Gujarat is the seventh largest state in the country in terms of area. Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat, and Gujarati is the official language of this state. Gujarat has always been economic powerhouse for India.
Where is Gujarat
Gujarat is a coastal state in the western part of India. Gujarat shares international borders with the Sindh district of Pakistan to the west. It is surrounded by Rajasthan on the north, Madhya Pradesh on the east and Maharashtra on the south. Gujarat has a 1600-km-long coastline, adjoining the Arabian Sea, the longest for any state in India.
Major Cities
Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot are some of the most important cities in Gujarat. Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat, and Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state. Surat, the commercial capital of Gujarat, is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Vadodara is the industrial hub in Gujarat. Rajkot, the fourth largest city in Gujarat, is predominantly a city that thrives on Jewelry making. Porbandar, a coastal city in Gujarat, is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation.
Places to Visit
The rivers Sabarmati, Tapi and Narmada pass through Gujarat. The Great Rann of Kutch, the seasonal salt marsh, shared by Sindh Province in Pakistan and Thar Desert in Rajasthan lies in Gujarat.
The area where Gujarat is now is believed to be a settlement dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Ruins have been unearthed at Dholavira and Lothal. Another archaeological site, dating back to 2500 BC, was recently excavated at GolaDharo.
The museums to visit in Gujarat are the Vadodara Musem, Calico – Musuem of textiles, Gandhi SmarakSanghralaya, the Watson Museum, Maharajah Fatheh Singh Museum and Lakhota Museum.
The kite flying festival in Gujarat is an event that is famous across the globe. It is celebrated with much fanfare, dance and music. Sanskruti Kunj Mela is another festival that highlights the unique traditions and cultures of the various Indian states.
Akshardham Temple, Somnath, Girnar, Ambaji, Dwarkadheesh Temple, Palitana Temple, The Sun Temple, Shah AlamRoza, Rani Rupmati’s Mosque, Shalaji, Virpur and Pavagadh are some of the most prominent religious places to visit in Gujarat.
How to Reach
Air: Sardar Vallabhai Patel International airport that services both Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar is one of the busiest airports in the country and plies regular flights to international destinations. There are 10 other domestic airports in the state that keep Gujarat well connected to the rest of the major cities in India.
Rail: The Western Railways maintains the railway network in Gujarat. Some of the most prominent railway stations that connect Gujarat to the other major cities in India are Ahmedabad railway station, Rajkot railway station and Surat railway station.
Road: Gujarat has 13 national highways and innumerable state highways that efficiently connect Gujarat with the other states in India. The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) plies buses on a regular basis to commute within the state and the cities.
Sea: Gujarat has 1 major port, 11 intermediate ports and 29 minor ports. The Kandla Port on Arabian Sea is an important port in Western India. The other important ports are Ports of Porbandar, Navlakhi and Magdalla.
