side of it.
See the old palace
Look at the Nawabi palace above the sea — check access before you go, as its use has changed over the years.
Watch fishing boats
Watch the fishing village at work, particularly in the afternoon when the boats return.
Enjoy the quiet
Come for the quiet. This is the anti-Somnath, twenty minutes from one of Gujarat's busiest temples.
Breathe sea air
Stay for sunset over the Arabian Sea, which this west-facing coast gets in full.
Pair with Somnath
Treat the water carefully — the rocks and currents here make swimming a poor idea.
Chorwad.
Shore, palace and boats
Chorwad is a quiet coastal village west of Somnath with a rugged rocky-and-sandy shore, fishing boats and the faded romance of a Nawabi summer palace by the Arabian Sea. Low-key and scenic, it offers a peaceful seaside pause — more for atmosphere than swimming, as the coast is rocky with strong currents.
Planning more of the area? Our Gir Somnath guide covers the whole district.
Our overview of beaches across Gujarat puts it in context.
Rugged Arabian Sea shore
Nawabi summer palace
Quiet fishing village
A low-key coastal retreat
When to go
Cool and pleasant — the ideal season.
Green and atmospheric after rain.
Hot and dry — start early.
⏰ Visit as a quiet detour from Somnath; enjoy the scenery and old palace, but mind the rocky shore and currents.
Timings & entry
- A quiet coastal village
- Best in cool hours
- Scenery over swimming
- Allow a half day
- No entry fee for the shore
- Mind rocks and currents
- Respect the fishing village
- Pair with Somnath
Getting there
By Air
Diu / Keshod airports.
By Rail
Veraval (~20 km).
By Road
~25 km west of Somnath.
At Chorwad
COAST & CALM
A quiet seaside retreat
What to shoot
The rugged shore.
Detail
The old palace.
Life
Fishing boats.
Best light
Coastal sunset.
Know before you go
More to see close by
HERITAGEPrabhas Patan
An ancient holy town with a fine museum
PORTVeraval
One of India’s busiest fishing ports
SAFARIDevalia Safari Park
A fenced zone for reliable lion sightings
BEACHSomnath Beach
Golden sands beside the great temple
SEASIDEAhmadpur-Mandvi Beach
A long, clean beach near Diu
RIVERHiran & Kamleshwar
Gir’s lifeline river, dam & birdlife
Where to eat near Chorwad Beach
THALIKathiyawadi Thali
Spicy Saurashtra meals.
FARSANGanthiya & farsan
Fried Gujarati snacks.
STREETSeaside snacks
Chaat by the shore.
Coast & temple
Pure-veg near the temple; Veraval seafood near.
Chorwad Beach FAQ
What is Chorwad?
A quiet coastal village west of Somnath, once a Nawabi seaside retreat.
What's the palace?
A summer palace built by the Nawabs of Junagadh, later a heritage hotel.
Can I swim there?
Better not — the coast is rocky with strong currents.
Is there an entry fee?
No, the shore is free.
How far from Somnath?
About 25 km.
Why visit?
For a quiet, scenic seaside pause away from the crowds.
What's nearby?
Somnath, Veraval and Gir National Park.
When should I visit?
October to March.
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Published 24 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026