Gujarat is situated in the west coast of India. The state is bounded by the
Arabian sea on the west, Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north and north-east respectively,
Madhya Pradesh in the south-east and Maharashtra in the south. The state covers
an area of 196,024 sq km (75,685 sq mi).
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.
Gujarat had a great civilization even before the arrival of the Aryans. It had trade
links with ancient civilizations of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Egypt. The Port
of Lothal which has been excavated recently has been identified as an important
centre of the 4500 years old Aryan civilization.
Gujarat is renowned for its temples and monuments associated with momentous historical
periods. The architectural and artistic virtuosity of the people of Gujarat is reflected
in the many buildings both ancient and modern. As much a part of the state are its
wildlife sanctuaries, its hill resorts, its natural grandeur and religious and pilgrim
centres.
Gujarat has a single-chamber legislative assembly with 182 members. The state sends
37 members to the Indian national parliament: 11 to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
and 26 to the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Local government is based on 19 administrative
districts.
History
Signs of civilization in the region that is now Gujarat date back to the period
from 3000 to 1500 BC. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century
BC under King Ashoka. In 1818 the English East India Company took control of Gujarat,
administering the state through local princely rulers. With the independence of
India in 1947, Gujarat became part of the state of Bombay. In 1960 Bombay state
was split up, and Gujarat was formed from the northern and western portions, which
were predominantly Gujarati-speaking areas. Most of the remainder of Bombay state
became Maharashtra state, with a small portion going to Karnataka state.
Society and culture
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The diverse ethnic groups represented in the Gujarati population may be broadly
categorized as Indic (i.e., northern-derived) or Dravidian (southern-derived). The
former include the Nagar Brahman, Bhatia, Bhadela, Rabari, and Mina castes (the
Parsis, originally from Persia, represent a much later northern influx); among the
peoples of southern origin are the Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda, and Macchi-Kharwa
tribes. The rest of the population, including the aboriginal Bhil tribe, exhibit
mixed characteristics. Members of the Scheduled (formerly "untouchable") Castes
and of the aboriginal tribes form nearly one-fifth of the state's population. There
is one entirely tribal district of Dangs. Ahmadabad district has the highest proportion
of Scheduled Castes. Gujarati and Hindi are the official languages of the state.
About 70% of the population are Hindus ahead of minorities of Muslims and Jains.
About one-third of the population is urban. The most urbanized part of the state
is the Ahmadabad-Vadodara (Baroda) industrial belt. Major towns that were once capitals
of princely states are Rajkot, Junagadh, Bhavnagar (Bhaunagar), and Jamnagar.
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The folklore and folk culture of Gujarat are traced to the mythology of Lord Krishna.
Dance forms and festivals in honour Krishna exist, Garba and Bhavai being two examples.
Among the most durable and effective of the state's cultural institutions are the
trade and craft guilds known as mahajans which often solves disputes, acted as channels
of philanthropy, and encouraged the arts. Gujarat. s handicrafts are famous the
world over
Economy and infrastructure
About two-thirds of the population is engaged in agriculture, the gross area cropped
amounting to about half of the total land area. Wheat and millet are the staple
food crops, with rice production being concentrated in the wetter areas. Sugarcane
production is increasing, while cotton, tobacco, and oilseeds (especially peanuts
[groundnuts]) are profitable cash crops. Gujarat produces about one-third of India's
peanut crop and about one-third of the country's tobacco. Cash crops are characteristic
of the state's agricultural economy.
One of India's most industrialized states, Gujarat maintains a variety of industries,
the principal ones being general and electrical engineering and the manufacture
of textiles, vegetable oils, chemicals, soda ash, and cement. New industries include
the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. Petroleum production began in
1960, and an oil refinery is located at Vadodara.
A thermal-power station is located at Dhuvaran. The state also receives power from
the Tarapur nuclear facility in Maharashtra state. The long-delayed Sardar Sarovar
dam on the Narmada River was projected to become the state's largest producer of
hydroelectric power and to provide water for extensive irrigation
Gujarat has a total railway length of 5268 kms and total road length of 72950
kms when survey last conducted for 31st march, 1999. Its National Highways
constitute about 4.5 per cent of the total length of National Highways in India.
Coastal shipping routes link Gujarat's many ports. Kandla is a major international
shipping terminal. There is air service both within the state and to major Indian
cities outside Gujarat
Hotels of Gujarat
The State has hotels of star and non star category catering to the needs of the
tourists visiting Gujarat. Besides it has resorts, restaurants and cafés which cater
to the needs of all segment of travelers.