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Gujarat
Gujarat is the sixth largest state in India and the ninth largest by population. Its people are indigenous to the region and in fact, Gujarat derives its name from the original settlers, the Gurjaras, who ruled the land in the 8th and 9th centuries. It has the highest population of Jains in the nation and the places of worship draw people from across the country for a holy experience.
Gujarat is renowned for its beaches, temples and historical towns. It also offers the eager traveller wildlife sanctuaries and hill resorts that help showcase the best of the state to its visitors.
The state's economy rests on its arts and crafts, as well as technology. Some of the country’s biggest businessmen come from Gujarat. Whether in art or in business, Gujarat has made a name for itself, and it is this fame that precedes it in the world of travel and tourism.
| Gujarat: A Quick View of the state | |
| Capital | Gandhinagar |
| Official Language | Gujarati, Hindi |
| Dial Code | 2712 |
| Population | Over 60 million (as of 2018) |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR) |
| Time Zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Area | 1,96,024 square km |
Gujarat offers myriad experiences to the hungry traveller. From delightful customs and culture, to delicious cuisine, to gorgeous vistas, thrilling wildlife, and a rich civilization that traces its roots to 4000 years back.
You can choose from heritage holidays that focus on the forts and mansions, or an eco-holiday that will take you to thundering waterfalls, deserts and forests. Or you can pick and choose to plan your own vacation.
Gujarat is an eclectic mix of geographies, cultures, and history. And you must traverse the length and breadth of the state to truly understand it. A few of the places that you must visit include:
Gujarat has several ancient religious sites that call the spiritual minded to its land. The temples are beautiful structures that speak of design sensibilities and architectural styles from centuries gone by. Besides lending a holy aura to the place, these sites also contribute significantly to tourism in Gujarat.
The jungles of Gujarat are home to several species of wildlife, making it an absolute treat for all nature lovers. You can expect to spot the Asiatic lions, sloth bear, greater flamingo, blackbuck, Indian wild ass and Indian bustard, among several types of flora as well. The state has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and four national parks, making it the perfect destination for a wildlife getaway in India. When in Gujarat, do visit:
If you wish to know more of the history and culture of Gujarat, the state has excellent museums that have captured the past for visitors and the next generation of locals. You can learn of the culture, the freedom struggle and the people of the state here.
Gujarat is a state that boasts of a rich culture and a variety of traditions. The arts and crafts of Gujarat have international appeal and are critical to the state, not just from an aesthetic purpose, but also with a commercial point of view. Visitors will find stores and roadside stalls with the traditional art, all across the state. Some of the handicrafts to pick up while on a visit include:
The people of Gujarat love dance and music in all forms. Every year a 9-day festival, Navratri, is organized to bring the entire community together for 9 nights of music, dance and merriment. Garba and Dandiya are dance forms that are enjoyed in Gujarat.
Besides dance, music and their art, Gujarat has several festivals that the visitor must try to experience when visiting the state. Gujaratis find a reason to celebrate life and the seasons, making them one of the most cheerful and culturally-vibrant people in India.
Despite having such a vast coastline, Gujarati cuisine is predominantly vegetarian because of a strong Jain influence. The five regions of North Gujarat, Kathiawad, Kachchh, Central Gujarat and South Gujarat each bring their unique flavour to Gujarati cuisine.
Gujarati meals are wholesome, and a typical thali will consist of roti, dal or kadhi, sabzi (a dish made with vegetables and spices) and rice. There will also be side preparations such as farsan, dhokla, pathra, samosa, etc. No Gujrati meal can be complete without a sweet dish. It could be either of jalebi, mohanthal, doodh pak, etc.
Gujarat lies on India’s western border, along the coast of the Arabian Sea. It is flanked by Rajasthan on the northeast, Maharashtra to the southeast, and Madhya Pradesh to its east. Its vast coastline of 1600 km, mostly part of the Kathiawar peninsula, contains numerous ports. One of its more well-known and ancient ports is Lothal (part of the Indus Valley Civilization), which is believed to be the world’s first seaport. The state was an important port and trading centre, and Bharuch and Khambhat were powerful cities during the Maurya and Gupta empires, and continued to hold their own right up to later dynasties as well.
While Gandhinagar is its capital, Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat.
Click here to view Gujarat on Google Map
The best time to visit Gujarat is in winter, when the weather is pleasant, with temperatures ranging in the twenties. Plan your vacation during the months from November to February.
Gujarat has extreme summers, with temperatures crossing 40 degrees at the season’s peak. The weather is dry and traveling can get uncomfortable. Avoid the months from March to June.
The monsoon season in Gujarat brings some respite; the temperature drops, and the days can be pleasant. However, as is typical of the monsoon in India, it can get messy. July to September is when Gujarat gets its annual rainfall.
By flight - Gujarat has one international airport at Ahmedabad, and it is connected to London, Chicago, New York, Muscat, Kuwait, Doha, Qatar, Sharjah, Dubai and Singapore. Travelers can also take domestic flights from other cities in India.
By Rail - Gujarat has an excellent railway network and major cities in the state are connected to nearly all parts of India.
By Road - You can drive into Gujarat from neighbouring states. Alternatively, you can also hop on to inter-city private or government-run buses.
Gujarat was one of the main centres of the Indus Valley Civilization, and excavations have unearthed more than 50 Indus Valley settlement ruins here.
It was an important commercial centre and there is evidence of trade between the state and Bahrain, Egypt and Sumer during 1000-750BC. The state has been ruled by eminent dynasties, right from the Mauryas, Guptas, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, the Western Satraps, and the Satavahana empires, each of whom left their mark on the region. Some of the signs of these empires can still be seen in several cities of Gujarat.
Various Islamic invasions took place between 1197 and 1614, and Gujarat was ruled by historical leaders, including Allauddin Khilji, Humayun, Bahadur Shah, and even Akbar. Then came the Portuguese and Spanish looking for trade. Even the Maratha Empire made forays when the Mughal Empire showed signs of flagging. Zoroastrians fleeing persecuting Muslims came to Gujarat and made it their base, till this date.
A European colonisation took place from 1614-1947, and the British ruled the state until Independence. Post-independence, the princely states of Gujarat were merged into the three units of Saurashtra, Kutch and Bombay. And it was finally on 1 May 1960, that the independent state of Gujarat was formed.
8 of us went on a trip to Dwarka – Somnath – Diu and Sasangir and gave the burden of making all the arrangements to the staff of Thomas Cook. You had to appreciate them for getting everything right in the place and not making anything over-budget. This was a journey of a lifetime and especially in Gir where you get to see Lions up close is really thrilling.
Travelling to Kutch during the Rannotsav is very hectic and chances of not finding a hotel is very high. But Thomas Cook assured that we will find a really amazing trip to the White Desert and their expertise convinced us to book a 3 night package for the festival. We saw best performances, stayed in a traditional home and got a chance to get as close as India Pakistan border.
Exploring the beautiful Somnath Temple and Dwarka temple is a beautiful experience. The Somnath experience became even better with a sea facing hotel. While our initial plan was to simply visit Somnath and Dwarka, Thomas Cook added Gir forest safari on minimal charges. It was an amazing journey to see so many sides of a travel destination in one go.
