The Gohils' first capital
Before Bhavnagar was founded, the Gohil Rajputs ruled from Sihor — and this old hill town, about twenty kilometres inland, still wears its former capital’s heritage. Ringed by low rocky hills and crowned by the remains of a fort, Sihor holds an atmospheric old quarter of carved wooden havelis, the faded Darbargadh (royal palace) with its murals, and above all the revered Gautameshwar Mahadev temple beside its stone-stepped sacred tank — a tranquil and ancient spot.
Sihor also carries a footnote of Gujarati letters: the town’s old quarter and hills feature in the region’s folk literature, and the Gohil court’s patronage seeded a bardic tradition that Saurashtra’s dayro singers still draw on. Walk the tank’s steps in the late afternoon and the ridge’s shadow crosses the water as it has for centuries.
The Darbargadh is Sihor’s sleeper: behind a weathered facade the old palace keeps painted chambers whose murals — court scenes, deities, processions — survive in the faded, unrestored state that makes them feel discovered rather than displayed. The Gautameshwar complex adds the town’s sacred half, its tank fed by springs the tradition calls perpetual and its precinct busiest through Shravan; the brass workshops in the bazaar complete the picture with a craft economy that outlived the court it once supplied.
Sihor’s other claim is culinary in a modest way: the town’s ghee and its dairy trade have long served Bhavnagar’s sweet-makers, and the bazaar’s snack stalls give the walk between palace and temple its natural interval.
Sihor sits about 20 kilometres from Bhavnagar on the Rajkot road, an easy half-day detour: temple and tank in the morning, palace and bazaar after, and the ridge for the last light. There are no tickets and little signage — ask, and the town will point — and October to March gives the comfortable weather for walking the old quarter’s lanes.
The town has long been known for its brass and metalware craft, and its bazaars still carry that working character. Set among hills that glow at sunset, Sihor offers a quiet, layered slice of Gohilwad history — a place where the deep past of the region, before the great port city, can still be felt in stone and water.
The Gautameshwar temple complex, Sihor.
The Gohils' first capital, before Bhavnagar
Sihor town among its hills.
The Gohil Rajputs ruled Gohilwad from Sihor for centuries.
Gautameshwar Mahadev rose beside its spring-fed sacred tank.
Bhavsinhji moved the capital to the new port of Bhavnagar in 1723.
Sihor kept its palace, temple and metalworking trades.
Reasons to make the time
Old capital
The Gohils' first seat before Bhavnagar existed.
Gautameshwar
The Shiva temple sits above a spring-fed tank.
Royal palace
Darbargadh's murals survive inside the old palace.
Fort hills
A rocky ridge and fort remains brood over the town.
Brassware
Brass and metalware have been made here for generations.
Sunsets
The hills catch fire in the last light of the day.
What to look for inside
TEMPLEGautameshwar
Gautameshwar's shrine above its sacred tank.
THE HILLSFort ridge
The fort ridge above Sihor at sunset.
How to spend an hour or two
Visit Gautameshwar
The temple and its tank.
See the Darbargadh
The old palace murals.
Climb toward the fort
The hilltop ruins.
Browse brassware
The metal-craft bazaars.
Wander the havelis
The old quarter.
Catch the sunset
Hills aglow at dusk.
The temple and stepped tank.
Palace, temple-tank and fort
Sihor’s heritage is layered: the hilltop fort and its ridge above the town, the old Darbargadh palace with painted murals, carved wooden havelis in the bazaar quarter, and the Gautameshwar Mahadev temple set beside a fine stone-stepped sacred tank.
Together they make an atmospheric old-capital townscape — modest in scale but rich in history, framed by the rocky Gohilwad hills. The brass-working bazaars add a living, working layer to the heritage.
Hilltop fort ridge
Darbargadh palace murals
Gautameshwar temple & tank
Brass-craft bazaars
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season across Bhavnagar.
Green countryside and atmospheric skies.
Hot inland; sea-cooled on the coast.
⏰ Visit on a half-day trip from Bhavnagar; come toward sunset, when the hills around Sihor glow.
Timings & entry
- Temple open for darshan by day
- Town freely walkable
- Sunset is the loveliest time
- Allow a half day
- No entry fee for the town or temple
- Some palace areas may be limited
- Be respectful at the temple
- Easy day trip from Bhavnagar
Getting there
By Air
Bhavnagar airport is nearest.
By Rail
Sihor has a railway station.
By Road
~20 km west of Bhavnagar.
Around Sihor
STONE & HILLS
An old capital among the hills
What to shoot
The temple and stepped tank.
Heritage
Palace murals and havelis.
Setting
The fort-crowned ridge.
Best light
Sunset over the hills.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Bhavnagar City
A cultured old port founded in 1724 — Bhavnagar blends hilltop temples, leafy parks and princely…
Bortalav Lake
Bhavnagar’s beloved old lake — Bortalav (Gangajaliya Talav), a serene urban water with a lakeside temple,…
HERITAGEGohil Old City
Carved havelis & the lock-gate Bhavnagar port
Shatrunjaya Summit
◐ Dawn · the temple-city
Velavadar Blackbuck National Park
A sweeping savanna of golden grass near Bhavnagar — India’s blackbuck capital, where leaping antelope, packs…
Adishwar Temple
The principal shrine atop the holy hill
Where to eat near Sihor
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
GANTHIYABhavnagari ganthiya
The city's famous soft ganthiya.
STREETFafda & jalebi
Classic Saurashtra snacks.
Veg & sweets
Hearty Kathiawadi veg; famous ganthiya.
Sihor FAQ
What is Sihor known for?
Being the old Gohil capital before Bhavnagar, with the Gautameshwar temple and brass craft.
What can I see there?
The Gautameshwar temple and tank, the Darbargadh palace, havelis and the fort hills.
Where is it?
About 20 km west of Bhavnagar.
Why is it historic?
The Gohil Rajputs ruled from Sihor before founding Bhavnagar in 1724.
Is there an entry fee?
No — the town and temple are free.
What craft is Sihor famous for?
Brass and metalware.
When should I visit?
October to March, ideally toward sunset.
How long does it take?
A half day, easily from Bhavnagar.
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Published 26 June 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026