The city's open green heart
The Race Course is the great open green heart of Rajkot — a vast central ground and park that has long been the city’s favourite place for recreation, exercise and everyday life. Once a colonial-era racecourse, it is today a sprawling public space ringed by gardens, jogging and walking tracks, sports grounds, children’s play areas and an aquarium, with the Watson Museum, the Lang Library and a lake all close by.
From morning walkers and cricket matches to evening strollers, food stalls and the big fairs and exhibitions that fill it on occasion, the Race Course is where Rajkot comes together. It is less a single monument than a living civic space — the kind of place where a city’s ordinary rhythms play out in the open air.
For visitors, it is a relaxed, lively window into everyday Rajkot and a welcome green pause amid the urban bustle. Freely accessible and easy to reach from anywhere in the city, it pairs naturally with the Watson Museum and Rajkot’s Gandhi heritage sites on a half-day city walk.
The Aji riverfront and Rajkot’s open cityscape, minutes from the Race Course.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Rajkot’s city gate — a reminder of the old town that grew around this central ground.
Rajkot flourishes as the seat of the Saurashtra Agency, and open grounds are set aside on the edge of the growing town.
The British lay out a racecourse on the central ground, giving the space the name that still endures today.
After Independence the ground is reimagined as a public park and recreation space for the whole city.
Jogging tracks, sports facilities, children's play areas and an aquarium turn it into Rajkot's everyday green lung.
Fairs, exhibitions, morning walks and evening strolls keep the Race Course at the centre of Rajkot life.
Reasons to make the time
Vast green ground
The city's open heart — a rare stretch of shaded green in the middle of busy Rajkot.
Sports & jogging
Walking and jogging tracks, cricket pitches and open grounds for every kind of exercise.
Fairs & events
Big city gatherings, exhibitions and seasonal fairs regularly fill the ground.
Family space
Children's play areas and an aquarium make it an easy outing for families.
Museums near
The Watson Museum and Lang Library sit right beside the ground.
City life
From morning walkers to evening strollers, everyday Rajkot on show.
What to look for inside
The open ground
The vast central expanse that gives the Race Course its name and character.
Green surrounds
Landscaped gardens and shaded walking tracks ring the ground.
Fairs & gatherings
The space that hosts Rajkot's big fairs, exhibitions and public events.
Around the ground
The old city gates and streets that frame this central quarter.
Watson Museum
Saurashtra history and art, a short walk from the ground.
City sights
Gandhi heritage sites and museums cluster within easy reach.
How to spend an hour or two
Walk the tracks
Join Rajkot's morning and evening walkers on the shaded jogging and walking tracks that ring the ground.
Watch a match
Cricket pitches and open grounds mean there is almost always a game to catch on the weekends.
Bring the family
Let children loose in the play areas and visit the on-site aquarium for an easy family outing.
Catch a fair
Time your visit with one of the exhibitions or seasonal fairs that regularly fill the ground.
See the Watson Museum
Step next door to the Watson Museum for Saurashtra's history, art and antiquities.
Relax in the gardens
Find a shaded bench in the surrounding gardens and simply watch the city go by.
Trace the Gandhi trail
Pair the ground with Kaba Gandhi no Delo and the Gandhi Museum on a short heritage walk.
Eat like a local
Round off with Kathiyawadi thali, farsan and street snacks from Rajkot's famous kitchens.
The Race Course ground during a large public gathering.
Park, tracks and grounds
The Race Course is defined not by buildings but by open space. A vast central ground — the former colonial racecourse — is ringed by landscaped gardens, tree-lined walking and jogging tracks, sports pitches and children’s play areas, with an aquarium adding to the mix. It is the deliberate breathing room at the centre of a dense city.
Around its edges the wider quarter carries Rajkot’s civic and cultural landmarks: the Watson Museum with its Saurashtra collections, the Lang Library, and a lake close by. Together they make the Race Course as much a cultural precinct as a park — a relaxed green heart where recreation, heritage and everyday city life all meet in the open air.
