Capital : Gandhinagar

Principal Language : Gujarati , Hindi

Largest City : Ahmedabad

Establishment : 1960-05-01

Districts : Ahmedabad | Amreli | Anand | Banaskantha | Bharuch | Bhavnagar | Dahod | Dang | Gandhinagar | Jamnagar | Junagadh | Kheda | Kutch | Mehsana | Narmada | Navsari | Panchmahal | Patan | Porbandar | Rajkot | Sabarkantha | Surat | Surendranagar | Vadodara | Valsad

Major Cities : Ahmedabad | Surat | Vadodara | Rajkot | Jamnagar | Bhavnagar

Geography

Home to one of India's earliest civilized societies, the area now known as the state of Gujarat helps form the northern portion of India's Arabian Sea coastline. Additionally, Gujarat touches Pakistan and Rajasthan to the north, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and Maharashtra to the south. The landscape of the state is full of low elevation plains lands, dominated by the massive Gujarat Plain. Only a relatively thin strip of the state touching Rajasthan rises to higher altitudes.

Important Cities - Towns and Religious - Tourist Place

Ambaji (religious Place), Ahmedabad-situated on the river Sabarmati (Jami Masjid, Teen Darwaza, Bhadra Fort, Tomb of Ahmed Shab Abdali, Shaking Minarets, Hathee Singh Temple, Kankaria Lake, Sabarmati Ashram); Amreli, Banaskantha, Bharuch (Broach), Bhadreshwar (religious place), Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Cambay (Old sea port of Ahmedabad), Dang, Dwarka (Hindu religious place and closely related to Krishan) Girnar (religious Place); gandhinagar (the capital city), Godhra, Himatnagar, Jamnagar (Princely state of Jadeja Rajputs prior to Independence, Junagadh (temple-studded Girnar Hill, departure point for visit to Gir Forest, Uparkot Fort, Mahabat Maqbara), Karwar (port and beach), Kheda, Kutch (wild ass sanctuary), lothal (related to Indus Valley sites of Mohenjodaro and Harappa (both in pakistan), Mehsana, Modhera (Sun Temple built by king Bhimdev I), Panchmahals, Palanpur, Palitana (religious Place), Patan (ancient Hindi capital before being sacked by mahmud of Ghazni), Pavagadh (religious place), Porbandar (birth place of Mahatma Gandhi), Rajkot (once capital of Saurashtra), sasan (GIr Lion Sanctuary), Sabarkantha, Satpura (bill station), Shamlaji (religious Place), Somnath (religious place, famous for somnath Temple built of gold by Somraj, the moon God himself, also associated with Rawana, Krishna, Bhimdev, Mahmud of Ghazni was an unwelcome visitor who descended from his Afghan kingdom and looted the fabulous from his Afghan kingdom and looted the fabulous wealth and destroyed the temple), surat (on the banks of river Tapti), Surendranagar, Taranga (religious place), Vadodara (Baroda) (former capital of Princely Gaekwad state, Sayaji Bagh, Baroda Museum, Maharaja Fatehsinh Museum, Laxmi Vilas Palace), Valsad, Veraval (was major seaport for Mecca Pilgrims).

Climate

The Gujarati weather calendar is divided into four sections: the winter season (November to February), the summer season (March to May), the southwest monsoon season (June to September), and the intervening month (October). However, the names are fairly relative descriptions. Temperatures have dropped below freezing in the winter, but they typically stay between the 50s and 70s (12° C - 27° C). The summer can bring temperatures to nearly 120F (48 C) and consistently keeps them between the high 70s and the 100s (25°C - 43°C). If rainfall is the only concern, the northern Gujarat is preferred destination. Though it is impossible to escape the monsoon rain, southern Gujarat receives a much heavier downpour (by about 20 inches a year).

Location :

Located in western India, Gujarat is bounded north by Pakistan and Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh in the east, Maharashtra in the southeast and Arabian Sea in the west

Culture

Gujarat's incredibly large Hindu population has been the greatest source of what is now considered Gujarati culture. In particular, strong influence comes from the legend of Krishna, an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. One of the most popular folk dances, Garba, honors Krishna. The traditional folk drama, Bhavai, also venerates Krishna. In addition to these performance arts, crafts and other material arts are signatures of Gujarat. Mahajans, craft guilds, are major institutions that help settle arguments, pursue philanthropic endeavors, and encourage the arts. The cuisine of the state varies from region to region within Gujarat, but there are some basic principles that dominate all these variations. Gujarati food is almost strictly vegetarian and is traditionally served with rice and a variety of wheat breads. Gujarati food, like cuisine from much of India, is typically spicy, but the spices used to add that special kick vary depending on what is available in that particular area of the state. The most distinguishing characteristic of Gujarati cuisine is the tendency to mix salty and sweet flavors together.

History :

The history of Gujarat is legendary. It is believed that Lord Krishna left Mathura to settle at Dwarka, now in Gujarat. It was always prominent in both the ancient and medieval periods of history. During the British rule and after independence, it remained part and parcel of the Bombay Presidency when on May 1, 1960, as a result of the Bombay Reorganization Act, 1960,as a result of the Bombay Reorganization Act, 1960, the State of Gujarat was formed from the north and west (predominantly Gujarati-speaking) portion of Bombay State, the remainder being renamed the State of Maharashtra.

Economy :

Gujarat is the main producer of tobacco, cotton and groundnut. The other cash crops are isabgol, sugarcane, mangoes and bananas. Bajra, jowar, maize, rice and wheat are the main food crops. Forests cover 10 percent of the area of the State which produce khair and sadad. Gujarat is recognised as one of the leading industrialised States in the Country. The important industries of Gujarat are textiles, inorganic chemicals such as caustic soda and soda, Petro-chemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, electronic and electrical goods, machine tools, cement, sugar, oil and natural gas. The Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) Project has the tremendous irrigation potential. The main airport : Ahmedabad which has got the status of an international airport. Besides 40 ports, Kandla is the major port which occupies a leading position in the country.

Facts About Gujarat

* Historians believe that the name Gujarat comes from the Prakrit Guijar Ratta or Guijar Rashtra (meaning land of the Guijars). The Guijars were an ancient tribe of India that wandered through present day Punjab and Rajasthan before settling in western India.

* Full of great cultural and national pride, Gujaratis often refer to their home state as The Land of Krishna and Gandhi.

* Every year on January 14, Ahmedabad, Gujarat hosts the International Kite Festival.

* On January 26, 2001, a powerful earthquake (7.9 on the Richter scale) struck Gujarat and left a mark of devastation. The death toll was in the thousands and even more were left homeless. Severe property damage also resulted; many towns were reduced to ruble. Though relief projects are in place, the process will be long and arduous.