GUJARAT:State with Vibrant Economy/Holy Pilgrimages of Somnath,Dwarika,Girnar, Pavagarh,Ambaji,Palitana, Lakhpat /Exotic tourism in Junagarh,Modhera,Rann of Kutch,Champaner,Sabarmati Ashram & Gir National Park.

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GUJARAT is considered the growth engine of India spearheading the growth of the country (owing to its rapid growth rate) contributing to India’s Industrial production & Capital. Its known for its stable & business-friendly policies and proactive administration. Its success is its people and the rich cultural heritage having the 5th largest economy in India. Its the 5th largest state by area and ninth largest by population. Its one of the most developed Industrial state and manufacturing hub. The official language is Gujarati. The oil refinery at Jamnagar is the worlds largest grass root refinery at a single location operated by Reliance Industries. Alang ship recycling yard (50km SE of Bhavnagar)is the world’s largest. Gujarat produces surplus electrical power which it exports to neighbouring states. The cheapest car Nano(Tata motors) is manufactured here. Notable personalities are-Mahatma Gandhi who spearheaded the Independence struggle, Sardar Patel-the Iron man, Jamshedji Tata & renowned Nuclear Scientist Vikram Sarabhai.In 1960 Ahemdabad was made the capital of Gujarat. After that a new capital city Gandhinagar was planned named after Gandhiji on 01-12-2015 which is 32 km from Ahmedabad. History of Gujarat dates back to more than 4500 yrs with the finding of sites of Dholavira & Lothal of Indus valley civilization. From time Gujarat has witnessed various eras of Ashoka, Solanki ,Moghul, Maratha, Gaekwads & British. They have left great marks of their presence in Gujarat in the form of Architectural marvels. Some of the world famous are the sun temple of Modhera ,the step wells of Patan &Adlaj, the Toran of Vadnagar ,the Jain temples of Palitana ,the fort of Junagarh ,the world heritage site of Champaner and Gandhi Ashram. Gujarat is abode of Gods like Lord Shiva ,Lord Krishna and Goddess Shakti. It also has Holy Jain Temples, ancient Buddhist Caves, Parsi pilgrimage sites, excellent Mosques ,Churches and synagogues.Nature becons tourists to Gujarat with beautiful landscapes defined by long sea coasts, beaches deserts and mountains.Visit the ancient Dinosaur fossil site of Balasinor,the Gir forest which is the only abode of Asiatic Lions,the white desert of the Rann of Kutch,the wild ass sanctuary,the lakes of Nalsarovar and Narain sarovar,the hill station of Saputara, the beach coast lines and many other scenic and exciting places.

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Religion has always influenced all aspects of human civilization & culture inspiring creative talents and aesthetic expressions. Gujarat offers a wide range of religious architecture with buildings associated with diverse faiths of Hinduism, Christianity ,Jainism ,Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Islam ,Sikhism and Judaism-all being treated with deep reverence and devotion of people of Gujarat. Some of the main religious sites are-Somnath,Junagarh,Dwarika(Jamnagar),Palitana(Bhavnagar),Ambaji, Pavagarh(Baroda) Kayavarohan near Baroda- a temple older than Kashi ,Syed Mosque and Jama Masjid(Ahemdabad),Udwada-Valsad, Lakhpat Gurudwara in Bhuj. In shrines like Ambaji, Palitana, Girnar,Pavagarh are celebrated in history as Acharyas like Shankara,Ramanuja, Vallabh, and devotees like Narsinh Mehta ,Mirabai ,Nanak and Kabir offered worship at these shrines.

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MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

1)GANDHINAGAR :

Its the capital city of Gujarat located on the banks of Sabarmati named after Rashtrapita Mahatma Gandhi. The beautiful city is well planned & devided into sectors with wide roads. The Akshardham temple here is a massive Hindu temple with ornate carvings and sculpted pillars &water show in its sprawling gardens .Dandi Kutir museum traces the life of Mahatma Gandhi Swami Narayan temple, children’s Hiran park ,Sarita park,& lakes for boating are are some tourist attractions.

2)AHEMADABAD:

Its the largest city and former capital of Gujarat. Its an important economic and industrial hub in India declared as a Unicef World Heritage city.It was established in 1411 AD by Sultan Ahmed Shah and located on banks of Sabarmati and is the largest centre of Textile production. Places of Interest :1)Sabarmati River front, 2)Motera stadium, 3)Kankaria lake, 4)Jama Masjid,5)Siddi Syed Masjid,6)Rani Roopmati masjid with 12 pillars &3 domes.7)Gandhi Ashram -established in 1915 from where Mahatma Gandhi started the Salt satyagrah and Dandi March in 1930 during struggle for Independence.8)Sabarmati Ashram where Bapuji lived for 30 years after returning from Africa.There is a Gandhi museum here.9)Lothal :78km from Ahemdabad is a link between Mohanjodaro and Harappa Civilization. In 1955 it was a well planned town at the time of hurricane.10)Nalsarovar :It has 360 islands and is a heaven for bird watchers. Birds from all over the places come to take shelter here before changing their habitats. Boating is a popular sport here.

