Rajkot travel guide

Rajkot peda

Saurashtra's famous sweet—dense cylindrical cylinders of mawa (reduced milk solid) flavored with cardamom; the Rajkot variety is darker and more caramelized than Mathura's; made fresh daily at Mohanlal Mithaiwala in Rajkot's jewelry bazaar since 1922

Gujarati thali

India's most generous vegetarian feast—unlimited refills of 15-20 preparations: dal, kadhi, vegetables, rice, rotis, papad, pickles, mithai and chaas; the sweet-salty balance unique to Gujarati cooking; Ahmedabad's Vishalla restaurant recreates a village feast experience

Dabeli

Gujarat-Maharashtras double-roti snack—sweet-spicy spiced potato mixture with peanuts, pomegranate seeds and chutneys stuffed into a bread bun; the Kutch original from Mandvi is the definitive source; Mumbai's Dabeli stalls outside railway stations make thousands daily

Fafda

Gujarat's crispy chickpea flour savory—a simple flour mixed with turmeric, carom seeds and salt, rolled thin and deep-fried until gold and brittle; eaten at every Gujarati breakfast alongside jalebi; sold by the kilo at bustling sweet shops in every city

Khaman

Gujarat's fermented chickpea snack—spongy steamed yellow rounds made from ground chickpeas with a leavening of fruit salt; served with shredded coconut and green chutney; the correct texture should bounce when pressed; Surat's khaman is considered the finest