The document provides information on the history, geography, people, culture, handicrafts, festivals, and tourism of Gujarat, India. It discusses how Gujarat has seen rule by various kingdoms and empires over centuries. The key highlights are the diversity of Gujarat's culture as seen in its music, dance, handicrafts and festivals. Major religious sites that attract pilgrims from India and abroad are highlighted in the tourism section.

4. History
• The history of Gujarat encompasses the Indus Valley civilization.
• The Dravidian tribes were the original inhabitants of the region. The
ancient history of Gujarat was enriched by their commercial
activities.
•
The history of Gujarat saw an Aryan invasion followed by a brief
period of Greek rule.
• There were a succession of Hindu kingdoms including the era of the
Guptas and culminating in the reign of the Solankis.
The 9th century history of Gujarat saw the emergence of the Muslims
in the political arena of the state.
• The Mughals established and consolidated their rule from Delhi The
rule of the Mughals lasted for two centuries before it was ended by
the Marathas in the 18th century.

5. History
• Mahagujarat Movement:
• After the Independence, in 1948, a Mahagujarat conference
took place to integrate the entire Gujarati speaking population
under one administrative body and on May 1, 1960, the
Bombay State split into the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• The term ‘Mahagujarat’ encompassed the whole Gujarati
speaking area including Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutchh. For
the first time after the Sultanate, Gujarat was once again
autonomous.

6. Fact File
• Area : 196077 sq. km.
• Population : 60383628 (AS PER 2011)
• Capital : Gandhinagar
• Language : Gujarati
• Currency : Indian Rupee
• Climate : Wet in the southern districts and Desertic in the north-
west region
 Winter : November to February (12 - 29 Celsius)
 Summer : March to May (29 - 41 Celsius)
 Monsoon : June to October (27 - 35 Celsius)
 Major Cities: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhuj, Junagadh,
Jamnagar
 Ports:Kandla, Mandvi, Mundra, Sikka, Okha, Porbandar, Veraval,
Bhavnagar, Salaya, Pipavav, Mahuva, Jafrabad, Hazira

7. People of Gujarat
• The people of Gujarat are commonly referred as Gujaratis and the
main language spoken by them is Gujarati.
• About 89% of the population of Gujarat are Hindu. Muslims account
for 9% and Jains 1% of the population.
• Gujarat still has a number of tribes like Jats, Harijans, Ahirs,
Rabaris, etc. Where the Jats are believed to be herdsmen of Sindh,
Ahirs are said to be the descendants of Lord Krishna.
• Whatever their origin, these tribes are an inseparable part of
Gujarat.
• In concise terms, the people of Gujarat are lively and vivacious, who
live in perfect harmony, while respecting each other's religious
sentiments and feelings.

8. People of Gujarat

9. Gujarati Music & Dance
• Gujarat is quite famous and well known for its dynamic
traditions of classical and folk music. They are the heart and
soul of Gujarat.
• The traditional culture of Gujaratis with their traditional
music and dance form of Garba, Garbi, Raas and other are well
known and finds attraction to tourists.
• A special variety of music which can be classified as temple-
music was indeed produced by the Vaishnava cult in Gujarat.
• Among the folk Music, Duha, Sorathaa, Chaand, Belaads, etc
are traditionally performed especially in Saurashtra, Gujarat.

10. Gujarati Music & Dance
• Gujarat is the Land of Festivals. The celebrations of festivals
and fairs are accompanied with Music and Dance that breathe
the soul fresh with vigor and joy. Blessed with rich Performing
Arts, Dance and dance forms in Gujarat are popular
throughout the world.
• A legendary unique Folk Dance form also has variations with
Dandia or stick Raas.
• There are different styles of executing dandiya steps like
Dodhiyu, simple five,simple seven, popatiyu, Trikoniya (hand
movement which forms an imagery triangle), Lehree, three
claps, butterfly, hudo, two claps and many more.

11. Gujarati Music & Dance

12. Gujarat- Basket of Handicrafts
• Gujarat is blessed with rich and vibrant tradition of Handicrafts. It is
widely differing in its proportions of its patterns to the element of
wonderful exquisite Artifacts in various forms. It stands unique with
diverse arts and crafts – a mixed combination with aesthetic appeal.
• Needlework
• Pottery
• Tie and dye – Bandhani
• Woodwork
• Bead work
• Textile culture
• Patola
• Zari
• Temple culture
• Jewellery
• Furnishings

13. Gujarat- Basket of Handicrafts

14. Gujarat- Basket of Handicrafts
• Patola: One of the finest handwoven sarees from Gujarat.
• The famous Patola of Patan is known for its colorful geometrical
pattern, which are strikingly beautiful.
• The unique tie and weave method of Patola results in identical
patterns on both the sides of the fabric

15. Gujarat- Basket of Handicrafts
• Woodwork: The lacquered furniture of Sankheda near
Vadodara, another important handicraft industry has become
synonymous with Southern Gujarat. The furniture and
woodcrafts of Surat, Kutchh and Saurashtra are also popular.
Minakari furniture from Rajkot, is as attractive as Sankheda
furniture.

