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Gujarat City Guide

A land that holds a historical past, Gujarat derives its name `Gujaratta` meaning the land of Gurjars. The Gurjars passed through the Punjab and settled in some parts of Western India, which came to be known as Gujarat. Lying on the Arabian sea and with a coastline of 1596 km long that includes the union territory enclaves of Daman and Diu, it is bordered by Pakistan, the Indian states of Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and Dadra ang Nagar Haveli union territory. It has an area of 75685 sq mi .Gujarat being a tourist destination offers something for every visitor. Gandhinagar the capital of Gujarat is in west-central India. It lies on the banks of
the Sabarmati River, north of the former capital of Ahmedabad. It is organized in 30 residential sectors, in a controlled style influenced by the work of Le Corbusier, who designed Chandigarh. Its near-symmetrical numbered streets are wide and strangely quiet, lined with 16 lakh trees. An expressway connects Gandhinagar with Ahmedabad. A devastating earthquake hit parts of Gujarat on January 26, 2001 and has caused considerable loss of life and property. A few of the cities have been reduced to rubble, especially in the Kuchh region. Quite a few monuments have also suffered damage.

History of Gujarat
Situated in the western part of the Indian sub continent, Gujarat derives its name from the "Gurjars" who passed through Punjab and settled in some parts of Western India. According to the Hindu epics, Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balarama, evacuated Mathura and established themselves at Kushasthali, now known as Dwarka and started the Yadava dynasty. Dwarka subsequently became one of the four seats (mathas) set up by Adi Shankaracharya.The Parsees when they fled from Iran in the eighth century first landed at Sanjan on the shores of Gujarat with the holy flame, which still burns in Udwada in Valsad. The Muslim influence left its lasting trace on the local art and architecture and it came to be known as the Indo-Saracenic style. Among the earliest Europeans in Gujarat were the Portuguese who settled in Diu, a small island off the southern coast of Saurashtra. After that came the British who set up warehouses in Surat in 1612.

Gujarat was a part of the previous Mumbai state during the British Rule. But in 1960, the `Gujarati` population decided to separate from that union, which resulted in the formation of two new states, namely Gujarat and Maharashtra. The new State of Gujarat came into existence on May 01, 1960 because of this bifurcation. Gujarat is the birthplace of many who played an important role in shaping modern India. Prominent among them are Shri Dadabhoy Navroji, the grand old man of the freedom fight, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the architect of a united India and Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Nation. These men carried the torch of national freedom and
integration infusing the qualities of tolerance, brotherhood, non-violence and patriotism amongst Indians.

Geography of Gujarat
Covering an area of 3.28 million sq kms it is the seventh largest country in the world. The mainland of India extends between 8º 4` N and 37º 6` North Latitude and 68º 7` and 97º 25`East Longitudes. The Tropic of Cancer 23º 30 AND divides India almost into two halves. The land frontier of the country is 15, 200 km and the total length of the coastline is over 7,500 kms. The state situated between 20o1` and 24o7` north latitudes and 68o4` and 74o4`east longitudes. The state is bounded by the Arabian Sea on west, Pakistan on the northwest, Rajas than in the north, Madhya Pradesh in southeast and Maharashtra in south. Gujarat is seventh largest state in India. It stands seventh in terms of population too. This state is situated on the west coast.

Gujarat Temples

The temples of Gujarat are wonderfully sculptured. These are the temples that are one of the major attractions of this never-never land. The temples of this state carry the history in true sense.
Though Gujarat is known as the major industrial states of the country the temples present in this state make the place lot more attractive. People from all over the country come to realize the vigor of it throughout the year.

Some of the important temples, which make the place extraordinary, can be mentioned as follows:
Dwarka, Rukmini Temple, Dwarakadhish Temple, Somanath Temple, Akshar dham, Sun temple, Ajit Nath temple, Ambaji temple, Shankeshwar temple, Nageshwara Mahadeva temple, Someshwara temple, Saidham temple, Manav Mandir temple, are some of the temples that are most revered ones.

Gujarati culture

Adopting the name from ` Gujjar rashtra`, Gujarati culture is curbed out due to co-mingling of diverse ethnic folks. Nearly one-fifth of the state population comprises of tribal and aboriginal communities. The impact of foreign plunderers like Mahmud of Ghazni, the Chalukyan kings etc hardly brought about any impact in Gujarati culture. Individual ethnical traits of tribal population namely Gujjars, Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda are nicely amalgamated within the Gujarati culture. Being the land of Mahatma Gandhi, it also has a history of political upsurge during Indian freedom movement.

However, with least number of urban populace, the rural areas of Gujarat and its cultural exuberance are beautifully manifested in its plethora of elements. The nature with its unique aura casts a spell in the lives of inhabitants, who thereby nicely incorporated with the conventional religious practices of the Gujarati communities. All these factors are nicely being highlighted in the musical rhythm, dance styles, gaiety festivals, lifestyle and Gujarati cuisine.

Gujarati Festivals

Gujarati Cuisine

Museums of Gujarat

Folk Dances of Gujarat

Festivals of Gujarat

Districts of Gujarat

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