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3)JAMNAGAR :

It was established by Jadeja Rajput Sardar Jam Rawal in 1540.Its a city with a blend of modernity and ancient era. There is the world’s only Ayurveda University and famous for its Tie & dye (bandhani art).There is the only Solar hospital Solarium established by Raja Ranjit Singh for treating patients by solar rays.Other places of interest:1)Lakota museum,2)Dr Ambedkar garden.3)Kali mandir,4)Manik bhai mukti dham,5)Shahi mahal, 6)DWARIKA :Its a Hindu pilgrimage on the shores of Arabian sea. Dwarikadhish Lord Krishna temple is is at a distance of 2km from the town also called Jag mandir or Ranchhod mandir.Its a 7-storey,72 pillars mandir with intricate carvings.There are Swargdwar and Mokshdwar. On the way to Bhetdwarika there is Rukhmani devi temple, Shankracharya math,Bhadrakash,Brahma kumari temple,Nageshwar temple and Sunset point,7)BHETDWARIKA :35 km from Dwarika in the Arabian sea is the Bhetwarika where Sri Krishna lived with his family.The ancient house can be seen here. There is train and bus facility upto 30 km from Dwarika .5km to travel by boat .As per prevalent belief ,Bhetdwarika is the actual abode of Lord Krishna.

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4)JUNAGARH :Its an ancient fortified city with an old fort as the name suggests.It is considered sacred by Hindus and Jains & is rich with bustling bazars and narrow streets with dominant periods of Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism &Islam. Steeped in beautiful history, culture ,spirituality and religion ,Junagarh is the soul of Sourastra.Places of interest:1)Upperkot-2300 yrs old historical &majestic forts.2)Jama Masjid-It was originally the palace of Ranakdevi but was converted to Mosque by Sultan Md. Begda,3)Buddhist Caves carved out of monolithic rock formations,4)Ashokan Rock edicts -located on the way to Girnar talehti are proclamations etched on the rock as declared by Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century,5)Mt. Girnar-the highest point in Gujarat& one of the most important hindu & Jain pilgrimage site spread over 5 summits. There are temples of 22nd Tirthankara Neminath ,Amba mata ,Guru Gorkhnath,Asad shikar,Lord Duttatreya &Kalika mata,6)Darbar hall museum,7)Mahabat Maqbara-the best preserved monument of Babi period of the period of Nawab Mahabhat Khan with exquisite architecture.8)Old Swaminath temple.9)Gir National park,60 km from Junagarh its the only habitat of Asiatic Lion ,it houses 300 leopards, Sambhars,Nilgais, Blue bulls, Chowsingha , Chinkara, Jackal ,Jungle cat, Striped Hyena, Indian fox,& about 40 species of reptiles&amphibians &variety of 250 birds. Also ‘Gir Safari’ is an attraction for tourists.

10)SOMNATH :The first historical temple at Somnath is believed to have been built between 320 &500AD at a distance of 79 kms. Sardar Patel visited Somnath and resolved to rennovate it. Every year a 4-day fare is organised on Kartik sud, the day of Shiva’s son Kartikey’s birth.11)Adi Chadi Vav.

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5)VADODARA :

Its known as the ‘Sanskarinagari’(cultural hub) located on the banks of Vishwamitri river 112km SE of Ahemdabad. Being a major city of Gujarat its a booming production centre .The city is vibrant in its celebration of festivals & entertainment. Some tourist attractions are:-1)Sayaji Baug :This is a unique garden in 45 hectares with many attractions such as Planetorium, toy train for children and a Zoo that houses various species of animals and birds,2)Vadodara museum :It has wide ranging collections ranging from coins,musical instruments,,Mughal miniatures,& sculptures to textile artifacts from Japan, Tibet,Nepal and Egypt.,3)Laxmi Vilas palace :Built by Sayaji Rao in 1817 AD as his residence having royal architecture.4)Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum: Its housed in Laxmi Vilas palace, it displays large number of art belonging to royal family.5)Sri Aurobindo niwas having a library, space for meditation &a sales outlet.6)Kirti mandir was the royal Chambers of the Gaekwads who played a vital role in Vadodara’s growth.7)Maharaja Sayaji Rao University, 8)Pavagarh Hill(45km from Vadodara) :There is a beautiful temple of Goddess Kali on the hill’s summit.Its one of the 51 Shaktipeeths with a 5km walk to reach there.9)Dakor :Nestled in Kheda distt.Dekor is known for its grand temple of Shri Krishna which has a historical significance.10)Sankheda is famous for Kharadi community specializing in lattice work on and handicraft.11)Champaner:Its a historical city located in Panchmahal distt.47 km from Vadodara.With amazing architecture Champaner is today the site of Champaner Pavagarh Archeological park which UNESCO designated a world heritage site in 2004.