16. Fairs- The Identity of Gujarat
 The Tarnetar fair - The fair is held for three days every year
during the Hindu calendar dates of Bhadarva Suds - 4th, 5th and
6th (during the Gregorian calendar months Aug.-Sept). The
Tarnetar fair is held 8 km from the town of Thangadh, in
Surendranagar District.

17. Fairs- The Identity of Gujarat
• The Bhavnath Fair- The fair during Mahashivaratri is held
for five days commencing from the Hindu calendar date of
Magh Vad 11, during the Gregorian months of February-
March. The Bhavnath Fair is held at the Bhavnath Mahadev
Temple near Junagadh.

18. Fairs- The Identity of Gujarat
• The Vautha Fair - This fair is held during Kartika Purnima,
the full moon night of the month of Kartik in the Hindu
calendar at Dholka near Ahmedabad, corresponding roughly
to the month of November. It lasts for five days.

19. Festivals – It Bleeds in Veins
• Festivals in Gujarat have popular celebrations and
observations that include major religious, business and
entertaining festivals apart from fairs and heritage tours.
• Navratri: Gujarat’s Navratri Festival, is “a circle of ecstasy”
that throbs non-stop for nine nights with millions of
fantastically costumed devotees swaying in a fusion of dance
and devotion.

20. Festivals – It Bleeds in Veins
• Kite Festival:
• Gujarat is vibrant with the Kite Festival (Makar Sankranti)
which is celebrated with colors of joy, colors of life. The Kite
Festival signify Gujarat’s ‘Cultural Strength’ and like the kites,
Gujarat soars high to touch the skies to be the ‘best in the
world.’

21. Festivals – It Bleeds in Veins
• Rannostav – The Desert Festival:
• Rann Utsav is an awesome festival of Kutch, Gujarat, India. It is
a Carnival of Music, Dance, nature beauty of White Rann and
much more then that when visit under the full Moon.
• Kutch Rann Utsav is the shimmering landscape that gives the
enchanting moments of this Fest, which feels like as Heaven
On Earth during Festival Time.

22. Culture & Life Style
• Gujarat is a flourishing state with cultural diversity. It is
vibrant with its true colors of rich heritage and cultural
traditions.
• Dating back to history with the Harappan civilization, the
state becomes a confluence of many religions – Hinduism,
Islam, Jainism and Buddhism.
• The Gujarati culture blends in arts, beliefs, customs,
traditions, institutions, inventions, language, technology and
values.

23. Culture & Life Style
• Costumes:
• Generally, men wear trousers and shirts or t-shirts and
younger women wear normal western outfits like skirts,
dresses, jeans, etc.
• Older women usually wear saris or salwar kamiz. In rural
parts, people are found to wear dhotis and kurtas or bandis.
Even traditional outfits like chania choli by women and kedia
dress is worn by men in rural areas or during cultural
festivals.

24. Culture & Life Style
• Gujarati Food – Sweet Gujarati !!! :
• A traditional ‘Gujarati Thali’ consisting of dal (lentils), roti,
rice and vegetables apart from salads, farsan and sweet dish
followed by chaas, forms the morning meal. Evening food
consist of ‘bhakri-shak’ or khichdi kadhi.

25. Gujarat- Tourism
• Gujarat is high on Holy Tourism due to its inception of all-
embracing religious faith ranging from caste to caste. The
major religions followed are Hinduism, Jainism and
Buddhism. Muslim Religion, Christianity, Parsi, Sindhi and
other many more religions are followed with faith all across
Gujarat.
• Since ancient times, Gujarat is noted for its temples. The
temple of Somnath dedicated to Shiva is the first among the
12 Jyotirlings in India.
• Hill-top shrines like Ambaji, Palitana, Girnar and Pavagadh are
similarly prominent in legend and historical - should be are
historical. Palitana is a hilltop place of pilgrimage for Jains.

26. Gujarat- Tourism
• Somnath Temple:
• The Someshwar Mahadev temple stands tall among the
temples of India.
• Daksha cursed him to wane as he was infatuated with Rohini
and was neglecting the other 26 wives, all 26 of whom were
the daughters of Prajapati. It is said that Brahma advised him
to build the temple in honour of Shiva.

27. Gujarat- Tourism
• Dwarkadhish Temple
• Dwarka, in ancient Anarta (Saurashtra) was the capital of
Lord Krishna's terrestrial kingdom. He shifted to Kusasthali
which was the old name of the region to escape the harassing
raids of Kansa's father-in-law Jarasandha on Mathura after
Krishna had killed Kansa.

