Gujarat

Gujarat, the ‘Jewel of the West,’ is a tourist destination that offers something for every visitor. A journey through Gujarat unfolds a religious, cultural and historical panorama. The state with the longest coast line (1600km) in the country is renowned for its beaches, holy temples, historic capitals replete with immense architectural assets, wildlife sanctuaries and hill resorts. Religious spots include Dwaraka, Somanath, Pawagadh, Ambaji, Bhadreswar, Shamlaji, the Jain temples at Taranga, Girnar and Palitana with around 800 temples spread on the sacred Shetrunjaya hill and the oldest fire temple of the Parsees at Udwada. The places of memorable monuments of architectural and archeological splendor include the Sun temple at Modhera, 5000 year old architectural finds at Lothal, and the monuments at Ahmedabad, Patan, Siddhpur Ghumli, Dabhoi, Vadnagar etc; beautiful beaches include the ones at Ahmadpur- Mandvi with its ethnic beach resort and at Chorwad, Ubharat and Tithal; Porbander, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and his national shrine at Sabarmathi, the hill station at Saputara and game sanctuary at Gir, the last retreat of the Asiatic Lions and the Wild ass sanctuary in the Kachch area are some of the major and varied attractions in the state.
Along with its varied destinations, the attractive handicrafts, the delicious cuisine and colorful lifestyle of the people of Gujarat, add to its charm. As the Tropic of Cancer passes through the northern border of Gujarat, the state has an intensely hot or cold climate. But the Arabian sea and the Gulf of Cam-bay in the west and the forest covered hills in the east soften the rigors of climatic extremes. The best time to visit Gujarat is during the months of October and March.

The Land

Gujarat is situated between 20o1' and 24o7' north latitudes and 68o4' and 74o4'east longitudes on the west coast of India. It is bounded on the west by the Arabian sea, on the north-west by Pakistan, on the north by Rajasthan, on the east by Madhya Pradesh and on the south and south-east by Maharashtra.

The state of Gujarat occupies the northern extremity of the western sea-board of India. It has the longest coast line 1290km among Indian states. The state comprises three geographical regions. 

The peninsula, traditionally known as Saurastra. It is essentially a hilly tract sprinkled with low mountains.

Kutch on the north-east is barren and rocky and contains the famous Rann(desert) of Kutch, the big Rann in the north and the little Rann in the east.
The mainland extending from the Rann of Kutch and the Aravalli Hills to the river Damanganga is on the whole a levelness of alluvial soil

Handicraft, Textile, Fairs & Festivals

• Gujarat has been a field of conquering races, which settled down here from time to time. From ancient times western gateway of India has been a place where lot of action, reaction and interaction between various ethnic and linguistic forces has taken place, which in turn resulted in the synthesis of many races and culture. Different races brought with them different political institutions, unique social customs, varied cultures and creeds.

The Aryans came by land, Persians, Arabs and Africans came by sea through Saurashtra ports for shelter, trade and at times, conquest. Then just before and after Chinese era, lords of Kunanas, Hunas and other tribes descended on Gujarat. The coming of these foreigners resulted in the fusion of various cultures and traditions.

The cultural diversity of Gujarat
The people of Kachha, a low and arid region with less than 15 inches of annual rainfall are hardy and endowed with a rare spirit of enterprise and a wonderful gift for business organization.
The people of peninsular Saurashtra are artistic and have a wealth of romantic and devotional literature.
The people of North Gujarat are simple, sober and more practical in their outlook.

In contrast, the people of Southern Gujarat are soft, pleasure loving, sophisticated and vivacious in their outlook.
The population of the highlands and the borderlands is wholly tribal but hardy and simple.



• All forms of arts and crafts in Gujarat reflect the aggressive individuality and religious impulses of an average Gujarati and his religious impulses. This very emotion has motivated the individual to tune stone, brass, bronze, clay wood etc. into life like objects that speak their own language. The various forms of arts and crafts in Gujarat include

Sculpture and miniature painting
Calligraphy
Music and Stage Art
Dance
Wood Craving
Stone Carving
Metal Work
Pottery
Printing & Embroidery



Gujarat Handicrafts and textiles reflect a love of Colour, an eye for design and form. They are the expression of an initial artistic personality and rich cultural heritage. The state excels in both quality and design of textiles, traditional and modern. The larger variety mills are combined to produce a rich mingling of colours and textures

The widest spectrum of woven fabrics are found in the resist technique. These range from patola, double ikat, to the bandhej tie and dye the woven mashru and the resist or reserved printing on cotton and silk.


