About Gujarat

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Even before the Aryans arrived, Gujarat had a significant civilization. It had trade linkups with ancient civilizations of Babylon, Sumer, Egypt and Assyria. The Lothal Port that has been excavated just recently is identified as a significant center of Aryan Civilization which is 4500 years old.

Gujarat is famous for its historic capitals which are full of architectural wealth, its holy temples, hill resorts, beaches and wildlife sanctuaries. The mouth watering cuisine, colorful lifestyle and the fascinating handicrafts are the things that make Gujarat so popular amongst people.

Area:  196,024 Sq. Kms.

Capital:  Gandhinagar.

Population:  64.7 Million.

Languages:  Gujarati.

Geographical Location:  Gujarat is situated on the Western Indian coast having a 1,600 Kms long Arabian Sea coastline that encloses Gujarat from three sides.

It stretches from Kutch in the West to Daman in the South and the hilly tract from Aravalli in the East to the Western hills. It lies in the north east of the Gulf of Cambay. On its western and southwestern boundaries lies the Arabian Sea. To the northwest lies the country of Pakistan. Northeast lies the State of Rajasthan, east lies the State of Madhya Pradesh and to the southeast lies the State of Maharashtra.

History of Gujarat:  Situated on the western coast of India, the name of the state is derived from Gujjaratta, which means the land of the Gujjars. It is believed that a tribe of Gujjars migrated to India around the 5th century AD.

The real cultural history of these people, however, is believed to have begun much earlier. Many Indus Valley and Harappan centers have been discovered in the state like Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur, Lakhabaval, Amri, and Rozdi and established the earliest known history of Gujarat to around 3000 BC to 2200 BC. At that point of time, Lothal was the main port of this civilization. With the advent of the Yadava tribe led by Lord Krishna, some 3,500 years ago, came the glorious days for Gujarat. It was followed by 100 years of Lord Krishna's rule.

It is believed that Ashoka, the Mauryan king extended his kingdom to Gujarat. The fall of the Maurya Empire led the small kingdoms to establish their power in this state from time to time. The state achieved a high level of prosperity during the time of Solankis from the 9th century. In the 12th century AD, Allauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi defeated the Waghela king of Gujarat and a long era of Muslim rule over Gujarat started. The Marathas ended the Muslim rule in the 18th century only to be handed over to the British in the early 19th century. Surat was the center of the first factory of the East India Company in India. After the First War of Independence in 1857 the region came under the British monarchy along with the rest of the country.

Gujarat was a part of the erstwhile Mumbai state till 1960, when the people of Gujarat decided to have their own state on the basis of their distinct language and culture. This led to formation of the two new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

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