28. Gujarat- Tourism
• Ambaji :
• Ambaji is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India.
• The Temple of Ambaji is recognized as one of the original
Shakti Pithas (religious texts) where, according to the ancient
Scriptures, the heart of the goddess Ambaji fell to earth when
her body was dismembered.

29. Gujarat- Tourism
• Heritage Place - Champaner :
• Pavagadh along with Champaner and Machi is a UNESCO
world heritage site. This site reflects grand historical
confluence, displaying 1,200 years of history and culture.
• A pilgrimage spot, called the Shakti Peeth, the Pavagadh hill
leads to the hill top temple of the Goddess Kali.

30. Gujarat- Tourism
• Modera Sun Temple:
• Constructed in 1026-27 A.D. during the reign of King Bhimdev
I of Patan, the temple is dedicated to Surya or the Sun God.
• Modhera's sun temple is positioned in such a manner that at
the equinoxes the rising sun strikes the images in the
sanctuary.

31. Gujarat- Tourism
• Step Wells in Gujarat:
• Stepwells are wells in which the water is reached by steps.
They are most commonly found in western
India especially Gujarat where over 120 such wells are
reported.
Adalaj Stepwell Dada hari ni VavRani ki Vav

32. Gujarat- Tourism
• Palitana Jain Temples Dakor Temple
• Girnar Akshardham

33. Gujarat- Tourism
• Historical Places:
Hriday Kunj : The place
where Mahatma Gandhi
resided.
•Lothal: History dates back
to Indus Valley Civilization
which leave behind the ruins
of Lothal,
•The first Indian Port
between 1800-2400 BC. It
also shows a very high
degree of town planning, like
other sites in the Indus
valley.

34. Gujarat- Wild Life
• Gujarat is the dream of an explorer who quest for nature and
wild life.
• Gujarat possesses varied Landforms with the dry deciduous
forests, majestic grasslands, marine ecosystems, wetlands and
rich moist deciduous forests.
• These habitats are home to rare wild life inhabitants
• The Land of the Legends is symbolically known for its wildlife
icon of Lions that are found in the Gir reserve and happen to
be a major attraction for tourists in Gujarat.

35. Gujarat- Wild Life
• Gir National Park :
• The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is a forest
and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat.

36. Gujarat- Wild Life
Black buck National Park, Velavader :
Blackbuck National Park at Velavadar is
situated in the Bhavnagar District of
Gujarat state.
Vansda National Park, also known
as Bansda National Park, is a
protected area which represents the
thick woodlands of the Dangs and
southern Gujarat,

37. Gujarat- Wild Life
Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary,
consisting primarily of a 120.82-
square-kilometre lake and ambient
marshes, is situated about 64 km to the
west of Ahmedabad near Sanand
Village
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is
situated in the Great Rann of Kutch.

38. Gujarat- Marine Life
• Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is situated on the
southern shore of the Gulf of Kachchh in the Devbhumi
Dwarka District of Gujarat state.
• It is Countrys first Marine National Park, since 1982.
•

39. Gujarat- Sea Ports
• Strategically located with 1600 kms coastline, the longest
among the maritime states of India, Gujarat is the nearest
maritime outlet to Middle East, Africa and Europe with
highest number of commercial cargo ports.

40. Agriculture
• Leading as Second in ‘Green Revolution’ – Gujarat has
achieved Agricultural Growth table at 9.6% and have carved a
niche in the field of Agricultural Development in India.

41. Aqua Culture
• Gujarat is endowed with The longest coastline and offers a
huge scope for exploitation of marine wealth.
• It is commonly said that after Green and White Revolution in
India, it is time for Blue Revolution to exploit the huge
potential in fisheries sector.

42. Sports
• There are many independent sports associations with
National and Regional affiliate in Gujarat. They conduct a
variety of tournaments, as well as coaching activity in the
state.

43. Land of the Legends
• Gujarat, the Land of the Legends go down in History to leave
behind impressions with footprints on the sands of time.
Since many years, the land is Inspired by great Legends.
Father of the Nation
who made India Free
Iron man ‘Architect
of India’
Visionary Physicist
‘Father of Indian
Space Program’
Jamshedji Tata
Father of the Indian
Industry
Dhirubhai Ambani
The Leader with a
vision
Gandhiji Sardar Patel Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

44. Gujaratis in Bollywood

45. Getting to Gujarat
• Location:
• Gujarat is located on the western coast of the Indian
Peninsula. It borders Pakistan and Rajasthan to the north-
east, Madhya Pradesh to the east, Maharashtra and the Union
territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli to the
south.
• Gujarat has its exuberant means of transportation which
ranges from:
• Airways
• National Highways
• Railways
• Waterway