Your stay — Samrat
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The Property — Samrat
The Samrat is a functional, business-class hotel near the railway station, with a lobby that smells of disinfectant and chai. The vibe is efficient rather than charming – tiled floors, a receptionist who’s seen it all, morning paper on the rack. It suits the traveller who wants clean sheets, hot water, and a location that puts them on the train or the ring road fast. No frills, but the staff know how a 3-star should run.
Chronicles of Rajkot
Rajkot was founded in the early 17th century by the Jadeja Rajputs, who built a walled city around the Aji River. It became capital of the princely state of Saurashtra after independence, and Mahatma Gandhi spent his early years here – his family home, Kaba Gandhi No Delo, is a museum. The old city’s chowks and pols still show the tight urban grain of a trading hub. Today, Rajkot is a prosperous industrial city – engineering and auto-parts – with a pragmatic, workaday feel that’s light on tourist infrastructure.
Best Time to Visit
Full Rajkot guide →Best months
November, December, February: post-monsoon air is clean, temperatures pleasant (25-30°C), and the city’s Navratri festival (Sept/Oct) crowds have gone.
Peak / festival surge
May-June: scorching pre-monsoon heat (42°C+). June 28 will be very hot and humid. No major festival drives the peak; it’s just when schools are out. Hotel prices stay moderate because nobody wants to visit Rajkot in June.
Budget shoulder season
March and October: temperatures are still high (35-38°C) but not brutal, and hotel rates drop 20-30% versus winter. Fewer crowds at the Gandhi museum and Watson Museum.
Weather & packing
Rajkot’s June climate is searing dry heat that suddenly clogs with high humidity before the monsoon arrives (usually late June). Pack light cottons, a wide-brim hat, and a compact umbrella – the first rain can flood streets in ten minutes.
Live City Briefing — Rajkot
- New flyover at Jilla Panchayat Chowk is partly open, cutting transit time from the station to the 150ft Ring Road by about 10 minutes – but expect rough edges on the approach ramps.
- The Watson Museum on Jubilee Bagh has reopened its textile gallery after a two-year renovation, featuring fine examples of local patola and bandhani work.
- Monsoon onset expected around 22-28 June, so the Aji Dam and Lalpari Lake may already have water for short evening walks – but check for leeches after rain.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Samrat, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing away from Gondal Road — the side of the building. These are highest above street level, so less passing traffic noise from Gondal Road, which is a main arterial through Rajkot.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those overlooking the front (Gondal Road side). The open parking area is directly below, so you’ll hear car doors and people coming and going, plus the lift lobby is on this floor, adding foot traffic noise.
Best views
Rooms on the side of the building (away from Gondal Road) look onto the neighbouring Ramdham residential area — a quieter, more local view of low-rise buildings and some greenery. Front-facing rooms overlook Gondal Road’s traffic and commercial strip — not scenic.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest — furthest from ground-level activity and the parking lot.
🔊 Noise notes
Gondal Road is a busy dual carriageway with constant two-wheeler and truck traffic, plus honking common in Indian cities. The open parking area can generate noise from arriving/departing guests, especially early morning and evening. Lift doors on first floor add occasional clatter.
Insider tips
Park in the on-site lot if you can – it’s free and secure overnight. The Race Course ground car park is a 10-minute walk and costs ₹100 for 12 hours, but you’d need to carry bags from there. Check in after 2pm to avoid waiting – the single lift can get busy during checkout (11am–1pm) and you might wait several minutes on the ground floor.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Samrat
Free for two devices per room, typical speed 10–15 Mbps (sufficient for browsing and email); login requires room number and surname.
One passenger lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections.
A printed Gujarati and English newspaper (Gujarat Samachar, Times of India) placed at lobby desk; no digital newsstand.
Check-in from 12:00; early bag drop allowed from 08:00 in luggage room. Late check-out until 14:00 costs half a day's rate (approx ₹1,500); after 14:00 charged full night.
Complimentary at front desk for same-day check-in/check-out; longer storage charges ₹300 per day.
Step-free entrance via a ramp at side door; lift serves all floors but door widths are standard (74 cm). No disabled-designated rooms; no grab rails in bathrooms. Wheelchair users would find it usable but tight.
On-site open parking for 15 cars, free for guests; no valet. Closest public car park is at Race Course ground (10 min walk, ₹100 for 12 hours). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking for standard rates; at check-in a refundable incidentals hold of ₹2,000 is taken by card swipe or cash deposit.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Balaji Hanuman Mandir (766 m · ~10 min walk)
- Place of worship: Kaba Gandhi No Delo (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Shastri Maidan — 740 m · ~9 min walk
મહાત્મા ગાંધી મ્યુઝિયમ, રાજકોટ — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
State Bank of India — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
GSRTC Central Bus Station — 196 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indian Rupee, INR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid currency exchange at the airport or tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, larger restaurants, and stores; many smaller shops and taxis prefer cash.