Vast central ground & park
Jogging tracks & sports
Fairs, events & play areas
Museums & lake nearby
When to go
Cool and pleasant — the ideal season. Comfortable all day and perfect for unhurried walks and fairs.
Green and atmospheric after rain, with the gardens at their freshest. Mornings are especially pleasant.
Hot and dry — start early or come late in the day, and carry water for the open ground.
⏰ Combine it with Rajkot's Gandhi heritage trail and the Watson Museum on an easy city walk.
Timings & entry
- Open through daytime hours as a public ground
- Best visited in the cool early morning or evening
- An easy, low-effort city stop
- Allow 1–2 hours for an unhurried visit
- Free or a nominal fee to enter the ground
- Respect the site, the gardens and fellow visitors
- Photography rules may vary in specific facilities
- Pairs well with nearby city sights and museums
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot Airport (and the newer Hirasar international airport) connect the city to Mumbai, Delhi and beyond — a short cab ride to the Race Course.
By Rail
Rajkot Junction is a major stop on the Western Railway with trains from across Gujarat and India, close to the central ground.
By Road
The Race Course sits in central Rajkot and is reached easily from anywhere in the city by auto, city bus or app-cab.
Around Race Course
CITY & LIGHT
A Rajkot landmark, best framed in the soft early and late light
What to shoot
The open ground and its walking tracks, morning and evening crowds, and the gardens that ring the space.
Setting
Frame the ground against Rajkot's cityscape and the old city gates for a sense of place.
Be considerate
Keep a respectful distance from walkers, families and worshippers, and ask before close portraits.
Best light
Golden hour, early morning and late afternoon, gives the softest light over the open ground.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiyawadi Thali
Spicy, hearty Saurashtra thalis — the definitive Rajkot meal.
Chikki & farsan
Famous Rajkot snacks, from crisp fafda to sweet chikki and penda.
Rajkot street food
Lively chowk eats — khaman, khandvi, chaat and more after dark.
Farsan & sweets
Rajkot is famous for its chikki, penda and farsan — expect superb vegetarian street food.
Race Course FAQ
What is the Race Course in Rajkot?
It is the great open green heart of Rajkot — a vast central ground and park that has long been the city's favourite place for recreation, exercise and events. Once a colonial-era racecourse, it is today a sprawling public space ringed by gardens, jogging and walking tracks, sports facilities, children's play areas and an aquarium, with the Watson Museum, Lang Library and a lake close by.
Is there an entry fee?
Entry to the ground is free or a nominal fee; specific facilities such as the aquarium may charge separately.
When should I visit?
October to March, in the cooler season, is the most comfortable. Early morning and evening are the pleasantest times of day.
What's nearby?
Rajkot's Gandhi sites — Kaba Gandhi no Delo and the Gandhi Museum — and the Watson Museum and Lang Library are all close by.
How long does a visit take?
A short visit of one to two hours is enough, though families can easily spend a relaxed half-day here.
What can I do there?
Walk or jog the tracks, watch a cricket match, take the children to the play areas and aquarium, catch a fair or exhibition, and relax in the gardens.
How do I get there?
The Race Course is in central Rajkot, easily reached by auto, city bus or app-cab, and close to Rajkot Junction and the airport.
Is it good for families?
Yes — children's play areas, an aquarium, open lawns and nearby museums make it an easy and popular family outing.
Is photography allowed?
General photography around the open ground is fine; rules may vary inside the aquarium and specific facilities, and be considerate of other visitors.
What should I eat nearby?
Try a spicy Kathiyawadi thali, Rajkot's famous farsan and chikki, and lively street food in the city's chowks.
Any tips for the visit?
Go in the cool hours, carry water for the open ground, respect the site and locals, and combine it with a city heritage walk.
Why is it called the Race Course?
The name dates from the colonial era, when a racecourse was laid out on this central ground; the name endured even after it became a public park.
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