Patola
Patolu and patola are the terms normally used in Gujarat for art of silk weaving with design in double ikat i.e. for fabrics where the wrap and weft threads are coloured in section by tie dying before weaving and are then woven to form intricate multi-coloured designs. Today, Patan Patola is one of the finest hand woven textiles produced. Besides, Patan the double ikat is found only in Bali in Indonesia.


Mashru
Mashru, a mixed fabric, woven with a combination of cotton and silk, was essentially for the use of Muslim men as there was a prohibition on their wearing pure silk. The tradition of mashru may have been influenced by weaving tradiions prevalent in Iraq and the Arab countries where the habits were strictly adhered to Mashru was woven all over india, though it survives today only in Gujarat. Brocades The brocades has a distinct style of weaving of silk satin cloth, gold brocading with coloured threads on the borders and in the lay technique in some cases. They carried traditional patterns of popat vel, stylized parrot flower border, jhardh, jhardh, flowering strub or tree motiff or the mango and ashorfi curcular gold coin. Today only ismple ashorfi brocade used in the rural areas is woven in Mehsana district of Gujarat.

Bandhani
The tied and dyed fabrics, known as bandhej or bandhani, of saurashtra and kutch are perhaps the finest produced in India. Amongst these, the most intricate and refined styles are to be found in Jamnagar, Bhuj and Mandavi. Jamnagar bandhej is produced on superfine cotton mulmul and muslim, sometimes combined with gold checks and motifs worked in Jamdani technique. The Mandavi and Bhuj work is on silk with a woven gold border, had motifs embroidered in gold wire known as badla. Since the designs were circular and on a blue black background, they were known as chandrakhani or moonshaped. Prints The oldest known patterned fabrics from India are from Gujarat. They are resist dyed and printed cottons excavated at Fostate. Which was the centre of distribution of Indian printed cotton to the west. Their stylic delineation of the patterns was based on the decorative styles of west Indian paintings and designs.


The matani Pechedi
made by the vaghris for ritual purpose used a combinations of block printing for the outline of the pattern and the painting of the mordants. The dominant motif is of the mother Goddess in her many forms and aspects.


Embroidery
Gujarat has the most vibrant, fine and varied collection of embroidery to be found in any part of India. The movement of pastoral no made and their settlement in different parts of Gujarat gave a wide variation in embroidery styles. Strong class and community instincts maintained the distinct style. Kutch in North Western Gujarat, and Saurashtra in western Gujarat have the finest embroidery and variety of styles.

Specimens of folk tradition, with its bold and igorous patterns and colours, are made by peasant women for their own use. It is this embroidery which even today enriched the life of the people of Kutch and Saurashtra.




Fairs & Festivals


Navratri
The longest dance festival of the world

Traditions/Rituals
The nine-day cultural extravaganza wraps the entire Gujarat during the first nine days of Ashwina. The festival is dedicated to goddess Amba, Godess of Shakti or forces which supports the entire universe. During Navratri, a pot with attractive designs is ceremoniously placed a light is placed inside. The Devi Mahatmya and other texts invoking the Goddess who vanquished demons are cited.

Interesting feature of navratri is the " garba " , a circular dance Performed by women around an earthenware pot called a " garbo ", filled With water. As the dancers whirl around the pot, a singer and a drummer Provide the musical accompaniment. The dance usually starts slowly, it gets Faster and faster as the music too gets more rapid. Another dance which is Also a feature of navaratri is the " dandia - ras " or ' stick dance ', in Which men and women join the dance circle, holding small polished sticks or Dandias together, adding to joyous atmosphere. The dances usually commence Late in the night and continue until early morning, testifying to their Great popularity.

Location : Gujarat
Time : October


International Kite Mahotsava
Traditions/Rituals Started in the year 1989, International Kite Festival attracts the connoisseurs of kite from all corners of the world. Today, the entire sky of Ahmedabad is covered with a plethora of designer kites and the whole atmosphere reverberates with the shouts of over-energetic people. Excited spectators watch shapes like snake and eagles soar into the sky and musicians and singers cheer the winners of the competitions.

Kite-flying starts at dawn and continues without a pause throughout the Day. A tremendous variety of kites is seen and the connoisseur can choose Precisely what he wants. Even the lines with which the kites are flown are Specially prepared by experts. Special mixture of glue and ground glass Cover the lines which are dried and rolled onto reels know as " firkees ". So sharp are these lines that, carelessly used they can cut a finger. At Nightfall it is the time for illuminated box kites, often in a series Strung on one line, to be launched into sky, it is called " tukkals ".