Not mandatory; for restaurants, 5-10% if service charge not included; round up taxi fares; tip hotel porters 20-50 INR.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple filter coffee or chai at a local stall costs around 15-30 INR.
A thali at a modest restaurant costs 80-150 INR.
A basic main course at a local eatery runs 60-120 INR.
The area around Jubilee Chowk and Limda Chowk is good for cheap street food.
Big Bazaar (part of Future Group) is a common budget supermarket chain.
Local markets like Sarvodaya Market or the bazaars near the bus station offer affordable clothing.
City buses cost 5-15 INR per ride; auto-rickshaws are metered (base ~25 INR); from the airport, a shared auto or prepaid auto is the cheapest (around 100-150 INR to central Rajkot).
Eat at local thali joints for filling, cheap meals; use auto-rickshaws shared with others to split fares; shop at local markets for clothes and snacks instead of tourist-oriented shops.
Good to know — Rajkot
Type C/D/M · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ₹96.48 · INR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rajkot, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Samrat
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · State Bank of India — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Rajkot city centre (e.g., Jubilee Chowk) → Hotel Samrat
💡 App-based rides are cheaper than street auto-rickshaws. During rain or festivals, surge pricing can double the fare. Walk 100 m from the hotel to main road for faster pickup.
Rajkot Airport (bus stop outside gate) → Kothariya Char Rasta (near Hotel Samrat)
💡 Get off at Kothariya Char Rasta and walk 5 minutes east. Buses are basic and crowded at peak hours. Keep small change ready.
Rajkot Junction (Railway Station) → Hotel Samrat (by local bus or auto)
💡 From the station, take an auto-rickshaw directly to the hotel for ₹50–70. Or catch bus 7/8 from the station stop to Kothariya – it’s slower but cheap.
Rajkot International Airport (HSR) → Hotel Samrat, Rajkot
💡 Book through the prepaid taxi counter inside the arrivals hall to avoid haggling. The ride takes about 35–45 minutes depending on traffic.
About Rajkot
Wikipedia ↗
Rajkot (Hindi: [ˈraːdʒkoːʈ] ) is the fourth-largest city in the western Indian state of Gujarat, after Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara. It is in the centre of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Rajkot is the 35th-largest metropolitan area in India, with a population of more than 2 million as of 2021. ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Samrat?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing away from Gondal Road — the side of the building. These are highest above street level, so less passing traffic noise from Gondal Road, which is a main arterial through Rajkot.
Which rooms should I avoid at Samrat?
Avoid rooms on the first floor, especially those overlooking the front (Gondal Road side). The open parking area is directly below, so you’ll hear car doors and people coming and going, plus the lift lobby is on this floor, adding foot traffic noise.
Is Samrat noisy?
Gondal Road is a busy dual carriageway with constant two-wheeler and truck traffic, plus honking common in Indian cities. The open parking area can generate noise from arriving/departing guests, especially early morning and evening. Lift doors on first floor add occasional clatter.
Which rooms have the best views at Samrat?
Rooms on the side of the building (away from Gondal Road) look onto the neighbouring Ramdham residential area — a quieter, more local view of low-rise buildings and some greenery. Front-facing rooms overlook Gondal Road’s traffic and commercial strip — not scenic.
What are insider tips for staying at Samrat?
Park in the on-site lot if you can – it’s free and secure overnight. The Race Course ground car park is a 10-minute walk and costs ₹100 for 12 hours, but you’d need to carry bags from there. Check in after 2pm to avoid waiting – the single lift can get busy during checkout (11am–1pm) and you might wait several minutes on the ground floor.
What time is check-in at Samrat?
Check-in at Samrat is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Samrat have Wi-Fi?
Free for two devices per room, typical speed 10–15 Mbps (sufficient for browsing and email); login requires room number and surname.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Samrat?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Samrat?
A thali at a modest restaurant costs 80-150 INR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Samrat?
City buses cost 5-15 INR per ride; auto-rickshaws are metered (base ~25 INR); from the airport, a shared auto or prepaid auto is the cheapest (around 100-150 INR to central Rajkot).
When is the best time to visit Rajkot?
November, December, February: post-monsoon air is clean, temperatures pleasant (25-30°C), and the city’s Navratri festival (Sept/Oct) crowds have gone.
Top Attractions in Rajkot
💡 Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups. The adjacent garden is a quiet spot for a rest.
💡 Remove shoes before entering – there’s a free shoe stand at the main gate. Best visited early morning when the bells are rung.
💡 Come just before sunset – the light is good for photos, and the chai wallahs near the west gate serve fresh ginger tea.
💡 The costume gallery on the first floor has some of the best preserved 19th-century royal outfits. Give yourself an hour.
💡 The stepwell is not always open – ask the caretaker near the main shrine. Aarti happens at 7:30 PM and is worth staying for.