The
state of Gujarat, rightly called the Jewel in the West, has
something for everyone. You could visit Gujarat for a quiet
wildlife getaway in Gir, for a relaxed sun and sand holiday
on Gopnath's beaches, a fabulously enriching sightseeing experience
at
the
863 Jain temple cluster in Palitana or a visit to a dinosaur
egg hatchery at Raiyoli. And that is just to mention a few of
its innumerable attractions. One of the country's most
industrialised
and progressive states, its main cities Ahmedabad, Vadodara
and Surat combine a colourful blend of old and new. Gujarat's
picturesque coastline offers a number of opportunities for watersports,
while its varied habitats provide for unique wildlife viewing
opportunities in its sanctuaries.
The
language that the people in the state of Gujarat speak is called
Gujarati. Also, the people are native to this land are called
Gujarati. Gujarat is consisted of many different types of people.
People from different states migrate to Gujarat to find a better
job and in hope of a better future. This makes Gujarat a diverse
state. Although, most of the people in Gujarat speak Gujarati,
some people speak Marathi, the language from the state of Maharastra;
Punjabi, from state of Punjab; and Hindi, the national language
of India. Also, there are lot of different dialects in Gujarat.
For example, people in North Gujarat speak different Gujarati
than people in South Gujarat, or Central Gujarat, or Eastern/Western
Gujarat. The cultural diversity has existed in Gujarat since last
three to four centuries. People from different countries have
migrated to India, specially in Gujarat, in last three to four
centuries. This enabled Gujarat to have cultural diversity, as
well as a variety of different religions and languages. Traditional
festivities are also a major attraction, the most special of these
taking place during the nine days of the Navaratras.
 The
state is also home to the Mahatma's legacy from Porbander, where
he was born, to Rajkot, Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram to
the salt beaches of Dandi. A religious, cultural and historical
panorama unfolds in Gujarat, where you can visit some of the most
important pilgrimage sites for the Hindus and Jains, or where
you could catch a glimpse into its royal past at the many palaces
that have now been converted into heritage hotels. A journey through
Gujarat provides for a complete experience with something on offer
for every kind of tourist.
General
Information
Capital
: Gandhinagar
Main languages:
Gujarati, Hindi, English
Cities : Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara (Baroda), Bhavnagar,
Jamnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad
Number of Districts : 19
Number of Villages : 18114
Per Capita Income : 7600 (1993-94)
Total Population : 41309582
Population Density : 211
Literacy Ratio (%) : 61.29
Shopping
Gujarat is especially known for its Saris. Many of these are intricately
designed with in laid Zari work. The Patola Silk from Patan is
famous and one of the biggest selling fabrics in some of the larger
cities. It is famous for Bandhnis, traditional Gagra-Cholis are
known to be excellent craftsmen, and there is a rich arsenal of
arts and crafts at the government handicraft centres. Jamnagar
is famous for its tie-and-dye fabrics and brightly coloured embroidery
work.
Handicrafts
Throughout
the seventeenth century, Gujarat was probably the most important
centre for fine commercial embroidery in the world. In the present
day, the world's richest source of folk embroidery is found in
the belt comprising Kutch and Saurashtra up through northern Gujarat
to western Rajasthan and the Thar Parkar district of Sind in Pakistan.
Marriage costumes, wall hangings, quilts, cradle clothes and animal
trappings are embroidered, appliqued, decorated with beadwork
and embellished with mirrors, sequins, buttons and shells. Each
caste passes on unchanged from generation to generation its own
distinct designs, colours and range of stitches which, together
with the cut of their garments and their own particular tie-and-dye
and block-printed designs, form the major visual part of a caste's
cultural identity.
Rabari
tribal women of Gujarat have traditionally embroidered their dowry
consisting of clothing and house hold items. Although these women
are married off at a young age, they stay with their parents until
the embroidery is finished. This could take years. Each woman
embroiders the same traditional design with only slight variations.
The tradition of manual embroidery is still prevalent in the developing
city of Bhavnagar and its surrounding villages. A lot of encouragement
is given to the craftsmen of Bhavnagar by the people of the city
as well as the social institutions in the city. There are a lot
of shops in the main market which are exclusively dealing in handicrafts.
Wildlife
of Gujarat
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