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Gujarat
The name 'Gujarat' is said to have been derived from the Prakrit Gujjar Ratta or Gujjar Rashtra - the land of Gujjars - a tribe that entered India with the Huns in ancient time and wandering through Punjab and Rajasthan, settled in western India.
Even before the advent of the Aryans, Gujarat had trade links with the ancient civilisation of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Egypt. The pre-Arayan Harappan culture survived here for over five centures after it was destroyed in Sind and Punjab. The ancient port of Lothal excavated recently has been identified as one of the most important centres of the 4500 years old Indus Valley Civilisation.
Even before the advent of the Aryans, Gujarat had trade links with the ancient civilisation of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Egypt. The pre-Arayan Harappan culture survived here for over five centures after it was destroyed in Sind and Punjab. The ancient port of Lothal excavated recently has been identified as one of the most important centres of the 4500 years old Indus Valley Civilisation.
| Capital | : | Gandhinagar |
| District Area | : | 1,96,024 sq km |
| Coastlines | : | 1,600 km |
| Sex Ratio | : | 921 females : 1000 males |
| Literacy | : | 69.97% |
| Best time to visit | : | October to March |
| Temperature | : | Summer: 42°C Max. to 27°C Min. Winter: 29°C Max. to 14°C Min. |
| Climate | : | North region - Dry and Arid climate; South region - Moist weather |
| Rainfall | : | > 700 mm Annual rainfall |
| Clothing | : | Summer: Light Cottons Winters: Light woolens |
| Local Languages | : | Gujarati, Hindi, English |
Ahmedabad
The 'Manchester of the East' was once ruled by Ahmed Shah, who the city is named after. The city has some 15th century monuments displaying a fine blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.
Sabarmati Ashram
Biggest attraction in Ahmedabad is the Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi on the bank of the river Sabarmati, from where he started the famoyus 'Dandi March'. It now houses the memorabilia of him in a museum.
Dwarka
The holy town of Dwarka at the confluence of the river Gomti and the Arabian Sea is associated with the legend of Lord Krishna.
Bhuj
The very old town of Bhuj traces its past in the times of Indus Valley Civilization and now serves as the gateway to Kutch.
Patan
The city boasts of some architectural wonders worth a visit.
Somnath Temple
The best-known temple of Gujarat is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (Shiva Shrines). The temple was ransacked and destroyed seven times by Muslim invaders but rebuilt at the same spot each time.
Champaner
The ancient capital of Sultan Mahmud Beghara lies at the foothills of the Pavagadh. Jama Masjid on Champaner is a must visit.
Junagadh
At the foothills of Girnar Hills, excavations led to the findings of rock edict of Emperor Ashoka dating back to 250 BC.
Sasangir
It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Gujarat. Gir Forest earns it fame as the only place outside Africa to harbour Asiatic Lions. Besides the lions, you can also spot Indian deer, sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara and a variety of birds. Apart from the tourist destinations, the state can boast of almost 3,500 fairs and festivals being celebrated in different parts of the state every year. For many, these are very important tourist attractions in Gujarat.
Vadodara
Another place to visit in Gujarat is Vadodara, its cultural capital. The place is worth visiting for its long tradition of music, fine arts and education.
Bhavnagar
To the southeast of Rajkot in Gujarat is the city of Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar was originally the capital of a state of the same name and ruled by the Suryavanshi Rajputs from Marwar. The main place to visit in the city of Bhavnagar is the Mahadev Temple.
The 'Manchester of the East' was once ruled by Ahmed Shah, who the city is named after. The city has some 15th century monuments displaying a fine blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.
Sabarmati Ashram
Biggest attraction in Ahmedabad is the Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi on the bank of the river Sabarmati, from where he started the famoyus 'Dandi March'. It now houses the memorabilia of him in a museum.
Dwarka
The holy town of Dwarka at the confluence of the river Gomti and the Arabian Sea is associated with the legend of Lord Krishna.
Bhuj
The very old town of Bhuj traces its past in the times of Indus Valley Civilization and now serves as the gateway to Kutch.
Patan
The city boasts of some architectural wonders worth a visit.
Somnath Temple
The best-known temple of Gujarat is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (Shiva Shrines). The temple was ransacked and destroyed seven times by Muslim invaders but rebuilt at the same spot each time.
Champaner
The ancient capital of Sultan Mahmud Beghara lies at the foothills of the Pavagadh. Jama Masjid on Champaner is a must visit.
Junagadh
At the foothills of Girnar Hills, excavations led to the findings of rock edict of Emperor Ashoka dating back to 250 BC.
Sasangir
It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Gujarat. Gir Forest earns it fame as the only place outside Africa to harbour Asiatic Lions. Besides the lions, you can also spot Indian deer, sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara and a variety of birds. Apart from the tourist destinations, the state can boast of almost 3,500 fairs and festivals being celebrated in different parts of the state every year. For many, these are very important tourist attractions in Gujarat.
Vadodara
Another place to visit in Gujarat is Vadodara, its cultural capital. The place is worth visiting for its long tradition of music, fine arts and education.
