Gujarat is a state on the western part of India, to the North. It is the fifth-largest Indian state by area and has the ninth-largest population in the country.The capital of Gujarat is Gandhinagar, and the state is surrounded by the states Rajasthan (to its north), Madhya Pradesh (to its right), Maharashtra (to its south), and the Arabian Sea (to its west).
Home of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat is the land of colorful festivals, exotic cuisines, several historical sites, religious pilgrimages dating back to thousands of years, museums, and an array of handicraft that attract visitors from across the globe.
Gujarat's coastal cities (incl. Bharuch), served as ports cum trading centres through the times when the state was under the rule of the Nanda, Maurya, Satavahana and Gupta empires between the 2nd to 6th centuries. It was only after the fall of the Gupta empire in the 6th century that Gujarat became an independent state.During the 10th century, the Chaulukya dynasty came to power and ruled the land. Later, between 1297 to 1300, Alauddin Khilji, (the Sultan of Delhi), incorporated Gujarat into the Delhi Sultanate.
At the end of 14th century, the Sultanate was weakened, and Gujarat's then governor, Zafar Khan Muzaffar his son, Sultan Ahmad Shah I asserted Gujarat’s independence again and re-structured Ahmedabad as its capital. Years later, after the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971, the capital of Gujarat moved from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, which to this day is the state’s official capital city.
Mahatma Gandhi, who fought for India’s independence from the British rule in 1946-47) is from Gujarat and had led the Dandi march from Sabarmati Ashram which is situated in Gujarat (Ahmedabad).
There are 6.48 crore (64.8 million) people in Gujarat, out of which 88.6% are Hindus, 9.7% are Muslims, 1.0% are Jains, and less than 1% are Christians, Sikhs, or Buddhists.
The people in Gujarat state are known as Gujaratis, and most of them are vegetarians.
Gujarat’s official language is Gujarati, which is spoken widely across the state. There are about 30 dialects of Gujrati that is spoken in different parts of the state, based on the locations. Apart from Guajarati, Hindi is also spoken and understood in most places here.
Gujarat has many temples and historical buildings with remarkable architecture, and some of these buildings have even been converted into hotels or museums.The state is also known for its handicrafts, wildlife and bird sanctuaries and sites.Some famous places in Gujarat that attract lot of visitors and tourists from other parts of the country and world include:
Historical Places:
Temples of Gujarat:
Vegetarian cuisine is pre-dominant in Gujarat and people here barely eat meat, neither are these served at most restaurants and gatherings here. Also, Gujarat is a dry state - alcohol is not widely or freely available here.
People, especially visitors from other cities and countries will need to obtain liquor permits as this is required for anyone wanting to consume alcohol. Upscale hotels that have bars sometimes can help get a liquor permit sometimes for their customers.
Gujarati cuisine has a wide variety of delicious vegetarian foods and snacks which are usually served in the form of a Thali (arrangement of various dishes in a large plate with bowls, etc.). Some popular dishes and snacks of Gujarat include: Undhiyu, Dhokla, Khakhra, Thepla, Khichu, Shrikand, Kadhi, Bhakri, Kachori, Handvo
Most of these use a lot of vegetables, pulses, chickpea flour, spices, and sugar too! Almost all Guajarati dishes have a hint of sweetness (including snacks and main course dishes).
The colorful state of Gujarat has numerous eye-catching festivals that is the reason it is often termed as the Land of Festivities. The culture, tradition, and the beauty of the state is flawlessly presented through the vibrant festivals here. Some of the most famous festivals in Gujarat are:
The charming land of cultures & contrasts
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