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HERITAGE TOWN · CRAFTSSavarkundla
A characterful old town of the Amreli countryside — Savarkundla, long famed across India for crafting weighing scales and brass measures, a hub of trade, craft and Kathiawadi life.
The town of scales
Savarkundla, a bustling town in the south of Amreli district, holds a quietly remarkable distinction: for generations it has been one of India’s leading centres for the manufacture of weighing scales, balances and brass measuring instruments, its workshops supplying markets across the country.
This craft heritage gives the town an industrious, characterful air, its bazaars busy with metalwork, trade and the everyday commerce of rural Saurashtra. Set on the Navali river, Savarkundla is also a market hub for the surrounding farmland and a stop on the routes through the district.
While not a conventional sightseeing destination, it rewards the curious traveller with a glimpse of living Gujarati craft and small-town enterprise — a place where the clang of the metalworker’s hammer is part of the texture of the town. (The image shown here is an illustrated emblem.)
Illustration — Savarkundla’s craft.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Illustration — scales and measures.
Savarkundla becomes a centre of scale-making.
Balances and measures are made for all India.
It grows as a trade hub on the Navali.
A characterful craft-and-market town.
Reasons to make the time
Scale craft
India's scale-making town.
Brass metalwork
Balances and measures.
Busy bazaars
Trade and commerce.
Market hub
For the farmland around.
Kathiawadi life
Small-town Saurashtra.
Living craft
Workshops at work.
What to look for inside
Scale-making
Brass balances & measures.
Busy bazaars
Trade and metalwork.
How to spend an hour or two
Walk the bazaars
Metalwork and trade.
See the craft
Scale and measure workshops.
Sense the enterprise
A working craft town.
Stroll the Navali
The town's river.
Taste Kathiawadi food
Hearty local fare.
Pass through
On routes across the district.
Illustration — a craft town.
Workshops, bazaar and river
Savarkundla is a working Kathiawadi town: clusters of metalworking workshops and shops where scales, balances and brass measures are made, busy bazaar streets given over to trade, and the Navali river running by.
Its character is industrious and everyday rather than monumental — the appeal is in seeing a living centre of Gujarati craft and small-town commerce in action. (Shown here as an illustrated emblem.)
Scale-making workshops
Brass-measure craft
Busy market bazaars
On the Navali river
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season across Amreli.
Green country; Gir's core largely closes.
Hot, but the best season for Gir lion sightings.
⏰ Visit in the cooler months and explore the bazaars on foot; combine it with the wider Amreli district.
Timings & entry
- Bazaars are busiest by day
- Workshops keep working hours
- Carry water and sun protection
- Allow a half day
- The town is free to explore
- Ask before photographing workshops
- Respect traders and craftspeople
- Combine with the Amreli district
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot and Diu are the nearest airports.
By Rail
Savarkundla has a railway station.
By Road
In south Amreli, linked to Amreli and Bhavnagar.
In the town
CRAFT & TRADE
A living centre of Gujarati craft
What to shoot
Metalwork and workshops (ask first).
Detail
Bazaar shops and trade.
Theme
Scales and brass measures.
Best light
Soft daytime light.
Know before you go
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's beloved fried snacks.
Local bites
Bhajiya, chevdo and chaat.
Veg & seafood
Veg fare inland; fresh seafood on the coast.
Savarkundla FAQ
What is Savarkundla known for?
Being one of India's leading centres for making weighing scales and brass measures.
Where is it?
In the south of Amreli district, on the Navali river.
Is it a tourist town?
Not conventionally — it's a living craft and market town, rewarding for the curious.
What can I see?
Metalworking workshops, busy bazaars and the river.
Is there an entry fee?
No, the town is free to explore.
When should I visit?
October to March, in the cooler season.
How do I get there?
By road or rail; about 35 km from Amreli.
Can I photograph the workshops?
Ask first — be respectful of the craftspeople.
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