Rajkot, India

Founded in the sixteenth century, RAJKOT was ruled by the Jadeja Rajputs until merging with the Union of Saurashtra after Independence, since when it has become a successful industrial centre – resulting in its high levels of pollution – with a large middle class. Best known for its association with Mahatma Gandhi, there is little to attract tourists save a museum and Gandhi's family home. Rajkot's central position, however, makes it a good base for trips to nearby princely towns.

Rajkot's most appealing area is the old city, where you'll see plenty of typical Gujarati wooden-fronted houses with intricately carved shutters and stained-glass windows. The Gandhis moved here from Porbandar in 1881. Tucked away in the narrow streets on Ghitaka Road, off Lakhajiraj Road about 300m east of Sanganwa Chowk – the turning is marked by a blue signpost, but it's not easily spotted – the family house Kaba Gandhi no Delo (Mon–Sat 9am– noon & 3–5.30pm) has a small display of artefacts and photographs. In a robust nineteenth-century building in Jubilee Bagh, the Watson Museum (daily except Sun and 2nd & 4th Sat of month, 9am–1pm & 2–6pm; Rs50 [Rs2]) is named after Colonel Watson, British Political Agent from 1886 to 1893 and displays relics from 2000 BC to the nineteenth century, including findings from Indus Valley sites, medieval statues and manuscripts.