Location : Ahmedabad
Time January - 13th to 15th



Trineteshwar Mahadev Fair
Traditions/Rituals Popularly known as Tarnetar Fair, it is one of Gujarat's most colorful fairs in which tribal from the adjoining districts participate and experience the summits of fun and frolic. Various colorful events including dancing, singing and rural sports are held in the fair in which tribes like Koli, Bharwad, Rabari, Khant, Kanbi, Kathi, and Charan participate and display their skills. The fair is also reputed as 'marriage mart' for the tribal youth who visit this fair to choose a suitable life partner. Tradition holds that if the girl stops to talk to one of the men, it is a sign that she has found the man of her choice. There are exhibitions of rural handcrafted items, embroidery, a cattle show, and competitive sports. The famous ras, garba and hudo are features of the fair. The Umbrellas with intricate embroidery and mirror work are sure to catch your attention. Due to its unique character, the fair is well attended by the tourists from across the world

Location : Near the industial town of thangadh - Saurastra
Time : September


Vautha Mela Traditions/Rituals
Vautha Mela is reputed as the most colorful festival in Gujarat. The fair has both mythological and religious associations and is considered at par with the Pushkar Fair in terms of entertainment and frolicking. However, the animals traded here are donkeys. About 4000-5000 donkeys are brought every year for sale, usually by Vanjara (Gypsy) traders. Every year fair attracts a considerable number of people from across India. The Vautha Mela site is 3 square miles in area. The site, also known as Saptasangam, is at the confluence of seven rivers. During the fair the whole site comes alive with the beats of traditional musical instruments, tribes dressed in colorful attires and breathtaking performances by the jugglers.

Location : Vautha, a place where two rivers Sabarmati and Vatrak meet
Time: November


Dangs Darbar
Traditions/Rituals The annual Dangs Darbar Fair is held every year in the cool and pleasant climate of Ahwa. It is known as Darbar because during the time of British, Darbar of Rajas and Naiks of neighboring districts used to gather here. Today, it is reputed as one of the biggest fairs held in Gujarat and is also known as Janambadi Darbar. Countless tribal people from the adjoining districts participate in the fair dressed in colourful traditional outfits and sounding the shehnai and beating their drums. the fair also attracts merchants from the far away districts of Nasik, Surat and West Khandesh. The major attractions of the fair include ras and garba performances, songs and dramas that give a close look at the local culture and traditions.

Location: Ahwa
Time :March / April


Kutch Fair
Traditions/Rituals Organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, the Kutch Fair is a hit event among the tourists from across the world. The itinerary covers a guided tour to mall the important destination in Kutch including beaches, temples, ancient monuments and excavation sites. The cultural events that are held in various destinations make it an exciting and fascinating experience for the visitors.

Location: Kutch
Time: December

Nature, Wild life, Birds, Water & Mountains

Sasan
Reputed across the world for its population of Asiatic Lion, Gir National Park is a paradise for the connoisseurs of wildlife. Spread across an area of 1,412.13 sq Km, it has a rugged terrain and the steep rocky hillsides are covered in mixed deciduous forests. There are teak, ber, flame of the forest and banyan trees.


Velavadar
in the Bhal region of Saurashtra is a unique grassland ecosystem that has attracted fame for the successful conservation of the Blackbuck, the wolf and the lesser Florican. The park spread over an area of 35 sq.kms, its grassland, the greenery and the quadrupeds are visible as far as the eye can see.florican.


Nalsarovar
Situated 54 kms from the city of Ahmedabad is the bird sanctuary, Nalsarovar. It is the largest bird sanctuary in Gujarat and can boast of its scenic beauty as well as its feathered inhabitants. The Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary is the abode to a large species of our feathered friends. The sanctuary is visited by more than two hundred species of migratory birds in winter.


Little Rann of Kutch
100 Kms from Ahmedabad. It is the perfect entrance to the Little Rann of Kutch. The culture has a blend of both Saurashtra and Kutch, making it very unique. Known for wild ass

Gandhiji

Architecture

Architecture of Gujarat Architecture is perhaps only form of human endeavor, which provides an insight into man's ceaseless efforts at perfection, his attempt to express himself, his environment, his attitude towards life, his society and aesthetic sense. Literally, the whole length and breadth of Gujarat is dotted with ancient Buddhist, Jain, Hindu and Muslim monuments. The architectured thoughts involved in these monuments reflect the great heritage of Gujarat arts and culture. Modern Architecture Today Ahmedabad witnesses many buildings, which could be termed as a few of the finest example of modern architecture. It was the architecture of repute like Le Corbusier, Charles Correa and Louis Kahn, who has greatly contributed towards modern architecture in Gujarat. The various creations by these three architects are testimony to the fact that they have been able to express individual, social and religious traditions and values. Le Corbusier Le Corbusier used enough concrete and brick in these works infusing them with a tactile sense of space and a magical height. His Indian and religious building combined cosmic and archaic themes, while his domestic designs were 'on the knife-edge of presentation'. Louis Kahn Kahn nature works used light geometry, construction and an intense abstraction to touch a timeless dimension. Charles Correa The basic philosophy of Charles Correa in planning the buildings, the architect has tried to give long corridors and wide arches, which provide shades and ventilation. One of the specimen of the buildings can be seen at Gandhi Ashram designed in 1962. He has successfully expressed his philosophy combining with regional traditions. There are many buildings in Gujarat that bear the signature of these four genius, which could be witnessed from these living examples.

