Important Points about Gujarat
| Gujarat | |
| Capital & Major Cities |
Gandhinagar – Ahmedabad – Surat – Rajkot – Bhuj – Dwarka – Vadodara |
| Districts | 33 |
| Formed on |
Mahagujarat Andolan demanded creation of state of Gujarat for Gujarati-speaking people from the bilingual Bombay state. Resulted in the formation of Gujarat and Maharashtra on 1 May 1960. |
| Official Language |
Gujarati |
| Known as/for | – Jewel of Western India – Manchester of the East – Has longest coastline of 1,600 Km. – Largest producer of cotton in India – Largest producer of salt in India – Largest producer of groundnut in India – Gulf of Khambat- older than the ancient Harappan civilization dates back around 4,000 years. |
| Physical Characteristics |
4 geographical regions: – Kathiawar or Saurastra – Kachchh – Rann of Kachchh – Gujarat Plain Drier in the north |
| Natural Vegetation |
Tropical thorny vegetation |
| Major Rivers |
– Sabarmati towards Gulf of Cambay from Dhebar Lake. – Narmada (Rewa) flows from Narmada Kund to the Gulf of Khambat. –Tapti (Tapi) flows from Multai to the Gulf of Khambhat. |
| Major Regional Festivals |
– Navratri – Uttarayan – Bhadra Purnima |
| Major Art Forms |
– Garba – Dandia Raas |
| Industry | – Chemical fertilizers – Petrochemicals – Pharmaceuticals – Polyester textiles – Handicrafts – Cotton textiles – Cement – Vegetable oil |
| Minerals | Agate, Bauxite, Dolomite, fire clay, China clay, fluorite, Fuller’s earth, kaolin, Lignite, limestone, Chalk, Calcareous sea sand, Petroleum and natural gas, Silica sand, Perlite |
| Agriculture | Bajra, Jowar, Rice,Wheat, Tobacco, Cotton, Groundnut, Linseed, Sugarcane, Cumin, Isabgul (Psyllium husk), Mangoes and Bananas |
| Geographical Indications |
Sankheda Furniture, Agates of Cambay, Kutch Embroidery, Tangaliya Shawl, Surat Zari Craft, Gir Kesar Mango, Bhalia Wheat, Kachchh ShaWS, Patan Patola |
| State Animal | Asiatic lion |
| State Bird | Greater flamingo |
| State Flower | Marigold |
| State Tree | Mango |
| World Heritage Sites |
Champaner -Pavagadh Archaeological Park, Rani ki vav at Patan (The Queen’s Stepwell) |
| Biodiversity Hotspots |
Western Ghats |
| Bird Sanctuaries |
Nalsarovar BS, Gaga WS, Khijadiya BS, Kutch Sanctury, Porbandar BS, Thol Lake. |
| National Parks |
Blackbuck NP Gir Forest NP Marine NP Gulf of Kutch Vansda NP |
| Biosphere Reserve |
Kachchh |
| Wildlife Sanctuaries |
– Balaram Ambaji WS – Barda WS – Gaga Great Indian Bustard WS – Gir WS – Girnar WS – HingolgadhWS – Jambugodha WS – Jessore WS – Lala Great Indian Bustard WS – Kachchh Desert WS – Khijadiya WS – Mitiyala WS – Nalsarovar BS – Narayan Sarovar (Chinkara) WS – Paniya WS – Porbandar Lake WS – Purna WS – Rampara Vidi WS – Ratanmahal WS – Shoolpaneswar (Dhumkhal) WS – Thol Lake WS – Wild Ass WS |
| Marine Protected Area |
Marine (Gulf of Kachchh), Khijadia |