Bhavnagar
To the southeast of Rajkot in Gujarat is the city of Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar was originally the capital of a state of the same name and ruled by the Suryavanshi Rajputs from Marwar. The main place to visit in the city of Bhavnagar is the Mahadev Temple.
EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Fringed by the Arabian Sea, with a hint of the desert, prosperous and very, very beautiful, Gujarat is inhabited by a people who find the slightest excuse to celebrate. And what celebrations! Color and spectacle merge together in a delightful kaleidoscope.
Navratri
Navratri, literally nine nights, is celebrated in Gujarat for the 10 days preceding the festival of Dussehra-usually in October. The most eagerly awaited festival of the year, which celebrates harvest time, Navratri is an occasion when both rural and urban people of Gujarat worship the nine incarnations of the Mother Goddess, Shakti, denoting cosmic energy.
Diwali
Closely following Dussehra Gujarat celebrates the famous festival of lights, Diwali, which also has its genesis from the same epic-Ramayana. Gujarat is a place to visit during this only Hindu celebration which falls on Amavasya, a moon-less night in the lunar calendar.
Makar Sankranti
Celebrated on January 14 in Gujarat, the festival of Makar Sankranti heralds the kite-flying season and the International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad on that day every year.
Janmashtami
Celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, Janmashtami usually falls in the months of July/August and is celebrated with great fervor in Gujarat. Tableaux showing scenes from Lord Krishna's life are modeled and displayed in homes and temples of Gujarat. The most common of these depicts Krishna as a babe in the cradle.
Tarnetar
The small hamlet of Tarnetar, about 75 kilometers from Rajkot, is the site for one of Gujarat's most well known annual fairs, held here during the first week of Bhadrapad (September-October). This three day long fair is primarily a 'marriage mart', called swayamwar, where gaily attired young men, in their traditional attire, come to be chosen by village belles dressed in colorful finery.
Other Fairs & Festivals
Other festivals of Gujarat include the Bhavnath fair, Dang Darbar, Saputara Summer Festival, Madhavrai fair, and Desert Festival.
Fringed by the Arabian Sea, with a hint of the desert, prosperous and very, very beautiful, Gujarat is inhabited by a people who find the slightest excuse to celebrate. And what celebrations! Color and spectacle merge together in a delightful kaleidoscope.
Navratri
Navratri, literally nine nights, is celebrated in Gujarat for the 10 days preceding the festival of Dussehra-usually in October. The most eagerly awaited festival of the year, which celebrates harvest time, Navratri is an occasion when both rural and urban people of Gujarat worship the nine incarnations of the Mother Goddess, Shakti, denoting cosmic energy.
Diwali
Closely following Dussehra Gujarat celebrates the famous festival of lights, Diwali, which also has its genesis from the same epic-Ramayana. Gujarat is a place to visit during this only Hindu celebration which falls on Amavasya, a moon-less night in the lunar calendar.
Makar Sankranti
Celebrated on January 14 in Gujarat, the festival of Makar Sankranti heralds the kite-flying season and the International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad on that day every year.
Janmashtami
Celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, Janmashtami usually falls in the months of July/August and is celebrated with great fervor in Gujarat. Tableaux showing scenes from Lord Krishna's life are modeled and displayed in homes and temples of Gujarat. The most common of these depicts Krishna as a babe in the cradle.
Tarnetar
The small hamlet of Tarnetar, about 75 kilometers from Rajkot, is the site for one of Gujarat's most well known annual fairs, held here during the first week of Bhadrapad (September-October). This three day long fair is primarily a 'marriage mart', called swayamwar, where gaily attired young men, in their traditional attire, come to be chosen by village belles dressed in colorful finery.
Other Fairs & Festivals
Other festivals of Gujarat include the Bhavnath fair, Dang Darbar, Saputara Summer Festival, Madhavrai fair, and Desert Festival.
Summer
Summer months are from April to June with temperatures ranging from 27ºC to 42ºC and have been known to reach as high as 48° C (118° F).
Winters
Winters are better with a temperature variance of 14ºC to 29ºC.
Monsoons
Monsoon touches the state in June and remain here till September.
Summer months are from April to June with temperatures ranging from 27ºC to 42ºC and have been known to reach as high as 48° C (118° F).
Winters
Winters are better with a temperature variance of 14ºC to 29ºC.
Monsoons
Monsoon touches the state in June and remain here till September.
By Air:
Gujarat has 10 domestic airports apart from an international airport at Ahmedabad. Most of the domestic airlines operate out of Ahmedabad connecting it to rest of the country.
By Railway:
Gujarat has a good railway network that not only connects the state internally but connects the state to other places in India also.
By Road:
Gujarat has a better road network than most of the other Indian states and they are in a fairly good condition. The Gujarat State Transport Corporation and private operators operate regular buses to all the major destinations of the state from most of the larger cities.
Gujarat has 10 domestic airports apart from an international airport at Ahmedabad. Most of the domestic airlines operate out of Ahmedabad connecting it to rest of the country.
By Railway:
Gujarat has a good railway network that not only connects the state internally but connects the state to other places in India also.
By Road:
Gujarat has a better road network than most of the other Indian states and they are in a fairly good condition. The Gujarat State Transport Corporation and private operators operate regular buses to all the major destinations of the state from most of the larger cities.