Gujarat’s Cities
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is a very ancient city having its origin back to 11th century. It had several names like Ashaval (or Ashapalli) and Karnavati. It is believed that Sultan Ahmed shah built the new city Ahmedabad in 1411 on the bank of river Sabarmati. Today its population has almost crossed 7 million. It is the fifth largest city and seventh largest metropolitan area of India.
In 19-20 century, Ahmedabad established itself as the home of a developing textile industry, which earned it the nickname Manchester of the East. The city was at the forefront of the Indian Independence Movement in the first half of the 20th century as Mahatma Gandhi choose this city as his base for Independence movement. He established Sabarmati Ashram (now also known as Gandhi Ashram) to manage Independence movement from there. His famous Dandi march also started from there. Ahmedabad has a very important place in Indian History.
Ahmedabad is also famous for many monuments and places like Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Gandhi Ashram, Kankaria lake, Jumma Masjid, Bhadra Fort, Kankaria Zoo and Balvatika (amusement park), Havelis (private masions) in the old city, institutes like Indian Institute of Management (IIM-A), Ahmedabad Textile Industrial Research Association (ATIRA), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), ISRO-SAC etc
Vadodara
Vadodara, formerly known as Baroda, is the third largest and most populated city of Gujarat after Ahmedabad and Surat. It is located on the banks of the Vishwamitri river. Its population is almost more than 2 million. The first noted history of the city was of the early trader settlers who settled in the region in 812 AD and it was known as "Vadapadraka", a village known as "Vatpatrak" (Leaf of Banyan tree).
Vadodara city got its charm mainly due to the efforts of its brilliant Maratha ruler Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad who started ruling from late 19th century. He ruled from 1875 to 1939, did much to modernise Baroda, establishing compulsory primary education, a library system, a university and model textile and tile factories, which helped to create Baroda's image as a modern industrial hub. Modern Vadodara is a great and fitting memorial to Maharaja Sayajirao. It was the dream of this able administrator to make Baroda an educational, industrial and commercial centre and he ensured that his dream would come true. For this reason, the city is also referred to as Sayaji Nagari (Sayaji's City).
Vadodara is famous for many monuments and places like Laxmi Vilas Palace, Nazarbaug Palace, Makarpura palace, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Kirti Madir, Kirti Stambh, Nyay Mandir, Dakhinamurty temple (EME temple), Maharaja Fatesinh Museum, Sursagar lake, Ajwa Nimeta lake, Alembic chemicals etc
Surat
Surat is Gujarat's second largest city, and India's eighth most populated city with a population of 5 million. It is situated on the bank of the Tapi river. Surat was previously known as Suryapur.
The city is largely recognized for its textile and diamond businesses. It is also known as the diamond capital of the world and the textile capital/Manchester textile city of India, a distinction it took over from Ahmedabad. 92% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat.
During the reigns of the Mughal emperors Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Surat rose to become a chief commercial city of India, and an imperial mint was established there. As the major port on the west coast of India, Surat also served as the port for the Hajj to Mecca.
In 1608, ships from the English East India Company started docking in Surat, using it as a trade and transit point. In 1664 the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji attacked Surat, a key Mughal power centre and a wealthy port town, which generated a million rupees in taxes. He attacked it after the Mughals refused to pay tribute and tried to assassinate him.
Surat also gave India's first Gujarati Prime Minister Shri Morarjibhai Desai. He was from Valsad, a town near Surat. He had contested the parliament elections from Surat and became India's prime minister.
Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar is the capital city of Gujarat. It is located is located approximately 23 km North from Ahmedabad. It became as a new capital of Gujarat after 1970 (earlier Ahmedabad was Gujarat's capital). A totally new city Gandhinagar was planned after Gujarat became an independent political state in 1960. Gandhinagar is a very planned city divided into 30 sectors. Its streets are numbered, and have cross streets named for Gujarati alphabets like "k", "kh", "g", "gh", "ch", "chh", "j" . All streets cross every kilometre.