History

Gujarat forms an area that housed the regions of the Indus Valley civilization and Harappan sites. Around 50 Harappan sites are found in Gujarat. Lothal, Rangpur, Amri, Lakhabaval, Rozdi etc. are some of these sites. This makes it an important territory that reveals the history of India. The Dravidian tribes were said to be the original inhabitants of this region. Even before the Aryan occupation of Gujarat it is said to have had trade contracts with Sumer, the Persian Gulf in about 1000-750BC. Rock edicts in the Girnar hills indicate that Ashoka extended his domain into Gujarat. It was during the Mauryan rule that this region witnessed the influence of Buddhism. The Mauryans also promoted trade and helped in spread of its culture. In about 150BC the Bactarian Greeks under Meander is said to have instilled their rule. Till 40AD they are said to have had trade contracts with Rome. From  about AD130-390 the Scythians ruled it. After 300AD the Guptas established their reign which lasted till 460AD. The Vallabhi established their sway in between (500-700AD). After the death of Harshvardhana, the Gujjars controlled it till 746AD. The Solankis ruled over Gujarat till 1143. Gujarat attained its greatest territorial extend under the Solanki dynasty, from the 9thcentury. Muhammud of Ghazni attacked Somnath in Gujarat leading to the downfall of the Solankis. The conquest of Ala-ud-din Khilji king of Delhi in 1288 also influenced the conditions in Gujarat. The Sultans of Delhi had their sway over Gujarat from 1298-1392AD. Ahmad Shah I, the first independent Muslim ruler of Gujarat founded Ahmadabad in 1411. Then the Mughals ruled for about 2 centuries till the Marathas terminated their rule in the mid 18th century. It was during the18thcentury that Gujarat was divided among number of chiefs. From 1803-1827 the British set up their administration. The British East India companies first head quarters in India was at Surat. It was later moved to Bombay. Finally in May1,1960, the state of Gujarat was formed from the north and west portions of Bombay state, the remainder being renamed the state of Maharashtra.

Indus valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization was one of the world's early civilizations. It is also known as Harappan Civilization. The two major important cities where civilizations flourished include

Lothal
Lothal is the name of an ancient mound situated in the revenue jurisdiction of Saragwala village in Dholka Taluka of Ahmedabad district. The word 'Lothal' meaning 'place of the dead' in Gujarati language is said to have been formed by combining the words Loth and Thal (sthal). Lothal is essentially a single culture site. The Harappan culture in all its various forms is well represented here.

The Harappans were attracted to the Lothal not only by its sheltered harbor with a rich cotton and rise growing hinterland by also by its bead making industry. The Indus dichotomy of dividing a city into a citadel or Acropolis and a lower town was followed in planning Lothal. The ruler and his entourage lived in the acropolis where houses were built on 3m high platform and provided with all the civic amenities including paved baths, underground drains and a well for potable water. The lower town, which also enjoyed civic amenities, was subdivided into two sectors. The North-South Arterial Street flanked by shop was the main commercial center in which the rich merchants and ordinary craftsmen lived together. The residential sector lay to the east and west of bazaar.

How to reach
Situated at a distance of 6 kms from Lothal-Bhurkhi railway station. It is well connected by road with Bhurkhi, Dholka and other major towns like Bhavnagar and Rajkot.


Dholavira
Of all the Harappan sites the site of Dholavira locally known as Kotada, in the Khadir Island of Kutch stands apart. It is remarkable for its magnificent planning and enormity of area and deposit. Spread across an area of 600m, the site presents a Harappan city par excellence. On the present showing, it is one of the two largest settlements in India and the fourth or fifth in the subcontinent. It also enjoys the unique distinction of yielding an inscription of ten large-sized signs of the Harappan script.

Considerable pre-planning seems to have gone into the layout and construction of the Acropolis. The embattled 'middle town' admeasures about 350m east-west and 180 to 200. North-south and rises to a height of 8.60m from the general ground level. The built-up area of the 'lower town' occupies nearly 2/3 part of the eastern half of the fortified city. It measures 300m east-west and 350m. north-south approximately attaining the height of 7,50m. Like the 'middle town' this too reveals a constructed area having several built-up projections and open recesses at least on the north-east and south.

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