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6)KUTCH & BHUJ :

Its one of the largest distts. covering the western part of the state with tradition,culture and colourful exuberance with larger part being the Rann of Kutch. Its eminently beautiful with notable mud architecture, lively craft traditions.The people are full of lively spirit and warmth. ‘Its the land of Magical Wonders’. Places of interest : 1)Aina mahal 2)Parag mahal :Architectural masterpiece of Bhuj designed by Scottish architect,Darbar hall of city palace,Hindu temple.3)Sharad Baug palace,4)Kutch museum,5)Khavda-town with excellent potters and leather craftsmen, block printing and hand made dolls and textile products.Its the largest Flamingo colony during migration and a departure point to Kalo Dungar.,6)Chhari Dhand,7)Narayan sarovar,8)Kalo dungar-the black hill of Kutch has a picturesque scenery and a panoramic view of Rann of kutch.Its one of the tallest peaks of kutch.Its at 97 km from Bhuj.9)Hamirsar Lake and Royal Chhatradis.Its a 450 yrs old lake in Bhuj named after Jadeja ruler Rao Hamir (1525-1537),the founder of Bhuj,10)BHUJ :Its an important town and entry point to kutch.There is barren land and Thar dessert and thereafter the Pak border with expanses of salt.Its famous for kutch museum, temples, Masjids and handicrafts,11) Lakhpat Fort :Lakhpat sits at a point where the Kori creek meets the Great Runn of kutch. Guru Nanak ,the first Guru of Sikhism is believed to have camped at Lakhpat on his way to and from Mecca. It has a Gurudwara Nishan Sahib.It is 140km from Bhuj.12)Mandvi -it has a beach, ship building yard ,walking track along the river, bazar, Kashi vishwanath temple, Vijayvilas palace, Bhadreshwar. Its 60 km from Bhuj.13)Dholavira -It is an excavation of Indus valley civilization and Harrapan culture dating back to 4500yrs .The inscriptions are large sized signs of Harrappan scripts/signboards which are undeciphered till date. Its 250 km from Bhuj. The Rann Utsav is celebrated from Dec. to Feb. every year which gives the real kutch experience to tourists.

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7)SAPUTARA :

Its located in mountain range of Dang distt. at 873mts elevation is a tourist attraction for its tribal population in cool weather ,sunset and sunrise point. There is a lake,a museum and Mahadev temple. Sarp ganga shore it is famous for snake worship, an attraction for the tourists. 8)BHAVNAGAR : Established by Rajput king in 1260AD is a modern port .Present look is given to Bhavnagar by Bhavsinghji in 1743.Its Industrial centre with a good port. The city is beautiful .There is a bartan museum, library ,Gauri shankar lake,Gandhi memorial, and Lock darwaja .Palitana is an important Jain pilgrimage in the base of mount Shatrunjay. There are 863 Jain temples in marble with world class carvings. Gaumukha temple is the main temple here.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS : 1)TARNETAR FAIR : Its held every year being one of the most important festivals of Sourastra dating back to the 13/14th century.Its attended by over 2,00,000 people at Tarnetar temple belonging to Solanki era-who worshipped Lord Shiva.This is unique 110 yrs old eventtht celebrates the ‘Swayamvar’ ceremony between men and women.Exhibition on embroidary work ,cattle show,sports competitions, Raas,Garba,Duha and folk dance Hudi are part of the fair. 2)International kite festival at Ahemdabad.3)Navratri festival: Literally meaning nine night. This is the longest dance festival in Gujarat-the celebration of the reverence of the divine Goddess Amba devi in the form of bhajans and garbas. The prevalant forms of dances are Garbas and Raas. The rythem and steps of Garbas and praises of Lord krishna with Dhol, tashen, Dandia, Raas and Garba. 4)Garba Dance :Various forms of Garba dances include Garba, Gofan,Garbi ,Teen taali, Dandia Raas,Tippani,Hinch,Hudo.5)FARES :Ambaji mela, Bhavnath mela ,Dekor mata mela,Dwarika mata mela,Madhavrai mela, Pavagarh mela &Somnath mela. 6)RANN UTSAV :It is celebrated at Kharagodha -Little Rann of kutch.

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TEXTILE & HANDICRAFTS TOUR OF GUJARAT : PATAN SAREES,AJRAKH BLOCK PRINTS,BANDHANI EMBROIDERY,BATIK PRINTS,CARVED WOODS,COPPER COATED METALBELLS,HANDICRAFTED KNIVES,HANDLOOM WEAVING,KHARAD,LAC TURNED WOOD,LEATHER WORK,MASHROO,MUD CRAFT,POTTERY,ROGAN,SILVER CRAFT,ETC.

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Visit to the neighbouring Union Territory :Daman & Diu:During one of the numerous tours of Gujarat,I visited Daman& Diu &had a wonderful experience of being with nature. DAMAN: A former Portuguese colony with famous beaches, Colonial Architectural Churches, twin towns of Nani-Daman & Moti -Daman with amazing Forts, etc. DIU :Its a coastal tour of the Diu Island. A bridge connects the Island with Gujarat state. Overlooking the Arabian Sea is the Diu fort, a 16th century citadel features a lighthouse, citadel and cannons. I enjoyed visit to both the destinations enormously.

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PL.NOTE : I am very grateful to the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd & Indian Map service for their very informative booklets & maps for providing information &promoting tourism in the state. It was very beneficial for me in this writeup. My readers may kindly inform me on this site for required corrections ,if any !