Facts about Gujarat – The Land of the Legends, stands bordered by Pakistan and Rajasthan in the northeast, Madhya Pradesh in the east, and Maharashtra and the Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the south. The Arabian Sea borders the state both to the west and the south-west.

The State took its name from the Gujjars, who ruled the area during the 700’s and 800’s. Stone Age settlements around Sabarmati and Mahi rivers indicate the same time as that of the Indus Valley Civilization while Harappan centres are also found at Lothal, Rampur, Amri and other places.

Historical Facts about Gujarat

• Rock Inscriptions in the Girnar Hills show that the Maurya Emperor Ashoka extended his domain into Gujarat in about 250 BC.
• With its fall, the control of the region came under the Sakas or Scythians. 
• During the 900’s the Solanki Dynasty came to power and Gujarat reached it’s the greatest extent.
• Then followed a long period of Muslim rule. Ahmed I, the first independent Muslim ruler of Gujarat, found Ahmedabad in 1411.
• The Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Malwa and Gujarat in the 1570s.
• The British East India Company set its first footsteps in Surat in 1818 and the State came in control of their rule.
• Gujarat was divided into princely states. After the Indian Independence in 1947, all of Gujarat except Saurashtra and Kutchh became part of Bombay State until May 1, 1960, when the Government split Bombay state into the States of Maharashtra and Gujarat. 
• Ahmedabad became the chief city of the new State and housed the State Government Offices. They remained there until they were transferred to Gandhinagar in 1970.

Government of Gujarat

State Symbols of Gujarat

Forests & National Park in Gujarat

• Gujarat has 4 national parks and 21 Sanctuaries
• Asiatic Lions in Gir forest, Wild Ass in the Rann of Kutchh, Indian bustards in bird reserves, four horned Antelope and Black Buck are among many animals and birds protected in Gujarat
• The Whale Shark breed on the coasts of Gujarat
• Okha is a place where dugong is found
• Gulf of Kutchh is India’s first Marine National Park
• Dry deciduous forests Gir
• Majestic grasslands Velavadar
• Vast landscapes Little Rann of Kutch
• Wetland habitats Nalsarovar
• Marine ecosystems Pirotan Islands
• Rich moist deciduous forests Dense forests of the Dangs

Major Rivers in Gujarat

• Sabarmati
• Tapi
• Narmada
• Daman Ganga
• Dhadhar
• Gomati

Famous places in Gujarat

• Somnath temple: The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.

• Dwarkadhish Temple: Landmark Hindu temple to Krishna known for its elaborate tiered main shrine and dating from 400 BC.

• Sabarmati Ashram: Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Gandhi Ashram, Harijan Ashram, or Satyagraha Ashram) is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, four miles from the town hall.

• Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara: The term Maharaja Palace actually refers to a series of palaces in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, constructed since the Gaekwad, a prominent Maratha family.

• Akshardham: Modern 10-story Hindu temple with an elaborately carved sandstone facade & nightly water/laser show.

• Rani Ki Vav: Rani ki Vav is an intricately constructed stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat, India. It is located on the banks of Saraswati River.

• Jama Mosque, Ahmedabad: the Iconic yellow-sandstone mosque built in 1424 by Sultan Ahmed Shah I, whose tomb lies nearby.

• Science Centre, Surat: Science Centre, Surat is a multi-facility complex in Surat, Gujarat, India built by the Surat Municipal Corporation in 2009, the first of its type in western India.

Famous Personalities of Gujarat

• Mahatma Gandhi. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, “Father of Our Nation” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Morarji Desai.
• Narsinh Mehta.
• Govardhanram Tripathi.
• Vikram Sarabhai.
• Jamshedji Tata.
• Narendra Modi. (Current PM of India)
• Dhirubhai Ambani
• Uday Kotak
• Pranav Mistry
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Some Interesting Facts

• Gujarat is derived from Sanskrit (Gurjar-Rashtra), the Gurjar nation.
• Gujarat was known as Gurjaratra (country ruled or protected by the Gurjars) or Gurjarabhumi (land of the Gurjars) for centuries prior to the Mughal period.
• Gujarat has the longest seashore compared to any other Indian state.
• Gujarat has been one of the main centres of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• It contains major ancient metropolitan cities from the Indus Valley such as Lothal, Dholavira, and Gola Dhoro.
• India’s first port was established at the ancient city of Lothal.
• It is locally known as Jewel of the West.
• Gujarat has seventeen airports, which makes it the state with the highest number of operating airports in India.
• Gujarat has the highest number of vegetarian people compared to any other state in India.
• Gandhinagar is the greenest capital city in the whole of Asia.
• The first capital of Gujarat was Ahmedabad; the capital was moved to Gandhinagar in 1970.
• In the year 2010, Forbes listed Ahmedabad as the world’s 3rd fastest growing city in the world.
• Gujarat is the safest state in India. Its crime rate is 8.2 which is the least in India even after considering the 2002 communal riots.
• Gujarat is having the least crime against women among all Indian states after Goa.
• The richest city in India is Surat; ahead of Bangalore and Madras, with an average annual household income of Rs.450,000. According to the report of The National Council of Applied Economic Research
• The world’s third largest denim manufacturer is Ahmedabad’s, Arvind Mills.
• Gujarat is one of the most prosperous states of the country, having a per-capita GDP 3.2 times India’s average.
• The world’s first pure vegetarian Subway and Domino’s outlet was opened in Ahmedabad.
• Gujarat is the only state in India to have a statewide gas grid of 2,200 km.
• The first all-vegetarian Pizza-Hut was opened in Ahmedabad.
• Gujarat is the only home of Asiatic Lions.
• Gujarat is the only present natural habitat of lions outside Africa.
• 100% of Gujarat’s 18,000 villages have electricity connection.
• Gujarat has the largest OFC network of more than 50,000 km.
• The British East India Company set its first footsteps in Surat in 1818.
• Gujarat is the largest producer of milk in India.
• Surat is the third cleanest city in India after Chandigarh and Mysore
• The world’s largest ship breaking yard is in Gujarat near Bhavnagar at Alang.
• Ahmedabad was listed as the third fastest growing city in the world, according to Forbes 2010 report.
• Rajkot is the ninth cleanest city in India.
• Four are Gujaratis out of Top 10 Richest Persons in India, namely, Dilip Sanghavi, Mukesh Ambani, Azim Premji, and Pallonji Mistry.
• More than 8 out of the 10 of the world’s diamonds are processed in the city Surat in Gujarat.
• Surat is considered as the hub of diamond business in the world after Antwerp, Belgium.

 Trivia

1. Name the First Capital of Gujarat

2. India’s first port was established at the ancient city is

3. Name the Inscriptions shows that the Maurya Emperor Ashoka is

4. Name the greenest capital city in whole Asia

5. Gujarat is known as the home of ________

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