With more number of trees (more than number of people), it is a Green city of Gujarat and India. It has Gujarat government offices, chief minister, cabinet ministers residences, industrial hub, a Software Technology Park, Special Economy Zone. Now a Financial hub (named GIFT city) is also coming up. Shri Swaminarayan sect's Akshardham temple is a big attraction for the tourists.
Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar is the fifth largest city of Gujarat. Bhavnagar was Founded in 1724 by Bhavsinhji Gohil. It is also known as the Cultural Capital of Saurashtra. The old town of Bhavnagar was a fortified town with gates leading to other important regional towns. It remained a major port for almost two centuries, trading commodities with Africa Mozambique, Zanzibar,Singapore, and the Persian Gulf.
Bhavnagar was a very modern city even during the 19th century having notable reforms in the areas of administration, revenue collection, judiciary, the post and telegraph services and economic policy. The ports were also modernised.
Bhavnagar's ruler Krishnakumarsinhji handed over the administration of his Bhavnagar state to the people's representative in 1948, and Bhavnagar became the first of these states to join the Indian Union.
Bhavnagar has given many notable freedom fighters (like Blavanatrai Maheta, Nanabhai Bhatt, Pruthvisinh Azad), educationalists (like Gijubhai Badheka, Taraben Modak), Poets (like Ganga Sati, Jhaverchand Meghani, Kavi Kant, Prahlad Parekh, Krishnalal Shirdharani), Artists (like Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval, Somalal Shah).
Rajkot
Rajkot is the fourth largest city of Gujarat. It was capital city of Saurashtra from 1948 to 1956. Mahatma Gandhi had lived and studied at Alfred high school in Rajkot. The Royal princes (of independent states before independence of India) were studying at Rajkumar college of Rajkot.
Rajkot is famous for its jewelery market, silk embroidery and watch parts. The city is also home to one of the largest CNC machine manufacturer in the country. Rajkot is well known throughout the world for its casting and forging industries. There are about 500 foundry units in Rajkot. Rajkot is also famous for its gold purity. It has one of the largest gold markets in India.
Jamnagar
Jamnagar was founded by Jam Rava Jadeja in 1540 A.D. The recent was built up by Maharaja Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when it was known as Nawanagar.
Lord Shri Krishna's Dwarka is near Jamnagar. The Marine National Park, the only marine sanctuary in India is near Jamnagar,on the coral reef island of Pirotan.
Jamnagar is now famous for world's largest oil refinery established by Reliance Indusries. Jamnagar has given many well known cricket players like Jam Ranjitsinh, Dulipsinh, Vinu Mankad, Salim Durani and recently Ajay Jadeja.
Bhuj
Bhuj is located in the Kutchh region of Gujarat. Bhuj connects you to a range of civilizations and important events in South Asian history through prehistoric archaeological finds, remnants of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappans), places associated with the Mahabharata and Alexander the Great's march into India and tombs, palaces and other buildings from the rule of the Naga chiefs, the Jadeja Rajputs, the Gujarat Sultans and the British Raj.
Bhuj is famous for Aina Mahal; bell tower of the Prag Mahal, 2000-year-old Kshatrapa inscriptions in the Kutch Museum, the sculptures of Ramayana characters at the Ramakund stepwell, Hamirsar Lake, chhatardis of the Kutchi royal family.
In January 2001, the city was struck by a major earthquake which caused a great deal of damage and loss of life. Almost a new Bhuj city has to be developed near the ruins of the old damaged city.
Junagadh
Junagadh is 7th largest city of Gujarat. Literally translated, Junagadh means "Old Fort". It is also known as "Sorath". Junagadh is situated at the foot of Mount Girnar. Sasan Gir – the place of Asiatic Lions is in the Junagadh region.
Junagadh has seen different rulers and dynasties like Maurya, Rajput, Mughal rule and British rule. After India got Independence in August 1947, Junagadh joined India on 9 November 1947 after a brief struggle between India and Pakistan.
Gujarat's very well-known Saint Poet Narsinh Mehta belonged to Junagadh.
Junagadh is famous for Mount Girnar, Narsinh Mehta no choro, Mahabat Maqbara, the Wild Museum, Uparkot, Damodar kund, Wellington Dam, Moti Baug.
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